(13 Mar 2025, 9:32 pm)nova347 wrote Are they all going to Washy or will they be spread among more depots when the other 7 arrive?

All for Washington, kept at Sunderland...

(13 Mar 2025, 8:24 am)BusLoverMum wrote White 25 reg E200MMC on the 50, this morning. Looks like Washington are leasing some vehicles, now.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-yy25d...2025-03-13

If Bustimes is to be trusted, it didn't last the day either!

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(13 Mar 2025, 9:38 pm)Retro Nero wrote All for Washington, kept at Sunderland...

Driven by Sunderland staff?

(13 Mar 2025, 10:01 pm)Andreos1 wrote If Bustimes is to be trusted, it didn't last the day either!

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Driven by Sunderland staff?

I've been known to conk out on that hill, too.

(13 Mar 2025, 10:01 pm)Andreos1 wrote If Bustimes is to be trusted, it didn't last the day either!

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Driven by Sunderland staff?

Appears the ticket machine got replaced at around lunchtime - https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-9033

(13 Mar 2025, 10:01 pm)Andreos1 wrote If Bustimes is to be trusted, it didn't last the day either!

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Driven by Sunderland staff?

Being picked up first Bus by Washington Drivers and taken back on last run by Washington ( Washington depot will only be registered to have a certain number of buses ) hence being kept at Sunderland

(13 Mar 2025, 4:08 pm)Arriva7446 wrote Well I hope they come on the 342 then, rather than going from full Enviro 200 to full streetlite when Go North East take over, they could ease us in with a couple of these brand new buses. I'm just not looking forward to the daily streetlite ride again!

Don't know if the 342 is actually being operated by Deptford though, as that seems odd, but sure I read that was the case. If it's being operated by Percy Main their Daimler Streetlites are even worse, although they break down so often you might get a nice Cobalt decker substitute. If not it's going to be painful engine vibrations stuck in traffic at Benton ASDA traffic lights. Cummins streetlites are ok ish I suppose, but not as good as an Enviro 200.

Surely the 342 will be operated by Solos - weren't a few made spare with the Sunderland changes in January?

(14 Mar 2025, 10:58 am)busmanT wrote Surely the 342 will be operated by Solos - weren't a few made spare with the Sunderland changes in January?

I'm not really sure as i'm not that familiar with the services around Sunderland, but I do hope this to be the case. That would be preferable.

(14 Mar 2025, 7:31 am)Retro Nero wrote Being picked up first Bus by Washington Drivers and taken back on last run by Washington ( Washington depot will only be registered to have a certain number of buses ) hence being kept at Sunderland

Presumably paying them overtime to get to and from Deptford, in addition to the mileage.

On top of having resource parked up waiting to be fixed. 
And the leasing costs. 

Not very cost effective at all!

(14 Mar 2025, 5:01 am)omnicity4659 wrote Appears the ticket machine got replaced at around lunchtime - https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-9033

Interesting. 

I saw it had been struggling for time and thought it had fallen curse of the GNE engineering team. 

Mind, looking at it, it kept losing it throughout it's day on the 50.

(14 Mar 2025, 1:17 pm)Andreos1 wrote Presumably paying them overtime to get to and from Deptford, in addition to the mileage.

On top of having resource parked up waiting to be fixed. 
And the leasing costs. 

Not very cost effective at all!

Being Shuttled over , I assume included into the appropriate duty

(14 Mar 2025, 1:17 pm)Andreos1 wrote Presumably paying them overtime to get to and from Deptford, in addition to the mileage.

On top of having resource parked up waiting to be fixed. 
And the leasing costs. 

Not very cost effective at all!

Looks good for when the they inevitably get hauled up before the Traffic Commissioner.

(14 Mar 2025, 10:58 am)busmanT wrote Surely the 342 will be operated by Solos - weren't a few made spare with the Sunderland changes in January?

Don't think any were released were they? I'm sure Percy Main had already got them for the 317 when the second hand Streetlites came in which displaced some out. 

The changes as far as I'm aware withdrew the remaining Versa's instead.

(14 Mar 2025, 6:52 pm)Storx wrote Don't think any were released were they? I'm sure Percy Main had already got them for the 317 when the second hand Streetlites came in which displaced some out. 

The changes as far as I'm aware withdrew the remaining Versa's instead.

