(19 Jan 2014, 11:08 am)Dan wrote If the "Crusader" receives investment this year, we will have a number of 'spare' Citaros. These could be transferred to Stanley depot for use on the "Red Kite" or indeed "West Durham Swift", assuming the single deck trial using OmniCity vehicles is successful (i.e. loadings not being an issue). You then have a number of OmniCity vehicles spare... Bearing in mind depot standardisation, where would be good to place the OmniCity vehicles?

Deptford!

Going back though the post's seems we have lost 547... will we loose any other MPD's?

Hopefully the SPD are removed from the fleet allocation tomorrow from Deptford.

Only a week untill changes =)

(19 Jan 2014, 11:25 am)Michael wrote Deptford!

Going back though the post's seems we have lost 547... will we loose any other MPD's?

Hopefully the SPD are removed from the fleet allocation tomorrow from Deptford.

Only a week untill changes =)

Wishful thinking! Deptford have standards! Can't be giving them unreliable Omnis!

I understand the only MPD which will move from Deptford is 547. This has happened to allow service 27X and 40A to be operated with a 'red spare' vehicle, and of course so that Peterlee can gain another yellow MPD (564). Less pressure on Deptford if Peterlee have two spares.

Remember, 8227/31/32 are currently in use at Stanley depot having been transferred to alleviate shortages at this depot. 8224 also saw brief use at Peterlee for the same reason but is now back at Deptford depot, presumably withdrawn. Same story for 4911 at Winlaton, has since returned to Percy Main.
8231 was out in service yesterday, as can be seen here.

On another note - MPDs 504, 505, 514 and 517 have been sold to Ensign Bus. A photo of 505 can be seen here.

(19 Jan 2014, 11:30 am)Dan wrote Wishful thinking! Deptford have standards! Can't be giving them unreliable Omnis!

I understand the only MPD which will move from Deptford is 547. This has happened to allow service 27X and 40A to be operated with a 'red spare' vehicle, and of course so that Peterlee can gain another yellow MPD (564). Less pressure on Deptford if Peterlee have two spares.

Remember, 8227/31/32 are currently in use at Stanley depot having been transferred to alleviate shortages at this depot. 8224 also saw brief use at Peterlee for the same reason but is now back at Deptford depot, presumably withdrawn. Same story for 4911 at Winlaton, has since returned to Percy Main.
8231 was out in service yesterday, as can be seen here.

On another note - MPDs 504, 505, 514 and 517 have been sold to Ensign Bus. A photo of 505 can be seen here.

I like the Omni's but their quite unreliable for long distance run's.

Peterlee can have the rest if they like (expect for the 2 for the 238)

Has 4911 being repainted yet or is it still in Cobalt Spare?

I would say Deptford may loose more buses today?

What was the capacity of the new depot for buses being their, was it 170?

(19 Jan 2014, 11:37 am)Michael wrote unreliable for long distance runs.

What makes vehicles unreliable for long runs yet, presumably, reliable for short runs?

Is it overheating? Do the depot mechanics 'fix' the faults between runs?

(19 Jan 2014, 11:43 am)G-CPTN wrote What makes vehicles unreliable for long runs yet, presumably, reliable for short runs?

Is it overheating? Do the depot mechanics 'fix' the faults between runs?

Not sure, they just don't seem to be like to be on the roads, shame cause i like them, they seem to have alot of problems on the west Durham swift when they were on

(19 Jan 2014, 11:47 am)Michael wrote Not sure, they just don't seem to be like to be on the roads, shame cause i like them, they seem to have alot of problems on the west Durham swift when they were on

I very rarely saw a spare on the West Durham Swift when they were on. I'd say that the deckers are more unreliable but that's probably because they have had a lot more work to do in their lifes, although the Lolynes are really good!

