I’m not sure if ‘initial’ really does mean all 34 double decks.


Red Kite and Toon Link (which would also involve Riverside) being upgraded to full double deck, yes.
Durham diamond, no

(29 May 2019, 3:46 pm)JP6004 wrote Maybe they evaluating for X21 as they don't seem to cope very well on the long route

I think the Streetdecks on the X21 cope fine for most of the journey, it's just the high speed parts that it struggles with, but to me that seems more like a gearbox issue rather than an engine issue, on the A1 it just screams for an extra gear

(30 May 2019, 2:16 am)Rapidsnap wrote The Streetdeck is available in low height form as Oxford Bus Company has a fleet of them due to the low bridge at the Railway Station.

Here is a pair of them https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/36306406476

That thing looks like they've just stuck the top of a Metrodecker onto a Streetdeck, it just looks wrong.

(30 May 2019, 10:23 am)streetdeckfan wrote

I think the Streetdecks on the X21 cope fine for most of the journey, it's just the high speed parts that it struggles with, but to me that seems more like a gearbox issue rather than an engine issue, on the A1 it just screams for an extra gear

That thing looks like they've just stuck the top of a Metrodecker onto a Streetdeck, it just looks wrong.

Believe that as part of the latest Steetdeck order, Wrightbus have agreed to a major re-work programme to the existing Streetdeck batches - which covers both mechanical upgrades and through the continued software upgrades that Go North East are already receiving. This gives the ordered 6cyl Streetdeck a bit more purpose in covering depots where needed.

(30 May 2019, 10:37 am)RBZ 5459 wrote

Believe that as part of the latest Steetdeck order, Wrightbus have agreed to a major re-work programme to the existing Streetdeck batches - which covers both mechanical upgrades and through the continued software upgrades that Go North East are already receiving. This gives the ordered 6cyl Streetdeck a bit more purpose in covering depots where needed.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see how much of an improvement the 6 cylinder will be, but for routes like the 21, the 4 cylinder seems (from a passenger's perspective anyway) more than up to the task.

I just think that the X21 would have been better suited to the 6 speed rather than the 4 speed, the B5TLs have a 4 cylinder with similar power but it doesn't seem to struggle at higher speeds. Although it sounds so much more unrefined than the Streetdecks even at the higher speeds even if it isn't screaming!

(30 May 2019, 7:25 pm)L469 YVK wrote Mentioning the Toon Links, have passenger numbers grown to a point where deckers need allocated?

Peak times are good imo. But I think it’s down to wanting to grow numbers, I hope there’s changes to journey times. Like the route through white-le-head that very rarely picks anyone up. Would be canny if the service got to Lobley hill and then went non stop to Newcastle with passengers for Gateshead changing on to the 97 at Lobley Hill, won’t happen of course.

(30 May 2019, 7:43 pm)Stanleyone wrote

Peak times are good imo. But I think it’s down to wanting to grow numbers, I hope there’s changes to journey times. Like the route through white-le-head that very rarely picks anyone up. Would be canny if the service got to Lobley hill and then went non stop to Newcastle with passengers for Gateshead changing on to the 97 at Lobley Hill, won’t happen of course.

So in terms of wanting to 'grow passenger numbers', we can take it that the 6/X30/X31/X70/X71 will be receiving an upgrade to deckers then?

(30 May 2019, 8:28 pm)L469 YVK wrote

So in terms of wanting to 'grow passenger numbers', we can take it that the 6/X30/X31/X70/X71 will be receiving an upgrade to deckers then?

X30 I think we have gathered are to receive the E400s.

6 I really don’t know.

X31/X70/X71 if the X31 moves to Consett operation, which with some swapping of times of X30/X31, then the X31/X70/X71 could be operated together (X70-X31-X71) under the Xlines brand. But as for an upgrade, nothing mentioned internally, however sure it’s been said the 15 plate streetlites will leave Consett but not the 66 plate Diamonds (sadly).

(30 May 2019, 8:45 pm)Stanleyone wrote

X30 I think we have gathered are to receive the E400s.

6 I really don’t know.

X31/X70/X71 if the X31 moves to Consett operation, which with some swapping of times of X30/X31, then the X31/X70/X71 could be operated together (X70-X31-X71) under the Xlines brand. But as for an upgrade, nothing mentioned internally, however sure it’s been said the 15 plate streetlites will leave Consett but not the 66 plate Diamonds (sadly).

