Internally are the refurbed B7s not a downgrade from the Mercs on Crusader?

Saying that I imagine the view as the 27 does an inexplicably long tour of Hebburn is better from a B7.

(03 Oct 2020, 9:06 pm)Ambassador wrote Internally are the refurbed B7s not a downgrade from the Mercs on Crusader?

Saying that I imagine the view as the 27 does an inexplicably long tour of Hebburn is better from a B7.

B9TL*

I think people would rather sit tho rather than stand which is too common on the Crusader with the reliability of the Metro as of late. The B9's are solid enough buses though and are no worse than a Citaro with it's weird layout at the back.

(03 Oct 2020, 9:22 pm)Storx wrote B9TL*

I think people would rather sit tho rather than stand which is too common on the Crusader with the reliability of the Metro as of late. The B9's are solid enough buses though and are no worse than a Citaro with it's weird layout at the back.

although I don’t see overcrowding being an issue until god knows when, it is good future planning. GNE have always been very good at increasing capacity and throwing extra resource on when metro has one of its frequent meltdowns.

A more direct route through Hebburn would be nice. You could wait 20 minutes for a metro at Hebburn and still beat the 27 to Heworth.

(03 Oct 2020, 9:06 pm)Ambassador wrote Internally are the refurbed B7s not a downgrade from the Mercs on Crusader?

Saying that I imagine the view as the 27 does an inexplicably long tour of Hebburn is better from a B7.

They shouldn't be, while I don't think it was mentioned, I can't imagine them not installing USB sockets at each seat, which realistically was the only feature the Citaros had.
The seats will also be a major upgrade, but to be honest, a seat made from 3 pin plugs would be an upgrade from the Citaros!

The thing is though, it doesn't make sense to do a direct route that follows the Metro, the Metro in pretty much all scenarios would be faster, so there's no point in trying to keep up. They might as well try and pick up as many passengers as possible.

Anyone needing to travel somewhere fast will take the Metro, the people who don't want to pay for the Network One ticket will just use the bus.

(03 Oct 2020, 9:06 pm)Ambassador wrote Internally are the refurbed B7s not a downgrade from the Mercs on Crusader?

Saying that I imagine the view as the 27 does an inexplicably long tour of Hebburn is better from a B7.

The B9s don't have any charging points, but they do have WiFi and NSAs. The Mercs still look in better shape internally but the were refurbed within the last 2-3 years wheres apart from maybe the odd retrim of the seats, the B9s are the same as when they arrived from Wrights for the X1.

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(04 Oct 2020, 10:00 am)6049 wrote The B9s don't have any charging points, but they do have WiFi and NSAs. The Mercs still look in better shape internally but the were refurbed within the last 2-3 years wheres apart from maybe the odd retrim of the seats, the B9s are the same as when they arrived from Wrights for the X1.

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I think the adding of USB charging points can be done locally and when things quite down

It's probably not really the right place for this but it's kind of connected and not really worth it's own thread but do buses go to Coach World at Blackburn via the A61/A59 over Skipton just seen a Red Arrows B9TL (didn't get fleet number as not that interested in numbers etc) here. It's the last place I'd expect to see a GNE bus. The red arrows branding really didn't look out of place with the Transdev routes neither, shame it's going as Transdev are always in high regard for their brands infact I'd probably say it looked better than the 36.

(07 Oct 2020, 6:18 pm)Storx wrote It's probably not really the right place for this but it's kind of connected and not really worth it's own thread but do buses go to Coach World at Blackburn via the A61/A59 over Skipton just seen a Red Arrows B9TL (didn't get fleet number as not that interested in numbers etc) here. It's the last place I'd expect to see a GNE bus. The red arrows branding really didn't look out of place with the Transdev routes neither, shame it's going as Transdev are always in high regard for their brands infact I'd probably say it looked better than the 36.

They getting repainted and the seat retrims there

(07 Oct 2020, 6:21 pm)Ds1197 wrote They getting repainted and the seat retrims there

Had a feeling that's where it was off. Thought they would've used the indirect A66/A69 and M6 and come in from the West rather than going over the hills and through Harrogate etc even known it is quicker.

