5297 on city link 57
Drivers rearside looking a bit orange!!
The diamond is trying to escape. 
Think a paint touch up is required

5232 has had its Tynedale Express vinyls removed

On 6305.

It's a bouncy ride. I'm having real problems typing on my phone!

Had to move out from the wi window seat because I couldn't sit with my feet straight in front of me, which I find painful.

Passengers impressed with the "posh bus" with tables, though

(11 Mar 2016, 9:56 am)LeeCalder wrote 5232 has had its Tynedale Express vinyls removed

In preparation for what?

(11 Mar 2016, 9:56 am)LeeCalder wrote 5232 has had its Tynedale Express vinyls removed

Pretty sure it has been involved in an RTA recently.

(11 Mar 2016, 10:23 am)Malarkey wrote Pretty sure it has been involved in an RTA recently.

Must have been very recent. Was the branding removed all the way around the vehicle or just one side.

Recent photos (nearly all at Eldon Square   ) shows no sign of any damage.

Only Hexham Solar that I noted with some damage the other week was 5229 with some large gouge marks on the nearside.

Saying that, it's possible they could be redesigining the brand to fit in with the Tynedale Links and AD122.

(11 Mar 2016, 11:37 am)GMitchelhill wrote Must have been very recent. Was the branding removed all the way around the vehicle or just one side.

Recent photos (nearly all at Eldon Square   ) shows no sign of any damage.

Only Hexham Solar that I noted with some damage the other week was 5229 with some large gouge marks on the nearside.

Saying that, it's possible they could be redesigining the brand to fit in with the Tynedale Links and AD122.

Could be on the other side as nearby all recent photographs of 5232 have been of the drivers side (entering Eldon Square). Think one of them is missing branding on one side.

I'm unsure but it has also had them removed from the front.

The lights on 3830s ticket machine are not working

(11 Mar 2016, 9:56 am)LeeCalder wrote 5232 has had its Tynedale Express vinyls removed

As long as the brand doesn't change.

(11 Mar 2016, 11:37 am)GMitchelhill wrote Must have been very recent. Was the branding removed all the way around the vehicle or just one side.

Recent photos (nearly all at Eldon Square   ) shows no sign of any damage.

Only Hexham Solar that I noted with some damage the other week was 5229 with some large gouge marks on the nearside.

Saying that, it's possible they could be redesigining the brand to fit in with the Tynedale Links and AD122.

If I see it tomorrow I'll check the other side and the back.

(11 Mar 2016, 4:18 pm)DanPicken wrote As long as the brand doesn't change.

It won't - it's just been an accident damage repair, with additional parts of the bodywork tidied up in the process.

(11 Mar 2016, 11:37 am)GMitchelhill wrote Must have been very recent. Was the branding removed all the way around the vehicle or just one side.

Recent photos (nearly all at Eldon Square   ) shows no sign of any damage.

Only Hexham Solar that I noted with some damage the other week was 5229 with some large gouge marks on the nearside.

Saying that, it's possible they could be redesigining the brand to fit in with the Tynedale Links and AD122.

Couple of photos below show 5232 only carrying "Sub Branding"

[attachment=7688]

[attachment=7689]

Furthermore 6040 has had its Pronto Branding removed, seen at Washington Depot this morning.

[attachment=7690]

(11 Mar 2016, 4:33 pm)ŁMalarkey wrote Couple of photos below show 5232 only carrying "Sub Branding"





Furthermore 6040 has had its Pronto Branding removed, seen at Washington Depot this morning.

I was going to ask the question.... Is the Pronto branding going to be removed from the Presidents, if some of them are to remain in service, but not being repainted. 

This photo answers my question.

Husband has pointed out that the problems I had when using my phone when plugged in on the castles express, this morning ( ie the touch screen having a mind of its own) is often symptomatic of an earth fault.

It's been fine since then.

(11 Mar 2016, 11:37 am).GMitchelhill wrote Must have been very recent. Was the branding removed all the way around the vehicle or just one side.

Recent photos (nearly all at Eldon Square   ) shows no sign of any damage.

Only Hexham Solar that I noted with some damage the other week was 5229 with some large gouge marks on the nearside.

Saying that, it's possible they could be redesigining the brand to fit in with the Tynedale Links and AD122.

(11 Mar 2016, 4:33 pm)Malarkey wrote Couple of photos below show 5232 only carrying "Sub Branding"





Furthermore 6040 has had its Pronto Branding removed, seen at Washington Depot this morning.

I think it would be nice to see the Tynedale Express receive an upgrade of New/Newer buses sometime soon.


On the theme of Hexham services..... 

I know it was mentioned on here that a full size single decker is required for Tynedale Links service 688 - Hexham/Bellingham

Obviously Tynedale Links already had a full size single decker before this service was taken over from Tyne Valley, I believe it was used on the 688 - Hexham/Allenheads service quite regularly. 
What vehicle mainly operates the 688 service now and does this service not require full size single decker anyway? 
If so, should Hexham not have 2 full size Single deckers in Tynedale Links livery?

(11 Mar 2016, 5:30 pm)thetravelman wrote I think it would be nice to see the Tynedale Express receive an upgrade of New/Newer buses sometime soon.


On the theme of Hexham services..... 

I know it was mentioned on here that a full size single decker is required for Tynedale Links service 688 - Hexham/Bellingham

Obviously Tynedale Links already had a full size single decker before this service was taken over from Tyne Valley, I believe it was used on the 688 - Hexham/Allenheads service quite regularly. 
What vehicle mainly operates the 688 service now and does this service not require full size single decker anyway? 
If so, should Hexham not have 2 full size Single deckers in Tynedale Links livery?

