(27 Aug 2015, 9:53 am)Cock Robin wrote Probably a lookalike!

(27 Aug 2015, 1:09 pm)NK53 TKT wrote Does anyone know why 9990 is on Gosforth high street?

(27 Aug 2015, 1:09 pm)NK53 TKT wrote Does anyone know why 9990 is on Gosforth high street?

(27 Aug 2015, 1:31 pm)mb134 wrote With GNE having the B8RLE and Streetdeck on demonstration currently, the ADL E400MMC recently, and the B5TL last year, will ANE trial any of these vehicles before their next round of orders?

 I can't actually remember the last demonstrator I've seen working for ANE, and although there are various demonstrators with Arriva in other regions, surely the North East should get one at some point, no way of knowing if buses are suitable for our routes if not?

(27 Aug 2015, 1:35 pm)Kuyoyo wrote It was Versa YD63 UZN back in late 2013

(27 Aug 2015, 1:43 pm)mb134 wrote Didn't have a clue that came, even so, that's around 2 years ago and what about double decker allocated routes? The last double decker trialled with ANE, if I recall correctly, was the E400 back in 2007? 

E400's bought for the 7 while the B5TL may have coped, as an example, a short period of demonstration may help in the long run.

(27 Aug 2015, 1:47 pm)Jimmi wrote Don't think we've had many double decker demonstrators, the only one I remember was the hybrid version of the Enviro 400 which was trialled at Darlington depot on the 1/1B Darlington - Crook - Tow Law (1B) in late 2011.

(27 Aug 2015, 1:51 pm)R852 PRG wrote Never knew about that Versa demonstrator on the 64, would have tried it out at the time had I realised.

(27 Aug 2015, 1:52 pm)Jimmi wrote Think that barely saw service, I tried my hardest to ride it and failed miserably and I was still at college two days a week at this point and often got the 64 into Durham.

(27 Aug 2015, 1:51 pm)R852 PRG wrote Never knew about that Versa demonstrator on the 64, would have tried it out at the time had I realised.

(27 Aug 2015, 1:50 pm)mb134 wrote Couldn't remember that either, haha! But you see my point? 

Demonstrator vehicles are there for a reason, how can ANE know if vehicles are suitable for a route without demonstration, or more importantly, how will they know if another vehicle will do a better job?

(27 Aug 2015, 2:00 pm)Jimmi wrote We did have a few over the years although it seemed like they'd only be trialled on one route and wouldn't be around very long. I remember the 723 (now the Sapphire 7) had trialled a Scania Omnicity and a Optare Solo. Also remember another Optare Versa demonstrator at Darlington which I only ever saw a photo of operating the Darlington 5A. It's a shame we don't get many demonstrators in the North East anymore as we have some pretty demanding routes which would be ideal to test their performance capabilities.

(27 Aug 2015, 1:51 pm)R852 PRG wrote Never knew about that Versa demonstrator on the 64, would have tried it out at the time had I realised.

(27 Aug 2015, 4:38 pm)Cock Robin wrote The 723 trialed a Solo?!!

---

But they decided on second hand Enviro 200s!

(27 Aug 2015, 1:51 pm)R852 PRG wrote Never knew about that Versa demonstrator on the 64, would have tried it out at the time had I realised.

(27 Aug 2015, 4:45 pm)Dan wrote Was in service for all of a week at Belmont on the 64 - I remember being quite critical at the time, as I didn't know how it was possible to gather data in such a short period of time.

The ADL Enviro400 MMC Go North East recently had was for around two weeks, and I feel that was too short a period of time too.

(27 Aug 2015, 4:38 pm)Cock Robin wrote The 723 trialed a Solo?!!

(27 Aug 2015, 5:02 pm)Jimmi wrote Yes, Darlington trialled two Optare Solos at the same time in 2007 I think, one was allover white and was used on the 723, think at this point the 713/723 ran combined every 15 minutes between Darlington and Durham Arnison Centre, may be wrong on that. They also trialled another Solo at the same sort of time which I think they used on Darlington Town Service 21 (not to be confused with the current 21 route).

Sadly I have been unable to find any photos or information of these two Optare Solo demonstrators.

(27 Aug 2015, 5:25 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Allocation amendments from next Tuesday:

Ashington
7491/2 To Jesmond exchanged for 7445/6 (reason given - due to Nexus Contracts, yet 7445/6 are newer than 7491/2)
1527 on loan from Durham

(27 Aug 2015, 5:25 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Allocation amendments from next Tuesday:

Ashington
7491/2 To Jesmond exchanged for 7445/6 (reason given - due to Nexus Contracts, yet 7445/6 are newer than 7491/2)
1527 on loan from Durham

(27 Aug 2015, 5:25 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Allocation amendments from next Tuesday:

Darlington
1424/63/5/6 from Durham replacing 1305/12/4 & 1799

(27 Aug 2015, 5:46 pm)Jimmi wrote So long awful Darts [emoji2]

At least getting them four Pulsar's should hopefully decrease the chances of Frequenta Solos appearing on the 1/5/5A/19 during the daytime at least not sure about the 5A on a night though.

(27 Aug 2015, 5:47 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 5A becomes Frequenta Solos on a night from the timetable change if I recall what was mentioned here. Interworking with 3/66

(27 Aug 2015, 5:47 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 5A becomes Frequenta Solos on a night from the timetable change if I recall what was mentioned here. Interworking with 3/66

Also presently rumours that Blyth are after more Pulsars to replace 1401-3 - we'll have to wait and see where they come from and where 1401-3 end up going.