5494 has now entered service.

https://flic.kr/p/2hA9M2E

(25 Oct 2019, 12:26 pm)enviro7501 wrote

Metrocity is being taken off. Wonder what the problem is with it? It is loud for an electric bus. Is it similar to the Versa EVs at York?

Well, Optare don't have the best track record with electrified drivetrains do they?

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(25 Oct 2019, 12:26 pm)enviro7501 wrote

Metrocity is being taken off. Wonder what the problem is with it?

Various issues - waiting for Optare to come out and repair the faults.

(21 Oct 2019, 9:06 pm)Dan wrote

6167-69 have now transferred to Percy Main "permanently", but the three OmniDekkas they have replaced in the fleet at Percy Main won't transfer to Riverside until Saturday (as a result of the higher vehicle requirements on DFDS this week).

The two Brighton & Hove ones shouldn't have transferred to Percy Main on loan, and are going back to Saltmeadows tomorrow. Other loans include 6123 and 6137 from Saltmeadows to Percy Main, 6033 from Riverside to Percy Main, 6928 from Riverside to Chester-le-Street, and 5337 from Deptford to Chester-le-Street.

The Volvo B9s allocated to the 327 today are probably the ones which were off service this morning, or required safety inspection today. That was certainly the case for 6117, which had only just returned to Percy Main following refurbishment.

Add 6924 to Percy main too, on scholars rn

(25 Oct 2019, 12:29 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Well, Optare don't have the best track record with electrified drivetrains do they?

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Optare aren't exactly renowed for great electrics on their conventional diesel buses to be fair, never mind full drivetrain.

(25 Oct 2019, 1:58 pm)Dan wrote

Various issues - waiting for Optare to come out and repair the faults.

Wow, didn't see this coming at all...

Pretty soon it's going to be just ADL left if Optare can't get their act together, and if Wrightbus Mk2 doesn't work out. Maybe then we can consider some more interesting buses from European manufacturers

(25 Oct 2019, 12:26 pm)enviro7501 wrote

Metrocity is being taken off. Wonder what the problem is with it?

Heard on Facebook it was to do with the ramp, every time the doors closed and handbrake took off the ramp alarm started

Are services X9/X10, X66, X84/X85 and X88 going to be going Xlines? Is the new gold and grey livery for X30/X31/X32, X45/X46/X47, and X70/X71? Are the 45/46/47 going to be operated with Xlines branded vehicles? Due to former Toon Link and Red Kite services interworking sub branding for Red Kite on the Xlines buses won't be possible.

What does the 941 vehicle operate before and off the 941?

(26 Oct 2019, 2:33 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Are services X9/X10, X66, X84/X85 and X88 going to be going Xlines? Is the new gold and grey livery for X30/X31/X32, X45/X46/X47, and X70/X71? Are the 45/46/47 going to be operated with Xlines branded vehicles? Due to former Toon Link and Red Kite services interworking sub branding for Red Kite on the Xlines buses won't be possible.

What does the 941 vehicle operate before and off the 941?

The charcoal Xlines livery is only for spares, X30/X31/X45/X46/X47 will all be green

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(26 Oct 2019, 2:33 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Are services X9/X10, X66, X84/X85 and X88 going to be going Xlines? Is the new gold and grey livery for X30/X31/X32, X45/X46/X47, and X70/X71? Are the 45/46/47 going to be operated with Xlines branded vehicles? Due to former Toon Link and Red Kite services interworking sub branding for Red Kite on the Xlines buses won't be possible.

What does the 941 vehicle operate before and off the 941?

I'd imagine X88 will become Xlines once new buses arrive for X1

(25 Oct 2019, 12:27 pm)Tyne_Traveller wrote 5494 has now entered service.

https://flic.kr/p/2hA9M2E

Go North East Green Arrow 5496 / NK69 FBJ by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Go North East Green Arrow 5497 / NK69 FBL by kieron mathews, on Flickr

5496 & 5497 also entered service yesterday (even though these photos were taken today)

Go North East 6162 / YJ04 GJK by kieron mathews, on Flickr

also entering service is 6162 (I would've got a better one at Stanley but a taxi got in the way and ruined it), might get a better one tomorrow as the destination screen didn’t come out from 3-4 photos taken of it

Solo 704 is now in Little Coasters livery.

6162 looks smart in corporate livery and all white front destination

(26 Oct 2019, 3:53 pm)TEN 6083 wrote

Go North East Green Arrow 5496 / NK69 FBJ by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Go North East Green Arrow 5497 / NK69 FBL by kieron mathews, on Flickr

5496 & 5497 also entered service yesterday (even though these photos were taken today)

Go North East 6162 / YJ04 GJK by kieron mathews, on Flickr

also entering service is 6162 (I would've got a better one at Stanley but a taxi got in the way and ruined it), might get a better one tomorrow as the destination screen didn’t come out from 3-4 photos taken of it

2 of the 3 photos of 6162 I took also had no front destination showing, which is unusual as white destinations normally always show.

