Then be full to bursting by the time it reaches Chester. Not enough capacity.

Likely be too long to fit on the stands the X21 uses, stand A is the only one big enough to really facilitate coaches.

I mean, I obviously wasn't being serious about it going on the X21, but it would be nice for it to go on another route just for us poor people to try out!

X66 I reckon would be a good shout although would struggle around Metrocentre Car Park/Ikea, would probably have to bring back the S1.

IKEA car park would be simple, it's Metrocentre that's the difficult part! As much as I like a direct link to IKEA from Gateshead, the reliability is absolutely awful! Plenty of times I've waited for the X66 and nothing came because it was stuck in traffic. I've spoke to people who work at IKEA who have got to work late because of it. Nowadays I just get the 6 or X45/46 to Marriott and walk along. So much easier!

How long is 9069 back for?

3 weeks this time


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3 weeks this time


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It should be on the 12:00 and 15:30 from Newcastle today, currently heading to Newcastle from Middlesbrough at 10:15

There’s no other commercial route that GNE would ever surely want to buy that type of vehicle for, so makes sense to go on the X9/10 again.

There isn’t much else it’s suitable for, either.


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Is that a hint at another use maybe?

With PSVAR and rail replacement/schools (granted, the current exemptions) it could be a useful type of vehicle to have around?

Least I'm not in the firing line for abuse, like the folk who have commissioned the timetables have been!

Yeah, I was going to let you off, but I don't think I was harsh enough on you before! Also, I feel like I haven't been complaining enough recently, and I know you love it when I do  

As we all know, I'm a fan of consistency. Something which I believe the X21 is still lacking.

Lets say, I wanted to travel from Newgate Street to Bishop Auckland as someone who knows absolutely nothing about the Bishop Auckland area
If you look at the app, they all terminate at Durham. Very confusing for anyone wanting to travel further. Even I had no idea which one went to Bishop Auckland!
So you think to yourself, I'll just look at timetable at the stop. Oh, would you look at that, no mention of Bishop Auckland at all! Would anyone from Newcastle really know where West Auckland is? (And I know this is a Nexus issue not GNE, but the average person won't know the difference)
Oh, I'll just look at the front of the bus then. It says Durham in big writing, so I'll have to wait until it gets a bit closer to see if it goes to Bishop. By the time it's gone through all the destinations before Bishop Auckland, it's basically at the stop giving little time for it to stop. (I also know they have to display Durham as the main destination as it's a split service, but it's very confusing for passengers, especially when all go to Durham, but not all continue onwards, once again, the average person won't know, or care)


Now, imagine I wanted to go to West Auckland from Newcastle.
Once again, the app only says Durham. Useless
The timetable is very helpful, even saying exactly which stop it terminates at in West Auckland.
Same issue with the destination display
But when you get on board "This is the X-Lines X21 service to Bishop Auckland" you hear, "I thought this went to West Auckland!" you cry! No mention of West Auckland at all, not even when it goes through the list of stops along the way.
That's alright though, because at at Chester-le-Street it changes to "This is the X-lines X21 service to West Auckland". Although, I don't think that would have happened without a driver change as it said the Bishop Auckland version first.

Also, I noticed that they've re-recorded the "Thank you for travelling with Go North East" bit rather than just cut off the "This bus will terminate at the next stop". She says it slightly differently.
And is it a tight loop of the River Wear, or a coil of the River Wear?

*based on a true story, although I may have dramatised it a smidge!

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Yeah, I was going to let you off, but I don't think I was harsh enough on you before! Also, I feel like I haven't been complaining enough recently, and I know you love it when I do  

As we all know, I'm a fan of consistency. Something which I believe the X21 is still lacking.

