(06 Sep 2013, 6:33 am)Daniel wrote If you're going to have a major network change, involving both minor and major changes to individual services, you'd have them all on the same date - right?

Some of the minor changes only involved scholars and the normal service that they interwork with (I recall someone mentioning only one journey of the 39 changing and it being scholar-related?), so it would be pretty common practice for all of these changes to happen on the same day so as to avoid confusion.
I do believe either on a morning or evening, the 24 also did scholars/workers services, so these would have to change for the 1.

What I don't understand is why the "Tynedalexpress" was held off by a week, and is starting from 8th September rather than 1st September.

The X84/85 start on 8th September because Northern hadn't dreamt up the idea of the Tynedale Express in time for it to be registered with VOSA to start on 1st September. As I've said before they've lost their previous positive approach and now have no real overall plan apart from just cutting at the margins anywhere they can, just bodging things from day to day. Promoting the extension of the Coaster to Wreckenton as a wonderful new service is typical of this - it's only going back (partly) to what it was a couple of years ago. The idea of a "network" and bus "service" don't seem to figure in their planning and this negativity will just cause them to fall into the pit of the Quality Contract of Nexus which will have dramatically adverse effects on the company. Whereas Stagecoach have a much more positive attitude and are improving services to show that the only realistic way forward is a Quality Partnership, that the bus operators can and will improve to convince Nexus, Northern are doing the opposite. It's all very sad that what a couple of years ago was such a dynamic company is now losing its way.

Un-ID Centurion renown on the 9's.
4944 Northern Renown on 8/78's.
Un-ID East Durham on X3 at around 11:45, meaning it'll be on the 36's & X36 also? EDIT: This was the short X3 so I'm not sure how they interwork?
506 Northern MPD on the 20/20A's.

Seen at Sunderland between 11:30-12:30.

(06 Sep 2013, 1:35 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Un-ID Centurion renown on the 9's.

5156 was on this morning, but it is pretty common to have more than one on.

Laser on X3s. Departed SUN 1605.
Photo attached below. Phone camera shot...

(06 Sep 2013, 3:11 pm)Daniel wrote 5156 was on this morning, but it is pretty common to have more than one on.

Laser on X3s. Departed SUN 1605.
Photo attached below. Phone camera shot...

There been a Centurion on the 9 everyday this week due to the Coaster Repaints/Rebrands which has seen the Northern Omni's being used on the 1.

(06 Sep 2013, 5:53 pm)citaro5284 wrote We are trying some different things with the destination blinds. One thing we have tried on the Percy Main and Gateshead db's is trying to make the 'Not In Service' blind clearer so people waiting at the bus stops do not put there hand out.

I have attached a link to a photo on the nerbp flickr site showing a Hexham Scania with the new blind - any opinions?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nerbp/9678919447/

My eldest spotted the Real Radio decker had this display the other night as we came along Sunderland Road.
Bearing in mind, we were on the X9, he spotted it and commented on how clear it was straight away.

To be honest, I hadn't been paying attention, but it was clear enough for him to spot it, mention it and for me to look up - all before it went past us...

628 on 99. Passed through Hylton Castle to Royal Hospital about 1840 ish.

(06 Sep 2013, 5:53 pm)citaro5284 wrote I have attached a link to a photo on the nerbp flickr site showing a Hexham Scania with the new blind - any opinions?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nerbp/9678919447/

It's certainly different - that makes it stand out more to me. Rather than being the two line display previously used, the letters are much bigger.

(06 Sep 2013, 6:09 pm)BJ10VUS wrote It's certainly different - that makes it stand out more to me. Rather than being the two line display previously used, the letters are much bigger.

Much better, It's heard to read the current style.

(06 Sep 2013, 6:18 pm)Michael wrote Much better, It's heard to read the current style.

I wouldn't say it was particularly 'hard' to read, but I think your eyes are more focussed on the "For more information on our services..." scrolling 'waffle' going along the bottom line

(06 Sep 2013, 6:25 pm)BJ10VUS wrote I wouldn't say it was particularly 'hard' to read, but I think your eyes are more focussed on the "For more information on our services..." scrolling 'waffle' going along the bottom line

I find it hard to read it without my glasses sounds daft but yeh the scrolling thing along the bottom doesn't help

Yellow B10BLE 5164 made it onto the X66 today.


Photo by Michael McCalla and posted to "The Northern Road Transport Trust" on Facebook.

(06 Sep 2013, 6:29 pm)Michael wrote I find it hard to read it without my glasses sounds daft but yeh the scrolling thing along the bottom doesn't help

Totally agree. Maybe just something like this would do? Then the 'waffle' can be put along the bottom and the basic message is clear.

Ravensworth Road Closure 11th September

Ravensworth Road in Dunston will be closed to all through traffic from Wednesday 11th September for approximately 2 weeks.
During this time, buses will not be able to serve any of the bus stops on Ravensworth Road and will be diverted to operate as follows:

Service 64 will operate normally from Derwentwater Road to Ellison Road, Dunston Road and Wellington Road, but then divert via Collingwood Terrace to Railway Street and Clockmill Road back to normal route from Derwentwater Road, omitting Ravensworth Road southbound.