(26 Oct 2019, 5:15 pm)busmanT wrote

2 of the 3 photos of 6162 I took also had no front destination showing, which is unusual as white destinations normally always show.

It may be down to the fact it isn't white as new; it's just the panels within that were changed by Brighton (a pretty common thing that they've done as a budget low-cost way of converting to white).

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(26 Oct 2019, 5:15 pm)busmanT wrote

2 of the 3 photos of 6162 I took also had no front destination showing, which is unusual as white destinations normally always show.

The one photo I did get the screen where I originally planned to get it at Stanley this happened, was not happy


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A training solar (Think it looked like 4941 but couldn't tell as both times I passed it I was on a moving train) was parked up at the back of Ferguson's in Cramlington yesterday

Scania OmniDekkas 6122, 6124, 6125 and 6138 have returned to Saltmeadows following temporary transfer to Consett, with 6123, 6128, 6136 and 6162 taking their place.

Which omnideckers have transferred to riverside to replace the 12M versions or has no transfer happened yet.

(27 Oct 2019, 9:39 am)JACK6081 wrote Which omnideckers have transferred to riverside to replace the 12M versions or has no transfer happened yet.

If you mean the most recent batch of Brighton & Hove acquisitions (6162-66), then they were only stored at Consett as they were brought up on a Sunday and there was no storage space available at Riverside.

If you mean 6167-69 which moved back in September to Riverside, then they received dual-door Volvo B7s in replacement for those.

Thanks for update.

(27 Oct 2019, 9:11 am)Dan wrote Scania OmniDekkas 6122, 6124, 6125 and 6138 have returned to Saltmeadows following temporary transfer to Consett, with 6123, 6127, 6136 and 6162 taking their place.

Are the E400s not ready to enter service yet?

(27 Oct 2019, 10:15 am)Stanleyone wrote

Are the E400s not ready to enter service yet?

Short answer is no! There should be some comms to staff tomorrow (hopefully!)

(27 Oct 2019, 10:23 am)Dan wrote

Short answer is no! There should be some comms to staff tomorrow (hopefully!)

Are we sure the E400s actually exist? Has anyone seen them in person?
Im starting to think these 'photographs' we've been seeing are just Photoshops!

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5217 has been acquired by the National Northern Restoration Group (NNRG) for preservation after its withdrawal from the fleet


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(27 Oct 2019, 12:44 pm)TEN 6083 wrote 5217 has been acquired by the National Northern Restoration Group (NNRG) for preservation after its withdrawal from the fleet


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Glad ones been saved, great buses.

(27 Oct 2019, 8:04 pm)Michael wrote Glad ones been saved, great buses.

I wonder if Andreos1 shares your sentiments about a former Prince Bishop being preserved?

If it doesn't turn up to a rally next season, I wonder if he will share the #missingpurplesolars hashtag once more?

(27 Oct 2019, 8:04 pm)Michael wrote Glad ones been saved, great buses.

I'd like to see 4949, 4966, 5220 & 5229 get preserved.

(27 Oct 2019, 8:11 pm)Malarkey wrote

I'd like to see 4949, 4966, 5220 & 5229 get preserved.

No chance of 4949 or 4966 being preserved - the former's gearbox is goosed, the latter has long since been stripped for spare parts. One way trip to the scrap yard.

(27 Oct 2019, 12:44 pm)TEN 6083 wrote 5217 has been acquired by the National Northern Restoration Group (NNRG) for preservation after its withdrawal from the fleet


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Any idea what livery they're gonna stick it in?

(27 Oct 2019, 8:04 pm)Michael wrote Glad ones been saved,  great buses.

Hmm " alt="" title="">

(27 Oct 2019, 8:08 pm)Dan wrote

I wonder if Andreos1 shares your sentiments about a former Prince Bishop being preserved?

If it doesn't turn up to a rally next season, I wonder if he will share the #missingpurplesolars hashtag once more?

I wish the group luck!

As much as I dislike them, I'm sure even I could control my bitterness towards those purple Solars.

Not sure that I'd chuck around such crass comments like that, after someone has decided to spend their hard earned cash preserving one.

Early morning starts on a cold purple Solar before a climb up the hill to the station, long days and the inevitable wait after one doesn't turn up - after rolling down the hill from the station (and then when one turns up - getting my eyes taken out for the privilege), spotting many a spare, those wing mirror issues of yore, packed like sardines (but it not being the main money maker at Deptford - apparently), parked up on the path at Houghton Broadway - spewing coolant (but never broken down - apparently)...

Them were the days.

Those Kia Picanto Solo's are pretty tame (just more expensive and less frequent) in comparison.