(04 Jul 2019, 12:09 pm)L469 YVK wrote So will the 4th X30 board be run by a corporate StreetLite?

My thoughts are no, if it was it would be completely different spec compared to the E400s. Also 5451 acts as a spare for the diamond services. The other spare, 5419 I would expect to go with the red kite branded examples when they go.

(04 Jul 2019, 12:47 pm)Stanleyone wrote

My thoughts are no, if it was it would be completely different spec compared to the E400s. Also 5451 acts as a spare for the diamond services. The other spare, 5419 I would expect to go with the red kite branded examples when they go.

Unless GNE are happy with the E400MMC performamce and they tag an extra one on when they come to replace the Red Arrows or TVT B9s.

(04 Jul 2019, 11:20 am)Kuyoyo wrote

Nope, Streetdecks for X5/X15, X31/X45/X46/X47/X70/X71. E400s are for X30s - despite the changes meaning there's not enough of them to cover all 4 X30 boards.

Either way getting new buses! Very surprised.

Noticed the 30/30A being dropped in favour of the 'M' service, noticed its only once an hour, oppossed to the twice an hour 30/30A

I remember the uproar when the X30/X31 were curtailed at Stanley originally.

(03 Jul 2019, 7:07 pm)JP6004 wrote

Wonder if toonlink brand being dropped from the 6. Would seem strange if it was as new streetdecks do have toonlink colours at rear.

Maybe before long toonlink brand will transfer to the 10....

Hopefully its just scrapped all together. Not a fan of the livery or the name. 

Black cars and coaches look smart - black service buses do not for some reason.

(04 Jul 2019, 4:40 pm)ne14ne1 wrote

Hopefully its just scrapped all together. Not a fan of the livery or the name. 

Black cars and coaches look smart - black service buses do not for some reason.

I think it's quite smart. The B9s looked great when they first got repainted black

(04 Jul 2019, 4:40 pm)ne14ne1 wrote

Hopefully its just scrapped all together. Not a fan of the livery or the name. 

Black cars and coaches look smart - black service buses do not for some reason.

Better than the horrific X-lines brand...

(04 Jul 2019, 6:19 pm)V514DFT wrote Im just glad so see the Q3 is still running to Wallsend

I don't think it would get withdrawn, it actually gets busy to wallsend now

(04 Jul 2019, 4:40 pm)ne14ne1 wrote

Hopefully its just scrapped all together. Not a fan of the livery or the name. 

Black cars and coaches look smart - black service buses do not for some reason.

Well if it is scrapped, the Black Cats livery's days are likely numbered, too.

(04 Jul 2019, 6:09 pm)BeachBoy99 wrote

Better than the horrific X-lines brand...

I think the X-Lines brand is great to be fair to GNE. As long as they don't dilute it the way Arriva did with MAX, then I can see X-Lines being a success. Ok, maybe questionable about the Red Kites joining the X-Lines brand but the X45/X46 are only slightly slower than the X70/X71.

X-Lines potential list of routes:

- X1

- X5/X15 - Done

- X6/X7/X20 - Done

- X9/X10

- X21

- X30/X31/X32 - Done

- X45/X46/X47 - Done

- X70/X71/X72 - Done

- X84/X85

(04 Jul 2019, 6:59 pm)L469 YVK wrote

I think the X-Lines brand is great to be fair to GNE. As long as they don't dilute it the way Arriva did with MAX, then I can see X-Lines being a success. Ok, maybe questionable about the Red Kites joining the X-Lines brand but the X45/X46 are only slightly slower than the X70/X71.

X-Lines potential list of routes:

- X1

- X5/X15 - Done

- X6/X7/X20 - Done

- X9/X10

- X21

- X30/X31/X32 - Done

- X45/X46/X47 - Done

- X70/X71/X72 - Done

- X84/X85

X21 joining the brand when new buses arrive (2 new plus others rebranded)

(04 Jul 2019, 6:09 pm)BeachBoy99 wrote

Better than the horrific X-lines brand...

Really don’t think MG or the senior management team will be too worried what enthusiasts think of the brand or the number of services added, as long as it grows the passenger numbers.

(04 Jul 2019, 7:10 pm)Stanleyone wrote

X21 joining the brand when new buses arrive (2 new plus others rebranded)

---

Really don’t think MG or the senior management team will be too worried what enthusiasts think of the brand or the number of services added, as long as it grows the passenger numbers.

With regards to the X21, you all probably knew about me banging on about swapping 6301-07 with 6111-17 (when the PVR was 7x) but with a potential clean air zone coming in, the B9TLs will most likely carry a heavier penalty charge than the StreetDecks (whch will be much lower or even be exempt).

(02 Jul 2019, 7:34 pm)L469 YVK wrote

Well that's exactly why GNE will want to keep these under wraps.

