(14 Jul 2015, 7:52 pm)Jimmi wrote The moment you have all been waiting for... It's my review of my ride on Enviro 400 MMC 9109. I rode it from Newcastle - Bishop Auckland so got to sample it on the whole route.

I found this bus to be a fairly smooth ride, it didn't seem as juddery as the E400's Arriva use on the 7 that I am used to. I found the bus performed okay in terms of performance however going down the A1(M) it has to be said it didn't feel that fast, don't get me wrong it wasn't slow but it didn't feel like it was thundering down here, it's possible that it could have maybe gone faster and this may have just been the speed the driver chose to drive down the A1(M). Didn't get much experience of it on hills as there actually isn't that many and when we did go up them we had roadworks and traffic so that slowed us down a bit. Overall I thought the performance was okay.

In regards to the interior I thought the seats were extremely comfortable, even the one at the front which is a sort of a bench was pretty comfortable. Wasn't sure about the heating / aircon, if you were sat on the front seat on the drivers side upstairs the aircon would give you a cool head. Unlike some Enviro 400's there was no rattling or anything like that.

Overall I quite enjoyed my ride on this and think they would do alright if they were bought for this service... although we all know that the X21 is getting the Red Arrows B9s

To be fair, the performance could be down to the driver. I've been on both B9s and E400s (remember 7524) where the drivers have either been relaxed or running deliberately late (7524).

(14 Jul 2015, 8:20 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote To be fair, the performance could be down to the driver. I've been on both B9s and E400s (remember 7524) where the drivers have either been relaxed or running deliberately late (7524).

Haha, I remember that conversation/discussion actually, and since then, I've only ever seen it more than 5 minutes late once, that was on a peak time run, even drivers that aren't usually bang on time seem to be on time with that, whenever I get it it's usually 'on time', the only 14 plate one I see late frequently is 7522, with the rest generally on time, however at least three didn't have tracking as of last week...

On a different, completely not related to GNE, but sort of related to the discussion, note, Ashington have worked wonders with the 57 plate batch, like, the one's I've been on in the past two weeks have flown, so relating this to GNE, I reckon E400's will be a good buy, as long as they're at a depot that actually looks after their buses....

(14 Jul 2015, 8:13 pm)Dan wrote Assuming things are nice and simple and there aren't any replacements, the departures from Bishop Auckland are as follows:
0647, 1004, 1304, 1608

Similarly from Newcastle:
0835, 1135, 1445, 1740.

There's no running off onto X46s with this board - so nice and simple to work out where it will be for photos!

Will it operate this board every day?

(14 Jul 2015, 7:52 pm)Jimmi wrote I found this bus to be a fairly smooth ride, it didn't seem as juddery as the E400's Arriva use on the 7 that I am used to. I found the bus performed okay in terms of performance however going down the A1(M) it has to be said it didn't feel that fast, don't get me wrong it wasn't slow but it didn't feel like it was thundering down here, it's possible that it could have maybe gone faster and this may have just been the speed the driver chose to drive down the A1(M). Didn't get much experience of it on hills as there actually isn't that many and when we did go up them we had roadworks and traffic so that slowed us down a bit. Overall I thought the performance was okay.

First, the vehicle should have been checked over for things like shift quality and will have a performance-optimising programme to be as economical as possible whilst having adequate performance.
It is, after all a demonstrator.

If the driver was 'on time' there would be no need to exceed an appropriate speed - arriving early simply means having to wait at the next timing point.

(14 Jul 2015, 8:48 pm)G-CPTN wrote First, the vehicle should have been checked over for things like shift quality and will have a performance-optimising programme to be as economical as possible whilst having adequate performance.
It is, after all a demonstrator.

If the driver was 'on time' there would be no need to exceed an appropriate speed - arriving early simply means having to wait at the next timing point.

Remember Mr Huntley's quote:

"A fag break at the end of the route is good for the driver but not for the passenger"

(13 Jul 2015, 3:29 pm). Tom wrote Yeah I'd imagine so.

I saw a 33 and a 33A on Saturday and they didn't carry many passengers at all.

They do well on peak journeys. I think stagecoach will react to that offer for service 12 perhaps duplicate buses and slightly lower fares. Like the days when sunderland busways ran extra service 2 journeys to beat redby 27/28/29. Competition me thinks between gne n stagecoach

(14 Jul 2015, 11:02 am)Dan wrote Few updates on the repaint front...

• Deptford-based Mercedes Citaro 0530N/Mercedes Citaro 5301 (NK08 CHG) has arrived at Saltmeadows Road for a fresh coat of gold paint.
  
• Riverside-based "The Orbit" branded Optare Versa V1110/Optare 8332 (NK11 HJC) has arrived at Saltmeadows Road for a new coat of yellow paint.
  
• Riverside-based "The Orbit" branded Optare Versa V1110/Optare 8335 (NK11 HJF) has arrived at Saltmeadows Road for a new coat of yellow paint.
  

This means that the "The Orbit" has now been eliminated from the fleet. I'd suggest that you get your current "QuayLink" brand photos while you can - just 8313 (NK10 GOC) remains!

