Going back to the discussion of the announcements saying the service it is operating, I'm on a 21 atm and have been hearing the "this is the Angel 21 service..." announcements upon departure from each stop and I don't see the problem with it, seems like just announcing another stop for me, although it seems to delay the next stop being announced, we stopped at the stop before Pity Me, Front Street and the announcement for the stop only just about came up in time for that bus stop. When I stopped paying my full attention to them, it just became background noise.

Another observation on this 21 journey is this contactless notice on the wheelchair ramp (excuse the duff quality, my phone takes a week to respond to the fact that I want to take a photo):

(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.

Thought it would of been after the Sunderland Airshow?, which starts on 27th July, they seem confident all of the work will be done by then. 

The next Major closure is the Metro which Go North East are running 2 out of the 5 Metro replacement services for that half of day.


I thought work would of been done after these days so work/repaints can be continued on the current fleet.


-----


When are we expecting to see rest of the Solo's and Omnidekka's arrive?

(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.

An interesting article.
Some fame for you too!

(15 Jul 2018, 8:24 am)Tyne_Traveller wrote 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.

I think the new MD said something about having a look at the issue.

One of my big gripes about this new digital age, where everything is online or an app - is that everyone can get online or use an app.
The Rail Delivery Group are proposing discounts for those who use e-ticketing of sorts. 
What about those who can't get e-ticketing? Why should they be penalised?

(15 Jul 2018, 1:42 pm)Andreos1 wrote An interesting article.
Some fame for you too!


I think the new MD said something about having a look at the issue.

One of my big gripes about this new digital age, where everything is online or an app - is that everyone can get online or use an app.
The Rail Delivery Group are proposing discounts for those who use e-ticketing of sorts. 
What about those who can't get e-ticketing? Why should they be penalised?

When does he take over again?

(15 Jul 2018, 1:53 pm)Michael wrote When does he take over again?

Pretty sure he leaves Reading at the end of the month. 
Not sure of his start date at GNE. Aug/Sept?

Not a single B9TL/Omnidekka out on the usual 6/47 and 45/47/X71 cycles today - Omnicities are all out instead.

Is this going to be a permanent feature, or is it just a one off for whatever reason (I'm not aware of any extra work which needs double deckers, not that I've looked very hard)?

Hopefully a one-off. There's been a few incidents with double-deck vehicles on the Red Kite this week, so the decision was made to take the 'deckers off the 45/46/47 this weekend pending review next week.

The branded B9s were on other services yesterday - one on the 16 - which also helped to lift the crowds with the Miners Gala in Durham.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

(15 Jul 2018, 5:24 pm)Dan wrote Hopefully a one-off. There's been a few incidents with double-deck vehicles on the Red Kite this week, so the decision was made to take the 'deckers off the 45/46/47 this weekend pending review next week.

The branded B9s were on other services yesterday - one on the 16 - which also helped to lift the crowds with the Miners Gala in Durham.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

What kind of incidents?, must be serious for them to have a meeting next week.

(15 Jul 2018, 5:24 pm)Dan wrote The branded B9s were on other services yesterday - one on the 16 - which also helped to lift the crowds with the Miners Gala in Durham.

All four appeared to be on 16/16A yesterday, with Durham diamonds covering on Red Kites.

I'd thought they'd done it specifically because of the Miners Gala, but it appears that them being allocated on that day was more of a coincidence.

(15 Jul 2018, 1:42 pm)Andreos1 wrote An interesting article.
Some fame for you too!

Was quite unexpected and has given me a bit boost as I have been feeling quite down and not myself recently.

(15 Jul 2018, 5:38 pm)Michael wrote What kind of incidents?, must be serious for them to have a meeting next week.

Low hanging branch at Rowlands Gill.

(15 Jul 2018, 5:24 pm)Dan wrote Hopefully a one-off. There's been a few incidents with double-deck vehicles on the Red Kite this week, so the decision was made to take the 'deckers off the 45/46/47 this weekend pending review next week.

