(02 Oct 2020, 9:45 am)Andreos1 wrote I wonder what sort of impact buses omitting Hills St will have on businesses round there?
As an example, I only knew about the redevelopment of the area because I passed through on the bus. 
If the bus hadn't gone along there, I'd be none the wiser that the shops and pubs were 'acceptable' these days.

Businesses in the arches are struggling due to the increase in rents and some have closed.
I hope that isn't just the start and any passing footfall starts to slow down too.

Only speak for myself but i jumped of there a few times for paint in central bar than walk over to bridge hotel. even though the bus stops only been moved to the next road up I am yet to do this now its a bit further away.

Also alot of business have moved from the railway arches. used to be a great butcher there but thats move to walker!!! i think

(02 Oct 2020, 4:17 pm)Andreos1 wrote Assuming people return or find the area now it's all pedestrianised. 

The whole Gateshead traffic management system is doing my head in and has done for a while. No doubt the powers that be within the operators who serve Gateshead are of a similar mindset. 
It will be interesting to see what the impact of the changes are on Prince Consort Road or past the Civic Centre - with traffic heading up and around there, rather than along the short stretch of Askew Road.
New buses or not, I can only see congestion across Gateshead Town centre.

I’m getting sick of having to go around the long way to Trinity Square Car Park due to the cones blocking off the quick way in via the A184 turn off next to West Street especially with all the traffic lights causing congestion. Hopefully that will be reopened as well sooner than later.


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(02 Oct 2020, 6:08 pm)Rob44 wrote Only speak for myself but i jumped of there a few times for paint in central bar than walk over to bridge hotel. even though the bus stops only been moved to the next road up I am yet to do this now its a bit further away.

Also alot of business have moved from the railway arches. used to be a great butcher there but thats move to walker!!! i think

Block and Bottle. 
Loved that place. 

Over Heaton now. The cafe next door has gone too,  but not sure where that's gone (if anywhere).

I think that example you mention about not getting off on Askew Road is a good one. 
You won't be the only one.

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(02 Oct 2020, 4:43 pm)big mac wrote It's already noticeable now around the Regent Terrace area and that roundabout.  It's not even just at peak times, either.  If that's what it is like now, imagine when traffic returns to "normal", whenever that may be.

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Bensham Bank too I bet. 

The knock on effect on reliability is going to be massive I think.

(02 Oct 2020, 8:42 pm)Andreos1 wrote Bensham Bank too I bet. 

The knock on effect on reliability is going to be massive I think.

I think any bus using Bensham Bank could be badly affected due to the congestion at the roundabout at the top. There's so many cars on the roundabout trying to get down Regent Terrace they'll block the buses trying to get down there.

I think they may end up having to have buses coming up Bensham Bank turning left onto Prince Consort Road to get in to the Interchange (in the way the 1a/b already does) to try and minimise the delays.

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Although i agree that some delays occur on regent terrace the times I've used the bus to go that way these have been minimal. I would also say the new layout of the road near the high level has made it quicker and easier for buses to get across the water to Newcastle... on the occasions I travelled anyway!

So what will happen with 6301-03? Will they eventually rebranded for the Angel allowing 6328-30 to transfer across alongside 6331-33 and the 8x new ones for the X45/X46/X47?

(04 Oct 2020, 10:58 am)L469 YVK wrote So what will happen with 6301-03? Will they eventually rebranded for the Angel allowing 6328-30 to transfer across alongside 6331-33 and the 8x new ones for the X45/X46/X47?

I think they're planned to stay as corporate spares at CLS. 

I also believe it was mentioned at some point that no more Angels are going to X-Lines, so I'd imagine once 6304-6307 are partially repainted to Green, that'll be it.

(04 Oct 2020, 10:58 am)L469 YVK wrote So what will happen with 6301-03? Will they eventually rebranded for the Angel allowing 6328-30 to transfer across alongside 6331-33 and the 8x new ones for the X45/X46/X47?

