(18 Oct 2019, 10:09 pm)Michael wrote More info on Dans post on Twitter.

I would take a guess that they will be replacing the 54 reg B7RLE's within the EYMS fleet or to be used as Driver Trainers.

(16 Oct 2019, 4:52 pm)busmanT wrote

Or something else from East Yorkshire?

(16 Oct 2019, 5:07 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

It's all just a confusing mess! Would have made a lot more sense to just number all the StreetDecks consecutively then put the E400s after that. But I suppose with the B5s being in between the Xlines and Angel StreetDecks it doesn't really make much difference!

(16 Oct 2019, 5:54 pm)JP6004 wrote

I think that doesn't really matter too much. Was more annoying have the first B9s from 6001-6007 then having the presidents inbetween the next batch of B9s...then the omnidekkas and then more B9s

Different vehicle types being grouped within the same fleet number series is nothing new, and it's just how the 1975 fleet numbering series was intended to be (for example, 8176-85 were a batch of Excels in between batches of Darts 8158-75 and 8186-8241). Exceptions have been made with a new series created, such as the StreetDecks commencing at 63xx instead of 61xx, in order to leave room for any further pre-owned bus acquisitions, and the Volvo B7 acquisitions for the Tall Ships/Sunderland Airshow special events (69xx) as they were not intended to remain in the fleet if Go North East were not awarded the Miscellaneous Works contracts that year, but not sure why exceptions would need to be made for this batch of new vehicles.

East Yorkshire Volvo B5TL 796 (BF63 HDC) and ADL E400MMC 794 (YX64 VOO) transferred north yesterday, as Michael pointed out last night. Together with E400MMC 795 (YY64 GWX) and 797 (BX14 SYT), these four vehicles will fill the gap in the fleet number series between 6333 and the first of the new E400MMCs (6338), as follows:

796 (BF63 HDC) has been numbered 6334 within the Go North East fleet

797 (BX14 SYT) will be numbered 6335 within the Go North East fleet, to be collected at some point over the next few weeks.

794 (YX64 VOO) has been numbered 6336 within the Go North East fleet

795 (YY64 GWX) has been numbered 6337 within the Go North East fleet.

The three new E400MMCs are numbered 6338 - 6340, so the batch of five E400MMCs are kept together.

The StreetDecks will be numbered 6341 - 6371.

(18 Oct 2019, 4:10 pm)JM03 wrote 6033 transferred to PM, guessing it’s its final change with GNE

---

On 19 tonignt

It's just on loan as Percy Main have a high number of double-decks off the road currently - 6033 still formally allocated to Riverside.

(19 Oct 2019, 9:32 am)Dan wrote

It's just on loan as Percy Main have a high number of double-decks off the road currently - 6033 still formally allocated to Riverside.

(19 Oct 2019, 9:46 am)Michael wrote With one Omnicity heading to EY, how many more will join it?, seems random when they could be getting rid of the Scania's, unless all of the new Wrightbus cascades will remove all of the Scania's....

From my reckoning, with these newly acquired DD from EY, there should be enough to withdraw all L94s, allow the 7 blue star citaros to go to driver training and the withdrawal of a few omnicities

The omnidekkas should in theory allow for the majority if not all the vykings to be withdrawn

(18 Oct 2019, 5:42 pm)Stanleyone wrote Had a good look inside 6339 today (familiarisation), impression is it’s fab from a drivers point of view and the seats for passengers are really comfortable, the only downside is the headroom upstairs.

(19 Oct 2019, 9:52 am)JP6004 wrote

From my reckoning, with these newly acquired DD from EY, there should be enough to withdraw all L94s, allow the 7 blue star citaros to go to driver training and the withdrawal of a few omnicities

The omnidekkas should in theory allow for the majority if not all the vykings to be withdrawn

(19 Oct 2019, 9:24 am)L469 YVK wrote Will 6118-21 be heading in the opposite direction then when the StreetDecks arrive? Also, what will the 2x B5TLs be used for? Very strange move considering there's only 2x of them.

I think a reasonable assumption would be that they'll be used on the Coaster given that the PVR is 16 and there are currently 14 branded buses (+1 spare)

(19 Oct 2019, 10:07 am)TEN 6083 wrote Any idea when they enter service?


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Monday.

(19 Oct 2019, 9:24 am)L469 YVK wrote Will 6118-21 be heading in the opposite direction then when the StreetDecks arrive? Also, what will the 2x B5TLs be used for? Very strange move considering there's only 2x of them.

