Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - March 2015

Has any more buses joined 6029 at Saltmeadows for repaint or is that the only one which remains?

(01 Mar 2015, 10:57 am)Michael wrote Has any more buses joined 6029 at Saltmeadows for repaint or is that the only one which remains?

Not yet, though there should be some new arrivals tomorrow.

8325 and 8327 still yet to be repainted, to conclude the repainting of that batch of vehicles, amongst further Volvo B7TLs.

(01 Mar 2015, 11:01 am)Dan wrote Not yet, though there should be some new arrivals tomorrow.

8325 and 8327 still yet to be repainted, to conclude the repainting of that batch of vehicles, amongst further Volvo B7TLs.

Cheers for the update, Hopefully 8325/27 should be done this week. 


I would imagine that re-paints of branded buses will start later this month to, along with de-branding of other routes?

(01 Mar 2015, 11:07 am)Michael wrote Cheers for the update, Hopefully 8325/27 should be done this week. 

I would imagine that re-paints of branded buses will start later this month to, along with de-branding of other routes?

The "Red Kite" branded vehicles will need doing at some point - but probably not for another month or so yet. Imagine it'll be more of a priority to get the X66 and Lime sorted out with new vehicles first.

(01 Mar 2015, 11:09 am)Dan wrote The "Red Kite" branded vehicles will need doing at some point - but probably not for another month or so yet. Imagine it'll be more of a priority to get the X66 and Lime sorted out with new vehicles first.

I'll have to try and get some last rides on the 3 remaining branded Limes...

I thought the Red Kite would of got bigger buses, every time iv'e seen the service, its being busy. 

(01 Mar 2015, 11:09 am)Dan wrote The "Red Kite" branded vehicles will need doing at some point - but probably not for another month or so yet. Imagine it'll be more of a priority to get the X66 and Lime sorted out with new vehicles first.

The Red Kite Omnicity's could maybe operate devoid of branding in plain red before going in for repaint - doubt that will happen though.

I hope that a similar livery will be used on the Red Kites - i dont want it to be too computer graphical like other brands and instead actually have a photo of different red kite positions like they do at the moment. Much better than the swoop livery.

(01 Mar 2015, 11:15 am)Jimmi wrote The Red Kite Omnicity's could maybe operate devoid of branding in plain red before going in for repaint - doubt that will happen though.

i've seen vehicles in the past still with there former brand on before being debranded one example is laser brand speaking of which what is them Citaros gonna be called the ones on 35/35A/36 and 61

(01 Mar 2015, 11:11 am)Michael wrote I'll have to try and get some last rides on the 3 remaining branded Limes...

I thought the Red Kite would of got bigger buses, every time iv'e seen the service, its being busy. 

Outside of peak-hour journeys (and possibly weekends) the Red Kites are not that busy. The point really hits home when deckers are allocated to the route(s) and you see them almost deserted. Even the Venture Solos are only half full whenever they're allocated for whatever reason. 

(01 Mar 2015, 5:45 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Outside of peak-hour journeys (and possibly weekends) the Red Kites are not that busy. The point really hits home when deckers are allocated to the route(s) and you see them almost deserted. Even the Venture Solos are only half full whenever they're allocated for whatever reason. 

Ah right, might of just being lucky that day! lol

5298 has an awful squeaking noise!

The outstation at Consett closed on Monday 23 February and the 12 Optare Solos returned to Stanley.

(02 Mar 2015, 10:47 am)Racer_Experience wrote The outstation at Consett closed on Monday 23 February and the 12 Optare Solos returned to Stanley.

Did we not discuss this last week? 

(02 Mar 2015, 11:23 am)tyresmoke wrote Did we not discuss this last week? 

It was not included in Go North East's fleet news last week as it didn't occur within the previous week - hence why it was noted on GNE's Fleet News today.

Hope the driver of 5358 has filled in their defect sheet or at least whoever gets in it first in the morning does a decent pre-shift check.
Looks like a bulb has blown on its headlights.
It may have been my eyes, but one looked out on a rear cluster too.

ISTR that Wifi and sockets were promised for X84/X85, yet my recent journeys have been without either.

Am I mis-remembering?

Edited to add:- http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showth...p?tid=1247&pid=12546#pid12546

and my journeys were weekday journeys.

(02 Mar 2015, 10:55 pm)G-CPTN wrote ISTR that Wifi and sockets were promised for X84/X85, yet my recent journeys have been without either.

Am I mis-remembering?

Edited to add:- http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showth...p?tid=1247&pid=12546#pid12546

and my journeys were weekday journeys.

