(21 Feb 2014, 5:58 pm)Dan One in front probably broke down.
(21 Feb 2014, 6:08 pm)Tom Or late, but it could also help with depot standardisation with them gointo Chester for the 34 (5251/5252/61/62), 28 (5263/4/5/6/7) and X25 (5268/9/70/71/72) allowing 8303/4/5/6 to go to Washington for the W5/W6.
(21 Feb 2014, 6:08 pm)Tom Or late, but it could also help with depot standardisation with them gointo Chester for the 34 (5251/5252/61/62), 28 (5263/4/5/6/7) and X25 (5268/9/70/71/72) allowing 8303/4/5/6 to go to Washington for the W5/W6.
(21 Feb 2014, 6:23 pm)Tom I agree, and I wasnt expecting it to happen this year
(21 Feb 2014, 6:23 pm)Tom I agree, and I wasnt expecting it to happen this year
(21 Feb 2014, 6:27 pm)Dan Honestly don't think the Coaster could justify double deckers though. Mercs to help with reliability (which isn't actually too bad at present in my opinion), maybe. Only way it would justify deckers is if they're wanting to invest in the fleet of the future so they're not in sticky positions as was the case last year with the Pronto.
(21 Feb 2014, 6:27 pm)Dan Honestly don't think the Coaster could justify double deckers though. Mercs to help with reliability (which isn't actually too bad at present in my opinion), maybe. Only way it would justify deckers is if they're wanting to invest in the fleet of the future so they're not in sticky positions as was the case last year with the Pronto.
Something to consider for 2015...
Assuming everything which should be withdrawn this year is withdrawn, the list below is what should be withdrawn next year:
I don't think the Coaster requires double decks. Single decks are just fine. It would be good though if the Gateshead journeys were extended to Blyth every 30 minutes to give a combined frequency with the 309 of every 15 minutes between Blyth and Whitley Bay thus creating new links between North Tyneside and Northumberland.
(21 Feb 2014, 6:47 pm)Dan Something to consider for 2015...
Assuming everything which should be withdrawn this year is withdrawn, the list below is what should be withdrawn next year:
- 27x Lolyne
- 35x Volvo B7TL
- 36x Volvo B10BLE
- 14x 2002 MPD
- 27x 2003 MPD
- 6x Cadet
That's a total of 145 vehicles, when we're only expecting 80 vehicles...
(21 Feb 2014, 6:47 pm)Dan Something to consider for 2015...
Assuming everything which should be withdrawn this year is withdrawn, the list below is what should be withdrawn next year:
- 27x Lolyne
- 35x Volvo B7TL
- 36x Volvo B10BLE
- 14x 2002 MPD
- 27x 2003 MPD
- 6x Cadet
That's a total of 145 vehicles, when we're only expecting 80 vehicles...
(21 Feb 2014, 7:55 pm)Michael Other cascades might get rid of the rest
(21 Feb 2014, 7:59 pm)Dan You'd expect that 80 new buses would allow 80 current buses in the fleet to be withdrawn, no?
There's still 65 more due to be withdrawn - 62 of which are double deckers which are primarily allocated to scholars/workers anyway.
(21 Feb 2014, 7:59 pm)Dan You'd expect that 80 new buses would allow 80 current buses in the fleet to be withdrawn, no?
There's still 65 more due to be withdrawn - 62 of which are double deckers which are primarily allocated to scholars/workers anyway.
(21 Feb 2014, 8:06 pm)mattdw92 Perhaps GNE might look into getting rid of some Scholar work, considering nothing can really replace the B7TL. Certainly nothing new would be invested in Scholar.
(21 Feb 2014, 8:06 pm)mattdw92 Perhaps GNE might look into getting rid of some Scholar work, considering nothing can really replace the B7TL. Certainly nothing new would be invested in Scholar.
(21 Feb 2014, 8:06 pm)mattdw92 Perhaps GNE might look into getting rid of some Scholar work, considering nothing can really replace the B7TL. Certainly nothing new would be invested in Scholar.
(21 Feb 2014, 8:06 pm)mattdw92 Perhaps GNE might look into getting rid of some Scholar work, considering nothing can really replace the B7TL. Certainly nothing new would be invested in Scholar.
A long time away, but this is what I think the 2015 orders will be...
