(14 Nov 2020, 7:22 pm)BeachBoy99 wrote This better bloody not happen to The Angel. 

Beacon's work was absolutely fantastic and it's a shame that they stopped consulting a local design agency in return for Best Impressions, who are completely overrated in my opinion.

(14 Nov 2020, 7:59 pm)Adtrainsam wrote Like others, I'm not keen on the branding or the livery at all. The grey and black colour scheme doesn't stand out, nor does it scream "electric bus". I'm pretty sure most people walking or driving in Newcastle on a sunny day will not notice any thing special or different about them. I'd say most of the other liveries in the fleet are much more eye catching and vibrant than these. The only part which does look the part (and is a really nice touch) is the exterior lights on the cant rail etc. - though, you'll only see them on a rainy day or at night!

(14 Nov 2020, 8:02 pm)Adrian wrote I don't think it needs to scream electric bus, unless they were going for some kind of cheap pop? 

I think the livery is more of a futuristic gimmick than anything else.

(14 Nov 2020, 7:56 pm)MurdnunoC wrote A brand is a brand at the end of the day. Some will like it, some won't, and I'm guessing most passengers, unlike the marks, will be largely indifferent to the vinyls and paintwork focussing more on features and reliability.

(14 Nov 2020, 8:24 pm)Storx wrote I want to agree but if the branding doesn't advertise any of the features what's the point in it? Might aswell not bother in brands at all if that's the case. You can have the best product in the world if no-one knows about it then what's the point your still going to have the same passengers you used to always have after the confusion of what bus I get now since I've always got the Saltwell Park bus.

The back isn't too bad but the side from a design point of view is a right mess.

https://i2-prod.leeds-live.co.uk/news/leeds-news/article19076336.ece/ALTERNATES/s1227b/0_Yutong-E10-in-livery2.jpg - That there, I know is a Leeds City bus and I know it's electric instantly and it's bright green so it stands out.

https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/userfiles/image/firstbus_bus.jpg - Another example in Glasgow, instantly I know that's an electric bus, its a First Bus and I can easily see the route branding. Heck with a few adjustments that would easily fit GoNorthEast's corporate image aswell which we've seemed to abandoned.

The Stagecoach gas livery at Sunderland being another good example.

(14 Nov 2020, 8:48 pm)Dan wrote Have you seen the First Group Yutong E10s? They’re bloody hideous inside, and outside the vinyl quality is atrocious.

Go North East’s looks far superior in the flesh, regardless of personal opinions on the design.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(14 Nov 2020, 8:48 pm)Dan wrote Have you seen the First Group Yutong E10s? They’re bloody hideous inside, and outside the vinyl quality is atrocious.

Go North East’s looks far superior in the flesh, regardless of personal opinions on the design.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(14 Nov 2020, 8:47 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Aside from having a battery, what features do these Voltra buses have which are going to significantly increase passenger numbers?

I was reading an article the other day in one of the dirt-sheets which suggested more people will migrate to more individualistic modes of transportation post-Covid. As Saltwell and Bensham are relatively close to both Newcastle and Gateshead, it is feasible more people will opt to either walk or cycle to work rather than get the bus. For those working further away, then it looks likely that cars will be perceived as a safer option of travel. A new brand is unlikely to change that.

(14 Nov 2020, 8:48 pm)Dan wrote Have you seen the First Group Yutong E10s? They’re bloody hideous inside, and outside the vinyl quality is atrocious.

Go North East’s looks far superior in the flesh, regardless of personal opinions on the design.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(14 Nov 2020, 9:10 pm)N1cholas wrote Not even hit the road and some want them in a corporate style livery, the must have road stripes and go north east splashed all over the outside so people know who runs them, oh and a different name than Voltra, I'm sure the general public will know it is a go north east service, I'm sure the public don't give 2 hoots if there is no road stripes.
I'm sure the general public will appreciate these brand new revolutionary, state of the art buses from the very first operator to introduce ELECTRIC ZERO EMISSION BUSES to the north east, I don't think any other operator will be willing to invest in the future of public transport in the north east when they can easily invest into other southern branches of their operations.
I personally think they are tremendous and cant wait to see them on the road

(14 Nov 2020, 9:27 pm)Storx wrote To be fair I don't mind the interior, it's quite different and modern which I like. Something different instead of the usual. Reminds me of the Paris Metro a bit which like using bright colours. The First ones interior wise look pretty horrendous though, the green handrails reminds of one of ex Cowie operators down south not sure which one though who's buses ended up here with Arriva for a bit.

It's very marmite though and can imagine a few hating it aswell for the same reasons mind.

