The 327 actually makes sense to get 75%mid life buses as there is no hills they often do a school and DFDS contract but need to be euro6 and often step in as spares when needed

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Would the Boris buses of London be suitable replacements for the NE for second hand midlife crisis

The iconic buses would stand out if painted and could be a relaunch of a service

(17 Jan 2026, 11:17 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote The 327 actually makes sense to get 75%mid life buses as there is no hills they often do a school and DFDS contract but need to be euro6 and often step in as spares when needed

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Would the Boris buses of London be suitable replacements for the NE for second hand midlife crisis

The iconic buses would stand out if painted and could be a relaunch of a service

I doubt they could be made suitable for services outside of London with their two additional sets of doors and extra staircase taking up additional space and likely unattractive for conversion due to cost.

(17 Jan 2026, 11:17 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote The 327 actually makes sense to get 75%mid life buses as there is no hills they often do a school and DFDS contract but need to be euro6 and often step in as spares when needed

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Would the Boris buses of London be suitable replacements for the NE for second hand midlife crisis

The iconic buses would stand out if painted and could be a relaunch of a service

Aye don't disagree, to be fair though there's enough locally which could go on it really. There's potentially a lot of 2012/13 vehicles going free depending on what's getting released. The Fab 56 and 58 examples are definitely being released though.

Either of those would be ideal imo with the 59 Plates being used to knock out the Dual Door E400's, Optare E400's and the ex Manchester/Yorkshire B9TL's which are old now with the 59 Plates going onto the school contract role.

(18 Jan 2026, 12:17 am)solsburian wrote I doubt they could be made suitable for services outside of London with their two additional sets of doors and extra staircase taking up additional space and likely unattractive for conversion due to cost.

Plus they’ve just been repainted, refurbished, had camera mirrors fitted, and are owned by TfL, not the individual operators.

(17 Jan 2026, 7:48 pm)IL469 YVK wrote 14/15 year old isn't really 'old' for a B9TL - especially for ones taken from an interurban (although not fully demanding) route mid-life and put onto easier work like the 27. They're as strong as their Leyland/Volvo Olympian grandparents & great grandparents.

The Fab 56 B9TLs going to Consett will be a good fit, especially given they're Euro 6 and can also be used on the X45/47 when no E400MMC or Ultroliners available.

The 27 could maybe be a future candidate for some StreetDecks perhaps if GNE received future EV funding for something like the 56.

Next decker investment will most likely be for the 10/10A/10B/12 and depending which way the wind blows with the allocation cascades from this round - possibly the X21 unless some of the X30/X70 boards go to single deck using some of the surplus Supershuttle E200MMCs, with 8x E400MMC going on the X21 - who knows?

Any good info released where cascades are going?

Imo, 20/60 should also be next in line/

They have more chance of getting second hand cascades as you don't need euro 6 for those services imo

(19 Jan 2026, 4:40 am)DaveFromUpNorth wrote They have more chance of getting second hand cascades as you don't need euro 6 for those services imo

Not sure Euro 6 will be much of an issue these days. Anything beyond September 2015 is Euro 6 and the oldest bus in frontline work at Deptford is 2012 anyway so wouldn't really be an upgrade.

(19 Jan 2026, 11:33 am)Storx wrote Not sure Euro 6 will be much of an issue these days. Anything beyond September 2015 is Euro 6 and the oldest bus in frontline work at Deptford is 2012 anyway so wouldn't really be an upgrade.

I think it's only the second hand streetlites and a few solos that aren't Euro 6 now anyways.

Has anyone any news of how many ultroliners are actually up at Consett yet.thank you

(19 Jan 2026, 1:10 pm)ouston man wrote Has anyone any news of how many ultroliners are actually up at Consett yet.thank you

6

(19 Jan 2026, 1:40 pm)Iamtheone8483748 wrote 6

Many thanks. Any idea when they will be in service

(19 Jan 2026, 12:50 pm)deanmachine wrote I think it's only the second hand streetlites and a few solos that aren't Euro 6 now anyways.

Yeah thought so and you'd hope that those second hand Streetlites would be near the top of the chopping block outside the Versa's and Mercs.

(19 Jan 2026, 1:52 pm)ouston man wrote Many thanks. Any idea when they will be in service

From Thursday 22nd January following a launch with Stakeholders at Utilitia Arena on Wednesday.

6818 broke down at Barley Mow early this morning, looks like it's was towed back to depot.

6808 replaced it.

(19 Jan 2026, 3:14 pm)NL62WVW wrote 6818 broke down at Barley Mow early this morning, looks like it's was towed back to depot.

6808 replaced it.

