(16 Nov 2013, 8:26 am)Richard Smiles wrote I suggest everyone take another look at the photo by Gregg Collins of the Scania GAS bus, also uploaded by Dan, as in the background, behind the gate/fence there is another of the batch covered in Vinyls/ Contravision with Yellow Circles etc., so it looks like they are to carry a Very Special Livery indeed. An email this morning from Gregg has confirmed this.

Regards Richard

(15 Nov 2013, 6:53 pm)Michael wrote Changes to Services 8, 20, E1, E2 and E6 from Monday 25 November 2013 Service Update
To reduce the problems caused by ongoing roadworks along St.Mary’s Way, Services 8, 20, E1, E2 and E6 will be revised to no longer observe the bus stops at Marks and Spencer’s, the Londonderry or Empire Theatre. There will also be some consequential changes to other bus stops in the city centre.

Last Updated : 15 November 2013 15:57

Services 8 and 20 arriving in Sunderland City Centre will be revised to observe bus stops along Stockton Road and Burdon Road, terminating at a new bus stop on Fawcett Street (outside Wilkinson’s). Buses arriving in the City Centre will no longer stop on Green Terrace, Vine Place or at the north end of Fawcett Street.

Services 8 and 20 from Sunderland City Centre will start from Fawcett Street Wilkinson’s, and observe a bus stop on Holmeside. Daytime buses will also stop on Green Terrace. As a result, they will no longer stop at the north end of Fawcett Street, the back of Marks and Spencer’s, the Londonderry, or opposite Empire Theatre.

Services E1, E2 and E6 arriving in Sunderland City Centre will stop at John Street before reaching Park Lane Interchange, and will no longer stop at Marks and Spencer’s or the Londonderry.

Services E1, E2 and E6 from Sunderland City Centre will continue to use the same bus stops at Park Lane Interchange and Fawcett Street.

These necessary changes are aimed at improving the overall reliability of your bus services, and will remain in place until the St.Mary’s Way highways scheme is completed, and bus priority is established (estimated Summer/Autumn 2014).

There are no changes to timetables.

(16 Nov 2013, 1:37 pm)Dan wrote 19196 has broken down in Gateshead.

(18 Nov 2013, 4:14 pm)Michael wrote Stagecoach have updated their info for christmas.. on phone cant give full details sorry.

(18 Nov 2013, 5:49 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Good to see the vast majority of the Stagecoach offerings being run on a commercial basis. All of the Newcastle routes (with the exception of the 7 – odd as you’d have thought a bus to the Metrocentre would be perhaps more commercially viable than some of the others!) are being run commercially on Boxing Day. Everything in Sunderland is commercial with the exception of the E2 & E6. Shields only has the 1 & 2 running commercially with the 10, 11 & Es relying on Nexus funding).
Wonder why nothing at all on Teesside is commercially viable.

(18 Nov 2013, 7:00 pm)andreos1 wrote More or less all commercial in T&W and not too reliant on public funding either?
Excellent.

Shame about Teesside, wonder what a certain member of the forum living on Teesside will be doing on Boxing Day?
He was quite vocal about Boxing Day services the other day...

(18 Nov 2013, 7:31 pm)Kuyoyo wrote As it should be - both myself and Scott discussed this after a certain vocal member of the Teesside scene started his normal moaning, and the only route that would probably justify a Boxing Day service is the 36, and only then on an hourly service to cover the cost (hourly service would only need 3 buses if you ran to the Marina in Hartlepool) and even then, be pointless opening the depot for just 3 buses all day.
As for what I'll be doing Boxing Day, what Boxing Day has always been about - spending the day at home with my family, the way things should be.

(18 Nov 2013, 7:33 pm)Michael wrote That is true, i don't know what the rush is to go to Sunderland/Newcastle/metrocentre for the sales... id rather be in the house

(18 Nov 2013, 10:17 pm)aureolin wrote After spending the day on xmas day sitting about, I want to do anything but be in the house haha. Probably not to the extreme of the Metro Centre, but certainly visiting people and such.

(18 Nov 2013, 10:18 pm)Michael wrote Same id rather avoid the citycentres and of course the metrocentre but i might go out for a few pints to my local pub.

(20 Nov 2013, 9:20 pm)mattdw92 wrote Complete set of fleet numbers with regs for the Scania Gas E300's:
28001/YN63BXO
28002/YN63BXP
28003/YN63BXW
28004/YN63BXY
28005/YN63BXV
28006/YN63BXX
28007/YN63BXJ
28008/YN63BXF
28009/YN63BXG
28010/YN63BXK
28011/YN63BXS
28012/YN63BXH
28013/YN63BXL
28014/YN63BXM
28015/YN63BXR
28016/YN63BXE
28017/YN63BXU

(22 Nov 2013, 5:28 am)ADLEnviro wrote 21157 is the only B10BLE in the line up, the rest are 33xxx Darts, 21153 and 21155 are still in daily use and as seen in another post both were on loan to Slatyford on Monday and Tuesday.

(22 Nov 2013, 9:42 pm)ROBIN wrote 21156 is still at south shields. also 33492 is still Here as well.

Any word on 22021 at Sunderland.

(22 Nov 2013, 10:43 pm)Simmy wrote Also, does anyone know if 22021 has replaced an older MAN at Sunderland?