(08 Sep 2013, 10:13 pm)GMitchelhill wrote People should stop getting their undergarments in a twist for a MPD being used on the X84 on Sundays.

Operational convinience takes priority over route branding. And it happens a lot.

Two of the morning journeys on the 11A (I think) was ran by Bendy buses, think it's now TEN deckers.

Wallsend Link MPDs run on the 17/17A Centurian services.

Centurians used to run on the 307.

Simplicitys run on the 26A.

Drifters used to be used on the 42 on Evenings and Sundays, not sure if this is still the case.

Red Arrows and Metrolinks run on the 921/922.

Angels run on the X21 on Evening and Sundays.

And more recently Orbits run on the 96A.

The company runs as it suits them, not to suit us.

I apologise if this does sound arsey, but I'm just being realistic.

There is probably lots of others.

As has already been said - we all know that 'operational convenience' comes first, but this should not breech any claims made by a service's brand identity. The "Tynedalexpress" brand identity states that customers can use Wi-Fi for free on their X84/X85 services. Why should Sundays be any different? This debate is not largely based on branding, but promises being given and then broken by deliberate allocation of the wrong brand.
As ADLEnviro said, the X84/X85 services seem to be largely commuter based, and their working week is likely to include Sunday too. If they pay for a weekly ticket on these services, they are not getting the "bonus" of using the X84 (as opposed to the 685) that they pay for.
Granted I can't be classed as a 'normal passenger' as I'm an enthusiast and most 'normal passengers' will not do this, but if I'm wanting to travel on the TEN or Tyne Tees Xpress and a B9TL with plug sockets and Wi-Fi doesn't turn up, I don't get on it. Of course this is ultimately dependent on how lenient my timetable for the day is, and if it was the last one of the day for example, I would have to get on the B7TL, Olympian or B10BLE provided instead.
I expect those things - whatever day of the week. I imagine commuters on the X84/X85 will too. The X10 has a massive layover on Sundays which acts as the driver's lunch break. Let's say that, for convenience, the Orbits were fitted with tachometers and it was easier to interwork the X10 with the 51/52 on Sundays, and they used the Versa as opposed to the Gemini for better fuel consumption... It would be outrageous - everyone would complain! Completely irrational suggestion, but in my eyes it's the same as allocated a "Tynedale Links" MPD to the X84 on Sundays.

- The two morning "Toon Link" 11A runs are still operated by articulated Citaros - they later run onto the "X66 Metrocentre" X66 service. Two peak time runs (which are deemed as 'duplicates' or 'extras' anyway) a day as opposed to a full running of the service all day is not at all too bad. I don't like how they do it still, but it's not as bad.
- "North Tyne Links" MPDs still operate "Centurion" 17/17A on Sundays. While it does irritate me that this one happens, it's purely down to operator convenience as the timings don't work out for the two to be standalone. I've previously brought up the branding debate on this forum, and at the end of the day, they should aim to work it with a "Northern" service if anything. I don't think that is as bad.
- "Centurion" branded Renowns still see use on service 307. Again, as I said above, the service does not come under any sort of brand name. It's not half as bad, as customers can still identify their bus with ease.
- "SimpliCity" branded Versas do work the 26A, but the service is not held under a brand identity. The Versas (as has previously been discussed) have great fuel consumption because they are so lightweight (cheap ) and I believe the figures were approximately 5mpg as opposed to 6mpg. Nexus dictates a Euro 5 requirement on this service as some runs have been secured. Go North East can't control this, but they use Optare products on these secured services that require Euro 5 vehicles because it's cheaper for them.
- "Drifter" Versas are still used on the 42 during evenings. I think they now do it on Sundays, but I don't believe they previously did? The 60/61 previously interworked, not the 60/42. Deliberate mis-branding. Both are held under a brand identity - this is what I don't like. When the 60/61 interworked, 2A/2C was standalone and 42 was standalone, things were a lot better in my opinion. I can't comment on reliability of the services on Sundays as I've only used the 2A/2C regularly on Sundays, but it really is annoying. It's terribly misleading for passengers. I can cope with it happening during the week as a result of shortages and a branded Merc being VOR, but not when they plan to do it.
- The 921/922/923 are held within the Red Arrows, MetroLINK and East Durham network on GNE's website. The livery for these brands don't mention them, but the website does. Nothing wrong with this one.
- "Angel" branded B5s on the Sunday X21s isn't as bad because it's not the full route - only part of it. Still slightly irritating, but not as irritating.
- Finally, I do believe the "Orbit" Versas are all down to Nexus requirements on the 96A? If so, we can't really say anything about that one. Nevertheless, if we were to, the 96A is a Northern service - really not as bad as if it were to be branded.

There are a hell of a lot more examples that primarily occur on mornings (similar to the "Toon Link" 11A). I went out at daft o'clock a lot during the summer holidays and photographed them all as they rarely seemed to be photographed.
My main problem is when promises are given to those who travel every day of the week, regardless of the day. There are no promises in place for the 74A, but there are for the X84. Why allocate an MPD which does not have free Wi-Fi? Running costs will be slightly higher by using the Solar and no doubt neither service really requires such a high seating capacity on Sundays, but no promises would be broken. Passengers still pay the same fares on Sundays, so should get the same vehicle with all of its benefits on Sundays too.

(08 Sep 2013, 10:32 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Waiting for the 61, a simplicity Versa pulled in and was blinded up as '2A Sunderland' and if it wasn't me knowing of the interworking people weren't going to get on. The odd mornings journeys are still far prefect but are little bit more forgivable. But regular evening & Sunday workings are just beyond a joke now. I mean we all understand why it happens but passengers don't.

I've known drivers to change their blind as early as Southmoor School. I understand not many board the services after there, but it's really bad. I did e-mail about it, but never received a reply. I knew that they interworked so I still stuck my hand out for it, but it sailed straight past several people at the bus stops after Southmoor. Not sure if they were waiting for a bus or just sitting in the bus stop - but I think it's ridiculous drivers still insist on changing their blind so early when they are given layover time in Park Lane to do just that.

(09 Sep 2013, 12:13 am)GMitchelhill wrote The way it's going at the moment, every bus will have it's own WiFi since they seem to be delivering them with Wi-Fi as standarded. Vehicles also look to be getting retrofitted with it.

Does the branded Volvo B7TLs for the Angels / Red Arrow / Ten / Tyne Tees Express have WiFi fitted?

I've personally never managed to get a Wi-Fi connection from any of the branded B7TL spares in the fleet, but it clearly must be possible on 3963 as Scott has said above.
It does seem that all new buses being delivered to the fleet are fitted with Wi-Fi as standard (and if you're lucky, plug sockets too!) I imagine this will work alongside the next stop announcements which have previously been discussed on the forum... They will be kitted out as standard with the next stop announcement voiceovers.