(16 Jul 2017, 2:58 pm)thetravelman wrote I myself would be very interested to hear how you get on in the training school and what the day by day training is like?
From applying to join GNE, what was the process like and how long did it take to be offered a position?
Which depot are you hoping to work at after training?

Hi there, I actually wrote an account of the recruitment process on another forum (before I found this one), which you can read here.

If you or anyone else would like to hear updates then I'm happy to post a few things here from time to time. Not started yet but might be able to provide some updates in a month or so.

(16 Jul 2017, 3:29 pm)MrBoyt wrote Hi there, I actually wrote an account of the recruitment process on another forum (before I found this one), which you can read here.

If you or anyone else would like to hear updates then I'm happy to post a few things here from time to time. Not started yet but might be able to provide some updates in a month or so.

Thanks for that, I will certainly go and read your other post about recruitment. 

I certainly am interested to learn more about the training and becoming a Bus Driver, for my own reference for the future. So if you can post some updates here that would be much appreciated. 

Thanks again.

Thinking out loud :-

6 spare B9 from TTX reallocate as 6043/44/45 to Tyne Valley Ten (3941/42 to Riverside as spare)
6046/47 to Chester for Angel (3962/65 to Riverside as spare)
6048 to Washington for Red Arrow (3943 to Riverside as spare)

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5300/01/02 now in vor line at Riverside

(16 Jul 2017, 4:24 pm)park5354 wrote Thinking out loud :-

6 spare B9 from TTX reallocate as    6043/44/45 to Tyne Valley Ten (3941/42 to Riverside as spare)
                                                                    6046/47 to Chester  for Angel (3962/65 to Riverside as spare)
                                                                     6048 to Washington for Red Arrow (3943 to Riverside as spare)

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5300/01/02 now in vor line at Riverside

I would leave 3943 at Washington and maybe throw one to The Main for Cobalt Clipper with them running one short.

(16 Jul 2017, 4:24 pm)park5354 wrote Thinking out loud :-

6 spare B9 from TTX reallocate as 6043/44/45 to Tyne Valley Ten (3941/42 to Riverside as spare)
6046/47 to Chester for Angel (3962/65 to Riverside as spare)
6048 to Washington for Red Arrow (3943 to Riverside as spare)

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5300/01/02 now in vor line at Riverside

I'd make 6046/47/48 spares at Riverside for the TVT and TTX, would be almost same specification spares for TVT and displace all/most of the Volvo B7TL Gemini's to Chester-le-Street for use on services like 13/X25 and 14/X22 (and 21 of course [emoji6]). 6084 could maybe head to Percy Main as a back up for Cobalt Clippers.

(16 Jul 2017, 4:24 pm)park5354 wrote Thinking out loud :-

6 spare B9 from TTX reallocate as    6043/44/45 to Tyne Valley Ten (3941/42 to Riverside as spare)
                                                                    6046/47 to Chester  for Angel (3962/65 to Riverside as spare)
                                                                     6048 to Washington for Red Arrow (3943 to Riverside as spare)

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5300/01/02 now in vor line at Riverside

What kind of exhaust and cooling system modifications are they getting?

(16 Jul 2017, 5:15 pm)Michael wrote What kind of exhaust and cooling system modifications are they getting?

AVID and Eminox - the same type of modifications all Mercedes Citaro in the fleet are receiving.

(16 Jul 2017, 4:38 pm)Jimmi wrote I'd make 6046/47/48 spares at Riverside for the TVT and TTX, would be almost same specification spares for TVT and displace all/most of the Volvo B7TL Gemini's to Chester-le-Street for use on services like 13/X25 and 14/X22 (and 21 of course [emoji6]). 6084 could maybe head to Percy Main as a back up for Cobalt Clippers.

The 4 B7s to Chester-le-Street is not a bad idea at all. Certainly a doable thing and would allow three Omnidekkas to transfer out (to Stanley to replace 6011/13/32 if they haven't been replaced already?)

(16 Jul 2017, 5:16 pm)Dan wrote AVID and Eminox - the same type of modifications all Mercedes Citaro in the fleet are receiving.

Ah right thanks, has many of the See It Do it Citaro's had the work done yet?

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Has anymore fleet changes taken place with the last Streetlite entering service? (apart from 5298, 5300/01/02 and 5304 getting temporally withdrawn)

Any idea when 5237 will be moving to Stanley - it must have been VOR for a while now? And is there still any intention of 6124 being repainted into Toon Link livery or have plans changed? Also, 6129 is still down as being Black on the fleet list though has since been branded.

(16 Jul 2017, 5:26 pm)peter wrote Any idea when 5237 will be moving to Stanley - it must have been VOR for a while now? And is there still any intention of 6124 being repainted into Toon Link livery or have plans changed? Also, 6129 is still down as being Black on the fleet list though has since been branded.

