As per tyresmoke's earlier post:
Service 15/15A - Saturday daytime service currently operated by Stagecoach. PVR 4, Min Cap 36, Euro 4

??

That's the current contract i think?

I was told its gonna be euro 5... unless i was mis-informed!

The contract stipulates Euro 4 vehicles, so it can be any of the ADL/MAN Enviro200s in the fleet, or Stockton's MAN Enviro300s.

I'd put my money on some of Hartlepool's MAN Enviro200s heading up north?

As per tyresmoke's earlier post:
Service 15/15A - Saturday daytime service currently operated by Stagecoach. PVR 4, Min Cap 36, Euro 4

??

As I understand it from the rumour, 34609-14 will be swapped for 6 of Sunderland's 36081-94 to meet the contract specification.

Stagecoach bid specified Euro5 vehicles as I understand it (that or Nexus changed the specification) and therefore, as I understand it, 34609-14 will be swapped for 6 of Sunderland's 36081-94

Oh, joy, got them back again!

Stagecoach bid specified Euro5 vehicles as I understand it (that or Nexus changed the specification) and therefore, as I understand it, 34609-14 will be swapped for 6 of Sunderland's 36081-94

Wonder if that means the 18/19 will get darts back  

With the amount of people who use them, Darts suit the route... 

Wonder if that means the 18/19 will get darts back  

With the amount of people who use them, Darts suit the route... 

The current allocation is:

3 - Scania Gas (PVR 9)
4 - ADL Enviro200 (PVR 11)
5/5A - ADL Enviro200 (PVR 3)
8 - Pointer 2 (PVR 2)
10/11 - ADL Enviro 200 (PVR 10)
12 - MAN ALX300 (PVR 4)
13 - Scania Gas (PVR 11)
16 - Scania Gas (PVR 10)
18/19 - MAN Enviro200 (PVR 6)
20 - Scania Gas (PVR 5)
23 - ADL Enviro200 (PVR 8)

I'd therefore expect that the 18/19 will get the Pointer 2 Darts back again, allowing the current allocation of six MAN Enviro200s to be passed down to the 23 (again), running alongside two of the older ADL Enviro200s. Service 4 for the "SUNderland Bus" branded examples, instead of the older examples being allocated.

The current allocation is:

3 - Scania Gas (PVR 9)
4 - ADL Enviro200 (PVR 11)
5/5A - ADL Enviro200 (PVR 3)
8 - Pointer 2 (PVR 2)
10/11 - ADL Enviro 200 (PVR 10)
12 - MAN ALX300 (PVR 4)
13 - Scania Gas (PVR 11)
16 - Scania Gas (PVR 10)
18/19 - MAN Enviro200 (PVR 6)
20 - Scania Gas (PVR 5)
23 - ADL Enviro200 (PVR 8)

I'd therefore expect that the 18/19 will get the Pointer 2 Darts back again, allowing the current allocation of six MAN Enviro200s to be passed down to the 23 (again), running alongside two of the older ADL Enviro200s. Service 4 for the "SUNderland Bus" branded examples, instead of the older examples being allocated.

Well as its my local route (the 23), i want it to be all new enviros...  

Hopefully more gas buses are coming to Sunderland soon  

Well as its my local route (the 23), i want it to be all new enviros...  

Hopefully more gas buses are coming to Sunderland soon  

To be honest, knowing Sunderland, they'll probably treat an Enviro200 as an Enviro200, regardless of whether it's a MAN or ADL. That's pretty much how it worked before when they were meant to be allocated to the 23. When the new "SUNderland Bus" ones entered service on there, they sorted it out a bit and kept the MANs on the 18/19, but I bet it all goes tits up again... According to the fleet cards, the MANs are still meant to be allocated to the 23!

