662 is now in fleet livery

(28 Dec 2024, 11:27 am)Michael wrote 662 is now in fleet livery

As is 657 ( Peterlee Purple)

(03 Jan 2025, 2:00 pm)Retro Nero wrote As is 657 ( Peterlee Purple)

I'm sure I read all of them are getting repainted.

(03 Jan 2025, 6:27 pm)Michael wrote I'm sure I read all of them are getting repainted.

Yes , the Peterlee branding is getting dropped.

(03 Jan 2025, 9:00 pm)Retro Nero wrote Yes , the Peterlee branding is getting dropped.

Cheers, I thought I read that, I couldn't find the post.

6331 looking smart. 
Wish they’d put the front logo on the upper panel though instead of just above the number plate. There’s a few different vehicle types where they’ve done this and it looks too low.
Never mind, always good to see another vehicle put into fleet livery.
https://flic.kr/p/2qEkEZy

(09 Jan 2025, 3:02 pm)ne14ne1 wrote 6331 looking smart. 
Wish they’d put the front logo on the upper panel though instead of just above the number plate. There’s a few different vehicle types where they’ve done this and it looks too low.
Never mind, always good to see another vehicle put into fleet livery.
https://flic.kr/p/2qEkEZy

Including a green Wright badge! Nice to see that attention to detail is a skill that GNE value.

5446 - NK66 EVG is now in GNE livery.

Can’t see all them graphites being painted by Sunday mind. 
Have they even started??

(23 Jan 2025, 10:55 pm)Acky81 wrote Can’t see all them graphites being painted by Sunday mind. 
Have they even started??

I hope that they are prioritising getting buses on the road rather than painting them!

(24 Jan 2025, 5:05 pm)busmanT wrote I hope that they are prioritising getting buses on the road rather than painting them!

Least from Sunday, Deptford will have more spare buses to help out.

Hopefully they will start to repaint buses that have not yet had one since they were new. There are about 10 Streetlites that are still in adapted 2016 livery that have never had repaints.

(26 Jan 2025, 2:00 pm)ian foster wrote Hopefully they will start to repaint buses that have not yet had one since they were new. There are about 10 Streetlites that are still in adapted 2016 livery that have never had repaints.

Buses not being repainted from new isn't unique to GNE of course.

(26 Jan 2025, 2:00 pm)ian foster wrote Hopefully they will start to repaint buses that have not yet had one since they were new. There are about 10 Streetlites that are still in adapted 2016 livery that have never had repaints.

The Drifters are going corporate and all solos are also going corporate including Peterlees

(26 Jan 2025, 2:19 pm)busmanT wrote Buses not being repainted from new isn't unique to GNE of course.

No, but painting some batches of buses multiple times over to keep trying and failing to "create desire" while leaving others untouched is pretty much a GNE phenomenon.

They look so much better with a matching front panel

https://flic.kr/p/2qPtRsv

It’s now mid April and the Sunderland buses have still not been painted.
Drifters Graphites east Durham explorer silver fox go north west - all these should be corporate by now!!!!

(16 Apr 2025, 11:51 pm)Acky81 wrote It’s now mid April and the Sunderland buses have still not been painted.
Drifters Graphites east Durham explorer silver fox go north west - all these should be corporate by now!!!!

Unfortunately, the vehicle shortages (high VOR) across all depots is preventing anything from being painted at the moment

Wish they would keep the Drifters.

(17 Apr 2025, 5:27 pm)Liam Hall wrote Unfortunately, the vehicle shortages (high VOR) across all depots is preventing anything from being painted at the moment

Any plans for Go North East to purchase some "New Buses" as they're desperately needed given the current state of the fleet.

(19 Apr 2025, 10:20 pm)Malarkey wrote Any plans for Go North East to purchase some "New Buses" as they're desperately needed given the current state of the fleet.

The MD mentioned purchasing some new vehicles recently when addressing the problems with reliability, but it was unclear whether that was the electric buses they have the funding for, or some other new buses for other depots that arguably need them more.

(19 Apr 2025, 10:23 pm)deanmachine wrote The MD mentioned purchasing some new vehicles recently when addressing the problems with reliability, but it was unclear whether that was the electric buses they have the funding for, or some other new buses for other depots that arguably need them more.

Or some more second hand shite

(19 Apr 2025, 10:23 pm)deanmachine wrote The MD mentioned purchasing some new vehicles recently when addressing the problems with reliability, but it was unclear whether that was the electric buses they have the funding for, or some other new buses for other depots that arguably need them more.

Some Cummins Ultroliners would be great for the X10 & X21 and maybe the 10/10A/10B(and 12 if left interworking).

(19 Apr 2025, 10:23 pm)deanmachine wrote The MD mentioned purchasing some new vehicles recently when addressing the problems with reliability, but it was unclear whether that was the electric buses they have the funding for, or some other new buses for other depots that arguably need them more.

I would say they were referring to the Electric Buses due later in the year I believe.

I'd hope that on the flipside they're purchasing additional New Buses which are desperately needed across the region, I'd personally focus on replacing Buses on routes that have had to no investment in the past 12 years which would be the 4, 10's, 16's, 27, 47, 49's/96, 56, 60, 307/309 & X10/X21.

I'd order the following:

x32 Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora's - Replaces 5358-5390 which would all be Withdrawn, Services upgraded 4, 49/49A, 96, 680/684/687.

x90 Wright Streetdeck Cummins 6.7L - Replaces 6001-6007, 6043-6117, 6232-6240, 6301-6307 & 6352-6355, 6356-6363. Services upgraded 10's/27/47/307-309 & X10/X21.