(14 Nov 2020, 9:10 pm)N1cholas wrote Not even hit the road and some want them in a corporate style livery, the must have road stripes and go north east splashed all over the outside so people know who runs them, oh and a different name than Voltra, I'm sure the general public will know it is a go north east service, I'm sure the public don't give 2 hoots if there is no road stripes.
I'm sure the general public will appreciate these brand new revolutionary, state of the art buses from the very first operator to introduce ELECTRIC ZERO EMISSION BUSES to the north east, I don't think any other operator will be willing to invest in the future of public transport in the north east when they can easily invest into other southern branches of their operations.
I personally think they are tremendous and cant wait to see them on the road

(14 Nov 2020, 9:43 pm)mb134 wrote I don't see how this can be backed up at all? Firstly, these are here becuase of funding available - otherwise I'd say there's little to no chance of GNE splashing out on an electric fleet. You also seem to be forgetting about the gas buses introduced by both Stagecoach NE and Arriva NE a few years ago. 

(14 Nov 2020, 9:43 pm)mb134 wrote I think the GNE interior (bar the flooring) is a quite a bit above both of the First interiors. The Leeds ones look so basic, very cheap looking anyway. The Glasgow ones are far better imo, but still nowhere near matching GNEs standard. The blue/green combo on the seats in particular is striking and fresh (if only they'd kept that for the exterior too), and the overall finish looks top drawer - I worry about the longevity of that flooring though, it already looks suspect in a couple of the pics I've seen on here/Twitter.

---

I don't see how this can be backed up at all? Firstly, these are here becuase of funding available - otherwise I'd say there's little to no chance of GNE splashing out on an electric fleet. You also seem to be forgetting about the gas buses introduced by both Stagecoach NE and Arriva NE a few years ago. 

Secondly the "southern branches" thing - York, Glasgow and Aberdeen (from the top of my head) are seeing the introduction of emission free buses by large operators (First). Notably Aberdeen has had hydrogen powered vehicles since 2014ish. Again in all of these cases I'm pretty sure the buses are only introduced because of funding, so really it's more down to local authorities than bus operators, though credit still must go to them for their part in the deal.

(14 Nov 2020, 9:59 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Not to mention of course, aside from zero emissions, Stagecoach may have been the first to introduce a hybrid-electric fleet to the North-East, years ahead of anyone else back when they had the Quaylink contract around 2005ish. Obviously, there was funding available for that too.

(14 Nov 2020, 5:46 pm)BeachBoy99 wrote So, no stripes... i.e., this is the new house style? Prompts the question of when the other odd hundred buses in the fleet are going to receive this swoop design then, and if they're not then it's made the whole initiative of standardising the entire fleet a complete waste of time.

(15 Nov 2020, 10:26 pm)Malarkey wrote Having now seen it branded I think they should've went with a full black base with the glowing electric volts as shown on the rear window across the entire vehicle as it would've made it look a lot more eye catching than this is in my opinion.

Further to this why is there 2 different tones of Blue on the Voltra logo on the back and side of the vehicle, no consistency for me there and logo on back looks much better.

(14 Nov 2020, 9:10 pm)N1cholas wrote Not even hit the road and some want them in a corporate style livery, the must have road stripes and go north east splashed all over the outside so people know who runs them, oh and a different name than Voltra, I'm sure the general public will know it is a go north east service, I'm sure the public don't give 2 hoots if there is no road stripes.
 I'm sure the general public will appreciate these brand new revolutionary, state of the art buses from the very first operator to introduce ELECTRIC ZERO EMISSION BUSES to the north east, I don't think any other operator will be willing to invest in the future of public transport in the north east when they can easily invest into other southern branches of their operations.
I personally think they are tremendous and cant wait to see them on the road

(16 Nov 2020, 10:41 am)Andreos1 wrote Or of course, they assume the operator is a fancy new start-up, who's name is a mix-up of an electric train from the 1980's and an energy drink from Aldi.

(17 Nov 2020, 10:54 am)ne14ne1 wrote From MG's instastories it looks like the Voltra promotion being shot last night should end up quite eye catching, with the vehicles all lit up in the dark.

(17 Nov 2020, 10:42 am)MurdnunoC wrote Neither of those things springs to mind whenever I read about 'Voltra'. I'm reminded of a cartoon from the 80s called Voltron which was similar to Transformers etc.

Interesting that you brought up the operator being a fancy new start-up - reminds me of claims made on here and elsewhere where customers would contact directory enquiries asking for the 'Highwayman Bus Company'.

(17 Nov 2020, 12:52 pm)Andreos1 wrote Never heard of that cartoon. Ever. 

(17 Nov 2020, 2:16 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Saw the Voltra spare out on driver training earlier, along with the rest sat all branded up at Riverside. I can’t say they stood out at all from any other bus, but I’m sure they will in the dark.

(18 Nov 2020, 11:30 pm)TEN 6083 wrote

According to bustimes, 8801 was on the 60 today


Sent from my iPhone XS using Tapatalk