Wouldn't even consider getting rid of the 9 and 49?

The latter would be at the top of my list if I had one.

(05 Feb 2019, 8:16 pm)S813 FVK wrote Wouldn't even consider getting rid of the 9 and 49?

The latter would be at the top of my list if I had one.

Aye, i forgot to add those to the list!

(05 Feb 2019, 7:29 pm)Michael wrote How long is the refurbishment expected to take on each of the Cobalt Clipper B9's?

The merc's were a 4 week turnaround iirc and I think 2 or 3 B9's have already gone down to Blackburn, might be a little longer for a Double Decker, probably going to be looking at 4-6 months to do them all depending on how much work Blackburn Bus & Coach World have to do of course for other operators.

(05 Feb 2019, 8:30 pm)Malarkey wrote The merc's were a 4 week turnaround iirc and I think 2 or 3 B9's have already gone down to Blackburn, might be a little longer for a Double Decker, probably going to be looking at 4-6 months to do them all depending on how much work Blackburn Bus & Coach World have to do of course for other operators.

Hopefully around 5 weeks per one, but i would imagine each one would be a different stage of refurbishment, looking forward to seeing them complete and if any of the FAB 56 B9's will go for refurbishment. 



Was looking at the fleet list and its mad because the Scania Omnicities will be the next single decker to leave the fleet after the Scania's, i would think they would remain in service until middle of 2020 before they start to move to a spare role.

(05 Feb 2019, 7:29 pm)Michael wrote Hopefully, with the review of branding in full swing, it won't be long until the next brand will be gone, Green Arrow brand won't go until the Scania's are withdrawn.

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Have a feeling, the Drifter brand will be dropped too, loop and Black Cats from the Scania, leaving the 35 and 38 as "Go North East", Toonlink, MetroMini and Venture.

Edit: and The 9 and The 49


The Indigo brand is all over, different buses throughout the brand, and all have different features....

I think with the branded express services such as the Red Arrows, Toon Link, Tynedale Xpress, Wear Xpress and the X9/X10 these service should all come under one brand as they used back the old days of the early 00's, so I would suggest bringing back "Go Xpress" for express services, for the Indigo's/Tynedale Links I would rebrand them as "Go Local" with sub branding for the local area those services serve.

For the other services in between that like the Citylinks, Drifters, Black Cats, Prince Bishops etc I would brand them up based on the areas they serve, so again back in the day Gateshead vehicles were a Dark Green, Sunderland were a Dark Blue and would again carry sub branding for certain services.

Lothian Buses seem to use a similar model with their use of Lothian, Lothian Country & East Coast Buses which works well for them.

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(05 Feb 2019, 8:41 pm)Michael wrote Hopefully around 5 weeks per one, but i would imagine each one would be a different stage of refurbishment, looking forward to seeing them complete and if any of the FAB 56 B9's will go for refurbishment. 



Was looking at the fleet list and its mad because the Scania Omnicities will be the next single decker to leave the fleet after the Scania's, i would think they would remain in service until middle of 2020 before they start to move to a spare role.

Over half the Omnicities will be in corporate livery once the Whey-Aye-50 brand has gone, 5255 to 5260 have been on the 50 since 2014 so surely the 50 is due some new buses this year which will then move them into a spare roll within the fleet.

(05 Feb 2019, 8:46 pm)Malarkey wrote I think with the branded express services such as the Red Arrows, Toon Link, Tynedale Xpress, Wear Xpress and the X9/X10 these service should all come under one brand as they used back the old days of the early 00's, so I would suggest bringing back "Go Xpress" for express services, for the Indigo's/Tynedale Links I would rebrand them as "Go Local" with sub branding for the local area those services serve.

For the other services in between that like the Citylinks, Drifters, Black Cats, Prince Bishops etc I would brand them up based on the areas they serve, so again back in the day Gateshead vehicles were a Dark Green, Sunderland were a Dark Blue and would again carry sub branding for certain services.

Lothian Buses seem to use a similar model with their use of Lothian, Lothian Country & East Coast Buses which works well for them.

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Over half the Omnicities will be in corporate livery once the Whey-Aye-50 brand has gone, 5255 to 5260 have been on the 50 since 2014 so surely the 50 is due some new buses this year which will then move them into a spare roll within the fleet.

All though I like the hark back to days of yore and think history plays an important part within public transport (often overlooked in the chase for the £) , Gateshead & District wore blue in the early 70's. You're talking about the best part of 50 years ago.
For most people, a nod that far back, will be completely missed and they won't see the point of going that far back. 
Where do you draw the line? Yellow and white of the 70's and 80's? Red and white of the 90's or RYB of the 2000's?

(04 Feb 2019, 10:42 am)jimmoc wrote Gne driver told me they lost 33 and 32A dose anyone know if this is true

I don't think that the contract for the 33 is due to be renewed this year

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(01 Feb 2019, 4:54 pm)GNE6312 wrote Been waiting in blyth for ages for the 16:26 309 to find on the app that it turned around because it was going to get to blyth 17 mins after departure and ve about 18 minutes late so people have  wait 30-40 mins for the next.
Hope that idiot gets the sack

I assume that you reported this to Go North East customer services, so that feedback can be passed onto the staff concerned.

