I wouldn't of thought the ToonLink brand would warrant double deckers on, are the loadings good on the Toonlink services?.

(19 Jun 2014, 1:03 pm)marxistafozzski wrote You would think England were playing tonight, by the way some bus drivers are wearing England Shirts

I know that on Saturday there was a Chester driver on the 21 and one on the 28 that were wearing football shirts.

I'm not quite sure about something -

Tonight on the 887 a PETERLEE driver was route learning with Patsy. Seeing as the 265 is a Peterlee (mainly) route and is on the same board - is it possible that Peterlee are covering a few runs under Chester? Didn't speak to him, so I don't know. It just seemed odd that a driver from Peterlee was standing on the 887.

Only just realised that with the MPDs transferred out of Deptford on shuttle work, Deptford are short for the 99's allocation- wonder what will see regular use there; that recently transferred Renowns?

(19 Jun 2014, 3:08 pm)Marcus wrote I'm not quite sure about something -

Tonight on the 887 a PETERLEE driver was route learning with Patsy. Seeing as the 265 is a Peterlee (mainly) route and is on the same board - is it possible that Peterlee are covering a few runs under Chester? Didn't speak to him, so I don't know. It just seemed odd that a driver from Peterlee was standing on the 887.

And how do you know it was a Peterlee driver?

(19 Jun 2014, 4:32 pm)Drifter60 wrote Only just realised that with the MPDs transferred out of Deptford on shuttle work, Deptford are short for the 99's allocation- wonder what will see regular use there; that recently transferred Renowns?


And how do you know it was a Peterlee driver?

Spoke to the person who was driving the bus.....

Re: 9131's blind... I hope that we never get anything like that in the North East. It's just wrong!

(19 Jun 2014, 8:15 pm)aureolin wrote Re: 9131's blind... I hope that we never get anything like that in the North East. It's just wrong!

I think there are some blinds that are suited to certain places. Fair enough that sounds a bit daft - but after seeing them in one place for so long it feels wrong to see them somewhere else. That's like seeing an Angel coming into Chester saying '37 London Victoria' in that distinctive lettering. It just wouldn't look right.

Sometimes I find Lothian's blinds hard to understand.

(19 Jun 2014, 8:31 pm)Marcus wrote I think there are some blinds that are suited to certain places. Fair enough that sounds a bit daft - but after seeing them in one place for so long it feels wrong to see them somewhere else. That's like seeing an Angel coming into Chester saying '37 London Victoria' in that distinctive lettering. It just wouldn't look right.

Sometimes I find Lothian's blinds hard to understand.

I think TfL would have something to say about GNE running one of their routes.

(19 Jun 2014, 8:33 pm)aureolin wrote I think TfL would have something to say about GNE running one of their routes.

Haha

Maybe saying '21 Durham', then? It just wouldn't look right

(19 Jun 2014, 8:33 pm)aureolin wrote I think TfL would have something to say about GNE running one of their routes.

Some of CHester's drivers remain of the opinion they operate cashless services though haha

(19 Jun 2014, 8:35 pm)gtom wrote Some of CHester's drivers remain of the opinion they operate cashless services though haha

There's that many OAPs get on with concessionary passes I have absolutely no idea why they say 'I haven't got any change'

(19 Jun 2014, 8:36 pm)Marcus wrote There's that many OAPs get on with concessionary passes I have absolutely no idea why they say 'I haven't got any change'

I'm convinced Chesters' drivers get lessons to look at coins and notes as somesort of bizarre alien currency.

Speaking of which, I've made a thread about this but I'll ask again, why do they give concess holders tickets when operators in London (and the continental brand Stanley Travel *ahem* don't)

(19 Jun 2014, 8:38 pm)gtom wrote I'm convinced Chesters' drivers get lessons to look at coins and notes as somesort of bizarre alien currency.

Speaking of which, I've made a thread about this but I'll ask again, why do they give concess holders tickets when operators in London (and the continental brand Stanley Travel *ahem* don't)

I don't get that either - they're so daft about people buying online to reduce paper tickets when a run on the TTX would probably use up an entire roll of tickets with concessions!

(19 Jun 2014, 8:40 pm)AIG20 wrote I have just found out whilst on a University visit that students can travel free on Connect services 700 & 701 if they have their University ID cards with them, and that is great for the students, but not for the drivers.

It's the staff at the Uni that can do that too, providing they have valid ID.

I'd have thought it was great for the drivers - just have to smile, nod, and then drive off to the next stop... That is, of course, when there are actually passengers!

