(16 Dec 2017, 4:23 pm)LeeCalder wrote Contacted someone within GNE with regards to spare MPD parts for 574, and they said they would have a full list by the end of January - so not too long I would imagine.

Wouldn't be surprised if they're gone by end of January. 574 is looking really good!


Remember when Go North East launched the Drifter buses many years ago, well the band "Drifters" who did the promotion with them was at my Christmas party last night as it was a charity event at the Holiday Inn at Washington, they we're quite good!

(17 Dec 2017, 8:18 am)Dan wrote Of course, nothing to suggest that won't happen yet...

None of the Hybrids have yet entered service at Percy Main to release the OmniCitys anywhere else.

I can see the Citaro's leaving Washington after most of the Omnicities come off the Coaster, 5251, 5252 have already gone Go North East, 5254 is in "Go North East Red", likely will go fleet livery, and should go to Washington as spares, replacing the 3 Citaro's, this could allow 5261 and 5262 to go in to "Whey Aye five-0" livery - allowing some sort of continuation in the fleet.

(17 Dec 2017, 11:38 am)Michael wrote I can see the Citaro's leaving Washington after most of the Omnicities come off the Coaster, 5251, 5252 have already gone Go North East, 5254 is in "Go North East Red", likely will go fleet livery, and should go to Washington as spares, replacing the 3 Citaro's, this could allow 5261 and 5262 to go in to "Whey Aye five-0" livery - allowing some sort of continuation in the fleet.

Unless they are going to increase the layover time at North Shields from the current 3 minutes that the 9 has, they could get away with only increasing the PVR of the 5/50 by 1. Such a small layover wouldn't impact the 50 too much unless it was severely late, as it gets 13 minutes layover at South Shields before heading to Durham (7 in the 50-->5 transition).

(17 Dec 2017, 12:17 pm)S813 FVK wrote Unless they are going to increase the layover time at North Shields from the current 3 minutes that the 9 has, they could get away with only increasing the PVR of the 5/50 by 1. Such a small layover wouldn't impact the 50 too much unless it was severely late, as it gets 13 minutes layover at South Shields before heading to Durham (7 in the 50-->5 transition).

Ye i think they might increase the layover, as the 5 is now becoming a longer route, they might also add an extra bus in, just incase, like they have with the 56, not sure if that would work on a route like 5 and 50, with them interworking..

Then you have to the Toonlink Omnicities, which may become available soon, so that may help other depots in fleet standardisation.

When will the South Tyne Versa's go in for repaint?


Will 8301 go in to Lambton worm, so that its 8301/02/04/05 for some sort of sequence, then 8296-8300 - Waggonway and finally 8294/95 as spares at Chester along with 8325.


8326 moves to Riverside

(17 Dec 2017, 12:25 pm)Michael wrote Ye i think they might increase the layover, as the 5 is now becoming a longer route, they might also add an extra bus in, just incase, like they have with the 56, not sure if that would work on a route like 5 and 50, with them interworking..

Maybe, that would mean that each bus would have a 33 minute layover at North Shields. Plenty of recovery time and there is somewhere for the bus to go so it isn't blocking the stops on Rudyerd Street (Round the corner on Wellington Street), but given the layover that the bus gets at other points along the route, I can't see them adding anymore at North Shields. 

Below is an attached timetable of 5 buses (column 1 = bus 1 etc) which is based on the timings that I used to calculate the PVR (obtained from current 5, 9 and 50 timetables). Obviously I don't propose that the buses run that early in the morning, I just tend to start from 00:00 to make things more simple:

(17 Dec 2017, 1:00 pm)S813 FVK wrote Maybe, that would mean that each bus would have a 33 minute layover at North Shields. Plenty of recovery time and there is somewhere for the bus to go so it isn't blocking the stops on Rudyerd Street (Round the corner on Wellington Street), but given the layover that the bus gets at other points along the route, I can't see them adding anymore at North Shields. 

Below is an attached timetable of 5 buses (column 1 = bus 1 etc) which is based on the timings that I used to calculate the PVR (obtained from current 5, 9 and 50 timetables). Obviously I don't propose that the buses run that early in the morning, I just tend to start from 00:00 to make things more simple:

Ah well that won't happen, (the 33 minute layover), might just stick to what you said then.


With 2/3 Citaro's returning to Washington, will the Vykings go back to Riverside, or will they remain until 5337 returns?

How long does 4899 have now, since Go North East are down to the last few Citaro's?

(17 Dec 2017, 12:17 pm)S813 FVK wrote Unless they are going to increase the layover time at North Shields from the current 3 minutes that the 9 has, they could get away with only increasing the PVR of the 5/50 by 1. Such a small layover wouldn't impact the 50 too much unless it was severely late, as it gets 13 minutes layover at South Shields before heading to Durham (7 in the 50-->5 transition).

