(18 Jul 2015, 4:56 pm)R852 PRG wrote Initially, I went out to today in hopes of riding the two demonstration vehicles that Go North East are currently trialing on the ''Pronto'' X21 route between Newcastle and Bishop Auckland; Wright Streetdeck Gemini 3 9119, and ADL Enviro400MMC 9109. Unfortunately, due to the traffic caused by the Pride event in Newcastle City Centre, I did not manage to ride the Streetdeck, just a second ride on the Enviro400MMC. Here is how the day went; 

#36 – Chester-le-Street Durham County Cricket Ground to Houghton-le-Spring Church – (09:17 --- 09:40) – Go North East 4936 – Scania L94UB/Wright Solar
Something different from the normal routine I've adopted recently, of walking into Chester-le-Street and catching a Newcastle-bound service into the city centre. Usually, if I do go to catch the 36 service, it's the 09:50 rather than the 09:20, but I decided to go with the earlier service. It turned out to be Wright Solar 4936 working this run; I can't believe I'm going to say it, but I was almost looking forward to a Mercedes... Just one elderly man was sat at the front when I boarded, the service was running three minutes early, which is a surprise for the 36! I once stood waiting for fourteen minutes after it's timetabled arrival. The bus never picked up a great load, an old woman boarded in Great Lumley while another old man boarded on Avenue Vivian; the two men then alighting together just a few stops after. The woman then alighted with me in Houghton-le-Spring, meaning the bus left without a soul on it. One thing I did pick up from this journey, was a very annoying ''whoosh'' noise that I associate with some buses closing their doors. It sounded every three or four seconds; I've been on too many Solars to count, and failed to notice this noise, however it's possible it just mixed in with background noise. 

#X1 – Houghton-le-Spring Church to Newcastle, Eldon Square Bus Station – (09:47 --- 10:32) – Go North East 6001 – Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2
After watching 4936 depart, a few minutes later, a ''Red Arrows'' branded Gemini 2 appeared. I was planning on catching the X1 through to Newcastle anyway. I noticed, while I allowed the passengers who wished to alight here disembark, that this particular example was 6001; the first in fleet number terms of Go North East's B9TLs. It was a particularly smooth runner, despite being one of the oldest ''Red Arrows'' vehicles, it didn't appear to have many faults when we headed along the Washington Highway between Shiney Row and the Galleries. We even arrived at the Galleries three minutes early at 10:01; only a few boarded here, which was quite a surprise. The queues normally go back to the escalators on the Saturday morning X1s. While I was on board, I used the time to plan the rest of my day. Eventually deciding I would catch the 12:05 ''Pronto'' service from Eldon Square; the Enviro400MMC, knowing the board afterwards would be the Wright Streetdeck, I then proceeded to head to the spot at the top of Eldon Square and Haymarket to take some photos. 

#X21 – Newcastle, Eldon Square Bus Station to Bishop Auckland Bus Station – (12:08 --- 13:29) – Go North East 9109 – Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Enviro400MMC
After killing time until 12:05, I queued to board 9109 just before 12:00. There was about fifteen others in the queue; amongst them were two young enthusiasts. The driver came along Percy Street, rather than around from St. Mary's Place and past the Haymarket as the X21 sometimes does; I saw a few enthusiasts rush to get photos of it descending down into Eldon Square. Despite pulling in at his departure time, the driver saw fit to close the door, light up a cigarette and quickly do a perimeter of the bus with it, before getting back in the cab and allowing passengers to board. I had a ride of this demonstrator between Newcastle and Chester-le-Street on Wednesday, and was very, very impressed. Again, I was not let down. Throughout the entire route, I didn't feel many rattles and squeaks at all. Normally, when a bus is powered down the A1(M), it can be a bone shaker. Not for this one; the seating was also absolutely fantastic. I sat at a table seat, on the left hand side towards the rear; which I had all to myself for the entire journey. Did I mention the air conditioning? Very impressed; I really hope Go North East go-ahead (bad pun) and buy these for the ''Pronto'', I think they'll be true workhorses on the route.  

