(01 Feb 2015, 1:10 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I stick to a fervent belief that the comfiest seats out there are the ones on the Angel.
No way.
Citaros and the Ecocities are much nicer. And I'd say the Tynedalexpress Solars are a bit nicer too.
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(01 Feb 2015, 1:12 pm)Tom wrote No way.
Citaros and the Ecocities are much nicer. And I'd say the Tynedalexpress Solars are a bit nicer too.
(01 Feb 2015, 1:15 pm)Dan wrote Believe the seating on the Tynedalexpress Solars is Civic V3 - exactly the same as the Angels (just with an ordinary fabric headrest opposed to leather!)
Only way the Tynedalexpress Solars may be remotely better is because they're less worn.
(01 Feb 2015, 11:29 am)Dan wrote Just as I thought, then...Don't think the ALX400's are Civic V2, from what I remember the backs of the seats had a bit more padding, so this may be how he found them most comfortable
Headrests (as per the Civic V3s) are meant to provide additional comfort. They certainly achieve this on Go North East's Volvo B9TLs which have a fabric seat moquette. I can appreciate the refurbished ALX400s being #1 over e-leather seating, even though they're standard Civic V2(?), but can't get my head around Tommy preferring e-leather on some buses over others.
The seating on GNE's Mercs is far superior to any fabric Civic V2 seating as far as I am concerned, too.
(01 Feb 2015, 1:44 pm)mb134 wrote Don't think the ALX400's are Civic V2, from what I remember the backs of the seats had a bit more padding, so this may be how he found them most comfortable
Bus Interiors: Arriva North East: 7476 W398VGJ DAF DB250/Alexander by emdjt42, on Flickr
(01 Feb 2015, 9:43 pm)Tom wrote ALX400's are epic! Much better than a E400, depsite not having Wi-Fi.
(01 Feb 2015, 11:09 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Today's Journeys
08:10 - 52 from Wrekenton to Heworth (5390) Smooth and comfortable ride on the Versa. The only down side was that the WiFi wasn't working properly. 7/10
08:35 - 35A from Heworth to Sunderland (5325) Again a good ride on a good bus. The driver was very good, although the bus was boiling. Between Heworth and Hylton Castle there was only 6 passengers. Also if on a Citaro never sit on the two individual seats at the front, they kill your back. This was my first time on the 35A and it follows a very interesting but good route. Towards the end of the journey some bloke who got on at Heworth decided to start playing his music out loud, this was pretty annoying as it was early morning. At this point 8 passengers had used the service. I must note how polite the driver was, he was giving people timetables and just generally being a helpful soul. 3 more boarded at Southwick meaning that 11 people had travelled in total, I'm starting to think this load isn't too bad for a Sunday at 9am. The driver was now joking with passengers and made this journey a 9/10. 18 passengers used the service between Heworth and Sunderland.
