GoNE Bus 5333 has just (at 12:10) reversed into a yellow East Durham bus at Peterlee bus station on the X7 route to Middlesbrough. All passengers swiftly changed onto the 21A! No injuries but the back window was apparently smashed in. (information from my wife who was on it at the time)

One point on this is that passengers who had paid for a ticket on the X7 had to pay again on the 21A. Hopefully they will be able to get a refund from GoNE as Arriva were obviously unable to honour the GoNE ticket. (We are old folks so get it for nowt anyway   )

Didn't realise the X88 operated Mon-Fri.
Passed me earlier empty!

(29 Dec 2014, 1:36 pm)Tom wrote Didn't realise the X88 operated Mon-Fri.
Passed me earlier empty!

It's a Saturday service today.

Full service changes from 25/01 and 01/02 on GNE website

(29 Dec 2014, 2:34 pm)JP6004 wrote Full service changes from 25/01 and 01/02 on GNE website

Yup, already being posted about it in the GNE thread. 

I need a list of all the Go North Eadt brandings their has ever been, the problem is I haven't a clue! All I do is photo them! So please could someone help me?

Cheers, Lee

Are these new timetables temp or not because 27/35* & 20 don't have a pic of the bus or brand?

Thanks.

(29 Dec 2014, 3:36 pm)Panasonic44 wrote Are these new timetables temp or not because 27/35* & 20 don't have a pic of the bus or brand?

Thanks.

The timetables which are online at the moment are only temporary.

The temporary X36 timetable randomly has full times for services 4, 82/82A and 982 on the same timetable.

3965 died on stand at Eldon Sq

Ahead of the upcoming service changes in Sunderland, a number of Deptford-based vehicles are to undergo repaint. Although unconfirmed at this stage, the revised PVRs are given in this post, which will give a rough idea on how many buses need to be painted.

'Freshen up' repaints should be deferred until after the service changes in Sunderland take place, as Saltmeadows Road's maximum repaint output is 3 vehicles per week.

Those vehicles to have arrived at Saltmeadows so far include:
- "Laser" branded Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 4945 (NK51 OLJ), which is expected to be repainted purple to join the "Prince Bishops" family.
- "Silver Arrows" branded Mercedes Citaro 0530N/Mercedes Citaro 5325 (NK58 DWC), which is expected to be repainted gold to join the current "Laser" family*.
*Brand name subject to change in-line with the service changes to services 35/36.

The above therefore confirms that Deptford's Mercedes Citaros will not be allocated to service 20, and it confirms that the "Silver Arrows" will lose its present allocation of Mercedes Citaros too.

(30 Dec 2014, 1:35 pm)Dan wrote Ahead of the upcoming service changes in Sunderland, a number of Deptford-based vehicles are to undergo repaint. Although unconfirmed at this stage, the revised PVRs are given in this post, which will give a rough idea on how many buses need to be painted.

'Freshen up' repaints should be deferred until after the service changes in Sunderland take place, as Saltmeadows Road's maximum repaint output is 3 vehicles per week.

Those vehicles to have arrived at Saltmeadows so far include:
- "Laser" branded Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 4945 (NK51 OLJ), which is expected to be repainted purple to join the "Prince Bishops" family.
- "Silver Arrows" branded Mercedes Citaro 0530N/Mercedes Citaro 5325 (NK58 DWC), which is expected to be repainted gold to join the current "Laser" family*.
*Brand name subject to change in-line with the service changes to services 35/36.

The above therefore confirms that Deptford's Mercedes Citaros will not be allocated to service 20, and it confirms that the "Silver Arrows" will lose its present allocation of Mercedes Citaros too.

Nooooo the silver arrows cant loose its citaro's... i hope they're not down grading it to scania's or versa...is it possible that they could get the citaros from the Crusdaer, if it gets new buses? 

But they've repainted most of the silver arrows to silver... does this mean that the 35/36 will come under 2 different colours of the same brand?

Glad they're changing the brand name from laser... i hope its something decent!

