(08 Nov 2020, 6:03 pm)6049 wrote I wouldn't say they've scrapped the idea. What I would say is that given GNE will be the only operator in the NE who are using electric buses, they'd be mad not to make a song and dance about it. I think they can be excused for deciding to do break the mould slightly on this one.

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I agree other than excusing the change of style for VOLTRA & QuayCity - surely if GNE want to scream from the rooftops about their electric buses they’d make them very clearly a GNE bus which happens to be electric, rather than the ambiguous electric bus? In my opinion, VOLTRA has  potential to go much beyond Saltwell Park in it’s marketing. However it’s looked at, they’re very striking vehicles, the general public could see a VOLTRA in Newcastle and begin to reassess bus travel if their last experience on the bus was a rattlebox Solar/Dart/Trident etc. If VOLTRA is clearly a GNE bus the potential new passenger, who probably won’t know or care what the 53/4 are, may be swayed to get back on their own local GNE route. 

It’s the same as how X-Lines has raised the profile of GNE as a whole, specifically because X-Lines are clearly associated with GNE local routes.