As the average age of Sunderland's fleet will be on the increase again, hopefully this puts us in a good position to receive some more new buses again (probably for the 23 if what I said previously happens). The MAN Enviro200s would work great on the 12 in my opinion, so having four on there and two as spares would allow the MAN ALX300s to move out and replace some of the older non-DDA compliant examples. We'll just have to wait and see.  

That will be right 23 losing new buses gran says lol

---

Im sure it was one of the last routes to be wheelchair accessible?

Well as its my local route (the 23), i want it to be all new enviros...  

Hopefully more gas buses are coming to Sunderland soon  

Given all the investment in new vehicles in Sunderland over the last 2 years - it's other depots turn for major investment this year  

To be honest, knowing Sunderland, they'll probably treat an Enviro200 as an Enviro200, regardless of whether it's a MAN or ADL. That's pretty much how it worked before when they were meant to be allocated to the 23. When the new "SUNderland Bus" ones entered service on there, they sorted it out a bit and kept the MANs on the 18/19, but I bet it all goes tits up again... According to the fleet cards, the MANs are still meant to be allocated to the 23!

As the average age of Sunderland's fleet will be on the increase again, hopefully this puts us in a good position to receive some more new buses again (probably for the 23 if what I said previously happens). The MAN Enviro200s would work great on the 12 in my opinion, so having four on there and two as spares would allow the MAN ALX300s to move out and replace some of the older non-DDA compliant examples. We'll just have to wait and see.  

If they recive anything i think they'll want to try and get gas buses.... hopefully.

However.. like iv'e said before i don't think the 18/19 need anything bigger than a dart...

Given all the investment in new vehicles in Sunderland over the last 2 years - it's other depots turn for major investment this year  

One of the Newcastle Depots, or both?, i don't think they've had anything for a while?

One of the Newcastle Depots, or both?, i don't think they've had anything for a while?

I couldn't possibly comment on which depots are gaining investment this year   But there are other depots other than Sunderland and Newcastle's pair.............

I couldn't possibly comment on which depots are gaining investment this year   

Is that because you don't know Tony? 

Is that because you don't know Tony? 

Maybe I've heard something on the grapevine, then again maybe I haven't   

Does everyone reckon GNE will retain the 40/41/17A?

Does everyone reckon GNE will retain the 40/41/17A?

I think so, yes. My predictions are as follows:

22nd March 2015

Service 15/15A - Stagecoach North East
Service 17A/40/41 - Go North East

31st May 2015

Service 238/239 - Go North East
Service 39 - Go North East
Service TB10 - Gateshead Central Taxis
Service TB503 - Gateshead Central Taxis
Service TB504 - Gateshead Central Taxis

I think so, yes. My predictions are as follows:

22nd March 2015

Service 15/15A - Stagecoach North East
Service 17A/40/41 - Go North East

31st May 2015

Service 238/239 - Go North East
Service 39 - Go North East
Service TB10 - Gateshead Central Taxis
Service TB503 - Gateshead Central Taxis
Service TB504 - Gateshead Central Taxis

I don't think any other company will have enough buses, apart from maybe Stagecoach for the 40/41/17A?

I don't think any other company will have enough buses, apart from maybe Stagecoach for the 40/41/17A?

Apart from the 15/15A, the 'proper' bus services are all evening/Sunday contracts, so each of the big three will have enough spare resources.

Apart from the 15/15A, the 'proper' bus services are all evening/Sunday contracts, so each of the big three will have enough spare resources.

What I meant is that they might not have enough Solos etc.

Arriva operate a hell of a lot of services on Sunday (17 [PVR 3], 18 PVR 2], 32 [PVR 2?] 33A [PVR 2]) and more...

I remember you saying that Hartlepool's Pointer Darts are due for replacement this year - when there was the "rumour" of 39701-14 being transferred there. Unless South Shields want to get rid of their Pointer Darts and want many other vehicles to go with them... For example, upgrading services 10/11/30 & 12/12A to 100% Euro 5/6 emission standards to keep Nexus happy. 

