Here are the brands I would keep. As I said in my previous post, each depot would have a maximum of say around 2 or 3 per area, with more for a bigger depot/area.

Gateshead (New Depot)

1) Tyne Tees Express
2) The Loop
3) CityLink
4) Centre Link - X66
5) Saltwell Park
6) Fab Fifty Seven (but under a new brand)
7) Blaydon Racers (with same name but under a better design. The current design looks a bit bland)
8) Toon Links

Scrap: - Highwayman, Crusader, and The Orbit

Saltmeadows

1) QuayLink
2) Great Park & Ride
3) South Tyne Links

Scrap: - The Pulse

Hexham

1) The Ten
2) Tynedale Express
3) Tynedale Links

Percy Main

1) Coaster
2) Cobalt Clipper
3) DFDS

Scrap: - The Centurion, Cobalt Connect, and North Tyne Links

Deptford

1) Fab Fifty Six
2) Prince Bishops
3) Laser (under a new name and brand)
4) Drifter
5) Wear Tees Express
6) Sunderland Connect

Scrap: - Fast Cats, Silver Arrows, and SimpliCity (undecided on this one tbh).

Peterlee

1) Wear Tees Express

Scrap: - East Durham Links

Washington

1) Connections 4
2) Red Arrows
3) South Tyne Links

Scrap: - Washington Street Shuttle. I do actually really like this brand but it is being phased out anyway.

Chester Le Street

1) The Angel
2) The Lime
3) The Waggonway (may be tempting to put Service 8 under this brand with it passing Beamish?)
4) Whey Aye 5-0

Scrap: - The Lambton Worm

Crook

1) Pronto
2) The OK Way

Stanley

1) The Diamond
2) The Lime
3) The Red Kite

Consett

1) Venture

In total 13 brands would be scrapped and all of these buses would be painted into the Northern Livery, including Yellow Buses.

Just my opinion anyway

(24 Oct 2013, 5:22 pm)Andreos1 wrote Hand on heart and there is no GNE bashing intended here at all - I genuinely thought they were for a local independent company somewhere.
It was only when I saw them on here, that I put two and two together and realised.

Reminds me of the Coopers Coaches colour scheme.

Whether the branding will change the appearance, who knows.

To be fair, I was driving 70mph in the opposite direction at the time.

I must say I prefer the current colour as opposed to the new one, but hopefully the vinyls will improve it.
Guess they wouldn't have had that colour if they didn't like it though!

(24 Oct 2013, 5:25 pm)Tom wrote Why register, then?

Do you know the types of people n a forum before you register? No. And I don't see why one person would stop me using this site.

Just had an idea. How about branding all services that serve the coast as "Coaster"? Percy Main could have "The Northumberland Coaster" for Service 1, Deptford could have "The Durham Coaster" to replace the Drifter and Gateshead could rebrand Fab Fifty Seven as "The South Tyne Coaster". Also I would be tempted to replace the Silver Arrows brand with "SimpliCity", promoting the link between Washington and Sunderland. Again just a thought.

Dan/CatsFast - you two are getting as bad as eezypeazy and erm, me!

(24 Oct 2013, 5:35 pm)Andreos1 wrote Dan/CatsFast - you two are getting as bad as eezypeazy and erm, me!

'tis good fun.

(24 Oct 2013, 5:35 pm)Andreos1 wrote Dan/CatsFast - you two are getting as bad as eezypeazy and erm, me!

Hahah! Ee sorry for taking up the thread with this!

Just trying to suss who is eezypeazy! :p

If anything the 56 should be CityLink not the 58...

Taking from Washingtonian - here is what i think.. the ones i would keep.


Tyne Tees Express
Centre Link - X66
Blaydon Racers
Great Park & Ride
Tynedale Express
Cobalt Clipper
DFDS
Wear Tees Express
Sunderland Connect
Silver Arrows
---
Simplicity (Sunderland only... 36/36A (only added cause of the routes atm) 38,39,42,99 - would be Under that brand.
---
Wear Tees Express
Connections 4
Red Arrows
The Angel
The Waggonway
The OK Way
The Red Kite

(24 Oct 2013, 5:34 pm)Washingtonian wrote Just had an idea. How about branding all services that serve the coast as "Coaster"? Percy Main could have "The Northumberland Coaster" for Service 1, Deptford could have "The Durham Coaster" to replace the Drifter and Gateshead could rebrand Fab Fifty Seven as "The South Tyne Coaster". Also I would be tempted to replace the Silver Arrows brand with "SimpliCity", promoting the link between Washington and Sunderland. Again just a thought.

I do like the idea of regional variations on a shared brand like the Northumbrian Coaster etc. It would add a bit of a local identity and give a corporate image. I suppose we're halfway ther with the fab 56 and fab 57 but these dont actually mean anything (or have very much in common apart from serving Newcastle).

How many #Saltwell Park Versa's have been repainted so far?

(24 Oct 2013, 12:23 pm)Chris wrote I believe they were originally set up to bid for contract work, that full cost depots couldn't compete on due to their higher overheads. Think along the lines of lower wage rates, sickness/pension provision, breaks etc. The 'carrot', if you like, was fewer weekend & late shifts. Generally, not a full cost operational depot.

Saltmeadows, Consett, Peterlee, a couple of lines at Hexham (Tynedale Links) and a couple of lines at Deptford (Nexus I would think) were the units last time I looked into it.