Due to the scale of ANE's more national management, they won't check as soon as they can get copies from VOSA. Obviously they'll check eventually but not straight away.

ANE will also have other divisions and competitors to take care off.

You do realise that Arriva do still have Sunderland based Commercial team, who I can assure you, know exactly what the changes were and had a copy of the registration the day it was accepted by the traffic commissioner.

All bus companies keep a very close eye on N&P. As soon registrations are accepted, they obtain copies if it is of interest.

GNE waiting until last minute to release to the public has nothing to do with competitive reasoning.

(04 Jul 2019, 7:10 pm)Stanleyone wrote

X21 joining the brand when new buses arrive (2 new plus others rebranded)

---

Really don’t think MG or the senior management team will be too worried what enthusiasts think of the brand or the number of services added, as long as it grows the passenger numbers.

Well they should. Just because we're enthusiasts doesn't mean we aren't customers? I use GNE regularly...

(04 Jul 2019, 6:09 pm)BeachBoy99 wrote

Better than the horrific X-lines brand...

At least the X-Lines brand doesn't use the same awful nursery school font that 'Toonlink' is splattered across the buses in.

(04 Jul 2019, 6:28 pm)BusLoverMum wrote

Well if it is scrapped, the Black Cats livery's days are likely numbered, too.
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(04 Jul 2019, 4:51 pm)JP6004 wrote

I think it's quite smart. The B9s looked great when they first got repainted black

Toon link is my favourite brand, going to be a shame seeing it get dropped but could've been used on more better bus routes with more Geordie-based areas tbh or even expanded beyond the County Durham based buses. If it was on more buses like the black cats as that is on multiple buses going to different areas of Sunderland. Tyne valley ten and city links could've as easily been Toon Link in my eyes but Durham Diamond could probably get used on these buses too.

(04 Jul 2019, 7:45 pm)BeachBoy99 wrote

Well they should. Just because we're enthusiasts doesn't mean we aren't customers? I use GNE regularly...

And just because you're a customer doesn't mean you have the automatic right to tell them what brands they can and can't have.

(04 Jul 2019, 8:15 pm)JM03 wrote

Toon link is my favourite brand, going to be a shame seeing it get dropped but could've been used on more better bus routes with more Geordie-based areas tbh or even expanded beyond the County Durham based buses. If it was on more buses like the black cats as that is on multiple buses going to different areas of Sunderland. Tyne valley ten and city links could've as easily been Toon Link in my eyes but Durham Diamond could probably get used on these buses too.

Would be pointless branding services for toonlink if they don't even go to Newcastle

(04 Jul 2019, 8:15 pm)JM03 wrote

Toon link is my favourite brand, going to be a shame seeing it get dropped but could've been used on more better bus routes with more Geordie-based areas tbh or even expanded beyond the County Durham based buses. If it was on more buses like the black cats as that is on multiple buses going to different areas of Sunderland. Tyne valley ten and city links could've as easily been Toon Link in my eyes but Durham Diamond could probably get used on these buses too.

Toonlink joins with Red Kites as my least favourite brand, probably something to do with finding the word 'Toon' a step beyond cringy! Although, I think Red Kites might be slightly worse, if only because of those eyes (they give me nightmares!)

(04 Jul 2019, 8:16 pm)S813 FVK wrote

And just because you're a customer doesn't mean you have the automatic right to tell them what brands they can and can't have.

Excuse me? Just because I have an opinion on designs doesn't mean you have to be a total arse about it. I'm not saying I have any influence on what brands they produce; it's just terrible that they are standardising everything when they are literally renowned for having a diverse range of liveries. Honestly. *_*

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and everyones tastes are different. I suspect the majority of customers don't really give two hoots what colour their bus is, what name has been given to the route, or what font the brand uses.


 Some may think of GNE as being known for having a diverse range of liveries - others may see GNE as having a wide collection of mismatched brands and confused identities.
Personally I think they've got a few smart route brands, but equally several look rather amateurish & dated now or even look like they were competition entries from joe public.


 I'm in favour of some standardisation now. When I see one of the latest 2019 corporate liveried buses (ie no blue front panel) I think wow, now that looks smart, clean and professional - a corporate image to be proud of - time to drop most of the route brands with the exception of just a handful of flagship routes and expresses.

(05 Jul 2019, 4:17 pm)ne14ne1 wrote

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and everyones tastes are different. I suspect the majority of customers don't really give two hoots what colour their bus is, what name has been given to the route, or what font the brand uses.


 Some may think of GNE as being known for having a diverse range of liveries - others may see GNE as having a wide collection of mismatched brands and confused identities.
Personally I think they've got a few smart route brands, but equally several look rather amateurish & dated now or even look like they were competition entries from joe public.