So looking at the above, I take it the following could happen (taking into account the 3x ex PB StreetLites):

- 14x + 2x spare StreetDecks for Consett (45/46/47)

- 8x StreetLites for 58

- 5x StreetLites for Blaydon Racers

- 1x StreetLite Riverside spare

- 8x Versas (plus another sourced) for 93/94

- **8x Mercs for 6/X31 (when next batch of deckers are delivered allowing 6100 to become part of Cobalt & Coast PVR with older B9s acting as spares)**

**Not saying that 57 will get curtailed and not personally for or against such thing but if GNE are looking for extra vehicles and the opportunity to simplify the network & reduce PVR, then it could be a possibility.

Will 6118-21 remain with GNE or move to EYMS? If they stay with GNE, I can see them ending up on the 15/15A.

I might be totally wrong but I've been browsing this forum for years but surely it would make sense for

6118-21 to go to Percy Main for the 1/1A
and
6 (I think) Streetlites for the 19 and anything else that uses full size singles - not sure how many would be needed.

Then send the Omnicity's to Riverside / Chester Le Street with the rest of them to see off the L94's there to keep them together.

The fact that the 19 hasn't been branded as part of the little coasters and the fact 5419 was there on Friday / Saturday (I got it on the 19 - not sure it's still there) would suggest there's plans for them to go there at some point plus it makes sense as it upgrades it to Euro 5 and stops the mixed allocation currently which can't be fully minibus because of it interworking with misc contracts.

(30 May 2019, 9:31 pm)Zimba wrote

I might be totally wrong but I've been browsing this forum for years but surely it would make sense for

6118-21 to go to Percy Main for the 1/1A
and
6 (I think) Streetlites for the 19 and anything else that uses full size singles - not sure how many would be needed.

Then send the Omnicity's to Riverside / Chester Le Street with the rest of them to see off the L94's there to keep them together.

The fact that the 19 hasn't been branded as part of the little coasters and the fact 5419 was there on Friday / Saturday (I got it on the 19 - not sure it's still there) would suggest there's plans for them to go there at some point plus it makes sense as it upgrades it to Euro 5 and stops the mixed allocation currently which can't be fully minibus because of it interworking with misc contracts.

Highly unlikely Streetlites will go on 19

(30 May 2019, 7:43 pm)Stanleyone wrote

Peak times are good imo. But I think it’s down to wanting to grow numbers, I hope there’s changes to journey times. Like the route through white-le-head that very rarely picks anyone up. Would be canny if the service got to Lobley hill and then went non stop to Newcastle with passengers for Gateshead changing on to the 97 at Lobley Hill, won’t happen of course.

It won't happen because people don't like changing bus in some random place that they don't know.

(30 May 2019, 10:32 pm)NewcastleOne wrote

Highly unlikely Streetlites will go on 19

It will have to keep some full size singles though for peak times and miscellaneous ops (392,442,673,679 and 680 are operated by these) unless 19 is downgraded and more deckers end up at percy main.

NEW BUSES

3x Toon Link E400 for X30 (6180-82)

7x (taller) Toon Link E400s for X31/70/71 (6183-89)

14x (taller) E400 for Red Kites 45/6/7 (6190-6203)

3x (taller) E400 for 15 (6203-05)

3x E400 Spares at Consett (6206-08)

3x streetdeck Spare Streetdecks (2x for Crook relasing 6332 to CLS for code numbers, 1x to CLS)(6334-7)

11x E200 Connections 4 at Washington (Omni for backup)(5488-5498)

CASCADES-

637-39 TO Consett for Venture (plus 689)

722 to Deptford as Backup

5234-42,5267-74 to CLS for 28/A,34/A and 71 (Inc 1x backup)

5275-82,5293-97 to Green Arrow 97 (Remain at Riverside)

5358-5368 to Deptford for 35/A

5409-11 remain at Consett as backups for all routes.

