(10 Jul 2018, 8:38 pm)Josh wrote I actually prefer the scrolling blinds.


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6055 to E-Lane?
I noticed that other day


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Didn't get the id unfortunately. Would have hit Shiney heading towards Easington Lane approx 5pm.
I was on the other side of the carriageway at the time.

I have to say 6069 is a really ugly bus

(11 Jul 2018, 9:36 am)V514DFT wrote I have to say 6069 is a really ugly bus

Yeah I hope they have an updated format, or the big days out promo ends soon.

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9090 has entered service on the 185


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(11 Jul 2018, 9:43 am)Jamie M wrote Yeah I hope they have an updated format, or the big days out promo ends soon.

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So do i,ive never seen such a ridiculous looking bus like that in my entire life

(11 Jul 2018, 9:57 pm)V514DFT wrote So do i,ive never seen such a ridiculous looking bus like that in my entire life

What's it's current state like?

6069 looks like this at the moment - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0940257984

Also after doing the Tall Ships today, could anyone tell me what the status of these vehicles are as they are the only ones I haven't got photos of....

6905 - LX06EBF - London Gemini
6931 - LX54GZV - London President
6940 - PJ02RBF - EYMS President

I have feeling the two Presidents failed to turn up in the North East, whilst I think the Gemini was parked up at Deptford Terrace all day today.

If 6905 is the only one left I need to photo due to the other 2 not arriving, what other things will the Geminis be used on over the summer.

(12 Jul 2018, 1:25 am)Rapidsnap wrote 6069 looks like this at the moment - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0940257984

Also after doing the Tall Ships today, could anyone tell me what the status of these vehicles are as they are the only ones I haven't got photos of....

6905 - LX06EBF - London Gemini
6931 - LX54GZV - London President
6940 - PJ02RBF - EYMS President

I have feeling the two Presidents failed to turn up in the North East, whilst I think the Gemini was parked up at Deptford Terrace all day today.

If 6905 is the only one left I need to photo due to the other 2 not arriving, what other things will the Geminis be used on over the summer.

6905 was taken out of service yesterday afternoon at around 3:30pm as it had an issue with the indicators, this has now been repaired so will be out and about again tomorrow.
6931 was out in service all day yesterday until around 8pm - P&R 4 and 5.
6940 wasn't put through MOT test in time at EYMS to make the journey north, which is why 790 (9093) has transferred north on loan this week.

All of these buses will be taken out of service after Tall Ships to allow work to be completed to them to bring them up to standard for September when they start new duties on their scholars services: fitment of LED destination displays, fitment of Go North East's standard CCTV/low bridge warning devices, any other mechanical work that needs to be undertaken, and potentially some going through repaint, to name a few things on the list.

(12 Jul 2018, 1:25 am)Rapidsnap wrote 6069 looks like this at the moment - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0940257984

Also after doing the Tall Ships today, could anyone tell me what the status of these vehicles are as they are the only ones I haven't got photos of....

6905 - LX06EBF - London Gemini
6931 - LX54GZV - London President
6940 - PJ02RBF - EYMS President

I have feeling the two Presidents failed to turn up in the North East, whilst I think the Gemini was parked up at Deptford Terrace all day today.

If 6905 is the only one left I need to photo due to the other 2 not arriving, what other things will the Geminis be used on over the summer.

Still?!
I'd have hoped something would have been done by now.

Just passed 719 on the x7 in Peterlee, the destination colour looks blue than normal white?


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(12 Jul 2018, 7:39 am)cbma06 wrote Just passed 719 on the x7 in Peterlee, the destination colour looks blue than normal white?


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It has a full colour front destination, rather than a white display, so what you see is essentially the colour display trying to mimic white. Like some of the colour route numbers, over time this develops a bit of a 'blue' tinge to it, as you describe for 719.

(12 Jul 2018, 6:08 am)Dan wrote 6905 was taken out of service yesterday afternoon at around 3:30pm as it had an issue with the indicators, this has now been repaired so will be out and about again tomorrow.
6931 was out in service all day yesterday until around 8pm - P&R 4 and 5.
6940 wasn't put through MOT test in time at EYMS to make the journey north, which is why 790 (9093) has transferred north on loan this week.

All of these buses will be taken out of service after Tall Ships to allow work to be completed to them to bring them up to standard for September when they start new duties on their scholars services: fitment of LED destination displays, fitment of Go North East's standard CCTV/low bridge warning devices, any other mechanical work that needs to be undertaken, and potentially some going through repaint, to name a few things on the list.

So are all the 69xx vehicles staying now?

