(21 Sep 2026, 8:45 pm)X919 WGR wrote I think they made an odd appearance on the X10 but it must of been for the X21 looking at Bustimes.
Needs much newer ADLs that seem to be more popular on Arrivas long routes

Someone said that the new Ultroliners were to slow for the X10. Somehow being out performed by 6193. An 08 plate bus Somehow is better than a brand new 75 plate

(21 Sep 2026, 8:45 pm)X919 WGR wrote I think they made an odd appearance on the X10 but it must of been for the X21 looking at Bustimes.
Needs much newer ADLs that seem to be more popular on Arrivas long routes

Wouldn't surprise me if GNE have E400MMC on order (previously rumoured for the 56), that an additional 6x are ordered for Consett, and 6378-83 end up on the X10. At least gives flexibility at Consett for the X30/X31/X32 and X71.

Ideal world.....GNE buy new for the X10 and go with low height 12m B8 EvoSetis.

But I doubt it franchising on the horizon!

(21 Sep 2026, 9:02 pm)L469 YVK wrote Wouldn't surprise me if GNE have E400MMC on order (previously rumoured for the 56), that an additional 6x are ordered for Consett, and 6378-83 end up on the X10. At least gives flexibility at Consett for the X30/X31/X32 and X71.

Ideal world.....GNE buy new for the X10 and go with low height 12m B8 EvoSetis.

But I doubt it franchising on the horizon!

I don't think the 75' Streetdecks are Suitable for the X10 hence why they were mainly on the X21 since they were introduced at Riverside.

Bad enough when a much older Ex London B9TL can outdo the much newer Regional ADL 400MMC

More delusions

(21 Sep 2026, 9:13 pm)X919 WGR wrote I don't think the 75' Streetdecks are Suitable for the X10 hence why they were mainly on the X21 since they were introduced at Riverside.

Bad enough when a much older Ex London B9TL can outdo the much newer Regional ADL 400MMC

I'm quite surprised at that considering they're 6 cylinder. Unless the overdrive gears aren't suitable on the A19 for some reason.

The X10 definitely needs a heavy duty decker though.

(22 Sep 2026, 12:45 pm)L469 YVK wrote I'm quite surprised at that considering they're 6 cylinder. Unless the overdrive gears aren't suitable on the A19 for some reason.

The X10 definitely needs a heavy duty decker though.

I'm not to sure on vehicle specifications, but don't the 75 plate Streetdecks have the same engine as an E400? 

Therefore the only difference being the gearbox and I'm assuming that the Streetdecks have different limited speeds to the E400s?

(22 Sep 2026, 2:45 pm)morritt89 wrote I'm not to sure on vehicle specifications, but don't the 75 plate Streetdecks have the same engine as an E400? 

Therefore the only difference being the gearbox and I'm assuming that the Streetdecks have different limited speeds to the E400s?

Same Cummins engine but 300bhp and Voith NxtGen gearbox with overdrive upto 7 speeds compared to a standard 4 speed Voith.

No apparent reason why GNE couldn't use them on the X10. Unless they knew early on extras would be needed for the X1, hence not wanting to hammer them on the A19.

(21 Sep 2026, 6:00 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Wow the X10 suffered badly today.

6354 died on its first journey near Billingham. Replaced by 6100 which last till 15.14 journey and died at Peterlee where it was then replaced by 6224

6353 died in Middlesbrough being replaced by 6156 which was swapped out at Gateshead for 6323

6357 lasted till Newcastle at 5pm where it was swapped with 6350

6354 looks more like it's had an accident, rather than it failing. Currently sat on the dead row at Riverside with some front bits missing and a cracked windscreen.

(17 Sep 2026, 4:54 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote 6964 has been withdrawn

6962 also been withdrawn

Also another thought. I know any operator would be relucant to invest in something like the X10 for obvious reasons, and more likely to invest in areas where they will win bids on high frequency services.

But if worst comes to the worst AND they're looked after, there'd be plenty of private hire / coach operators who'd snap up B8L EvoSetis.

