What I'm going to say is :
16 wright streetdecks for 21 14+ 2 spares
B5s to Percy main for 1 with 3962/5 going with them
Coaster omnicities to replace old scanias
8X streetdecks for X9/10 6+ 2 spare
6043-48 to Washington to replace some presidents and 3943
18 wright streetlites for 35/36
11 wright streetlites for 16/16A
5298-5304 for X5
5305-5309 for X6
5325-5327 spares
5284-5292 to replace omnicities on X30/31
Replace more solars with them
16 streetdecks for red kites 14+2 spares
5409-5415 to deptford for 39
5416-19 to stay at Stanley
6118-21 to Percy main replacing presidents
8 streetlites for riverside 12/12A
3 spares between 53/54/12/12A&X66
5275-80 with 5281 spare to Chester for 28/28A
5282 for S1 replacing 8266
5283 & 5331 spare
10 streetlites for 11 8+ 2 spare
All solars to go to coperate livery to replace 4989-92/4954-60
18X streetdecks to replace all vykings to scrap
7X streetlites for green arrow scrap solars
15X streetdecks for 27 13+ 2spare
5310-6 for X84/5 making 5229-33 spare
5317-9& 5328-5330 spare and transfer to replace older solars etc
5317-19 & 5323/ 5328 on loops
5219-5226 scrap
Overall new buses
Wright streetdecks = 73
Wright streetlites = 54
127 new buses in total - not guaranteed to be next year but in coming years
What does everyone think ?

A few new suggestions.

30 Wright StreetDeck's for Corporate Livery Spares

25 (23+2 Spares) Volvo 7900H's for the Quaylink Q1/Q2 & Q3

10 (9+1 Spare) Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid for the Simplicity 2/2A 

9 (8+1 Spare) Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid for the South Tyne 88/88A

9 (8+1 Spare) Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid for the Citylink 58

5 (4+1 Spare) Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid for the 61 (With Drifter Branding)

5 (4+1 Spare) Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid (10.4m) for the Lambton Worm 34/34A

Number of Vehicles to be ordered = 93 - The purpose of the order would be to withdraw the remaining Volvo B10BLE's (4896/4898/4899/4900/4915/4917/4919 & 4922) and the first batch of Scania L94's (4926 to 4938/4940 to 4949/4954 to 4966/4989 to 4992) along with Volvo B7TL Plaxton President's. This would then allow all 59 Optare Versa's to take a spare roll within the Go North East fleet across multiple depots across the region, whilst also significantly reducing the fleet age with this investment. 

With reducing fleet age mind I think Go North East should start buying "New Double Deckers" in the form of Wright StreetDeck's to a Standard Specification to replace older Deckers in the fleet, rather than continuously purchasing second hand cast-offs from other Go-Ahead Divisions which have seen better days, I for one hate the Volvo B7 President's with a passion, as I would imagine many other customers do, passengers love nothing more than a new bus on there local routes, and as we have seen in the past with the Prince Bishops, Castles Express and Indigo recently, this massively boosts customer satisfaction with positive comments made by passengers when on board the new bus and on social media.

If gne buy new buses for volvo b9 route, then they could put them on 1 and toon link. Gne could put omnicities on 88/A and Crusader so they can interswap if needed keeping all the same.

My only suggestion would be to get 4 Streetdecks for the Red Kite services so all vehicles will be the same spec. The only idea what i have for where 6118-6121 would go would be 2 on the 21 to replace 3962/5 (although depending on these trials, that might not be necessary), 1 to Crook as the X21 spare with the last one going to Percy Main to give the Cobalt Clippers 2 spares again. I think it would be best to keep them together and upgrade one service rather than scattering them out like that though.

Don't want to be too cynical but noticed that 6107 is missing info between upper deck window and lower deck window on rear. Also noticed some missing with 6106 and 6108.

Have any changes been made to the NSA's for the 309/310/X39 yet or scheduled to be changed?

I changed my order predication so here are my predictions for orders:  (think the numbers are right, don't quote post as i'll edit it if wrong)

Riverside:

Blaydon Racers: 10 + 1 Streetlites

Cascades:

Blaydon Racers (10) – Loop – only reason is because Dan mentioned the other day that they were “Environmentally friendly with better fuel consumption... Got absolutely no power at all compared to younger examples” – this is just speculation though.
The Loop route also takes around the same time as the Blaydon Racers – this also means nothing too, just thought I would mention that.

11 Scania’s from the Loop replace the remaining B10’s and older Scania’s in the fleet.



Stanley:

9 + 1 spares Streetlites for Durham Diamond

Cascades:
10 + 1 spares Citaro to Riverside for the Green Arrow
11 Scania’s replace 11 older Scania’s in the fleet.