 I'm in favour of some standardisation now. When I see one of the latest 2019 corporate liveried buses (ie no blue front panel) I think wow, now that looks smart, clean and professional - a corporate image to be proud of - time to drop most of the route brands with the exception of just a handful of flagship routes and expresses.

The reason why branding was introduced was because it was easier to identify a bus by its colour rather than the number, making it a lot easier on main routes and cities. For example eldon square, you know that if it's a black DD you know its toonlink, green it's the angel, red it's the X1. I still think branding has a big part to play, however I think that some do need a bit of a refresh

(05 Jul 2019, 4:17 pm)ne14ne1 wrote

Everyone is entitled to their opinions and everyones tastes are different. I suspect the majority of customers don't really give two hoots what colour their bus is, what name has been given to the route, or what font the brand uses.

Some may think of GNE as being known for having a diverse range of liveries - others may see GNE as having a wide collection of mismatched brands and confused identities.
Personally I think they've got a few smart route brands, but equally several look rather amateurish & dated now or even look like they were competition entries from joe public.

I'm in favour of some standardisation now. Drop all route brands except for a handful of flagship routes, plus express services.
Sometimes when I see one of the latest 2019 corporate liveried buses (ie no blue front panel) I think wow, now that looks smart, clean and professional - a corporate image to be proud of - just present the whole fleet like that, (again, maybe with the exception of just a handful of flagship routes and expresses).

(05 Jul 2019, 4:32 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I agree with you there. But it depends on your definition of flagship routes.

For me I would keep the independent branding on Angel, Castles Express, X9/X10, Tyne Valley Ten (although change it so it doesn't look like it was designed by a primary school), 56 (once again change it as it's currently awful), Quaylink, Cobalt and Coast.
Basically, any route that has competition or goes along a route where a lot of people can see it

I like the idea of Xlines but they've already started diluting it too much for my taste. There is no way on earth 45/46/47 deserve to be branded as an express route. Sure, it's none stop from MetroCentre to Newcastle, but it might as well have been already since people rarely used them stops.

With the 45/46 they should of rerouted them away from the housing estates around Consett, only stopping on the main roads. Would easily knock another 10minutes off the journey.

Reroute one of the Venture services to cover the estates, or make the current venture services around those areas more frequent.

(05 Jul 2019, 6:46 pm)Arcticrossy92 wrote

With the 45/46 they should of rerouted them away from the housing estates around Consett, only stopping on the main roads. Would easily knock another 10minutes off the journey.

Reroute one of the Venture services to cover the estates, or make the current venture services around those areas more frequent.

You’d be surprised how many folk are picked up around the estates that travel to Newcastle, so removing these routes from the estates would seem rather pointless. The whole idea of the changes is to reduce the time spent travelling, whilst the timetable doesn’t seem to show a great deal of difference, mentally a bus not stopping seems quicker (in my opinion).

(05 Jul 2019, 7:50 pm)Stanleyone wrote

You’d be surprised how many folk are picked up around the estates that travel to Newcastle, so removing these routes from the estates would seem rather pointless. The whole idea of the changes is to reduce the time spent travelling, whilst the timetable doesn’t seem to show a great deal of difference, mentally a bus not stopping seems quicker (in my opinion).

(05 Jul 2019, 4:32 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I agree with you there. But it depends on your definition of flagship routes.

For me I would keep the independent branding on Angel, Castles Express, X9/X10, Tyne Valley Ten (although change it so it doesn't look like it was designed by a primary school), 56 (once again change it as it's currently awful), Quaylink, Cobalt and Coast.
Basically, any route that has competition or goes along a route where a lot of people can see it

I like the idea of Xlines but they've already started diluting it too much for my taste. There is no way on earth 45/46/47 deserve to be branded as an express route. Sure, it's none stop from MetroCentre to Newcastle, but it might as well have been already since people rarely used them stops.

(And I agree with your comment about diluting XLines too).

I’d be interested to see if the 45 etc would have been renumbered had the decision to tag them onto the X31/X70/X71 not been made.

The interworking plans, X30 extension and removal of the 30 for the M6 means that barring the CLS Towns and Cathedral Bus, every Hownsgill based bus will end up at Consett over the course of its service day. How many driver changeovers will still take place at Stanley?

 Leaning towards the argument that these changes are more for operational reasons than for the benefit of passengers.

(05 Jul 2019, 8:51 pm)S813 FVK wrote

I’d be interested to see if the 45 etc would have been renumbered had the decision to tag them onto the X31/X70/X71 not been made.

The interworking plans, X30 extension and removal of the 30 for the M6 means that barring the CLS Towns and Cathedral Bus, every Hownsgill based bus will end up at Consett over the course of its service day. How many driver changeovers will still take place at Stanley?

 Leaning towards the argument that these changes are more for operational reasons than for the benefit of passengers.