To paraphrase Bananarama, I heard a rumour that today that Transdev are planning to make an announcement in the next few days regarding expansion into the North East, specifically Durham.

It may be false, it may be true, yet nothing has been proved (to borrow a lyric from the Dusty Springfield/Pet Shop Boys song from the 1988 film 'Scandal'). In any case, when this rumour is proven to be false, I propose that the moderators move this thread into the off-topic section so we can humourously discuss some of tall tales mooted over the years by various enthusiastsor employees of bus companies.

If this rumour proves to be true, unlikely as it may sound, then I guess this can be he official thread for Transdev North East or Transdev County Durham or whatever name it will be known by.

Is the East Gateshead Orbit rebrand still happening. All I know is that the Q1/2 branded buses are being repainted into "Sunderlandand District Berries" livery, and that the Black Cats streetlites are being repainted for the new coaster livery, so what buses are going onto Q1/2? Maybe Durham Diamond streetlites as the Coaster volvos are going onto the 16? Or is QuayLink going corporate?

Looks like Omnidekka 6145 has had a few issues in the heat today: 

"INCIDENT
A1 Northbound just before the split for A194 at Washington is CLOSED due to a bus on fire.
All out safe and nobody injured."

Would be great to see this join 838 (and maybe 807 one day) preserved and restored to former glory.  The asking price seems a little steep (though I have no idea how much is typical) especially given the condition and appears significantly altered internally.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154468550494

Aycliffe are running vintage tours of Newcastle in August on the 11th and 12th with two buses entered 

These being 
AHN 451B & SCN 268S

Something strange seems to be going on, the emergency exit doors on the Streetlites seem to not be rattling anymore...

I'm on 5456 right now and it feels fairly refined.


I'm not sure what they've done, but at idle the engine also seems a lot more smooth, no more bone shaking.

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

"A NORTH EAST bus company has been accused of "wasting thousands" on paint jobs in favour of a "suitable" pay rise, creating ill-feeling among employees, it has been claimed.
Go North East, which operates services across County Durham, Teesside and Tyne & Wear, has been criticised for rebranding buses instead of offering a four percent rise.
It has since been claimed that some services facing disruption are suffering problems due to a number of staff walking out over the level of pay in recent weeks."

Full story: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1...-pay-rise/

One worth following. Ballot is on Wednesday.

2809 has the number on the right, presume it's a replacement display as 7512 does.

Is anyone else having issues with the avatars when viewing the forum page, but not in the actual topics?

On the main page where it would normally have the latest post avatars no longer show, and in the 'Latest Threads' section on the right the avatars are incorrect
I'm having the issue on two laptops so I'm fairly sure it's not just me.

So what do we reckon, additional Toon Tour capacity? 

https://twitter.com/dan3942/status/14117...88034?s=21