(14 Feb 2026, 8:15 am)Storx wrote Aye possibly, would make sense having all the ADL vehicles together really; guess the new Streetdeck's are Cummins aswell so there will at least be some overlap in parts, better than have a few Volvo vehicles around.

Have a feeling the E200MMC's might displace the Versa's if anything though, could easily do.
3x E200MMC to Consett, 4x Streetlite to Hexham, 4x 63 Plate Versa to Riverside, 4x 11 Plate Versa Withdrawn

Would keep some consistency, so Consett aren't dealing with a random batch of Versa's.


Btw I seen this the other day about Percy Main's. 

Personally wouldn't be surprised if the opposite happened and they gained more. If there's loads of Streetlite's going free they're arguably better at Deptford than Percy Main.

Could easily move 10 to Deptford, with 8339-41/48-54 moving onto the 33/62/63 releasing 662-3/673-9

662-3 going to Hexham to replace 721/3
673-4 going to Consett to replace 641/4/5 (only need 2 vehicles and they've already got 682)
675-9 going to Percy Main to replace 8314/21/22/24/25 joining the existing examples for the 333/340/341/342/356

None of these really need anything bigger but that depends on the 342 tender (it used to be Solo though). being withdrawn in the process. Would've said do the Streetlite's and Solo's the opposite way but the 10.8m Streetlite's aren't Euro 6 so are no go on the 356 and the 333 needs a Solo's. Bigger buses are a no go along the fish quay because of bad parking.

Just a thought as well, but could Percy Main not fully StreetDeck if B9TLs were used for the 14/50 - and additional Cummins Ultroliners arrive presumably for the X21? Washington have already had experience with the B9TL so that wouldn't be an issue

47x Daimler StreetDecks

- Deptford 15x (think these are 6362-76)
* 56 - 14x
* Spare - 1x

- Percy Main 32x
* 301 - 14x
* 307/309 - 15x (less on Saturdays)
* Spare - 3x

(14 Feb 2026, 10:20 am)L469 YVK wrote Just a thought as well, but could Percy Main not fully StreetDeck if B9TLs were used for the 14/50 - and additional Cummins Ultroliners arrive presumably for the X21? Washington have already had experience with the B9TL so that wouldn't be an issue

47x Daimler StreetDecks

- Deptford 15x (think these are 6362-76)
* 56 - 14x
* Spare - 1x

- Percy Main 32x
* 301 - 14x
* 307/309 - 15x (less on Saturdays)
* Spare - 3x

Why are you so obsessed with sending the Cobalt away from Percy main ?

(14 Feb 2026, 10:24 am)Nerd4321 wrote Why are you so obsessed with sending the Cobalt away from Percy main ?

Well if you could get 6-7mpg pottering around the doors on a B9TL or 9-10mpg on a StreetDeck - which one would you choose?

Also bearing in mind that Percy Main is quite unique given it's size and the fact they don't really have a 'stronghold' on their main services (301/307/309) with competition from both Arriva & Stagecoach.

Given the size of Percy Main too, would it not be better having 1x decker type covering all of the 301 & 307/309?

(14 Feb 2026, 10:53 am)L469 YVK wrote Well if you could get 6-7mpg pottering around the doors on a B9TL or 9-10mpg on a StreetDeck - which one would you choose?

Also bearing in mind that Percy Main is quite unique given it's size and the fact they don't really have a 'stronghold' on their main services (301/307/309) with competition from both Arriva & Stagecoach.

Given the size of Percy Main too, would it not be better having 1x decker type covering all of the 301 & 307/309?

Assuming the Streetdeck's do end up on the 301 and not the 307/9 as it's been bouncing between the two for ages, I'd say it's better to keep the B9TL's personally. The 307/309 are the sort of the routes which have to be next in line for investment, and will have a stronger business case to suits in an office down south who only care about numbers, especially in comparison to the 50. Those mpg numbers, also helping the business case. 

Same discussion with the 10/10A/10B/12 at Riverside and 60 at Deptford which must be near the top of list for investment aswell. 

