(12 Feb 2014, 2:13 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote Still, if the X66 is meant to be getting an upgrade it hardly seems worth them paying for vinyls which make up that complex livery for about 8 months.
(12 Feb 2014, 2:48 pm)Scott wrote Ahh. I have to say I don't think the X66 needs an upgrade. Lime needs it though, as does the Highwayman, as both routes use fairly old Wright/Scania buses.
(12 Feb 2014, 4:41 pm)Rob wrote The X66 connects thousands of people each day with other services at Gateshead Interchange. Brand recognition is surely worth pursuing?
If only those artics were efficient...
(16 Feb 2014, 7:06 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote As we know the Sunderland Connect 700 get rather packed throughout the Day, Meanwhile as has been well documented in recent weeks, The South Tyne 5 suffers with poor Reliability. So my Suggestion here is Simple and Straight Forward, GNE Purchase Hybrid Versas for the 700, Resulting in the Solo SR Hybrid inc 628 going onto the 5.
(16 Feb 2014, 7:13 pm)Tom wrote Good idea, as I don't think the 5 needs anything bigger than a Solo SR. I think the 700 contract ends in June though, but hopefully Go North East will continue to operate it.
(16 Feb 2014, 7:13 pm)Tom wrote Good idea, as I don't think the 5 needs anything bigger than a Solo SR. I think the 700 contract ends in June though, but hopefully Go North East will continue to operate it.
(16 Feb 2014, 7:22 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Could invest in the Hybrid Versas via The Green Bus Fund Round 5 or Whatever Round it is, I also have a Feeling that we'll see The New Volvo B5LH on the 27 come the end of 2014, with the Laser having standard B5's.
(16 Feb 2014, 7:35 pm)Michael wrote Cant see them being hybrid B5LH for the laser.
Not sure about the 27, the B5LH seem to be off the road alot for the angel.
Hopefully the Sunderland Connect get bigger buses in the future... might even go up to every 10 or 12 mins.
The current Sunderland Connect ones could be used as spares
(16 Feb 2014, 10:30 pm)Davey Bowyer wrote I think that it'll be a Wright Streetdeck with either the Volvo B5TL engine or Integral Merc engine.
(16 Feb 2014, 11:25 pm)Davey Bowyer wrote No, they'll either be offering the Streetdeck with the Merc engine or Streetdeck / Gemini 3 with B5TL/LH engine. I'd say for the 27, GNE could get away with anything in terms of reliability. With the exception of a bit of Gateshead, it's relatively flat and doesn't exceed 40. I'd say that if GNE were going to buy a Versa for another route, then I'd say that the Optare Integral with either the Merc or Cummins engine would be likely.
(16 Feb 2014, 11:34 pm)Kuyoyo wrote The Streetdeck isn't being offered with a Volvo engine, only the OM934 Mercedes engine. The only Volvo option from Wrightbus is the Gemini 3-bodied Volvo B5 chassis either in diesel or Hybrid format.
This article might back up what I've been saying http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/daimler-...-growth/2/
. Anyway, I think that Volvo made a big mistake in dropping the Volvo B9TL engine rather than just making it compatible with Euro 6. Don't get me wrong, the B5TL will be a good engine for town and city routes as well as your long distance urban routes such as the 21, 308, 309, 10A, 10B, X1. But do Volvo honestly think that a 5 Litre engine will last 7 years being torn up and down the A19 for potentially upto 16 to 17 hours per day on the TTX or through a very rural Northumberland on the 10 X10, X11, X15, X18, X21 and X22? Don't get me wrong, the 5 Litre engine is good to an extent but some routes require alot more power. Fuel costs are important and that's why many operators chose the B5 engine over the B8 when Volvo had a consultation, but there will be many operators left in a catch 22 situation as a result.
(20 Feb 2014, 10:07 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote No cascades available though unless the Quaylink was to get New Buses, plus the Cadets are to Withdrawn come the end of 2014, so I would think it is likely that the M2/M3 may get New Buses.
