Ah right cheers got a feeling the brand is going to be like the the drifter and coaster

Well..! 5154 takes on the final 9A. We bid it farewell.

Photograph shown below:

Well..! 5154 takes on the final 9A. We bid it farewell.

Bloody hell...you get out and about early

Bloody hell...you get out and about early

It's the time of day when all the interesting things happen!

Lol...Im not a morning person have a good'un pal

Well..! 5154 takes on the final 9A. We bid it farewell.

Photograph shown below:

Couldn't go out that early haha, great picture though!

Most changes tomorrow - with the new depot opening next week and few more changes to services on the 2.2.14.

And of course - more SPD's should be withdrawn this week?

Any of the Citaro's from Cobalt clipper gone for a re-paint yet?

As seen below:

I wonder why both deckers have slightly different versions of the livery? On the back of the left one the red and blue come round to the rear window but on the closest one there isn't anything there - I wonder if they've forgotten about them.

I wonder why both deckers have slightly different versions of the livery? On the back of the left one the red and blue come round to the rear window but on the closest one there isn't anything there - I wonder if they've forgotten about them.

There was 2 different designs, they were applied to see what they looked like. The decision has now been made to go with the one with the colours that wrap around.

Real Radio advertising that Cobalt Clipper promotion will be happening at Northumberland Street this coming Friday.

8301 now lilac

nk55 mentioned a few extra B7TLs were at Chester the other day. These are 3974 and 3978 from Deptford.

3979/80/81/82 remain at Deptford.

8301 now lilac

That all of them done now?

The fleet allocation on the GNE site.. is behind for repaints..

As seen below:

Great photo Dan, I'm guessing you took this photo from Norham Road

Great photo Dan, I'm guessing you took this photo from Norham Road

The photograph was taken by Sean Blair, and uploaded to Facebook. I just copied the link and wrapped it in IMG tags.

The photograph was taken by Sean Blair, and uploaded to Facebook. I just copied the link and wrapped it in IMG tags.

Sneaky!

Nice photo.

Sneaky!

Sean Blair has got a few others from the same day on his Flickr account too.

Sneaky!

Hardly.
The photographs were uploaded to a public Facebook page - anyone, regardless of whether they have 'liked' the page or not - can therefore do the same. It is the prime reason why I did not re-upload them, just provided a link. Having been confronted by the author of the photograph, I have reminded him that he should not upload his photographs to public websites if he does not want people to embed the photograph which links back to the original source. Likewise, I have reminded him all about Creative Commons Licensing, as per his settings on Flickr.

Good day.

Likewise may I remind you that his copyright logo is there. Permission is granted from said group on facebook to upload the photo. Simple permission before uploading somewhere else doesn't harm, may I remind you common courtesy goes along way.

Likewise may I remind you that his copyright logo is there. Permission is granted from said group on facebook to upload the photo. Simple permission before uploading somewhere else doesn't harm, may I remind you common courtesy goes along way.

He's already gave permission.

You are free to:

Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:

Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Both Dan and myself posted links to his photos giving him the credit for that work.

Real Radio advertising that Cobalt Clipper promotion will be happening at Northumberland Street this coming Friday.

There'll be others too this week, but Real Radio will only be at the one in Newcastle - got a cracking game to play for everyone as well, but its not bus related !

There'll be others too this week, but Real Radio will only be at the one in Newcastle - got a cracking game to play for everyone as well, but its not bus related !

Does it better the Connect4 games?
Went to today's coffee wagon thing. Christ, they're dead enthusiastic ain't they? Never heard people so excited about coffee before in all me life!
Had to say no on the grounds that I don't like coffee, but took another one of the leaflets!

Just wait till the snow comes and the FPF start abandoning cars everywhere!

I tell ya what, the FPF where in attendance when I was out earlier on the 71 heading down to Chester - was feeling a little bit intimidated about the whole thing and got off at the top stop on the Front Street to avoid them !

Anyway, have they got cars in Fencehouses ? Sorry, that should be do they own the cars in Fencehouses lol !!!

I tell ya what, the FPF where in attendance when I was out earlier on the 71 heading down to Chester - was feeling a little bit intimidated about the whole thing and got off at the top stop on the Front Street to avoid them !