Wow! Already

(19 Jan 2026, 2:49 pm)Storx wrote Yeah thought so and you'd hope that those second hand Streetlites would be near the top of the chopping block outside the Versa's and Mercs.

Some of the Ex First Sheffield examples which I've been on several times on the 67/69 are in quite good condition in comparison to the 63 Plate Versa's which are of the same age and I think they're Euro 6 also so potential for them to stay a little while longer. 

With the remaining Citaros/Versa's you have a PVR of 25 which I think could be fully withdrawn in coming weeks once the New Buses/Fleet Movements have occurred. 

I think 6308-6314 should be branded for Prince Bishops Services (20/20A/X20/65), this would free up 7 Streetlites 5428-5434, yes you'd have a mixed allocation however some services at peak times need the deckers. 

The Angel Streetdecks will release 16 Streetlites off of the Coaster 1 5451-54/5460 & 5470-80, I jiggle these about a bit so that the 66 Plates are split between Riverside/Percy Main and the 17 Plates are all at Washington. 

The X66 is getting New E200EV's in the coming months which will release E200MMC's 5488/5491/5498 to Consett releasing 3 Streetlites which have been escaping onto other services due to the PVR shortage which will hopefully be resolved.

With the above changes that would allow for the Citaros and Versas to be Withdrawn.

(19 Jan 2026, 3:34 pm)Malarkey wrote Some of the Ex First Sheffield examples which I've been on several times on the 67/69 are in quite good condition in comparison to the 63 Plate Versa's which are of the same age and I think they're Euro 6 also so potential for them to stay a little while longer. 

With the remaining Citaros/Versa's you have a PVR of 25 which I think could be fully withdrawn in coming weeks once the New Buses/Fleet Movements have occurred. 

I think 6308-6314 should be branded for Prince Bishops Services (20/20A/X20/65), this would free up 7 Streetlites 5428-5434, yes you'd have a mixed allocation however some services at peak times need the deckers. 

The Angel Streetdecks will release 16 Streetlites off of the Coaster 1 5451-54/5460 & 5470-80, I jiggle these about a bit so that the 66 Plates are split between Riverside/Percy Main and the 17 Plates are all at Washington. 

The X66 is getting New E200EV's in the coming months which will release E200MMC's 5488/5491/5498 to Consett releasing 3 Streetlites which have been escaping onto other services due to the PVR shortage which will hopefully be resolved.

With the above changes that would allow for the Citaros and Versas to be Withdrawn.

Aye no arguments there, I still think the E200MMC's might leave Consett personally.

They'd be a good upgrade for a route elsewhere rather than running around as spares pretty much really. 

The 4 would be the obvious one, displacing out the Mercs and there's 10 of both. Be a decent upgrade really, unlike Streetlites but I get the arguments for keeping all the Enviros together aswell.

(19 Jan 2026, 3:38 pm)Storx wrote Aye no arguments there, I still think the E200MMC's might leave Consett personally.

They'd be a good upgrade for a route elsewhere rather than running around as spares pretty much really. 

The 4 would be the obvious one, displacing out the Mercs and there's 10 of both. Be a decent upgrade really, unlike Streetlites but I get the arguments for keeping all the Enviros together aswell.

Nowhere else really in the fleet they'd fit anyway with a PVR of 10 unless you went for a weekday interworking of the 6/12 but I don't think that will work as I am of the understanding the existing 10/12 interworkings Monday to Friday have no weekends involved for Drivers to work on this rota. 

Either way your going to have a Depot with a mixed allocation of E200's and Streetlites whether that be Consett or Washington, only other suggestion I would make would be the 78 with the service extending to Delves replacing the V1 which would oust the 63 plate Solos that remain, the V2 could be merged into one of the X45 boards seeing off the remaining Solo. 

Then you have further Streetlites free to be permanently allocated to the 6 with the remaining being allocated elsewhere as Consett currently have 15 Streetlites in total at the moment which there PVR, likely some of these will not be needed soon.

Is there meant to be 23 Ultroliner Streetdecks and 25 Electroliner Streetdecks, as I thought it was going to be 25 of each type.

I've seen some of the evs have stopped tracking after finishing a trip that were supposed to do more runs. Are the batteries going flat already? Have they not tested the buses before buying them?

A few photos I took this morning of 6802/6804 at Utilita Arena, both were parked up outside the entrance with no security about at all.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/

(21 Jan 2026, 12:40 am)itsadam wrote I've seen some of the evs have stopped tracking after finishing a trip that were supposed to do more runs. Are the batteries going flat already? Have they not tested the buses before buying them?