5412-16 to Percy Main for 19 (1x backup)

5417-19 to Riverside with 5420,40/41 for Toon Link 6 (inc back up streetlites)

5481-84 to Deptford as backups for 9 and 35/A

5485-87 to Riverside Backup for all Merc Routes

6118-21 to Percy Main for 327

6149-58 to Riverside for 57 (inc 1x Backup)

6158-6161 to Percy Main as Back Up for 1/A,309/310 (allowing 6069 and 6100 to go into Coaster)

8294-8300,8319-8324 to Riverside for 33/A,64/95,93/94 (Inc 1 backup)

WITHDRAWING-

All GNE solars

This therefore keeps-

-all E400s at Consett

-1/1A all D/Deck buses

-all Versas at Riverside

-all omnicities between CLS and Washington

-X21 dedicated spares

-19,33/A,35/A,64/95 and 93/4 all get upgrades

-withdraw all solars.

Happy days for all involved

(01 Jun 2019, 10:34 pm)JM03 wrote

It will have to keep some full size singles though for peak times and miscellaneous ops (392,442,673,679 and 680 are operated by these) unless 19 is downgraded and more deckers end up at percy main.

NEW BUSES

3x Toon Link E400 for X30 (6180-82)

7x (taller) Toon Link E400s for X31/70/71 (6183-89)

14x (taller) E400 for Red Kites 45/6/7 (6190-6203)

3x (taller) E400 for 15 (6203-05)

3x E400 Spares at Consett (6206-08)

3x streetdeck Spare Streetdecks (2x for Crook relasing 6332 to CLS for code numbers, 1x to CLS)(6334-7)

11x E200 Connections 4 at Washington (Omni for backup)(5488-5498)

CASCADES-

637-39 TO Consett for Venture (plus 689)

722 to Deptford as Backup

5234-42,5267-74 to CLS for 28/A,34/A and 71 (Inc 1x backup)

5275-82,5293-97 to Green Arrow 97 (Remain at Riverside)

5358-5368 to Deptford for 35/A

5409-11 remain at Consett as backups for all routes.

5412-16 to Percy Main for 19 (1x backup)

5417-19 to Riverside with 5420,40/41 for Toon Link 6 (inc back up streetlites)

5481-84 to Deptford as backups for 9 and 35/A

5485-87 to Riverside Backup for all Merc Routes

6118-21 to Percy Main for 327

6149-58 to Riverside for 57 (inc 1x Backup)

6158-6161 to Percy Main as Back Up for 1/A,309/310 (allowing 6069 and 6100 to go into Coaster)

8294-8300,8319-8324 to Riverside for 33/A,64/95,93/94 (Inc 1 backup)

WITHDRAWING-

All GNE solars

This therefore keeps-

-all E400s at Consett

-1/1A all D/Deck buses

-all Versas at Riverside

-all omnicities between CLS and Washington

-X21 dedicated spares

-19,33/A,35/A,64/95 and 93/4 all get upgrades

-withdraw all solars.

Happy days for all involved

From what I've seen of the 71 since the changes, even a Solo would be too big!

Omnis are overkill.

(01 Jun 2019, 10:34 pm)JM03 wrote

It will have to keep some full size singles though for peak times and miscellaneous ops (392,442,673,679 and 680 are operated by these) unless 19 is downgraded and more deckers end up at percy main.

NEW BUSES

3x Toon Link E400 for X30 (6180-82)

7x (taller) Toon Link E400s for X31/70/71 (6183-89)

14x (taller) E400 for Red Kites 45/6/7 (6190-6203)

3x (taller) E400 for 15 (6203-05)

3x E400 Spares at Consett (6206-08)

3x streetdeck Spare Streetdecks (2x for Crook relasing 6332 to CLS for code numbers, 1x to CLS)(6334-7)

11x E200 Connections 4 at Washington (Omni for backup)(5488-5498)

CASCADES-

637-39 TO Consett for Venture (plus 689)

722 to Deptford as Backup

5234-42,5267-74 to CLS for 28/A,34/A and 71 (Inc 1x backup)

5275-82,5293-97 to Green Arrow 97 (Remain at Riverside)

5358-5368 to Deptford for 35/A

5409-11 remain at Consett as backups for all routes.

5412-16 to Percy Main for 19 (1x backup)

5417-19 to Riverside with 5420,40/41 for Toon Link 6 (inc back up streetlites)

5481-84 to Deptford as backups for 9 and 35/A

5485-87 to Riverside Backup for all Merc Routes

6118-21 to Percy Main for 327

6149-58 to Riverside for 57 (inc 1x Backup)

6158-6161 to Percy Main as Back Up for 1/A,309/310 (allowing 6069 and 6100 to go into Coaster)

8294-8300,8319-8324 to Riverside for 33/A,64/95,93/94 (Inc 1 backup)

WITHDRAWING-

All GNE solars

This therefore keeps-

-all E400s at Consett

-1/1A all D/Deck buses

-all Versas at Riverside

-all omnicities between CLS and Washington

-X21 dedicated spares

-19,33/A,35/A,64/95 and 93/4 all get upgrades

-withdraw all solars.

