(17 Oct 2019, 1:34 pm)Stanleyone wrote

Monday

Do we know if they'll all be going out on Monday, or will it be like with 97 and just one or two will be out to start?

Apparently the 74 is changing route from Monday (first bus and last bus on weekdays, the first bus and the 17:35 service from Eldon Square on Saturdays) but there is no info, anyone know about this?

When are the Northumberland County Council bus contracts up for renewal?

(17 Oct 2019, 12:54 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote

49s -  1308 ex-Gateshead.

Saw someone put something on Facebook it was on the 49/49A, managed to catch it at the Metrocentre. Wasn’t a complete waste of journey as got a photo of 6033 on the 197 as wanted one before it’s withdrawn


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(17 Oct 2019, 3:00 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Saw someone put something on Facebook it was on the 49/49A, managed to catch it at the Metrocentre. Wasn’t a complete waste of journey as got a photo of 6033 on the 197 as wanted one before it’s withdrawn


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Is it still on the 49s now? I'd quite like to compare it back to back with a Streetlite

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(17 Oct 2019, 3:03 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Is it still on the 49s now? I'd quite like to compare it back to back with a Streetlite

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Would expect it to be still on. Overall from other enthusiasts it sounds like ride quality is exceptional compared to the Streetlites, but the Streetlites perform better on the hills (takes a while for the E200 to wind up on inclines!). A shame they went for the 4-cylinder E200 after demonstrating 6-cylinder ones. The six-pot ones on Benwells are superb on hills, but hey ho - not all about the speed, they look the part and a vast improvement to the service.

5498 NK69FBN Metrocentre 49A by Matt Williamson, on Flickr

(17 Oct 2019, 3:43 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote

Would expect it to be still on. Overall from other enthusiasts it sounds like ride quality is exceptional compared to the Streetlites, but the Streetlites perform better on the hills (takes a while for the E200 to wind up on inclines!). A shame they went for the 4-cylinder E200 after demonstrating 6-cylinder ones. The six-pot ones on Benwells are superb on hills, but hey ho - not all about the speed, they look the part and a vast improvement to the service.

5498 NK69FBN Metrocentre 49A by Matt Williamson, on Flickr

For me, the main reason why I prefer the E200 over the Streetlite is the rattling door!

When I had a ride on one of the E200s round Whickham it was struggling to get up the hills even with only a few people on

(17 Oct 2019, 3:53 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

For me, the main reason why I prefer the E200 over the Streetlite is the rattling door!

When I had a ride on one of the E200s round Whickham it was struggling to get up the hills even with only a few people on

There's struggling mechanically wise and just making use out of the gears. I'm sure after a few weeks of gearbox mapping around the route they won't be too bad.

(17 Oct 2019, 4:08 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote

There's struggling mechanically wise and just making use out of the gears. I'm sure after a few weeks of gearbox mapping around the route they won't be too bad.

Even after it had dropped a few gears it was still struggling. The driver mentioned to the next driver that he thought there might be something wrong with it. I didn't go through Whickham today so it might have just been that one

(17 Oct 2019, 2:33 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Apparently the 74 is changing route from Monday (first bus and last bus on weekdays, the first bus and the 17:35 service from Eldon Square on Saturdays) but there is no info, anyone know about this?

When are the Northumberland County Council bus contracts up for renewal?

Could it be something to do with new houses being constructed near Callerton Bridge? Heard road going to be closed Westbound for several months with traffic diverting via A69.

(17 Oct 2019, 8:15 pm)Tyne_Traveller wrote

Could it be something to do with new houses being constructed near Callerton Bridge? Heard road going to be closed Westbound for several months with traffic diverting via A69.

Thank you. It could be that as the A69 was mentioned. Apparently only the first morning and last afternoon trip will be changing though.  Do you know where it will rejoin normal route?

On the Cobalt & Coast B9TLs, could they not do the following tagline on the rear?

"Extend your horizons with X-Lines"

"Fast and frequent connections to the Metrocentre and County Durham"

Has anyone had a chance to get a photo of 5498 in the dark yet?
I'd be interested to see what the illuminated cant rail looks like, and if they're allowed to have it on in the dark.

The illuminated logo on the front of the Green Arrows certainly stands out in the dark!

(17 Oct 2019, 8:25 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote

Thank you. It could be that as the A69 was mentioned. Apparently only the first morning and last afternoon trip will be changing though.  Do you know where it will rejoin normal route?

I don't, but a guess would be the double junction that leads towards Ponteland. So Westerhppe >> Chapel House Hillheads Rd. >> A69 >> Throckley Slip Rd >> B6323 > Right B6324 > left B6324 Callerton lane end then usual route. Its West only, East to Newcastle unaffected.

6099 has gone to get refurbished, 6085-6098 getting done too ?

