(09 Jan 2026, 10:47 am)WestDurhamSwift wrote 6182 is the latest Voyager to be withdrawn! Only 3 remaining 

I wonder what else consett will remove from line services with the introduction of  the new deckers

(09 Jan 2026, 11:37 am)ouston man wrote I wonder what else consett will remove from line services with the introduction of  the new deckers

I imagine the 3 remaining voyagers, total of 4 gone. 

5/6 of the new Wright buses going onto the X45 with the 5/6 of the Enviro 400 becoming part of the other Xline services PVR I imagine. 

Assuming cascades from Riverside will help withdrawn the Ex Manchester Geminis.

Has anyone any photos of the new deckers up at consett please.

(09 Jan 2026, 2:35 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote I imagine the 3 remaining voyagers, total of 4 gone. 

5/6 of the new Wright buses going onto the X45 with the 5/6 of the Enviro 400 becoming part of the other Xline services PVR I imagine. 

Assuming cascades from Riverside will help withdrawn the Ex Manchester Geminis.

You'd imagine nearly 50 of the oldest buses will be withdrawn, and the fleet outliers like the Optare deckers will be gone. Maybe even some of the second hand Streetlites they've brought in recently, although that's just wishful thinking for me.

(09 Jan 2026, 2:35 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote I imagine the 3 remaining voyagers, total of 4 gone. 

5/6 of the new Wright buses going onto the X45 with the 5/6 of the Enviro 400 becoming part of the other Xline services PVR I imagine. 

Assuming cascades from Riverside will help withdrawn the Ex Manchester Geminis.

X45 currently is technically allcoated anything and everything - as there's not enough E400MMC to cover the X30/X70 PVR and X45 PVR as well as sufficient spares.

For the E400MMC, either:

- Consett get 6352-55; which alongside 6338-51 would be enough to cover the X30s/X70s; X5/X15 and 4x spare

or.........

- X5/X15 get B9TLs

- X30s/X70s get mixed double & single allocations with the surplus E200MMC from the X66, and 3x or 4x E400MMC spare. This means 11x or 12x E400MMC stay at Consett

- 4x or 5x E400MMC move to Riverside alongside 6352-55 and get allocated for the X21 - due to the current X1 StreetDecks not being enough to cover the 56 PVR + spares.

(09 Jan 2026, 2:35 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote I imagine the 3 remaining voyagers, total of 4 gone. 

5/6 of the new Wright buses going onto the X45 with the 5/6 of the Enviro 400 becoming part of the other Xline services PVR I imagine. 

Assuming cascades from Riverside will help withdrawn the Ex Manchester Geminis.

Think it depends what is running the 56 and/or X21 since there's not enough buses from Washington to do the 56 without taking some of the X21 allocation. 

I don't know why but I have feeling those ones going to Consett but were meant to be for the X21 but they've been diverted to shut some people up.

There's also the B5TL's to go somewhere.

Maybe all the 70 Plates might end up at Sunderland with the B5TL's going in the opposite direction for the X21 again, with the more powerful one (forgot it's number) and the 2 spare new ones making up the PVR?

Who knows tbh, could guess all day really.

(09 Jan 2026, 7:41 pm)Storx wrote Think it depends what is running the 56 and/or X21 since there's not enough buses from Washington to do the 56 without taking some of the X21 allocation. 

I don't know why but I have feeling those ones going to Consett but were meant to be for the X21 but they've been diverted to shut some people up.

I second the last statement. 

Unless for a specialist purpose such as the X10, X93 etc, it makes far more sense having the same individual vehicle type allocated to one depot if enough PVR to cover use unless part of a bigger batch or PVRs aren't big enough at one depot. Blyth did it with the Cityzens and have mostly done that with the DB300s.

Plus, unless the Ultroliners are used on the Sunday 47, X15 or 16B boards - they'll be sort of wasted at Consett.

(09 Jan 2026, 7:46 pm)L469 YVK wrote I second the last statement. 

Unless for a specialist purpose such as the X10, X93 etc, it makes far more sense having the same individual vehicle type allocated to one depot if enough PVR to cover use unless part of a bigger batch or PVRs aren't big enough at one depot. Blyth did it with the Cityzens and have mostly done that with the DB300s.

Plus, unless the Ultroliners are used on the Sunday 47, X15 or 16B boards - they'll be sort of wasted at Consett.

