Well, with the QC proposals being withdrawn, will ALL the Fab 56 and Cobalt B9s be getting GKN Mods as planned then?

(03 Nov 2015, 12:21 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Well, with the QC proposals being withdrawn, will ALL the Fab 56 and Cobalt B9s be getting GKN Mods as planned then?

They haven't been withdrawn.

It would be nice for the 9 to get some new buses instead of the renowns. These are getting old and slow. Should have Omnicities or Citaros if single deckers

I dont ever see the 9 gaining citaros only cascades off other routes maybe if the 93/94 ever get new buses then i see the cascades of those going on the 9 and 17/17A,but i am probably wrong

Any updates on orders?

(16 Nov 2015, 4:26 pm)Michael wrote Any updates on orders?

Yes....but I will keep them to myself...haha!

(16 Nov 2015, 5:46 pm)citaro5284 wrote Yes....but I will keep them to myself...haha!

(12 Jul 2015, 7:03 am)citaro5284 wrote Do you fancy a £10 bet that you are incorrect?

(16 Nov 2015, 5:46 pm)citaro5284 wrote Yes....but I will keep them to myself...haha!

Lol 

(16 Nov 2015, 5:46 pm)citaro5284 wrote Yes....but I will keep them to myself...haha!

Come on, you must know which country where the engines are manufactured for the new orders.

(16 Nov 2015, 8:28 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Come on, you must know which country where the engines are manufactured for the new orders.

haha....The last time I played that game, I got a reet bollocking over Ireland and Northern Ireland....aint going to make that mistake again 

(16 Nov 2015, 8:31 pm)citaro5284 wrote haha....The last time I played that game, I got a reet bollocking over Ireland and Northern Ireland....aint going to make that mistake again 

That was to do with the bodybuilder / chassis. Are any of the engines for the order going to be produced in Darlington. Now bearing in mind that this could be for ADL or Wrightbus and perhaps Optare. You wouldn't give anything away too much is it would boil down to Daimler for Wrightbus or Volvo for Wrightbus / MCV or even Daimler for Optare. Could also mean Mercs too!

Any chance of Go North East getting some these new Caetano Double Deckers for National Express Services and ...cough... Tyne Tees Xpress 

Photo by Gregg Collins
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcbp/22822...ateposted/

(22 Nov 2015, 9:18 pm)Malarkey wrote Any chance of Go North East getting some these new Caetano Double Deckers for National Express Services and ...cough... Tyne Tees Xpress 

Photo by Gregg Collins
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcbp/22822...ateposted/

It would nice but I highly doubt it.

(22 Nov 2015, 9:18 pm)Malarkey wrote Any chance of Go North East getting some these new Caetano Double Deckers for National Express Services and ...cough... Tyne Tees Xpress 

Photo by Gregg Collins
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcbp/22822...ateposted/

Would cost an arm and a leg. If we see any of Washington's deckers come out of Saltmeadows Pink (Angel Express), Blue (Pronto) or Yellow / Green (Angel Express), then I think 6043 to 6048 could well stay on the road until 2019/2020 with Riverside / Hexham having 3x spare decent standard spare B9TL Geminis to choose from (minus plug sockets) which could allow 6071 and 6084 to easily step in for 6043 to 6048 and allow maintenance to take place.

If Riverside got really lucky and 1x oddball was sent with the other 6x 12/62 plates to Crook (meaning 6049 going to Riverside due to it having a tachograph), then Riverside would have 3x Tachographed B9TL Geminis in total (2x which are supposed to be on the TEN and 1x dedicated spare) plus the other 2x non tachographed spare B9TLs which could stand in for 6071 and 6084 which would then join 6049 if 3x TTX B9s were off the road for maintenance, defects or PSV tests.