5237 is at Stanley, just VOR.
6124 is VOR, hence why it hasn't been repainted and branded yet.

(16 Jul 2017, 5:28 pm)Dan wrote 5237 is at Stanley, just VOR.
6124 is VOR, hence why it hasn't been repainted and branded yet.

Thanks for the info Dan! Was reading off the GNE site Fleet Allocation with regard to 5237 - obviously haven't updated to reflect the transfer due to the vehicle being VOR

(16 Jul 2017, 5:34 pm)peter wrote Thanks for the info Dan! Was reading off the GNE site Fleet Allocation with regard to 5237 - obviously haven't updated to reflect the transfer due to the vehicle being VOR

Never is, sometimes its a few days behind on fleet movements when it's updated.

It hasn't been updated since 26th June.

6085 is now "Black"

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/35...hotostream

Photo by Bazza


Wonder if a full re-branding of the FAB 56 in the future?

(17 Jul 2017, 5:33 pm)Michael wrote 6085 is now "Black"

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/35...hotostream

Photo by Bazza


Wonder if a full re-branding of the FAB 56 in the future?

More Toonlink perhaps? 

(17 Jul 2017, 5:59 pm)Adrian wrote More Toonlink perhaps? 

If that happens, then i wonder if the FAB 56 will get new buses?

Then again it might of been repainted to promote something?

(17 Jul 2017, 6:07 pm)Michael wrote If that happens, then i wonder if the FAB 56 will get new buses?

Then again it might of been repainted to promote something?

The Sunderland City of Culture logo is black....would make sense

I think we will see an Angel Hybrid painted black, soon, too...

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(17 Jul 2017, 7:48 pm)Dan wrote I think we will see an Angel Hybrid painted black, soon, too...

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Is it for an promotinal event?


Sounds like a Adidas advert.

(17 Jul 2017, 7:48 pm)Dan wrote I think we will see an Angel Hybrid painted black, soon, too...

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So...Sunderland culture bid then? 

It's alright no-one will see the hybrid anyway. Better off doing an Omnidekka 

With them having 5439, i am not entirely sure it will have anything to do with the City of Culture bid. Repainting a bus (the Angel Hybrid) that normally operates on a service that does not go through Sunderland doesn't make much sense either.

Was driving through Stocksfield at around 7pm tonight and 5231 was parked at the side of the road with hazard lights on and driver sitting on the ground on the opposite on the pavement leaning against a wall, it was on 10 as had it on its destination screen.


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(17 Jul 2017, 8:07 pm)S813 FVK wrote With them having 5439, i am not entirely sure it will have anything to do with the City of Culture bid. Repainting a bus (the Angel Hybrid) that normally operates on a service that does not go through Sunderland doesn't make much sense either.

Think it might be LYNX, Adidas or even Samsung.

Not sure though

Which depots will be operating the Metro Replacements? Perfect for percy main and riverside

(17 Jul 2017, 5:33 pm)Michael wrote 6085 is now "Black"

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/35...hotostream

Photo by Bazza


Wonder if a full re-branding of the FAB 56 in the future?

I'm going to say that Go North East have placed an "Unconfirmed Order" for B5TL's for the 56, and an order in for Streetlites to replace the Omnicities on Toonlink, with the cascaded B9's replacing the Omnidekka's thus leading to withdrawal of the B7 Presidents and some of the older Scania L94's in the fleet as a result, with the new vehicles arriving later in the year.

(17 Jul 2017, 8:40 pm)Michael wrote Think it might be LYNX, Adidas or even Samsung.

Not sure though

Are we getting any form of payment for the mentioning of brand names on here? Because I'd happily suggest more brands if this is the case [emoji1]

(16 Jul 2017, 7:28 pm)Michael wrote Never is, sometimes its a few days behind on fleet movements when it's updated.

It hasn't been updated since 26th June.

You'll be glad to see that it has been updated with the fleet as of W/C 17th June.

Apart from the vehicle movements, it has also been updated to reflect Stanley's move out of the South Division into the North Division joining Riverside, Hexham and Percy Main.

re 6085 - if an Angel and Fab56 are both being repainted, is there anything that these services have in common?

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(18 Jul 2017, 4:19 pm)Dan wrote re 6085 - if an Angel and Fab56 are both being repainted, is there anything that these services have in common?

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They both serve Newcastle and Gateshead. 

Both get regular corporate branded spares. 

Both are rarely on time and run in 3s 

Erm.... Wifi and mama's?

(18 Jul 2017, 4:19 pm)Dan wrote re 6085 - if an Angel and Fab56 are both being repainted, is there anything that these services have in common?

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Night services.....altho are both operated by streetlites?

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(18 Jul 2017, 4:19 pm)Dan wrote re 6085 - if an Angel and Fab56 are both being repainted, is there anything that these services have in common?

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Night services.....altho aren't they both operated by streetlites?