Happy New Year!

Think it's about time the gas buses were painted. Check out our new ride is out dated in my opinion

(02 Jan 2016, 11:43 pm)Acky81 wrote Think it's about time the gas buses were painted. Check out our new ride is out dated in my opinion

I agree with that, but can't see it happening just yet. Ive a feeling we will also see another batch of gas buses in this year's order.

Why is service 12 always man operated in Sunderland

(03 Jan 2016, 12:35 am)Acky81 wrote Why is service 12 always man operated in Sunderland

There must be some sexism at Stagecoach for not putting women on that route [emoji14] [emoji1]

Joking of course! I'm not seriously suggesting that.

Man vehicles

(03 Jan 2016, 12:25 am)Adrian wrote I agree with that, but can't see it happening just yet. Ive a feeling we will also see another batch of gas buses in this year's order.

I hope so but i don't think we will unless the green bus fund is used.

The last thing i heard was its Newcastle and Hartlepools turn this year for new buses.

(03 Jan 2016, 1:28 am)Michael wrote I hope so but i don't think we will unless the green bus fund is used.

The last thing i heard was its Newcastle and Hartlepools turn this year for new buses.

If you exclude 10000 ( Which came from Stockport ) the last NEW buses delivered to the Newcastle Division were the 60 Reg batch of E400s which will be 6 years ago coming the summer.
I'm thinking E400MMCs for the 62/63 with the E400s from there displaced to Slatyfords MAN routes ( 30/31/10/11 ) with maybe a few E200MMC to dispose of older MANs ( 03/53 Regs )
The 55/06 Batch of MANs are still in good nick and could last another 6 years.

Hartlepool have bad luck when it comes to Brand new vehicles but I could see Stagecoach ordering atleast a few E200MMCs to displace the Remaining Darts. ( Didn't count how many Darts they have left )

(03 Jan 2016, 11:56 am)South Tyne Lad wrote Hartlepool have bad luck when it comes to Brand new vehicles but I could see Stagecoach ordering atleast a few E200MMCs to displace the Remaining Darts. ( Didn't count how many Darts they have left )

10 Dart SLF to cover a PVR of 9 on service 1. Hartlepool also have 34550 as a reserve vehicle.

It would make more sense from an engineering point of view to replace the Dart SLFs on this route with more Enviro 200 bodied MANs, cascaded from another depot. Walkergate have 6, Slatyford have 10, South Shields have 1, and Sunderland have 10, so you'd have to decide between upgrading Sunderland's 8 and 18/19 services or Slatyford's 6/7/8. Michael and I are bias, so we'd suggest Sunderland's 8 and 18/19.

(03 Jan 2016, 11:56 am)South Tyne Lad wrote If you exclude 10000 ( Which came from Stockport ) the last NEW buses delivered to the Newcastle Division were the 60 Reg batch of E400s which will be 6 years ago coming the summer.
I'm thinking E400MMCs for the 62/63 with the E400s from there displaced to Slatyfords MAN routes ( 30/31/10/11 ) with maybe a few E200MMC to dispose of older MANs ( 03/53 Regs )
The 55/06 Batch of MANs are still in good nick and could last another 6 years.

Hartlepool have bad luck when it comes to Brand new vehicles but I could see Stagecoach ordering atleast a few E200MMCs to displace the Remaining Darts. ( Didn't count how many Darts they have left )

Actually, the last new vehicles for Newcastle were 12061-86 - which arrived in Summer 2011. Yes, the last batch of vehicles new to Newcastle that were fully funded by Stagecoach were the 60-reg E400s.
However, you have to remember that from 2003 to 2011, Newcastle more-or-less received new vehicles every year. Compare that to Stockton, who until this past 2 years effectively had a 5 year gap between new vehicles. Hartlepool depot have only had 4 batches of new buses during Stagecoach ownership (10 B10Ms upon purchase in 1994, 5 more in 1997, the part-funded Darts in 2004 and the 19 MANViros in 2008). And that's just what I can remember of the top of my head. 

At the launch of Stockton's E300s, the MD stated that his aim for the next set of new vehicles was to start renewing the decker fleet at Newcastle. We shall see what happens. However, even with the end of the Macmillan contracts at Stockton, I wouldn't be too surprised if some of the oldest E400s don't end up moving south to assist with what will probably be very high peak time loadings from September (depending what Macmillan Academy plan on doing regarding the students that currently use the 200-205).

(03 Jan 2016, 12:00 pm)Dan wrote 10 Dart SLF to cover a PVR of 9 on service 1. Hartlepool also have 34550 as a reserve vehicle.