Yeah definitely, mind it seems like they've been diverted from Deptford to shut Washington up aswell as it seems like they were very much going on the 56 at some point. Probably not a co-incidence either considering these two depots were the two most impacted by bus shortages.

Where the other 11 were meant to go originally who knows, X45/47 maybe?

That probably would've been a better upgrade aswell imo as it's improving routes which are running around with old vehicles, rather than replacing the newest vehicles in the fleet and it's not like those 3 routes are basketcase routes.

I really don't understand why the 47 is being treat like the underdog of the X45 anyway, these two badly need to renumbered as adjoining numbers and advertised as the 15 minute service which they are, it's just an own goal not doing it.

(09 Jan 2026, 8:11 pm)Storx wrote Yeah definitely, mind it seems like they've been diverted from Deptford to shut Washington up aswell as it seems like they were very much going on the 56 at some point. Probably not a co-incidence either considering these two depots were the two most impacted by bus shortages.

To be fair, I'd say the X1 is a sensible route for the Cummins Ultroliners.

As for the 56, who knows with the StreetDecks - but like the 309/310(307), it was targeted for GKN modifications back in 2014/15. So maybe StreetDecks will be okay if looked after and appropriate spare vehicles.

Not being funny or anything but

56/60/20/20A have all had the same buses for over a decade, 12 years and theyre some of the busiest routes Deptford has had no investment since 2016.

Consett full fleet of StreetDecks & E400MMC, X10 Coaches, X1 Full Fleet of StreetDecks, 53/54 Brand New Buses.

In 2020 there should have been an order to replace the 56/60 & 20/20A and 21/X21 & X10/4

This would have went that the Angels could go onto the 10/10A/10B + 16/16A, X21 Buses could have went onto the 58, City Riders could go on the Loop/51/52.

Drifters could have been used to replace the older Citaros much earlier for the 35.

20/20A StreetDecks could have been used for 49/49A letting the 17 plates go onto 1. 6301-7 could have stayed on the 50.

4 Mercedes could have been sent onto 2/2A

Also, GNE could do with reviewing thhe X30 / X70 interworking patterns.

If GNE did the following, this would straightaway reduce the low-height PVR to 8x vehicles and no major changes other than Shield Row benefiting from the Gateshead link rather than East Stanley.

- X30 - does the current daytime X32 route between Sunniside and Newcastle instead of via Whickham & Dunston. Interworks with X73 to give links from Catchgate and Annfield Plain to Team Valley North & Gateshead.

Note that the route change above would allow sufficient running time taking into account interworking with the X73.

- X31 - no change.

- X32 - does current evening & Sunday X30 route via Shield Row, Whickham and Dunston.

- X70/X71/X72/X73 - No change.

Interworkings
X31/X70/X71 - PVR 8x
X30/X73 - PVR 4x

The fundermental issues with buses

for people who dont drive -
- the bus turns up

people that drive
- features USB Wires
- Tables
- Nice Look
- Comferable

NO one is getting abus when they drive when you get EX London, crap buses that are freezer (6335 especially I froze on that )

(09 Jan 2026, 8:16 pm)L469 YVK wrote To be fair, I'd say the X1 is a sensible route for the Cummins Ultroliners.

As for the 56, who knows with the StreetDecks - but like the 309/310(307), it was targeted for GKN modifications back in 2014/15. So maybe StreetDecks will be okay if looked after and appropriate spare vehicles.

Just seems a bit unfair, as someone has gone into more detail below.

Percy Main (last 2013*) and Deptford (last 2016*) haven't had a new bus for years now and again are missing out while the same routes are getting the stuff again.

It's not like these depots are running around with junk routes, there's some busy routes here which deserve something - you'd think they'd prioritise both aswell considering Arriva and Stagecoach are both investing (assuming some of the new Blyth buses end up on the 306/308) or have invested in routes which compete against them. The 16/X24, in particular, are wiping out Chester Road and the response is cuts and second hand Streetlite's from god knows where...

Just seems a bit backwards.

*I'm not counting buses which left and returned.

i followed a one of the 10.8m non GNE new streelites along chester road near penshaw,

14mph in a 60 (no it didnt stop at the bus stop at Penshaw [god i wish it did])

(09 Jan 2026, 7:41 pm)Storx wrote Think it depends what is running the 56 and/or X21 since there's not enough buses from Washington to do the 56 without taking some of the X21 allocation.  

I don't know why but I have feeling those ones going to Consett but were meant to be for the X21 but they've been diverted to shut some people up.

There's also the B5TL's to go somewhere.

