(08 Jun 2016, 9:58 pm)Dan wrote Yes - a very big clue!

It will be used on the Durham Diamond 16/16A services for the first two weeks.

That's Saturday sorted, then!

(08 Jun 2016, 9:59 pm)S813 FVK wrote When is it expected to enter service roughly (giving a few days for Driver familiarisation)?

Not sure on that one, I'm afraid, but it's due to move from Saltmeadows Road to Stanley at some point tomorrow.

Hopefully out in service by the weekend - I want to blag another ride on it!

(08 Jun 2016, 10:01 pm)Dan wrote Not sure on that one, I'm afraid, but it's due to move from Saltmeadows Road to Stanley at some point tomorrow.

Hopefully out in service by the weekend - I want to blag another ride on it!

I only ask because with me being officially finished school, there are some days where i am allowed to come home early (Friday being just one of them - exam in the morning then straight home) so i may be free to give it a go (if i can be bothered)

Gonna be in Stanley/Durham on Saturday as well (Tanfield Railway event and Durham Regatta), will keep a look out for if it's in service by then as be using buses on Saturday


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Think the omnidekkas @ GX03 range are asking for refurbs.
SVC's back seat is peeling away, exposing the back of the engine bay container - belting out red hot air.
https://flic.kr/p/HSaNRR
Quite a few of these are deteriorating and have mismatch seats et cetera. Some of the back seats aren't ecen connected to the floor and freely slide side to side! Would love to see a refresh.

NSA  on 5422 distorted by what sounds like background static

5365 broke at hoùghton  bradleys tow truck  in attendance

5365  has an offside  rear tyre blowout  apologies for earlier double post

(08 Jun 2016, 10:01 pm)Dan wrote Not sure on that one, I'm afraid, but it's due to move from Saltmeadows Road to Stanley at some point tomorrow.

Hopefully out in service by the weekend - I want to blag another ride on it!

I missed it on the 20/20A/X20 so I will catch it. Will it be trialed elswhere?

(09 Jun 2016, 1:10 pm)Coppercap40 wrote NSA  on 5422 distorted by what sounds like background static

Thanks - this is a bit of an intermittent problem that we've had with a couple of them (due to a fault with the hardware).

I've reported it to Hanover to repair as soon as possible.

South Tyne Branded 8300 has a broken Diff and sounds absolutely vile. You can hear just about everything apart from the engine when sat at the back...

(08 Jun 2016, 10:05 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Gonna be in Stanley/Durham on Saturday as well (Tanfield Railway event and Durham Regatta), will keep a look out for if it's in service by then as be using buses on Saturday


Sent from my iPad Pro using Tapatalk

Come down to the pontop canteen and ask for Jack - I'll be working there

Not sure if this should go in the GNE page yet, as its not yet in the NE but:

GX03 SVJ (603) and GX03 SUA (605) are now in storage at Newhaven before heading to up to the North East:

603 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/134741049@...466296152/
605 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/134741049@...288405680/

Thanks to Edward Ayris for the photos.

5365 blowout

(08 Jun 2016, 11:42 pm)Jamie M wrote Think the omnidekkas @ GX03 range are asking for refurbs.
SVC's back seat is peeling away, exposing the back of the engine bay container - belting out red hot air.
https://flic.kr/p/HSaNRR
Quite a few of these are deteriorating and have mismatch seats et cetera. Some of the back seats aren't ecen connected to the floor and freely slide side to side! Would love to see a refresh.

The downstairs back seats on them are worse than useless, anyhow.

We were upstairs on the metro Radio one, last week, and every single time the bus pulled away, something clanked loudly at the back - a bit like a metal door opening and shutting.

7127 has entered service on National Express routes. 7129 and 7130 are reportedly ready to enter service.

(09 Jun 2016, 7:43 pm)streetlite5402 wrote 7127 has entered service on National Express routes. 7129 and 7130 are reportedly ready to enter service.

7129 was on the northbound 332 yesterday

(09 Jun 2016, 6:30 pm)BusLoverMum wrote The downstairs back seats on them are worse than useless, anyhow.

We were upstairs on the metro Radio one, last week, and every single time the bus pulled away, something clanked loudly at the back - a bit like a metal door opening and shutting.

When they first came into service on the X30/X31 a few months back before the changes etc, I noticed this sound you are on about on a lot of them, whatever it was it seemed like it had been sorted on most of them, unless I just got used to it. 

I think they done a good job with the Omnidekkas cleaning them up, particular the ones which got the newer seats. For me who used to get them every morning, I would take them over A trident or President!

(09 Jun 2016, 7:55 pm)Arcticrossy92 wrote When they first came into service on the X30/X31 a few months back before the changes etc, I noticed this sound you are on about on a lot of them, whatever it was it seemed like it had been sorted on most of them, unless I just got used to it. 

I think they done a good job with the Omnidekkas cleaning them up, particular the ones which got the newer seats. For me who used to get them every morning, I would take them over A trident or President!

I always thought they were quite powerful when going up banks - 6125 certainly isn't anymore - we managed to fly past it on 3831 tonight. The Solo on the 831 even had trouble getting past 3831 which shows that it certainly has some power behind it!

(09 Jun 2016, 7:55 pm)Arcticrossy92 wrote When they first came into service on the X30/X31 a few months back before the changes etc, I noticed this sound you are on about on a lot of them, whatever it was it seemed like it had been sorted on most of them, unless I just got used to it. 