The branded B9s were on other services yesterday - one on the 16 - which also helped to lift the crowds with the Miners Gala in Durham.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

We saw couple on the 16s. Had a nice ride home from Stanley in one, too. Pleasant change from the sweaty streetlites.

4964 on driver training (L plates) through Corbridge Hill Street @ 13:45 today.

(13 Jul 2018, 3:20 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote 6940 MOT'd and heading up this weekend for the swap.

EYMS drivers did the swap this morning rather than GNE staff heading south to pick them up on Sunday as in previous weeks - 6940 now at Deptford.

Go North East: 6940 / PJ02RBF by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

(15 Jul 2018, 7:33 pm)BusLoverMum wrote We saw couple on the 16s. Had a nice ride home from Stanley in one, too. Pleasant change from the sweaty streetlites.

Although fingers crossed the decision to change from double to single deck on the 45/46/47 should only be temporary, the deckers were only needed on the 47 when the timetables were unachievable. The good thing I suppose is that if the decision was made permanent and some more Streetlites were ordered, the acquisition of EYMS could potentially put them to good use rather than sitting in Washington / CLS / Crook as spares or being dumped on the 327.

(16 Jul 2018, 3:45 pm)L469 YVK wrote Although fingers crossed the decision to change from double to single deck on the 45/46/47 should only be temporary, the deckers were only needed on the 47 when the timetables were unachievable. The good thing I suppose is that if the decision was made permanent and some more Streetlites were ordered, the acquisition of EYMS could potentially put them to good use rather than sitting in Washington / CLS / Crook as spares or being dumped on the 327.

I doubt Go North East would look to offload any of their newer buses to EYMS. If anything, it'll continue to be the oldest members of the fleet to swap between the two.

Issues on 6314? Parked up in a layby on the A19 about half an hour back.
Just short of Peterlee northbound. Passengers on grass verge and others still aboard.

(16 Jul 2018, 3:51 pm)Dan wrote I doubt Go North East would look to offload any of their newer buses to EYMS. If anything, it'll continue to be the oldest members of the fleet to swap between the two.

But what could be done with 6118-21 if removed from the Red Kite? Suppose they'd make good spares for Washington and Chester Le Street (incl Crook) or the 327 or even remaining at Stanley but used on the 15's.

(16 Jul 2018, 5:27 pm)L469 YVK wrote But what could be done with 6118-21 if removed from the Red Kite? Suppose they'd make good spares for Washington and Chester Le Street (incl Crook) or the 327 or even remaining at Stanley but used on the 15's.

Maybe the council can just cut the branches down and begone with the issue?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

(16 Jul 2018, 5:34 pm)Jamie M wrote Maybe the council can just cut the branches down and begone with the issue?

Now that sounds like a plan... 

Having said that though, Dan's "...pending review next week" statement in his post yesterday immediately suggested that there were more issues than a few low branches, but I don't think we need to go into that too much. After all, I could just be looking too far into it.

I'm still not entirely convinced by the statement that the B9TLs were only put on the 47 because of an unachievable timetable. More likely to be because they felt double deckers were necessary for passenger loadings?

Low branches like to hit into upper-deck windscreens causing costly damage! Another day of B9TLs on the 16s suggest nothing has changed as of yet...

As for the B9s, yes partly to do with passenger numbers on the 47 at peak times but mainly because the buses were pretty much readily available (and they were cheaper than brand new double-decks!)

I'd think it'd be more likely for a batch of brand new double-decks to replace the entire allocation rather than four more Streetlites bought to join the existing Streetlite allocation... but that'd be my thoughts for a different thread.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

(16 Jul 2018, 6:06 pm)Dan wrote Low branches like to hit into upper-deck windscreens causing costly damage! Another day of B9TLs on the 16s suggest nothing has changed as of yet...

As for the B9s, yes partly to do with passenger numbers on the 47 at peak times but mainly because the buses were pretty much readily available (and they were cheaper than brand new double-decks!)