(18 Oct 2019, 7:18 am)Citaro5326 wrote 6099 has gone to get refurbished, 6085-6098 getting done too ?

I would hope so, the 'fab' 56s are some of the worst inside that I've been on

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(18 Oct 2019, 11:53 am)streetdeckfan wrote I would hope so, the 'fab' 56s are some of the worst inside that I've been on

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Take a ride on the ex-London B9s

[quote="streetdeckfan" pid='235161' dateline='1571399590']
I would hope so, the 'fab' 56s are some of the worst inside that I've been on

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[/quote

The plugs hardly work but would of made sense to send 6085 first surely ?

6033 transferred to PM, guessing it’s its final change with GNE

---

On 19 tonignt

With all the "odd" workings on the 93/94, have some of the loop scanias been withdrawn?

(18 Oct 2019, 11:56 am)Citaro5326 wrote

[quote="streetdeckfan" pid='235161' dateline='1571399590']
I would hope so, the 'fab' 56s are some of the worst inside that I've been on

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[/quote

The plugs hardly work but would of made sense to send 6085 first surely ?

If they're changing the route branding (which I think we all hope they are!), They're probably doing what they did with the X21 and sending one that isn't route branded first

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https://www.facebook.com/190043828028107...69?sfns=cl

5236 is at East Yorkshire’s Hull Depot


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Had a good look inside 6339 today (familiarisation), impression is it’s fab from a drivers point of view and the seats for passengers are really comfortable, the only downside is the headroom upstairs.

(18 Oct 2019, 5:42 pm)Stanleyone wrote Had a good look inside 6339 today (familiarisation), impression is it’s fab from a drivers point of view and the seats for passengers are really comfortable, the only downside is the headroom upstairs.

I was surprised by the lack of headroom upstairs when I tried out Arriva's, I'm not even that tall but I feel like I have to crawl around upstairs.

OmniDekkas aren't that much taller but I can walk around comfortably if I slouch a bit.

What's the leg room like upstairs? I can just about fit in the StreetDecks if I sit at a slight angle, but I basically have to sit sideways on the E200s.

(18 Oct 2019, 5:34 pm)TEN 6083 wrote https://www.facebook.com/190043828028107...69?sfns=cl

5236 is at East Yorkshire’s Hull Depot


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Hope we aren't losing them just yet

(18 Oct 2019, 5:51 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

I was surprised by the lack of headroom upstairs when I tried out Arriva's, I'm not even that tall but I feel like I have to crawl around upstairs.

OmniDekkas aren't that much taller but I can walk around comfortably if I slouch a bit.

What's the leg room like upstairs? I can just about fit in the StreetDecks if I sit at a slight angle, but I basically have to sit sideways on the E200s.

I’m 5 10 and although I only sat at a table, the leg room looked ok, but I’m not a frequent traveller (except for driving of course).

(18 Oct 2019, 5:59 pm)JP6004 wrote

Hope we aren't losing them just yet

Same, maybe this might confirm, all the Cascades from the Streetdecks will get rid of the Scania's and some Omnicities?

(18 Oct 2019, 5:59 pm)JP6004 wrote

Hope we aren't losing them just yet

The OmniCity is one of the few 'older' buses that I don't mind travelling on, probably because when I sit in my preferred seat next to the emergency exit I can stretch right out!

(18 Oct 2019, 6:05 pm)Stanleyone wrote

I’m 5 10 and although I only sat at a table, the leg room looked ok, but I’m not a frequent traveller (except for driving of course).

The launch is only a couple days away, and it looks like I'll be in the area anyway so I'll have to have a go on them, I'm sure I'll find something to complain about!

I do hope the tables have the same amount of room around them as the StreetDecks, the ones on the B9s are too small, too low and too close to the seat! I honestly don't see why they bothered putting them in!

I heard today that the X21 is almost definitely getting extended to West Auckland, and may end up omitting Woodhouse estate entirely so they don't need to increase the PVR again.

Management are still wanting it to serve Weardale Drive (which in my opinion, and the opinion of most drivers I've spoke to is entirely unsuitable for a double decker bus!) As someone who travels on this section of the route just about every day, I barely see anyone else get on or off so I can't imagine it being worth the effort of still running it through the estate.

(18 Oct 2019, 5:59 pm)JP6004 wrote

Hope we aren't losing them just yet

There's a couple of knackered ones I can't forsee seeing any more life. Two need engine rebuilds.

Mechanically, externally and internally knackered. Most of the toonlinks drive, feel and look like they can give way at any moment.

If it was my choice, I'd bin them off and spend the money on the mercs and 09 versas instead. With a bit of TLC they both have many years left of life, unlike the state of some of the omnicities we have.

(18 Oct 2019, 5:34 pm)TEN 6083 wrote https://www.facebook.com/190043828028107...69?sfns=cl

5236 is at East Yorkshire’s Hull Depot


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More info on Dans post on Twitter.