(19 Jan 2014, 11:47 am)Michael wrote Not sure, they just don't seem to be like to be on the roads, shame cause i like them, they seem to have alot of problems on the west Durham swift when they were on

It's down to how powerful the engine is in terms of power and size. I'll give you an example. Take a look at Arriva's X18. Now the VDL DB250 Lowlanders have quite a high amount of BHP and that alone combined with the 9.0L DB250 engine, is more than sufficient to power a bus upto Alnwick or Berwick on a daily baiss without having to go near maximum RPM on the dual carriageways or rural B roads. Therefore, the engine is working less harder and keeping the vehicle cooler whilst reducing wear and tear on the engine. Now take a look at the ADL Enviro 400. For the E400 to perform the same as the DB250, the E400 will have to go near maximum RPM to achieve what the DB250 can achieve. The E400 in comparison to the DB250 only has a 6.7 Cummins engine and only 240bnp. That means that a turbocharger is needed for the E400 to cope now, if the turbo fails or deteriorates, then the engine is left working on it's own whilst trying to power up the Northumberland Coast, therefore the engine is being strained thus resulting in wear and tear and just recently noted by 7510 going up in flames, the engine also gets too hot and due to the heat of the engine, this causes the waterpipes to heat up meaning that the bus is overheating and either has to be taken out of service or, will go on fire as 7510 did. Dennis vehicles have always had problems winth performance and overheating due to the size of the engines. The 2000 ELC Tridents had to get the sensors taken out when they were new. Take this as an example, when Arriva purchased 7430 - 7435 for the 602, they suffered the same problems as the E400 due to the nature of the route then, when they transferred to Blyth for the 308 due to not coping on the 602, they again couldn't cope but this time, due to wear and tear; and also the distance of the route so a couple of years later, they were transferred to Jesmond for the 306 when 7436 -7442 became available for the 308 and on evenings and Sundays, they had a rest and the Palatine 2 or Volvo B10 operated the 306 to conserve the ALX400's.

(19 Jan 2014, 11:37 am)Michael wrote Has 4911 being repainted yet or is it still in Cobalt Spare?

I would say Deptford may loose more buses today?

What was the capacity of the new depot for buses being their, was it 170?

I believe it's still in Cobalt livery.

No further movements from Deptford as of yet.

Think it's 150.

(19 Jan 2014, 12:18 pm)Dan wrote I believe it's still in Cobalt livery.

No further movements from Deptford as of yet.

Think it's 150.

Thanks =)

(19 Jan 2014, 12:17 pm)Davey Bowyer wrote It's down to how powerful the engine is in terms of power and size. I'll give you an example. Take a look at Arriva's X18. Now the VDL DB250 Lowlanders have quite a high amount of BHP and that alone combined with the 9.0L DB250 engine, is more than sufficient to power a bus upto Alnwick or Berwick on a daily baiss without having to go near maximum RPM on the dual carriageways or rural B roads. Therefore, the engine is working less harder and keeping the vehicle cooler whilst reducing wear and tear on the engine. Now take a look at the ADL Enviro 400. For the E400 to perform the same as the DB250, the E400 will have to go near maximum RPM to achieve what the DB250 can achieve. The E400 in comparison to the DB250 only has a 6.7 Cummins engine and only 240bnp. That means that a turbocharger is needed for the E400 to cope now, if the turbo fails or deteriorates, then the engine is left working on it's own whilst trying to power up the Northumberland Coast, therefore the engine is being strained thus resulting in wear and tear and just recently noted by 7510 going up in flames, the engine also gets too hot and due to the heat of the engine, this causes the waterpipes to heat up meaning that the bus is overheating and either has to be taken out of service or, will go on fire as 7510 did. Dennis vehicles have always had problems winth performance and overheating due to the size of the engines. The 2000 ELC Tridents had to get the sensors taken out when they were new. Take this as an example, when Arriva purchased 7430 - 7435 for the 602, they suffered the same problems as the E400 due to the nature of the route then, when they transferred to Blyth for the 308 due to not coping on the 602, they again couldn't cope but this time, due to wear and tear; and also the distance of the route so a couple of years later, they were transferred to Jesmond for the 306 when 7436 -7442 became available for the 308 and on evenings and Sundays, they had a rest and the Palatine 2 or Volvo B10 operated the 306 to conserve the ALX400's.

Thank-you, a logical explanation that satisfies me.