Happy days for all involved

Once again I don’t think the Streetlites will go to PM although if a full size was to go the other way then possibly the E4 Citaros.

E200s are not for Washington as it is said they aren’t getting any new vehicles. I think someone has guessed the 97/97a to get them and with current 9076 trailing on it, it looks a possibility.

I've got a thought here. Could the 15x double decks on order (including the evaluation StreetDeck) not be to replace the B5TLs on the X9/X10 and also the StreetDecks on the Castles Express with a more reliable vehicle? This would then mean that either the 56 could be upgraded with a PVR of 13x + 1x spare (albeit a mixed fleet allocation) or 1x type could be coupled with newer examples (most likely 6301-07) with the other type going to another Go Ahead subsidiary.

(07 Jun 2019, 7:59 pm)L469 YVK wrote

I've got a thought here. Could the 15x double decks on order (including the evaluation StreetDeck) not be to replace the B5TLs on the X9/X10 and also the StreetDecks on the Castles Express with a more reliable vehicle? This would then mean that either the 56 could be upgraded with a PVR of 13x + 1x spare (albeit a mixed fleet allocation) or 1x type could be coupled with newer examples (most likely 6301-07) with the other type going to another Go Ahead subsidiary.

Why would GNE send 3yo dockers to another subsidiary when theres plenty deckers over 16yrs that need replacing.

Also the deckers on these routes are only 2 and 3 year old. Surely service like X1 or X70/X71 would benefit from new vehicles allowing a number of older deckers to be withdrawn

(07 Jun 2019, 7:59 pm)L469 YVK wrote

I've got a thought here. Could the 15x double decks on order (including the evaluation StreetDeck) not be to replace the B5TLs on the X9/X10 and also the StreetDecks on the Castles Express with a more reliable vehicle? This would then mean that either the 56 could be upgraded with a PVR of 13x + 1x spare (albeit a mixed fleet allocation) or 1x type could be coupled with newer examples (most likely 6301-07) with the other type going to another Go Ahead subsidiary.

Thought it was confirmed that X21 wasn’t getting new vehicles

(07 Jun 2019, 8:56 pm)NewcastleOne wrote

Thought it was confirmed that X21 wasn’t getting new vehicles

Not at the moment maybe but what if the allocation of the 15x remaining deckers after the Red Kites hasn't been decided yet? Surely GNE will want to reduce the number of breakdowns & lost mileage on these routes by allocating a more suitable vehicle type.

- 8x new deckers for Castles Express

- 7x new deckers for X9 / X10

- 6301-07 & 6308-14 to Deptford for 56 (incl 1x spare)

- 6085-92 to Riverside for 6/X31

- 6093 to Riverside as spare

- 6094-98 to Hownsgill for X70/X71

- 6099 to Percy Main as additional spare

(08 Jun 2019, 9:29 am)L469 YVK wrote

Not at the moment maybe but what if the allocation of the 15x remaining deckers after the Red Kites hasn't been decided yet? Surely GNE will want to reduce the number of breakdowns & lost mileage on these routes by allocating a more suitable vehicle type.

- 8x new deckers for Castles Express

- 7x new deckers for X9 / X10

- 6301-07 & 6308-14 to Deptford for 56 (incl 1x spare)

- 6085-92 to Riverside for 6/X31

- 6093 to Riverside as spare

- 6094-98 to Hownsgill for X70/X71

- 6099 to Percy Main as additional spare

I don't see there being a more suitable vehicle type to the X9 X10 that isn't a coach. The B5s do a good job most of the time, it's a shame that there's always one needing work, but I don't think you're going to solve that by replacing new double deckers with even newer ones.

I would say there's probably a similar story with the X21. It's one of those routes where you need bulletproof engines for day in - day out business. I'd say an increase in maintenance is the way forward, rather than spending countless thousands on new buses, which will inevitably end up like the current lot. Less spending on new stuff, more spent making the current lot more reliable.

