(13 Apr 2013, 9:47 am)Rob wrote This is total nonsense, there will always be a compromise with each new vehicle purchased, you can never get it exactly to the specification and needs unless you create your own vehicle.

Optare
A number of problems occurred with both batches of Optare Versa vehicles delivered; Optare did however provide aftercare to resolve the electrical issues, this being the main problem. There was originally a problem with the vehicles climbing accents, namely amongst the batch bought for Saltwell Park and Drifter services. This is another issue Optare resolved for us in-house. The Quaylink batch purchased had minimal problems, with Optare ensuring that the buses had been tested prior them being delivered to us. As a result, there were minimal problems with this batch. A batch of the newer model were subsequently purchased for Orbit and Simplicity routes, a number of problems occurred, which lead to Optare being brought in to fix the problems again. When you purchase a new car, you don’t expect there to be so many problems which need to be fixed. It is obvious that Optare had not been quality testing each vehicle to ensure it meet the demands and constraints required for day to day operation. It would never be suggested that Optare vehicles will never be purchased again. In fact, a batch of Optare Solo SR has been purchased, which have been a great success. Any company want to purchase a repeat order would want to ensure that the product they are purchasing is up to the job, hence the use of the new Optare Versa demonstrator at Stanley for such a long period. The vehicle is being put through its paces to ensure that it meets demand, not just over a month, but over the longer timeframe it will be operational within the fleet.

MAN
How can a company be expected to purchase these vehicles, when the facilities aren’t available at the moment?

Scania
The Scania vehicles in the fleet at present are essentially the ‘workhorses’ of the fleet, the Scania L94UB vehicles are excellent, some of them are coming to the end of their lives and they are still more reliable than some of the more modern stock. It is known that a vehicle will not last forever; some of those vehicles are now over 12 years old. It is normally only expected that a bus will last 15 in service before being moved to less demanding work or being replaced altogether. These buses are starting to show signs of their age, but isn’t that to be expected? I won’t lie; I wouldn’t expect some of them to be on frontline services in 2 year time.
As for the Omnicity, what is wrong with them? I know they have problems with rattles, but they are generally good, solid, reliable buses. Without the poor internal fittings, they would be brilliant buses.

Mercedes
From a passenger experience, theses buses are fabulous, comfortable, efficient, clean and modern. The seating layout is of social nature, and you only lose one seat. There is no problem with these vehicles at all, that is why there is so many in the fleet.

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(12 Apr 2013, 10:26 pm)tyresmoke wrote I don't think capacity is the issue on 58s, I think GNE just saw an opportunity for a cheap "upgrade" which seems to have spectacularly backfired.

Capacity is an issue, the rigid stock could not meet demands at peak times. The 58 is one of the those services which has a regular flow of passengers throughout the day, it doesn't have a particularly empty period. Yes, the busiest section is only between Newcastle and Heworth, but demand rockets at peak time, as such higher seating capacity is a requirement for this service.

(13 Apr 2013, 3:28 pm)Andreos1 wrote On a seperate note, a Scania Laser was being towed away at Herrington earlier.

(13 Apr 2013, 9:47 am)Rob wrote

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(12 Apr 2013, 10:26 pm)tyresmoke wrote I don't think capacity is the issue on 58s, I think GNE just saw an opportunity for a cheap "upgrade" which seems to have spectacularly backfired.

Capacity is an issue, the rigid stock could not meet demands at peak times. The 58 is one of the those services which has a regular flow of passengers throughout the day, it doesn't have a particularly empty period. Yes, the busiest section is only between Newcastle and Heworth, but demand rockets at peak time, as such higher seating capacity is a requirement for this service.

(13 Apr 2013, 9:40 pm)ne14ne1 wrote

(13 Apr 2013, 9:47 am)Rob wrote

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(12 Apr 2013, 10:26 pm)tyresmoke wrote I don't think capacity is the issue on 58s, I think GNE just saw an opportunity for a cheap "upgrade" which seems to have spectacularly backfired.

Capacity is an issue, the rigid stock could not meet demands at peak times. The 58 is one of the those services which has a regular flow of passengers throughout the day, it doesn't have a particularly empty period. Yes, the busiest section is only between Newcastle and Heworth, but demand rockets at peak time, as such higher seating capacity is a requirement for this service.