All quite strong routes, and none have had investment for years. They're not the routes imo, for cast off 2/3 life expired Streetdeck's imo even known it wouldn't be a surprise. Deptford, Hexham* and Percy Main are all imo due new vehicles aswell since they've had nothing since 2016 / 2015 / 2013 now (discounting buses which moved out) either and these aren't tin pot routes. 

*Aware the 10/10A/10B aren't officially there anymore.

(14 Feb 2026, 11:55 am)Storx wrote Assuming the Streetdeck's do end up on the 301 and not the 307/9 as it's been bouncing between the two for ages, I'd say it's better to keep the B9TL's personally. The 307/309 are the sort of the routes which have to be next in line for investment, and will have a stronger business case to suits in an office down south who only care about numbers, especially in comparison to the 50. Those mpg numbers, also helping the business case. 

Same discussion with the 10/10A/10B/12 at Riverside and 60 at Deptford which must be near the top of list for investment aswell. 

All quite strong routes, and none have had investment for years. They're not the routes imo, for cast off 2/3 life expired Streetdeck's imo even known it wouldn't be a surprise. Deptford, Hexham* and Percy Main are all imo due new vehicles aswell since they've had nothing since 2016 / 2015 / 2013 now (discounting buses which moved out) either and these aren't tin pot routes. 

*Aware the 10/10A/10B aren't officially there anymore.

I get the feeling that GNE were holding back on the likes of the 60 at least hoping they'd get some more funding to put some chargers in at Deptford. Doesn't mean they couldn't buy them new diesel buses and cascade them if they did get funding mind.

Atleast then at Park lane you could install overhead chargers as there are no way the 60 can be deckers so this would work to maintain battery

(14 Feb 2026, 12:39 pm)Unber43 wrote Atleast then at Park lane you could install overhead chargers as there are no way the 60 can be deckers so this would work to maintain battery

Thing is, the 60 wouldn't even need them. I think you could do most 60 boards with current tech quite easy, Deptford's only 5 minutes away, and you could easily get drivers to bring later board's buses up after an hour or so charge.

(14 Feb 2026, 12:42 pm)deanmachine wrote Thing is, the 60 wouldn't even need them. I think you could do most 60 boards with current tech quite easy, Deptford's only 5 minutes away, and you could easily get drivers to bring later board's buses up after an hour or so charge.

I am surprised theyve never had any investment, its arguable one of Deptford busiest routes behind 56, well neither had 56 actually.

(14 Feb 2026, 12:34 pm)deanmachine wrote I get the feeling that GNE were holding back on the likes of the 60 at least hoping they'd get some more funding to put some chargers in at Deptford. Doesn't mean they couldn't buy them new diesel buses and cascade them if they did get funding mind.

Aye similar, to be fair, with electrics. Obviously Stagecoach's investment might give them some time but it can be only before time before someone starts moaning about lack of investment in Sunderland with GNE - especially East Durham since Arriva is as bad in the area. 

The electric buses are also very centralised is certain areas ie. pretty much nothing in East Durham, South West Durham, Northumberland, and North Tyneside whereas pretty much every local bus along Gosforth High Street has them and it seems like the vast majority of cycling improvements go along there aswell.

It'd be interesting to see where some of the top transport team live in the North East as if I had to take a bet, I know where I'd put it...

(14 Feb 2026, 12:53 pm)Storx wrote Aye similar, to be fair, with electrics. Obviously Stagecoach's investment might give them some time but it can be only before time before someone starts moaning about lack of investment in Sunderland with GNE - especially East Durham since Arriva is as bad in the area. 

The electric buses are also very centralised is certain areas ie. pretty much nothing in East Durham, South West Durham, Northumberland, and North Tyneside whereas pretty much every local bus along Gosforth High Street has them and it seems like the vast majority of cycling improvements go along there aswell.

It'd be interesting to see where some of the top transport team live in the North East as if I had to take a bet, I know where I'd put it...