(30 Dec 2014, 1:52 pm)Michael wrote Nooooo the silver arrows cant loose its citaro's... i hope they're not down grading it to scania's....possible that they could get the ones from the Crusdaer, if it gets new buses?

But they've repainted most of the silver arrows to silver... does this mean that the 35/36 will come under 2 different colours of the same brand?

Glad they're changing the brand name from laser... i hope its someing decent!

The examples allocated to the "Crusader" are required on service 27 until their replacements arrive. Whether that is during 2015, 2016 or 2017, I expect nobody on this forum knows... The revised allocations will commence when the service changes take place - so the "Silver Arrows" will not receive any of the "Crusader" allocation.

As I believe the original plan was a mere freshen up repaint for the "Silver Arrows" allocation, Mercedes Citaros 5320 - 5324 and 5326 were all repainted, leaving 5325 and 5327 in "Silver Arrows" branding. The repaints will now coincide with the service changes in Sunderland, meaning that 5326 is likely to be repainted again, into gold. The present "Laser" allocation (5298 - 5309) and the newcomers (5325 - 5327) add up to 15 buses - the PVR of services 35/36. So, which service(s) do we think that 5320 - 5324 will be allocated to?  

(30 Dec 2014, 2:03 pm)Dan wrote The examples allocated to the "Crusader" are required on service 27 until their replacements arrive. Whether that is during 2015, 2016 or 2017, I expect nobody on this forum knows... The revised allocations will commence when the service changes take place - so the "Silver Arrows" will not receive any of the "Crusader" allocation.

As I believe the original plan was a mere freshen up repaint for the "Silver Arrows" allocation, Mercedes Citaros 5320 - 5324 and 5326 were all repainted, leaving 5325 and 5327 in "Silver Arrows" branding. The repaints will now coincide with the service changes in Sunderland, meaning that 5326 is likely to be repainted again, into gold. The present "Laser" allocation (5298 - 5309) and the newcomers (5325 - 5327) add up to 15 buses - the PVR of services 35/36. So, which service(s) do we think that 5320 - 5324 will be allocated to?  

Tynedalexpress? 

Then the Solars could go on the 2/2A replacing, along with other spares?

(30 Dec 2014, 2:04 pm)Tom wrote Tynedalexpress? 

Then the Solars could go on the 2/2A replacing, along with other spares?

That means the Mercs need Wifi and some of SA will but the rest won't.

(30 Dec 2014, 2:06 pm)danpick wrote That means the Mercs need Wifi and some of SA will but the rest won't.

Then the Solars could go on the X36.

(30 Dec 2014, 2:08 pm)Tom wrote Then the Solars could go on the X36.

If it's still around.

(30 Dec 2014, 2:03 pm)Dan wrote The examples allocated to the "Crusader" are required on service 27 until their replacements arrive. Whether that is during 2015, 2016 or 2017, I expect nobody on this forum knows... The revised allocations will commence when the service changes take place - so the "Silver Arrows" will not receive any of the "Crusader" allocation.

As I believe the original plan was a mere freshen up repaint for the "Silver Arrows" allocation, Mercedes Citaros 5320 - 5324 and 5326 were all repainted, leaving 5325 and 5327 in "Silver Arrows" branding. The repaints will now coincide with the service changes in Sunderland, meaning that 5326 is likely to be repainted again, into gold. The present "Laser" allocation (5298 - 5309) and the newcomers (5325 - 5327) add up to 15 buses - the PVR of services 35/36. So, which service(s) do we think that 5320 - 5324 will be allocated to?  

The 61

Then that means that the 2/2A can be fully versa with 2 spares in the depot... also if they change the brand from silver arrow to simplicity means they dont have to repaint them, just brand 3  

So are we thinking that the 2/2A will become SimpliCity? 61 will get Mercs?! Fozz will be pleased if that goes ahead!