(19 Jan 2014, 12:18 pm)Dan wrote I believe it's still in Cobalt livery.

No further movements from Deptford as of yet.

Think it's 150.

With not being down Handy Drive since my Costco card expired a few years back, I haven't seen the layout etc of the depot.

Is the 150 the approved limit registered with VOSA, just internal space or is there scope to store vehicles outside (but within depot grounds) like happens at Sunderland Road, Washington etc

(19 Jan 2014, 12:50 pm)andreos1 wrote With not being down Handy Drive since my Costco card expired a few years back, I haven't seen the layout etc of the depot.

Is the 150 the approved limit registered with VOSA, just internal space or is there scope to store vehicles outside (but within depot grounds) like happens at Sunderland Road, Washington etc

You can see photos of the entire depot (and offices) here.

I think the buses will all be stored outside, in the massive space as shown below:

(19 Jan 2014, 12:52 pm)Dan wrote You can see photos of the entire depot (and offices) here.

I think the buses will all be stored outside, in the massive space as shown below:

this new depot reminds me alot of Deptford it is huge and when i see it on New Years Day when SAFC are playing at home it is totally full to the bone canny good depot but now i wonder which is bigger Handy Drive Depot or Deptford

(19 Jan 2014, 12:52 pm)Dan wrote You can see photos of the entire depot (and offices) here.

I think the buses will all be stored outside, in the massive space as shown below:

Cheers.
Very surprised at the lack of internal storage, away from the pits.
Obviously cheaper for GNE to construct the site in this way, but in turn leaves the majority (if not all) vehicles open to the elements.
Thought there would be some sort of internal garaging.

(19 Jan 2014, 1:47 pm)andreos1 wrote Cheers.
Very surprised at the lack of internal storage, away from the pits.
Obviously cheaper for GNE to construct the site in this way, but in turn leaves the majority (if not all) vehicles open to the elements.
Thought there would be some sort of internal garaging.

There is not really any pits, the vehicles, as Dan shows drive in and they can either be worked on at ground level or elevated up. There is plenty of storage trust me, it is just you cannot see it. A couple of pictures that Dan took, from where he was standing above is the storage area (which Dan will say, is pretty big), then apart from there, there are other areas dedicated for certain items (like tyres).

Most bus depots now are constructed like this, not just GNE. Oxford Bus Company's depot is the same, not just cheaper for construction, but the more building you have the more the local council wants from you.

Compared to what they have now, it is a vast improvement, and as always you cannot please all the people all of the time and some just like to pull everything apart!

(19 Jan 2014, 2:15 pm)citaro5284 wrote There is not really any pits, the vehicles, as Dan shows drive in and they can either be worked on at ground level or elevated up. There is plenty of storage trust me, it is just you cannot see it. A couple of pictures that Dan took, from where he was standing above is the storage area (which Dan will say, is pretty big), then apart from there, there are other areas dedicated for certain items (like tyres).

Most bus depots now are constructed like this, not just GNE. Oxford Bus Company's depot is the same, not just cheaper for construction, but the more building you have the more the local council wants from you.

Compared to what they have now, it is a vast improvement, and as always you cannot please all the people all of the time and some just like to pull everything apart!

I really like it, at first when it was getting built it didn't look as big as i thought it was going to be, now its completed it's massive, it looks really advanced to, hopefully all of GNE new depots are built like this in the future... that's if that ever happens.

Should be a good investment.

How is the route learning happening, with quite a few new routes for drivers - are they busy doing that now?

(19 Jan 2014, 2:23 pm)Michael wrote How is the route learning happening, with quite a few new routes for drivers - are they busy doing that now?

That's what 547 was being used for yesterday!

(19 Jan 2014, 2:27 pm)Dan wrote That's what 547 was being used for yesterday!

Ohhh

(19 Jan 2014, 2:28 pm)Michael wrote Ohhh

A group of drivers were in a B10BLE learning 49s too. Getting plenty of practice in!

(19 Jan 2014, 2:15 pm)citaro5284 wrote There is not really any pits, the vehicles, as Dan shows drive in and they can either be worked on at ground level or elevated up. There is plenty of storage trust me, it is just you cannot see it. A couple of pictures that Dan took, from where he was standing above is the storage area (which Dan will say, is pretty big), then apart from there, there are other areas dedicated for certain items (like tyres).

