Nexus have issued the invitation to tender for secured services in Newcastle and North Tyneside with a contract start date of 27th March 2022 with the contract ending on 25th March 2023.

Is this back in service 

Been tracking on 42D a few days now.

Demonstrator LX71AOS has been spotted at Stockton depot. Comments on the Facebook post on the "Busesnortheast" page indicate it'll be on the 15s after Christmas.

Posting with permission of Dan - thank you.

I run 5 quizzes a week and need help! I'm compiling a family fortunes style round. I would love it if you could spare one minute of your time and filling in the survey.

You have to register - and you will then be sent a link to the quiz. You never know you might find quizzes on the subject that you enjoy or even put a quiz on yourself.

Thus sure us legit - it was even mentioned on GMB by Anne off the chase.

Linky link

Caetano H2.City Gold demonstrator FJ70GYD was spotted on Portrack Lane, Stockton earlier (having seen previous use with Stagecoach Highlands among others)

Anybody know who is using it?

So I was on the drink with a colleague the other night who lives in Rowlands Gill.

I was telling him about my cheap £1 bus home and he said that was good. He didn't know my area but told me where he lived. He was gobsmacked when I told him not only was his last bus 11.35pm (X45), he could also get home for only £1.

What are GNE doing to reach out to these users? They'll unlikely go out there and proactively follow the social media channels. Maybe leaflet drops?

"You take care of the drinking, lets XLines take care of the driving"

"Last bus at 11.35pm and only £1"

Is the 49/A now just primarily allocated short Versas with the  Streetlites being 'needed' elsewhere?

Considering Nexus are always reporting about how loss making services are and the need to make cuts where necessary, how many scholars services are duplicated that you know of and are really necessary and worth the cost 

I was driving through West to East Boldon yesterday and an unknown Stagecoach Scholars service went past first, followed by a JH Coaches 803, a minute or so later Stagecoach 803 came past literally empty.  Quickly followed by Stagecoach 558 to Boldon Asda and Fellgate and again followed by Stagecoach 801 to Boldon Asda

The 803 is a definite duplicate timed at 3 mins apart, however, I believe the 558 was a very similar route and the 801 similar again 

Is there cost savings here, definatley with the 803, but how many more Scholars  services are duplicates that are Nexus Tenders?

First time I’ve seen the Metro ‘M’ symbol used on a Stagecoach destination: https://flic.kr/p/2mPY37n 

Could’ve been a bit bigger but nice it features nonetheless. Also, do you think it’s been included purely because it’s short-route destination so there was room for it? 

GNE only seem to include ‘M’ symbols on their Metro replacement buses - only if it’s a Streetdeck with double height destination screens:  https://flic.kr/p/2mPELpY

I always think the likes of GNE’s route 1 should have a ‘M’ symbol on their destination screens to indicate where in Gateshead it actually terminates. If there’s no room then maybe add ‘Int.’ for interchange.
‘Gateshead’ is rather vague.

Is there something up with the B5s today?
Both spares are off the road, 2 were taken out of service at CLS mid-journey this morning, and it seems one broke down in Newcastle (from the tracking at least).

Running 4 OmniDekkas and a Versa (which is obviously at capacity when leaving Durham) on a 'premium' route isn't good