(12 Jul 2018, 1:15 pm)Rapidsnap wrote So are all the 69xx vehicles staying now?

Yes - as discussed elsewhere on the board, Go North East has been awarded the contracts to operate over 70 Nexus Miscellaneous Works boards from September. The PVR won't increase by 70 as a number of these contracts can be 'tagged' onto services in the main commercial network, and some of these contracts are already operated by Go North East.

So what's here out of the 69xx fleet will stay, and there'll need to be a few more "new" additions to help cover everything...

(12 Jul 2018, 1:19 pm)Dan wrote Yes - as discussed elsewhere on the board, Go North East has been awarded the contracts to operate over 70 Nexus Miscellaneous Works boards from September. The PVR won't increase by 70 as a number of these contracts can be 'tagged' onto services in the main commercial network, and some of these contracts are already operated by Go North East.

So what's here out of the 69xx fleet will stay, and there'll need to be a few more "new" additions to help cover everything...

Well we still got the remainder of the Long Omnidekkas from Brighton to come North too.

(12 Jul 2018, 1:32 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Well we still got the remainder of the Long Omnidekkas from Brighton to come North too.

When will these new omnidekkas enter service and will and London get refurbished e.g.-New gne seats,USBS etc?

(12 Jul 2018, 1:38 pm)JM03 wrote When will these new omnidekkas enter service and will and London get refurbished e.g.-New gne seats,USBS etc?

You are aware they're going to be confined to scholars services the majority of the time that they are needed here, which could only be a year depending on how many contracts are not extended and lost in the next round of tendering?

(12 Jul 2018, 1:43 pm)S813 FVK wrote You are aware they're going to be confined to scholars services the majority of the time that they are needed here, which could only be a year depending on how many contracts are not extended and lost in the next round of tendering?

When will the tendering be opened up?

(12 Jul 2018, 1:47 pm)JM03 wrote When will the tendering be opened up?

In about 10 months time, then awarded again in around 12 months time, like this year.

So no, won't be re-trimmed or fitted with any additional features. Some of them may be repainted next month when they come back out of service, but that's about it, other than being fitted with 'proper' destinations (which is more than what some of the current operators of these contracts have!)

(12 Jul 2018, 1:51 pm)Dan wrote In about 10 months time, then awarded again in around 12 months time, like this year.

So no, won't be re-trimmed or fitted with any additional features. Some of them may be repainted next month when they come back out of service, but that's about it, other than being fitted with 'proper' destinations (which is more than what some of the current operators of these contracts have!)

Will some be stored at Saltmeadows roads depot?

(12 Jul 2018, 1:51 pm)Dan wrote In about 10 months time, then awarded again in around 12 months time, like this year.

So no, won't be re-trimmed or fitted with any additional features. Some of them may be repainted next month when they come back out of service, but that's about it, other than being fitted with 'proper' destinations (which is more than what some of the current operators of these contracts have!)

Proper destinations... I guess that is an LED type but unless an operator is operating school services with the destination board covered up(which I don't think any do) then why do you have to come across as a bit snobbish I'm afraid to say by saying GNE will have these proper destination blinds when a dot matrix or even a paper blind is more than suitable for services that are not exactly high on the priority list. OK, admittedly maybe a paper blind is not within the contract but don't come across as independents don't have the proper equipment but GNE will. It's all down to money at the end of the day Dan, GNE has bundles to spend on  LED blinds in comparison to an independent operator and that must be remembered and respected.

(13 Jul 2018, 1:45 am)Bus_User wrote Proper destinations... I guess that is an LED type but unless an operator is operating school services with the destination board covered up(which I don't think any do) then why do you have to come across as a bit snobbish I'm afraid to say by saying GNE will have these proper destination blinds when a dot matrix or even a paper blind is more than suitable for services that are not exactly high on the priority list. OK, admittedly maybe a paper blind is not within the contract but don't come across as independents don't have the proper equipment but GNE will. It's all down to money at the end of the day Dan, GNE has bundles to spend on  LED blinds in comparison to an independent operator and that must be remembered and respected.

You've perhaps misunderstood my post... Currently the buses being discussed are running round with vinyls for destination displays on the Tall Ships Park & Ride. As far as I'm concerned, these are not 'proper' destinations, and will be removed ahead of the new scholars contracts starting in September, to be fitted with 'proper' destinations. It wasn't intended as a 'snobbish' jab at any other operator.

On that topic though... Personally I've no issues with operators using buses with flipdot displays opposed to LED - they conform with PSVAR, so no problem as far as I'm concerned. There are a handful which operate with a bit of paper in the windscreen, and a yellow school bus sign as a rear route number display.