Deptford:

15 Streetlites for the 35/35A/36
15 Citaro remain at Deptford for the X5, 9 (to allow a full allocation) and the 61.
9 Scania’s replace 9 older Scania’s in the fleet
5 Versa from the 61 move to spare roles throughout the fleet, once again removing older Scania’s from the fleet.

Percy Main:

17+ 2? Streetdecks for the Cobalt Clipper (I’m sure one unbranded B9 is currently allocated?)

Cascades:

All 19 to head to Stanley replacing all 19 Omnidekka’s

Omnidekkas replace:
10 to Percy Main to replace 3890/ 3891, 6008, 6010, 6015, 6023, 6025, 6031, 6033
9 to Chester to replace 6017- 6020, 6022, 6026, 6030, 6036, 6038, 6039


Buses withdrawn by single decker cascades:

B10’s replaced:
4896
4898
4899
4900
4902

Scania’s replaced:
4926 - 4936
4938
4940 - 4949
4954 – 4968

Double deckers withdrawn by double decker cascades:

Volvo B7TLPlaxton President/Tridents

3890/ 3891, 6008, 6010, 6015, 6017-6020, 6022, 6023, 6025, 6026, 6031, 6033, 6038, 6039


Total: 57 new buses

(10 Dec 2016, 8:58 pm)Michael wrote I changed my order predication so here are my predictions for orders:  (think the numbers are right, don't quote post as i'll edit it if wrong)



Blaydon Racers (10) – Loop – only reason is because Dan mentioned the other day that they were “Environmentally friendly with better fuel consumption... Got absolutely no power at all compared to younger examples” – this is just speculation though.
The Loop route also takes around the same time as the Blaydon Racers – this also means nothing too, just thought I would mention that.

Surely reducing the flow of fuel to the engine to save fuel by limiting its power output isn't what's been done here, Limiting the power the Mercs can produce on a hilly route like the 49 is just going to backfire on the investment into all this Eco Rubbish, As it puts more strain on the engine, In turn making the engine having to work harder, In turn using more fuel which pollutes the environment.

(10 Dec 2016, 9:17 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Surely reducing the flow of fuel to the engine to save fuel by limiting its power output isn't what's been done here, Limiting the power the Mercs can produce on a hilly route like the 49 is just going to backfire on the investment into all this Eco Rubbish, As it puts more strain on the engine, In turn making the engine having to work harder, In turn using more fuel which pollutes the environment.

No idea, i thought the same, maybe Dan could explain it a bit better?

(10 Dec 2016, 9:17 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Surely reducing the flow of fuel to the engine to save fuel by limiting its power output isn't what's been done here, Limiting the power the Mercs can produce on a hilly route like the 49 is just going to backfire on the investment into all this Eco Rubbish, As it puts more strain on the engine, In turn making the engine having to work harder, In turn using more fuel which pollutes the environment.

(10 Dec 2016, 9:27 pm)Michael wrote No idea, i thought the same, maybe Dan could explain it a bit better?

AVID e-fan mods.

I've posted a link to their website's page in the past - Arriva installed the same to their Temsa Avenues. The Mercs, like the Temsas, have an abundance of power which just isn't required at all. The Blaydon Racers timetable is still realistic and achievable, and also more comfortable from a passenger perspective, with the fans. Just means in my opinion that they'll always be held on more local services now.

STL is well into his 'under the hood' stuff, so he'll probably know all about AVID e-fans. 

Go North East Order Predictions
10 Metrocitys for CityLink 58 8+2 spares

17 Metrodeckers for the Ten Services 15+2 Spares

7 Alexander Enviro400 City for TyneTess Xpress 6+1 spare

11 Streetlites for Blaydon Racers  10+1 spare +1 streetlite acting as a spare for X66, Saltwell Park  and Blaydon Racers

Cascades because of New Buses
15 Wright Eclipse Gemmi 2 Transfer to the Crusader Service 27 13 Branded 2 spares

14 Citaros transfer to Deptford 7 for X5 and branded Wear Xprees 2 for the 9 to allow full allocation and 5 for the 61

Versas 5377-5384 5389 rebranded as SouthTyne 5390 would be spare

Blaydon Racers Citaros 8 rebranded Loop 2 as spares for the loop


All the Solars and Versas from the services would become spare and withdraw older buses in the fleet.   

(11 Dec 2016, 4:53 am)Dan wrote AVID e-fan mods.