They did have a Demonstrator back in 2022 (9048 - LY71 GJE) - https://flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/5...7067369673 which was tested on the service back then so they've had the data to see how long batteries lasted.

Obviously it has been a few years and Wrightbus now offer a Second Generation of the type that was previously used for Demonstration which has a 442kWh zero-emission powertrain has been intelligently engineered to maximise efficiency and power while saving space — the ideal configuration for a UK double deck bus.

With a range of up to 275 miles and fast charging capability, the Electroliner easily fits into daily scheduling and operational demands. Operators are already seeing up to an 11% reduction in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), alongside improvements in charging speed, range, battery life, HVAC systems, and warranty coverage Battery warranties now extend to up to 15 years.

From checking Google the Newcastle-Brandon Services are 22 Miles so the Buses should be capable of completing 12 round trips per day before the battery needs recharging. I would think given the current interworking patterns which include shorts to Chester-Le-Street then they should be lasting 12-14 hours in service as I can't see them lasting longer than that.

The Yutong E10's on the 53/54 tend to last around 14 hours before they're taken off for recharging and usually you'll a Diesel Bus in it's place from 8pmish till end of service. 

Guess we'll have to see how it goes as I do think opportune charging points along the route are a missed opportunity for quick top ups as and when required.

Unfortunately 6400 is not actually out today. Its tracking on bustimes but is actually 6317.

The issue is the same as the issue Stagecoach are having with their EVs - it's cold and the heating's on.

On the 327 for investment, they aren't actually that bad inside. They always seem to be out in service (generally daily on the X39) so they must be mechanically sound

They ocasionally leak but then so do the current crop of Streetdecks!

Commercially they must turn a decent profit with the fare at £7.

Though the DFDS website calls them 'coaches' and shows a picture of the old ELC stock!

Having been on 6396 today, I was suprised at the seating layout downstairs. I'm not sure that having a single seat on the right hand side was a good idea. (It should be a double)

Also, Why are there 5 seats at the back, i thought manufacturers weren't doing that because of safety issues involving the isle.

(21 Jan 2026, 3:45 pm)Ambassador wrote On the 327 for investment, they aren't actually that bad inside. They always seem to be out in service (generally daily on the X39) so they must be mechanically sound

They ocasionally leak but then so do the current crop of Streetdecks!

Commercially they must turn a decent profit with the fare at £7.

Though the DFDS website calls them 'coaches' and shows a picture of the old ELC stock!

Just the age really, they're some of the oldest vehicles in the fleet still in frontline service more than anything else. Arguably better to chuck a 62/63 Plate on now and get a few years out of them since there's nothing realistically newer to put on anytime soon.

I have been thinking about electric buses and the charge in battery which gets me thinking but it would need someone technical to create the driving boards and I hope you understand why ...

CREATE A NEW SERVICE which is SERVICE 100 Eldon Square Bus Station - Metrocentre and run the exact same stops as service 10 10A 10B to metrocentre

Why? Adds capacity to Newcastle and Metrocentre but adds reliability so if the 10 10a 10b are severely delayed they can be terminated early at the Metrocentre etc... now you could make the 100 service (that has a timetable but can often be delayed and it is merely to assist with Electric Buses as oppose to Diesel etc...

service 100 is what people are familiar with years ago along with the X66

So if we have say an 21 service or X10 that is electric after 5hrs of driving it gets back to Eldon Square it then does a 100 to the metrocentre one trip only then NIS to Riverside for the driver break and to put the bus on charge (after day 30-50mins that driver who brought that bus in takes a different electric bus that has been on charge longer and goes NIS to Metrocentre then operates a 100 to Eldon Square then goes back onto 21 or X10 with say by mid day or 2pm in the afternoon has a 80 battery on the bus which would take it into late night service.

The same could be done for Gateshead buses and they change to do a similar model on the X66

this means potentially you can have an early morning bus getting recharged with very little dead mileage and able to last till last bus etc...

Intelligence in the control room will tell you what bus to take as they have up to date info on how much percentage battery the buses have so if they say see a bus with 30% they can instruct it when you reach Eldon Square change to 100 or park up we will have a new bus for you at Eldon Square with a spare driver doing an odd 100 swapping buses etc


you have to think it is easier to rectify it with a few electric buses but when you have a whole fleet with cold weather and no diesel it will become a problem in 10years time etc ...

Clean travel takes centre stage at our electric bus launch

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/clean-trav...bus-launch

(21 Jan 2026, 5:28 pm)Michael wrote Clean travel takes centre stage at our electric bus launch

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/clean-trav...bus-launch

They must have a bit of cash to throw around, these days, with an event like that.