Ngl I like the berries and the rear designs. GNE seem to be doing well with rear advertising atm with X lines, Green arrows, berries etc

Not sure what you're getting at here.

As has been said previously, the buses are being re-allocated due to the fact that the "Black Cats" branded Wright Streetlites are Euro 6, and Newcastle are implementing a clean air zone which would require Euro 6 buses to be allocated to routes going into the city. The Euro 5 buses being re-allocated to the routes which currently have Euro 6 buses allocated to them are being repainted into a new livery as a result. 



The fact that you're even raising this as a point means that the rear advertising on this bus is effective. It's caught your attention and you've read it.

Each of the nine buses will have a different rear advertisement, with one eye-catching message in a big bold font, with supporting messaging attached to it. 'Fruitful' is the grab here, with supporting messaging for the Washington Local saver ticket (£15 for unlimited travel around Washington).

I'll quite happily admit that I don't particularly like the Sunderland District liveries, but if you compare that against the rear of the buses on this route currently (https://flic.kr/p/WASQPx), I think there's a very clear winner as to which one is communicating the service offering (fares, route, and features) more effectively. Alas, the fare quoted on the rear of all the Streetlites is for the Sunderland Local saver, which isn't actually valid beyond the A19 and is cheaper than the equivalent local saver ticket for Washington...



...which promotes the 15-minute frequency on this route to Sunderland University in the supporting messaging.

8332 carries 'sweet deals' promoting the £3.50 GoLocal Sunderland day ticket:

Go North East 8332 NK11 HJC by North East Transport Photos, on Flickr

The point I was making, was in response to your initial post about the rear of the vehicles having info which doesn't stand out.
I'll try and make it a bit clearer for you. 
Why pay to come up with a new livery on the new allocation, when the old livery could have worked just as well? Just with a different rear end.

In times of austerity, with bus companies apparently struggling financially and resource wise, here we have a brand new livery, designed by a mate/long term associate of the MD - when as you quite clearly suggest, the problem with the old livery, was a small proportion relating to a tiny part of the vehicle. 
It would have been cheaper to use the existing livery on the new allocation and use the back end (utilising all of the extra space the Versa has over the Streetlite) to better effect.

You missed the 39/39A. Wouldn't be surprised to see some of them stay corporate though (9 and X6 in particular) with the 39/39A replacing the 9.

My guess:

Pink: 2/2A
Grey: 33/38/38A/938
Purple: 35/55 (Serves Peterlee)
Blue: 61 (Drifter Connection)
Dark Red: 39/39A
Corporate: 9/X6

Completely forgot to reply


Wasn't it said that every service would be under the brand, Sunderland District Fleet livery?

Completely forgot to reply


Wasn't it said that every service would be under the brand, Sunderland District Fleet livery? 

Saw 5471 at Saltmeadows on the 16th painted Two tone blue front light blue  rear darker blue.probably for the Coaster 1/1A No branding or road stripes yet. Ufortunatly would have only been able to get a head on shot of it due to it,s position so no good for new liveries. Also inside were 5335,5336 and another Berries Versa being painted.

Saw 5471 at Saltmeadows on the 16th painted Two tone blue front light blue  rear darker blue.probably for the Coaster 1/1A No branding or road stripes yet. Ufortunatly would have only been able to get a head on shot of it due to it,s position so no good for new liveries. Also inside were 5335,5336 and another Berries Versa being painted.

Ye the Black Cat streetlites are going on the 1A/1B.

Wonder which colour(s) the Citaro's will come out as?

Tbh the StreetLite look really nice in that blue now.

Isn't 5335 5336 the Ex Sunderland Nightingale Buses

Tbh the StreetLite look really nice in that blue now.

Isn't 5335 5336 the Ex Sunderland Nightingale Buses

Ye along side 5334

If its them 3 then possible just removing the rainbow at the back and putting them 2019 corp

If its them 3 then possible just removing the rainbow at the back and putting them 2019 corp

Could go back to Deptford in one of the "Sunderland District" routes.

Completely forgot to reply


Wasn't it said that every service would be under the brand, Sunderland District Fleet livery? 

Not too sure tbh, the X6 could be classed as Peterlee though instead I guess to get around it. All X services we're meant to be X Lines aswell but we've got the X6 and X22 not in it so who knows tbh.

Just be surprised for them to repaint the Streetlites on the 9 again since they were only done last year but the Solo that had accident damage got put into Peterlee Local base livery roughly the same time. Maybe that's classed as a South Tyneside service instead since most the route is outside Sunderland to be fair, having a Sunderland District service in Hebburn is a bit out of place. Apart from the 55 between Easington Lane and Wingate and the 61 believe the rest of the routes are in the Sunderland area.

Not too sure tbh, the X6 could be classed as Peterlee though instead I guess to get around it. All X services we're meant to be X Lines aswell but we've got the X6 and X22 not in it so who knows tbh.

Just be surprised for them to repaint the Streetlites on the 9 again since they were only done last year but the Solo that had accident damage got put into Peterlee Local base livery roughly the same time. Maybe that's classed as a South Tyneside service instead since most the route is outside Sunderland to be fair, having a Sunderland District service in Hebburn is a bit out of place. Apart from the 55 between Easington Lane and Wingate and the 61 believe the rest of the routes are in the Sunderland area.