I think they done a good job with the Omnidekkas cleaning them up, particular the ones which got the newer seats. For me who used to get them every morning, I would take them over A trident or President!

(09 Jun 2016, 8:04 pm)S813 FVK wrote I always thought they were quite powerful when going up banks - 6125 certainly isn't anymore - we managed to fly past it on 3831 tonight. The Solo on the 831 even had trouble getting past 3831 which shows that it certainly has some power behind it!

I do like 6131-6133, but the 03 range are falling into pieces in my opinion. Nearly every one of them. Still prefer a Dennis Trident/President any day!

(09 Jun 2016, 9:00 pm)Jamie M wrote I do like 6131-6133, but the 03 range are falling into pieces in my opinion. Nearly every one of them. Still prefer a Dennis Trident/President any day!

I agree, Though the 6131-6133 are not far behind them. Had 6133 for the open day shuttle and it was extremely shot.
Mechanically they need a engine overhaul on most of them, And a seat retrim.

Never been too keen on Tridents, I've always been a Volvo person and whoever joins me on outings will normally find that's mostly what I talk about!
Though Scania's are also on my favourites table.

(09 Jun 2016, 7:55 pm)Arcticrossy92 wrote When they first came into service on the X30/X31 a few months back before the changes etc, I noticed this sound you are on about on a lot of them, whatever it was it seemed like it had been sorted on most of them, unless I just got used to it. 

I think they done a good job with the Omnidekkas cleaning them up, particular the ones which got the newer seats. For me who used to get them every morning, I would take them over A trident or President!

I have a real problem with the suspension on most of them. The bounce of an E400 or streetdeck may make typing on a phone tricky (heck, I'm struggling enough with my laptop in my armchair, tonight!) but a few of the Omnidekkas are at the other extreme and shake you so hard that I end up in a lot of pain for several days after more than a short journey on one - I'm hypermobile and have a weak pelvis that simply doesn't stand up to that sort of assault.

(09 Jun 2016, 8:04 pm)S813 FVK wrote I always thought they were quite powerful when going up banks - 6125 certainly isn't anymore - we managed to fly past it on 3831 tonight. The Solo on the 831 even had trouble getting past 3831 which shows that it certainly has some power behind it!

This is their strong point, usually, though 6133 fair plodded on the hills, disappointingly. It's the first 04 reg one I've been on for a long journey and it felt quite different to the 03 examples - that one does have a softer, less pain inducing suspension.

Given the deterioration of some of them, getting B&H's cast offs does feel like more of a short term fix for a rather yellow problem than something to see GNE through the next 5 years with an up to date fleet. Hopefully the next big purchase might update the Angels and TTX, which will relegate the better Omnidekkas to where the Lolynes and Presidents are now. Not that the cascades off either of those services would be suitable for the Newcastle-Stanley services.

Seen 4913 at saltmeadows today? That now officially withdrawn?
Also how come 5252 was there. Seen that as i went past

(09 Jun 2016, 10:02 pm)dannygee wrote Seen 4913 at saltmeadows today? That now officially withdrawn?
Also how come 5252 was there. Seen that as i went past

Wonder if it's getting painted as there are changes to the 1 happening but not sure what!

(09 Jun 2016, 9:59 pm)BusLoverMum wrote This is their strong point, usually, though 6133 fair plodded on the hills, disappointingly. It's the first 04 reg one I've been on for a long journey and it felt quite different to the 03 examples - that one does have a softer, less pain inducing suspension.

Given the deterioration of some of them, getting B&H's cast offs does feel like more of a short term fix for a rather yellow problem than something to see GNE through the next 5 years with an up to date fleet. Hopefully the next big purchase might update the Angels and TTX, which will relegate the better Omnidekkas to where the Lolynes and Presidents are now. Not that the cascades off either of those services would be suitable for the Newcastle-Stanley services.

The only other deckers which aren't over 10 years old are B5s and B9s though, don't forget. Don't see what else there is to serve on Stanley's decker routes.

(09 Jun 2016, 11:00 pm)Jamie M wrote The only other deckers which aren't over 10 years old are B5s and B9s though, don't forget. Don't see what else there is to serve on Stanley's decker routes.

They're not the easiest of routes when there's a lotta bus to haul.

Stanley's express services are never going to be great for buses, that have spent the majority of their working life, trundling around Brighton and Hove. 

I don't think that any of them are in that bad condition though, given they're 12/13 year old buses. They're certainly in better condition than what the majority of the B7/Presidents are in now.

9102 is out today - it should be at Craghead heading to Durham now

9102s board (bits may be wrong as I have used the timetable):

06:50 16A from Stanley to Durham (arr 07:17)
07:25 16 from Durham to Castleside (arr 09:00)
09:12 16 from Castleside to Durham (arr 10:46)
10:50 16A from Durham to Stanley (arr 11:22)
11:30 16A from Stanley to Durham (arr 12:01)
12:05 16 from Durham to Castleside (arr 13:38)
13:42 16 from Castleside to Durham (arr 15:16)
15:20 16A from Durham to Stanley (arr 15:52)
16:00 16A from Stanley to Durham (arr 16:31)
16:40 16 from Durham to Castleside (arr 18:13)
18:17 16 from Castleside to Consett (arr 18:37)