I agree, capacity is an issue on the Citylink 58. When I'm based in town I use the citylink morning and night - some mornings the artics are absolutely jam packed, with not even standing room available. The aisle is full from the very back all the way to the driver, the bendy bit has a crowd in and the centre and rear exit ways are fit to burst open.
Arriving at the city centre stops all 3 sets of doors open and passengers pour out - any other/new vehicle double deck or single (presumably would be single doored) would just be annoying and claustrophobic lol.
If you remember when they first arrived from London, GNE's thinking was to convert the ones allocated to CentreLink x66 services to 2-door - understandable as with it being non-stop a few extra seats were more important than boarding/alighting times - And those allocated to CityLink 58 where left as 3 doors due to being on a heavily used/stopping commuter service - plus if I remember correctly it was approaching the busy christmas shopping period when they enterd service which brings an increase in customers too.

On the Newcastle side of the service which I use along the coast road other services, especially the cobalt clipper, often run past full so it’s always a relief to see a bendy bus arriving as there’s a better chance of getting on and being able to head to work lol.
Sure it’s disappointing some of the merc artics haven't been very reliable, and one of the 58 reg examples screams horribly when turning, but I seriously would see replacing these with anything other than new 3 doored bendies would be a downgrade.

Just my opinion anyway


P.S if the X40 service gets bendies us Citylinkers are more than entitled to have them too!

(13 Apr 2013, 9:48 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote If the 58 does end up getting new buses, obvious choices are either Double Deckers or that Wright Streetcar which First have as the newer Citaro Artic I don't think is available in the UK.

(13 Apr 2013, 9:40 pm)ne14ne1 wrote

(13 Apr 2013, 9:47 am)Rob wrote

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(12 Apr 2013, 10:26 pm)tyresmoke wrote I don't think capacity is the issue on 58s, I think GNE just saw an opportunity for a cheap "upgrade" which seems to have spectacularly backfired.

Capacity is an issue, the rigid stock could not meet demands at peak times. The 58 is one of the those services which has a regular flow of passengers throughout the day, it doesn't have a particularly empty period. Yes, the busiest section is only between Newcastle and Heworth, but demand rockets at peak time, as such higher seating capacity is a requirement for this service.

I agree, capacity is an issue on the Citylink 58. When I'm based in town I use the citylink morning and night - some mornings the artics are absolutely jam packed, with not even standing room available. The aisle is full from the very back all the way to the driver, the bendy bit has a crowd in and the centre and rear exit ways are fit to burst open.
Arriving at the city centre stops all 3 sets of doors open and passengers pour out - any other/new vehicle double deck or single (presumably would be single doored) would just be annoying and claustrophobic lol.
If you remember when they first arrived from London, GNE's thinking was to convert the ones allocated to CentreLink x66 services to 2-door - understandable as with it being non-stop a few extra seats were more important than boarding/alighting times - And those allocated to CityLink 58 where left as 3 doors due to being on a heavily used/stopping commuter service - plus if I remember correctly it was approaching the busy christmas shopping period when they enterd service which brings an increase in customers too.

On the Newcastle side of the service which I use along the coast road other services, especially the cobalt clipper, often run past full so it’s always a relief to see a bendy bus arriving as there’s a better chance of getting on and being able to head to work lol.
Sure it’s disappointing some of the merc artics haven't been very reliable, and one of the 58 reg examples screams horribly when turning, but I seriously would see replacing these with anything other than new 3 doored bendies would be a downgrade.

Just my opinion anyway


P.S if the X40 service gets bendies us Citylinkers are more than entitled to have them too!

(13 Apr 2013, 10:50 pm)tyresmoke wrote I happily stand corrected on the loadings on 58s then - admittedly I live in Teesside so don't see 58s at their peaks when I visit! If its like that then I'm not even sure deckers would cope properly due to the lack of standing space, it would still need a frequency increase!

(14 Apr 2013, 2:04 pm)dave2906 wrote What do you all think of this to replace the 58/309 and 310?