It would make more sense from an engineering point of view to replace the Dart SLFs on this route with more Enviro 200 bodied MANs, cascaded from another depot. Walkergate have 6, Slatyford have 10, South Shields have 1, and Sunderland have 10, so you'd have to decide between upgrading Sunderland's 8 and 18/19 services or Slatyford's 6/7/8. Michael and I are bias, so we'd suggest Sunderland's 8 and 18/19.

Defo! 

I don't see Hartlepool gaining anymore MAN E200s yet. Considering it's 8 years since Hartlepool last received any direct investment in vehicles, I wouldn't be too surprised if they gain direct investment this year.

The interesting bit about those Busways route are simple - bar Slatyford's 6/7/8, the Sunderland routes are the marginal routes at the depot. Compared to the 1, which is probably Hartlepool's second or third most-profitiable (which, given they only have 5 routes, might be seen as not much to sing about) and is the main direct interurban link between two major towns in the Tees Valley (which the 1 and 36 both link Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, the 36 is more a link between the 4 main towns).

(03 Jan 2016, 12:21 pm)Kuyoyo wrote I don't see Hartlepool gaining anymore MAN E200s yet. Considering it's 8 years since Hartlepool last received any direct investment in vehicles, I wouldn't be too surprised if they gain direct investment this year.

The interesting bit about those Busways route are simple - bar Slatyford's 6/7/8, the Sunderland routes are the marginal routes at the depot. Compared to the 1, which is probably Hartlepool's second or third most-profitiable (which, given they only have 5 routes, might be seen as not much to sing about) and is the main direct interurban link between two major towns in the Tees Valley (which the 1 and 36 both link Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, the 36 is more a link between the 4 main towns).

In the high lighted, what do you mean?, sorry if i sound thick haha.

I wonder which service is the most profitable in Sunderland, i would imagine the 18/19 is the lowest for profit.

(03 Jan 2016, 12:30 pm)Michael wrote In the high lighted, what do you mean?, sorry if i sound thick haha.

I wonder which service is the most profitable in Sunderland, i would imagine the 18/19 is the lowest for profit.

That's what he means - they're the least profitable and hence least important services at Sunderland, making them the least likely contenders for investment, compared to service 1 in Hartlepool which is much more profitable.

Of course; our suggestions are just a bit of fun, backed up with our opinions of why we think it'd be good to happen (in this instance, fleet standardisation at Hartlepool Depot).

(03 Jan 2016, 12:33 pm)Dan wrote That's what he means - they're the least profitable and hence least important services at Sunderland, making them the least likely contenders for investment, compared to service 1 in Hartlepool which is much more profitable.

Of course; our suggestions are just a bit of fun, backed up with our opinions of why we think it'd be good to happen (in this instance, fleet standardisation at Hartlepool Depot).

Ohhhh lmao, now i sound thick! haha 

I would imagine the gas bus routes are the largest profitable services in Sunderland?

Let's hope we get more for fleet standardisation at Sunderland!  , if Sunderland get more gas buses, the next services on the list probables would be the 4 then the 10/11.

I think the Enviro 300s on the 100 could do with replacing. They've been on the route for coming up to 11 years now being hurled backwards and forwards between Newcastle and Metrocentre non-stop.

(03 Jan 2016, 12:57 pm)S813 FVK wrote I think the Enviro 300s on the 100 could do with replacing. They've been on the route for coming up to 11 years now being hurled backwards and forwards between Newcastle and Metrocentre non-stop.

I think the problem there is - the E300s are the longer variation (12.8m I think). That means, to replace them with normal single deckers would either mean reducing capacity on the route or requiring more vehicles and modify the timetable to offer the same or an increased capacity. I doubt the 100 will ever be upgraded to E400 operation simply because it would reduce the number of routing options. Plus, it's then the question of where 27506-10 can be used when replaced off the 100.

(03 Jan 2016, 12:57 pm)S813 FVK wrote I think the Enviro 300s on the 100 could do with replacing. They've been on the route for coming up to 11 years now being hurled backwards and forwards between Newcastle and Metrocentre non-stop.

I'd say that they still seem alright on the 100 so they should be fine for a few more years yet. Wonder what you could get in years to come to replace them with given the higher capacity of them Enviro 300s does seem to be needed at times.

(03 Jan 2016, 1:06 pm)Kuyoyo wrote I think the problem there is - the E300s are the longer variation (12.8m I think). That means, to replace them with normal single deckers would either mean reducing capacity on the route or requiring more vehicles and modify the timetable to offer the same or an increased capacity. I doubt the 100 will ever be upgraded to E400 operation simply because it would reduce the number of routing options. Plus, it's then the question of where 27506-10 can be used when replaced off the 100.