I was thinking that GNE need to start looking at replacements for it's solos now. They're pretty much all 10 years or older this year.

(14 Feb 2026, 1:06 pm)deanmachine wrote I was thinking that GNE need to start looking at replacements for it's solos now. They're pretty much all 10 years or older this year.

When do you expect the Solos will start to be replaced? There are still quite a few of them in the fleet, at Consett, Hexham, Percy Main and Sunderland.

(14 Feb 2026, 12:53 pm)Storx wrote The electric buses are also very centralised is certain areas ie. pretty much nothing in East Durham, South West Durham, Northumberland, and North Tyneside whereas pretty much every local bus along Gosforth High Street has them and it seems like the vast majority of cycling improvements go along there aswell.

It'd be interesting to see where some of the top transport team live in the North East as if I had to take a bet, I know where I'd put it...

…Not simply because it makes perfect sense to invest in the heavily congested & more polluted corridors in urban areas first, by changing buses on those routes to EVs and putting in cycling infrastructure so that people are more like to start cycling for some of their journeys?

(14 Feb 2026, 1:29 pm)ne14ne1 wrote …Not simply because it makes perfect sense to invest in the heavily congested & more polluted corridors in urban areas first, by changing buses on those routes to EVs and putting in cycling infrastructure so that people are more like to start cycling for some of their journeys?

Plenty other corridors around which fit that criteria which isn't Gosforth High Street which would share electric buses out more evenly which don't only benefit Newcastle and Gateshead. 

Coast Road - 306/7/8/9 (Blyth / Whitley Bay / North Shields / Tynemouth)
West Road - 37/38/39/40 (Killingworth / Wallsend)
Chillingham Road - 62/63 (Outer West / Killingworth)
Chester Road - 2 (Washington)
Ryhope Road - 60 (Seaham)
Shields Road (North) - 22/39/40/301 (Whitley Bay / Tynemouth / North Shields / Wallsend)
Shields Road (South) - 27 (South Shields / Jarrow / Hebburn)

Just to throw a few out there.

Cycling the same, where's the investment in the West and East Ends?

(14 Feb 2026, 1:06 pm)deanmachine wrote I was thinking that GNE need to start looking at replacements for it's solos now. They're pretty much all 10 years or older this year.

It'll be interesting to see how many of them get replaced like for like tbh; obviously some are needed for the likes of Hexham, Peterlee, Washington and Consett locals but for the rest it'd arguably be better to get a big batch of 10.8m Singles and replace the rest of the midibuses as they're all getting on aswell (excluding the Yutongs)

The likes of the 2/32/33/61/62/63/67/69/317/340/341/342/353/354/355/356 would be ideal for them really. Least it gives them a bit more headroom to move them around in the future.

Obviously GoAhead being GoAhead they'll not doubt find some more castoffs from elsewhere instead.

(14 Feb 2026, 1:49 pm)Storx wrote Plenty other corridors around which fit that criteria which isn't Gosforth High Street which would share electric buses out more evenly which don't only benefit Newcastle and Gateshead. 

Coast Road - 306/7/8/9 (Blyth / Whitley Bay / North Shields / Tynemouth)
West Road - 37/38/39/40 (Killingworth / Wallsend)
Chillingham Road - 62/63 (Outer West / Killingworth)
Chester Road - 2 (Washington)
Ryhope Road - 60 (Seaham)
Shields Road (North) - 22/39/40/301 (Whitley Bay / Tynemouth / North Shields / Wallsend)
Shields Road (South) - 27 (South Shields / Jarrow / Hebburn)

Just to throw a few out there.

Cycling the same, where's the investment in the West and East Ends?

Sure but they can’t be all done over night so you have to prioritise.

Coast Rd does or did have high pollution levels and there had been hybrids and ‘micro-hybrids’ on the 306 & 308 before Arriva shipped them elsewhere, (the hybrids to Leeds to comply with their CAZ). Coast Rd certainly warrants EVs and bus priority measures. There was BSIP funding to implement the latter but no political will to do so, so the funding sits unspent. 