I'd think it'd be more likely for a batch of brand new double-decks to replace the entire allocation rather than four more Streetlites bought to join the existing Streetlite allocation... but that'd be my thoughts for a different thread.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Fully agree.

It was your comment (for all I say 'your', this is by no means me playing the blame game) about a review and I just couldn't think of why a review would need to take place for low branches when all they would have to do is make the local authority aware so they can go out and trim them back. After going up and down the same road for 3 years, a review to potentially remove them from the services didn't seem right either. Both of these thoughts is why I put forward the suggestion that there was something else causing an issue too.

Appreciate that I probably look like a fool, but I've got to do something to fill in all this spare time I've got now!

(16 Jul 2018, 6:06 pm)Dan wrote Low branches like to hit into upper-deck windscreens causing costly damage! Another day of B9TLs on the 16s suggest nothing has changed as of yet...

As for the B9s, yes partly to do with passenger numbers on the 47 at peak times but mainly because the buses were pretty much readily available (and they were cheaper than brand new double-decks!)

I'd think it'd be more likely for a batch of brand new double-decks to replace the entire allocation rather than four more Streetlites bought to join the existing Streetlite allocation... but that'd be my thoughts for a different thread.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Only capacity issue on the 47 before Apr 2016 was buses running late due to a tight timetable. Has passenger numbers grown on the 45/46/47 enough to warrant double deckers?

---

(16 Jul 2018, 6:06 pm)Dan wrote Low branches like to hit into upper-deck windscreens causing costly damage! Another day of B9TLs on the 16s suggest nothing has changed as of yet...

As for the B9s, yes partly to do with passenger numbers on the 47 at peak times but mainly because the buses were pretty much readily available (and they were cheaper than brand new double-decks!)

I'd think it'd be more likely for a batch of brand new double-decks to replace the entire allocation rather than four more Streetlites bought to join the existing Streetlite allocation... but that'd be my thoughts for a different thread.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Only capacity issue on the 47 before Apr 2016 was buses running late due to a tight timetable. Has passenger numbers grown on the 45/46/47 enough to warrant double deckers?

(16 Jul 2018, 6:06 pm)Dan wrote Low branches like to hit into upper-deck windscreens causing costly damage! Another day of B9TLs on the 16s suggest nothing has changed as of yet...

As for the B9s, yes partly to do with passenger numbers on the 47 at peak times but mainly because the buses were pretty much readily available (and they were cheaper than brand new double-decks!)

I'd think it'd be more likely for a batch of brand new double-decks to replace the entire allocation rather than four more Streetlites bought to join the existing Streetlite allocation... but that'd be my thoughts for a different thread.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Could always convert one of the withdrawn buses around back of Salties into a tree cutter.

6168 and 6169 were on the late afternoon X21s yesterday  but neither showed on GNE's bus app

(17 Jul 2018, 8:11 am)Coppercap40 wrote 6168 and 6169 were on the late afternoon X21s yesterday  but neither showed on GNE's bus app

Neither have yet been included in Go North East's own tracking system (the company only upload changes to GNE's fleet periodically) which is why they wouldn't show in the app.

Go North East Tynedale Links 723 / YD63 UZC by kieron mathews, on Flickr

723 has entered service, seen on service 684 at 13:42


Sent from my iPhone 7+ using Tapatalk

6120 was back on Red Kite this morning.

(17 Jul 2018, 2:22 pm)Pulsar wrote 6120 was back on Red Kite this morning.

They seemed to give them a go this morning, but it doesn’t appear to be successful. Either on 16/16A or scholars by this afternoon

(17 Jul 2018, 4:24 pm)S813 FVK wrote They seemed to give them a go this morning, but it doesn’t appear to be successful. Either on 16/16A or scholars by this afternoon

Ah that makes sense now because I was on 6120 on a 45 to Consett this morning but then I saw it on a peak X21 this afternoon. Not too many tree problems on my trip but they looked bad in the other direction so can see why it was taken off.