(12 Sep 2019, 4:07 pm)Dan wrote

I don't get your logic - in one breath saying it's naff having different batches of StreetDecks on the X21, and in the next saying allocate 6301-07 to the X45/6/7 (so you'd have the same issue there?!) There have been two different interior specifications since May. 6332 had made up the PVR of the X21 with just 7 branded for a PVR of 8, since the route was extended to Tindale Crescent (and indeed since delivery 6332 has spent most of its time being the spare bus for the X21).

Repainting 6332 and 6333 for the X21 provides customers on this route with a more reliable service, and displaces the older StreetDecks to become spare vehicles for the 21/X21 (three rather than just two). The three oldest StreetDecks, 6301 - 6303, have been identified as some of the most problematic (incurring the most defects and/or off service most frequently).

The partial renewal of the fleet with two new buses having been ordered also shows Go North East's commitment to improving commuter services and investing into its new X-lines brand.

I'm with JP6004 on this one...

What I'm saying is having 2 different batches is better than 3 different batches.
I personally think having 2 batches on the Red Kites would be less of an issue because there are 3 different services, but with the X21, there'll be 3 different batches spread around only 8 buses!

I'm not opposed to having 2 batches, but 3 is too much imo.

(12 Sep 2019, 4:20 pm)streetdeckfan wrote What I'm saying is having 2 different batches is better than 3 different batches.
I personally think having 2 batches on the Red Kites would be less of an issue because there are 3 different services, but with the X21, there'll be 3 different batches spread around only 8 buses!

I'm not opposed to having 2 batches, but 3 is too much imo.

Colours aside, they're more or less the same (high) specification...

I don't think Joe Bloggs travelling on the X21 will care too much that one bus has the GNE logo embossed into it, and one has the GNE logo stitched.

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(12 Sep 2019, 4:20 pm)streetdeckfan wrote What I'm saying is having 2 different batches is better than 3 different batches.
I personally think having 2 batches on the Red Kites would be less of an issue because there are 3 different services, but with the X21, there'll be 3 different batches spread around only 8 buses!

I'm not opposed to having 2 batches, but 3 is too much imo.

Although not ideal to have non standard interiors, 99.9% of people will care more if the bus turns up as opposed to if the seat colour is the same as the previous bus.

Let's not forget there are other services like the Little Coasters which have multiple non standard interiors

(12 Sep 2019, 4:23 pm)Dan wrote Colours aside, they're more or less the same (high) specification...

I don't think Joe Bloggs travelling on the X21 will care too much that one bus has the GNE logo embossed into it, and one has the GNE logo stitched.

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If that was my issue, I would have brought up that the 16 plates have the old GNE logo on, and the 67 plates have the newer but not the most recent logo on, but I'm not that picky

(12 Sep 2019, 4:27 pm)streetdeckfan wrote If that was my issue, I would have brought up that the 16 plates have the old GNE logo on, and the 67 plates have the newer but not the most recent logo on, but I'm not that picky

The Washington indigo have the old and new font fleet numbers

(12 Sep 2019, 4:26 pm)JP6004 wrote

Although not ideal to have non standard interiors, 99.9% of people will care more if the bus turns up as opposed to if the seat colour is the same as the previous bus.

Let's not forget there are other services like the Little Coasters which have multiple non standard interiors

But Little Coasters aren't a 'flagship' service, X-Lines is, or at least they want it to be.
I'm not saying it's a big issue, all I'm saying is there are ways that it could have been avoided

(12 Sep 2019, 4:30 pm)streetdeckfan wrote But Little Coasters aren't a 'flagship' service, X-Lines is, or at least they want it to be.
I'm not saying it's a big issue, all I'm saying is there are ways that it could have been avoided

I disagree - it couldn't have been avoided. If Go North East want to keep momentum on their X-lines project, then work had to commence now. The repainting of 6332/33 and the purchase of two new StreetDecks shows Go North East are willing to invest in this premium brand, but money doesn't grow on trees.

The Red Kite group of services probably make a lot more money than the X21 does, so why should the Red Kite have to receive older buses?

(12 Sep 2019, 4:34 pm)Dan wrote

I disagree - it couldn't have been avoided. If Go North East want to keep momentum on their X-lines project, then work had to commence now. The repainting of 6332/33 and the purchase of two new StreetDecks shows Go North East are willing to invest in this premium brand, but money doesn't grow on trees.

The Red Kite group of services probably make a lot more money than the X21 does, so why should the Red Kite have to receive older buses?

I see where you're coming from, but I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on the matter.

Surely it would have been possible to spec the new ones for the X21 to match the 67 plates, that would have avoided this discussion

(12 Sep 2019, 4:40 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I see where you're coming from, but I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on the matter.

Surely it would have been possible to spec the new ones for the X21 to match the 67 plates, that would have avoided this discussion

I'm sure this will be rectified when they come to be retrimmed in a few years

(12 Sep 2019, 4:47 pm)JP6004 wrote

I'm sure this will be rectified when they come to be retrimmed in a few years

I thought the whole point of getting the leather seats was to avoid the need to retrim.
Like I said, it's not an issue in the grand scheme, I would have just gone about it in a different way

(12 Sep 2019, 2:00 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Go North East 6303 / NK16 BXC by kieron mathews, on Flickr


6303 fresh from the paintshop

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Really not a fan of how they've painted over the chrome Wright badge....they managed to avoid them on the B9s...