Plain generic interior with seatbelts and a standard silver base livery.....they'd be snapped up!

With the new law coming in next week I think it is. What are they planning to do with 721 & 723? I'm guessing they do not have any Visual or Audio Next Stop Announcement Systems in them so are they just going to withdraw the Solos or install systems?

(26 Sep 2026, 7:46 pm)X919 WGR wrote With the new law coming in next week I think it is. What are they planning to do with 721 & 723? I'm guessing they do not have any Visual or Audio Next Stop Announcement Systems in them so are they just going to withdraw the Solos or install systems?

Since the systems rarely work on even the newest vehicles on the fleet, I dou there’ll be a rush.

I also doubt the govt will be rushing to punish operators in a tough environment for an extreme minority of passengers (anyone vaguely capable is using citymapper, apple transit or google)

Looks as though time is finally up for 5499 and 5500, they've been parked on the Riverside dead row since Friday without their ticket machines and operators discs.

(26 Sep 2026, 7:46 pm)X919 WGR wrote With the new law coming in next week I think it is. What are they planning to do with 721 & 723? I'm guessing they do not have any Visual or Audio Next Stop Announcement Systems in them so are they just going to withdraw the Solos or install systems?

They are both due to get NSA installed soon, along with the Swindon streetlites and the GNW B9s that we have recently received. This will mean the full fleet will have NSA once these installs have been completed.

Hanover have a backlog of installs/repairs across the country which is why it is taking longer than planned to install/repair our systems.

(28 Sep 2026, 8:42 am)Liam Hall wrote They are both due to get NSA installed soon, along with the Swindon streetlites and the GNW B9s that we have recently received. This will mean the full fleet will have NSA once these installs have been completed.

Hanover have a backlog of installs/repairs across the country which is why it is taking longer than planned to install/repair our systems.

A full fleet of NSAs but Sunderland Depot service 61 has been faulty for well over a year now , on leaving Murton (Colliery Tavern) on route to Sunderland, it doesn't announce any stops until leaving Dalton Park where it starts to announce from glebe farm THEN every stop.

6352 looking abit of a mess, some repair work done on the front has left it with a red panel, whilst the black around the licence plate is scratched too hell. Hopefully when that awful Metrocentre promo is pealed off they treat it to some sort of repaint.

Alot of the Xlines branded deckers are starting to look abit of a mess, the only ones that have held up well are the Enviro 400's in Green.

(28 Sep 2026, 6:25 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote 6352 looking abit of a mess, some repair work done on the front has left it with a red panel, whilst the black around the licence plate is scratched too hell. Hopefully when that awful Metrocentre promo is pealed off they treat it to some sort of repaint.

Alot of the Xlines branded deckers are starting to look abit of a mess, the only ones that have held up well are the Enviro 400's in Green.

Oh i dont know, some of the E400 MMCs are a bit scruffy, some with bare metal patches around the wheels and skirts.

The rears arent great with part graphics where the engine lid has been replaced.

(28 Sep 2026, 8:42 am)Liam Hall wrote They are both due to get NSA installed soon, along with the Swindon streetlites and the GNW B9s that we have recently received. This will mean the full fleet will have NSA once these installs have been completed.

Hanover have a backlog of installs/repairs across the country which is why it is taking longer than planned to install/repair our systems.

I thought the Swindon Streetlites had NSAs they just weren't connected up? They look like they do, although they're still advertising Swindon Bus Company stuff on them.

Are 6193/4/6 getting withdrawn? Seen a video apparently its their final day in service?