(07 Oct 2020, 6:18 pm)Storx wrote It's probably not really the right place for this but it's kind of connected and not really worth it's own thread but do buses go to Coach World at Blackburn via the A61/A59 over Skipton just seen a Red Arrows B9TL (didn't get fleet number as not that interested in numbers etc) here. It's the last place I'd expect to see a GNE bus. The red arrows branding really didn't look out of place with the Transdev routes neither, shame it's going as Transdev are always in high regard for their brands infact I'd probably say it looked better than the 36.

Yes, they normally go that way.

(04 Oct 2020, 10:00 am)6049 wrote The B9s don't have any charging points, but they do have WiFi and NSAs. The Mercs still look in better shape internally but the were refurbed within the last 2-3 years wheres apart from maybe the odd retrim of the seats, the B9s are the same as when they arrived from Wrights for the X1.

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(04 Oct 2020, 12:51 pm)Ds1197 wrote I think the adding of USB charging points can be done locally and when things quite down

Do I spy USB charging on the rear of the seats...

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

(10 Oct 2020, 6:35 am)ne14ne1 wrote Do I spy USB charging on the rear of the seats...

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

You do, its clearly visible on the upper deck, will the others eventually follow suit

The following is an excerpt from the photo on Flickr:

"Returned to Go North East following repaint & re-trim plus USB installation at Blackburn Bus & Coach World"

(10 Oct 2020, 6:35 am)ne14ne1 wrote Do I spy USB charging on the rear of the seats...

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

Looks like they had the advertisement frames removed as well....perhaps learning from the mistakes they made with the Cobalts

(10 Oct 2020, 10:10 am)JP6004 wrote Looks like they had the advertisement frames removed as well....perhaps learning from the mistakes they made with the Cobalts

What mistake was that?

(10 Oct 2020, 12:43 pm)ne14ne1 wrote What mistake was that?

The tiny cobalt & coast name that can barely be seen and the advertisement boards covering half the bus....it just looks unfinished and a bit slap dash.

(10 Oct 2020, 12:51 pm)JP6004 wrote The tiny cobalt & coast name that can barely be seen and the advertisement boards covering half the bus....it just looks unfinished and a bit slap dash.

It would have been more noticeable if they’d put the route name under the lower saloon windows, (I think there’s still room for it despite the route info), and that would allow for adverts frames to remain. 
Fair enough having no adverts on Xlines, but I think they should have them on all other deckers & corp single deckers. Any extra revenue is surely welcomed.

(10 Oct 2020, 3:13 pm)ne14ne1 wrote It would have been more noticeable if they’d put the route name under the lower saloon windows, (I think there’s still room for it despite the route info), and that would allow for adverts frames to remain. 
Fair enough having no adverts on Xlines, but I think they should have them on all other deckers & corp single deckers. Any extra revenue is surely welcomed.

The first one did originally have it under the windows which was much better...however they decided to huge go north east lettering with the now defunct strap line. Even still, imo you still need some graphic to make it stand out. Even if the Spanish city skyline was applied instead of those horrible plug socket advertisements.

IMO all branded services shouldn't have advertisement boards, however I get that it will generate more revenue

Not sure if its been mentioned but 6001 is back from refurb

(17 Oct 2020, 11:22 am)Ds1197 wrote Not sure if its been mentioned but 6001 is back from refurb

Returned to service on Wednesday, they have done a good job on the seats, I thought they were quite comfortable


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(17 Oct 2020, 8:21 pm)Xlines 6335 wrote

Returned to service on Wednesday, they have done a good job on the seats, I thought they were quite comfortable


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#floorgate

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(17 Oct 2020, 8:21 pm)Xlines 6335 wrote

Returned to service on Wednesday, they have done a good job on the seats, I thought they were quite comfortable


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That first photo has a cracking sleepy commuter. Get it entered in the sleepy commuter thread

I'm not trying to be funny but that isn't a refurbishment it's just the seats redone in something that contrasts with everything else. Looks terrible imo. Suppose it's another interior design to add to the other 10 or so GNE have.