In the interests of having a constructive debate as it's been brought up, I am kind of with Andreos on this one. Far too often with contracts, either those which are annually tendered or for bigger 'one-off' jobs like the Tall Ships, it's a race to the bottom as far as quality is concerned.

Again, as in Andreos' case, totally understandable that the council/LA base these contracts on which operator can provide the cheapest and best value solution, but putting that to one side and looking at the perception some passengers will have based on these buses (which is the company's own brand/image etc - it's not the council/LA who are operating these services)... Externally, the bodywork condition on these ex-London B7s which have been acquired by Go North East is in a shocking state... At some point in time I think more or less every panel has been dented, when you see them in the flesh. When you hear the buses before you see them, that also gives off somewhat of a poor perception to passers-by (folk who are normally non-bus users) and probably won't encourage them to jump on-board a bus in that company's commercial network of services, if they were sitting on the fence.

As has been said in the other thread, operators would be willing to provide new(er) vehicles of a better quality, if the council/LA stipulated this in the contract.

Really not sure what gives you the impression that GNE has bundles of money to spend on LED destinations either? If this is a cost that GNE would incur as a result of taking the work on, you'd think it'd either be included within their tender model as a cost which would have to be covered, or it comes directly out of the profits made on these contracts. Going back to the previous discussion, this is why they won't be fitted with any additional features, such as Wi-Fi or USB sockets (it would have added too much cost which probably would have meant that GNE wouldn't have been awarded the contracts!)

One way or the other, it's what should be done by all of the operators operating these contracts, and in no way am I saying that it's every single one of the independents who seemingly aren't doing it. I saw a Henry Cooper Volvo B7RLE operating a scholars service a couple of weeks ago - it was absolutely spotless, the alloys were gleaming, the driver was in a shirt so looked fairly smart, and it was spot on-time in the morning rush hour... I'd doubt even Go North East could commit to this level of quality on all of the contracts they'll operate from September.

Henry Cooper Coaches: OBR297 by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

(12 Jul 2018, 6:08 am)Dan wrote 6905 was taken out of service yesterday afternoon at around 3:30pm as it had an issue with the indicators, this has now been repaired so will be out and about again tomorrow.
6931 was out in service all day yesterday until around 8pm - P&R 4 and 5.
6940 wasn't put through MOT test in time at EYMS to make the journey north, which is why 790 (9093) has transferred north on loan this week.

All of these buses will be taken out of service after Tall Ships to allow work to be completed to them to bring them up to standard for September when they start new duties on their scholars services: fitment of LED destination displays, fitment of Go North East's standard CCTV/low bridge warning devices, any other mechanical work that needs to be undertaken, and potentially some going through repaint, to name a few things on the list.

6940 MOT'd and heading up this weekend for the swap.

In the interests of having a constructive debate as it's been brought up, I am kind of with Andreos on this one. Far too often with contracts, either those which are annually tendered or for bigger 'one-off' jobs like the Tall Ships, it's a race to the bottom as far as quality is concerned.

Again, as in Andreos' case, totally understandable that the council/LA base these contracts on which operator can provide the cheapest and best value solution, but putting that to one side and looking at the perception some passengers will have based on these buses (which is the company's own brand/image etc - it's not the council/LA who are operating these services)... Externally, the bodywork condition on these ex-London B7s which have been acquired by Go North East is in a shocking state... At some point in time I think more or less every panel has been dented, when you see them in the flesh. When you hear the buses before you see them, that also gives off somewhat of a poor perception to passers-by (folk who are normally non-bus users) and probably won't encourage them to jump on-board a bus in that company's commercial network of services, if they were sitting on the fence.

Really not sure what gives you the impression that GNE has bundles of money to spend on LED destinations either? If this is a cost that GNE would incur as a result of taking the work on, you'd think it'd either be included within their tender model as a cost which would have to be covered, or it comes directly out of the profits made on these contracts. Going back to the previous discussion, this is why they won't be fitted with any additional features, such as Wi-Fi or USB sockets (it would have added too much cost which probably would have meant that GNE wouldn't have been awarded the contracts!)

One way or the other, it's what should be done by all of the operators operating these contracts, and in no way am I saying that it's every single one of the independents who seemingly aren't doing it. I saw a Henry Cooper Volvo B7RLE operating a scholars service a couple of weeks ago - it was absolutely spotless, the alloys were gleaming, the driver was in a shirt so looked fairly smart, and it was spot on-time in the morning rush hour... I'd doubt even Go North East could commit to this level of quality on all of the contracts they'll operate from September.