Go North East have got their bid successfully won in the ultra-low emissions bus schemes. 9 electric vehicles.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...sv/preview

(06 Feb 2019, 11:16 am)RBZ 5459 wrote Go North East have got their bid successfully won in the ultra-low emissions bus schemes. 9 electric vehicles.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...sv/preview

I'll go with them going on the Q3.

(06 Feb 2019, 11:16 am)RBZ 5459 wrote Go North East have got their bid successfully won in the ultra-low emissions bus schemes. 9 electric vehicles.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...sv/preview

Q3 seems likely?

(06 Feb 2019, 11:48 am)Tom wrote Q3 seems likely?

Citylink 57 and 58's could also be a possibility.

(06 Feb 2019, 12:15 pm)Malarkey wrote Citylink 57 and 58's could also be a possibility.

PVR's for the Drifter, Saltwell Park and the Loop are 8 too.

Edit:

Wonder what kind of buses they'll be?

(06 Feb 2019, 11:16 am)RBZ 5459 wrote Go North East have got their bid successfully won in the ultra-low emissions bus schemes. 9 electric vehicles.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...sv/preview

Was this a bid in relation to the Gateshead and Newcastle clean air schemes? 

Makes sense a cross-river, urban service (rather than anything going beyond those boroughs) if so.

(06 Feb 2019, 1:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote Was this a bid in relation to the Gateshead and Newcastle clean air schemes? 

Makes sense a cross-river, urban service (rather than anything going beyond those boroughs) if so.

In Martijn Gilbert's tweet welcoming the news, he did make the point of including both Newcastle and Gateshead within it
https://twitter.com/MartijnGNE/status/10...93856?s=20

53/54 initially jumped out at me, but like a few other suggestions put forward, this only has a PVR of 8 and the proposition of an electric bus sitting around in the depot all day because the 'main' 8 are operational doesn't sound too good. Having said that, I'm sure they would find a route to allocate the spare bus to when not required to cover on the main routes.

(06 Feb 2019, 1:44 pm)S813 FVK wrote In Martijn Gilbert's tweet welcoming the news, he did make the point of including both Newcastle and Gateshead within it
https://twitter.com/MartijnGNE/status/10...93856?s=20

53/54 initially jumped out at me, but like a few other suggestions put forward, this only has a PVR of 8 and the proposition of an electric bus sitting around in the depot all day because the 'main' 8 are operational doesn't sound too good. Having said that, I'm sure they would find a route to allocate the spare bus to when not required to cover on the main routes.

I hadn't seen that tweet, but remembered discussion in the past regarding bids and the clean air schemes. 

Having a spare does make sense, particularly if they're justifying the business case, by being able to maintain the PVR and correct allocation.

Go North East have issued a press release.

Electric buses to hit the streets of Newcastle and Gateshead
Read more: http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/e...ead-357749

(06 Feb 2019, 2:43 pm)Dan wrote Go North East have issued a press release.

Electric buses to hit the streets of Newcastle and Gateshead
Read more: http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/e...ead-357749

The release, and other sources, specifically mention operation between Gateshead and Newcastle across the Tyne Bridge, which would seem to eliminate the Q3, Newcastle side only, and the Q1/Q2, not via the Tyne Bridge, from the running.

I go with the 57. The 57 operates in Newcastle,
Gateshead And Small part of North Tyneside.
In fact the 57 follows a route in where the councils have been told to reduce emissions on roads. Newcastle City Centre,Coast Rd and Parts around Gateshead. This overall makes me think that it’s the 57 which these are for.

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(06 Feb 2019, 4:53 pm)NewcastleOne wrote I go with the 57. The 57 operates in Newcastle,
Gateshead And Small part of North Tyneside.
In fact the 57 follows a route in where the councils have been told to reduce emissions on roads. Newcastle City Centre,Coast Rd and Parts around Gateshead. This overall makes me think that it’s the 57 which these are for.

And also the Tyne Bridge.

(06 Feb 2019, 4:53 pm)NewcastleOne wrote I go with the 57. The 57 operates in Newcastle,
Gateshead And Small part of North Tyneside.
In fact the 57 follows a route in where the councils have been told to reduce emissions on roads. Newcastle City Centre,Coast Rd and Parts around Gateshead. This overall makes me think that it’s the 57 which these are for.

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And also the Tyne Bridge.

More likely the 57 or 58 now, but what about the 53/54?, not sure on the route from Gateshead to Newcastle, never use the service.


Edit: Means 8 streetlites to the loop, withdrawing the Scania's.


Edit: Hope the buses are Volvo 7900 but the electric version - https://www.volvobuses.co.uk/en-gb/our-o...ctric.html

Early 2020 though, still a while yet

Great news about the electric buses!

The 57 would certainly seem to fit the bill with working through Central Newcastle & Central Gateshead, & using the Tyne Bridge and Coast Rd which are both pollution hotspots.