4 X Optare Versa - ''Sunderland Connect'', freeing up the current Solos for use on the 5, replacing 8242-6.
20 X Mercedes Citaro - ''Coaster'' and ''Cobalt Connect'', freeing up 5243-6/5251-2/5261-72, with 5243-6 for use on the ''Lambton Worm''(replacing 8303-6 for use on the ''East Durham'' services 202/208/265, replacing various MPD's), 5251-2 for use on the 71 (replacing 2 X B10BLE), 5261-65 for use on the Waggonway (replacing 5 X Wright Solar to replace various B7TL/B10BLE's), 5266-71 for the X25 (replacing B10BLE's/ELC's) and 5272 spare at Chester-le-Street replacing a ELC.
7 X Unknown for ''Tyne Tees Xpress'' - Freeing up 3963/6043-8 for use on the ''Pronto'' (replacing B7TL vehicles)
8 X Optare Versa for ''LOOP'' - Freeing up 5219-26 (replacing various buses)
33 X Optare Solo SR - Replacing all ''Tynedale Links'' (555-559 and 8293), ''North Tyne Links'' (548-551/553-554/562/566-569) and ''East Durham'' (535-546/560/564-565/573-574/618-619) - One spare at each depot. East Durham would also use Optare Versa on busier journeys.
The newer MPD's (603-606/618-9) would replace spare MPD's at Riverside/Deptford:
603-6 would replace 542/544/561 at Deptford, 603/4 destined for the 99, 605/6 would be a spare. 618/9 would transfer to Riverside for the S1 (Merit 8266 would replace a B10BLE, helping to reach the target) and 27X/40A, replacing 547.
(21 Feb 2014, 9:18 pm)Tom A long time away, but this is what I think the 2015 orders will be...
4 X Optare Versa - ''Sunderland Connect'', freeing up the current Solos for use on the 5, replacing 8242-6.
20 X Mercedes Citaro - ''Coaster'' and ''Cobalt Connect'', freeing up 5243-6/5251-2/5261-72, with 5243-6 for use on the ''Lambton Worm''(replacing 8303-6 for use on the ''East Durham'' services 202/208/265, replacing various MPD's), 5251-2 for use on the 71 (replacing 2 X B10BLE), 5261-65 for use on the Waggonway (replacing 5 X Wright Solar to replace various B7TL/B10BLE's), 5266-71 for the X25 (replacing B10BLE's/ELC's) and 5272 spare at Chester-le-Street replacing a ELC.
7 X Unknown for ''Tyne Tees Xpress'' - Freeing up 3963/6043-8 for use on the ''Pronto'' (replacing B7TL vehicles)
8 X Optare Versa for ''LOOP'' - Freeing up 5219-26 (replacing various buses)
33 X Optare Solo SR - Replacing all ''Tynedale Links'' (555-559 and 8293), ''North Tyne Links'' (548-551/553-554/562/566-569) and ''East Durham'' (535-546/560/564-565/573-574/618-619) - One spare at each depot. East Durham would also use Optare Versa on busier journeys.
The newer MPD's (603-606/618-9) would replace spare MPD's at Riverside/Deptford:
603-6 would replace 542/544/561 at Deptford, 603/4 destined for the 99, 605/6 would be a spare. 618/9 would transfer to Riverside for the S1 (Merit 8266 would replace a B10BLE, helping to reach the target) and 27X/40A, replacing 547.
(21 Feb 2014, 9:18 pm)Tom A long time away, but this is what I think the 2015 orders will be...
4 X Optare Versa - ''Sunderland Connect'', freeing up the current Solos for use on the 5, replacing 8242-6.
20 X Mercedes Citaro - ''Coaster'' and ''Cobalt Connect'', freeing up 5243-6/5251-2/5261-72, with 5243-6 for use on the ''Lambton Worm''(replacing 8303-6 for use on the ''East Durham'' services 202/208/265, replacing various MPD's), 5251-2 for use on the 71 (replacing 2 X B10BLE), 5261-65 for use on the Waggonway (replacing 5 X Wright Solar to replace various B7TL/B10BLE's), 5266-71 for the X25 (replacing B10BLE's/ELC's) and 5272 spare at Chester-le-Street replacing a ELC.