Maybe all the 70 Plates might end up at Sunderland with the B5TL's going in the opposite direction for the X21 again, with the more powerful one (forgot it's number) and the 2 spare new ones making up the PVR?

Who knows tbh, could guess all day really.

That's assuming there's a like for like swap and not a PVR decrease somewhere.

The fleet has been getting smaller for years and I can't see it stopping any time soon.

(09 Jan 2026, 9:31 pm)Andreos1 wrote That's assuming there's a like for like swap and not a PVR decrease somewhere.

The fleet has been getting smaller for years and I can't see it stopping any time soon.

Yeah that's true mind, wouldn't put it past them at all - end of the 56 BSIP funds and it going back to every 15 minutes wouldn't be totally unexpected, for one, tbh.

(09 Jan 2026, 8:23 pm)Unber43 wrote In 2020 there should have been an order to replace the 56/60 & 20/20A and 21/X21 & X10/4

This would have went that the Angels could go onto the 10/10A/10B + 16/16A, X21 Buses could have went onto the 58, City Riders could go on the Loop/51/52.

Drifters could have been used to replace the older Citaros much earlier for the 35.

20/20A StreetDecks could have been used for 49/49A letting the 17 plates go onto 1. 6301-7 could have stayed on the 50.

4 Mercedes could have been sent onto 2/2A

I’m not trying to be arsey here but any order made in 2020 would have been cancelled and largely unaffordable for the following years. It would haves been financial suicide. We’re only getting this new stock thanks to taxpayers picking up the bill and making some other investments affordable

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(09 Jan 2026, 8:23 pm)Unber43 wrote In 2020 there should have been an order to replace the 56/60 & 20/20A and 21/X21 & X10/4

This would have went that the Angels could go onto the 10/10A/10B + 16/16A, X21 Buses could have went onto the 58, City Riders could go on the Loop/51/52.

Drifters could have been used to replace the older Citaros much earlier for the 35.

20/20A StreetDecks could have been used for 49/49A letting the 17 plates go onto 1. 6301-7 could have stayed on the 50.

4 Mercedes could have been sent onto 2/2A

I’m not trying to be arsey here but any order made in 2020 would have been cancelled and largely unaffordable for the following years. It would haves been financial suicide. We’re only getting this new stock thanks to taxpayers picking up the bill and making some other investments affordable

3942 now withdrawn

(12 Jan 2026, 6:32 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote 3942 now withdrawn

Sad times seeing these workhorses being withdrawn from service after almost 20 years, hopefully 1 or 2 go into preservation.

(12 Jan 2026, 6:45 pm)Malarkey wrote Sad times seeing these workhorses being withdrawn from service after almost 20 years, hopefully 1 or 2 go into preservation.

Really is. Prime example of a fantastic bus which has aged gracefully.

The remaining 3 seem to be allocated to the X66 daily.

(12 Jan 2026, 7:26 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote Really is. Prime example of a fantastic bus which has aged gracefully.

The remaining 3 seem to be allocated to the X66 daily.

Should've ordered x4 Electroliners for the X66 as the Deckers are constantly allocated and have been for months.

Proper epic buses those Volvo B7TL, shame there were only ever those 7 Gemini 1 new to GNE and not from London. Love the 05 plate ones especially with their interior.

Looks like 6396 out on X1

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Sorry wrong thread have put in the new buses one

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(09 Jan 2026, 8:28 pm)Storx wrote Just seems a bit unfair, as someone has gone into more detail below.

Percy Main (last 2013*) and Deptford (last 2016*) haven't had a new bus for years now and again are missing out while the same routes are getting the stuff again.

It's not like these depots are running around with junk routes, there's some busy routes here which deserve something - you'd think they'd prioritise both aswell considering Arriva and Stagecoach are both investing (assuming some of the new Blyth buses end up on the 306/308) or have invested in routes which compete against them. The 16/X24, in particular, are wiping out Chester Road and the response is cuts and second hand Streetlite's from god knows where...

Just seems a bit backwards.

*I'm not counting buses which left and returned.

I couldn't agree more . I regularly use Deptford services which are constantly jerky ( no fault of driver) uncomfortable streetlites. Its a relief when a solar sometimes turns up although uncomfortable if busy. Ive said a few times already those streetdecks off the X1 are not an upgrade for me ( only newer) and I can see them being a bit of a disaster on the 56. Bit of may be proven wrong. I get the uniforms approach of buses in depots but I think Deptford depot is a case of uniformed to far !!!!

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