Anyway, have they got cars in Fencehouses ? Sorry, that should be do they own the cars in Fencehouses lol !!!

Where they?
What makes you so sure it was the FPF? It could have been the WVF (Woodstone Village Posse), the LTPB (Lumley Thicks Posh Boys) or the GLI (Great Lumley Inbreads)!

Where they?
What makes you so sure it was the FPF? It could have been the WVF (Woodstone Village Posse), the LTPB (Lumley Thicks Posh Boys) or the GLI (Great Lumley Inbreads)!

Definetly weren't from Lumley, but probably fitted the other category ! They had a look of Avenue Vivian about them, that's for sure - it was the shopping trolleys that gave them away !!!

Does it better the Connect4 games?
Went to today's coffee wagon thing. Christ, they're dead enthusiastic ain't they? Never heard people so excited about coffee before in all me life!
Had to say no on the grounds that I don't like coffee, but took another one of the leaflets!

Nowt beats those Connect 4 games - they where a cracking purchase !

The coffee bike team are very good with the promotional stuff and the coffee's really good too !

Definetly weren't from Lumley, but probably fitted the other category ! They had a look of Avenue Vivian about them, that's for sure - it was the shopping trolleys that gave them away !!!

Shopping trolleys on a bus?
I struggled to get over the fact there were people on the 71 who were prepared to pay the sackless fares that are charged - but people with shopping trolleys on a bus?

They aren't the same lunatics in green wigs that harassed Angel passengers with key rings are they?

The 309 is doing really well just as it's about to get an upgrade. But, what could GNE do to boost passenger numbers between Blyth and Rake Lane travelling to between Station Road and Newcastle? Despite the new Omnicities in 2007, what kept the route ticking over until the changes in 2010 was the Cobalt. Now by looking at the timetable, the 308 is timetabled to take 32 (38 peak time) minutes to Rake Lane Hospital and the 309 is timetabled to take 36 minutes (42 peak time). But, the 308 contrary to what the timetable states, it actually takes about the 40 - 45 minute mark during the peak times and 33 minutes off peak. That's about the time the 309 takes and despite it doing so, passengers still have the perception that the 308 is faster than the 309 despite the 309 being at maximum, 3 or so minutes slower. GNE need to get some decent marketing out in the areas between Rake Lane and Blyth to make full use if the double deckers. They're very efficient with regards to ticketing and boarding and have a timetable in place that could cope with a full double deck and keep to time. Look at the Tynemet students. I remember getting the 308 one morning when I lived near Billy Mill a few year back and about nearly the whole bus got off at Willington Square and would've had to walk about 10 minutes to get to the back entrance. The 309 would've dropped them off right outside on B.Hill Drive within walking distance. The 309 is doing well but to make it even better, GNE need to improve the marketing east of Rake Lane to Blyth inparticular to really make a success out of it. They need to get the following reasons out to people why to use the 309:

- New Buses
- High back seating
- Free Wi-Fi
- Phone and Laptop charging points
- Next stop announcements
- Similar journey times to Arriva's 308
- Travel on 309, 310 and 58 (to Newcastle) for £3.65 per day or £12.50 per week
- Only 1 zone daily, monthly, weekly or yearly ticket required to Metro Centre if travelling from North Tyneside or Newcastle. Can be used on fast service TEN or any other service to Metro Centre from Eldon Square and or X66 from Gateshead. 2 zones required from Northumberland but no other tickets required.
- Cheaper daily and weekly travel on Service 309 if only using service 309 (people who'd normally only use service 308), particularly if going cross border into Seaton Sluice and Blyth. Saver also valid om 310 and 58 to Newcastle.
- Stops directly outside Tynemet.
- Students can apply for Get Around card and travel for as little as £3.65 per day or £15.40 when bought on the bus. Even cheaper if bought online.
- Cheaper single fares for Students who apply for Get Around card
- Wheelchair and buggy friendly with space for both.

Shopping trolleys on a bus?
I struggled to get over the fact there were people on the 71 who were prepared to pay the sackless fares that are charged - but people with shopping trolleys on a bus?

One of these type of trolleys........................