(21 Apr 2019, 4:44 pm)L469 YVK wrote Even though it will only be slightly faster, the 'X' will be designed to take pressure of the 20. Good thinking by GNE . Have had the same arguement numerous times with Arriva as to why they don't have an express variant of the 308.

(20 Apr 2019, 9:11 am)Dans_bus_photos wrote Looking at the timetables it looks like the X6/X7 will interwork with the X20 with a PVR of 6. Could this be were the North Tyne indiGo's are destined for?

(21 Apr 2019, 4:48 pm)Andreos1 wrote The 20a did that though and seemed to generate its own custom on the unique sections.

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I reckon there will be handful of vehicles left over by the changes to the 36 and 18 alone.
Regardless of the X6/X7 changes.

It will be interesting to see where these end up.

(21 Apr 2019, 4:54 pm)S830OFT wrote Apparently the X5 will run via Silksworth replacing the 36...

(21 Apr 2019, 6:59 pm)V514DFT wrote Im confused,i thought the X5 was becoming the 55

(21 Apr 2019, 8:51 pm)Malarkey wrote Wonder if we will see any new buses arrive prior to these service changes, if so they will probably have to start arriving next week.

(21 Apr 2019, 9:21 pm)V514DFT wrote Please say the loop is seeing some new buses,not cascades,new ones

(21 Apr 2019, 9:24 pm)Michael wrote One of the many services at Riverside which could get the electric buses later in the year.

(21 Apr 2019, 9:58 pm)Jordan2104 wrote Electric are for saltwell parks 53/54

(21 Apr 2019, 8:51 pm)Malarkey wrote Wonder if we will see any new buses arrive prior to these service changes, if so they will probably have to start arriving next week.

(21 Apr 2019, 10:26 pm)Andreos1 wrote There's been no leaked photos (that I'm aware of) of vehicles arriving in to Heysham. Rules out Wright stuff.

With Optare being 'down the road', there's usually something shared. Enough to rule out them? 

Theres been a stack of demonstration vehicles as we know, but my gut instinct would say that any evaluation or analysis of performance, wouldn't have left enough time to turn around an immediate purchase (let alone the manufacture) of anything. 

Maybe it's just further consolidation?

The 35 doesnt seem to be as popular as it was in the past, so would struggle to provide a business case for new investment - unless there were drastic changes to the route. 
The apparent pvr reduction to the 20, X5, X6, 36 and 18 provides scope for cascades. 
Out of all the changes, I can only see the X21 needing an increase - although that might be managed in another fashion. 

All of those things indicate (to me anyway), that there's nowt new arriving soon. 
Certainly not in time for these changes.

(21 Apr 2019, 10:42 pm)Michael wrote X5 is staying the same, every 30 minutes? 

Ye the 35 will get cascades, more likely Versa or Streetlites... or hopefully Omnicities

(21 Apr 2019, 5:09 pm)Michael wrote Ye, the Solo's on the 516 will be free.


When are Gateshead Central Taxi's running the 8?, all day or just on a night?


I reckon the Versa's from the 36 could end up Deptford for 33/33A?, i also think we will see the 33/33A provide a full 10 minute service to Silksworth, as the current set up is 12, 22, 42 and 52, i think they'll have a extra 33 slotted in to make up the loss of the 36, i think the PVR would be 4.


New PVR for the 71 will be 2.... so they'll be enough Versa's for the 33. 


With keep hearing this 'depot standardisation' id be surprised to see the Versa's return to Deptford for the 33. Chester still have 6 Scania's to get rid of id have thought they'd leave first before any of the Versa's did. 

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By traveline, it looks like it will.... could they not just have a extra 33 slotted in, and keep the X5 via Durham Road.....

(22 Apr 2019, 8:15 am)Dans_bus_photos wrote With keep hearing this 'depot standardisation' id be surprised to see the Versa's return to Deptford for the 33. Chester still have 6 Scania's to get rid of id have thought they'd leave first before any of the Versa's did. 

(22 Apr 2019, 8:22 am)Michael wrote Yet the Citaro's went back to Consett, they didn't have them for ages, it could be a temporary move until June (for when the Scania's can go) or when new buses start to enter service.

Either way the spare versa's will be allocated on a route but the 71 will need 2. 

Or will Go North East just start to withdraw the Scania's early?

(22 Apr 2019, 8:39 am)Dans_bus_photos wrote I agree with you there but they lost all of the Omnicities instead, so they didn't really gain an additional vehicle type to maintain. Id think most of the Scania's will probably be withdrawn by the end of the year starting with the ones that were not upgraded to Euro 5  (Like the ones at Chester)

(21 Apr 2019, 10:26 pm)Andreos1 wrote There's been no leaked photos (that I'm aware of) of vehicles arriving in to Heysham. Rules out Wright stuff.

With Optare being 'down the road', there's usually something shared. Enough to rule out them? 

Theres been a stack of demonstration vehicles as we know, but my gut instinct would say that any evaluation or analysis of performance, wouldn't have left enough time to turn around an immediate purchase (let alone the manufacture) of anything. 

(22 Apr 2019, 12:00 pm)big mac wrote A couple of things re. the changes next month. Is the 55x basically the exact same route as the x5 is now, and the 55 that route but with Silksworth included as well?
Also, with the x21 needing a pvr increase with it being extended, will there be new vehicles on it?

(22 Apr 2019, 12:10 pm)Michael wrote It looks like:

55 is the X5
55A is the X5A runs
55X - not sure

(22 Apr 2019, 12:14 pm)N1cholas wrote 55X same as the X5 now but just peak times

(22 Apr 2019, 12:20 pm)Michael wrote 55A looks like it will be via Durham Road, only at certain times of the day.

(22 Apr 2019, 12:14 pm)N1cholas wrote 55X same as the X5 now but just peak times

(22 Apr 2019, 12:56 pm)big mac wrote When you search for the Sunday journeys on traveline these are also listed as 55X.

• Service 8 will be diverted via Castletown, replacing service 36 on this section of route and maintaining four buses per hour between Castletown and Sunderland with service 35.
  
  
• Most journeys on service X5 will be diverted via Silksworth. This maintains the frequency of service between Silksworth and Sunderland with service 33. This diversion also means the connections between Silksworth and Houghton-le-Spring are maintained.
  
  
• Between Chester-le-Street, Houghton-le-Spring and Burnside Estate, new service 71 will run.
  

(23 Apr 2019, 1:50 pm)S813 FVK wrote Main article now published:
http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/service-changes-from-19-may-366066