Recruitment Open Day

Metrocentre Coach Park on Sunday 10 June from 10am - 2pm

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/jointheteam/


Edit:

1 year until all the euro 5 Scania L94's can be withdrawn.


Edit:

Are all these buses the ones on temporary allocations in the fleet 648, 654, 695, 696, 706-708, 4942, 4944, 4958, 4960?

5313 looking forlorn at Tyne Dock

Now that the Coast Road's ex-Yorkshire Gemini 2s (that Arriva North East were short-changed with for their Max-spec Hybrids) are getting a fresh coat of paint and refurbishment, is there any plans/dates set for GNE's Cobalt Clippers to be given a brand refresh or fleet upgrade?

Reading the R&O working thread and the staff shuttle reminded me of an experience on the X66 recently.
Appreciate it is used by drivers and encouraged by management, but I'm still not convinced them using it to/from Riverside is actually a good thing as far as passengers are concerned.

A Metrocentre bound X66 was stopping at Dunston and a family sitting near the rear were ready to alight.
Pressing the bell not long after it cleared the lights near the old Garden Festival site, working through the already crowded saloon proved difficult.
Getting beyond the gaggle of drivers crowded around the front of the bus, even more so.

There must be a better way.
Appreciate it might not be as cost effective, but I am not sure this current method is working nor portraying the organisation in it's best light.

(02 Jun 2018, 4:39 pm)Andreos1 wrote Reading the R&O working thread and the staff shuttle reminded me of an experience on the X66 recently.
Appreciate it is used by drivers and encouraged by management, but I'm still not convinced them using it to/from Riverside is actually a good thing as far as passengers are concerned.

A Metrocentre bound X66 was stopping at Dunston and a family sitting near the rear were ready to alight.
Pressing the bell not long after it cleared the lights near the old Garden Festival site, working through the already crowded saloon proved difficult.
Getting beyond the gaggle of drivers crowded around the front of the bus, even more so.

There must be a better way.
Appreciate it might not be as cost effective, but I am not sure this current method is working nor portraying the organisation in it's best light.

Should have a staff shuttle like Deptford Depot do

(02 Jun 2018, 4:44 pm)Malarkey wrote Should have a staff shuttle like Deptford Depot do

It's definitely an option for them.
Not sure how what the cost implications would be.

Actually, forgot to mention in that last post (but you reminded me).
Was on the 2 the other week and as it crossed from Wear in to Harraton disaster struck.
An 81 and a 2 were coming in the opposite direction and we had to reverse back over the bridge.
First time I've seen it happen since that convo about the Renown and its broken reverse function.

(02 Jun 2018, 4:44 pm)Malarkey wrote Should have a staff shuttle like Deptford Depot do

They do during the evenings. They also used to during the day.

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(02 Jun 2018, 1:38 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Now that the Coast Road's ex-Yorkshire Gemini 2s (that Arriva North East were short-changed with for their Max-spec Hybrids) are getting a fresh coat of paint and refurbishment, is there any plans/dates set for GNE's Cobalt Clippers to be given a brand refresh or fleet upgrade?

I believe they're due a repaint including a new set of NSAs. 6116 will also most likely be painted and maybe even 6117 if the 309/310 go mostly standalone or extra running time is given to the 310 taking into account the extra running time that will be required for the new lights at Norham Road bridge.

Would be nice if some later journeys were added for the 309/310 too!

(02 Jun 2018, 4:39 pm)Andreos1 wrote Reading the R&O working thread and the staff shuttle reminded me of an experience on the X66 recently.
Appreciate it is used by drivers and encouraged by management, but I'm still not convinced them using it to/from Riverside is actually a good thing as far as passengers are concerned.

A Metrocentre bound X66 was stopping at Dunston and a family sitting near the rear were ready to alight.
Pressing the bell not long after it cleared the lights near the old Garden Festival site, working through the already crowded saloon proved difficult.
Getting beyond the gaggle of drivers crowded around the front of the bus, even more so.

There must be a better way.
Appreciate it might not be as cost effective, but I am not sure this current method is working nor portraying the organisation in it's best light.

Yeah, the better way would be for it not to stop in Dunston! Just Gateshead, Depot and Metrocentre.

(02 Jun 2018, 7:16 pm)L469 YVK wrote I believe they're due a repaint including a new set of NSAs. 6116 will also most likely be painted and maybe even 6117 if the 309/310 go mostly standalone or extra running time is given to the 310 taking into account the extra running time that will be required for the new lights at Norham Road bridge.

Would be nice if some later journeys were added for the 309/310 too!

Night services are poor. I’d usually get the 309 home then walk as I prefer the cobalt clipper buses and they’re earlier but not frequent enough so I end up using the 51/A or the metro. Need a every half an hour at night or maybe terminate all late 309s at Whitley would be a good option so they wouldn’t have to increase the PVR.

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Also, will miss the chicken road chicken road nsa on the 310.

(03 Jun 2018, 12:35 am)JM03 wrote Also, will miss the chicken road chicken road nsa on the 310.

The what? 

(03 Jun 2018, 12:19 pm)ne14ne1 wrote The what? 

There's a stop in west wallsend called "Chicken Road/Mullen Road. It shows on the next stop announcements (NSA).

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(03 Jun 2018, 12:20 pm)Jamie M wrote There's a stop in west wallsend called "Chicken Road/Mullen Road. It shows on the next stop announcements (NSA).

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Oh right. I've never been that far down the route.

(03 Jun 2018, 1:14 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Oh right. I've never been that far down the route.

The 310s go that way when heading to North Shields just after coming off the coast road. Think a 42/42A also goes near-by.

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6049 earlier cracked windscreen

6049 now at Saltmeadows Rd for a replacement windscreen.