However my initial guess was the 53/54 if I'm being honest, as this is a shorter route than runs more centrally and closer to the depot for getting back to the chargers, (although an extra charger could always be put in at Gateshead Interchange for use on layovers?).

Thinking aloud here, I'd re-route 53/54 so it pretty much went around the bus loop in Newcastle City Centre.
(Northbound from Gateshead Interchange it would call at Hills St, then across the Tyne Bridge and serve Tyne Bridge North End, Market St East, John Dobson St/City Hall OR St Mary's Place for Haymarket, possibly Eldon Square Bus Station, then Newgate St/Maldron Hotel, Grainger St South for Central Station, St Nicholas St/High Level Bridge North, Gateshead Wellington St, Gateshead Interchange, and then after that I'm not too sure. Maybe it could go further down Durham Road as that is a busy corridor and it will still serve Saltwell Park half way along it, then terminate & turn back at the Angel of the North/A1 roundabout which in future may be a Park & Ride site by the sounds of it).  

I'd also have it renumbered & rebranded to promote it more as a central shuttle linking the two major central areas together.
A bit like the Quaylink is still often more noticeable and accessible to tourists over other local buses, this too would become a known service to tourists, residents, and even longer distance/park & ride commuters as the shuttle for getting in, around & between Newcastle & Gateshead, and along Durham Road.
"City Shuttle" - The clean green city centre connection machine.    ;-)    
Much better than 53/54 Saltwell Park which I think as a brand doesn't entice anyone. The different numbers for different directions of the circular route is confusing too, along with the 'Newcastle' destination even on Gateshead-bound services. 

...Having said that if it was going to branch out down Durham Rd it could be a cross-city service and branch out down the Coast Rd at the other end of the route, (turning back at the Wallsend roundabout), OR go down the Great North Road as that is polluted too ...but already has a wealth of bus services I suppose. I guess making it cross-city though is almost leaning back towards the Citylink57 suggestion.

Oh well, we'll have to wait and see!

(06 Feb 2019, 5:09 pm)Michael wrote More likely the 57 or 58 now, but what about the 53/54?, not sure on the route from Gateshead to Newcastle, never use the service.


Edit: Means 8 streetlites to the loop, withdrawing the Scania's.


Edit: Hope the buses are Volvo 7900 but the electric version - https://www.volvobuses.co.uk/en-gb/our-o...ctric.html

Early 2020 though, still a while yet

It won’t be them. Martin has said that they will be charged at Riverside over Night instead of Destination panels or what ever they are called.
My mind springs to the MMC 200 EV

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Also the 53/54 mainly goes on back streets in Gateshead where it sometimes is the only service. It does opt in some busy areas eg New CC and Gate TC but other than that now really where the air quality needs to be reduced to the same as Coast Rd,Tyne Bridge And Other parts.

(05 Feb 2019, 10:31 pm)busmanT wrote I don't think that the contract for the 33 is due to be renewed this year

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I assume that you reported this to Go North East customer services, so that feedback can be passed onto the staff concerned.

When do the 32A and 33/33A contracts expire? I hope Go North East keeps the services. I expect the 32A would go to Arriva, no idea about the 33/33A.

Forgot to say yesterday but 6017 broke down around the corner from the village on the 309 about half 5

(06 Feb 2019, 10:38 pm)JM03 wrote Forgot to say yesterday but 6017 broke down around the corner from the village on the 309 about half 5

I seen it and its fromt panel had came loose and fell off. Engineer quickly put back on and bus was in move again

(06 Feb 2019, 6:31 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Thinking aloud here, I'd re-route 53/54 so it pretty much went around the bus loop in Newcastle City Centre...

...

Much better than 53/54 Saltwell Park which I think as a brand doesn't entice anyone...

I'm sure the people of Coatsworth and Saltwell Roads will be happy to lose their service for the sake of a duplicate 21! Also, the 'Saltwell Park' brand likely catches the eye of people who want to go to Saltwell Park and environs, so I'd say it does its job rather well. 

You do have a point about the destination blind only saying Newcastle though (the official terminus due to it being a circular route). Could do with one that starts as 'Bensham (then Newcastle)' which changes to 'Newcastle' halfway round.

My would agree that the electric buses should go on the 53/54 as it runs through a lot of Newcastle City Centre, operates down some of the busiest roads, and the PVR of 8 is perfect. Plus they could advertise it that the Saltwell Parks have gone Greener. The size of the BYD D9UR / ADL Enviro 200MMCs would be perfect for the route too. Plus the 53/54 is probably due some new buses too.

Then the short streetlites can be displaced onto the 97 for example.

9088 has landed itself in the Saltmeadows pits - has it been involved in an accident?

9088 on 4 Just left concord for Heworth

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

(06 Feb 2019, 11:50 pm)MrBoyt wrote I'm sure the people of Coatsworth and Saltwell Roads will be happy to lose their service for the sake of a duplicate 21!

Fair enough, I wasn't really sure where it went after G'head Int.

5370 just pulled in to park lane with the 6 to Newcastle on... very confused passengers, was quickly changed though