Of course, this might have all changed now? This is based mostly on what I remember from a driving open day a few years back.

Thanks Chris. As I thought. Reason I originally asked is because the starting pay rate is the same at the low cost units as at other depots. I take it Saltmeadows and the likes move onto inferior pay scales compared to other depots then?

To add to Liam's attached pictures of the Saltwell Park Streetlite arrivals today:
- Full shot pic of NL63XBH. I actually like it, I was hoping for a lighter green.

(24 Oct 2013, 5:53 pm)Tom wrote How many #Saltwell Park Versa's have been repainted so far?

Zero, and they won't start to be repainted until next month. :p

(24 Oct 2013, 5:53 pm)Tom wrote How many #Saltwell Park Versa's have been repainted so far?

None!

(24 Oct 2013, 5:56 pm)citaro5284 wrote None!

Is their any more FAB 56's or Drifter Versa's in for re-paint?

(24 Oct 2013, 5:56 pm)Dan wrote Zero, and they won't start to be repainted until next month. :p

Cheers - So how many Drifter and Simplicity ones have?

(24 Oct 2013, 5:59 pm)Tom wrote Cheers - So how many Drifter and Simplicity ones have?

Last week: 8302, 4934
This week: 8303, 4935

I'm told 8306 was put in for repaint early because it was recently involved in an RTA.

(24 Oct 2013, 6:01 pm)Dan wrote Last week: 8302, 4934
This week: 8303, 4935

I'm told 8306 was put in for repaint early because it was recently involved in an RTA.

Didn't know 4934 and 4935 were Drifter or Simplicity

(24 Oct 2013, 6:01 pm)citaro5284 wrote Didn't know 4934 and 4935 were Drifter or Simplicity

Hush you!
Michael, you can consider your question answered too!

This photo is of an interesting angle....I thought there was a pretty high fence there?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamsonm...otostream/

(24 Oct 2013, 6:01 pm)Dan wrote Last week: 8302, 4934
This week: 8303, 4935

I'm told 8306 was put in for repaint early because it was recently involved in an RTA.

An RTA? Can't remember hearing of that. Nothing to serious?

(24 Oct 2013, 6:10 pm)CatsFast101 wrote An RTA? Can't remember hearing of that. Nothing to serious?

Not sure - those were the only details I was given unfortunately.

(24 Oct 2013, 6:10 pm)citaro5284 wrote This photo is of an interesting angle....I thought there was a pretty high fence there?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamsonm...otostream/

Raising the camera up high helps

(24 Oct 2013, 6:14 pm)Dan wrote Not sure - those were the only details I was given unfortunately.

Prob explains why it's been awol whilst I was trying to get it to clear the current crop of Versas.

As for brands. (I name 10 for each, and I'm not including the Nine / X36/X37 has they well weren't proper since the brands weren't implimented properly. Some are also pre Peter Huntley.

Top 10.
Red Kite
X10 (Original)
Coaster (as used on the Tridents).
Why Aye Five Oh.
Route 19 (Original)
Centurian (Red Version)
X40 Great Park & Ride
Bargain Bus
Team Valley Clipper
Fast Cats

Bottom 10.
Park & Ride X67
Showstopper
Magic Roundabout
Black Cats
Laser (Current Version)
Metrocentre X66 (Citaro version)
Fab 56
Cobalt Clipper (Current Version)
Commuter Club X90
Saltwell Parks (Versa Version)

(24 Oct 2013, 7:01 pm)GMitchelhill wrote Prob explains why it's been awol whilst I was trying to get it to clear the current crop of Versas.

As for brands. (I name 10 for each, and I'm not including the Nine / X36/X37 has they well weren't proper since the brands weren't implimented properly. Some are also pre Peter Huntley.

Top 10.
Red Kite
X10 (Original)
Coaster (as used on the Tridents).
Why Aye Five Oh.
Route 19 (Original)
Centurian (Red Version)
X40 Great Park & Ride
Bargain Bus
Team Valley Clipper
Fast Cats

Bottom 10.
Park & Ride X67
Showstopper
Magic Roundabout
Black Cats
Laser (Current Version)
Metrocentre X66 (Citaro version)
Fab 56
Cobalt Clipper (Current Version)
Commuter Club X90
Saltwell Parks (Versa Version)

I'm surprised the original Angel didn't make it into your top 10. One of the best ones they done I still think.

Which routes do Deptfors Nexus Solo's run on? and Do GNE operate any journeys on the 37?

(24 Oct 2013, 7:36 pm)peter wrote Which routes do Deptfors Nexus Solo's run on? and Do GNE operate any journeys on the 37?

Yeah they operate one board and compass operate the other I believe?

(24 Oct 2013, 7:36 pm)peter wrote Which routes do Deptfors Nexus Solo's run on? and Do GNE operate any journeys on the 37?

37 and 73 during the day - Not sure about the 37

135/136 on a Evening and Sunday.

(24 Oct 2013, 7:36 pm)peter wrote Which routes do Deptfors Nexus Solo's run on? and Do GNE operate any journeys on the 37?

Deptford allocate their "Nexus" branded Solo SRs (635 and 636) to services 37, 73 and 135/136.

The 37 is operated by Go North East throughout the day and some additional peak time runs are provided by Compass on evenings.
One board of the 73 is operated by Compass, and the other by Go North East.

These then run onto the 135/136 on nights.