(Yesterday, 6:02 am)Dan wrote I was surprised to hear from an engineer at Go North East that they were sending all the X-lines StreetDecks at Riverside down to Silverstone this weekend to operate shuttle buses (if they make it, that is - recent performance on X10 would suggest it could be a struggle…)
Understand that is the reason for the Cobalt B9s transferring to Riverside from Percy Main (don’t get excited DaveyBowyer!)
I’m told Riverside and Percy Main are both losing mileage due to no driver at the moment, and now they will be losing mileage due to no bus too.
Problem is, StreetDecks are about the closest to suitable they can send down there and that's a worry considering how problematic they can be on just the X10 & X21, native B9TLs supposedly are a no go on X10 now as they have a tendency to overheat and the ex London ones are slower than a StreetDeck. E400MMCs are likely more suitable although that creates more issues with other deckers being too tall to work some Consett routes.
(9 hours ago)deanmachine wrote What's annoying too, this is the first I've heard of it. If they are running shuttles, drivers up here haven't been offered the chance to run any of the shuttles at the track.
Usual case of all the company favourites (usually office staff) get asked first so no-one else gets a chance to even know about it, never mind ask!
(7 hours ago)citaro5284 wrote By some of the replies on Busesnortheast facebook page, you are not the only one.
I just dont get how they thought they could keep it a secret.
I have seen comments about buses leaving Riverside with Silverstone 2025 on the destinations, running in convey on the A1 and thats all before they even get to Silverstone and every year there are plenty of photos of what buses have attended - really goes to show how out of touch they really are!
Likely didn't even give that a second thought and just went ahead and did it all with whoever they want that'd do it and not waste time asking the vast majority of driving staff. Whilst likely easier for them doubt it will do anything to improve thoughts among their driving staff to know they're being shunned for things like this.
If they really thought no-one would notice, they're sadly mistaken, even some of the less enthusiast types will likely notice at very least they've had another depots buses parachuted into service at Riverside, some enthusiasts on the other hand are usually quick to notice, if a load of buses disappear or go on loan to another depot, it usually either means Metro Replacement or an event is going on elsewhere, easier still to pick out Silverstone as Stagecoach have a load of buses and drivers down there too.