(12 Sep 2019, 7:29 pm)JP6004 wrote

Really not a fan of how they've painted over the chrome Wright badge....they managed to avoid them on the B9s...

It looks to me like they've removed them and just haven't stuck them back on yet

Another thing, why is the fleet number not above the wheel arch like it is on the X-Lines. Doesn't seem very consistent

(12 Sep 2019, 7:47 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

It looks to me like they've removed them and just haven't stuck them back on yet

Another thing, why is the fleet number not above the wheel arch like it is on the X-Lines. Doesn't seem very consistent

Dan has confirmed fleet number has been moved

(12 Sep 2019, 3:37 pm)Arcticrossy92 wrote

Aren't the Red kite services the main bread winner at Hownsgill, surely having brand new buses is more of a priority given how long the Castles Express buses have been in service?

As for 3 different interiors, despite the age gap, aren't they all pretty high standard and very much the same, apart from colours etc

Dare I get into a discussion of where a bus is more likely to be 'wrecked'. Are we on about the road surface conditions & damaged that way or the population of the area? I would argue if its population that a bus has more of a chance getting damaged in Durham City or Bishop than Consett or Newcastle (as someone in works in all 4 locations)

Getting in and out of the bus station is probably the biggest dinger of buses in Durham city.

I

(12 Sep 2019, 4:07 pm)Dan wrote

I don't get your logic - in one breath saying it's naff having different batches of StreetDecks on the X21, and in the next saying allocate 6301-07 to the X45/6/7 (so you'd have the same issue there?!) There have been two different interior specifications since May. 6332 had made up the PVR of the X21 with just 7 branded for a PVR of 8, since the route was extended to Tindale Crescent (and indeed since delivery 6332 has spent most of its time being the spare bus for the X21).

Repainting 6332 and 6333 for the X21 provides customers on this route with a more reliable service, and displaces the older StreetDecks to become spare vehicles for the 21/X21 (three rather than just two). The three oldest StreetDecks, 6301 - 6303, have been identified as some of the most problematic (incurring the most defects and/or off service most frequently).

The partial renewal of the fleet with two new buses having been ordered also shows Go North East's commitment to improving commuter services and investing into its new X-lines brand.

I'm with JP6004 on this one...

So the most problematic StreetDecks become the spares for the high profile 21.....

(12 Sep 2019, 9:35 pm)busmanT wrote

I

So the most problematic StreetDecks become the spares for the high profile 21.....

As you well know, they run fine locally! Reducing the mileage of 6301-3 should mean they're alright on the X21 too.

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(13 Sep 2019, 4:36 am)Dan wrote As you well know, they run fine locally! Reducing the mileage of 6301-3 should mean they're alright on the X21 too.

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Aren't the least reliable Streetdecks still more reliable than some of the others in the fleet though!

(13 Sep 2019, 4:46 am)streetdeckfan wrote

Aren't the least reliable Streetdecks still more reliable than some of the others in the fleet though!

Indeed - it's better for customers having three high-quality, still relatively new, StreetDecks as spares for the 21/X21 than a mixture of old pre-owned buses.

We're not saying 6301-03 are unreliable, just that they have been shown to be off service most frequently, or whilst on the road incurring more defects.

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Not a fan of the fleet livery on 6303, looks quite bland for some reason.

(13 Sep 2019, 7:29 am)LeeCalder wrote Not a fan of the fleet livery on 6303, looks quite bland for some reason.

You know what, I think the Streetdeck might be the one bus where the blue panel on the front would actually look quite good!

8302 broken down outside QE hospital.

6303 has got the annoying blue panel at the front

(13 Sep 2019, 9:14 am)V514DFT wrote 6303 has got the annoying blue panel at the front

It hasnt, the picture was photoshopped. Original picture can be found further back in thread

(13 Sep 2019, 9:18 am)JP6004 wrote

It hasnt, the picture was photoshopped. Original picture can be found further back in thread

My Photoshop skills must be that good
I do think it actually suits it though, unlike the other ones they put it on, but then it wouldn't match the rest

In other news 5212,5214 getting MOT'd today

(13 Sep 2019, 9:47 am)Citaro5326 wrote In other news 5212,5214 getting MOT'd today

Deptford complete MOTs on a Thursday, not a Friday.

The buses up for MOT today are 5445 (Consett) and 5454/56 and 8344/46 (Riverside).

(12 Sep 2019, 2:00 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Go North East 6303 / NK16 BXC by kieron mathews, on Flickr


6303 fresh from the paintshop

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That's a lot of red.  I still think something is missing from the front end.

(13 Sep 2019, 11:31 am)Chris 1 wrote

That's a lot of red.  I still think something is missing from the front end.

The Wrightbus badge hasn’t been put on yet


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(13 Sep 2019, 11:59 am)TEN 6083 wrote The Wrightbus badge hasn’t been put on yet


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Be nice if the light clusters were silver

(13 Sep 2019, 12:15 pm)JP6004 wrote

Be nice if the light clusters were silver

I think it would stand out too much. Black maybe, but I think body colour looks best with the red