Lets say, I wanted to travel from Newgate Street to Bishop Auckland as someone who knows absolutely nothing about the Bishop Auckland area
If you look at the app, they all terminate at Durham. Very confusing for anyone wanting to travel further. Even I had no idea which one went to Bishop Auckland!
So you think to yourself, I'll just look at timetable at the stop. Oh, would you look at that, no mention of Bishop Auckland at all! Would anyone from Newcastle really know where West Auckland is? (And I know this is a Nexus issue not GNE, but the average person won't know the difference)
Oh, I'll just look at the front of the bus then. It says Durham in big writing, so I'll have to wait until it gets a bit closer to see if it goes to Bishop. By the time it's gone through all the destinations before Bishop Auckland, it's basically at the stop giving little time for it to stop. (I also know they have to display Durham as the main destination as it's a split service, but it's very confusing for passengers, especially when all go to Durham, but not all continue onwards, once again, the average person won't know, or care)


Now, imagine I wanted to go to West Auckland from Newcastle.
Once again, the app only says Durham. Useless
The timetable is very helpful, even saying exactly which stop it terminates at in West Auckland.
Same issue with the destination display
But when you get on board "This is the X-Lines X21 service to Bishop Auckland" you hear, "I thought this went to West Auckland!" you cry! No mention of West Auckland at all, not even when it goes through the list of stops along the way.
That's alright though, because at at Chester-le-Street it changes to "This is the X-lines X21 service to West Auckland". Although, I don't think that would have happened without a driver change as it said the Bishop Auckland version first.

Also, I noticed that they've re-recorded the "Thank you for travelling with Go North East" bit rather than just cut off the "This bus will terminate at the next stop". She says it slightly differently.
And is it a tight loop of the River Wear, or a coil of the River Wear?

*based on a true story, although I may have dramatised it a smidge!

I know West Auckland is, that's probably because i used to work around County Durham

I know West Auckland is, that's probably because i used to work around County Durham

My mother has lived in Crook for the past 7 years and only recently found out West Auckland is a place!

All I'm saying is that there are three different destinations for the same bus depending where you look, if you look at the app it's Durham, if you look at the timetable it's West Auckland, and if you look at the NSA display it's Bishop Auckland.
No wonder passengers are getting confused at Durham!

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My mother has lived in Crook for the past 7 years and only recently found out West Auckland is a place!

All I'm saying is that there are three different destinations for the same bus depending where you look, if you look at the app it's Durham, if you look at the timetable it's West Auckland, and if you look at the NSA display it's Bishop Auckland.
No wonder passengers are getting confused at Durham!

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And nexus make the timetables that's not dans or Go North East's fault

And nexus make the timetables that's not dans or Go North East's fault

I did say I knew the timetables were Nexus' fault and that they have no choice but to put Durham as the main destination as it technically is with it being a split route.

The app is their fault (I'm sure they can figure out a way to have the Bishop Auckland and Durham services separate on the app, even if they have to change the destination on one of them Ticketer to Durham_1) to separate them

I don't necessarily blame them for putting Bishop Auckland as the destination on the NSA as it's a well known place, but at least announce that it'll continue on to West Auckland!

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I did say I knew the timetables were Nexus' fault and that they have no choice but to put Durham as the main destination as it technically is with it being a split route.

The app is their fault (I'm sure they can figure out a way to have the Bishop Auckland and Durham services separate on the app, even if they have to change the destination on one of them Ticketer to Durham_1) to separate them

I don't necessarily blame them for putting Bishop Auckland as the destination on the NSA as it's a well known place, but at least announce that it'll continue on to West Auckland!

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It might have been better to split it at Bishop Auckland, with just the last few miles on a seperate registration.

Go North East 643 / NL63 XZP by kieron mathews, on Flickr

not sure if its been posted here but 643 is on loan to Peterlee from Hownsgill

Yeah, I was going to let you off, but I don't think I was harsh enough on you before! Also, I feel like I haven't been complaining enough recently, and I know you love it when I do  

As we all know, I'm a fan of consistency. Something which I believe the X21 is still lacking.