I've been trying to work out how the change and any layover, will impact on drivers hours.
Appreciate the route won't be affected by taco's, but any increase to a route, will obviously have an impact on where the drivers will changeover.

Stick a few more minutes layover at North Shields and it will have a bigger impact than now on hours and costs.
Leave it as it is and potentially have issues down the line not only with reliability, but potentially the unions - once drivers are regularly running late in to breaks.

Testo's roundabout works are due to start.
Works are scheduled at Downhill at some point in the future too.
Roads in the surrounding areas are bound to see an increase in traffic levels, with drivers trying to avoid the works.
It goes without saying, that these works will impact on both the 5 and 50.

I would argue that the current layover arrangement will be tight with the extension.
I can't see it working well once the works start.

Edit: http://roads.highways.gov.uk/projects/a1...rovements/ details of the works. It now appears both junctions will be included in one big project, rather than two seperate ones.

if its any help the 5 timetable Is available on traveline journey planner

(17 Dec 2017, 2:47 pm)ifm001 wrote if its any help the 5 timetable Is available on traveline journey planner

The new timetable for the 5?

(17 Dec 2017, 2:55 pm)Michael wrote The new timetable for the 5?

yeah spotted it on their lst week with the journeys to North Shields

(17 Dec 2017, 2:57 pm)ifm001 wrote yeah spotted it on their lst week with the journeys to North Shields

Oh cool, they're early.

Wonder if the other changes have been put on.

(17 Dec 2017, 3:00 pm)Michael wrote Oh cool, they're early.

Wonder if the other changes have been put on.

27 and 88 were still showing as old timetables that day. Haven't been back on since.

(17 Dec 2017, 3:01 pm)ifm001 wrote 27 and 88 were still showing as old timetables that day. Haven't been back on since.

Going through it, only the 5 has appeared so far, looks like the PVR will be 12 so only 1 Omnicity will be needed, wonder if 5254 will be branded then, with 5251 and 5252 as spares.

(17 Dec 2017, 12:53 pm)Michael wrote When will the South Tyne Versa's go in for repaint?


Will 8301 go in to Lambton worm, so that its 8301/02/04/05 for some sort of sequence, then 8296-8300 - Waggonway and finally 8294/95 as spares at Chester along with 8325.


8326 moves to Riverside

Has it been confirmed they are going to Chester. Is it not possible that they will go to 35 to share a common vehicle with 36 allowing something else to cascade to Chester for 28? Maybe omnicities ?

(17 Dec 2017, 8:27 pm)Coastliner700 wrote Has it been confirmed they are going to Chester. Is it not possible that they will go to 35 to share a common vehicle with 36 allowing something else to cascade to Chester for 28? Maybe omnicities ?

Can’t see deptford getting any versas or omnis, I would say that the black cats scanias from the 61 would be going on the 35 for the short term.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(17 Dec 2017, 8:27 pm)Coastliner700 wrote Has it been confirmed they are going to Chester. Is it not possible that they will go to 35 to share a common vehicle with 36 allowing something else to cascade to Chester for 28? Maybe omnicities ?

No, it hasn't. It just seems to be the likely option given that now-known fact that the Waggonway Solars do not have long left and those Versas happen to be being released at a similar time (but then again, the Coaster Omnicities are being released too). 

I agree that it would be nice to see the 35 gain the Versas for the same reason that you have stated although purely based on discussion earlier in the month about the whole 'council not allowing modified buses to be cascaded elsewhere until 2019' talk, it seems more likely that the Black Cats Solars will be going onto the 35 for now.

I think it's one of these cases where we get convinced that something is going to happen before it is made known and every post regarding that topic suddenly stops being clear that it is only speculation.

Personally I wouldn't put the South Tyne Versas on the 28's, they can't even manage the route they are currently on and from memory of there brief time at Washington they were on the locals more than anything else due to how unreliable they are, I would say a few Omnicities off the 1 would be more suitable.

I'd keep the Versas at Riverside and allocate them to the 29/33/64/67/69/95, releasing some Solo SR's to replace the remaining MPD's.

(17 Dec 2017, 9:24 pm)Malarkey wrote Personally I wouldn't put the South Tyne Versas on the 28's, they can't even manage the route they are currently on and from memory of there brief time at Washington they were on the locals more than anything else due to how unreliable they are, I would say a few Omnicities off the 1 would be more suitable.

I'd keep the Versas at Riverside and allocate them to the 29/33/64/67/69/95, releasing some Solo SR's to replace the remaining MPD's.

67/69 already have Versa's allocated.

(17 Dec 2017, 9:31 pm)Michael wrote 67/69 already have Versa's allocated.

I meant the 09 reg Versas as a whole would be allocated to the services I mentioned above.

(17 Dec 2017, 9:48 pm)Malarkey wrote I meant the 09 reg Versas as a whole would be allocated to the services I mentioned above.

