There's certain journey's where you can carry almost nobody to be fair, but over most of the corridor people seem to pick the 60 over every other route. I've been at the back of a queue of buses before 61/23/39 (for example), and people let all three of those buses past and stick their hand out for my 60.

It's a bit messy the buses down there imo. Personally if I was GNE; I'd create a loop around Seaham bridging the gap at Princess Road something like that https://goo.gl/maps/og8cvfxJFHcH1SgR7 and run them both every 20 minutes and merge them with the 61 and have an upto every 7 minute services with the Drifters, most the route is the same. The only thing your losing is through Deneside it would be every 7 then 13 minutes instead of a clockwork 10.

At the same time I'd renumbed the 39 to the 3 and merge it with the 2 as Black Cats or whatever else and advertise those together; everything else can go out of it since the routes are almost identical most of it.

Simple changes; no PVR changes but creating 'frequent' services which already exist but have irrelvant numbers to each other or are every 10/12 minutes and 20 minutes so can't combine and should stop people avoiding one bus for another.

Nothing on the memo about where cascades will go, just the released buses will be refreshed. And updated expected arrival dates of new buses. If I remember from the last online talk, the X9/X10 was talked about and the 10 for new buses, dont think we'll see anything new anytime soon.

A total of 23 buses will be needed to cover the PVR with around 3 spares for the routes - total of around 26 deckers - hopefully if they go ahead, its E400MMCs.


Cascades:

5 B5's to the X84/X85
2 B5's in a spare role at Riverside


B9

16 B9's replace 16 Omnidekka's - which would be withdrawn


12 at Riverside
4 to Percy Main for the DFDS


We probables won't see this happen this year, I was going to suggest we might see the Mini bus routes getting upgrade as some are coming up 11 years old (2nd ones), the likes of 625-636 will be 10 years old this year... however some of them have just been repainted to "Little Coasters" so doubt that would happen in this climate.


More single decker orders, as we've had mainly a double decker order (apart from the electric buses), means they can start to get rid of the Omnicities/Citaro's or Versa's.

A total of 23 buses will be needed to cover the PVR with around 3 spares for the routes - total of around 26 deckers - hopefully if they go ahead, its E400MMCs.


Cascades:

5 B5's to the X84/X85
2 B5's in a spare role at Riverside


B9

16 B9's replace 16 Omnidekka's - which would be withdrawn


12 at Riverside
4 to Percy Main for the DFDS


We probables won't see this happen this year, I was going to suggest we might see the Mini bus routes getting upgrade as some are coming up 11 years old (2nd ones), the likes of 625-636 will be 10 years old this year... however some of them have just been repainted to "Little Coasters" so doubt that would happen in this climate.


More single decker orders, as we've had mainly a double decker order (apart from the electric buses), means they can start to get rid of the Omnicities/Citaro's or Versa's.

Honestly, I think it's more likely that the 10s will get an internal refurb like the C&Cs did than be replaced

Honestly, I think it's more likely that the 10s will get an internal refurb like the C&Cs did than be replaced

Hope so, i doubt any deckers will be on order (not including the streetdecks/E400...), i think it'll be single and solo orders this year.

Hope so, i doubt any deckers will be on order (not including the streetdecks/E400...), i think it'll be single and solo orders this year.

The B9s are pretty much spot on for the route, realistically it wouldn't really be much if an upgrade changing them to StreetDecks or E400s, especially with them already having been upgraded to Euro 6 (although the 6 cylinder StreetDeck might suit the route quite well)

The B9s are pretty much spot on for the route, realistically it wouldn't really be much if an upgrade changing them to StreetDecks or E400s, especially with them already having been upgraded to Euro 6 (although the 6 cylinder StreetDeck might suit the route quite well)

I think the E400MMC would be fine considering Arriva have been using classics on the X15 / X18 as well as GoNE having an order for the X1 & X30. Don't know how the longer serving Hexham drivers would take to them though after the trouble Arriva had with Dennis Trident ALX400s 7430-35 when they operated the former guise of the 10 (602) and they then had to be replaced with Volvo B10BLEs from Arriva Scotland. They couldn't even handle the 308 afterwards during their stint at Blyth!