Lets say, I wanted to travel from Newgate Street to Bishop Auckland as someone who knows absolutely nothing about the Bishop Auckland area
If you look at the app, they all terminate at Durham. Very confusing for anyone wanting to travel further. Even I had no idea which one went to Bishop Auckland!
So you think to yourself, I'll just look at timetable at the stop. Oh, would you look at that, no mention of Bishop Auckland at all! Would anyone from Newcastle really know where West Auckland is? (And I know this is a Nexus issue not GNE, but the average person won't know the difference)
Oh, I'll just look at the front of the bus then. It says Durham in big writing, so I'll have to wait until it gets a bit closer to see if it goes to Bishop. By the time it's gone through all the destinations before Bishop Auckland, it's basically at the stop giving little time for it to stop. (I also know they have to display Durham as the main destination as it's a split service, but it's very confusing for passengers, especially when all go to Durham, but not all continue onwards, once again, the average person won't know, or care)


Now, imagine I wanted to go to West Auckland from Newcastle.
Once again, the app only says Durham. Useless
The timetable is very helpful, even saying exactly which stop it terminates at in West Auckland.
Same issue with the destination display
But when you get on board "This is the X-Lines X21 service to Bishop Auckland" you hear, "I thought this went to West Auckland!" you cry! No mention of West Auckland at all, not even when it goes through the list of stops along the way.
That's alright though, because at at Chester-le-Street it changes to "This is the X-lines X21 service to West Auckland". Although, I don't think that would have happened without a driver change as it said the Bishop Auckland version first.

Also, I noticed that they've re-recorded the "Thank you for travelling with Go North East" bit rather than just cut off the "This bus will terminate at the next stop". She says it slightly differently.
And is it a tight loop of the River Wear, or a coil of the River Wear?

*based on a true story, although I may have dramatised it a smidge!

This is all becoming very tedious... 
Does any of this actually impact you, or are you simply looking for more and more faults to pick out?

The X-Lines or the X21 may not be perfect, but its certainly come a long way since being introduced as Pronto with ex-London deckers. GNE have constantly looked to improve the offering of bus travel, whereas others tend to have stood still.

If you've got a valid complaint, then make it to the company. They'll improve services based on valid complaints.[/color]

Go North East 643 / NL63 XZP by kieron mathews, on Flickr

not sure if its been posted here but 643 is on loan to Deptford from Hownsgill

 
Do you mean Peterlee?

This is all becoming very tedious... 
Does any of this actually impact you, or are you simply looking for more and more faults to pick out?

The X-Lines or the X21 may not be perfect, but its certainly come a long way since being introduced as Pronto with ex-London deckers. GNE have constantly looked to improve the offering of bus travel, whereas others tend to have stood still.

If you've got a valid complaint, then make it to the company. They'll improve services based on valid complaints.[/color]

My comments are more in jest than anything, although some of those do actually impact me! And I did point out that I dramatised it slightly!

The app in particular, I use the X21 daily and not knowing which one runs direct to Bishop is very frustrating. Also, the fact that it's impossible to track the southbound X21s past Durham because a 'technical error has occurred'

I have made the complaints to the company, at least the ones that are possible to fix, like the app.

I'm well aware that the X21 has come a long way, but that doesn't mean I should stop pointing out the things I don't like.

And to answer your question, yes I am looking for more faults to pick out, because if you ignore all the little faults, they soon add up and you end up like Arriva!

Also, it nice to hear that Dan is also a StreetDeck Fan!

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Great little live stream from Dan and Martijn Gibert

Great little live stream from Dan and Martijn Gibert

Quite a bit of understandable repetition from those who couldn't watch from the start but still a very watchable session and glad to see that it appears to have been a success.

I didn't participate this time but I wouldn't say no to doing so in future instalments.

Quite a bit of understandable repetition from those who couldn't watch from the start but still a very watchable session and glad to see that it appears to have been a success.

I didn't participate this time but I wouldn't say no to doing so in future instalments.