I've posted a link to their website's page in the past - Arriva installed the same to their Temsa Avenues. The Mercs, like the Temsas, have an abundance of power which just isn't required at all. The Blaydon Racers timetable is still realistic and achievable, and also more comfortable from a passenger perspective, with the fans. Just means in my opinion that they'll always be held on more local services now.

STL is well into his 'under the hood' stuff, so he'll probably know all about AVID e-fans. 

Ah right I see, Bigger fans like that take more energy from the engine to run, Which explains the loss of power.
Will no doubt explain people's complaints on here that the Red Arrows B9s lack power, As they are indeed equipped with them too.

I am indeed

(11 Dec 2016, 4:37 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Ah right I see, Bigger fans like that take more energy from the engine to run, Which explains the loss of power.
Will no doubt explain people's complaints on here that the Red Arrows B9s lack power, As they are indeed equipped with them too.

But aren't the eFans driven by electricity (when required) rather than a constantly-running hydraulic motor?
This would result in lower parasitic drag - allowing 'more' power to drive the bus.

(11 Dec 2016, 4:53 pm)G-CPTN wrote But aren't the eFans driven by electricity (when required) rather than a constantly-running hydraulic motor?
This would result in lower parasitic drag - allowing 'more' power to drive the bus.

While I'm not definitely sure, The E-Fans will be driven by electricity, But the Electricity to power it comes from the bus electrics, Which needs the Engine's to deliver electricity to the battery otherwise the bus will be stranded.
That energy taken from the engine compromises the overall power the engine can deliver to the running axle, Creating drag.


Another similar example of this can be a car air-conditioning.

http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/avid-tec...ro-hybrid/

There was a feature on it a few years ago.

9 streetlites for 16 (1 corp spare for any service as 5419 does), displacing citaros 84->92 (4896 until 92 returns) to wherever.
5337-8 to be retained because they're not worth fixing.
8 streetlites for northerns (some boards having omnidekka allocation) allowing the omnidekkas to replace and withdraw B7 deckers.

I believe, sadly, Go North East could get away with having streetlites on the northerns as they rarely are packed.
The double decker boards should be allocated to buses which finish 6 or X31 (7-11 board), as these get busy in town at night.
Boards that finish X71 or X70 barely have any people on in the evening OR daytime.

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In addition to parts of branding missing on 6106/07/08, 6110 missing branding text between upper and lower saloon deck windows on rear.

Correct me if I'm wrong and the former three have been corrected since.

Something on the 21 to allow hybrids to go to Stanley to cascade omnidekkas around the fleet, outright replacing the elder B7s within the fleet.
Two birds in one stone.

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(05 Jan 2017, 4:26 pm)Jamie M wrote Something on the 21 to allow hybrids to go to Stanley to cascade omnidekkas around the fleet, outright replacing the elder B7s within the fleet.
Two birds in one stone.

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If and when the B5LHs are replaced on the 21, they'll more likely be allocated to something along the lines of the 27 rather than the demanding 6/X70/X71.

(05 Jan 2017, 4:30 pm)Kuyoyo wrote If and when the B5LHs are replaced on the 21, they'll more likely be allocated to something along the lines of the 27 rather than the demanding 6/X70/X71.

Probables be the 2017/2018 financial year now for the 21 as previously said.

(05 Jan 2017, 4:32 pm)Michael wrote Probables be the 2017/2018 financial year now for the 21 as previously said.

X9/X10 B9s then? They're unreliable enough for Stanley, too!

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(05 Jan 2017, 4:30 pm)Kuyoyo wrote If and when the B5LHs are replaced on the 21, they'll more likely be allocated to something along the lines of the 27 rather than the demanding 6/X70/X71.

Agreed especially since they not full size deckers

(05 Jan 2017, 5:13 pm)JP6004 wrote Agreed especially since they not full size deckers

You cannot get a full size Double Decker, Either a Short Wheelbase model ( 8.8m - around 10m ) is offered or a long wheelbase model ( around 10m - 11.5m ) where it then gets to the length where it is logical to go for a 3 axle decker, As the turning circle will get to big for a two axle decker.


The B5LH's are around the same length as the B9TL's GNE have, Its just the modified lower deck seating layout due to the extra packs to be accommodated due to the Hyrbid system and of course the Engine Bay encroaching into the lower deck, Which takes away around 2-4 seats depending on seat config's

(05 Jan 2017, 5:22 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote You cannot get a full size Double Decker, Either a Short Wheelbase model ( 8.8m - around 10m ) is offered or a long wheelbase model ( around 10m - 11.5m ) where it then gets to the length where it is logical to go for a 3 axle decker, As the turning circle will get to big for a two axle decker.