Fairly obvious that the Pronto is going to get newer stock but it's a waiting game to see whether or not this will be factory fresh or cascades in the form of the Red Arrows and given the 7-1 rule which was not followed for the TEN (or technically the TTX due to the nature of the route) plus the need for more B9s at Riverside, then I'd say that the latter is definitely more likely and this is why I've always mentioned the Red Arrows getting newer stock and one of the reasons being that it would allow 6043 to 6048 to be kept just that little bit longer until a proven heavyweight double deck (Scania E400MMC) is established in the market.

Not going to mention it anymore (before anybody posts a picture of Uncle Albert gan on about the war or that bloke in his armchair with his hand on his head). Will wait and see if my theory happens or any new stock comes from Heysham (or Scarborough).

(22 Nov 2015, 9:40 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Would cost an arm and a leg. If we see any of Washington's deckers come out of Saltmeadows Pink (Angel Express), Blue (Pronto) or Yellow / Green (Angel Express), then I think 6043 to 6048 could well stay on the road until 2019/2020 with Riverside / Hexham having 3x spare decent standard spare B9TL Geminis to choose from (minus plug sockets) which could allow 6071 and 6084 to easily step in for 6043 to 6048 and allow maintenance to take place.

If Riverside got really lucky and 1x oddball was sent with the other 6x 12/62 plates to Crook (meaning 6049 going to Riverside due to it having a tachograph), then Riverside would have 3x Tachographed B9TL Geminis in total (2x which are supposed to be on the TEN and 1x dedicated spare) plus the other 2x non tachographed spare B9TLs which could stand in for 6071 and 6084 which would then join 6049 if 3x TTX B9s were off the road for maintenance, defects or PSV tests.

Fairly obvious that the Pronto is going to get newer stock but it's a waiting game to see whether or not this will be factory fresh or cascades in the form of the Red Arrows and given the 7-1 rule which was not followed for the TEN (or technically the TTX due to the nature of the route) plus the need for more B9s at Riverside, then I'd say that the latter is definitely more likely and this is why I've always mentioned the Red Arrows getting newer stock and one of the reasons being that it would allow 6043 to 6048 to be kept just that little bit longer until a proven heavyweight double deck (Scania E400MMC) is established in the market.

Not going to mention it anymore (before anybody posts a picture of Uncle Albert gan on about the war or that bloke in his armchair with his hand on his head). Will wait and see if my theory happens or any new stock comes from Heysham (or Scarborough).

NK53 might see some new arrivals on his world tour!
There was no mention of Scarborough or Heysham, but Belfast was on the list. 

My predictions:

Think the B9's will stay on the X1. Think that the X21 will get StreetDecks with the seven Pronto branded Presidents being repainted into the corporate livery and would replace Lolyne's at Chester-le-Street. Am I right in thinking that GNE are due more OmniDeckkas? If so these would probably go to Stanley to replace Yellow Bus Olympian's and Lolyne's (or some OmniDeckkas may go elsewhere within the GNE fleet). Think the X9/X10 will be upgraded either in this financial year or next but not sure what will be chosen for this route, StreetDecks perhaps?

(22 Nov 2015, 10:39 pm)Jimmi wrote My predictions:

Think the B9's will stay on the X1. Think that the X21 will get StreetDecks with the seven Pronto branded Presidents being repainted into the corporate livery and would replace Lolyne's at Chester-le-Street. Am I right in thinking that GNE are due more OmniDeckkas? If so these would probably go to Stanley to replace Yellow Bus Olympian's and Lolyne's (or some OmniDeckkas may go elsewhere within the GNE fleet). Think the X9/X10 will be upgraded either in this financial year or next but not sure what will be chosen for this route, StreetDecks perhaps?

I agree with Jimmi on these:

The B9's will stop at Washington.

The X21 will get new buses and they'll be streetDecks with 7 branded and 1 spare.

The Pronto B7's will move to a spare role replacing the Lolynes.

To add:

I heard more Omnidekka's were coming up here, not confirmed where they're are going or how many but they'll probables go to Stanley to replace the remaining buses for depot standardisation and all that stuff and to replace the non DDA deckers.

I think the buses on the X9/X10 will be on for a few more years before getting replaced i don't think they'll want the problems which occured on the B7's....

