(26 Nov 2013, 8:08 pm)ROBIN wrote Hi Dan. Any News To Report. Did You Go To Depot Today At Sunderland. Is 35157 Still There. Regards Robin

(26 Nov 2013, 9:18 pm)ROBIN wrote Dan. 21156 and 33492 Are still Running In South Shields. I think 22047 is still in the Chicester Depot, also 22466 is also there as well. Regards Robin

(26 Nov 2013, 8:08 pm)ROBIN wrote Hi Dan. Any News To Report. Did You Go To Depot Today At Sunderland. Is 35157 Still There. Regards Robin

(27 Nov 2013, 1:37 pm)Richard Smiles wrote A text message received this morning has suggested the first of the GAS buses for Sunderland has been delivered this morning, in the shape of 28001 (YN63BXO).

In addition, it appears that although the vehicles will now be delivered as per the original delivery Schedule, so many will be stored at Sunderland & so many stored at Walkergate.

It also seems these vehicles will NOT be registered with the DVLA or enter service before February 2014 & in addition Registration Marks are certainly now subject to change as a consequence.

This appears to be linked with the refuelling infrastructure, NOT being in place at Sunderland.

Regards, Richard

(27 Nov 2013, 4:40 pm)Richard Smiles wrote The refuelling facility still has to be built at the Wheatsheaf (Sunderland Depot) Michael, so although the buses are being built & delivered to Stagecoach North East, they will be Stored at Sunderland & Walkergate Depot's until the refuelling facility has been built.

And yes, it has been indicated that the buses wont enter service before February, unless of course the refuelling station is built & completed sooner. Though I have to protect my sources, the information has been provided to me by Sunderland's actual Engineering Department.

Regards Richard

(27 Nov 2013, 5:05 pm)Richard Smiles wrote Not sure who is building the refuelling Station Michael. But as mentioned previously by both myself & Dan, they have known for some months roughly when the vehicles would be due to be delivered, so you would have thought once the order had been confirmed, priority 1 would have been to have got the refuelling station & infrastructure in place ready for their arrival.

This is as much of a puzzle to me, as everybody else Michael. If it is the case that they don't enter service until February or even March, then ALL of the vehicles will have to perhaps be re-registered with 14 mark registration plates. Regards Richard

(27 Nov 2013, 5:16 pm)Richard Smiles wrote Just to clarify something for you Michael, ALL of GAS Buses will be allocated to Sunderland, but the storage of them will be split between Sunderland & Walkergate (probably down to available storage space at the Depots). Once the refuelling facility is in place at Sunderland, the ones stored at Walkergate will just be taken back to Sunderland & put in to service. Remember, the buses were allocated for Sunderland following the Green Bus Funding Award, based on a bid submitted for that purpose.

I do wonder whether, all this aggro has something to do with Stagecoach threatening to pull out of the North East, due to the threat of Quality Contracts being possibly imposed upon them?. I genuinely don't know though. Regards Richard

(27 Nov 2013, 5:28 pm)Richard Smiles wrote I've still not heard of any delivery date for the additional 23 Michael, so the info posted relates to the initial batch of 17, but yes, as far as I know one of the conditions of the Green Bus Funding Award is that the vehicles have to be in service by no later than the end of March 2014.

As also previously mentioned, they have known for sometime when the buses were due to be delivered, so really the Refuelling Station should have already been built by now, ready for the first 17 arriving.

Perhaps, you could email Stagecoach North East & ask them & then let us ALL know the response.

(27 Nov 2013, 6:57 pm)tyresmoke wrote Sounds a familiar story, the refuelling process at Faverdale in Darlington still takes 4 hours per bus as their pumps aren't ready yet either. The mains gas has to be upgraded to supply enough to the depot so I wouldn't be surprised if Sunderland are facing similar issues.

(27 Nov 2013, 10:12 pm)ROBIN wrote Michael, Are There any 19 Hundreds coming to south shields to do the X34 Service. 3 are all ready here 19194,19196,19197 because I was told some more were coming soon. some one has told me that we are getting some T reg Mans From Newcastle Is This True. Regards Robin

(28 Nov 2013, 3:20 pm)ROBIN wrote Dan. Have You a updated fleetlist to look at. Regards Robin

(28 Nov 2013, 8:50 pm)ROBIN wrote Michael. which bus broke down on the 100 service tonight.

(28 Nov 2013, 8:54 pm)ROBIN wrote Dan. Any news from sunderland depot about the new gas buses coming soon.

(28 Nov 2013, 7:03 pm)Michael wrote The 100 has broken down on the sliproad from the metrocentre.. worst place to breakdown?

(29 Nov 2013, 7:00 pm)mattdw92 wrote Nice full picture of Gas Scania 28005 pictured now in full livery.