It's wheelbase which governs the tightness of a turn and Solos have a longer wheelbase than the equivalent length door-forward type vehicle, hence Solos need more space to turn.

(15 Nov 2016, 10:02 am)Ryan99 wrote Them & vykings

Hopefully but not sure why but i think they'll be missed

(14 Nov 2016, 4:44 pm)S813 FVK wrote Unless the buses are going to be generically branded with no specific route branding (which i think is likely based on indiGo), it wouldn't be worth repainting a solar.

Is the Tynedalexpress a possibility for the Citaros that will be coming off the WTX? They could keep 5229 as the spare or repaint the extra Seeit Doit branded Citaro and send that over too.

Was just rethinking about the WTX Citaro's, Wonder if 1 of them could go to Stanley to replace 4896 until 5292 returns to service but only if they gain the new "Go North East" Livery.


With Depot standardising happening, the spare Citaro at Deptford will likely stop now, this allows Deptford to have a spare Citaro.... unless Dan/Citaro or anyone else who works for GNE can confirm if the spare Citaro will moved? (sorry i don't know who else works for GNE, we've had a few new members lately, who sound like they work for one of the big companies)

Anyone know the whereabouts of 5332 ?


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(15 Nov 2016, 11:38 am)Michael wrote Was just rethinking about the WTX Citaro's, Wonder if 1 of them could go to Stanley to replace 4896 until 5292 returns to service but only if they gain the new "Go North East" Livery.

There'd be little point sending a bus up to withdraw a functional bus, inorder to be sent else just a month or two later.
I'd imagine in january, or whenever if the streetlites arrive, that there will be enough vehicles for 4896 to just disappear and 5292 to just fill in as a spare somewhere. Stronger rumours that the Stanley citaros will head to riverside, but who knows.

Saying that, there are a few illogical movements happening (6143 transferring to Stanley, releasing 6132 to PM to allow 3888 to transfer up, why not just send 6143 to PM..? etc), so something unexpected may happen.

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(15 Nov 2016, 12:30 pm)Jamie M wrote There'd be little point sending a bus up to withdraw a functional bus, inorder to be sent else just a month or two later.
I'd imagine in january, or whenever if the streetlites arrive, that there will be enough vehicles for 4896 to just disappear and 5292 to just fill in as a spare somewhere. Stronger rumours that the Stanley citaros will head to riverside, but who knows.

Saying that, there are a few illogical movements happening (6143 transferring to Stanley, releasing 6132 to PM to allow 3888 to transfer up, why not just send 6143 to PM..? etc), so something unexpected may happen.

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When is 5292 due to re-enter service?, i couldn't find the last post about it, which had a update.

I think the new buses for next year will start to arrive in March (like this years), hopefully we hear a update on them soon but i doubt that!

(15 Nov 2016, 11:58 am)TEN 6083 wrote Anyone know the whereabouts of 5332 ?


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Just left Haymarket (Great Park bound) at about 12:55.

(15 Nov 2016, 12:34 pm)Michael wrote When is 5292 due to re-enter service?, i couldn't find the last post about it, which had a update.

I think the new buses for next year will start to arrive in March (like this years), hopefully we hear a update on them soon but i doubt that!

The trial of the driver involved is march iirc so IF Stanley is getting new buses for the diamond as rumoured then 5292 won't return to Stanley

(15 Nov 2016, 1:21 pm)GX03 wrote The trial of the driver involved is march iirc so IF Stanley is getting new buses for the diamond as rumoured then 5292 won't return to Stanley

Thanks, so i take it 5292 won't be heading back to service for a while.


Hopefully Stanley do get new buses for Durham Diamond next year, hopefully Toonlink too.

(15 Nov 2016, 12:30 pm)Jamie M wrote Saying that, there are a few illogical movements happening (6143 transferring to Stanley, releasing 6132 to PM to allow 3888 to transfer up, why not just send 6143 to PM..? etc), so something unexpected may happen.

Illogical to us but well reasoned to GNE! For all we know, the promotional livery to be carried by 6143 could refer to something happening somewhere in County Durham. If so, it wouldn't be logical to have it running around in North Tyneside.

(15 Nov 2016, 10:02 am)Ryan99 wrote Them & vykings

Cannot see the Vykings going already. Only 02 plates making them 14 years old. Deckers normally get 18 years in service apart from the Olympians which are still here til 2017 that may be something to do with them being so well built. Riverside need nearly all of the Vykings for Scholars contracts atm. Plus they are fairly reliable making them good reserves.

(15 Nov 2016, 5:51 pm)Brian13 wrote Cannot see the Vykings going already. Only 02 plates making them 14 years old. Deckers normally get 18 years in service apart from the Olympians which are still here til 2017 that may be something to do with them being so well built. Riverside need nearly all of the Vykings for Scholars contracts atm. Plus they are fairly reliable making them good reserves.

The ex London Plaxtons will probables go first, as they'll be 17 years next year (they were built in 2000), then the DDA tridents and Vykings which are from 2002, as you said above.


Riverside can have Deptford's Vykings if they want...

(15 Nov 2016, 5:51 pm)Brian13 wrote Cannot see the Vykings going already. Only 02 plates making them 14 years old. Deckers normally get 18 years in service apart from the Olympians which are still here til 2017 that may be something to do with them being so well built. Riverside need nearly all of the Vykings for Scholars contracts atm. Plus they are fairly reliable making them good reserves.

There's a lot of beaten B7 plaxtons, and 3886/7. The remaining presidents, both B7 and Trident remain solid buses.
The worst ones are washy's, can barely move on flats, never mind a hill!
6012 is as good as any other Stanley decker (except those beloved B9s), so I think we'll see a range of deckers disappear - rather than just a specific block of the same bus.

