(30 Aug 2016, 9:14 pm)Brian13 wrote Oops didn't see that 554. Just assumed it would be missing like the othets. I hope so too. Have to go to Nexus website for the gne nexus runs. 960 is still down as Kingsleys on there though.

554 is a commercially-operated service, hence its inclusion on the website.

(30 Aug 2016, 8:37 pm)Brian13 wrote Hate GNEs new website. The new contracts aren't on such as the nexus 13 and 554 or the 960. Plus the 37 is still there. Never loads properly or has our services which I found quite helpful.

The 37 should be on there until the end of this week so not an issue at the moment.
In any event GCT have still not had their authorsation increased and with only three working days to go there has to be doubt on the situation with the 37.

(30 Aug 2016, 10:34 pm)Ambassador wrote The Omnicities have never had an easy life mind, be interesting to see how the Streetlite perform after a while. My first experience of them was when Stanley ran them on the 709 and 728, bear in mind we were on either DAFs or Deltas then, it was a hell of an upgrade.

Then they turned up on the 21. Performance wise they were fine, capacity and suitability...well, let's hope someone got fired.

I do like the premium feel of the Citaro. The Versa and Streetlites just feel like the entry level trim...in fact more aptly they are the Dacia of the bus world, cheaper, economic, easy to repair but short on aesthetics and passenger comfort

Shame about the citaros. The dashes are wrecked on 5298-5309 after being punched by laser drivers. 
Streetlites seemed a bad idea all along. They're far too warm and the floor always seem to be sticky on the c&c branded buses. Optare seem to make rather borderline buses. 
My favourite manufacturers are Volvo. ADL. Mercedes.

(30 Aug 2016, 7:01 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote I wasn't talking about Omnicitys on that bit.

Yes, All Omnicitys bar 5259 still retain there door open brake.

Are you sure? I've seen plenty of omnicities at Stanley drive off before door closing. Might just take a few seconds to start closing once pressed but I wouldn't be quick to rule out that some others haven't had theirs disabled also.

(31 Aug 2016, 8:45 am)Jamie M wrote Are you sure? I've seen plenty of omnicities at Stanley drive off before door closing. Might just take a few seconds to start closing once pressed but I wouldn't be quick to rule out that some others haven't had theirs disabled also.

What I was thinking actually. I don't see how an enthusiast would know anything like that unless they have travelled on every single Omnicity in the fleet which I highly doubt.

Does the 29 still require a Nexus branded bus? It has had the same bus on it for a good week now. N?61FJO, is this by chance the only branded one left?

(31 Aug 2016, 10:06 am)Jamie M wrote Does the 29 still require a Nexus branded bus? It has had the same bus on it for a good week now. N?61FJO, is this by chance the only branded one left?

No it no longer requires a Nexus branded bus

(31 Aug 2016, 10:06 am)Jamie M wrote Does the 29 still require a Nexus branded bus? It has had the same bus on it for a good week now. N?61FJO, is this by chance the only branded one left?

I believe most journeys are now commercially operated so no, they won't require a Nexus branded vehicle. 

A list of the remaining Nexus liveried vehicles can be found here: 
http://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/gn...o=Fleet+No.®=Registration&chassis=Chassis&bodywork=Bodywork&depot=Depot&livery=nexus&year=Year&euro=Euro&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

Just seen CLS' beamish bus gan past. Have to say, I much prefered the unbranded streetlites. I guess I prefer plain colours rather than text and different colours over buses. The two tone streetdecks look better with it, but I really liked the look of the black omnicities and midnight blue citaros with no branding except from the corporate logo. Same story with the streetlites, much preferred corporate red than branded up.

Which 9 run is 3888 (or other P.M buses) on for from North Shields?

4946 flying down gateshead with the twitter on the board. Looks rather odd but that's just me.

(31 Aug 2016, 11:12 am)Jamie M wrote Which 9 run is 3888 (or other P.M buses) on for from North Shields?

3888 is on 434 today?

(31 Aug 2016, 8:45 am)Jamie M wrote Are you sure? I've seen plenty of omnicities at Stanley drive off before door closing. Might just take a few seconds to start closing once pressed but I wouldn't be quick to rule out that some others haven't had theirs disabled also.

Could you elaborate which ones then? I'd be keen to know.

Can remember when the Omnicities first came back to Chester in early 2014 for the 50, a few drivers found the ''hand brake on to open doors'' system difficult to get used to again. 3889 had it fitted years ago, think there was some sort of incident so it was brought in on that one, can't recall 3885-3888 getting it done though.

(31 Aug 2016, 2:20 pm)GX03 SVC wrote 3888 is on 434 today?

Which days does it do the 9 then? I saw it yesterday. Is the 434 the wednesday only thing? I might be talking nonsense but remembering hearing something along those linesm

(31 Aug 2016, 2:24 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Could you elaborate which ones then? I'd be keen to know.

