(24 Sep 2017, 7:19 pm).Rapidsnap wrote I was rather hoping they would order some MetroDeckers.

Also is there any details for the location of the Park and Ride for the Golf Masters event at Close House near Heddon on the Wall next weekend.

(24 Sep 2017, 7:38 pm)L469 YVK wrote What I mean is that with the Angel being mostly a 'hop on hop off' service and if it was to get new 17x new Streetdecks, would it  not make more sense to order 4x Streetdecks on top of this for the 45/46/47 then do the following with the 4x Red Kite B9TLS:

- 6118/19/20 to Chester Le Street as spares for the Angel
- 6121 to Crook as spare for the Castles Express

The only thing that would perhaps need to be fitted on these would be next stop announcements and they'd be good to go. Plus, bearing in mind that whilst the spares would only be sent out if there was a shortage of Steetdecks on the Angel, 4x Streetdecks on the 45/46/47 plus any other misc workings including Sundays would be out and about more often; saving GNE fuel costs as well as allowing GNE to claim more enhanced BSOG payments too plus passengers on the decker boards would benefit from the same features that the Streetlites have incuding NSA's, E-Leather Seating and Plug Sockets. Plus Chester Le Street would benefit from 3x spare vehicles instead of 2x which can come in quite handy at times.

Additionally not forgetting that 6118-21 came as dealer stock and with less mileage under their belts, GNE could easily sell them for more money should they ever become surplus to requirements.

(24 Sep 2017, 7:51 pm)Kuyoyo wrote If they is new stock on order for the 21, it will be 17 branded deckers PLUS 2 examples in corporate livery as spares for the 21 - as they do with every other service with that high of a PVR.

(24 Sep 2017, 8:17 pm)busmanT wrote With double deck buses costing £230,000 each surely no operator can afford to order them just to "tidy up" their allocation.

If new buses are coming for the Angel, there will surely be 19 (17 PVR plus 2 spares) anyway based on recent orders - 19 new double decks will cost £4,370,000.

With the new X9 X0 buses having cost £1,600,000, and 5 National Express coaches £1,500,000, that would be £7,470,000 spent by Go North East on new vehicles in one year - on top of the refurbishment of 28 Citaro.

(23 Sep 2017, 10:07 am)Michael wrote SK65 PWV has returned on loan to Go North East, it will be on loan to Chester-Le-Street so a double decker can move to Crook as a temporary replacement for 6304 while it's off the road:

http://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/item.php?operatorF=2&fleetnoF=9101




Only 25 Citaro's to go for refurbishment... seems the ending is in sight....

(24 Sep 2017, 8:17 pm)busmanT wrote With double deck buses costing £230,000 each surely no operator can afford to order them just to "tidy up" their allocation.

If new buses are coming for the Angel, there will surely be 19 (17 PVR plus 2 spares) anyway based on recent orders - 19 new double decks will cost £4,370,000.

With the new X9 X0 buses having cost £1,600,000, and 5 National Express coaches £1,500,000, that would be £7,470,000 spent by Go North East on new vehicles in one year - on top of the refurbishment of 28 Citaro.

(24 Sep 2017, 8:17 pm)busmanT wrote With double deck buses costing £230,000 each surely no operator can afford to order them just to "tidy up" their allocation.

If new buses are coming for the Angel, there will surely be 19 (17 PVR plus 2 spares) anyway based on recent orders - 19 new double decks will cost £4,370,000.

With the new X9 X0 buses having cost £1,600,000, and 5 National Express coaches £1,500,000, that would be £7,470,000 spent by Go North East on new vehicles in one year - on top of the refurbishment of 28 Citaro.

(25 Sep 2017, 7:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote Appreciate it isn't 'latest' news or owt like that... But...
I was following a 36 branded Versa earlier. Whether it was the light or something else, I'm not sure - it appeared that the rear blind has been swapped at some point. It looked like a fix had been applied to the offside and a blind had been covered up.

Have I missed something, or has the blind moved to the nearside on this or even all Versas of that batch?

(25 Sep 2017, 7:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote Appreciate it isn't 'latest' news or owt like that... But...
I was following a 36 branded Versa earlier. Whether it was the light or something else, I'm not sure - it appeared that the rear blind has been swapped at some point. It looked like a fix had been applied to the offside and a blind had been covered up.

Have I missed something, or has the blind moved to the nearside on this or even all Versas of that batch?

(25 Sep 2017, 7:42 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Is it not because the back window has been replaced with presumably the glass that is meant for the older Versa's as their number plate are located there?

