(10 Feb 2014, 5:56 pm)Dan wrote Think the point I'm getting at is there is room for improvement on the fleet allocation - we're always spotting errors and things are often updated a good few weeks after they actually happen.

Appreciate it's just an enthusiast document, but if you're gonna do something - do it properly...

Another mistake on this weeks: 3941 appears to be in Metroradio livery when its actually 3942!

(10 Feb 2014, 4:43 pm)tyresmoke wrote Upgraded? Depends who wins the contract next time round!

Depends if there is a contract!

Would love to know if it's commercially viable (imagine the Gateshead College section helps)

(10 Feb 2014, 3:56 pm)CatsFast101 wrote What vehicles do people think would be a good replacement on NTL? I think Versas for East Durham (These will allow extra capacity on 202/208/265 which can get busier) however this would have to be through cascades. East Durham requires 17 buses and NTL requires 11 like for like replacements. However in order to for Versa cascades they'd need to upgrade Orbit/QuayLink and maybe SimpliCity, which does require a bit of investment. There's also South Tyne 5 which is likely to be needing Versas also.

What if GNE purchased nine new buses (probably Streetlites or Versas) for the Orbit. This would allow the 9 Orbit Versa's to head to Deptford to standardise the Simplicity network (as well as the South Tyne network). At Deptford it would allow 8319-8322 to transfer to Chester-le-Street for the Lambtom Worm so that older Versas 8302-8305 could transfer to Saltmeadows for the 5. Back at Deptford that would leave five more buses to be displaced which would see 8306 to go to Saltmeadows to make up the full PVR for the 5 (which coincidently happens to be five). Then 8307-8309 could go anywhere-they could go Northern Red or become part of a brand, I'll leave it up to anyone reading this to decide. Lastly 8323 would become a Branded spare for the Simplicity network. This would mean that Versas:

8294-8306 would operate on South Tyne
8307-8309 would operate on ?
8310-8318 would operate on Quaylink
8319-8322 would operate on Lambton Worm and
8323-8338 would operate on Simplicity.

(10 Feb 2014, 5:27 pm)Dan wrote Old news really as we were aware of it all, but note the sentence about 8266... Despite it being a VDL rather than a DAF, it is said to be "Metrocentre Shuttle" branded...

Still got 8239/8241 down at Percy Main also...

(10 Feb 2014, 7:42 pm)Michael wrote Still got 8239/8241 down at Percy Main also...

Although officially withdrawn, they'll still be used... So we'll let the Enthusiast Area dude off for that (for now, anyway)!

I'm told 8239 was on Coaster duties today - not sure about 8241.

(10 Feb 2014, 7:36 pm)peter wrote What if GNE purchased nine new buses (probably Streetlites or Versas) for the Orbit. This would allow the 9 Orbit Versa's to head to Deptford to standardise the Simplicity network (as well as the South Tyne network). At Deptford it would allow 8319-8322 to transfer to Chester-le-Street for the Lambtom Worm so that older Versas 8302-8305 could transfer to Saltmeadows for the 5. Back at Deptford that would leave five more buses to be displaced which would see 8306 to go to Saltmeadows to make up the full PVR for the 5 (which coincidently happens to be five). Then 8307-8309 could go anywhere-they could go Northern Red or become part of a brand, I'll leave it up to anyone reading this to decide. Lastly 8323 would become a Branded spare for the Simplicity network. This would mean that Versas:

8294-8306 would operate on South Tyne
8307-8309 would operate on ?
8310-8318 would operate on Quaylink
8319-8322 would operate on Lambton Worm and
8323-8338 would operate on Simplicity.

BIB: The PVR of the 5 is actually 4 - the fifth vehicle is in effect a branded spare (of course, the reality at the moment is completely different to what is on paper)

(10 Feb 2014, 7:45 pm)Dan wrote Although officially withdrawn, they'll still be used... So we'll let the Enthusiast Area dude off for that (for now, anyway)!

I'm told 8239 was on Coaster duties today - not sure about 8241.

I'll let them off then!

Saw Hexham's Yellow Wright Solar 5210 on H53 (scholars) at Haltwhistle this morning.
Is the H53 a bus where all are welcome or is it only scholars? If so is it normal fare and/or can normal tickets be bought (eg. Get Around day ticket)?

(10 Feb 2014, 8:20 pm)northern156 wrote Saw Hexham's Yellow Wright Solar 5210 on H53 (scholars) at Haltwhistle this morning.
Is the H53 a bus where all are welcome or is it only scholars? If so is it normal fare and/or can normal tickets be bought (eg. Get Around day ticket)?

Everyone is welcome I believe, like most scholars services.

Was 5164 a blaydon racer r pulse coz the bus is yellow with internal pulse branding tht bus needs Refurbishment

(10 Feb 2014, 8:27 pm)speedwheels22 wrote Was 5164 a blaydon racer r pulse coz the bus is yellow with internal pulse branding tht bus needs Refurbishment

5164 was previously ''Pulse'' branded, before moving to Percy Main for the ''Centurion''. 5164/5166 were later dropped from the ''Centurion'' brand as two boards are operated by Lolynes now.