Most bus depots now are constructed like this, not just GNE. Oxford Bus Company's depot is the same, not just cheaper for construction, but the more building you have the more the local council wants from you.

Compared to what they have now, it is a vast improvement, and as always you cannot please all the people all of the time and some just like to pull everything apart!

Who has pulled everything apart like?
Haven't seen any comments on here from any of the members pulling anything apart?

I agree, there will be advantages in a number of areas to what exists now - the only thing I questioned/commented on was the fact the majority of buses will be kept outside in the elements - regardless whether this is a common design in the industry or not.

(19 Jan 2014, 2:30 pm)Dan wrote A group of drivers were in a B10BLE learning 49s too. Getting plenty of practice in!

Nothing worse... we have the route change to, so that will be included in the tour

Wonder which depots will be next to get a new one..

(19 Jan 2014, 2:44 pm)Michael wrote Nothing worse... we have the route change to, so that will be included in the tour

Wonder which depots will be next to get a new one..

You'd think Chester would be due a revamp. Ripe for housing/development that site.

(19 Jan 2014, 3:44 pm)gtomlinson wrote You'd think Chester would be due a revamp. Ripe for housing/development that site.

I do think, when the time comes, the next super depot would be Chester and Washington.

(19 Jan 2014, 3:46 pm)Dan wrote I do think, when the time comes, the next super depot would be Chester and Washington.

And possibly Stanley. If you ever go past carcraft at Birtley there is hardly any cars parked outside compared to what the used to be, it would be great if they were quick and got the land 2nd time lucky. If carcraft were to move of course.

(19 Jan 2014, 3:46 pm)Dan wrote I do think, when the time comes, the next super depot would be Chester and Washington.

Yeah totally agree with that. Chester and Washington will both benefit from combining the two depots.
That would, leave three super depots each with a low cost unit;
Gateshead Riverside and Saltmeadows
Sunderland Deptford and Peterlee
Chester Washington and Crook.

Then two other normal depots,
Percy Main
Stanley (which I'd combine with Consett tbh)

(19 Jan 2014, 3:59 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote And possibly Stanley. If you ever go past carcraft at Birtley there is hardly any cars parked outside compared to what the used to be, it would be great if they were quick and got the land 2nd time lucky. If carcraft were to move of course.

Do think Stanley's Newcastle ops would move to Riverside and other ops to the Washington/CLS one.

(19 Jan 2014, 4:02 pm)Dan wrote Do think Stanley's Newcastle ops would move to Riverside and other ops to the Washington/CLS one.

Services are bad enough round Stanley way without losing the depot as there been no presence at the end if the routes.

Man you guys must be mind readers or something, as on Friday when out on my Bike I think found great spot for a New Depot for Chester le Street/Washington, But I forgot to Mention it due to being tired etc, Then I seen Daniels Photos at Riverside and jogged my Memory, In the attachment below I have outlined where the New Site would be along with the 2 Current Depots in which it will replace.

Now Although on the Attachment it may not look all that Big for a New Bus Depot to be situated, but when riding past it on Friday it is quite a Big Plot of Land, Plus it is in a Very Handy spot at the Bottom of the Motorway would allow for quick and easy access for Services operating in the Washington Area, which can either go up the Motorway or Alternatively through Picktree Village for example if the M2/M3 are Starting at Birtley/Ayton on a Morning etc.

[attachment=5170]

(19 Jan 2014, 4:04 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Services are bad enough round Stanley way without losing the depot as there been no presence at the end if the routes.

Ultimately would be a cost-cutting exercise, I guess. It is unbelievably rare to see other depots covering a certain depot's service anyway - just how often do you see Gateshead covering Stanley breakdowns if/when they occur in the Newcastle area?

Hexham is a right mess. You can see it rotting. Only a matter of time before that one has to go.

Ye it seems the best idea to merge chester and washington first.

Adam that seems a good area for the next super depot for washington and chester, if it happens.