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(15 Nov 2016, 10:02 am)Ryan99 wrote Them & vykings

Vykings are still comfortable and I think the still look very modern for being bulit in 2002

(15 Nov 2016, 6:06 pm)Ds1197 wrote Vykings are still comfortable and I think the still look very modern for being bulit in 2002

Agreed. Still decent interiors too.

(15 Nov 2016, 6:01 pm)Jamie M wrote There's a lot of beaten B7 plaxtons, and 3886/7. The remaining presidents, both B7 and Trident remain solid buses.
The worst ones are washy's, can barely move on flats, never mind a hill!
6012 is as good as any other Stanley decker (except those beloved B9s), so I think we'll see a range of deckers disappear - rather than just a specific block of the same bus.

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6028 was on the 50 a few weeks back and it barely made it from Shields to Durham. 3888 is a brilliant bus. Always seems to work brilliantly and is in good condition still. Think it's time for some of the Plaxton Presidents a lot a nackered. I even say some Olympians are in better condition than 6038

(15 Nov 2016, 6:00 pm)Michael wrote The ex London Plaxtons will probables go first, as they'll be 17 years next year (they were built in 2000), then the DDA tridents and Vykings which are from 2002, as you said above.


Riverside can have Deptford's Vykings if they want...

Deptfords aren't in as good condition as some Riverside examples. 3983 is probably the best kept. Although some of the earlier numerical vehicles eg 3966 don't see much use and are in decent condition

(15 Nov 2016, 6:00 pm)Michael wrote The ex London Plaxtons will probables go first, as they'll be 17 years next year (they were built in 2000), then the DDA tridents and Vykings which are from 2002, as you said above.


Riverside can have Deptford's Vykings if they want...

Could be a possibility that the DDA Tridents will go before most of the B7 Presidents, As there a minority batch now the Lolynes are gone ( bar 3872 ) , Will eliminate one extra vehicle type from the fleet and will still be good value to sell to the likes of Ensign etc.

While the Volvo Presidents will not be favoured by buyers due to their age, Most can still see out atleast another year in service before being retired to Dudley for Alpha to deal with.
While I agree some are beaten, Some are still in pretty good fettle and Volvos are pretty good workhorses and definitely more robust than the Tridents.

The Volvos are already 17 years old, They were new in Late Summer 1999.

(15 Nov 2016, 7:59 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Could be a possibility that the DDA Tridents will go before most of the B7 Presidents, As there a minority batch now the Lolynes are gone ( bar 3872 ) , Will eliminate one extra vehicle type from the fleet and will still be good value to sell to the likes of Ensign etc.

While the Volvo Presidents will not be favoured by buyers due to their age, Most can still see out atleast another year in service before being retired to Dudley for Alpha to deal with.
While I agree some are beaten, Some are still in pretty good fettle and Volvos are pretty good workhorses and definitely more robust than the Tridents.

The Volvos are already 17 years old, They were new in Late Summer 1999.

They might, ah are they, i just went by the dates on our fleet list.

(15 Nov 2016, 8:09 pm)Michael wrote They might, ah are they, i just went by the dates on our fleet list.

V-reg ran from September 1999 until the end of February 2000 (replaced by W from 1st March)

For the purposes of this, I would go off the date given by both the official GNE fleet list and the fleet list on here which shows them as being new in 2000.

(15 Nov 2016, 8:17 pm)S813 FVK wrote V-reg ran from September 1999 until the end of February 2000 (replaced by W from 1st March)

For the purposes of this, I would go off the date given by both the official GNE fleet list and the fleet list on here which shows them as being new in 2000.

6008-6042 were all registered new on 01 February 2000.

(15 Nov 2016, 8:36 pm)Cobalt271 wrote 6008-6042 were all registered new on 01 February 2000.

Indeed, I've just checked on the DVLA, Apologies for that.

(15 Nov 2016, 6:06 pm)Ds1197 wrote Vykings are still comfortable and I think the still look very modern for being bulit in 2002

Deffo - had a nice ride on one of Deptford's earlier this year and caught a great one on the X22, in the summer,, though we did catch a riverside one a month or so before that was a bit of a croc.

Interesting to hear a new (and noticeable) exhaust system being introduced on Citaro 5317. Did hear a few weeks back that a Laser had also possibly gone for modifications down south. Assume it's a high exhaust temperature trial system, to do with AdBlue stuff?

(16 Nov 2016, 3:31 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote Interesting to hear a new (and noticeable) exhaust system being introduced on Citaro 5317. Did hear a few weeks back that a Laser had also possibly gone for modifications down south. Assume it's a high exhaust temperature trial system, to do with AdBlue stuff?

See it do it Sunderland 5298

6135 was parked up at Bishop Auckland Bus Station all afternoon.

(16 Nov 2016, 9:02 pm)Sinky19 wrote 6135 was parked up at Bishop Auckland Bus Station all afternoon.

Yup, this is the 3rd time you've post this after you deleted the last 2.

6146 is now in the new livery.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75698454@N...jkr-7Ba7Cb

(16 Nov 2016, 9:02 pm)Sinky19 wrote 6135 was parked up at Bishop Auckland Bus Station all afternoon.

It's Crook depots spare bus to cover the 18s and X21 when necessary. It actually operated an X21 this afternoon covering for 6303 which is undergoing PSV prep.

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(16 Nov 2016, 10:05 pm)Cobalt271 wrote 6146 is now in the new livery.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75698454@N...jkr-7Ba7Cb

Looks very smart. Soon to go to its new home

(16 Nov 2016, 10:05 pm)Cobalt271 wrote 6146 is now in the new livery.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75698454@N...jkr-7Ba7Cb

Liking very much.