Can i ask but whos great idea was it to put solos on the 356. Like seriously what were they sniffing when this service was put to solos. The service is constantly full & standing leaving Haymarket and even can get full along the route

(9 hours ago)Nerd4321 wrote Can i ask but whos great idea was it to put solos on the 356. Like seriously what were they sniffing when this service was put to solos. The service is constantly full & standing leaving Haymarket and even can get full along the route

What route(s) do they actually need the solo’s for? They’ve got too many of them at Percy Main

(6 hours ago)TransitObserver wrote What route(s) do they actually need the solo’s for? They’ve got too many of them at Percy Main

Percy only really need 4 solos. 342 & 333. Even at a push the 333 can be a NL63 lite. Why in the world we have 726/7/8 since they aint needed and someone decided ah yes put them on the 356 even though we have 721/723 running round & the NL63 solos at Consett that break down

Percy Main have 5387/88/89/90 sitting at Percy Main. Put them on the 356 yet there sitting collecting dust these days and will rarely see service 

Tell you what Percy Main have gone way downhill in terms of allocations. 342 cant even last a full week of solos cause they are absolutely terrible. They keep swapping them out on the daily

(6 hours ago)Nerd4321 wrote Percy only really need 4 solos. 342 & 333. Even at a push the 333 can be a NL63 lite. Why in the world we have 726/7/8 since they aint needed and someone decided ah yes put them on the 356 even though we have 721/723 running round & the NL63 solos at Consett that break down

Percy Main have 5387/88/89/90 sitting at Percy Main. Put them on the 356 yet there sitting collecting dust these days and will rarely see service 

Tell you what Percy Main have gone way downhill in terms of allocations. 342 cant even last a full week of solos cause they are absolutely terrible. They keep swapping them out on the daily

I don't know how feasible it is timetabling wise but I'd be looking at flipping the 354/356 around personally, the 354 is a dust collector in the Gosforth area and needs Solo's similar to the 356 in the Whitley Bay area.

The 354 at the North Shields side and 356 at the Newcastle side has decent loads though and ideally don't need the Solo's.

It would deal with it all. The 355 might be difficult to work though without it laying over somewhere though since it's a 50 minute round trip without flipping the issue the other way round unless you extended it somewhere, Cramlington interworking with the 353 maybe?

(4 hours ago)Storx wrote I don't know how feasible it is timetabling wise but I'd be looking at flipping the 354/356 around personally, the 354 is a dust collector in the Gosforth area and needs Solo's similar to the 356 in the Whitley Bay area.

The 354 at the North Shields side and 356 at the Newcastle side has decent loads though and ideally don't need the Solo's.

It would deal with it all. The 355 might be difficult to work though without it laying over somewhere though since it's a 50 minute round trip without flipping the issue the other way round unless you extended it somewhere, Cramlington interworking with the 353 maybe?

Simple idea to that although involves another operator, make X63 peak only and rest of time, have Killingworth - Newcastle section mirroring the old NMS/Arriva 356

Route from Simonside would be East Bailey Park > Bus Station > West Bailey

If anything........

- 353 - Whitley Bay to Cramlington half-hourly - 1bph via Murton Village

- 355 - Forest Hall to Newcastle half-hourly

- 356 - North Shields to Newcastle via Killingworth and Gosforth half-hourly

- X63 - peak only

(2 hours ago)L469 YVK wrote Simple idea to that although involves another operator, make X63 peak only and rest of time, have Killingworth - Newcastle section mirroring the old NMS/Arriva 356

Route from Simonside would be East Bailey Park > Bus Station > West Bailey

If anything........

- 353 - Whitley Bay to Cramlington half-hourly - 1bph via Murton Village

- 355 - Forest Hall to Newcastle half-hourly

- 356 - North Shields to Newcastle via Killingworth and Gosforth half-hourly

- X63 - peak only

Aye ngl, if I was being more radical I'd be tempted to send the Q3 to Forest Hall over where it's going right now tbh but obviously that would be unpopular with Nexus as you've left Jesmond without a bus service again. 

If you can sort out Backworth somehow, force them to change at Northumberland Park? Then the Percy Main routes don't need to go anywhere near Newcastle anymore and could do anywhere really. There's arguably going to be more demand going West from Gosforth than Newcastle with the 354, as it's longer for everyone who has something quicker with the 355, X63, Metro, 37, 350/351, 306, 301 or 308/309 depending where you are.