I do think that GoNE will stick with refurbishing the B9TLs on the Tyne Valley Tens though.

I think the E400MMC would be fine considering Arriva have been using classics on the X15 / X18 as well as GoNE having an order for the X1 & X30. Don't know how the longer serving Hexham drivers would take to them though after the trouble Arriva had with Dennis Trident ALX400s 7430-35 when they operated the former guise of the 10 (602) and they then had to be replaced with Volvo B10BLEs from Arriva Scotland. They couldn't even handle the 308 afterwards during their stint at Blyth!

I do think that GoNE will stick with refurbishing the B9TLs on the Tyne Valley Tens though.

I personally have no issue with the E400MMCs (in fact, I quite like them), the well documented issue I do have is with low height vehicles running on routes that don't need them! But I really don't think replacing the B9s on the 10 with them would make much sense, and in all honesty a waste of money. 

Last time I used one they were a bit worse for wear inside (but really not that bad) but seemed spot on mechanically, even just reupholstering and giving them a deep clean would do wonders, I wouldn't even bother with the tables like they have on the C&Cs, there just isn't enough space for them.

I wouldn't even bother with the tables like they have on the C&Cs, there just isn't enough space for them.

I thought tables were fitted by spinning a pair of seats around and placing the table in the combined legroom?

It's a bit messy the buses down there imo. Personally if I was GNE; I'd create a loop around Seaham bridging the gap at Princess Road something like that https://goo.gl/maps/og8cvfxJFHcH1SgR7 and run them both every 20 minutes and merge them with the 61 and have an upto every 7 minute services with the Drifters, most the route is the same. The only thing your losing is through Deneside it would be every 7 then 13 minutes instead of a clockwork 10.

At the same time I'd renumbed the 39 to the 3 and merge it with the 2 as Black Cats or whatever else and advertise those together; everything else can go out of it since the routes are almost identical most of it.

Simple changes; no PVR changes but creating 'frequent' services which already exist but have irrelvant numbers to each other or are every 10/12 minutes and 20 minutes so can't combine and should stop people avoiding one bus for another.

I wouldn’t really renumber the 39 the 3, as then you’d have GNE 3 and Stagecoach 3 which could create confusion. Having said that, the two 20 services in Sunderland work fine. 

I’m pretty sure GNE debranded the likes of the 33/ 35/ 38 services in Sunderland a while ago, as only the NK17 batch of Streetlites and the last 53 reg solar are branded as Black Cats.

I wouldn’t really renumber the 39 the 3, as then you’d have GNE 3 and Stagecoach 3 which could create confusion. Having said that, the two 20 services in Sunderland work fine. 

I’m pretty sure GNE debranded the likes of the 33/ 35/ 38 services in Sunderland a while ago, as only the NK17 batch of Streetlites and the last 53 reg solar are branded as Black Cats.

Ah so there is, not sure renumber them so they're at least the same anyway. I know GNE don't like duplicate numbers so it rules out most, suppose the 40 is free  but it's not as effective as the 2.

I thought the 38 was still part of it, unofficially, but I'm not certain tbf.

I thought tables were fitted by spinning a pair of seats around and placing the table in the combined legroom?

That's the issue, if you look at the area taken up by the tables on the StreetDecks, and moreso the E400s, it's closer to 3 rows taken up rather than 2, so there really isn't much legroom available at the tables (which is one of the main reasons I always sit at a table)

Plus, on the B9s either the tables are lower or the chairs are higher, as I find my knees knock into the bottom of the tables

Ah so there is, not sure renumber them so they're at least the same anyway. I know GNE don't like duplicate numbers so it rules out most, suppose the 40 is free  but it's not as effective as the 2.

I thought the 38 was still part of it, unofficially, but I'm not certain tbf.

Not actually sure it is, i think only the 2/2A and 39 are part of the brand now... although it would be good if the brand become a local livery in Sunderland so all the buses had it instead of the fleet livery but that'll never happen.

Considering they've just painted a bunch of the 07 plate Citaros into fleet livery, I'm not sure if they'll be the first buses to be withdrawn to be honest, although this was pre-covid.