Unless they plan to run the 317 with Streetlites and put the Solos on the 340/341/342

Unfortunately one of the E400s has been involved in an argument with the central resivation at Hetton Interchange..( sorry no photo as yet ,)

They won’t be getting their deposit back for that one, then.

9037.

Can't post the pic but it looks like they've ripped the skirt off and potentially damaged the AdBlue filler.

(15 Mar 2025, 9:41 pm)F114TML wrote Can't post the pic but it looks like they've ripped the skirt off and potentially damaged the AdBlue fil

Did u find it or did you get it sent to you?

(15 Mar 2025, 10:04 pm)nova347 wrote Did u find it or did you get it sent to you?

I have it I just don't have a means of uploading it. I also don't have a source to link back to it was just sent to me as a direct upload.

First time I've ever felt genuine danger on a bus today.

There was a whistling noise coming from one of the wheels of a bus I was on. A telltale sign of a wheelbearing issue. The driver kept going despite knowing about it as when I asked him if they knew, he told me "yeah". Great response....let's hope the wheel doesn't come off in motion!

Well I was on 5373 on Friday and the grinding coming from underneath the back two wheels it was so loud it did not sound good at all.

I know there was a noiseylite in North Shields the other day on the 9

To be fare after being down in the smoke all weekend the busses down there aren't great either....

Spent the afternoon on Tyneside and noticed a few of the branded 21 deckers were out on the allocated route. 

Saw one with its hazards on and bonnet open. 
Saw another one spewing out black gunk from its back end.

Had a look for broken wingmirrors, but didn't see any.
So putting it down to engine/mechanical issues.

6373 broke down heading South on High St West blocking the bus lane

The 21 behind had to do a guided reverse into the police station and turn back on itself.

Got phone call out work off or less full stop the 29 was tracking in Newcastle but has disappeared can I pick her up a Gateshead. Had to leave work got to the civic center and there is a queue of bushes on High Street West? Where this Civic Center is and the Gloucester pub used to be. Eventually pick two up and came back that way and a goal knows these bush has broken down with seven buses park behind it all with hazards on 5 go North East and two Arriva full stop and guess what one of them was the 28 which changes to the 29 in town. Set it once say it again Washington's sorted out

(24 Mar 2025, 7:37 pm)Rob44 wrote Got phone call out work off or less full stop the 29 was tracking in Newcastle but has disappeared can I pick her up a Gateshead. Had to leave work got to the civic center and there is a queue of bushes on High Street West? Where this Civic Center is and the Gloucester pub used to be. Eventually pick two up and came back that way and a goal knows these bush has broken down with seven buses park behind it all with hazards on 5 go North East and two Arriva full stop and guess what one of them was the 28 which changes to the 29 in town. Set it once say it again Washington's sorted out

Ironically in the same spot where 6373 conked out 

5396 which caused the problems has just re-entered service on the 28B

It would be peak GNE for them to ask for a bus lane, to overcome the delays and disruption this bus lane is causing them. 

'Hey Gannon, Maxfield here. Yup, that's right. Got my begging bowl. You know me!
That bus lane outside the Civic Centre. Anyway, it's causing us issues. Our buses keep getting delayed in it. We want new bus priority measures put in place to speed up our journeys and to help us overcome the traffic and delays caused by that bus lane. 
BSIP you say?! Nice one!'

(24 Mar 2025, 10:48 pm)Andreos1 wrote It would be peak GNE for them to ask for a bus lane, to overcome the delays and disruption this bus lane is causing them. 

'Hey Gannon, Maxfield here. Yup, that's right. Got my begging bowl. You know me!
That bus lane outside the Civic Centre. Anyway, it's causing us issues. Our buses keep getting delayed in it. We want new bus priority measures put in place to speed up our journeys and to help us overcome the traffic and delays caused by that bus lane. 
BSIP you say?! Nice one!'

to be fair that bus lane was probably put in as much to help buses as to stop twat sin cars ingonoring the no right turn down towards the tyne bridge!

I had to laugh as the driver of a 21 obviously knew/saw the brake down and turned right down toward high street but the x21 following when straight on with me behind then stuck his hazards on. And kicked off passengers whilst i did a U turn at Gatesheads answer to Greta green!

5401 expired just beyond Shiney Roundabout this evening. 

No wingmirror issues evident. But a giant wrecker was loading it up.