(10 Feb 2014, 7:47 pm)Kuyoyo wrote BIB: The PVR of the 5 is actually 4 - the fifth vehicle is in effect a branded spare (of course, the reality at the moment is completely different to what is on paper)

8300 was on the 5 this morning! First one is Washington operated.

(10 Feb 2014, 8:29 pm)Tom wrote 5164 was previously ''Pulse'' branded, before moving to Percy Main for the ''Centurion''. 5164/5166 were later dropped from the ''Centurion'' brand as two boards are operated by Lolynes now.

Prior to that 5166 was a Fab Fifty Seven. W ent when the route changed to go via Heworth and the frequency dropped to every 20 mins instead of 15 mins.

When will the repaints of the cobalt citaros to be completed? As I imagine by the end of week, most of B9's will be in service won't they?

(10 Feb 2014, 10:38 pm)CatsFast101 wrote When will the repaints of the cobalt citaros to be completed? As I imagine by the end of week, most of B9's will be in service won't they?

First one has just gone to SM but should of being done now and be back at percy main tomorrow... not sure on that though

How can 8300 be on 5 that's washington based isn't it

(10 Feb 2014, 10:40 pm)Michael wrote First one has just gone to SM but should of being done now and be back at percy main tomorrow... not sure on that though

Should return to Riverside rather than Percy Main - the same will apply for the other buses too (but their respective depots, opposed to Riverside).

(10 Feb 2014, 11:23 pm)speedwheels22 wrote How can 8300 be on 5 that's washington based isn't it

An early morning run is operated by Washington, using a "South Tyne" branded Versa.

(10 Feb 2014, 10:38 pm)CatsFast101 wrote When will the repaints of the cobalt citaros to be completed? As I imagine by the end of week, most of B9's will be in service won't they?

One per week from now, with this week's (5331) now done.

(11 Feb 2014, 6:07 am)Dan wrote Should return to Riverside rather than Percy Main - the same will apply for the other buses too (but their respective depots, opposed to Riverside).


An early morning run is operated by Washington, using a "South Tyne" branded Versa.


One per week from now, with this week's (5331) now done.

Oh aye forgot its going to the Blaydon racers now... dam mind getting worse -.-

Why not just send 5333 now since 5331 has being done? 2 per week could be that way


Oh aye Dan what's this announcement like (Its only Tuesday)... lol

(11 Feb 2014, 7:39 am)Michael wrote Why not just send 5333 now since 5331 has being done? 2 per week could be that way

Because Saltmeadows has a lot of other work to do!
Told ya they're gonna be busy!

(11 Feb 2014, 7:41 am)Dan wrote Because Saltmeadows has a lot of other work to do!
Told ya they're gonna be busy!

Theirs to many buses to brand and re-paint... haha

The laser scania im on stinks of burning...

(11 Feb 2014, 8:20 am)Michael wrote The laser scania im on stinks of burning...

The Centurion I had the pleasure of riding from Cramlington to Wallsend at the weekend did too. Was missing a hell of a lot of branding too, but then again, so did two or three others that I photographed.

(10 Feb 2014, 11:23 pm)speedwheels22 wrote How can 8300 be on 5 that's washington based isn't it

Apologise for been naggy here but...R838 PRG said the reason that 8300 was on the 5 in his original post but you still felt the need to ask why it was on anyway. At least read posts rather than seeing the key part which was obviously '8300 on the 5' in this case and not bothering to read the rest! Again, apologies for nagging. But its true though.

Oh right, so is that all the omnicitys at chesterlee st

Where will the WearTees Xpress B10's end up after the citaros are in service?

(11 Feb 2014, 9:35 am)speedwheels22 wrote Oh right, so is that all the omnicitys at chesterlee st

no, I think about 3 are still yet to arrive (5255, 5256 and 5259)

(11 Feb 2014, 11:41 am)CatsFast101 wrote Where will the WearTees Xpress B10's end up after the citaros are in service?

Probably go into the spare role or withdrawn. Cant really see these been used in front-line service. No doubt Stanley will at least one to replace 8221 and possibly the other 3 to make the X30/X31/X70/X71 fully single deck operation.

(11 Feb 2014, 12:04 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote Probably go into the spare role or withdrawn. Cant really see these been used in front-line service. No doubt Stanley will at least one to replace 8221 and possibly the other 3 to make the X30/X31/X70/X71 fully single deck operation.

I think the X30/X31 will be allocated 3886-89 and X70/X71 5250, 5253/54 and 5273.

(11 Feb 2014, 12:30 pm)Dan wrote I think the X30/X31 will be allocated 3886-89 and X70/X71 5250, 5253/54 and 5273.

Yeah, that makes sense. Also while we are on the topic of the X30/X31/X70/X71 surely it would also make sense to put some extra buses on at Rush hour to keep the delays to a minimum as ques are massive between Lobley Hill-Sunniside due to those horrible lights which don't stay on for 2 mins (literally).