Maybe they’ll be used as cover for the X9/X10 services instead of the spare B9s which can instead be used as cover for the 10s. I think 6118-6121 will remain up here with 2 on the 1/1a and 2 spares, after refurb. Maybe there’s a plan to do the coaster refurbs in the not too distant future.

(19 Oct 2019, 10:12 am)Michael wrote  Hopefully, those Vykings are horrendous! According the GNE fleet allocation, there's only 26 Scania's left in service (unless somemore have withdrawn since the 6th October), i went on one of those ex blue star Citaro's the other day on the 8 (short between Hylton retail park and Park Lane), and i was impressed, it sounded great.

A few more have definitely been withdrawn while I've been on annual leave this week.

4949 and 4967 have both definitely been withdrawn. 5213 is still very much in service, contrary to previous suggestions it had been withdrawn.

(19 Oct 2019, 10:25 am)Stanleyone wrote

Monday.

It'll be Wednesday at the earliest now. All three still require the radio system to be fitted, and all three have Hanover system faults (either destination, next stop or both). The East Yorkshire one is still at Thorntons having USB sockets fitted too, and ideally all four need to go on the road at the same time (to displace all 4 OmniDekkas temporarily allocated to Consett).

(19 Oct 2019, 9:14 am)Dan wrote

Different vehicle types being grouped within the same fleet number series is nothing new, and it's just how the 1975 fleet numbering series was intended to be (for example, 8176-85 were a batch of Excels in between batches of Darts 8158-75 and 8186-8241). Exceptions have been made with a new series created, such as the StreetDecks commencing at 63xx instead of 61xx, in order to leave room for any further pre-owned bus acquisitions, and the Volvo B7 acquisitions for the Tall Ships/Sunderland Airshow special events (69xx) as they were not intended to remain in the fleet if Go North East were not awarded the Miscellaneous Works contracts that year, but not sure why exceptions would need to be made for this batch of new vehicles.

East Yorkshire Volvo B5TL 796 (BF63 HDC) and ADL E400MMC 794 (YX64 VOO) transferred north yesterday, as Michael pointed out last night. Together with E400MMC 795 (YY64 GWX) and 797 (BX14 SYT), these four vehicles will fill the gap in the fleet number series between 6333 and the first of the new E400MMCs (6338), as follows:

796 (BF63 HDC) has been numbered 6334 within the Go North East fleet

797 (BX14 SYT) will be numbered 6335 within the Go North East fleet, to be collected at some point over the next few weeks.

794 (YX64 VOO) has been numbered 6336 within the Go North East fleet

795 (YY64 GWX) has been numbered 6337 within the Go North East fleet.

The three new E400MMCs are numbered 6338 - 6340, so the batch of five E400MMCs are kept together.

The StreetDecks will be numbered 6341 - 6371.

That does somewhat make sense.

Will the B5s be used as they are, or will they be having an internal refurb to have seats that are tolerable?

(19 Oct 2019, 10:37 am)Dan wrote

A few more have definitely been withdrawn while I've been on annual leave this week.

4949 and 4967 have both definitely been withdrawn. 5213 is still very much in service, contrary to previous suggestions it had been withdrawn.

It'll be Wednesday at the earliest now. All three still require the radio system to be fitted, and all three have Hanover system faults (either destination, next stop or both). The East Yorkshire one is still at Thorntons having USB sockets fitted too, and ideally all four need to go on the road at the same time (to displace all 4 OmniDekkas temporarily allocated to Consett).

I had wondered if it was going to be 3 new and 1 other with not having the fourth. Is the other low height E400 going corporate as a spare?

(19 Oct 2019, 10:12 am)Michael wrote Hopefully, those Vykings are horrendous!

According the GNE fleet allocation, there's only 26 Scania's left in service (unless somemore have withdrawn since the 6th October), i went on one of those ex blue star Citaro's the other day on the 8 (short between Hylton retail park and Park Lane), and i was impressed, it sounded great.

Yes and one of the oldest DD.

Maybe these B5s will go to riverside for TVT/ X9/ X10. This is probably why 6099 has gone for refurb if 6084 taking its place at deptford. Possibly also allowing another B9 to go to washington to allow the final B7 to be relocated?

(19 Oct 2019, 5:52 pm)L469 YVK wrote With the new E400MMCs, could GNE use 1x of them during the quieter periods (school holidays) to evaluate on other services?

Am i right in thinking that 2 of the buses coming up from Yorkshire are Ex-Demos?

