(05 Apr 2016, 7:21 pm)Andreos1 wrote Have you noticed the ingrained dirt on the bells?

(05 Apr 2016, 7:23 pm)Dan wrote All possible... but at a price!

(05 Apr 2016, 7:23 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Yes I have, There in big need of refurbishment.

(05 Apr 2016, 7:25 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote At quite a expensive price too I imagine! What happens when Sockets are fitted? More wiring?

(05 Apr 2016, 5:21 pm)Adrian wrote I'd agree with Mercs on the X84/X85. It's a route with some nice fast sections, and for me X7 has proven that the Mercs are more than up for the job.

(05 Apr 2016, 7:16 pm)Dan wrote They were new in 2007/08 - they're long overdue their mid-life refurbishment.

The Blaydon Racers especially are in a terrible state internally, and it's quite surprising that they've been left to get in such poor condition.

I'd certainly welcome the fitment of power sockets and Wi-Fi as part of the mid-life refurbishment of a bus.

(05 Apr 2016, 7:33 pm)NK53 TKT wrote Personally think the best ones for the X84/X85 are 5337 and 5338, it is a shame GNE don't have more of these series one Mercs

(05 Apr 2016, 7:30 pm)Dan wrote I'm no sparky, but I'd imagine more wiring would be required, yep.

A cheaper alternative is to fit USB power sockets in between seats, or to the back of seats. Arriva have started to fit them to the backs of seats on their MAX refurbs, but I understand these aren't half as effective as the normal power sockets (in terms of charging).

(05 Apr 2016, 7:38 pm)Dan wrote Surely some of the newer Mercedes Citaros are more reliable, and therefore they would be a better candidate to replace the existing allocation?

5337/38 are quite well suited to forming part of Stanley's reserve fleet, in my opinion.

(05 Apr 2016, 7:38 pm)Dan wrote Surely some of the newer Mercedes Citaros are more reliable, and therefore they would be a better candidate to replace the existing allocation?

5337/38 are quite well suited to forming part of Stanley's reserve fleet, in my opinion.

(05 Apr 2016, 7:57 pm)Michael wrote Come on Dan, whats your predictions for the orders?

(05 Apr 2016, 7:58 pm)Dan wrote I don't have predictions, as I know what's planned already! ;-)

(05 Apr 2016, 8:17 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Ok then, how about you rename your account to 'Paddy Power' and take some bets in for the 2016 / 17 order predictions?

(05 Apr 2016, 8:19 pm)Davie wrote Because some member's maybe to young to gamble....

(05 Apr 2016, 7:58 pm)Dan wrote I don't have predictions, as I know what's planned already! ;-)

(05 Apr 2016, 8:44 pm)Michael wrote

Going by someones idea the other day... I wonder if we'll see Indigo in Washington soon.

Be good if all the routes allocated Solo SR's were branded as Indigo....

(05 Apr 2016, 8:51 pm)Jimmi wrote Would you include the 18 in that?

I'll be honest, the 18 doesn't need anything bigger than a Solo SR or MPD.

(05 Apr 2016, 8:55 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Does the 18 Justify Brand New Vehicles with all the Mod Cons though? If 2 Nexus Solo SRs can be freed up and fitted with Wifi that might be a more Value for Money Option.

(05 Apr 2016, 8:58 pm)Jimmi wrote Yeah I'd say it would be difficult to justify new buses for the 18, possibly some cascades from Nexus routes or somewhere would probably work.

(05 Apr 2016, 9:01 pm)S813 FVK wrote I'd say that WiFi would be good for the Venture routes now the amount of longer distance routes have been increased (V7/V8, V9, 689, possibly the 30 but not too important). Appreciate it is a costly excercise, though.

(05 Apr 2016, 9:04 pm)Tom wrote The NSAs on the Venture don't work either (or at least they didn't on the 30 or V7 today) so they could do with looking at as well. But yeah I agree wifi would be worth it. Don't think they are big enough for the V7/V8 either.

(05 Apr 2016, 9:09 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Was quite interesting when they were working on the 689 a few weeks ago, Especially when they announced " This Section is Hail and Ride " and extre stuff after that.
I agree with Wifi on the Venture too, Though some of them look slightly grubby on the outside too now I think.
The Solos on the Ventures are smaller than the Recent Indigos and Tynedale's. Not a mssive difference but the Ventures are 8.9M and the Indigos etc are 9.25M so probably a extra row of seats bigger.

(05 Apr 2016, 9:09 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Was quite interesting when they were working on the 689 a few weeks ago, Especially when they announced " This Section is Hail and Ride " and extre stuff after that.
I agree with Wifi on the Venture too, Though some of them look slightly grubby on the outside too now I think.
The Solos on the Ventures are smaller than the Recent Indigos and Tynedale's. Not a mssive difference but the Ventures are 8.9M and the Indigos etc are 9.25M so probably a extra row of seats bigger.

(05 Apr 2016, 9:16 pm)Andreos1 wrote 35cm to fit an extra row of seats and squeeze our legs in?!

(05 Apr 2016, 8:58 pm)Jimmi wrote Yeah I'd say it would be difficult to justify new buses for the 18, possibly some cascades from Nexus routes or somewhere would probably work.

(05 Apr 2016, 9:18 pm)Tom wrote I've never been on a Venture with working NSAs yet! Normally just shows a screen saying something like visit simplygo.com for info on services.

With regards to NSAs I was on the Red Kite today and much prefer the NSAs on there compared to Emma Hignett. Who done them on there?

(05 Apr 2016, 9:03 pm)Michael wrote Ye, the solos from the NEXUS routes would be better for it, and WIFI, not sure about the Indigo brand for it though...

Couple of examples:

Indigo Sunderland - 33/38/238 (Going by upcoming changes in May)
Indigo Washington - 82/82A/85/86

(05 Apr 2016, 9:20 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Haha only had one once with a working NSA and that was that 689.

I prefer Emma Hignett to all the rest, Especially that nightmare that's Steve and Karen!
I'm not sure who the Red Kite announcer is, Stuart Elmore?