7 X Unknown for ''Tyne Tees Xpress'' - Freeing up 3963/6043-8 for use on the ''Pronto'' (replacing B7TL vehicles)
8 X Optare Versa for ''LOOP'' - Freeing up 5219-26 (replacing various buses)
33 X Optare Solo SR - Replacing all ''Tynedale Links'' (555-559 and 8293), ''North Tyne Links'' (548-551/553-554/562/566-569) and ''East Durham'' (535-546/560/564-565/573-574/618-619) - One spare at each depot. East Durham would also use Optare Versa on busier journeys.
The newer MPD's (603-606/618-9) would replace spare MPD's at Riverside/Deptford:
603-6 would replace 542/544/561 at Deptford, 603/4 destined for the 99, 605/6 would be a spare. 618/9 would transfer to Riverside for the S1 (Merit 8266 would replace a B10BLE, helping to reach the target) and 27X/40A, replacing 547.
(21 Feb 2014, 9:28 pm)Davey Bowyer Hmm.. I'd definitely say the Coaster has a good change but if the 27 gets upgraded to deckers, they might end up on the Coaster.
(21 Feb 2014, 9:28 pm)Davey Bowyer Hmm.. I'd definitely say the Coaster has a good change but if the 27 gets upgraded to deckers, they might end up on the Coaster.
If streetlites could be a viable option could they not be purchased for the simplicity group (42/61/39) & Orbit 51/52, and also with a rumoured upgrade on QuayLink. This allows then 33 Versas to be freed up, 17 for East Durham, 11 NTL, 5 South Tyne 5.
I'd think if any service, out of those MPD/Low Cost services, M2/M3 could probably justify new vehicles outright. 5 Versas could be bought for 700/701 to allow the 4 Solo to go onto W4/W5.
I'd then suggest upgraded Red Arrows to new vehicles, allowing 7 B9's to go onto Pronto, 3 onto angel (giving 1 spare and displacing B7's), 1 B9 goes onto Tyne Tees Xpress (allowing them to have 7 branded vehicles all B9's). This then creates spare deckers to displace older ones and withdrawn remaing Olympians.
(22 Feb 2014, 1:06 am)CatsFast101 If streetlites could be a viable option could they not be purchased for the simplicity group (42/61/39) & Orbit 51/52, and also with a rumoured upgrade on QuayLink. This allows then 33 Versas to be freed up, 17 for East Durham, 11 NTL, 5 South Tyne 5.
I'd think if any service, out of those MPD/Low Cost services, M2/M3 could probably justify new vehicles outright. 5 Versas could be bought for 700/701 to allow the 4 Solo to go onto W4/W5.
I'd then suggest upgraded Red Arrows to new vehicles, allowing 7 B9's to go onto Pronto, 3 onto angel (giving 1 spare and displacing B7's), 1 B9 goes onto Tyne Tees Xpress (allowing them to have 7 branded vehicles all B9's). This then creates spare deckers to displace older ones and withdrawn remaing Olympians.
(22 Feb 2014, 1:06 am)CatsFast101 If streetlites could be a viable option could they not be purchased for the simplicity group (42/61/39) & Orbit 51/52, and also with a rumoured upgrade on QuayLink. This allows then 33 Versas to be freed up, 17 for East Durham, 11 NTL, 5 South Tyne 5.
I'd think if any service, out of those MPD/Low Cost services, M2/M3 could probably justify new vehicles outright. 5 Versas could be bought for 700/701 to allow the 4 Solo to go onto W4/W5.
I'd then suggest upgraded Red Arrows to new vehicles, allowing 7 B9's to go onto Pronto, 3 onto angel (giving 1 spare and displacing B7's), 1 B9 goes onto Tyne Tees Xpress (allowing them to have 7 branded vehicles all B9's). This then creates spare deckers to displace older ones and withdrawn remaing Olympians.
(22 Feb 2014, 1:06 am)CatsFast101 If streetlites could be a viable option could they not be purchased for the simplicity group (42/61/39) & Orbit 51/52, and also with a rumoured upgrade on QuayLink. This allows then 33 Versas to be freed up, 17 for East Durham, 11 NTL, 5 South Tyne 5.
I'd think if any service, out of those MPD/Low Cost services, M2/M3 could probably justify new vehicles outright. 5 Versas could be bought for 700/701 to allow the 4 Solo to go onto W4/W5.
