If members are interested, enclosed is the Guidance for Bidders for the fourth round of Green Bus funding for deliveries in 2013/2014. £20 million is available which will fund around 300 low carbon emission buses. Each bidder is restricted to a maximum total grant of £5 million.

[attachment=1357]

Interested bus operators have until 5pm on Tuesday 26 March 2013 to make their bids. Sadly, the government has reduced the grant available to up to 50% of the difference between the cost of a low-carbon emission bus and its diesel equivalent. When the Green Bus Fund first began in 2009, I believe this was 100% of the difference. I really hope a north east operator(s) manages to make another successful bid.

I believe delivery is very imminent for Arriva's MAN EcoCity's at Darlington and Hybrid Volvo double deckers for the 308 (Blyth-Newcastle) route, as a part of the third round of the Green Bus Fund.

Please remember that the Network One Day Rover reverts to the usual price of £6.80 from tomorrow instead of £5.50!

(31 Dec 2012, 8:27 pm)W179SCU wrote [quote='Daniel' pid='999' dateline='1356981970']
[quote='Michael' pid='997' dateline='1356971748']
Daniel what time were u at south shields and jarrow?, i was at both places today to, i decided to go on a adventure haha

Between 15:00 and 15:30. I had intended to stay longer but my camera died on me... It was constantly out from 09:00am! :L

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Had intended on editing the above post but they'll go unnoticed now (as I've taken so long to caption them all)! See below:

I was there between 1 and 3, just missed you


Wonder what the first odd working on 2013 will be tommorow

Post here your first bus in 2013!

I suspect mine will be the usual Stagecoach Enviro 200 on the second 4 bus of the day; either the ADL Enviro 200 dart, or an Enviro 200 bodied MAN 14.240! Will get a fleet number on Wednesday

Just a general topic about cameras really...

After a horrid three-day experience with my Nikon Coolpix L810, I took it back to the shop and after much debate between the manager and I, I got a full refund. Was really disappointed with it though.

From tomorrow, I shall be using a Panasonic TX-30 - which I know should be pretty good. Well, that's assuming it lives up to the same standard as its predecessor, the Panasonic TX-20.
Flickr famous Stuart Montgomery (http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_montgomery/) uses a Panasonic TX-20 and some of his night shots are great - they're not static either! See below for an example:


I previously used a Sony DSC-W180 and it treated me well through my education and for general photography purposes up until December 24th of this year, when it faced its retirement. I must say that it's a brilliant camera though, and for its price, the quality of some of the images it has produced for me is phenomenal.

What kind of camera do you use?
Have you had any troubles with cameras in the past?

Just like to wish all members and visitors a great Christmas and a fab new year for 2013!!!

News/Pictures/Discussion regarding Weardale to be posted here.

[Don't think there will be much as they only have one service that operates at present - X21]


PS: Think we have all of the active operators in the North East on an individual thread now! ;-)
My mission for next week is to try and get a picture of 'em all so these threads can be illustrated too! Haha

News/Pictures/Discussion regarding Station Taxis to be posted here.

[Don't think there will be much as they only have two services that operates at present - TB20/TB21]

News/Pictures/Discussion regarding Snaiths to be posted here.

[Don't think there will be much as they only have one service that operates at present - 808]

News/Pictures/Discussion regarding Phoenix Coaches to be posted here.

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Aha! News already.

On 26th December 2012, Phoenix Coaches will operate service 53A for [from what I can make out] one day only. It is a service between North Shields and Cramlington and goes via the world.

http://www.nexus.org.uk/sites/nexus.org....261212.pdf


Soo, if any of you are hardcore bus enthusiasts like me who have nothing to do on Boxing Day, you've got yourself something planned now!