West Rd did have hybrids on the 39 & 40 previously, and that corridor certainly could do with EVs too and other measures put in place to tackle congestion & prioritise active travel and public transport.

Gosforth High St however has been an Air Quality Management Area for a number of years now so perfectly understandable for routes through there to be prioritised.

Newcastle and Gateshead would obviously naturally be higher priority for EV buses, however to keep the rest of the region happy the operators in conjunction with NECA made sure the latest ZEBRA funding would be applied to routes covering each of the NECA area.

Cycling investment in the East and West Ends - see Heaton Rd and Benwell Lane.
Elswick Rd is in the works, and hopefully eventually Newton Rd one day. Unfortunately progress is slow due to peacemeal funding, lack of political will and the usual outcry from drivers causing resistance.

(14 Feb 2026, 11:55 am)Storx wrote Assuming the Streetdeck's do end up on the 301 and not the 307/9 as it's been bouncing between the two for ages, I'd say it's better to keep the B9TL's personally. The 307/309 are the sort of the routes which have to be next in line for investment, and will have a stronger business case to suits in an office down south who only care about numbers, especially in comparison to the 50. Those mpg numbers, also helping the business case. 

At the moment in their current form they are.

But if GNE are worried that they can't sustain a service ex Newcastle after 11.10pm (even just pushing the proposed last 11pm 307 back 10 mins) plus curtailing & cutting other journeys & frequencies, does the 307 & 309 fall into fhat bracket for investment - or will they go back to the underdog days of the 300/305 when they ran Excels & SPD's - with NMS/Arriva (and some GNE/Coastline joint runs) dominating with the 306 & 308?

Except for the end-to-end X39 journeys, there's no demand for Cobalt on the 309 like before covid.

Arriva aren't going to publicly come out about any frequency increases, but if they could draft in vehicles from elsewhere - it would be a political win for them re-increasing the 306 & 308 back to every 7/8 mins with no BSIP or subsidy - compared to Stagecoach & GNE who used it to prop up their "goldmine" routes.

Where to begin…

There is very high demand out of X39 operating for Cobalt, the park have been asking for extra expresses for quite some time, hence Stagecoach increasing some 22 runs.

I doubt GNE are worried, it’s obv not commercially viable to operate later services. They’re certainly not afraid to run late services (21/56 etc etc)

GNE are not going to put single deckers on the 307/309, whatever your obsession is with Arriva suddenly finding the desire or competence to go full competition. GNE have way more feeder services from across North and South Tyneside that will position onto their services vs Arriva.

Those Streetdecks operate up those hills most days on school services and are more than capable - if maintained well, which I’m sure PM will do.

But please can we stop with these Coast Road collapse fantasies

(Yesterday, 11:31 am)Ambassador wrote Where to begin…

There is very high demand out of X39 operating for Cobalt, the park have been asking for extra expresses for quite some time, hence Stagecoach increasing some 22 runs.

I doubt GNE are worried, it’s obv not commercially viable to operate later services. They’re certainly not afraid to run late services (21/56 etc etc)

GNE are not going to put single deckers on the 307/309, whatever your obsession is with Arriva suddenly finding the desire or competence to go full competition. GNE have way more feeder services from across North and South Tyneside that will position onto their services vs Arriva.

Those Streetdecks operate up those hills most days on school services and are more than capable - if maintained well, which I’m sure PM will do.

But please can we stop with these Coast Road collapse fantasies

If there was £1 for every Coast Road Collapse fantasy I’ve read about in the last 3 months there would be enough money to build a tram network through to Cobalt and Silverlink.

(Yesterday, 12:02 pm)220631612 wrote If there was £1 for every Coast Road Collapse fantasy I’ve read about in the last 3 months there would be enough money to build a tram network through to Cobalt and Silverlink.

I hear thats coming soon. Kim says she wants the metro to be everywhere. Ive also heard rumours that the metro will start running along the coast road

(14 Feb 2026, 10:58 pm)L469 YVK wrote At the moment in their current form they are.