METRO CENTRE DEPOT: SERVICE 58 TO WHITLEY BAY (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 20 MINUTES / EVENINGS EVERY 60 MINUTES) SERVING: HEWORTH - LEAM LANE ESTATE - SPLIT CROW ROAD - GATESHEAD METRO - PILGRIM STREET - BLACKETT STREET - ST MARY'S PLACE - CRADLEWELL - CORNER HOUSE -CHILLINGHAM ROAD - BENFIELD ROAD - COAST ROAD / STATION ROAD - BATTLE HILL DRIVE - WILLINGTON SQUARE - SILVERLINK - COBALT ATMEL - COBALT P&G - NEW YORK ROAD - NEW YORK P.O - RAKE LANE - HILLHEADS -WHITLEY BAY TOWN CENTRE

METRO CENTRE DEPOT (PERCY MAIN WILL RECOVER): SERVICE 58 TO BLYTH (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 20 MINUTES / EVENINGS EVERY 60 MINUTES AND SUNDAY DAYTIME EVERY 30 MINUTES) SERVING: HEWORTH - LEAM LANE ESTATE - SPLIT CROW ROAD - GATESHEAD METRO - PILGRIM STREET - BLACKETT STREET - ST MARY'S PLACE - CRADLEWELL - CORNER HOUSE -CHILLINGHAM ROAD - BENFIELD ROAD - COAST ROAD / STATION ROAD - BATTLE HILL DRIVE - WILLINGTON SQUARE - SILVERLINK - COBALT ATMEL - COBALT P&G - NEW YORK ROAD - NEW YORK P.O - RAKE LANE - HILLHEADS -WHITLEY BAY TOWN CENTRE - WHITLEY BAY CEMETERY - SEATON SLUICE - BLYTH TOWN CENTRE

METRO CENTRE DEPOT: SERVICE 58A TO HADRIAN PARK (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 20 MINUTES / EVENINGS EVERY 60 MINUTES) SERVING: HAYMARKET - ST MARY'S PLACE - CRADLEWELL - CORNER HOUSE -CHILLINGHAM ROAD - BENFIELD ROAD - COAST ROAD / STATION ROAD - STATION ROAD NORTH - MULLEN ROAD - BATTLE HILL DRIVE - HADRIAN PARK

PERCY MAIN DEPOT: SERVICE 58B TO NORTH SHIELDS (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 20 MINUTES) SERVING: HAYMARKET - ST MARY'S PLACE - CRADLEWELL - CORNER HOUSE -CHILLINGHAM ROAD - BENFIELD ROAD - COAST ROAD / STATION ROAD - STATION ROAD NORTH - MULLEN ROAD - BATTLE HILL DRIVE - POLICE STATION - COBALT SOUTH - MIDDLE ENGINE LANE - NORHAM ROAD - VERNE ROAD - QUADRANT - MEADOWELL - NORTH SHIELDS

PERCY MAIN DEPOT: SERVICE 58B TO NORTH SHIELDS (EVENINGS EVERY 60 MINUTES AND SUNDAY DAYTIME EVERY 30 MINUTES) SERVING: HAYMARKET - ST MARY'S PLACE - CRADLEWELL - CORNER HOUSE -CHILLINGHAM ROAD - BENFIELD ROAD - COAST ROAD / STATION ROAD - STATION ROAD NORTH - MULLEN ROAD - BATTLE HILL DRIVE - HADRIAN PARK - POLICE STATION - COBALT SOUTH - MIDDLE ENGINE LANE - NORHAM ROAD - VERNE ROAD - QUADRANT - MEADOWELL - NORTH SHIELDS

(12 Apr 2013, 8:39 pm)Daniel wrote Two rumoured (although unconfirmed) demonstrator vehicles - soon to hit the streets..!

- One for Stanley, in addition to the current Versa in the fleet. No service confirmed for this rumour, as of yet. If I remember from the conversation last night, it's a Streetlite.
- Another for Gateshead, to be used on service 58. Vehicle type unconfirmed.

(14 Apr 2013, 9:29 pm)ne14ne1 wrote If it really is a Streetlite I just don't get why they'd think about testing it out on a service normally operated by high capacity articulated vehicles.

(15 Apr 2013, 6:26 pm)Michael wrote Does they normally use deckers on the 15/15A.

'Cobalt Connect is a fast and frequent bus service running up to every 15 mins Monday to Friday daytimes, serving Cobalt Business Park, Silverlink Shopping Park, Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate and Royal Quays.'

(16 Apr 2013, 6:14 am)nk55 wrote must be nice to have the option between a corporate bus pass and the car!!.