(08 Jun 2019, 1:33 pm)Jamie M wrote

I don't see there being a more suitable vehicle type to the X9 X10 that isn't a coach. The B5s do a good job most of the time, it's a shame that there's always one needing work, but I don't think you're going to solve that by replacing new double deckers with even newer ones.

I would say there's probably a similar story with the X21. It's one of those routes where you need bulletproof engines for day in - day out business. I'd say an increase in maintenance is the way forward, rather than spending countless thousands on new buses, which will inevitably end up like the current lot. Less spending on new stuff, more spent making the current lot more reliable.

Agree - what both services need, in my opinion, is a dedicated spare vehicle of the same specification.

Clearly 6332 has served this purpose at Crook for some time now, although now forms part of the PVR at Crook itself. I'd say things seemed to go much smoothly once 6332 was made available as the preferred spare vehicle for the X21.

(08 Jun 2019, 1:35 pm)Dan wrote

Agree - what both services need, in my opinion, is a dedicated spare vehicle of the same specification.

Clearly 6332 has served this purpose at Crook for some time now, although now forms part of the PVR at Crook itself. I'd say things seemed to go much smoothly once 6332 was made available as the preferred spare vehicle for the X21.

Need more spares full stop. But I can't see it happening. Buses sitting around doing nowt some days is no good to a business!

(08 Jun 2019, 2:00 pm)Jamie M wrote

Need more spares full stop. But I can't see it happening. Buses sitting around doing nowt some days is no good to a business!

But does come in handy when the metro goes down.

(10 Jun 2019, 2:46 pm)Dan wrote A sneak-peak of the liveries for some of the double-decks on order this year:
https://twitter.com/MartijnGNE/status/1138085357373841409

Have to say it does look impressive. Take it from this some of the streetdecks are for toonlink X30/X70/X71, E400 for X31 and rest for red kite?

Some interesting Photos of the 31 new Streetdecks on order - various  photos of colour themes based on X Lines branding featured on  Martijn Gilbert's twiiter page:

https://twitter.com/MartijnGNE

"Further to us announcing details to our colleagues earlier this year, today we’ve officially announced our order for 31x Wrights StreetDecks (1 of which will be the UK's first with Daimler's 6-cylinder engine), 3x ADL E400’s and 11x E200’s for @gonortheast due from Sept onwards"

(10 Jun 2019, 3:13 pm)Venturego wrote

Some interesting Photos of the 31 new Streetdecks on order - various  photos of colour themes based on X Lines branding featured on  Martijn Gilbert's twiiter page:

https://twitter.com/MartijnGNE

The E400 certaintly suits the XLines livery better than the Streetdeck, in fact it manages to make the Streetdeck look ugly, which is a first for me! Plus, I think them rounding off the window on the stairs just doesn't go with the front end styling, it's supposed to be angular!

So much for Martijn hating vinyls on the windows, maybe they should have just cut the Milennium Bridge and part of the X off!

(10 Jun 2019, 3:31 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

The E400 certaintly suits the XLines livery better than the Streetdeck, in fact it manages to make the Streetdeck look ugly, which is a first for me! Plus, I think them rounding off the window on the stairs just doesn't go with the front end styling, it's supposed to be angular!

So much for Martijn hating vinyls on the windows, maybe they should have just cut the Milennium Bridge and part of the X off!

Maybe no one will stand on the stairs and have the vinyl blocking their view ?

(10 Jun 2019, 3:31 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

The E400 certaintly suits the XLines livery better than the Streetdeck, in fact it manages to make the Streetdeck look ugly, which is a first for me! Plus, I think them rounding off the window on the stairs just doesn't go with the front end styling, it's supposed to be angular!

So much for Martijn hating vinyls on the windows, maybe they should have just cut the Milennium Bridge and part of the X off!

(10 Jun 2019, 3:31 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

The E400 certaintly suits the XLines livery better than the Streetdeck, in fact it manages to make the Streetdeck look ugly, which is a first for me! Plus, I think them rounding off the window on the stairs just doesn't go with the front end styling, it's supposed to be angular!

So much for Martijn hating vinyls on the windows, maybe they should have just cut the Milennium Bridge and part of the X off!

The rounding off is done by vinyl

(10 Jun 2019, 3:42 pm)Michael wrote 100% agree on that it suits the E400's

The E400 seems to be rendered in higher spec than the streetdeck. Notice how dull the wheels are and lack of reflection in the windows. Also the colour not as vibrant on streetdeck