New Consett depot officially opened today
https://twitter.com/MartijnGNE/status/11...1191771136

Also of note that 5452 is the first bus to carry the revised fleet livery.

I dont think the new livery looks too bad but I didn't think there was anything wrong with the current one. 

Does anyone know when Stanley is officially moving into the new depot?

5452 reentered service this afternoon on the 49's at around half one at the MetroCentre, here it is seen here at Swalwell. -https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/40421286073/in/dateposted-public/

The new livery for me looks alright but looks much better on a double than a single decker.

The new livery for me looks alright but looks much better on a double than a single decker.

I think it needs a splash of blue on the front bumper and a bit of yellow under the front windscreen would've made it look a lot better.

I had a proper rant to Martijn Gilbert on Twitter last night regarding the new livery. Not a fan of it at all. The photo of the StreetLite in the new livery isn't that bad - I do like the yellow being incorporated onto it again like it used to be years ago, but I can't see how this is going to work on brands such as the Angel and Red Arrows.

Curse of the advert board striked again... just needed a few inches to the left 

This one was just the "prototype". Some minor changes to be expected to accommodate the advert frames a bit better, going forward. It really wasn't as simple as having the advert frame just a few more inches to the left!

Taken at the launch event to commemorate the opening of the new Hownsgill Depot in Consett today, 6102 and 5452 depict the new style of branding for buses going forward.

Go North East: 5452 / NK66EWA by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

This one was just the "prototype". Some minor changes to be expected to accommodate the advert frames a bit better, going forward. It really wasn't as simple as having the advert frame just a few more inches to the left!

Taken at the launch event to commemorate the opening of the new Hownsgill Depot in Consett today, 6102 and 5452 depict the new style of branding for buses going forward.

Go North East: 5452 / NK66EWA by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

A possible solution for the advert boards - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/36530973241/

This one was just the "prototype". Some minor changes to be expected to accommodate the advert frames a bit better, going forward. It really wasn't as simple as having the advert frame just a few more inches to the left!

Taken at the launch event to commemorate the opening of the new Hownsgill Depot in Consett today, 6102 and 5452 depict the new style of branding for buses going forward.

Go North East: 5452 / NK66EWA by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

I was hoping it was a test run actually, good stuff.

I dont think the new livery looks too bad but I didn't think there was anything wrong with the current one. 

Does anyone know when Stanley is officially moving into the new depot?

6th April last day of ops at Stanley.

6th April last day of ops at Stanley.

March is going fast, 6th April seems like 5 minutes away! 

Riverside better hurry up and sort the extension part out!

Go North East 5452 / NK66 EWA by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Via points on the destination screen appear to be coming back as here is 5452 at Metrocentre today on service 49A to Winlaton

Go North East 5453 / NK66 EWB by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Whereas a photo of 5453 shown here on the same service doesn't have any via points on its destination screen

Is it a different blue as well - looks lighter on 5452.

Is it a different blue as well - looks lighter on 5452.

Yeah it is a lighter blue.

How come they're returning to via points after they'd made all the destinations so clear and easy to read?

How come they're returning to via points after they'd made all the destinations so clear and easy to read?

Probably because no one knew where the bus went apart from the end destination. I wonder if they'd seen Stagecoach's new destinations and decided to follow suit with the same layout.

Probably because no one knew where the bus went apart from the end destination. I wonder if they'd seen Stagecoach's new destinations and decided to follow suit with the same layout.

I don't know which destination method is best, clear end destination or via points. Stagecoach's new destinations? Stagecoach 63 yesterday had end destination City Centre in clear font like GNE, but otherwise the destinations have always looked the same as far as I have noticed.

I don't know which destination method is best, clear end destination or via points. Stagecoach's new destinations? Stagecoach 63 yesterday had end destination City Centre in clear font like GNE, but otherwise the destinations have always looked the same as far as I have noticed.

Stagecoach have recently been changing their destinations so that the via points are static instead of scrolling, although I dont think Newcastle's have been fully updated yet. I think they all should have at least 1 via point so you get an indication of where the bus is going for example if your at Dalton Park and are not too familiar with the bus network around there and want to travel towards Sunderland without asking the driver how do you know the bus displaying 'Hebburn' is going through Sunderland to get there?

Stagecoach have recently been changing their destinations so that the via points are static instead of scrolling, although I dont think Newcastle's have been fully updated yet. I think they all should have at least 1 via point so you get an indication of where the bus is going for example if your at Dalton Park and are not too familiar with the bus network around there and want to travel towards Sunderland without asking the driver how do you know the bus displaying 'Hebburn' is going through Sunderland to get there?

One thing I don't like about the scrolling via points is they remain unchanged for the whole trip. I thought about recently when I saw a 40 in the City Centre for Chapel House, but it says via Byker for example which has already been passed, someone could board for Byker as it says via Byker. I agree some indication of where the bus is going on route to its final destination is needed, but I do like the clear, large font. I thought maybe it could just change along the way, for example the Cobalt Clipper 309 from Newcastle to Blyth could have 'Cobalt' from Newcastle to Cobalt, Then 'Whitley Bay' until arriving in Whitley Bay and finally 'Blyth' until the end. 

Stagecoach needs to get rid of the green displays which are harder to read. Scrolling destinations are not really useful compared to static ones. Lots of via points is not really necessary, just maybe two via points. 