X6 was one of the first X-Lines routes, but obviously it's now been debranded. 

As for the X22, that was never intended to be part of X-Lines, same with X66. They were both going to be getting their own branding.

Not too sure tbh, the X6 could be classed as Peterlee though instead I guess to get around it. All X services we're meant to be X Lines aswell but we've got the X6 and X22 not in it so who knows tbh.

Just be surprised for them to repaint the Streetlites on the 9 again since they were only done last year but the Solo that had accident damage got put into Peterlee Local base livery roughly the same time. Maybe that's classed as a South Tyneside service instead since most the route is outside Sunderland to be fair, having a Sunderland District service in Hebburn is a bit out of place. Apart from the 55 between Easington Lane and Wingate and the 61 believe the rest of the routes are in the Sunderland area.

Under the SDO , the buses used to go further a field and not just in Sunderland area, SDO services used to go to Newcastle, Durham, Bishop Auckland, South Shields etc…..

All services in Sunderland will be under the Sunderland District Brand, except for service 20/56/60.


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Any photos of the repainted black cats into blue. I rode the 2 for the first time the other day on a berry versa. Felt so cramped to the streetlite. Horrible

Any photos of the repainted black cats into blue. I rode the 2 for the first time the other day on a berry versa. Felt so cramped to the streetlite. Horrible

Was that a compliment for a Streetlite?

Go North East 8333 / NK11 HJV by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Back in service today


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I cannot think of anything good about the Streetlites, heck they don't even have a habit of self combustion to redeem themselves.

I cannot think of anything good about the Streetlites, heck they don't even have a habit of self combustion to redeem themselves.

I quite like the styling of the Streetlite, and I like how spacious it feels inside with the relatively high ceiling.

And, after trying out the modified Streetlites that don't have the rattling door and bone shaking idle, they're quite a nice ride too. Suspension is a bit firm, but I think that's the case with most new vehicles these days.

I wonder if Wrightbus will upgrade the suspension in new Streetlites the way they have on the new StreetDecks, if they do I think they'll be genuinely decent.

Streetlite gets my vote

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Let's hope that Merc doesn't catch fire. Otherwise it will literally be someone popping their cherry!

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Looking smart

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That the 1st Ex Citylink to be done?

6056 is now in Durham Diamond livery.

5294 is fully branded for Sunderland District Cherries (35).

Photos will be on my Flickr site tonight.

Latest Berrie into service, 8333 captured this afternoon

8333 NK11HJV | Optare Versa V1110 8333 travels along Ryhope … | Flickr

And a rebrand of sorts, Levante II 7136 with new National Express logos after being stripped previously

BV17GVG | Go North East Volvo B11RT/Caetano Levante II 7136 … | Flickr

Cherry popping at Saltmeadows in the sun:

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

..read end:  https://flic.kr/p/2mcYaCV 

---

Durham Diamond:

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

Sunderland District Cherry - 5297 - https://flic.kr/p/2mcZxfG

Metrocentre Super Shuttle (Yellow) - 5502 - https://flic.kr/p/2mcUvaW

Durham Diamond - 6056 - https://flic.kr/p/2mcVzWE

Many more photos from today and the odd days off work I've had over the last week can be found here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic

Thanks for the post NE14NE1 lol. I scored lucky with 5297, I had only been parked up about a minute when it came out of the Works.

Okay, one thing that I've noticed and now really irritates me (I know, how unusual) is the fact that it's Sunderland District Berries, but Sunderland District Cherry.
Why is Berries plural but Cherry singular?

Is there more than one 'Berry' route but only one Cherry?

Okay, one thing that I've noticed and now really irritates me (I know, how unusual) is the fact that it's Sunderland District Berries, but Sunderland District Cherry.
Why is Berries plural but Cherry singular?

Is there more than one 'Berry' route but only one Cherry?

Perhaps the second one popped 

Cherry popping at Saltmeadows in the sun:

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

..read end:  https://flic.kr/p/2mcYaCV 

---

Durham Diamond:

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

I wonder if 5290 - 5297 will become " Sunderland Distract Cherry" then due to 5294 becoming "Cherry".



So it would be:


5290 - 5297 - Service 35 (8 PVR)
5323 - 5327 - Service 55 (5 PVR)
5328 - 5333 - Service X20 (6 PVR)


Spares: 5334-5336

-----------------

5275 - 5289 - keep on the 6/12/12A and 57 until other buses can be sourced as the E-Zone now has a provisional date of July 2022 to start - https://newcastle.gov.uk/citylife-news/t...ext-summer


I think the 9 electric buses could now go on the 49/49A -

7 PVR + 2 spares

OR

8 + 1 spare (extra bus added to the PVR for reliability)

=


Overall 16 PVR and 2 spares


9 Streetlites from the 49/49A on to the 6/12/12A + 2 spares


Yet to decide, what would go on the 57 - does it require deckers?, if not - it would be stopped at Gateshead - PVR would be 4 - using Versa's - unless they decide to upgrade more Versa's at Riverside, the 57 would remain the same route as now.

----------------

Withdrawn:

5304
5275-5286
5337
5481
5484
5486
5487


5287-89 left in service and head to Washington.



------------


Also my numbers are probable's way off.............

I take it the plan of withdrawing all the Citaros has gone by the wayside now then