(04 Jan 2016, 8:59 pm)LeeCalder wrote Na... Not at all ;-)

He's a good man, I'd like to believe he's correct haha.

Have to say I agree with you, always seems very pleasant whenever he's been my driver. Never actually introduced myself to him, though. I think he knows I'm an enthusiast but doesn't know who I am.

(04 Jan 2016, 8:59 pm)LeeCalder wrote Na... Not at all ;-)

He's a good man, I'd like to believe he's correct haha.

Ah well, there you go!

Lets wait and see

(04 Jan 2016, 9:00 pm)BusLoverMum wrote This one  - back on NYE

1. PB0002400/458 - GO NORTHERN LTD T/A GO NORTH EAST, 117 QUEEN STREET, GATESHEAD, NE8 2UA
   • Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Bishop Auckland Bus Station and Newcastle Eldon Square Bus Station given service number X21 effective from 04-Jan-2016. To amend Route.
     

Na, there were a load on earlier today listing changes in February.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:01 pm)R852 PRG wrote Have to say I agree with you, always seems very pleasant whenever he's been my driver. Never actually introduced myself to him, though. I think he knows I'm an enthusiast but doesn't know who I am.

Yes, he's a good driver and always aware of the passengers needs etc, unlike some.

I nominated him for driver of the year... I don't think I spelt his surname correctly mind!

(04 Jan 2016, 9:00 pm)LeeCalder wrote Not necessarily.

Surely the company asks for certain interior specifications.

Free Wi-Fi and e-leather seating has been found on most orders for the past year, and it wouldn't surprise me if customers now expect it on brand new buses. Plug sockets are seemingly reserved for only the most ''prestigious'' services, but e-leather is now common on all orders, and free Wi-Fi has recently be fitted to the ''indiGo'' Solo SRs (5333-5336 as well I think?) for further customer benefit.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:01 pm)R852 PRG wrote Have to say I agree with you, always seems very pleasant whenever he's been my driver. Never actually introduced myself to him, though. I think he knows I'm an enthusiast but doesn't know who I am.

He knows me from Durham Rally Last Year.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:10 pm)R852 PRG wrote Free Wi-Fi and e-leather seating has been found on most orders for the past year, and it wouldn't surprise me if customers now expect it on brand new buses. Plug sockets are seemingly reserved for only the most ''prestigious'' services, but e-leather is now common on all orders, and free Wi-Fi has recently be fitted to the ''indiGo'' Solo SRs (5333-5336 as well I think?) for further customer benefit.

Which for the customer as you say, is a benefit. However, e-leather... that stuff on the other hand should be banned from ALL kinds of public transport!

I can't stand the stuff!

I'd much rather go on 4921, despite the fact that it's 'graffiti' seats are now pretty much black and it has 1% comfort.

It's still 1% more comfort that a service with e-leather though...

(04 Jan 2016, 9:17 pm)LeeCalder wrote Which for the customer as you say, is a benefit. However, e-leather... that stuff on the other hand should be banned from ALL kinds of public transport!

I can't stand the stuff!

I'd much rather go on 4921, despite the fact that it's 'graffiti' seats are now pretty much black and it has 1% comfort.

It's still 1% more comfort that a service with e-leather though...

Seems a tad extreme. You've not been reading the Daily Mail recently, have you?

I'm not particularly keen on it myself, although I would also take 4921 over a bus with e-leather seating...

(04 Jan 2016, 9:20 pm)R852 PRG wrote Seems a tad extreme. You've not been reading the Daily Mail recently, have you?

I'm not particularly keen on it myself, although I would also take 4921 over a bus with e-leather seating...

It was a tongue in cheek comment, Marcus

(04 Jan 2016, 9:17 pm)LeeCalder wrote Which for the customer as you say, is a benefit. However, e-leather... that stuff on the other hand should be banned from ALL kinds of public transport!

I can't stand the stuff!

I'd much rather go on 4921, despite the fact that it's 'graffiti' seats are now pretty much black and it has 1% comfort.

It's still 1% more comfort that a service with e-leather though...

I know some operators market the eLeather as a premium feature, but really it's a benefit to the operator. To clean an eLeather seat, you only need to wipe it down. To clean a cloth seat, you'd need to foam it. That'll take you up to about 5 minutes per seat, so you can imagine how long an entire bus would take.

I don't actually mind the eLeather, but I do think it takes a good 6 month or so to wear in. It's quite tough to sit on at first. If I could take my pick of a standard seating, it'd be the ones that Stagecoach have in their Enviros.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:20 pm)R852 PRG wrote Seems a tad extreme. You've not been reading the Daily Mail recently, have you?

I'm not particularly keen on it myself, although I would also take 4921 over a bus with e-leather seating...

Only because it's a Renown.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:21 pm)Adrian wrote I know some operators market the eLeather as a premium feature, but really it's a benefit to the operator. To clean an eLeather seat, you only need to wipe it down. To clean a cloth seat, you'd need to foam it. That'll take you up to about 5 minutes per seat, so you can imagine how long an entire bus would take.

I don't actually mind the eLeather, but I do think it takes a good 6 month or so to wear in. It's quite tough to sit on at first. If I could take my pick of a standard seating, it'd be the ones that Stagecoach have in their Enviros.