PrinceBishops 20/20A: Scania Solars (current PB + Laser examples & 2 more)
Laser 35/35A/36*: Mercedes Citaro (current Laser + 3 Silver Arrows)
SimpliCity 2/2A: Optare Versa (10 current SimpliCity + 3 Purple)
Service 61^: Mercedes Citaro (5 Silver Arrows)

*Laser under new brand? As Dan mentioned
^61 to get Mercs?! And under what brand? SimpliCity? Or something new? Will 2/2A be Silver Arrow or SimpliCity?

Edit: Oh could the Mercs go to 57?! I keep banging on about 57 today! 
Could we see temporary allocations? Til new buses arrive? 

I'm Changing my mind here,
I'm thinking that 33/39 will get the 10 versas spare. 61 keep theres.
2/2A/20/20A to be solars.
The spare Citaro's I guess only option is X84/X85 as Tom said.

I think easiest option would be to move the Silver arrows mercs onto the 61 and branded those services as Silver Arrows instead. My theory is that they would only need to re-repaint 1 citaro (5326 for the laser) rather than 5 for the tynedale express or simplicity. Its financially better. The 2/2A would probably suit the Simplicity versas fine anyway. Plus it would make use for 3 (or possibly all 5 if you wanted 2 branded spares) of the plain purple versas (8306/7/8/9/19).

(30 Dec 2014, 3:59 pm)Drifter60 wrote I'm Changing my mind here,
I'm thinking that 33/39 will get the 10 versas spare. 61 keep theres.
2/2A/20/20A to be solars.
The spare Citaro's I guess only option is X84/X85 as Tom said.

The Solars could possibly go onto the 57, with five Renowns moving into a spare role at Deptford, releasing five Solars to the Prince Bishops/Silver Arrows?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rje9KWHtkVs&feature=youtu.be

Short video about Northern becoming Go Ahead Northern many years ago

Haven't seen it reported...https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/ukbuspix/15962511397/ - Versa 8316 in Gateshead.

I would be gutted if they're dropping the 2/2A from Citaro's to Scania's... i really hope its Versa.

I think the 33/33A/39 will be a mixture of Cadet and Scania

(30 Dec 2014, 7:09 pm)Michael wrote I would be gutted if they're dropping the 2/2A from Citaro's to Scania's... i really hope its Versa.

I think the 33/33A/39 will be a mixture of Cadet and Scania

Why if it is Scania's and why if it Versa's?

(30 Dec 2014, 7:09 pm)Michael wrote I would be gutted if they're dropping the 2/2A from Citaro's to Scania's... i really hope its Versa.

I think the 33/33A/39 will be a mixture of Cadet and Scania

Unless the 2/2A are getting New Buses, no doubt Dan will probs shoot this suggestion out the sky with his RPG

(30 Dec 2014, 7:12 pm)citaro5284 wrote Why if it is Scania's and why if it Versa's?

Because going from Citaro/Versa's to Scania's seems a massive downgrade for passengers on its current routes, 2A/2C and 42, where as the Versa will keep it at a high-standard route. 

---

(30 Dec 2014, 7:13 pm)Malarkey wrote Unless the 2/2A are getting New Buses, no doubt Dan will probs shoot this suggestion out the sky with his RPG

Probables not, i do hope though! 

(30 Dec 2014, 6:46 pm)citaro5284 wrote https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rje9KWHtkVs&feature=youtu.be

Short video about Northern becoming Go Ahead Northern many years ago

Some very interesting nostalgic video of the old Central Workshops at Bensham. There is a housing estate there now although the offices where the interviews took place are still in use (The registered office which is on the legal lettering of all GNE buses 117 Queen Street).

(30 Dec 2014, 9:16 pm)a718abb wrote Some very interesting nostalgic video of the old Central Workshops at Bensham. There is a housing estate there now although the offices where the interviews took place are still in use (The registered office which is on the legal lettering of all GNE buses 117 Queen Street).

Any idea how old the Bensham building is out of interest? Looks like a bit of an eyesore now (although had to use Google Streetview to refresh my memory!), and I was a bit surprised they didn't just shift everything there to the Riverside.