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Is it not because the back window has been replaced with presumably the glass that is meant for the older Versa's as their number plate are located there?

(25 Sep 2017, 8:45 pm)Andreos1 wrote Possibly. Never thought of the reg plate.

It looks the exact same size as the blind, hence the initial thoughts.

(26 Sep 2017, 12:18 am)Rapidsnap wrote Showing the rear end styling on the first batch of Versas with the reg plate in top offside corner.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/5355309265/in/album-72157626663942161/

(26 Sep 2017, 3:25 pm)S830OFT wrote What route at Hexham is MPD 618 allocated to?

(26 Sep 2017, 3:29 pm)eezypeazy wrote It usually does the 'Shire scholars am and pm and Allenheads/Allendale in between.

The rumour is that 618 and 619 were to be withdrawn this coming weekend, with 635 and 636 taking over their duties. However, there's work starting on Chollerford Bridge in October, and one of the two MPDs is believed to be being retained for a shuttle service.

(26 Sep 2017, 3:37 pm)Dan wrote As things stand at the moment, it should be one of the Hadrian's Wall buses on the 680S service.

(26 Sep 2017, 3:29 pm)eezypeazy wrote It usually does the 'Shire scholars am and pm and Allenheads/Allendale in between.

The rumour is that 618 and 619 were to be withdrawn this coming weekend, with 635 and 636 taking over their duties. However, there's work starting on Chollerford Bridge in October, and one of the two MPDs is believed to be being retained for a shuttle service.

(26 Sep 2017, 7:28 pm)thetravelman wrote Will Hexham receive 2 extra Solos / other minibus, ready for the spring when 635 & 636 will be required for Hadrian Wall services again? 

Also how is the trial going on the X81/681/185 services using the Mercedes Sprinter City 45 Demo (9095)
Would one of these vehicles be a likely candidate for a future purchase for these routes, based on its size and seating capacity and I expect probably much better fuel economy over a Solo?

(26 Sep 2017, 7:28 pm)thetravelman wrote Will Hexham receive 2 extra Solos / other minibus, ready for the spring when 635 & 636 will be required for Hadrian Wall services again? 

Also how is the trial going on the X81/681/185 services using the Mercedes Sprinter City 45 Demo (9095)
Would one of these vehicles be a likely candidate for a future purchase for these routes, based on its size and seating capacity and I expect probably much better fuel economy over a Solo?

(26 Sep 2017, 9:46 pm)Rapidsnap wrote I never realised that 9095 is still with us and has gone west, think I shall hunt it down on Friday

(26 Sep 2017, 2:52 pm)Dan wrote The last new bus for X9/X10, 6314, was delivered today.

(27 Sep 2017, 6:01 am)Citaro5326 wrote Didnt realise that the 56 was every 10 minutes ... well according to 6093s driving side anyway

(27 Sep 2017, 5:06 am)Dan wrote The trouble with the Mercedes Sprinters is that, because they have such a small capacity, they are unsuitable for 95% of the services which Go North East operates. The 5% of the services they could be allocated to are fine, but as all of these are contracted services, what happens with the bus at the end of that contract? It can't always be guaranteed that Go North East would retain the contract, or that the council would continue funding this contract.

The operations around the Go-Ahead Group are much the same, meaning that if Go North East lost the contract, they couldn't easily dispose of the Mercedes Sprinter to another opco.


The way that Go North East procures its buses and then disposes of them means that there has to be solid ground to stand on to buy something, then the asset depreciates over x number of years (if I recall correctly; 10 for a minibus, 12 for a midibus, 15 for a full size single/double deck). A 5-year contract isn't enough - it would have to be a 10-year contract, of which there aren't many! Even if there was, you'd have the issue that you'd be ordering something completely non-standard in the fleet and unproven over that amount of years. More likely Go North East will stick to Solos as their preferred minibus.


9095 left the fleet some time ago - around the time when Tynedale Links Solo 670 returned to service at Hexham following temporary loan to Riverside. Our news/fleet list out of date! Will correct it today.

(27 Sep 2017, 7:41 am)Jordan2104 wrote Do you not think they will buy any Alexander Dennis Enviro 200mmc like they had on demo at percy main

(27 Sep 2017, 7:41 am)Jordan2104 wrote Do you not think they will buy any Alexander Dennis Enviro 200mmc like they had on demo at percy main

(27 Sep 2017, 5:06 am)Dan wrote 9095 left the fleet some time ago - around the time when Tynedale Links Solo 670 returned to service at Hexham following temporary loan to Riverside. Our news/fleet list out of date! Will correct it today.