Just Wi-Fi for the Tynedalexpress.

Sundays still see the allocation of an MPD - the 74A is secured by Nexus and Go North East's tender was based on an MPD being allocated. An MPD has a greater fuel economy than a Scania, especially given that 5229 - 5233 are set up for long distance services. If GNE were to allocate a Scania, they could well be out of pocket depending on their current tender and the associated margins. When the tender comes up for renewal, I would anticipate that Go North East would bid using their data for a Scania rather than an MPD.

There is one spare Scania at Hexham (5229 in red), which is also fitted with Wi-Fi, but if this bus is unavailable and a branded vehicle is also off the road, the weekday journey which is allocated a yellow "Tynedale Links" branded bus will go without Wi-Fi.

I was told these following things by Davie the other day - can anyone confirm they're true?

82/82A - Will be changed back to its old route in Birtley to cope with Birtley
45/46 - Streetlights will be used
X66 - Streetlights, silver branded

(03 Mar 2015, 7:48 am)leestransportphotos wrote I was told these following things by Davie the other day - can anyone confirm they're true?

82/82A - Will be changed back to its old route in Birtley to cope with Birtley
45/46 - Streetlights will be used
X66 - Streetlights, silver branded

Citaro confirmed in the predictions thread, Streetlites for Red Kite/X66 and Lime..  however he didn't confirm the colour they would be in .. he wouldn't tell me haha

Right thanks haha. Streetlights on all of them is the most shocking decision I have ever heard of!

(03 Mar 2015, 6:12 am)citaro5284 wrote The Scania's on Tynedalexpress have wifi and it is working fine.  I cannot remember anything about power sockets been mentioned.

Thanks - my mistake.
I needed to charge my 'phone.

(01 Mar 2015, 11:01 am)Dan wrote Not yet, though there should be some new arrivals tomorrow.

8325 and 8327 still yet to be repainted, to conclude the repainting of that batch of vehicles, amongst further Volvo B7TLs.

Former "SimpliCity" branded Optare Versa V1110/Optare 8325 (NK11 FXH) has now arrived at Saltmeadows for repaint into a fresh coat of purple.

Similarly, former "Crusader" branded Mercedes Citaro 0530N/Mercedes Citaro 5329 (BJ10 VUO) has also arrived at Saltmeadows for repaint into what is likely to be a fresh coat of silver.

(03 Mar 2015, 1:02 pm)Dan wrote Former "SimpliCity" branded Optare Versa V1110/Optare 8325 (NK11 FXH) has now arrived at Saltmeadows for repaint into a fresh coat of purple.

Similarly, former "Crusader" branded Mercedes Citaro 0530N/Mercedes Citaro 5329 (BJ10 VUO) has also arrived at Saltmeadows for repaint into what is likely to be a fresh coat of silver.

Does that confirm the Crusader isnt getting new buses this year

(03 Mar 2015, 9:04 am)leestransportphotos wrote Right thanks haha. Streetlights on all of them is the most shocking decision I have ever heard of!

I think the reason they have chosen Streetlites over the likes of bendy buses (just an example) is because they will more than likely end up on every other Riverside based service. Joking over,  I think (I'm not 100% sure)  but I think the larger version are the biggest single decker buses in production 

(03 Mar 2015, 1:19 pm)Michael wrote Does that confirm the Crusader isnt getting new buses this year

Well I think it will be joining the "Crusader" family again - would be pointless re-branding it if new buses were coming..!

(03 Mar 2015, 1:35 pm)Dan wrote Well I think it will be joining the "Crusader" family again - would be pointless re-branding it if new buses were coming..!

Let's hope the branding is decent then!

GNE site has being updated...

Silver Arrows tab has gone
Simplicity tab now has the 2/2A
61 has being removed from Simplicity tab

(03 Mar 2015, 5:40 pm)citaro5284 wrote Mind Michael, you good with these guesses, I wonder where the rumour started saying the Crusader Citaros were going (in my memory serves me rightly) on nearly every service GNE operated.....haha!!

Thanks Citaro  

Shame, those Citaro's could of being else where!

(03 Mar 2015, 7:50 am)Michael wrote Citaro confirmed in the predictions thread, Streetlites for Red Kite/X66 and Lime..  however he didn't confirm the colour they would be in .. he wouldn't tell me haha

Well, we can work out that the 45/46 streetlites will be red  Can't have a green bus with 'Red Kite' on the side! I think streetlites in gold may be a bit too much. We'll just wait and see.
Could the crusader citaros being repainted mean that they will be gaining a better livery? That chinese writing style is terrible - not good for a citaro operated service imo!