(22 Sep 2021, 10:34 am)Thomas12 wrote I noticed he was also complaining about A-Line as one of their Versas had seatbelts. I'm assuming he didn't know at the time they were covering for/helping out Go North East.

Looking at the 'Best Impressions' twitter feed, it certainly doesn't give the best impression - and they aren't a company I'd want to associate with based on their Twitter.

(22 Sep 2021, 2:03 pm)Dan wrote Good job work is going into providing more high quality spare buses, then, isn’t it?


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(22 Sep 2021, 2:03 pm)Dan wrote Good job work is going into providing more high quality spare buses, then, isn’t it?

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(22 Sep 2021, 9:04 am)streetdeckfan wrote They clearly aren't a regular on the X21, using its always been a game of dodge the Omnidekka!

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(23 Sep 2021, 4:20 pm)Train8261 wrote Still surprised to see 5253 at Percy Main. According to Bus times its been going between the Royal Quays and Tynemouth Metro station

(23 Sep 2021, 4:29 pm)Dan wrote 5240/42/53 in use at Percy Main on cruise ship shuttles.


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(23 Sep 2021, 4:11 pm)cbma06 wrote Was there a voyager double decker doing the X62 to Peterlee today, just seen the decker in Peterlee dropping passengers off at the side of Asda , but couldn’t catch the service it was on, but it looks like on the x62 was due at that bus stop

Just looked up on bustimes and it was 6174


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(23 Sep 2021, 5:10 pm)Drifter60 wrote Seems to be a regular working, operated by Chester Le Street. A little strange one might say - the AM X62 is a solo that runs on to the 206s but then the evening journey uses a double decker, bit of a capacity difference!

(23 Sep 2021, 7:08 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Not mentioned anywhere on any forums, but 6112 has been impounded by the police after a serious accident on Sunday. Various reports are available in local news sites, nontheless I hope the old lady recovers and hope it was just one of them freak accidents where no one is really to blame.

(23 Sep 2021, 7:14 pm)GNE6312 wrote Can I please have a link to one of these stories.

(23 Sep 2021, 7:08 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Not mentioned anywhere on any forums, but 6112 has been impounded by the police after a serious accident on Sunday. Various reports are available in local news sites, nontheless I hope the old lady recovers and hope it was just one of them freak accidents where no one is really to blame.

(23 Sep 2021, 8:12 pm)Train8261 wrote 6112 is it alpha and according to the chronicle the driver was arrested on dangerous driving

(23 Sep 2021, 8:19 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Isn't it basically standard practice to arrest the driver for dangerous driving after such an incident while they establish all of the facts?

(23 Sep 2021, 8:12 pm)Train8261 wrote 6112 is it alpha and according to the chronicle the driver was arrested on dangerous driving

(22 Sep 2021, 5:02 pm)Keeiajs wrote I saw 3 on it the other day.

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at this time today.

There were more omnidekka's on X21 (5), than allocated buses (4). There are 7 branded & Extra High Spec Spares.

(24 Sep 2021, 3:57 pm)L469 YVK wrote So are the B5TLs unreliable or is it down to parts / engineering staff shortages etc?

Me thinks given now that the evening & Sunday X45/X46 are covered by E400MMC's (unless the Sunday 47/47A will be covered by StreetDecks to save fuel over the B9TLs), it would make more sense to move the B5TLs to Consett and move 6356-63 on to the X21.

The StreetDeck MH3's are supposedly reliable after all aren't they? They seem okayish on the X1. And the original plan pre-covid was to use StreetDecks on the X21.

Obviously don't forget the enhanced BOSG mileage (40 mile round trip vs nearly 80 mile) and potential decker fleet commonality at Washington & CLS

(24 Sep 2021, 7:42 pm)Stanleyone wrote It's been said over and over again, there's no point in moving  recently painted B5s from chester to Consett in exchange for streetdecks, it's simply not cost effective.

(24 Sep 2021, 7:49 pm)L469 YVK wrote I agree although would only be a partial repaint. But is it cost effective (unless used on standalone Sunday 47/47A journeys) having brand new fuel efficient double deck vehicles only being used during Monday to Saturday daytimes as opposed to a higher mileage route that also has a requirement for such vehicles during the Evenings and on Sundays?

The X21 is almost double the mileage of the X45/X46. Plus (excluding the X22) keeping Washington's & CLS' main decker routes under 1x vehicle type.

And even if the PVR is 9x, the remaining 2x could be made up by 6100/6101 (closer to XLines spec) with 6334/35 (no tables) acting as spares at Percy Main for the 309/310/311

(24 Sep 2021, 8:15 pm)Keeiajs wrote 6334/6335 should **not** move to Percy Main.

(24 Sep 2021, 8:47 pm)L469 YVK wrote But 6100-01 would better match XLines spec as opposed to 6334/35. If 6334/35 showed up on the 309/310/311, the only real thing missing would be tables.

2x out of 6338-40 would be an option to make up the PVR but they'd best be kept as spares due to being low height.

The main reason why I'd suggest swapping 6356-63 with 6100/01 (6334/35) & 6308-14 is:

- Fleet commonality at CLS & Washington (smaller depots)

- Consett already operate 4x main DD types after the changes (B5LH, B9TL, StreetDeck, E400MMC). That would reduce to 3x (B5TL, B5LH, E400MMC) or even 2x taking into account that the B5TL is effectively a non-hybrid derivative of the B5LH. Commonality would even whittle down to gearbox type (B5TL/E400MMC = ZF, StreetDeck = Voith).

- Enhanced BSOG payments for X21 trip distance including evening & Sunday trips.

- Easier work for Volvo B5TLs taking into account their previous use on X9/X10 (Mon-Sat only and 45/46/47 previously run using StreetLites).

(25 Sep 2021, 5:50 am)Keeiajs wrote Where are the Ex Red Kite Streetlites going, as when they came to Deptford nothing was withdrawn, maybe one or two buses but nothing major. So why not brand some of those into S&D they would definitely benefit on services as 35 as the reliablity of the branded Cherry buses are atrocious, also Berries those Streetlites they barely make it through the day.