My question is why has 6001 now got advertising grids on the sides for? Surely GNE would want to fully promote one of their key money making routes. I know 3943 has but this is technically a spare bus despite making up the Monday to Friday PVR as well as the X88.

I know the Streetdecks are on the cards but, cascades would allow the following as well as the Pronto (inc 3943 to Crook as spare):

- Make up for 7-1 rule at Riverside and improve reliability on the TTX. 3x (preferably inc 6049) transfer to Riverside / Hexham.

- Another spare vehicle (or even 2 if both 3962 and 3965 were kept as spares at CLS) for Percy Main. Would allow a PVR increase to happen with 6116 and 6117 becoming part of the PVR. This would not only be ideal in the short run due to the works due at Formica, but would also allow a more constant flow (aided by 2x Volvo Presidents during the afternoons on the X39 and 310) and on the condition that the 307 was withdrawn and the 20 min gaps in service were reintroduced between 1615 and 1700 from Haymarket, reliability of the Cobalt Clippers would improve during peak times.

- 2x go to Chester Le Street forming part of the Angel PVR allowing 3962 and 3965 to become spare vehicles for this service.

- 3942 would remain at Riverside with 3963 and 3964 moved to Percy Main for DFDS work. 3941 could go wherever needed (perhaps Stanley?)

(22 Nov 2015, 11:27 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote My question is why has 6001 now got advertising grids on the sides for? Surely GNE would want to fully promote one of their key money making routes. I know 3943 has but this is technically a spare bus despite making up the Monday to Friday PVR as well as the X88.

No idea, presumably to generate more income from advertising from companies. Don't think losing the destinations the route serves on the side would lose too much potential custom as Newcastle and Gateshead are pretty major places and I don't think that many people are going to see the list of places served and think "I think I'll go to Hetton" the Pronto Presidents have advertising boards and I don't think not having a list of destinations served on the side of the bus will badly affect the passengers numbers too much especially with the X1 being such a major route. Out of interest, when did adverts started getting placed in those frames on the Pronto? as I remember there never used to be adverts in them and the space used to be taken up by a large Pronto logo and further down on the drivers side something like promotion for fares etc. Think the Showstopper Lolyne's also had advert frames.

They showstopper lolynes did. Mind, and they looked plain without them like.

Arriving at 1630 into Chester le Street depot yesterday was Levante BX65WDA.

(12 Dec 2015, 7:47 pm)47406 wrote Arriving at 1630 into Chester le Street depot yesterday was Levante BX65WDA.

All four new coaches arrived yesterday - the first two around mid-day, and then the second two in early evening.

(12 Dec 2015, 7:49 pm)Dan wrote All four new coaches arrived yesterday - the first two around mid-day, and then the second two in early evening.

No photographs yet?

(12 Dec 2015, 9:31 pm)G-CPTN wrote No photographs yet?

They will not have appeared on National Express work yet, and will no doubt be parked on the back wall of Chester-le-Street depot, meaning no photos can be obtained at the moment.

What are the registrations for the 4 new coaches?

(12 Dec 2015, 9:32 pm)R852 PRG wrote They will not have appeared on National Express work yet, and will no doubt be parked on the back wall of Chester-le-Street depot, meaning no photos can be obtained at the moment.

Two are on the back wall and one is inside, clearly visible from the main road.
Didn't see the other one.

Any news on any main orders aside the coaching unit? Why have GNE kept 9119 for so long?

(14 Dec 2015, 9:44 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Any news on any main orders aside the coaching unit? Why have GNE kept 9119 for so long?

I knar the craic, but you will find out soon 

(14 Dec 2015, 9:59 pm)citaro5284 wrote I knar the craic, but you will find out soon 

Well i seen the rumoured list from a friend but i'll say nothing.

Find out soon... so next year?

(14 Dec 2015, 9:59 pm)citaro5284 wrote I knar the craic, but you will find out soon 

Alreet then, Streetdecks for the X21 I suppose!