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Since 718/719 and 6168 are now in "Go North East", how long before they enter service?

6168 is being re-trimmed first (you can see the absence of seats on my photo), so that one is a while off yet. Also have to undergo some minor driver famil, until they're comfortable with driving the 12m variant of the OmniDekka.

Solos awaiting delivery of a new cab door, and might need some work doing for the Next Stop Announcement kit installed. Otherwise not long for them.

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(05 Jun 2018, 4:34 am)Dan wrote Also have to undergo some minor driver famil, until they're comfortable with driving the 12m variant of the OmniDekka.

That quoted sectiom immediately suggests to me that they will be going to a depot/s that currently has the 10.6m variant - doesn’t narrow it down much as only a couple of depots have never had the Omnidekka before, but its something that may help with speculation for those who have the time.

I'm sure drivers can easily adapted between the two lengths. It be like driving a M-B Citaro one day, then driving a Volvo B9TL the next day or even going a Solo in the case of some depots.

(05 Jun 2018, 4:34 am)Dan wrote 6168 is being re-trimmed first (you can see the absence of seats on my photo), so that one is a while off yet. Also have to undergo some minor driver famil, until they're comfortable with driving the 12m variant of the OmniDekka.

Solos awaiting delivery of a new cab door, and might need some work doing for the Next Stop Announcement kit installed. Otherwise not long for them.

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Are all of the 2nd hand solo's getting them?

(05 Jun 2018, 10:53 am)Rapidsnap wrote I'm sure drivers can easily adapted between the two lengths. It be like driving a M-B Citaro one day, then driving a Volvo B9TL the next day or even going a Solo in the case of some depots.

Generally speaking, yes, but the vehicle length can be deceptive if you're used to it being of a certain size.

There were a couple of issues with the longer 11.7m Versa on Quaylink when they first moved across from the Citylink. It's easy to become quite relaxed with regards to vehicle size - there's a very clear difference between a Volvo B9TL and a Solo, but a Versa is often thought to be a Versa (or an OmniDekka is thought to be an OmniDekka in this instance).

Better to be safe than sorry - these 12m OmniDekkas will essentially be like driving a single-deck (long wheelbase) on routes normally served by short wheelbase double-deck buses. It's thought that this is one of the main reasons Brighton & Hove wish to oust them from their own fleet - the longer length means they're going to be a bit more awkward to get around (although ideal for Go North East, in terms of Special Events services, Metro Replacement, etc).

(05 Jun 2018, 10:54 am)Michael wrote Are all of the 2nd hand solo's getting them?

No - a nice surprise that the Next Stop Announcements had been left in from their previous operator. They won't be used from Day 1, though may be in the future.

718/719 have Next Stop Announcements (and are to a pretty good specification internally with high-back Civic V3 seats with black leather headrests), but 722 is of a much more basic specification (harder seats, no Next Stop Announcements, etc).

I don't have any photos of the interior of 718 or 719, but it is the same as Hybrid Versa 9084 (YJ64 DZM) which similarly came from Courtney Buses.

Go North East: 9084 / YJ64DZM by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Are all of these double deckers that are arriving for special event work or are any going to be allocated to depots for service work

(25 May 2018, 6:53 pm)JM03 wrote Edit: 

Looking through the fleet list... looks like ex London presidents are also arriving in the fleet:


6901-6919 are all Gemini (19)

6920-6934 are all presidents (15) 

Omnidekka's are 6162-6179 (18)

How many are going to percy main and which ones?
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(05 Jun 2018, 11:10 am)Dan wrote No - a nice surprise that the Next Stop Announcements had been left in from their previous operator. They won't be used from Day 1, though may be in the future.

718/719 have Next Stop Announcements (and are to a pretty good specification internally with high-back Civic V3 seats with black leather headrests), but 722 is of a much more basic specification (harder seats, no Next Stop Announcements, etc).

Ah right, sorry i misread your post.

Will 718/719 go to Crook then?, that means if the 18 ever got stop announcements, the stuff could be installed and turned on straight away.

And 2 of the other solo's replace the MPD's at Hexham?

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(05 Jun 2018, 11:15 am)Swiny1 wrote Are all of these double deckers that are arriving for special event work or are any going to be allocated to depots for service workHow many are going to percy main and which ones?

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All the ex London deckers are, they'll only be kept if Go North East win contracts starting in September. (Likely the Gemini's will be kept than the presidents)

The 69xx I suspect will be allocated where and when needed.

As for the "Super" Omnidekkas, I suspect they will be allocated to depots that need a large capacity on school services, though wouldn't be suprised if vehicles are drafted to other depots on loan for a weekend to cover Metro Replacement, Football Park and Ride or any other special event.

(05 Jun 2018, 11:19 am)Rapidsnap wrote The 69xx I suspect will be allocated where and when needed.

As for the "Super" Omnidekkas, I suspect they will be allocated to depots that need a large capacity on school services, though wouldn't be suprised if vehicles are drafted to other depots on loan for a weekend to cover Metro Replacement, Football Park and Ride or any other special event.

Stanley are having a few.

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Ive been told Next year the AD122 is getting brand new buses. Could this mean in October 635 and 636 will directly replace 618 and 619?

(05 Jun 2018, 7:17 pm)S830OFT wrote Ive been told Next year the AD122 is getting brand new buses. Could this mean in October 635 and 636 will directly replace 618 and 619?

Don't believe all you hear!

(05 Jun 2018, 7:32 pm)Dan wrote Don't believe all you hear!

Never trust the driver!

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(05 Jun 2018, 12:01 pm)Jamie M wrote Stanley are having a few.

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^

(05 Jun 2018, 7:33 pm)Jamie M wrote Never trust the driver!

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Let's hope you didn't hear that from a driver