(17 Oct 2020, 9:00 pm)Storx wrote I'm not trying to be funny but that isn't a refurbishment it's just the seats redone in something that contrasts with everything else. Looks terrible imo. Suppose it's another interior design to add to the other 10 or so GNE have.

Totally agree! It looks horrendous.
It honestly looked better before they reupholstered the seats.
All it's done is make the flaking paintwork, rust and worn out floors stand out even more

(17 Oct 2020, 9:00 pm)Storx wrote I'm not trying to be funny but that isn't a refurbishment it's just the seats redone in something that contrasts with everything else. Looks terrible imo. Suppose it's another interior design to add to the other 10 or so GNE have.

They also added USB ports

(17 Oct 2020, 9:00 pm)Storx wrote I'm not trying to be funny but that isn't a refurbishment it's just the seats redone in something that contrasts with everything else. Looks terrible imo. Suppose it's another interior design to add to the other 10 or so GNE have.

Oh god, it's like facebook all over again.

It’s a capacity upgrade which is a positive if not a bit of a token gesture.

I guess GNE don’t see much point investing heavily In the Crusader, I’d assume it’s not hugely profitable (especially once Metro gets new stock in 3 years which will draw traffic away).

(17 Oct 2020, 9:09 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Totally agree! It looks horrendous.
It honestly looked better before they reupholstered the seats.
All it's done is make the flaking paintwork, rust and worn out floors stand out even more

Yeah agreed (for once). It's just the little things that stand out to me, not painting the blue under the seats which is rusty, not painting the grab rails etc. Definitely a downgrade from the Mercedes imo.

(17 Oct 2020, 9:35 pm)deanmachine wrote Oh god, it's like facebook all over again.

I don't use Facebook for this so guessing similar comments on there.

(17 Oct 2020, 10:23 pm)Ambassador wrote It’s a capacity upgrade which is a positive if not a bit of a token gesture.

I guess GNE don’t see much point investing heavily In the Crusader, I’d assume it’s not hugely profitable (especially once Metro gets new stock in 3 years which will draw traffic away).

Is it a capacity upgrade though? It used to be every 10 minutes in 2018 but now it's every 15 minutes. I can't imagine there being too much of a difference between 6x Citaros vs 4x B9TL's. Dangerous move that imo, surely the opposite approach would be wiser get the impression around that the bus is the better option to travel and try and give a Metro vs Bus decision for people. If the Metro becomes more reliable, it's more frequent and has new trains on vs battered buses and less frequent it's not a hard decision. That not hugely profitable bus route will very quickly become unprofitable.

(17 Oct 2020, 10:42 pm)Storx wrote Yeah agreed (for once). It's just the little things that stand out to me, not painting the blue under the seats which is rusty, not painting the grab rails etc. Definitely a downgrade from the Mercedes imo.

It's the first thing that stood out to me, before I even looked at the seats. Even if it is an improvement over the Citaros, which comfort wise the V3 seats definitely will be, I think most people will think it's a downgrade. 

Not only are you no longer travelling in a Mercedes, but you're going from a newly refurbished bus with stylish wood effect flooring, leather seats and 'mood lighting' to having a manky old bus with tarted up seats and USB ports.

(17 Oct 2020, 10:54 pm)streetdeckfan wrote It's the first thing that stood out to me, before I even looked at the seats. Even if it is an improvement over the Citaros, which comfort wise the V3 seats definitely will be, I think most people will think it's a downgrade. 

Not only are you no longer travelling in a Mercedes, but you're going from a newly refurbished bus with stylish wood effect flooring, leather seats and 'mood lighting' to having a manky old bus with tarted up seats and USB ports.

I’d tend to agree but with low tier routes it’s always going to be the case sadly. 

The fine folk of South Tyneside will just have to ride the 9 or look forward to Metro replacements for a bit of class haha