Volvo B5TL, Wright Streetdeck, or Enviro400MMC?
The only thing that disappointed me about today's outing was that I could not sample the Wright Streetdeck for myself. However, I will do so at some point during the week, to be able to give a better verdict. I'm going on the word of some others with the following... When I tried the Volvo B5TL/Wright Gemini 3, which saw a long period of use with Lothian Buses in Edinburgh, and retained it's madder and white livery from it's time there; I wasn't impressed to be honest. The seating was adequate, I felt it was quite hard. When I first boarded, and checked out the seating; I thought they looked like Urban90s. The bus lacked power on the A167 between Chester-le-Street and Pity Me; if I remember correctly, we also had a near miss with a car at Chester Moor. I didn't do the whole route, so I couldn't see it on other parts of the route, but nevertheless... With the Wright Streetdeck, I've gathered it's basically just two Wright Streetlites slapped together and called a double decker. I know that the Wright Streetlites currently used on the ''Coast & Country'' services won't see their whole working lives on there, unlike the Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renowns... The Streetlites are basically Super Pointer Darts. They'll be lucky to make it to ten years of age. I imagine I'm going to be unimpressed with the Wright Streetdeck when I try it during the week. Personally, I think it's because it is a Wright integral product. I don't know what went wrong with the Volvo B5TL, perhaps it is because of being a B5 rather than a B9, and so lacked power on a route how more demanding than it's capable of; but if you get a Volvo chassis and put a Wright body on it, you're good to go. However; with the E400MMC, I can see potential. It ticked all of the boxes; the seating was luxurious, the interior lighting was fantastic, the smoothness of the bus was great, the air-conditioning was a great feature... I'd hope Go North East go for these with their eventual order, and order them to the same specification as this demonstrator, perhaps without the tables to maintain capacity, although that could draw more people towards it; a bus with tables. Sadly, I have a feeling that Go North East are going to maintain their relationships with Wrightbus; and buy the Streetdeck... It will be unfortunate if they do, as the Enviro400MMC is just far superior.

#X21 – Bishop Auckland Bus Station to Durham Bus Station – (14:07 --- 14:42) – Go North East 6034 – Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President
Back to the review – once we'd arrived in Bishop Auckland, I got photos of the Enviro400MMC, before descending into the town centre for a bite to eat. About five minutes later, I returned to the bus station. Deciding that standing at the top of the bus station, getting photographs of vehicles entering through the roundabout, would be the best option, I spent some time taking photos there. I was quite happy with the variety. During this time, Adam sent me a Snapchat informing me that he was on the bus in front of the Streetdeck in Gateshead, and that it was running about 20 minutes late due to the traffic surrounding the Pride event. I looked down into the bus station; two ''Pronto'' B7s were present, 6021 and 6034. I accepted that due to this late running, one of them would operate the 14:04 service back to Newcastle. When the time did come, 6034 was the example brought out of the layover bays. A queue of roughly a dozen passengers boarded, myself towards the back. It was an uneventful journey back to Durham; I sat three rows from the front on the upper saloon, listening to my music and watching the journey go by. It must be said, the route between Durham and Bishop Auckland does have some very scenic parts to it.  

#21 – Durham Bus Station to Chester-le-Street Clifford Terrace – (14:46 --- 15:00) – Go North East 6059 – Volvo B5LH/Wright Gemini 2
After alighting in Durham, I let 6034 carry on to Newcastle, while I queued to board 6059; which was standing at the drop-off stand in Durham Bus Station. About fifteen passengers were aboard when we pulled out, with a couple disembarking in Framwellgate Moor and two men boarding at the Red Lion in Plawsworth. It wasn't an eventful journey, I thought for a while before concluding that the Enviro400MMC was the best option for the ''Pronto'' services. In my opinion, it would look fantastic in the ''Pronto'' livery... But my only request, is that it gets a new name.

I do apologise if today's outing seems very short, but there is a good reason for that. Tomorrow, I'll be heading to an event over in Workington called ''Built in Workington Day''; which celebrates the now defunct Leyland factory's many buses. Attendees include Leyland Nationals, Leyland Olympians, Leyland Tigers, Leyland Lynxes and Leyland Titans. It show be a fantastic day. Due to spending quite a few hours of travelling; I won't have the review of the rally up tomorrow evening, and instead on Monday. I hope you enjoyed reading nevertheless, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Marcus