09:40 - 78 from Sunderland to Chester-Le-Street (4847) Finally! A renown. The 78 arrived at the stand a good 7/8 minutes early. The driver was quite a miserable soul and there was no verbal communication what so ever. The bus sounded and performed well for its age, but barley broke the 30mph zone. The journey was very comfortable as we sat on the 2+2 opposite seats. Only 9 people used the service between Sunderland and Chester. 7.5/10
11:05 - 21 from Chester-Le-Street to Newcastle (6059) This ones a strange one. I really wanted to go to Durham but Davie didnt because he's adament its a shithole. Anyway, the bus turned up 6 mins late, the driver was canny and there was a decent load, but it was one of the worst journeys ever. I wanted to be going in the opposite direction for a start! The bus stank and it was just generally unpleasant! 3/10
12:10 - 21 from Newcastle to Birtley (6058) This one, the journey was quite enjoyable! I managed to get in te front seats upstairs. The driver was canny, but there was 2 polish people sitting next to me, that didn't go down well as I'm a strong supporter of UKIP. But overall a good journey 8/10
12:47 - 82 from Birtley to Barley Mow Estate (8253) This bus was pretty much empty with only me and an elderly lady on it. The driver was good, but did mount the kerb about 4 times. The bus had my favourite graffiti moquette. Good journey 9/10
15:51 - 21 from Barley Mow to Newcastle (6064) We decided to go back to Manors , I got the 21 and Davie got the 1. The driver was nice and spoke unlike some today. The bus was completely empty when I got on, but 5 mins later some loudmouths got on and sat at the back. But a comfortable and enjoyable journey 8/10
17:30 - 21 to Barley Mow from Newcastle (6959) The second time I've been on this bus today! This time it wash much better, although the bus still had a weird smell about it. This time it smelt like paint. There was a decent load and the usual 12 year olds at the back who reckon they're radgies but in actual fact their screaming like banchies because their balls quite clearly hadn't dropped! One of these is actually wearing a vest top and is boasting about the fact he has no armpit hair. Quite weird, they kind of had most of the passengers in stitches. Anyway a decent ride with my favourite driver made this a great journey. At this point now the lads at the back are now talking about who has the most leg hair. At this point I decided to get off, it's probably for the best. 9/10 and them lads must be on the verge of puberty!
An all round great day!
(02 Feb 2015, 7:58 am)Tom wrote Durham isn't a shithole at all! It's a lovely city.Great place Tom innit, I lived up in Fram for 4 years so spent a lot of time round Durham
(02 Feb 2015, 7:59 am)MarcTheA4 wrote Land of the Prince Bishops.I lived in Fram for 4 years, spent a lot of time round Durham...My main stomping ground tho was Nevilles Cross, Fram and Newton Hall...Was canny where I knocked about
Must admit, some little villages surrounding it are a little rough imo.
But the city centre itself is fine.
(01 Feb 2015, 11:09 pm)leestransportphotos wrote 12:10 - 21 from Newcastle to Birtley (6058) This one, the journey was quite enjoyable! I managed to get in te front seats upstairs. The driver was canny, but there was 2 polish people sitting next to me, that didn't go down well as I'm a strong supporter of UKIP. But overall a good journey 8/10
(02 Feb 2015, 11:08 am)MurdnunoC wrote Off topic I know, but, as a strong supporter of UKIP, why are you opposed to two Polish people sitting next to you?Nowt wrong with The Poles, I sometimes talk to a couple of lads sometimes who for GNE at Deptford...
Presuming these people are indeed immigrants, how do you know that they haven't independently supported themselves for five years without claiming state benefits? Did you ask?
(02 Feb 2015, 11:19 am)leestransportphotos wrote They were just generally being rude which pissed me off, one was spitting.... On the bus
(02 Feb 2015, 11:24 am)leestransportphotos wrote Oh I know haha, spitting on the bus is hideous though hahaYou would have hated me about 15 years ago, I used have the ability to clear the top of a bus with a well timed fart, and one day was so ill with a hangover, that I puked out of a window and left a mess down the side of a bus...It is still talked about today by people who were on the bus that day
(02 Feb 2015, 11:27 am)MurdnunoC wrote Fair enough. But you could have just noted that there there two rude people on the bus - one of whom was spitting. Their nationality, or your political beliefs, do not have any bearing on the story. Not all immigrants are rude after all.Got to agree with Mr MurdnunoC on that...
(02 Feb 2015, 3:47 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote In understand there are a few Polish drivers at Stanley depot.I will never forget when Lech Kaczyński(President of Poland) was killed in an airplane crash in 2010, some of the Polish drivers at Deptford were allowed to come into work on the day of his funeral or the day after as if they were dressed to go to the funeral, Black Tie, White Shirt, Black Trousers, which I actually thought was thoughtful of GNE to let those drivers mourn him in a respectful...One of my mates who drove for GNE said 'If you did not any better, you would think they were Eastern European mobsters'...
My grandad used to see them regularly, as he went the club he was a member of and they went too.
They (presuming there are indeed more than one like he said) live in Tanfield Lea from what I gather.