Quick note to say that, following the news update earlier today, the fleet lists have been updated... I hadn't updated them in a while, so had quite a bit to catch up on.

• All "Prince Bishops" branded Scania L94UB/Wright Solars have received the revised branding, and I've added this to the notes section to record this. Likewise, all of the recently repainted Scanias are now shown as "Prince Bishops" to reflect the fact they've now been branded.
  
• All of the latest repaints have been noted.
  
• All of the latest transfers have been noted.
  
• All vehicles based at Saltmeadows have been noted as having transferred to Riverside.

(22 Feb 2015, 1:06 pm)Dan wrote Quick note to say that, following the news update earlier today, the fleet lists have been updated... I hadn't updated them in a while, so had quite a bit to catch up on.

• All "Prince Bishops" branded Scania L94UB/Wright Solars have received the revised branding, and I've added this to the notes section to record this. Likewise, all of the recently repainted Scanias are now shown as "Prince Bishops" to reflect the fact they've now been branded.
  
• All of the latest repaints have been noted.
  
• All of the latest transfers have been noted.
  
• All vehicles based at Saltmeadows have been noted as having transferred to Riverside.
  

 5204 hasn't being updated to Prince Bishops. 

When will the 35/36 get branding?

(22 Feb 2015, 1:11 pm)Michael wrote  5204 hasn't being updated to Prince Bishops. 

Knew I'd end up forgetting something! 5204 amended accordingly.

Also - "Great Park & Ride" service 40A is no longer operated by MPDs, following the transfer of Saltmeadows' operations to Riverside, and 5390 has been allocated today.

(22 Feb 2015, 1:12 pm)Tom wrote When will the 35/36 get branding?

Probables be after the versa's are completed at Deptford?

(22 Feb 2015, 1:20 pm)Michael wrote I hope its soon, probables be after the versa's are completed at Deptford?

Aye, i imagine they will want to give 5298-5309 a repaint to give them a nice appearance like 5325-5327.

I hope they sort out some of those ex-Laser Mercs soon. If you look closely enough you can see where all of it's former vinyls.

Not that it's a major problem, but it just makes them look a tad scruffy in my opinion.

(22 Feb 2015, 1:23 pm)Robert wrote Aye, i imagine they will want to give 5298-5309 a repaint to give them a nice appearance like 5325-5327.

I would imagine its something like this for Deptford...(not in order)


Simplicity repaints and re-branded (repainted what's left to do) - Will anything be added - such as the 2/2A route on?
61
35/36 

Along with the Plaxton President's getting done from other depots.

(22 Feb 2015, 1:26 pm)Michael wrote Along with the Plaxton President's getting done from other depots.

...and not forgetting all of the buses that'll need to get repainted in line with new buses arriving into the fleet?  

(22 Feb 2015, 1:27 pm)Dan wrote ...and not forgetting all of the buses that'll need to get repainted in line with new buses arriving into the fleet?  

Yes and all of those... so we might be waiting a while! (Although mostly will replacing the B10's)  

Does anyone have any info on the 35/36 brand, has GNE got an idea for the brand?

(22 Feb 2015, 1:25 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I hope they sort out some of those ex-Laser Mercs soon. If you look closely enough you can see where all of it's former vinyls.

Not that it's a major problem, but it just makes them look a tad scruffy in my opinion.

I saw an ex Laser Citaro on Tuesday evening in the dark from a distance and I thought it was still branded!

Same for the ex SimpliCity Versas on the X40, although I imagine they will be repainted in the next few months.

(22 Feb 2015, 1:25 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I hope they sort out some of those ex-Laser Mercs soon. If you look closely enough you can see where all of it's former vinyls.

Not that it's a major problem, but it just makes them look a tad scruffy in my opinion.

I couldn't agree more. You can actually see it without the sun/light being on it. If I'm honest I think GNE's service on that department of things has dropped dramatically (eg mixed seats, posters)

(22 Feb 2015, 3:49 pm)leestransportphotos wrote I couldn't agree more. You can actually see it without the sun/light being on it. If I'm honest I think GNE's service on that department of things has dropped dramatically (eg mixed seats, posters)

I would also suggest that they would be branded for 35/36 before being repainted. I struggle to believe that 5275-5283 and 8320-8327 would have/be received/receiving a repaint when they did/are if 5331 and 8306-8309 and 8319 werent required.

Just to add to the discussion regarding repaints, Washington's Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6011 (V311 LGC) is the latest to arrive at Saltmeadows for repaint into Go North East's corporate livery.

That means that 100 buses now have "Northern" branding, while 103 buses wear Go North East's corporate livery.

(22 Feb 2015, 4:49 pm)Dan wrote Just to add to the discussion regarding repaints, Washington's Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6011 (V311 LGC) is the latest to arrive at Saltmeadows for repaint into Go North East's corporate livery.

That means that 100 buses now have "Northern" branding, while 103 buses wear Go North East's corporate livery.

But the B10's won't be getting repainted, so take 18 away from the 100 and it leaves 82. 

(22 Feb 2015, 4:58 pm)Michael wrote But the B10's won't be getting repainted, so take 18 away from the 100 and it leaves 82. 

Aye, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!  

(22 Feb 2015, 5:01 pm)Dan wrote Aye, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it!  

Which should be soon...  

(22 Feb 2015, 5:03 pm)Michael wrote Which should be soon...  