I missed almost of all it too, as i finished work at 6, so only caught the back end of it.

My comments are more in jest than anything, although some of those do actually impact me! And I did point out that I dramatised it slightly!

The app in particular, I use the X21 daily and not knowing which one runs direct to Bishop is very frustrating. Also, the fact that it's impossible to track the southbound X21s past Durham because a 'technical error has occurred'

I have made the complaints to the company, at least the ones that are possible to fix, like the app.

I'm well aware that the X21 has come a long way, but that doesn't mean I should stop pointing out the things I don't like.

And to answer your question, yes I am looking for more faults to pick out, because if you ignore all the little faults, they soon add up and you end up like Arriva!

Also, it nice to hear that Dan is also a StreetDeck Fan!

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I don't know the area at all so not making any comments or judgement. But in the back of my mind in the Go Ahead Gateshead days wasn't there a service 124 that went from Newcastle to West Auckland, operated by the old Winlaton depot using the Optares 4775-4787 vehicles. So this is not the first time GNE has ventured into West Auckland is it not? 

It should be on the 12:00 and 15:30 from Newcastle today, currently heading to Newcastle from Middlesbrough at 10:15

You would think so, it showed up on the tracker doing the 12:00 from Newcastle, so I thought I catch it coming back from Boro before 3pm. Parked up near Heworth like a spider waiting for the fly to land. Only to look at the tracker to find it had been replaced by a B5TL, whats worse was a standard X9/X10 one too. Could at least being 6334/6335 for my troubles.

I was going to do an explorer tomorrow, but given it's ability to go out of service at a moments notice I think I be using the car again to track it down (If it's out).

Think I may have seen an Angel 21 earlier with a different vinyl to usual on the back. Wasn't close enough to make out what it was about (or get the fleet number) but I could see it wasn't the usual photo of standing passengers.
Just done a flickr search but can't find any pics. Any ideas?

You would think so, it showed up on the tracker doing the 12:00 from Newcastle, so I thought I catch it coming back from Boro before 3pm. Parked up near Heworth like a spider waiting for the fly to land. Only to look at the tracker to find it had been replaced by a B5TL, whats worse was a standard X9/X10 one too. Could at least being 6334/6335 for my troubles.

I was going to do an explorer tomorrow, but given it's ability to go out of service at a moments notice I think I be using the car again to track it down (If it's out).

Was supposed to be swapped over at 11:30 this morning because the following driver wasn’t type trained but the driver that was been taken off took it to Newcastle and back to Gateshead for a replacement to be sorted, it went back out and was the 16:00 or 16:30 from Newcastle to Middlesbrough

@ifm

Your text was within streetdeckfans post, so can't reply to you directly. 
I think it went to Spennymoor, rather than West Auckland. 

Obviously when GNE had Bishop ops, there were plenty of services kicking around the various Auckland's and beyond.

Services operated by The Way Ahead was
124 - Newcastle to West Auckland using Dennis Lance / Optare Sigmas - https://www.flickr.com/photos/jncarter1962/48339891302/
182 - Bishop Auckland to West Auckland using Optare MetroRiders - https://www.flickr.com/photos/jncarter1962/10160852795

Think I may have seen an Angel 21 earlier with a different vinyl to usual on the back. Wasn't close enough to make out what it was about (or get the fleet number) but I could see it wasn't the usual photo of standing passengers.
Just done a flickr search but can't find any pics. Any ideas?

I think there's one now that says something like 'Just as fancy as your car'!

I think there's one now that says something like 'Just as fancy as your car'!

6328

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6328

Like I said already, not selling it if your car is a battered Peugeot 207.