The B5LH's are around the same length as the B9TL's GNE have, Its just the modified lower deck seating layout due to the extra packs to be accommodated due to the Hyrbid system and of course the Engine Bay encroaching into the lower deck, Which takes away around 2-4 seats depending on seat config's

When I said full size I was comparing it to the B9s - which are slightly longer.

As far is im aware there is only 1 less seat in the lower saloon and 4 from the upper

 My idea of what the cascades will be.

Something that bypassed me until a couple of days ago was the withdrawl of 6022 from Chester-le-Street:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/item.php?operatorF=2&fleetnoF=6022

Does the fact that the issues were deemed uneconomical to repair suggest that a double decker route will be upgraded which will see the first lot of remaining B7s off once all of the cascades have been completed?

(15 Jan 2017, 9:30 am)S813 FVK wrote Something that bypassed me until a couple of days ago was the withdrawl of 6022 from Chester-le-Street:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/item.php?operatorF=2&fleetnoF=6022

Does the fact that the issues were deemed uneconomical to repair suggest that a double decker route will be upgraded which will see the first lot of remaining B7s off once all of the cascades have been completed?

The going is that the N94 Omnidekkas will cascade (based on guess work, of course). I doubt they'd outright replace spare buses with B9s or the sort.
All of the pronto ones have gone due to defects or charity appeal, so I don't feel it's much a surprise that they're failing. I was driving past Emmanuel College at around 5pm a few nights ago and that one was still there with about 5 engineers at work!
The Omnidekkas are too reliable for Stanley at any rate - only one (6127) causes issues 😛

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(15 Jan 2017, 11:26 am)Jamie M wrote The going is that the N94 Omnidekkas will cascade (based on guess work, of course). I doubt they'd outright replace spare buses with B9s or the sort.
All of the pronto ones have gone due to defects or charity appeal, so I don't feel it's much a surprise that they're failing. I was driving past Emmanuel College at around 5pm a few nights ago and that one was still there with about 5 engineers at work!
The Omnidekkas are too reliable for Stanley at any rate - only one (6127) causes issues ?

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No not at all - it would be vehicles such as the Omnidekkas which would replace them. The Pronto ones weren't needed for further use apart from covering projects etc - future planning of Omnidekka arrivals helped with that.

The strongest rumour for a decker route to be replaced is, of course, the TEN. 

The 13 branded B9s could be split up into 12 and 1. The 12 would go to Stanley for the 6/X70/X71 (PVR 10) with 2 corporate liveried spares. The single 1 would be repainted into the Corporate livery and sent to Percy Main to give the Cobalt Clipper 2 spares again (alternatively repaint this B9 into silver and brand it to give them a full branded PVR).

This would replace 12 Omnidekkas at Stanley. These could replace Stanley's own B7s (6009/11/2/3/4/6/32/42) leaving 4, 1 of which would definitely go to Chester-le-Street to replace 6022 with the posibility of the others heading down too. The Percy Main B9 would replace a single B7TL there.

That would mean that at least 13 B7TLs would be withdrawn, not including the extra TEN PVR that would likely remain at Riverside for TTX spares.

(15 Jan 2017, 11:52 am)S813 FVK wrote No not at all - it would be vehicles such as the Omnidekkas which would replace them. The Pronto ones weren't needed for further use apart from covering projects etc - future planning of Omnidekka arrivals helped with that.

The strongest rumour for a decker route to be replaced is, of course, the TEN. 

The 13 branded B9s could be split up into 12 and 1. The 12 would go to Stanley for the 6/X70/X71 (PVR 10) with 2 corporate liveried spares. The single 1 would be repainted into the Corporate livery and sent to Percy Main to give the Cobalt Clipper 2 spares again (alternatively repaint this B9 into silver and brand it to give them a full branded PVR).

This would replace 12 Omnidekkas at Stanley. These could replace Stanley's own B7s (6009/11/2/3/4/6/32/42) leaving 4, 1 of which would definitely go to Chester-le-Street to replace 6022 with the posibility of the others heading down too. The Percy Main B9 would replace a single B7TL there.

That would mean that at least 13 B7TLs would be withdrawn, not including the extra TEN PVR that would likely remain at Riverside for TTX spares.

That is what I mean, the Omnidekkas will replace the B7s 😛
Still haven't gotten the hang of the terminology!

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(15 Jan 2017, 11:52 am)S813 FVK wrote No not at all - it would be vehicles such as the Omnidekkas which would replace them. The Pronto ones weren't needed for further use apart from covering projects etc - future planning of Omnidekka arrivals helped with that.

The strongest rumour for a decker route to be replaced is, of course, the TEN. 