One is currently in use on the X22 (two on Saturdays) - the other two currently remain as spare double-decks for the 13/25 and 21.

From the end of this month another one will be used on the 13/25.

(04 Oct 2020, 11:15 am)Dan wrote One is currently in use on the X22 (two on Saturdays) - the other two currently remain as spare double-decks for the 13/25 and 21.

From the end of this month another one will be used on the 13/25.

So what will eventually make up the PVR of 14x on the X45/X46/X47? At the monent  it stands to have when things settle down.......

- 8x new StreetDecks (2x from X1 PVR reduction)
- 3x 67 reg StreetDecks
- 3x ??????

(04 Oct 2020, 11:12 am)streetdeckfan wrote I think they're planned to stay as corporate spares at CLS. 

I also believe it was mentioned at some point that no more Angels are going to X-Lines, so I'd imagine once 6304-6307 are partially repainted to Green, that'll be it.

I thought they were going Yellow for the X5/X15

(04 Oct 2020, 12:28 pm)L469 YVK wrote So what will eventually make up the PVR of 14x on the X45/X46/X47? At the monent  it stands to have when things settle down.......

- 8x new StreetDecks (2x from X1 PVR reduction)
- 3x 67 reg StreetDecks
- 3x ??????

3 out of 6304-6307

(04 Oct 2020, 1:25 pm)NewcastleOne wrote 3 out of 6304-6307

What will make up the X5/X15 pvr?, 6304 & 6307 are allocated presently, 6306 was until recently (possibly in for repaint), 6305 yet to make it to Consett.

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(04 Oct 2020, 11:12 am)streetdeckfan wrote I think they're planned to stay as corporate spares at CLS. 

I also believe it was mentioned at some point that no more Angels are going to X-Lines, so I'd imagine once 6304-6307 are partially repainted to Green, that'll be it.

What is the current 21 pvr?, stand to be corrected but I get 12.

(04 Oct 2020, 1:37 pm)Stanleyone wrote What will make up the X5/X15 pvr?, 6304 & 6307 are allocated presently, 6306 was until recently (possibly in for repaint), 6305 yet to make it to Consett.

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What is the current 21 pvr?, stand to be corrected but I get 12.

Should be 14x

PVR: x8
Durham: 00:57
Newcastle: 02:06
Newcastle: 02:11
CLS: 02:49
CLS: 03:00
Newcastle: 03:43
Newcastle: 03:48
Durham: 04:53

PVR x3
CLS: 00:08
Newcastle: 00:51
Newcastle: 00:56
CLS: 01:34

PVR x3
CLS: 00:15
Newcastle: 00:58
Newcastle: 01:03
CLS: 01:41

A lot of the Xlines X1’s pictured in Newcastle have Newcastle as their destination. Shouldn’t they be automatically switching to Eldon Square once in Gateshead

(04 Oct 2020, 10:30 am)Rob44 wrote Although i agree that some delays occur on regent terrace the times I've used the bus to go that way these have been minimal. I would also say the new layout of the road near the high level has made it quicker and easier for buses to get across the water to Newcastle... on the occasions I travelled anyway!

Was that before or after the new layout in Gateshead though? Before they changed the layout there were occasionally some delays on Regent Terrace anyway, but as you say quite minimal. Since Askew Road has been closed to cars and Regent Terrace is pretty much the only way cars can now get to the Tyne Bridge from that direction, the traffic there has been much more problematic.

Definitely agree the new layout is definitely better for buses at the bottom of Prince Consort Road to get on the Tyne Bridge, though. Firstly they don't have to battle with squeezing round the Askew Road traffic that used to block their route on to Hills Street, and also they don't now have to wait ages giving way on Hills Street to get on to the bridge. I regularly used to see a queue of buses forming waiting to get out there.