(19 Oct 2019, 6:50 pm)Arcticrossy92 wrote

Am i right in thinking that 2 of the buses coming up from Yorkshire are Ex-Demos?

All 4 of them are former demonstrators, 2 of which did spend time at GNE during this period.

(19 Oct 2019, 5:57 pm)Dan wrote Not without having a detrimental effect on the X30.

It'd leave Consett without a low-height double-deck. Should one be off service, a Streetlite would need to be allocated.

That's why they need a spare.

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Are both of the ex EYMS E400MMCs low height?

If so, would during the school holidays not be a good time to allocate a StreetLite if needed (on a quiet board) if one of the 69 plates was trialled on let's say the X9/X10?

(19 Oct 2019, 7:18 pm)L469 YVK wrote

Are both of the ex EYMS E400MMCs low height?

If so, would during the school holidays not be a good time to allocate a StreetLite if needed (on a quiet board) if one of the 69 plates was trialled on let's say the X9/X10?

(19 Oct 2019, 7:46 pm)Dan wrote I'm still a bit confused as to why Go North East would do that? X-lines is about improving the quality of bus travel for interurban/express routes, not to downgrade them when it suits?

If they wanted to trial an E400MMC on the X9/X10, they'd ask ADL for a demonstrator model to loan.

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Didn't GNE order a 6 cylinder StreetDeck just to trial it? Why didn't they just ask Wrightbus for a demonstrator model?

That isn't meant to sound snarky, just a genuine question

(19 Oct 2019, 8:19 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

Didn't GNE order a 6 cylinder StreetDeck just to trial it? Why didn't they just ask Wrightbus for a demonstrator model?

That isn't meant to sound snarky, just a genuine question

They have, maybe it’ll form the backbone of any future order. With the low emissions zone for Newcastle coming into effect, having euro6 buses are much better. And it will be used to compare with the current DD fleet on front line services no doubt.

(19 Oct 2019, 8:45 pm)Stanleyone wrote

They have, maybe it’ll form the backbone of any future order. With the low emissions zone for Newcastle coming into effect, having euro6 buses are much better. And it will be used to compare with the current DD fleet on front line services no doubt.

If I remember correctly, didn't MG say that it was going to spend time at all the depots.

I personally don't see a need for the 6 cylinder, the 67 plate StreetDecks seem like they have enough power even on 'steep' hills.

To me it seems like the main issue with the StreetDecks on the X21 is that they are not geared properly for 'high speed'. They sound like they're on the rev limiter for most of the journey which can't be good for fuel economy

(19 Oct 2019, 8:56 pm)TEN 6083 wrote

Guess that some GNE B9TLs are moving to East Yorkshire later this year from what this says ?




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Red Kite B9TL??

(19 Oct 2019, 9:32 pm)busmanT wrote

Red Kite B9TL??

(19 Oct 2019, 9:46 pm)Dan wrote Correct - so a pretty fair swap all in all, with all eight buses being similarly aged (the East Yorkshire ones slightly older than the Volvo B9s they will receive from GNE).

The Red Kite Volvo B9TL, being ex dealer stock, are non-standard within the Go North East fleet.

East Yorkshire actually took some of the dealer stock Volvo B9 at the same time as Go North East, so a good fit within their fleet.

It also further standardises the EY fleet, with non-standard Wrights bodied Volvo B5s departing East Yorkshire and joining the fleet at Go North East who already have seven (with the 'stealth' front).

With the current view to improving air quality, especially in Newcastle City Centre where this is so political at the moment, the intake of four Euro 6 buses (with four Euro 5 leaving) is also advantageous to Go North East.

The delayed delivery of the StreetDecks has resulted in Go North East needing the East Yorkshire buses sooner than they can receive the Red Kite Volvo B9 in replacement, so Go North East will operate both for the time being, combatting some of the challenges we're facing in the North East with regards to the fleet strategy for this year.

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Is there a timescale for when the StreetDecks will start to arrive yet? I heard that they were still at least another month away from delivery.

I would say it'd be a shame to see the Red Kite B9s go, but it's not. I always hated travelling on them, they were too loud and and the seats too uncomfortable for my liking.

Also, did East Yorkshire ever actually buy any 'new' buses, they all seem to be ex-demo or ex-dealer stock! Either that, or we're just swapping all the cast-offs!

(19 Oct 2019, 11:04 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Is the Red Kite brand going to be replaced by Xlines or still used for the 45/46/47 trips?

I believe it was said that it's being replaced by Xlines, but will still feature Red Kites sub-branding