The 13 branded B9s could be split up into 12 and 1. The 12 would go to Stanley for the 6/X70/X71 (PVR 10) with 2 corporate liveried spares. The single 1 would be repainted into the Corporate livery and sent to Percy Main to give the Cobalt Clipper 2 spares again (alternatively repaint this B9 into silver and brand it to give them a full branded PVR).

This would replace 12 Omnidekkas at Stanley. These could replace Stanley's own B7s (6009/11/2/3/4/6/32/42) leaving 4, 1 of which would definitely go to Chester-le-Street to replace 6022 with the posibility of the others heading down too. The Percy Main B9 would replace a single B7TL there.

That would mean that at least 13 B7TLs would be withdrawn, not including the extra TEN PVR that would likely remain at Riverside for TTX spares.

Not being biased at all here BTW even though it's one of the routes that I use often.

Surely GNE would want the 'binge drinking' (although very lovely indeed) B9s removed from the Cobalt Clippers where the 310 barely goes above 30MPH barring between Station Road and Benfield Road as well as the fact that the Cobalt Clipper (alongside Fab 56) were in the pipeline to get GKN modifications completed to save fuel. Surely GNE wouldn't have considered trying it out if the B9s weren't too heavy on the fuel.

As well as that, there are hardly any hills or challenging parts on either the 309 / 310 and with the fuel savings incurred using Streetdecks, GNE could increase the PVR by an extra vehicle if they needed to by either giving the 310 a long layover in Shields or splitting both routes and only have them interworking during some of the peak times and on Sunday daytime.

If the Cobalt Clippers were upgraded:
* 6101(T); 6102; 6103 could then act as spares alongside 6084(T) at Riverside / Hexham for the TEN and in the case of 6101, the TTX.
* 6104; 6105; 6106 could then make up the PVR shortfall on the TEN to have a full allocation of 16x B9TLs.
* 6107 - 6116 including 6117 as a spare could then transfer to Stanley for the 6/X70/X71

The option would also be there to reinstate a half hourly service between Blackhall Mill and Greenside with 6103 being used to increase the PVR to 17 still meaning that Hexham would have 1x B9 spare for 7x vehicles (including the bus that gets used on layover) as well as Riverside having 6102 as spare for 9x vehicles as well as 6101(T) also helping out should it not be needed on the TTX.

(15 Jan 2017, 12:37 pm)L469 YVK wrote Not being biased at all here BTW even though it's one of the routes that I use often.

Surely GNE would want the 'binge drinking' (although very lovely indeed) B9s removed from the Cobalt Clippers where the 310 barely goes above 30MPH barring between Station Road and Benfield Road as well as the fact that the Cobalt Clipper (alongside Fab 56) were in the pipeline to get GKN modifications completed to save fuel. Surely GNE wouldn't have considered trying it out if the B9s weren't too heavy on the fuel.

As well as that, there are hardly any hills or challenging parts on either the 309 / 310 and with the fuel savings incurred using Streetdecks, GNE could increase the PVR by an extra vehicle if they needed to by either giving the 310 a long layover in Shields or splitting both routes and only have them interworking during some of the peak times and on Sunday daytime.

If the Cobalt Clippers were upgraded:
* 6101(T); 6102; 6103 could then act as spares alongside 6084(T) at Riverside / Hexham for the TEN and in the case of 6101, the TTX.
* 6104; 6105; 6106 could then make up the PVR shortfall on the TEN to have a full allocation of 16x B9TLs.
* 6107 - 6116 including 6117 as a spare could then transfer to Stanley for the 6/X70/X71

The option would also be there to reinstate a half hourly service between Blackhall Mill and Greenside with 6103 being used to increase the PVR to 17 still meaning that Hexham would have 1x B9 spare for 7x vehicles (including the bus that gets used on layover) as well as Riverside having 6102 as spare for 9x vehicles as well as 6101(T) also helping out should it not be needed on the TTX.

They weren't exactly going to trial those modifications on 15 year old buses at Stanley or Crook, though. The B9/B5LHs were the only vaguely new buses then - and at the time the 56/309/310 were the newest deckers (63 reg). I feel it was down to this, more than anything.
Logically, the company would be looking to upgrade the route which costs the most to run by fuel (crawling through town and challenging hill work or travelling flat out along national speed limit). This gives a shortlist of everything BUT the 309/310: X9/X10 (A19), 10/A/B/X (Town -> Station -> Metro -> Stocksfield), 21 (Past Chester to Durham or Bishop), X1 (Wrekenton) and 56 (Donwell -> Wrekenton).

I could be wrong in ruling out the 309/310, but the others seem to have a more challenging route than just coasting at 30, which I'd guess at being the most economical speed for a bus.



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