Service 680 is now the service which the full-size single deck is allocated to. The 688 is now an MPD.

(11 Mar 2016, 5:30 pm)thetravelman wrote I think it would be nice to see the Tynedale Express receive an upgrade of New/Newer buses sometime soon.


On the theme of Hexham services..... 

I know it was mentioned on here that a full size single decker is required for Tynedale Links service 688 - Hexham/Bellingham

Obviously Tynedale Links already had a full size single decker before this service was taken over from Tyne Valley, I believe it was used on the 688 - Hexham/Allenheads service quite regularly. 
What vehicle mainly operates the 688 service now and does this service not require full size single decker anyway? 
If so, should Hexham not have 2 full size Single deckers in Tynedale Links livery?

(11 Mar 2016, 5:34 pm)Dan wrote Service 680 is now the service which the full-size single deck is allocated to. The 688 is now an MPD.

Thanks Dan.

Will this stay as an MPD when the new Solos come? 

Are the MPDs which are staying at Hexham, going to be used on a specific Tynedale Links Service eg: 688 or will the MPDs Just mix in with the Solos and both vehicle types together work any Tynedale Links services except obviously the 680 service.

(11 Mar 2016, 6:03 pm)thetravelman wrote Thanks Dan.

Will this stay as an MPD when the new Solos come? 

Are the MPDs which are staying at Hexham, going to be used on a specific Tynedale Links Service eg: 688 or will the MPDs Just mix in with the Solos and both vehicle types together work any Tynedale Links services except obviously the 680 service.

I'm not 100%, but I would imagine that it will stay the same.

One board on the 688 service runs onto scholars service 141, which requires seatbelts, so MPD 618 is allocated to this board at present. As this vehicle was refurbished specifically for this purpose, I cannot see this allocation being changed, but if 618 is VOR, one of the new Optare Solos will be allocated in its place, to fulfil the contractual requirement of seatbelts on the 141 service.

In my opinion; it would make sense to allocate three of the five new Solos to the boards on service 74, which interwork with service 686 and 687, as well as scholars 112, as these are the more 'long-distance' services which would benefit from improved reliability. One of these boards also runs onto service 688, so it would keep the seatbelt specification consistent on this service. I would then allocate one to services X81/681/185, as the new Optare Solos should be more reliable than the present MPD allocation, and another to service 682.

This would mean that an MPD would continue to be allocated to service 683, with two MPDs remaining as spares.

6050's Next stop announcement's weren't working this evening.

(11 Mar 2016, 6:03 pm)thetravelman wrote Thanks Dan.

Will this stay as an MPD when the new Solos come? 

Are the MPDs which are staying at Hexham, going to be used on a specific Tynedale Links Service eg: 688 or will the MPDs Just mix in with the Solos and both vehicle types together work any Tynedale Links services except obviously the 680 service.

(11 Mar 2016, 6:25 pm)Dan wrote I'm not 100%, but I would imagine that it will stay the same.

One board on the 688 service runs onto scholars service 141, which requires seatbelts, so MPD 618 is allocated to this board at present. As this vehicle was refurbished specifically for this purpose, I cannot see this allocation being changed, but if 618 is VOR, one of the new Optare Solos will be allocated in its place, to fulfil the contractual requirement of seatbelts on the 141 service.

In my opinion; it would make sense to allocate three of the five new Solos to the boards on service 74, which interwork with service 686 and 687, as well as scholars 112, as these are the more 'long-distance' services which would benefit from improved reliability. One of these boards also runs onto service 688, so it would keep the seatbelt specification consistent on this service. I would then allocate one to services X81/681/185, as the new Optare Solos should be more reliable than the present MPD allocation, and another to service 682.

This would mean that an MPD would continue to be allocated to service 683, with two MPDs remaining as spares.

Thanks again Dan.   

I agree with your idea, that keeping the new Solos for the longer distance services Ie: 74/686/687 and X81/681/185 boards in the first instance would help keep these service more reliable. 

I presume all the new Optare Solos for Hexham are going to come ready fitted with seat belts, so that they are all compliant with NCC - Hexham and Sorrounding area Scholars services.

It will be good to see a shiny new Optare Solo doing the 686 service around Prudhoe !



I must add I do like the look and styling of the new Streetdecks on X21 - Castle Express. I am just making my judgement from photos but I think they look good!

6020 is back in service and is on the 21

Just noticed Coaster 5271 heading to Wrekenton with no number displayed on the front blind, destination appears fine though.

Stopping light not working upstairs on 6071

(11 Mar 2016, 4:33 pm)Malarkey wrote Couple of photos below show 5232 only carrying "Sub Branding"





Furthermore 6040 has had its Pronto Branding removed, seen at Washington Depot this morning.

Although probably not going to happen, would be nice to see the silver mercs at Deptford either go onto Tynedale Xpress with one replacing 5210 or transferred to Chester for the Waggonway

(12 Mar 2016, 5:26 pm)JP6004 wrote Although probably not going to happen, would be nice to see the silver mercs at Deptford either go onto Tynedale Xpress with one replacing 5210 or transferred to Chester for the Waggonway

Yea I agree, Merc Citaros would be good for the Tynedale Xpress.

557 at Hexham in (last year's?) AD122 livery.

MPDs at Hexham.

9106 on 683.

YJ61 JHV on 682.