Believe the ex-Bluestar examples are to be withdrawn first. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't these supposed to be heading to Driver Training to replace the L94?

Believe the ex-Bluestar examples are to be withdrawn first. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't these supposed to be heading to Driver Training to replace the L94?

Yes you're right, I've only been on them once, and they seemed ok tbh, shame, but not sure where they were gonna end up after... would be good to see them remain and put in to the Driving Training role.

Yes you're right, I've only been on them once, and they seemed ok tbh, shame, but not sure where they were gonna end up after... would be good to see them remain and put in to the Driving Training role.

I think mainly due to the fact that the seating layout is crap thanks to those extra wide arm rests. Really hope the 06 reg ones go too. Horrible little things

Branding removed from Red kite services on website

I think mainly due to the fact that the seating layout is crap thanks to those extra wide arm rests. Really hope the 06 reg ones go too. Horrible little things

The Bluestars are my favourite of the Citaros, I love the single seats, plus the seats are marginally less uncomfortable than the refurbed ones

The Bluestars are my favourite of the Citaros, I love the single seats, plus the seats are marginally less uncomfortable than the refurbed ones

Agreed, the leather on the mercs are uncomfortable. Thank Mercedes for creating such a design... if I recall, they would only fit their own seats

Agreed, the leather on the mercs are uncomfortable. Thank Mercedes for creating such a design... if I recall, they would only fit their own seats

On the refurbed ones it genuinely feels like they've removed padding! They're absolutely atrocious

Don't know how the longer serving Hexham drivers would take to them though after the trouble Arriva had with Dennis Trident ALX400s 7430-35 when they operated the former guise of the 10 (602) and they then had to be replaced with Volvo B10BLEs from Arriva Scotland. They couldn't even handle the 308 afterwards during their stint at Blyth!

Forgot to add that by the time Jesmond got them, they never IIRC got allocated to the 306 on a Sunday for the reasons above. It was either a Volvo B10BLE or if double deck capacity was required occasionally, a Volvo Olympian NC Palatine II.

Branding removed from Red kite services on website

Gutted to see the brand go... one of their best brands... least the bird will be incorparated in to the X-Lines brand.

Gutted to see the brand go... one of their best brands... least the bird will be incorparated in to the X-Lines brand.

Yea I mean it's been in relatively the same form for 13yrs. I mean it's not as if it won an award every year. Will be nice still having the Red Kite incorporated

Gutted to see the brand go... one of their best brands... least the bird will be incorparated in to the X-Lines brand.

The Red Kite brand would have been so much better if it wasn't for the eyes on the front!

The Red Kite brand would have been so much better if it wasn't for the eyes on the front!

They'll probables not be part of the rebrand, would spoil the X-Lines livery

2 big Red Kites on each side of the bus would do.

They'll probables not be part of the rebrand, would spoil the X-Lines livery

2 big Red Kites on each side of the bus would do.

It'll be less than that. I'm expecting one or two birds appearing in the skyline graphic. Barely noticeable.

Colin Barnes is going to Ireland to sign off, the first of the Streetdecks

Martjin confirmed he and Colin Barnes is going to Alexander Dennis to see first of the GNE/EY E400 deckers.

https://cbwmagazine.com/oxford-bus-incre...oChAe4yQ0I

Oxford Bus increases its Euro VI fleet with 9 new Wrightbus StreetDecks

https://cbwmagazine.com/oxford-bus-incre...oChAe4yQ0I

Oxford Bus increases its Euro VI fleet with 9 new Wrightbus StreetDecks

In the article it just says 5 coaches from oxford to GNE? Or is it just a misprint


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

In the article it just says 5 coaches from oxford to GNE? Or is it just a misprint


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

5 out of the Oxford Bus fleet, the other 2 are out of the Carousel fleet.

https://cbwmagazine.com/oxford-bus-incre...oChAe4yQ0I

Oxford Bus increases its Euro VI fleet with 9 new Wrightbus StreetDecks

They do look rather smart in the two tone grey! Although, I must say the brown interior plastics at the front look absolutely awful with the grey!