Well, they've got a maximum of ten months providing they aren't converted to become DDA-compliant! Ages yet!  

(22 Feb 2015, 5:04 pm)Dan wrote Well, they've got a maximum of ten months providing they aren't converted to become DDA-compliant! Ages yet!  

Daft question, how would they covert them to become DDA?

Is it just the ramp which needs changing?

(22 Feb 2015, 5:06 pm)Michael wrote Daft question, how would they covert them to become DDA?

Is it just the ramp which needs changing?

There is some information on the following links:
http://www.hantsanddorsettrim.co.uk/bus-...4581323026
http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/accessibility/

How difficult a job it is will vary by bus, I'd imagine, but I would think the cost of doing this would be less than buying a new bus... Arriva and Go North East have quite a few vehicles left which aren't DDA-compliant, so if needs be, the option is there to convert vehicles to become DDA-compliant.

(22 Feb 2015, 5:12 pm)Dan wrote There is some information on the following links:
http://www.hantsanddorsettrim.co.uk/bus-...4581323026
http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/accessibility/

How difficult a job it is will vary by bus, I'd imagine, but I would think the cost of doing this would be less than buying a new bus... Arriva and Go North East have quite a few vehicles left which aren't DDA-compliant, so if needs be, the option is there to convert vehicles to become DDA-compliant.

Cheers Dan, i'll have a read. 

559 on the short X84 through Corbridge towards Hexham @ 17:19.

3 pax.

Bluegrass Research Limited, on behalf of Go North East, contacted me recently as part of Go North East's "Passenger Panel". The current panel survey, which is open until Monday 2nd March 2015, discusses ticketing options.

I highly doubt I'll be eligible for the £50 Amazon voucher now, should I be selected out of the prize draw, but I have completed the questionnaire as usual and attached screenshots for the benefit of the forum.

To right you will not be eligible!

(22 Feb 2015, 11:18 am)Michael wrote Does anyone know how the 33/33A are doing in Sunderland since they were introduced 25.1.15?

Doesn't seem that busy, people are using the 12. Go north east are just messing around too much with Silksworth services

(22 Feb 2015, 9:38 pm)Acky81 wrote Doesn't seem that busy, people are using the 12. Go north east are just messing around too much with Silksworth services

Silksworth is over-bussed, in my opinion.

Services 33/33A provide a 15-minute frequency compared to the previous 20-minute frequency on the 35A, on top of the 10-minute frequency provided by service 2. I personally think the 20-minute frequency on service 35A was ideal, but I've always thought it was through-traffic on the old 35A service, rather than people actually travelling to Silksworth. I think they only gave the 33/33A a 15-minute frequency so they could upgrade the 39 to a 15-minute frequency to replace the combined 10-minute frequency of the old 29/39 routes.

Stagecoach's 12 service hardly justifies the use of full-sized single deckers on 10-minute frequency. Whenever I see the 12, it's empty or carrying one or two pensioners. Looking on Flickr under the search of "stagecoach sunderland service 12", it's the same story.

(22 Feb 2015, 9:38 pm)Acky81 wrote Doesn't seem that busy, people are using the 12. Go north east are just messing around too much with Silksworth services

It'll get changed if numbers don't improve...

The 12 has being around for a while, it hasn't being changed for ages, although like Dan said numbers don't justify full-sized deckers... people would rather use the 12.

But Silksworth is over-bussed.

(22 Feb 2015, 9:52 pm)Michael wrote It'll get changed if numbers don't improve...

The 12 has being around for a while, it hasn't being changed for ages, although like Dan said numbers don't justify full-sized deckers... people would rather use the 12.

But Silksworth is over-bussed.

Lots of buses in an area can mean one of two things.
There's some nice, healthy competition OR an operator is behaving like a dog marking its territory.

Whichever one it is, I think you are right and we will see more changes, possibly as early as the summer.
Silksworth may become the new North Sunderland Estates

(22 Feb 2015, 9:52 pm)Michael wrote It'll get changed if numbers don't improve...

The 12 has being around for a while, it hasn't being changed for ages, although like Dan said numbers don't justify full-sized deckers... people would rather use the 12.

But Silksworth is over-bussed.

Totally agree. I was driving the other through Silksworth omg what a mistake that was. I got stuck behind 5 buses. 2 38 99 2a 33a totally over bussed

(22 Feb 2015, 9:56 pm)Andreos1 wrote Lots of buses in an area can mean one of two things.
There's some nice, healthy competition OR an operator is behaving like a dog marking its territory.

Whichever one it is, I think you are right and we will see more changes, possibly as early as the summer.
Silksworth may become the new North Sunderland Estates

I was quite young at the time so don't clearly remember, but I was living over that way at the time and think I vaguely remember the 12 being introduced as a competitive service to rival the "Magic Roundabout" 33 service? When it was first launched, I think they had 50p singles on the 12, which was better than the 33 which was around a £1.00 for a single.

I can't recall why the 33 was binned though... I remember having the 35 in the area at this time too, as I used the first bus of the day at about 5am down to town on a regular basis. Did the 35 directly replace the 33 or was it different? Do remember loving the Mercs compared to the MPDs, though, and this seemed to be when the Polish drivers all disappeared! 

Don't think Stagecoach has changed the 12 since it was first implemented, which is surprising given how few seem to use it, but I may be wrong.