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Go North East X-lines 6369 / NK70 BYG by kieron mathews, on Flickr

6369 is the latest Streetdeck to enter service for the X1

(For some reason today it’s been tracking as 6006)


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sorry I can't quote you message big mac but it wont let me but in reply....

I was talking about since the change of lay out. I get 29 and it goes that way ( rather than straight down and into Gateshead Metro that way) and like i say its no worse in my option than before. The only time it was busy was when they decided a bus lane would be a good idea but thankfully they took that away almost immediately. Like i say hopefully car drivers will realise its going to add to their journey and fine a different way into town or even leave the car and use other modes of transport, meaning buses serving that area will be caught up in less traffic.

Go North East X-lines 6368 / NK70 BYF by kieron mathews, on Flickr

6368 has entered service

So are all existing E400MMC vehicles 6336-6340 going to get retrofitted with bike racks?

(05 Oct 2020, 8:02 pm)L469 YVK wrote So are all existing E400MMC vehicles 6336-6340 going to get retrofitted with bike racks?

I believe someone asked on Twitter when they were first announced and the answer was no.

Although I suppose that may change depending on how popular they are

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(06 Oct 2020, 5:26 am)streetdeckfan wrote I believe someone asked on Twitter when they were first announced and the answer was no.

Although I suppose that may change depending on how popular they are

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So I take it the allocations for Consett will be as follows with 14x E400MMC available?

X30/X70/X71:
- 8x new E400MMC

X31:
- 1x new E400MMC
- 6338-6340

That then leaves 2x spare covering a PVR of 12x.

Once 6377 has done the rounds, is it likely that the following could happen?

- Trials at East Yorkshire - perhaps on X46

- Loaned to another operator as a trial with type being limited. First Eastern Counties would be a good one as in return, the Scania E400MMC could then be trialed by GNE although perhaps too "heavy" for anything bar the X9 & X10 which is a coach operation now.

Just noticed that the X45 once it leaves MetroCentre has 'non stop to Central Station' on the top display, quite like that.

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(10 Oct 2020, 10:30 am)streetdeckfan wrote Just noticed that the X45 once it leaves MetroCentre has 'non stop to Central Station' on the top display, quite like that.

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Still can't help thinking that displaying it then, is a bit like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Imo, saying a bus is non stop from the metrocentre, needs to appear for those punters down the Derwent Valley who need convinced that a bus is an alternative to the car when heading to the town.

Go North East X-lines 6363 / NK70 BYN by kieron mathews, on Flickr

6363 has entered service


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(10 Oct 2020, 3:01 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Go North East X-lines 6363 / NK70 BYN by kieron mathews, on Flickr

6363 has entered service


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GNE Website shows 6363 as NK67BYM and 6371 as NK70BYN. Did they swap around?

(11 Oct 2020, 6:44 pm)R838PRG wrote GNE Website shows 6363 as NK67BYM and 6371 as NK70BYN. Did they swap around?

Yes - NK70BYM was wrongly painted green instead of red, and NK70BYN was wrongly painted red instead of green. The fleet numbers were swapped to keep the batches in numerical order.

(11 Oct 2020, 6:56 pm)Dan wrote Yes - NK70BYM was wrongly painted green instead of red, and NK70BYN was wrongly painted red instead of green. The fleet numbers were swapped to keep the batches in numerical order.

I can understand the X30 E400s being painted the wrong shade of green, but how do you accidentally paint a bus green instead of red?

(11 Oct 2020, 6:59 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I can understand the X30 E400s being painted the wrong shade of green, but how do you accidentally paint a bus green instead of red?

Dont forget the allocation of the X1 dropped by 2. So I'd imagine they would of been given short notice to increase the quantity of green Xlines and reduce quantity of red xlines

(11 Oct 2020, 7:13 pm)JP6004 wrote Dont forget the allocation of the X1 dropped by 2. So I'd imagine they would of been given short notice to increase the quantity of green Xlines and reduce quantity of red xlines

Wouldn't that mean they'd paint it red instead of green though?