Does Sunderland not have its own shuttle bus?

Ah these tinpot universities....

(I'm joking I'm joking!)

(19 Jun 2014, 8:46 pm)gtom wrote Does Sunderland not have its own shuttle bus?

Ah these tinpot universities....

(I'm joking I'm joking!)

:p :p

Not strictly GNE, but as it's been mentioned...

Does anyone know what will happen with the Open Day shuttle buses that Classic operate from next month?

(19 Jun 2014, 8:42 pm)Dan wrote It's the staff at the Uni that can do that too, providing they have valid ID.

I'd have thought it was great for the drivers - just have to smile, nod, and then drive off to the next stop... That is, of course, when there are actually passengers!

Had a friend that used to do the 700/701, and he said it was great for that. But the two or three customers paying in cash would all produce £10/£20 notes.

(19 Jun 2014, 8:31 pm)Marcus wrote I think there are some blinds that are suited to certain places. Fair enough that sounds a bit daft - but after seeing them in one place for so long it feels wrong to see them somewhere else. That's like seeing an Angel coming into Chester saying '37 London Victoria' in that distinctive lettering. It just wouldn't look right.

Sometimes I find Lothian's blinds hard to understand.

i live with a Victoria and its my own little sister anyhow the stair case on the volvo wright gemini 3 could have been blacked out reminds me of my trip to london when i saw a borismaster like that

(19 Jun 2014, 9:41 pm)Racer_Experience wrote i live with a Victoria and its my own little sister anyhow the stair case on the volvo wright gemini 3 could have been blacked out reminds me of my trip to london when i saw a borismaster like that

I hated the glass staircases at first on these and the nbfl but I quite like them now. lovely on a nice summers say, but can imagine it's quite depressing in winter :p

To be honest, the only reason they have made a glass staircase is so that everyone outside can see you fall up or down the stairs.

(19 Jun 2014, 10:06 pm)GMitchelhill wrote To be honest, the only reason they have made a glass staircase is so that everyone outside can see you fall up or down the stairs.

XD

(19 Jun 2014, 8:38 pm)gtom wrote I'm convinced Chesters' drivers get lessons to look at coins and notes as somesort of bizarre alien currency.

Speaking of which, I've made a thread about this but I'll ask again, why do they give concess holders tickets when operators in London (and the continental brand Stanley Travel *ahem* don't)

Just the operators choice i guess. No point needing a ticket as that pass is essentially a bus ticket in a way and operators are trying to cut down on Paper Tickets as somebody said previously.

(20 Jun 2014, 6:41 am)Robert wrote Just the operators choice i guess. No point needing a ticket as that pass is essentially a bus ticket in a way and operators are trying to cut down on Paper Tickets as somebody said previously.

I don't see the need for a paper ticket with Concessionary Passes, surely the scanners record the information anyway, only time a paper ticket should be issued is when a pass is knackered

Anyone know the current whereabouts of 9131?

(20 Jun 2014, 11:12 am)Adam wrote Anyone know the current whereabouts of 9131?

If it's on the same board as yesterday, it's scheduled to arrive at Chopwell in a few minutes on an 11 bound for Newcastle - which is due to arrive at Eldon Square for 1326.

(20 Jun 2014, 11:17 am)Dan wrote If it's on the same board as yesterday, it's scheduled to arrive at Chopwell in a few minutes on an 11 bound for Newcastle - which is due to arrive at Eldon Square for 1326.

Grand. I'm in Eldon Square now. May get the next bus to Blaydon & catch it from there. Thank you

9131 turned at the life centre this morning at about 8.00am working a 47 duty

(20 Jun 2014, 11:29 am)Pimponel wrote 9131 turned at the life centre this morning at about 8.00am working a 47 duty

Which means it's on the same running board as yesterday!

(20 Jun 2014, 11:32 am)Dan wrote Which means it's on the same running board as yesterday!

Would you be able to sum up that running board, just I'm off up to the MetroCentre tonight with friends and wondering if it stays out until late on.

(20 Jun 2014, 11:34 am)Kuyoyo wrote Would you be able to sum up that running board, just I'm off up to the MetroCentre tonight with friends and wondering if it stays out until late on.

It hasn't got a radio, so there's a chance it'll be taken out of service at 19:00 (like the Versa demo GNE had before).

That said, if it does stay out.....

Departures from NCL:

1445 (47)
1700 (31)
1820 (47)
2030 (31)
2145 (47)