Stagecoach would probably reduce capacity on the route.

Like Go North East's X66 service, there are times of the day when you can see the bus completely empty, meaning that lower capacity (and more fuel-efficient) vehicles can be allocated with no issues. Problems arise at peak times, but with a bus every few minutes on a "turn up and go" frequency, it's not really an issue.

(03 Jan 2016, 1:22 pm)Dan wrote Stagecoach would probably reduce capacity on the route.

Like Go North East's X66 service, there are times of the day when you can see the bus completely empty, meaning that lower capacity (and more fuel-efficient) vehicles can be allocated with no issues. Problems arise at peak times, but with a bus every few minutes on a "turn up and go" frequency, it's not really an issue.

Which would then still leave where 27506-10 would be cascaded to. I think that, rather than the issue of dropping capacity on the 100, might be the reason why they've not been replaced on there yet.

(03 Jan 2016, 2:23 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Which would then still leave where 27506-10 would be cascaded to. I think that, rather than the issue of dropping capacity on the 100, might be the reason why they've not been replaced on there yet.

Stagecoach would probably have to foot the bill of transferring the Icomera Wi-Fi equipment from 27506-10 to the proposed new vehicles, as well. I can't remember what the exact cost of this work is - it's no more than £300/vehicle if my memory serves - but it's a cost they'll want to avoid regardless as I understand they were awarded with funding to fit the Wi-Fi equipment in the first place.

Nothing wrong with the Enviro300s on there, in my opinion. When the time does come, I maintain that I think Stagecoach will just reduce capacity, opposed to increasing the PVR and reducing profits (as a service like the 100 is unlikely to see any growth due to investment).

(03 Jan 2016, 12:09 pm)Kuyoyo wrote At the launch of Stockton's E300s, the MD stated that his aim for the next set of new vehicles was to start renewing the decker fleet at Newcastle. We shall see what happens. However, even with the end of the Macmillan contracts at Stockton, I wouldn't be too surprised if some of the oldest E400s don't end up moving south to assist with what will probably be very high peak time loadings from September (depending what Macmillan Academy plan on doing regarding the students that currently use the 200-205).

Not doubting the information at all, but similar claims were made at the open day in Feb 2014, regarding Sunderland becoming an 'all gas' depot. I've no idea what the hourly operational cost is between operating an ADL Enviro 200 and a Scania E300 Gas, but perhaps it's sufficient for the upgrade to pay for itself? 

They of course have a lot more flexibility of where to allocate a diesel vehicle, than they have with Gas.

dear Mrnut85. I think we should have the 35's back from Newcastle because they where the best buses we ever had. I am also glad that the 39's where sent to there new homes but was surprised by 39701 staying at South Shields.

(03 Jan 2016, 4:49 pm)Robin Tait wrote dear Mrnut85. I think we should have the 35's back from Newcastle because they where the best buses we ever had. I am also glad that the 39's where sent to there new homes but was surprised by 39701 staying at South Shields.

They are based in Newcastle for a reason. If they aren't required at South Shields, what's the point in having them there?

Newcastle got the Darts from South Shields when they got their new E200s because, as I stated earlier, the routes the Darts work in Newcastle are the marginal routes.

The 6/7/8 in Newcastle could really do with being operated by full size single decks, especially on Saturdays. It can be like a sardine can throughout much of the day between West Denton and the Metro Centre. I highly doubt the 55 and 06 reg MANs will be kept going for another 6 years! Four at the absolute most.

As for the 100, the extra long E300s were introduced for a reason and have not been replaced for the same reason. I don't think E400 operation is as unlikely as some people think. Very few drivers choose to operate under the low bridge these days, particularly westbound.

Worth mentioning that the E400H buses are no longer restricted to the 39/40 from this summer as the five year mandated period comes to an end. I'm not suggesting hybrids will necessarily be procured (doubtful) but it's interesting nonetheless.

Sorry Davie For asking that question. Any news today. By the way should 19647 Have come to shields depot instead of Newcastle.

(04 Jan 2016, 8:39 pm)Robin Tait wrote Sorry Davie For asking that question. Any news today. By the way should 19647 Have come to shields depot instead of Newcastle.

There's 2 Depots in the Newcastle division Walkergate in the east and Slatyford in the west 19647 is at Walkergate.

(05 Jan 2016, 6:23 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote There's 2 Depots in the Newcastle division Walkergate in the east and Slatyford in the west 19647 is at Walkergate.

I think what he means is, was it intended to go to Newcastle or was it intended for South Shields, the answer is originally it was expected to be for South Shields but Newcastle required it so was sent to them instead.

Two weeks of the forum to catch up on!