But if GNE are worried that they can't sustain a service ex Newcastle after 11.10pm (even just pushing the proposed last 11pm 307 back 10 mins) plus curtailing & cutting other journeys & frequencies, does the 307 & 309 fall into fhat bracket for investment - or will they go back to the underdog days of the 300/305 when they ran Excels & SPD's - with NMS/Arriva (and some GNE/Coastline joint runs) dominating with the 306 & 308?

Except for the end-to-end X39 journeys, there's no demand for Cobalt on the 309 like before covid.

Arriva aren't going to publicly come out about any frequency increases, but if they could draft in vehicles from elsewhere - it would be a political win for them re-increasing the 306 & 308 back to every 7/8 mins with no BSIP or subsidy - compared to Stagecoach & GNE who used it to prop up their "goldmine" routes.

In fairness, I can't see GoNorthEast dropping out the Coast Road though; the only bit if anything I could see is the 309 being curtailed at Whitley Bay because there's absolutely no real need for it beyond there and it eventually being the service which serves the huge new development being planned opposite Rake Lane as there's more money there.

You could easily extend the odd board in the morning / evening for the Cobalt commuters, or alternatively just run a seperate works service and head through the likes of Marden, aswell, who don't have a link to Cobalt currently.

(Yesterday, 12:46 pm)Storx wrote In fairness, I can't see GoNorthEast dropping out the Coast Road though; the only bit if anything I could see is the 309 being curtailed at Whitley Bay because there's absolutely no real need for it beyond there and it eventually being the service which serves the huge new development being planned opposite Rake Lane as there's more money there.

You could easily extend the odd board in the morning / evening for the Cobalt commuters, or alternatively just run a seperate works service and head through the likes of Marden, aswell, who don't have a link to Cobalt currently.

I 100% don't think they'd drop out all together as they have their own pots of stronghold areas (Hadrian Park & High Farm) like Arriva do (Chirton Grange, Billy Mill, West Chirton, High Howdon, Wallsend North).

The Rake Lane development is an interesting one how they build the infrastrucuture - and whether Nexus put a new Metro station in to serve the Murton Gap.

It's swings and roundabouts at the end of the day.

682 now at Hexham

(Yesterday, 2:44 pm)L469 YVK wrote I 100% don't think they'd drop out all together as they have their own pots of stronghold areas (Hadrian Park & High Farm) like Arriva do (Chirton Grange, Billy Mill, West Chirton, High Howdon, Wallsend North).

The Rake Lane development is an interesting one how they build the infrastrucuture - and whether Nexus put a new Metro station in to serve the Murton Gap.

It's swings and roundabouts at the end of the day.

From looking through the Murton Gap Masterplan Document: https://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/sites/d...idance.pdf they plan to have a Bus Gate connecting from A191 (New York Road/Rake Lane) through the development to the opposite linking up to the A186 at Earsdon with the potential of a Rapid Transit Route from here through Rake Lane and onto Middle Engine Lane leading onto the Coast Road towards Newcastle.

I would presume a Level Crossing would be put in place where the current Pedestrian Crossing is between Shiremoor and West Monkseaton along with the potential New Metro Station.

(2 hours ago)Malarkey wrote From looking through the Murton Gap Masterplan Document: https://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/sites/d...idance.pdf they plan to have a Bus Gate connecting from A191 (New York Road/Rake Lane) through the development to the opposite linking up to the A186 at Earsdon with the potential of a Rapid Transit Route from here through Rake Lane and onto Middle Engine Lane leading onto the Coast Road towards Newcastle.

I would presume a Level Crossing would be put in place where the current Pedestrian Crossing is between Shiremoor and West Monkseaton along with the potential New Metro Station.

To save anyone cycling through the document above, that's the main plan btw:


Can definitely see someone being interesting in doing a loop like:


Whether that's Stagecoach with its 22, or a curtailed Coast Road service who knows. I'm sure they'd be some developer funds on the go for them though and £££ always talk.