So I just watched the live stream again as the first time I was trying to listen to it over the working NSA on the X21!
For the people who don't have Facebook or can't be bothered to watch it, here are some of the key updates

New Vehicles updates

• 15 E400MMCs ordered for X1, basically the same spec as the X30, but with a few improvements based on feedback 
  
• StreetDecks are expected to arrive in April, still expected to recieve the first 6 cyinlder in the UK. They will be higher spec than the current ones and possibly have double height destination displays
  
• Yutong E10s due to arrive in July, will have special Electric livery
  

X9/X10 upgrade

• Panther LE here for 3 week trial on the X9/X10. Unlikely that it'd be purchased due to low capacity. Double deck version may be considered
  
• E400 XLB not considered due to high price, nothing to cascade on to after, and unknown resale values
  
• E400 City not considered as they'd rather spend the extra money on a higher spec standard E400
  
• Scania E400s are on the cards for X9/X10 as they're more suited to motorways. Demo models not currently available
  

X-Lines

• Whole X-Lines network should be re-branded in the next 12-18 months
  
• No more X-Lines routes anytime soon
  
• No more changes to the X21 route for the foreseeable future
  

Vehicle Refurbs/Upgrades

• Tyne Valley Ten refurbs will be announced in July
  
• Connections 4 Citaro mid-life refurbs starting to be planned
  
• X1 B9s will be upgraded to Euro6 and will be allocated to a service that runs in to Newcastle once the E400s arrive
  
• Optare MetroDecker has had engine upgrade to improve reliability and emissions, will be rotated around depots in the coming months, still no plans to order any though
  
• No plans to upgrade Drifter 60, may get a refurb and rebrand in a year or two
  
• No plans to upgrade X66
  
• 93/94 still planned to get double deckers
  

Route Branding

• Route brands will only be added to high frequency routes (eg. Green Arrow), trunk routes connecting key destinations (eg. Citylink) and express routes (X-Lines)
  
• 56 will be re-branded this year! No firm plans yet for brand name, may have internal competition for new brand name. Route changes prioritised over re-branding routes
  

NSAs

• Pretty much all routes are programmed so any bus allocated with NSA should have working announcements
  
• Venture Solos to have NSA fitted this week in partnership with Durham Council
  
• B9 NSA's will be upgraded to new system, but awaiting upgrade parts from Hanover
  

East Yorkshire

• Red Kite B9s still planned to move to East Yorkshire once StreetDecks arrive
  
• A further order of E400s will be announced soon for East Yorkshire
  

Other

• Red Kites Streetlites to move to services around Sunderland once the StreetDecks arrive, service not confirmed yet.
  
• ToonTour will be back, more details soon
  
• Older Citaros will start to be withdrawn this year as no upgrades to Euro 6
  
• 6335 should enter service this week, if not, then next week as there are still a few niggles to sort out
  
• Night Tickets and 24 Hour tickets trial to be extended, may become permanent
  
• MG doesn't seem happy that Scarlet Band are driving the Solos around with Metrocentre Mini branding still on them!
  

Note to Dan - Please feel free to correct me if I got anything wrong!

I think there's one now that says something like 'Just as fancy as your car'!

6328

Ah okay cheers. I happened to be on it this morning actually.
Kinda surprised it was designed/applied to be honest when they’re trying to remove vinyls from windows.

Ah okay cheers. I happened to be on it this morning actually.
Kinda surprised it was designed/applied to be honest when they’re trying to remove vinyls from windows.

You don't generally look out the rear window, unless it's to 'distract' the car drivers behind!

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Like I said already, not selling it if your car is a battered Peugeot 207.

Some car drivers seeing that, could end up travelling in comparative luxury. 
Others are gonna end up massively disappointed!

As lovely and warm those rear seats can be, they're not gonna be a patch on bucket/sport style seats which are heated, recline and have additional lumbar support!

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You don't generally look out the rear window, unless it's to 'distract' the car drivers behind!

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Can remember getting on a Solo for the first time one Sunday afternoon. I'd just finished a shift and they were covering on the 194. It may have been one of the Sxxx KNL batch. 

Saw a lad I knew walking alongside the road. Turned to wave/acknowledge him through the rear window (well before mobile phones became all the rage) and encountered a carpeted wall.