I know this has been brought up recently and I think it needs its own thread, so I went to Newcastle today and got 6334 or 6335 (can't remember), and an E400, and tbh the state of the buses were awful, tables sticky (it was like the second route the bus had been on for that day), penis drawn on "cream" leather, and 6334 or 6335 that a disgrace, the headrests they were black, i've dropped some screenshots about how they looked.

Aswell heating seems to be a massive issue on the entire fleet, I understand it takes time to warm up however on 7 of the buses I went on today I couldn't feel the heat on 6 of them.

Thats why you never put nice buses on school routes.

https://bdaily.co.uk/articles/2022/11/11...n-over-pay 

Possible Engineer Strike when the fleet is in the state that it's in, this is the last thing that is needed.

With the snow starting I wondered whether GNE/ANE/SCNE have anything inplace in case a bus/driver got trapped in the snow, I remember I think a 56 came off the road near Nissan, or when a NIS Quaylink wedged itself inbetween another Q3 & a building.

Especially in Hexham I wonder if GNE could maybe come to an agreement with locals who may own tractors to help them recover buses.

Couple of changes to the Hexham locals have appeared on VOSA:

PB0003954/1372
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 682 (682) West Woodburn Hexham
Start point: West Woodburn
Finish point: Hexham
Via Ridsdale, Barrasford, Wall, Acomb

Change 7th January ^

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PB0003954/493
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 689 (689) Consett Hexham

Start point: Consett
Finish point: Hexham
Via Blackhill, Shotley Bridge, Ebchester, Whittonstall, Slaley

Change for 7th January ^

Coaster NK17 GJY 5477 has been decorated with Christmas decorations inside including stickers & tinsel on the inside 

https://flic.kr/p/2o4Grwp

Does anyone know the code for hexham bus station waiting room or toilets?

Does the X21 not go via the A1 anymore?

I thought it might have just been because of the time this morning, but even the map on the website shows it going via Birtley now.

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Last week Arriva London announced that they intend to sell there London Heritage Fleet, the collection includes AEC RM 2217, the last standard-length Routemaster, pictures of which were seen across the world when it performed the official final journey of the type in normal London service in December 2005. Also in the fleet is RM 5 (VLT 5), numerically the first production Routemaster, and ‘coach’ Routemasters RMC 1464 (464 CLT) and RMC 1453 (453 CLT).

And on Friday 2nd November 2022 they held a special heritage run with RM2217 (CUC 217C) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...ateposted/ on Service 137 to Streatham Hill which I was blissfully unaware of and just so happened to be in the right place at the right time to capture this very well kept AEC Routemaster, hopefully London Bus Musuem or Londoner Buses Heritage Operations which is recent start up in London using Routemastes pick them up depending on how much Arriva want for them.

I also photographed RM2217 alongside LT976 in a Past vs Present shot with both on the 137 to Streatham Hill - https://flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/5...ateposted/

I was curious as to what brands old GNE bus services would fall under.
I'm presuming that the sunderland network circa 2002/3 would all fall under Sunderland District.

35/35A: Violet
37/37A: Emerald
126: Mandarin
127: Lime
133: Silver
134/138: Blonde
135/136: Peach
137: Brownie
139/140: Graphite
141/142: Berries
146: Aqua
150: Drifter
151/152/153: Blue
160/163: Sunshine
161: Cherry
164: Slate
190: Mint
220/222: Prince Bishops

Service changes:
* X30/X31 standalone
* 16B/47/X5/X45 all interwork on Sundays
* Sunday 78 extended to Castleside
* X72 thrown into Sunday interworking pattern alongside 6/12/X30
* Long layover re-introduced for X21
* X1 remains at every 15 minutes (30 to Peterlee)

Fleet changes:
StreetDeck
- 6331-33 - Washington - Spares
- 6356-60 - Consett - X45 & X71/X72
- 6361-63 - Consett - X45 & X71/X72
- 6364-74 - Washington - X1
- 6375 - Washington - Spare
- 6376-77 - Consett - X45 & X71/X72

B5TL
- 6308-14 - Riverside - 58
- 6334-35 - Consett - Spares

E400MMC
- 6336-37 - Consett - Spares
- 6338-40 - Consett - X30/X31
- 6341-55 - Riverside - X10 & X21 (includes 2x spares)

Repaints & partial re-brands:
- 6308 - 14 - Full repaint to corporate
- 6332 - Full repaint to corporate
- 6356-63 - Text changed to more generic Consett / Stanley to Newcastle
- 6308-14 - Full repaint to corporate
- 6341-51 - Partial repaint to generic XLines charcoal
- 6352-55 - Text changed to generic XLines removing any specific X10 branding

Misc scheduled allocations:
- Sunday 16B/47/X5/X45 - 9x StreetDeck or E400MMC
- Sunday 10/10A/10B - 7x E400MMC (still leaves 2x spare with the other 6x on X10 & X21)