I'd then suggest upgraded Red Arrows to new vehicles, allowing 7 B9's to go onto Pronto, 3 onto angel (giving 1 spare and displacing B7's), 1 B9 goes onto Tyne Tees Xpress (allowing them to have 7 branded vehicles all B9's). This then creates spare deckers to displace older ones and withdrawn remaing Olympians.
(22 Feb 2014, 1:06 am)CatsFast101 If streetlites could be a viable option could they not be purchased for the simplicity group (42/61/39) & Orbit 51/52, and also with a rumoured upgrade on QuayLink. This allows then 33 Versas to be freed up, 17 for East Durham, 11 NTL, 5 South Tyne 5.
I'd think if any service, out of those MPD/Low Cost services, M2/M3 could probably justify new vehicles outright. 5 Versas could be bought for 700/701 to allow the 4 Solo to go onto W4/W5.
I'd then suggest upgraded Red Arrows to new vehicles, allowing 7 B9's to go onto Pronto, 3 onto angel (giving 1 spare and displacing B7's), 1 B9 goes onto Tyne Tees Xpress (allowing them to have 7 branded vehicles all B9's). This then creates spare deckers to displace older ones and withdrawn remaing Olympians.
(22 Feb 2014, 10:17 am)Tom Good ideas... I think Versas should be bought for the Simplicity and Orbit services, and 6 X Optare Solo for the ''Tynedale Links'' with the Versa going onto the ''East Durham'' and the ''North Tyne Links''. If my suggestion with the ''Coaster'' getting a upgarde and the 34 gettng the Omnicities, the total number of Versas would be perfect! 8303-8309/8319-8321 for the ''North Tyne Links'' and 8322-8330 for the busier ''East Durham'', with new Solos for the town services? This would allow 8331-38 to displace 5219-26 on the ''LOOP''?
So rather than the 33 X Solo SR and 8 X Versa, it'd be 7 X Optare Solo SR (one spare for Hexham) and 28 X Optare Versa (15 for Simplicity with two spare for Deptford, 9 for Orbit, with two spare at Riverside.) When the ''Quaylink'' gets upgraded, the Versas would transfer to Washington for the M2/M3.
This would displace all 2002 and most 2003 MPD's, 603-6 would remain on the W5/W6 and 618/9 would transfer to Riverside for use on the S1 and 27X/40A replacing MPD 547 to be withdrawn, and 8266 to replace a B10BLE. 573/4 would replace 542/4, 561 would remain in service with Deptford. Hopefully that and my other suggestions would replace all 2002 cadet, all B10BLE, all Lolynes and most 2002/2003 MPD's.
(22 Feb 2014, 10:17 am)Tom Good ideas... I think Versas should be bought for the Simplicity and Orbit services, and 6 X Optare Solo for the ''Tynedale Links'' with the Versa going onto the ''East Durham'' and the ''North Tyne Links''. If my suggestion with the ''Coaster'' getting a upgarde and the 34 gettng the Omnicities, the total number of Versas would be perfect! 8303-8309/8319-8321 for the ''North Tyne Links'' and 8322-8330 for the busier ''East Durham'', with new Solos for the town services? This would allow 8331-38 to displace 5219-26 on the ''LOOP''?
So rather than the 33 X Solo SR and 8 X Versa, it'd be 7 X Optare Solo SR (one spare for Hexham) and 28 X Optare Versa (15 for Simplicity with two spare for Deptford, 9 for Orbit, with two spare at Riverside.) When the ''Quaylink'' gets upgraded, the Versas would transfer to Washington for the M2/M3.
This would displace all 2002 and most 2003 MPD's, 603-6 would remain on the W5/W6 and 618/9 would transfer to Riverside for use on the S1 and 27X/40A replacing MPD 547 to be withdrawn, and 8266 to replace a B10BLE. 573/4 would replace 542/4, 561 would remain in service with Deptford. Hopefully that and my other suggestions would replace all 2002 cadet, all B10BLE, all Lolynes and most 2002/2003 MPD's.
(22 Feb 2014, 10:20 am)Michael Got to remember that's if GNE win the contract for the Quaylink... they could still loose it.... means the buses on their don't have to be replaced and it free's up 9 versa's.....not sure if anyone else would bid
(22 Feb 2014, 10:20 am)Michael Got to remember that's if GNE win the contract for the Quaylink... they could still loose it.... means the buses on their don't have to be replaced and it free's up 9 versa's.....not sure if anyone else would bid