• 6001-6007 & 6043-6117 replace Ex London/East Yorkshire & Lothian Buses which would be Withdrawn.
  
• 6301-07 get an EV Conversion/Mid-Life Refurbishment and replace 3941-43/3963-3965 which would be Withdrawn and would be Re-Allocated in the Fleet.
  
• 6232-6240 would be Withdrawn.
  
• 6352-6355 transfer from Riverside to Consett as spares for X-Lines Services.
  
• 6356-6363 transfer from Riverside to Washington for Service 50.
  

Once New EV's arrive for the 21, Wright Streetdecks 6315-6333 would go for Mid-Life Refurbishment/EV Conversion and then Re-Allocated alongside 6301-6307 in the Fleet giving a total x26 EV Conversions, obviously GNE would need funding for this.

(Yesterday, 8:03 pm)Malarkey wrote I would say they were referring to the Electric Buses due later in the year I believe.

I'd hope that on the flipside they're purchasing additional New Buses which are desperately needed across the region, I'd personally focus on replacing Buses on routes that have had to no investment in the past 12 years which would be the 4, 10's, 16's, 27, 47, 49's/96, 56, 60, 307/309 & X10/X21.

I'd order the following:

x32 Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora's - Replaces 5358-5390 which would all be Withdrawn, Services upgraded 4, 49/49A, 96, 680/684/687.

x90 Wright Streetdeck Cummins 6.7L - Replaces 6001-6007, 6043-6117, 6232-6240, 6301-6307 & 6352-6355, 6356-6363. Services upgraded 10's/27/47/307-309 & X10/X21.

• 6001-6007 & 6043-6117 replace Ex London/East Yorkshire & Lothian Buses which would be Withdrawn.
  
• 6301-07 get an EV Conversion/Mid-Life Refurbishment and replace 3941-43/3963-3965 which would be Withdrawn and would be Re-Allocated in the Fleet.
  
• 6232-6240 would be Withdrawn.
  
• 6352-6355 transfer from Riverside to Consett as spares for X-Lines Services.
  
• 6356-6363 transfer from Riverside to Washington for Service 50.
  

Once New EV's arrive for the 21, Wright Streetdecks 6315-6333 would go for Mid-Life Refurbishment/EV Conversion and then Re-Allocated alongside 6301-6307 in the Fleet giving a total x26 EV Conversions, obviously GNE would need funding for this.

No need for that many deckers imo.

Assuming the Streetdecks from the 21 go onto the 51/52/93/94 then that's Riverside pretty much sorted really. The ex London stock can then go into the role which they should be doing and that's spares for the single doors and schools only for the dual doors, with anything pre 09 plate withdrawn.

Personally if I was looking at an order I'd fight for: 
9x E400MMC's - X10/X21
8x E400MMC's - X5/X15/X45/X70/X71/X72/X73
9x E200MMC's - 60 / Spare
13x E200MMC's - Carousel Buses

Movements
7x 70 Plate Streetdeck (6356-62) - X20
2x Streetdeck (6331/6363) - Washington
7x B5TL's - Yorkshire
10x E200MMC's - 4
10x Merc's - Withdrawn (Possibly Carousel aswell, replace their older examples and leased vehicles)
9x Deptford Streetlite - 34/340/341/Spares
7x Carousel Streetlite - 6 / Spare
4x Carousel Streetlite - Hexham
4x Hexham Versa's - X66/49/49A/96
2x Carousel 65 Plate Versa's - X66/49/49A/96
12x 10/11 Plate Versa's - Withdrawn

It's nothing massive and is effectively just replacing the buses which are currently on lease and the fuel heavy Merc's, with a few extras which will benefit Yorkshire, in the main. They clearly don't want to invest up here so might actually have have a shout for it and one of their lucrative South East operators gets shot of their own microfleet of Streetlite's and Versa's.

(19 Apr 2025, 10:23 pm)deanmachine wrote The MD mentioned purchasing some new vehicles recently when addressing the problems with reliability, but it was unclear whether that was the electric buses they have the funding for, or some other new buses for other depots that arguably need them more.

I was looking at the age of the fleet and assuming they have plans to get rid at the ages used historically, there's going to be a lot to replace soon. 

However, I'll take another wild punt and predict the fleet will continue to reduce in size and there won't be direct replacements for each vehicle retired.

I'm sure covid and franchising will get the blame. Maybe even changing passenger habits.
But ultimately, it's down to short-term thinking and flawed purchases. 
Imagine getting in second hand stock that are scheduled to move on, in the same period as directly purchased stock...

(10 hours ago)Andreos1 wrote I was looking at the age of the fleet and assuming they have plans to get rid at the ages used historically, there's going to be a lot to replace soon. 

However, I'll take another wild punt and predict the fleet will continue to reduce in size and there won't be direct replacements for each vehicle retired.

I'm sure covid and franchising will get the blame. Maybe even changing passenger habits.
But ultimately, it's down to short-term thinking and flawed purchases. 
Imagine getting in second hand stock that are scheduled to move on, in the same period as directly purchased stock...

It's not just a North East issue either. The North East fleet is modern compared to some areas, especially Go East Anglia which still have 2 ex Omnicity's in service.

The whole GoAhead fleet is turning into a bit of a heritage fleet bar Oxford and parts of the South Coast like Brighton. 

Even their London fleet is getting on now.