Apart from 34401 (NK53 FKW), the Pointer 2 Darts were new in 2004 so won't be due for replacement until 2016.

Does everyone reckon GNE will retain the 40/41/17A?

I think so, yes. My predictions are as follows:

22nd March 2015

Service 15/15A - Stagecoach North East
Service 17A/40/41 - Go North East

31st May 2015

Service 238/239 - Go North East
Service 39 - Go North East
Service TB10 - Gateshead Central Taxis
Service TB503 - Gateshead Central Taxis
Service TB504 - Gateshead Central Taxis

Do you not think it would be a good idea to merge the Go North East 40/41 with the Stagecoach 40, Extending on from Wallsend Metro, so then you could have the following.

40 - Chapel House - Denton Burn - West Road - General Hospital - Stanhope Street - City Centre - Byker - Welbeck Road - Wallsend Metro - Station Road - High Farm - Battle Hill Drive - Hadrian Park

41 - Chapel House - Denton Burn - West Road - General Hospital - Stanhope Street - City Centre - Byker - Welbeck Road - Wallsend Metro - Rosehill - Howdon - Hadrian Park

Then as a result of the above in return Go North East would obtain the Contract of the 32/32A which they operate on Evenings and Sundays anyway.

Do you not think it would be a good idea to merge the Go North East 40/41 with the Stagecoach 40, Extending on from Wallsend Metro, so then you could have the following.

40 - Chapel House - Denton Burn - West Road - General Hospital - Stanhope Street - City Centre - Byker - Welbeck Road - Wallsend Metro - Station Road - High Farm - Battle Hill Drive - Hadrian Park

41 - Chapel House - Denton Burn - West Road - General Hospital - Stanhope Street - City Centre - Byker - Welbeck Road - Wallsend Metro - Rosehill - Howdon - Hadrian Park

Then as a result of the above in return Go North East would obtain the Contract of the 32/32A which they operate on Evenings and Sundays anyway.

Potentially yes, but there is the issue of services being totally different to the one offered during the day.

Personal feelings aside, I don't think we can discount Gateshead Central Taxis in any of the Tyne and Wear tenders. Nexus, like other public bodies, are forced to go with the most economically advantageous tender. GCT have shown repeatedly in the past, that they're more than capable of smashing the big boys' bid strategies.

Potentially yes, but there is the issue of services being totally different to the one offered during the day.

Then there's also the fact GNE's boards on 32/32A are Sunday daytime only - Arriva provide the entire evening output all weekday and half of the Sunday daytime workings.

Then there's also the fact GNE's boards on 32/32A are Sunday daytime only - Arriva provide the entire evening output all weekday and half of the Sunday daytime workings.

That scuppers that thought then, is there any other Nexus Contracts in which Stagecoach Operate that they could give to Go North East in exchange for there 40/41 Services.

That scuppers that thought then, is there any other Nexus Contracts in which Stagecoach Operate that they could give to Go North East in exchange for there 40/41 Services.

Why would Stagecoach just give work up?

Why would Stagecoach just give work up?

But they wouldnt be losing work though if they took GNEs 40/41, and GNE took one of there Nexus Contracts in exchange.

But they wouldnt be losing work though if they took GNEs 40/41, and GNE took one of there Nexus Contracts in exchange.

Apart from that's illegal, and would see those involved in such actions jailed.

Apart from that's illegal, and would see those involved in such actions jailed.

But what if both operators put in a Service Cancellation through Vosa, Then went onto exchanging Services from there following a Consultation with Nexus who would then approve the Agreement before a New Service Application is put into Vosa.

But what if both operators put in a Service Cancellation through Vosa, Then went onto exchanging Services from there following a Consultation with Nexus who would then approve the Agreement before a New Service Application is put into Vosa.

Any such discussions can't happen to my knowledge, as it's collusion and anti competitive. The latter certainly can't happen, as nexus need to select the most economically advantageous tender.