Agreed - I've always been impressed by how comfortable that seating is.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:22 pm)R852 PRG wrote Agreed - I've always been impressed by how comfortable that seating is.

Either them or Merits.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:22 pm)R852 PRG wrote Agreed - I've always been impressed by how comfortable that seating is.

Comfortable, but the leg room is hideous!

(04 Jan 2016, 9:21 pm)Adrian wrote I know some operators market the eLeather as a premium feature, but really it's a benefit to the operator. To clean an eLeather seat, you only need to wipe it down. To clean a cloth seat, you'd need to foam it. That'll take you up to about 5 minutes per seat, so you can imagine how long an entire bus would take.

I don't actually mind the eLeather, but I do think it takes a good 6 month or so to wear in. It's quite tough to sit on at first. If I could take my pick of a standard seating, it'd be the ones that Stagecoach have in their Enviros.

That's exactly why I don't like it, rock solid. A nightmare when your going on a long journey as well.

I'd happily get the 82/82A all day if/when a Merit is allocated because them seats are top notch!

(04 Jan 2016, 9:25 pm)Dan wrote Comfortable, but the leg room is hideous!

Inclined to agree with that, as well, found myself quite cramped on 27245 on Saturday, not very good when it's a pretty full bus and you're 6 feet tall!

(04 Jan 2016, 9:25 pm)LeeCalder wrote That's exactly why I don't like it, rock solid. A nightmare when your going on a long journey as well.

I'd happily get the 82/82A all day if/when a Merit is allocated because them seats are top notch!

So are the MPD's seats but again for someone who's 6 foot tall like me it's hard to find a good enough seat.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:28 pm)DanPicken wrote So are the MPD's seats but again for someone who's 6 foot tall like me it's hard to find a good enough seat.

I always thought the Dennis Dart SLF/Caetano's were the worst for legroom

(04 Jan 2016, 9:31 pm)8222 wrote I always thought the Dennis Dart SLF/Caetano's were the worst for legroom

Do you mean the Hire Vehicles for the Q1/2? Also will they be added to the Fleet Archive?

(04 Jan 2016, 9:35 pm)DanPicken wrote Do you mean the Hire Vehicles for the Q1/2? Also will they be added to the Fleet Archive?

Yes along with 8288 (X94 FOR)

(04 Jan 2016, 9:36 pm)S813 FVK wrote Yes along with 8288 (X94 FOR)

Never rode this sadly.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:31 pm)8222 wrote I always thought the Dennis Dart SLF/Caetano's were the worst for legroom

The X-GGO Dart's Arriva had were certainly one of the worst I ever had the misfortune of, especially when I was having them for an hour long journey to college each morning and another hour home again! You wonder why I am so happy they are now going to the scrap bin, it's no fun spending that long on a bus with your knees jammed right up against the backs of seats, every time I got off one I was unable to walk properly for a good 15 minutes afterwards. I must be just shy of 6ft so I dread to think what people taller than me managed to bare them. Oh and then there was the poor reliability. Those things have a place reserved for them in hell! The 18 months or so they were on the 7 was sheer hell!

(04 Jan 2016, 9:38 pm)DanPicken wrote Never rode this sadly.

My dad loved driving it when it was at Stanley on the Stanley Shuttle services (40/43/44 plus the A variants etc). He was quite saddened (if thats the right word) when it transferred to Deptford.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:35 pm)DanPicken wrote Do you mean the Hire Vehicles for the Q1/2? Also will they be added to the Fleet Archive?

That's the intention! All takes time, though.

I will probably go as far back as Darts and Volvo Olympians (and anything acquired new/second hand after that point).

Will struggle to do anything for Stagecoach prior to 2010 due to a lack of information online. Arriva is easy enough, thanks to past contributions when making the fleet archives the first time around.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:38 pm)DanPicken wrote Never rode this sadly.

Was my bus to school almost every day when I was in Year 7 - on the 42!

(04 Jan 2016, 9:44 pm)Dan wrote That's the intention! All takes time, though.

I will probably go as far back as Darts and Volvo Olympians (and anything acquired new/second hand after that point).

Will struggle to do anything for Stagecoach prior to 2010 due to a lack of information online. Arriva is easy enough, thanks to past contributions when making the fleet archives the first time around.

I'll go looking for Stagecoach and try to track down previous names. What about Richard Smiles think that's how his last name is spelt.

(04 Jan 2016, 8:55 pm)citaro5284 wrote dont believe everything you read.....must of been from John W was it 

Hahaha Westy is certainly good at starting rumours off like

So we shall have 9119 back at Crook tmora as a replacement for 6021.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:49 pm)pdiddy wrote Hahaha Westy is certainly good at starting rumours off like



So we shall have 9119 back at Crook tmora as a replacement for 6021.

There was one at Howlands which is that the S1 goes under a low bridge meaning single decker cant be allocated, Davie and Lee should know what Im on about.

(04 Jan 2016, 9:45 pm)Dan wrote Was my bus to school almost every day when I was in Year 7 - on the 42!

almost ridden it a few times didn't get a chance

Go North East

Due to flooding V3 V4 V9 45 unable to operate via Snows Green, V3 V4 V9 operating via Benfieldside Rd, service 45 operating Blackhill Bank.

Service 10 and 10B unable to serve Prudhoe Stonyflat bank due to flooding. Operating via Station Rd and West Road.