Henry Cooper Coaches: OBR297 by Daniel Graham, on Flickr
[/quote]
If people think the buses are bad, try Northern rails pacers, and as for Sunderlands docks, part of them look like a chernobyl aftermath, and we have the cheek to charge £20 a car parking!

(13 Jul 2018, 5:32 pm)makem1 wrote In the interests of having a constructive debate as it's been brought up, I am kind of with Andreos on this one. Far too often with contracts, either those which are annually tendered or for bigger 'one-off' jobs like the Tall Ships, it's a race to the bottom as far as quality is concerned.

Again, as in Andreos' case, totally understandable that the council/LA base these contracts on which operator can provide the cheapest and best value solution, but putting that to one side and looking at the perception some passengers will have based on these buses (which is the company's own brand/image etc - it's not the council/LA who are operating these services)... Externally, the bodywork condition on these ex-London B7s which have been acquired by Go North East is in a shocking state... At some point in time I think more or less every panel has been dented, when you see them in the flesh. When you hear the buses before you see them, that also gives off somewhat of a poor perception to passers-by (folk who are normally non-bus users) and probably won't encourage them to jump on-board a bus in that company's commercial network of services, if they were sitting on the fence.

Really not sure what gives you the impression that GNE has bundles of money to spend on LED destinations either? If this is a cost that GNE would incur as a result of taking the work on, you'd think it'd either be included within their tender model as a cost which would have to be covered, or it comes directly out of the profits made on these contracts. Going back to the previous discussion, this is why they won't be fitted with any additional features, such as Wi-Fi or USB sockets (it would have added too much cost which probably would have meant that GNE wouldn't have been awarded the contracts!)

One way or the other, it's what should be done by all of the operators operating these contracts, and in no way am I saying that it's every single one of the independents who seemingly aren't doing it. I saw a Henry Cooper Volvo B7RLE operating a scholars service a couple of weeks ago - it was absolutely spotless, the alloys were gleaming, the driver was in a shirt so looked fairly smart, and it was spot on-time in the morning rush hour... I'd doubt even Go North East could commit to this level of quality on all of the contracts they'll operate from September.

Henry Cooper Coaches: OBR297 by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

If people think the buses are bad, try Northern rails pacers, and as for Sunderlands docks, part of them look like a chernobyl aftermath, and we have the cheek to charge £20 a car parking!
[/quote]

Sunderland docks are a lot better now. I remember visiting the old Redby Travel garage in Hendon in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Walking past the flats was like taking your life in your hands.

With regards to councils taking the cheapest tender. I don't think you can get much worse than PCL Travel using an old Variety Club Sunshine Coach on the former Spirit Buses route.

Charles

Charles

When will 718 enter service at Peterlee?

The GNE X85 runs through Hexham to Newbrough - which apparently replaced a Tyne Valley Coaches route?

(13 Jul 2018, 9:20 pm)G-CPTN wrote The GNE X85 runs through Hexham to Newbrough - which apparently replaced a Tyne Valley Coaches route?

Hexham to Newbrough/Haydon Bridge was originally Tyne Valley 881 which ran irregularly. Replaced apprpx 2004 by the Arriva service 804 which ran hourly. Subsequently replaced by the 683 and now the X85.

Thought I would share this with everyone.

Coach & Bus Week Magazine have in the last week sat down with Commercial Director Stephen King to discuss how he made a name for himself in marketing, in the 4 page article photograph's from Myself and Daniel Graham feature, attached below is the article.

(12 Jul 2018, 1:19 pm)Dan wrote Yes - as discussed elsewhere on the board, Go North East has been awarded the contracts to operate over 70 Nexus Miscellaneous Works boards from September. The PVR won't increase by 70 as a number of these contracts can be 'tagged' onto services in the main commercial network, and some of these contracts are already operated by Go North East.

So what's here out of the 69xx fleet will stay, and there'll need to be a few more "new" additions to help cover everything...

This seems a lot of work to take on.
Will special schools rotas be formed and will drivers be employed for schools only or can this work be intergrated with existing work?

(14 Jul 2018, 6:19 pm)Malarkey wrote Thought I would share this with everyone.

Coach & Bus Week Magazine have in the last week sat down with Commercial Director Stephen King to discuss how he made a name for himself in marketing, in the 4 page article photograph's from Myself and Daniel Graham feature, attached below is the article.

All very well and good, but try finding a timetable leaflet. You wouldn't go in to a top restaurant or even a zero rated greasy spoon without seeing a menu. 

Not everyone has access to a PC nor are they willing to pick up a phone (if you can find the number) and ask. 

Perhaps marketing should look at this.