Ahh right, my bad, sorry.

(17 Dec 2017, 9:00 pm)S813 FVK wrote No, it hasn't. It just seems to be the likely option given that now-known fact that the Waggonway Solars do not have long left and those Versas happen to be being released at a similar time (but then again, the Coaster Omnicities are being released too). 

I agree that it would be nice to see the 35 gain the Versas for the same reason that you have stated although purely based on discussion earlier in the month about the whole 'council not allowing modified buses to be cascaded elsewhere until 2019' talk, it seems more likely that the Black Cats Solars will be going onto the 35 for now.

I think it's one of these cases where we get convinced that something is going to happen before it is made known and every post regarding that topic suddenly stops being clear that it is only speculation.

Maybe some other route will gain buses ive heard some rumour about ex london deckers , also on that note i think 4989 will be repainted or even bring 4968,4971-4975 back to make the 35. 4968-4975 would then be black cat's making 4989-4992 , 5212,5213 corporate spares between chester & deptford.

(17 Dec 2017, 10:55 pm)Citaro5326 wrote Maybe some other route will gain buses ive heard some rumour about ex london deckers , also on that note i think 4989 will be repainted or even bring 4968,4971-4975 back to make the 35. 4968-4975 would then be black cat's making 4989-4992 , 5212,5213 corporate spares between chester & deptford.

Not a rumour, was confirmed a while back, that Go North East are getting 13 Gemini's from London, most are at bus and coach world in Blackburn, where they'll be refurbished.

A post was made on here but cba to look back

(17 Dec 2017, 9:24 pm)Malarkey wrote Personally I wouldn't put the South Tyne Versas on the 28's, they can't even manage the route they are currently on...

In terms of keeping to time, they can manage IF passenger numbers aren't higher than expected, which obviously they are all through the Xmas shopping season. Not helped when nearly all runs have only 1 minute turnaround at Luke's Lane and some only have 6 in Shields.

Reliability does seem quite poor currently though, a few days ago there were 3 Scanias, a Beamish Versa and another unbranded Versa out on the route. From what I've seen there's only meant to be two 'spare' vehicles needed (?)

(17 Dec 2017, 9:00 pm)S813 FVK wrote No, it hasn't. It just seems to be the likely option given that now-known fact that the Waggonway Solars do not have long left and those Versas happen to be being released at a similar time (but then again, the Coaster Omnicities are being released too). 

I agree that it would be nice to see the 35 gain the Versas for the same reason that you have stated although purely based on discussion earlier in the month about the whole 'council not allowing modified buses to be cascaded elsewhere until 2019' talk, it seems more likely that the Black Cats Solars will be going onto the 35 for now.

I think it's one of these cases where we get convinced that something is going to happen before it is made known and every post regarding that topic suddenly stops being clear that it is only speculation.

I think that it is highly unlikely that the Versa's currently operating on services 88/88A will end up at Deptford.  They are Euro 4 engines and the services 35/35A require Euro 5 engines.

(18 Dec 2017, 4:14 pm)BFK wrote I think that it is highly unlikely that the Versa's currently operating on services 88/88A will end up at Deptford.  They are Euro 4 engines and the services 35/35A require Euro 5 engines.

That also rules out the Omnicities, as they're Euro 4, basically confirming they'll use the "Black Cat" Scania's as temporary replacement until better buses can be sourced, which won't be until 2019.... complete downgrade from a Citaro.....

(18 Dec 2017, 5:57 pm)Michael wrote That also rules out the Omnicities, as they're Euro 4, basically confirming they'll use the "Black Cat" Scania's as temporary replacement until better buses can be sourced, which won't be until 2019.... complete downgrade from a Citaro.....

Or unless some route is recieving a decker upgrade which i carnt see the 35 getting it , 20s should get deckers

(18 Dec 2017, 7:31 pm)Citaro5326 wrote Or unless some route is recieving a decker upgrade which i carnt see the 35 getting it , 20s should get deckers

I can't see that, they're replacing the ex London Presidents, so they should replace deckers on another route.

(18 Dec 2017, 7:49 pm)Michael wrote I can't see that, they're replacing the ex London Presidents, so they should replace deckers on another route.

Weve got 30 B9s coming up in total , first bulk of 13 then a batch of 17 coming too what ive heard , if go north east had sense use them B9's for red kites then 5409-5419 on new 9 and 5325-5332 for 35 keeping 5333-5336 spares ...

(18 Dec 2017, 8:03 pm)Citaro5326 wrote Weve got 30 B9s coming up in total , first bulk of 13 then a batch of 17 coming too what ive heard , if go north east had sense use them B9's for red kites then 5409-5419 on new 9 and 5325-5332 for 35 keeping 5333-5336 spares ...

I wouldn't hold your breath with that one. I don't claim to know that it is wrong, but I can't help but think that somebody has misheard '13' as '30'.