Service 64A will divert from Derwentwater Road via Clockmill Road, Railway Street, Collingwood Terrace to Wellington Road and back to normal route, omitting Ravensworth Road northbound.

Services 95, 96 & 96A will be diverted to operate between Ellison Road and Wellington Road via Brompton Place, Clockmill Road, Railway Street and Collingwood Terrace in both directions, omitting Ravensworth Road in both directions.

Seen a Laser Scania on the 202 this morning, bad picture attached...

630 is on 61 into Park Lane right, I am sitting on it, will try take a snap when I get off

(07 Sep 2013, 9:18 am)fozzovmurton wrote Seen a Laser Scania on the 202 this morning, bad picture attached...

630 is on 61 into Park Lane right, I am sitting on it, will try take a snap when I get off

Crikey, some cracking odd balls there! I've certainly not seen a Hybrid appear off-route yet.

(07 Sep 2013, 9:28 am)Daniel wrote Crikey, some cracking odd balls there! I've certainly not seen a Hybrid appear off-route yet.

Few month ago one of the Sunderland Connect Hybrids was on the 135 on the Sunday.. only time iv'e seen it off route

630 on 61 on Stand in Park Lane about 5/10 minutes ago, again not the best shot...

Think I have only ever seen a hybrid off its stamping ground 4 times, on the 61 twice(today and last year) and last week on the 36A and 39

628 ("Sunderland Connect" branded non-Hybrid spare) appears off-route quite a great deal, it's just the Hybrids (629, 630 and 640) that I've never actually seen off-route.
I only hope 629 and 640 are both on the 700 today. As it's only PVR 2 on summer Saturday timetable, it's not so bad.

The ones I saw last week on 36A/39, I think I attached a bad pic of the Doxy bound 39 up this thread somewherw were branded although the one I saw in Murton last year may have been unbranded, will have to rummage through my pictures

(07 Sep 2013, 9:18 am)fozzovmurton wrote Seen a Laser Scania on the 202 this morning, bad picture attached...

630 is on 61 into Park Lane right, I am sitting on it, will try take a snap when I get off

Scaina on the 202?! That's a touch of class mind! If it stays on all day it should be on the 260/265.

(07 Sep 2013, 10:57 am)CatsFast101 wrote Scaina on the 202?! That's a touch of class mind! If it stays on all day it should be on the 260/265.

How do the East Durhams interwork is it like so:

202 Seaham-Peterlee
260 Peterlee-Durham
265 Durham-Seaham

?????

(07 Sep 2013, 11:11 am)fozzovmurton wrote How do the East Durhams interwork is it like so:

202 Seaham-Peterlee
260 Peterlee-Durham
265 Durham-Seaham

?????

Yeah something like that..
I think

202 Peterlee-Seaham
265 Seaham-Durham
259 Durham-High Pittington-Durham
260 Durham-Peterlee
Then back round.

And the other way is
202 Seaham-Peterlee
260 Peterlee-Durham
265 Durham-Seaham

What time did you spot the laser Scaina?

The information on my photo shows it was was 9:58 when I took the pic...

Then 2 minutes later the Solo Hybrid comes trundling round the Corner

Loop 5225 is on the 58 today, along with what's now a usual Renown (4842 today).

An Un-ID'd Northern B10 roaring down Long Bank on the 28's earlier.

Either that or his brakes have failed (having been on a Waggonway when that happened I can confirm it's quite fun)

Services to and from Consett Bus Station are subject to delay due to an incident on Medomsley Road, near the Bus Station.

(07 Sep 2013, 12:57 pm)Daniel wrote Services to and from Consett Bus Station are subject to delay due to an incident on Medomsley Road, near the Bus Station.

Hope everyone is ok, but we already have an established traffic reporter on the GNE facebook page haha.
Andy 'little chopper' Clifford with his eyes in the sky

(07 Sep 2013, 1:00 pm)Andreos1 wrote Hope everyone is ok, but we already have an established traffic reporter on the GNE facebook page haha.
Andy 'little chopper' Clifford with his eyes in the sky

https://www.facebook.com/simplyGNE/posts...4530660710
The above post suggests that a "Red Kite" Omnicity has been involved in some sort of incident.

(07 Sep 2013, 1:16 pm)citaro5284 wrote Nah, not an Omnicity - 3824

Oof, never good when an Olympian gets itself into an accident - especially with their limited lifespan left within the fleet...

Some oddish working i have caught on SPD's over the past month with a few others on my Flickr profile.

8215
27 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9690816557/
57 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9694050604/
58 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9690815379/

8220
49A - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9694049348/

8222
35 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9687228249/
60 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9687227871/

8223
2A - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9690473148/
2C - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9687233511/
36A - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9687229017/

8225
64A - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9694048618/

8226
38 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9690471276/
20A - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9687232447/

8227
26 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9694047128/
56 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9694055042/
Staff Shuttle - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9694055042/

8231
X3 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9687229437/
61 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9687229771/

8232
61 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9687230063/

8233
20 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9694043058/
39 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9690809203/

8239
1 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9690808229/