Shame to see the orbit brand being exterminated from the fleet (I wasn't thinking of a dalek) I think 8313 should arrive at Saltmeadows anytime now but I am confident you will let me know

(14 Jul 2015, 5:37 pm)Dan wrote Fab56 6085 is away at present receiving its flywheel.

No wonder 6099 was on it earlier on while en route the the pub for a pub meal

There you go Jimmi, slightly blurred but hey ho. Might try and get it either Wednesday or Saturday when I'm in Toon. Mind I'm not sure if the slight blur was caused by the shape of the bus messing with the light relections or just plain bad luck, as all other photos I took in that area came out fine. Even the photo of the E400MMC heading to Toon was slightly blurred.

(14 Jul 2015, 8:34 pm)danpick wrote Will it operate this board every day?

No it can go on any X21 board.... it will go on different boards so every driver at Crook and also different passengers will get to experience it 

(15 Jul 2015, 7:50 am)pdiddy wrote No it can go on any X21 board.... it will go on different boards so every driver at Crook and also different passengers will get to experience it 

Can  anyone tell me which which board it is on today please ?

(15 Jul 2015, 9:11 am)Coppercap40 wrote Can  anyone tell me which which board it is on today please ?

It's just left Bishop at 10:04

(15 Jul 2015, 9:23 am)pdiddy wrote It's just left Bishop at 10:04

Thank you

If an omnicity gets preserved will it be 5274 (I really hope not), because the last two buses to get preserved from Go North East's fleet, 4855 & 3833, were the last buses out of their respecive batches, and 5274 was the last omnicity to arrive at the company.

Closure of A1290 Downhill Lane - 17th July

The road surface on the A1290 Downhill Lane and the A19 Overbridge needs to be replaced and will be resurfaced during the Nissan fortnight closure over the next few weeks.

http://www.simplygo.com/news/closure-of-...-17th-july

That should be fun for the passengers of the 50 and 56!

(15 Jul 2015, 11:40 pm)Davie wrote If an omnicity gets preserved will it be 5274 (I really hope not), because the last two buses to get preserved from Go North East's fleet, 4855 & 3833, were the last buses out of their respecive batches, and 5274 was the last omnicity to arrive at the company.

I think 5268 was the last one to arrive actually!

What board is 9109 on today?

(16 Jul 2015, 8:09 am)Malarkey wrote What board is 9109 on today?

Just leaving gateshead now toward durham

(16 Jul 2015, 8:12 am)JP6004 wrote Just leaving gateshead now toward durham

Thanks, think I will get the 12:00 X21 from Newcastle to Durham.

(16 Jul 2015, 8:28 am)Malarkey wrote Thanks, think I will get the 12:00 X21 from Newcastle to Durham.

Good luck - it's apparently just been taken off in Chester and replaced by 6019....

(16 Jul 2015, 8:45 am)Kuyoyo wrote Good luck - it's apparently just been taken off in Chester and replaced by 6019....

Hopefully it will be back out later on then.

Don't say Crook have broken it already...

(16 Jul 2015, 9:20 am)aureolin wrote Don't say Crook have broken it already...

No we haven't broke it... it will be back out soon

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(16 Jul 2015, 9:20 am)aureolin wrote Don't say Crook have broken it already...

No we haven't broke it... it will be back out soon

(16 Jul 2015, 6:51 am)Tom wrote I think 5268 was the last one to arrive actually!

Ah right, cheers, Tom!

(16 Jul 2015, 9:52 am)pdiddy wrote No we haven't broke it... it will be back out soon

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No we haven't broke it... it will be back out soon

Is it back out yet.

According to August edition of Buses Magazine, Brighton and Hove Scania Omnidekka 606 (GX03SUF) has been withdrawn due to fire damage. I know its been mentioned here before but does anyone have any knowledge as to whether this was one of the Scanias earmarked for transfer to GNE later this year.

(15 Jul 2015, 11:40 pm)Davie wrote If an omnicity gets preserved will it be 5274 (I really hope not), because the last two buses to get preserved from Go North East's fleet, 4855 & 3833, were the last buses out of their respecive batches, and 5274 was the last omnicity to arrive at the company.

It's not always the case with preservationists choosing the last in the batch, sometimes it's just what is available and the best candidate for restoration. While 3833 was chosen because of it's significance, 4855 was chosen more because it was the best of the batch and the NNRG's preferred choice.

The "Pride" QuayLink is at Saltmeadows gaining its vinyls also, the Streetdeck is there.

Unfortunately I couldn't get a phone shot of the Streetdeck as they put the shutters down as soon as they seem me.

(16 Jul 2015, 12:06 pm)LeeCalder wrote The "Pride" QuayLink is at Saltmeadows gaining its vinyls also, the Streetdeck is there.

Unfortunately I couldn't get a phone shot of the Streetdeck as they put the shutters down as soon as they seen me.

fancy them do that to you....

(16 Jul 2015, 12:06 pm)LeeCalder wrote The "Pride" QuayLink is at Saltmeadows gaining its vinyls also, the Streetdeck is there.

Unfortunately I couldn't get a phone shot of the Streetdeck as they put the shutters down as soon as they seem me.

Disgraceful

Prob sick of all the spotters hanging around outside Saltmeadows.