Are GNE going back to via points then? Are they going to be static or scrolling?

Stagecoach have recently been changing their destinations so that the via points are static instead of scrolling, although I dont think Newcastle's have been fully updated yet. I think they all should have at least 1 via point so you get an indication of where the bus is going for example if your at Dalton Park and are not too familiar with the bus network around there and want to travel towards Sunderland without asking the driver how do you know the bus displaying 'Hebburn' is going through Sunderland to get there?

As a driver on the 9 I get asked almost every time I come into Dalton Park whether I'm heading to Sunderland or not. Via points probably wouldn't help in that situation either as even if it had Murton on the front it would still say via Sunderland.

Saying that I'm pretty sure I've been asked if it goes to Sunderland, when I've been terminating there and had to check to see if I had my destination set correctly!

I don't know which destination method is best, clear end destination or via points. Stagecoach's new destinations? Stagecoach 63 yesterday had end destination City Centre in clear font like GNE, but otherwise the destinations have always looked the same as far as I have noticed.

I suppose theres pro's and con's with all styles.

Looking at bigger cities, New York City has via points on their buses but they flick every 1.5 seconds between the via points and a full screen destination which I quite like. As I've said before I would like to have seen this trialled here.  
Edinburgh & London however usually just have the final destination like GNE's clear full screen format, however it is more precise than just the name of the City which isn't very informative. Granted GNE buses with the new controller do change from Newcastle to the actual terminating point part way through the route, which is my personal preference over the newest style 2-line format with bold destination on the 1st line & two via points on the 2nd line.

As for the Stagecoach service saying 'City Centre' in full screen, I believe this is just for short services that terminate in Central Newcastle. The big clear screen with no scrolling points is so different to their usual displays, it should mean people spot it and not board expecting a cross-city service.

As a driver on the 9 I get asked almost every time I come into Dalton Park whether I'm heading to Sunderland or not. Via points probably wouldn't help in that situation either as even if it had Murton on the front it would still say via Sunderland.

Saying that I'm pretty sure I've been asked if it goes to Sunderland, when I've been terminating there and had to check to see if I had my destination set correctly!

Almost guaranteed to happen at Dalton Park from experience, happened when it was still the 61 to Sunderland, hear the same with the Arriva 22/23 and similar with the Seaham services. Probably passengers just wanting to ensure that the bus is definitely heading in the direction they want to go in more than anything as there has been times buses have come in with wrong destinations on, I once intended to catch a 22 to Peterlee and it came in still showing Sunderland whilst on the return trip to Durham.

Is the issue with Dalton Park more that the same bus stop is used for buses travelling in both directions of the route (just guessing here as I've never been), rather than an issue with the buses having a final destination only display?

Is the issue with Dalton Park more that the same bus stop is used for buses travelling in both directions of the route (just guessing here as I've never been), rather than an issue with the buses having a final destination only display?

That doesn't help. We get the same issue with the 62 and 14 at the arnison centre. (I got caught out by that in the glare of the sun, the other day. You wouldn't believe the strength of the tuts I got from a gaggle of old ladies.)

The 309 and 310 some of them via points now

309
Newcastle
Via Whitley Bay & Colbat

310
Newcastle
Via Colbat & Battle Hill

The 309 and 310 some of them via points now

309
Newcastle
Via Whitley Bay & Colbat

310
Newcastle
Via Colbat & Battle Hill

Go North East 6103 / NL63 XBT by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Noticed yesterday 6103 didn’t have them as pictured here

Go North East 6102 / NL63 YJF by kieron mathews, on Flickr

But 6102 pictured here and 6101 did have them

I noticed the lack of consistency on the refurbished Cobalt screens too. Whats that all about, plus how come their NSAs aren't enabled?

I noticed the lack of consistency on the refurbished Cobalt screens too. Whats that all about, plus how come their NSAs aren't enabled?

No they're not, they're getting new ones made.

Go North East 6103 / NL63 XBT by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Noticed yesterday 6103 didn’t have them as pictured here

Go North East 6102 / NL63 YJF by kieron mathews, on Flickr

But 6102 pictured here and 6101 did have them

The via points are visible at Whitley Bay but not at cobalt........perhaps they switch to display end point after via points have been travelled through?

I noticed the lack of consistency on the refurbished Cobalt screens too. Whats that all about, plus how come their NSAs aren't enabled?

Dan deals with all that, chances are he hasn't had the chance yet to update them as he has had other things to do as he is part of the commercial team at Go North East which has more to it than simply updating destination screens and testing NSA's work, he does quite a lot on the promotional side of things as well, yesterday's opening ceremony for the new depot being a good example.

As you referenced "screens", are you talking about the destination screens or the internal screens for the next stop announcements?

As for the NSA's I was on both 6101 and 6103 the other day and the NSA's were enabled with the lass from down south doing them.

The via points are visible at Whitley Bay but not at cobalt........perhaps they switch to display end point after via points have been travelled through?

Got a photo of 6101 at Cobalt Park on Friday and it had them



Here’s a close up from my photo


Sent from my iPhone XS using Tapatalk

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The via points are visible at Whitley Bay but not at cobalt........perhaps they switch to display end point after via points have been travelled through?

Got a photo of 6101 at Cobalt Park on Friday and it had them



Here’s a close up from my photo


Sent from my iPhone XS using Tapatalk