(15 Sep 2018, 10:19 pm)Malarkey wrote 14 - Volvo B8RLE Wright Eclipse 3 - Toon Link
15 - Volvo B8RLE Wright Eclipse 3 - Whey-Aye-50
14 - Volvo B8RLE Wright Eclipse 3 - Connections4
10 - Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid 3 - Citylink 58
12 - Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid 3 - Black Cats 35/38
5 - Scania Omnicities to Percy Main replacing Volvo B7RLE's
8 - Scania Omnicities to CLS replacing Wright Solars
14 - Mercedes Citaros Washington to Riverside replacing Green Arrow Solars - x2 Spare
10 - Optare Versas replacing Loop Solars - x2 Spare
16 - Scania Omnicity replacing 09reg Versas
(15 Sep 2018, 11:01 pm)JM03 wrote Doubt they'll take so many deckers to Washington and isn't the 58 and Q1/2/3 already getting the streetlights
(16 Sep 2018, 12:14 pm)Malarkey wrote The B8RLE's are not deckers - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...Qsz-xius9m
First i've heard the 58/Quaylink rumour mind.
(16 Sep 2018, 4:06 pm)Adrian wrote It would be an interesting change of strategy to suggest GNE would purchase 43x Volvo B8RLEs, when they have decided otherwise in the past, when perhaps they'd have been a more suitable vehicle. The Prince Bishops and Durham Diamonds spring to mind.
(16 Sep 2018, 4:29 pm)Malarkey wrote I agree, I think with the new MD from Reading Buses coming in there will be a change in strategy when comes to buying buses, my suggestion was merely with standardisation in mind given the amount of vehicles which have been purchased from Wrightbus in recent years.
It is of my understanding the new MD is not a fan of Wrightbus products, think this is very well supported given Reading Buses have only purchased 7 Streetlites and 6 Streetdecks compared to the amount of vehicles they've purchased from Alexander Dennis since 2013.
(16 Sep 2018, 10:09 pm)L469 YVK wrote On that note, Reading Buses took on some Greenline work and they trialed the BCI Excellence (double decker). Wonder if one might appear as a demo up here at some point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoN6A8mJUc4
(video not mine)
(26 Oct 2018, 9:03 am)Michael wrote Wonder if we will see an investment in the Sunderland Connect next year as its 6 and 7 years since the hybrid Solo's first entered service.
I think the buses were joint funded by the Uni and Council?, so would be interesting to see what would happen to them...
(26 Oct 2018, 11:20 am)cbma06 wrote I was told by a driver that the new MD dislikes the streetlites, time will tell when new buses arrive.
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(26 Oct 2018, 9:03 am)Michael wrote Wonder if we will see an investment in the Sunderland Connect next year as its 6 and 7 years since the hybrid Solo's first entered service.
I think the buses were joint funded by the Uni and Council?, so would be interesting to see what would happen to them...
(26 Oct 2018, 2:47 pm)Dan wrote Part of the new contract, which came into effect last month, was for the operator to supply 3x Euro 6 vehicles.
Dispensation is allowed to permit time for an operator to buy these vehicles (as they won't be owned by the council this time around), but yes, I'd certainly expect to see three new Solos for the Sunderland Connect some time within the next few months.
Go North East will be able to buy the Hybrids at a reduced rate given they've been maintained by the company since new, but given how expensive their parts are when they're out of warranty, I'm doubtful they will be bought.
(26 Oct 2018, 2:47 pm)Dan wrote Part of the new contract, which came into effect last month, was for the operator to supply 3x Euro 6 vehicles.
Dispensation is allowed to permit time for an operator to buy these vehicles (as they won't be owned by the council this time around), but yes, I'd certainly expect to see three new Solos for the Sunderland Connect some time within the next few months.
Go North East will be able to buy the Hybrids at a reduced rate given they've been maintained by the company since new, but given how expensive their parts are when they're out of warranty, I'm doubtful they will be bought.
(30 Oct 2018, 12:20 am)JP6004 wrote Aaaaah [emoji14]Penny dropped there eventually!
(30 Oct 2018, 6:09 am)Dan wrote Penny dropped there eventually!
I may be proven wrong as this one is just my personal opinion, but there is limited scope for use of those Hybrids and as I say, the Hybrid nature of them means that there are expensive bills to pay as soon as they're out of warranty
Technology moves on and actually they cost quite a bit to run compared to a Euro 6 diesel Solo.
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(30 Oct 2018, 8:08 am)Michael wrote Shame because they're decent buses, will the new solo's have Stop Announcements built in?
The current ones have them, but not sure whos choice it was to put them in, because i've used it a few times and the standard compared to the likes of the Fab 56 etc, aren't very good...
(30 Oct 2018, 8:57 pm)Dan wrote Nope. All down to Nexus.
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(10 Nov 2018, 10:02 pm)JM03 wrote Wright streetdeck micro-hybrid 3
Fab fifty six (6334-6348)
plus 2 spare (6349 and 6350)
To be given new orange and black 'fab fifty six' branding.
Wright gemini 2 eclipse
Crusaders (former fab fifty six plus back ups 6085-6100) Plus 6043 and 6084 to fill full crusader PVR
Replacing mercs plus burn down 5319 to start phasing out more solars as well as giving more capacity/flexability for the crusaders.
6159-61 brung in from Stanley for back ups on 10s,26/27 and X9/10 with long omnidekkas taking their place at Consett