I don't remember which IDs but have seen it. Maybe Dan can add this info along with tachographs to the fleet lists [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH]

(31 Aug 2016, 2:51 pm)Jamie M wrote Which days does it do the 9 then? I saw it yesterday. Is the 434 the wednesday only thing? I might be talking nonsense but remembering hearing something along those linesm

434 runs Monday to Saturday, interworking with 448 on schooldays.

(31 Aug 2016, 2:53 pm)Jamie M wrote I don't remember which IDs but have seen it. Maybe Dan can add this info along with tachographs to the fleet lists [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH]

I don't think Dan would implement small differences between vehicles into the fleet list, don't think too many people are interested in if the door brake is disabled or not.

(31 Aug 2016, 2:59 pm)GX03 SVC wrote I don't think Dan would implement small differences between vehicles into the fleet list, don't think too many people are interested in if the door brake is disabled or not.

Agreed. Adding little details like that would just over complicate things - i certainly don't give a toss. I still don't know how any enthusiast can identify a vehicle from an entire batch as being the only vehicle to have a feature. I said it earlier this morning, the only way it could be done is by riding every single Omnicity in the fleet and I don't think that would have been done.

(31 Aug 2016, 2:51 pm)Jamie M wrote Which days does it do the 9 then? I saw it yesterday. Is the 434 the wednesday only thing? I might be talking nonsense but remembering hearing something along those linesm

It isn't scheduled to do the 9. May be used as a general substitute or allocated on match day when the demand is higher.

(31 Aug 2016, 3:08 pm)S813 FVK wrote It isn't scheduled to do the 9. May be used as a general substitute or allocated on match day when the demand is higher.

Ah, guess it was down to VORs yesterday.

(31 Aug 2016, 3:06 pm)S813 FVK wrote Agreed. Adding little details like that would just over complicate things - i certainly don't give a toss. I still don't know how any enthusiast can identify a vehicle from an entire batch as being the only vehicle to have a feature. I said it earlier this morning, the only way it could be done is by riding every single Omnicity in the fleet and I don't think that would have been done.

I don't give a toss either, But I can identify the slightest things different on a bus.

(31 Aug 2016, 3:08 pm)S813 FVK wrote It isn't scheduled to do the 9. May be used as a general substitute or allocated on match day when the demand is higher.

I think it was scheduled to do the 9 as the bus that works the 434 normally used to run onto the 9 at about 17:20 but since the timetable changes it doesn't anymore.

(31 Aug 2016, 2:51 pm)Jamie M wrote Which days does it do the 9 then? I saw it yesterday. Is the 434 the wednesday only thing? I might be talking nonsense but remembering hearing something along those linesm

On Wednesday's the 434 finishes at Ashington, Lintonville Terrace at 14:21 whilst every other day it then does a run to Linton, First Row arriving at 14:39 then does a run to Bedlington Station, Clayton Arms arriving at 15:24. The earlier finish on service 434 on Wednesday's is owing to schools service 448 departing an hour earlier on Wednesday's (leaves Bedlington Station at 14:40 on Wednesday's).

The bus that does the 434/448 on weekdays during term time used to operate the 17:22 9 from North Shields and return from Sunderland but the timetable for the 9 has changed since I did it, so I don't know if the bus on the 434/448 still goes onto the 9 on a afternoon or not.

(30 Aug 2016, 7:01 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Yes, All Omnicitys bar 5259 still retain there door open brake.

(31 Aug 2016, 3:15 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote I don't give a toss either, But I can identify the slightest things different on a bus.

I understand that you have the ability to do that and I certainly don't have a problem with it.

However, what I can't understand is how you can be certain that 5259 is the only Omnicity not to have the door open brake. I may be wrong but I can't imagine that you have been on every single Omnicity on the GNE fleet to make such a conclusion.

Solos 681, 682, 683, 684, 685 and 688 were all delivered to Go North East today. Of these, 685 has already received "indiGo" branding. 682 is pictured below:
Go North East: 0682 / NK66CWX by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Volvo B10BLEs 4901, 4902, 4907, 4918, 4920, 4925 and 5167 have all been withdrawn from service. The native examples are all now at Saltmeadows Road, but 5167 is on the VOR line at Riverside.
Go North East: 4925 / X935WGR by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

As mentioned already, the "Sunderland Connect" branded Optare Solo Hybrids are now undergoing repaint. 640 was returned to Deptford today:
Go North East: 0640 / NK62DWY by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

(31 Aug 2016, 3:36 pm)Dan wrote As mentioned already, the "Sunderland Connect" branded Optare Solo Hybrids are now undergoing repaint. 640 was returned to Deptford today:
Go North East: 0640 / NK62DWY by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Did someone say something about green tyres? If so, I don't think this is what they had in mind. [emoji14]

(31 Aug 2016, 3:36 pm)Dan wrote Of these, 685 has already received "indiGo" branding

Go North East: 0685 / NK66CXA by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

(31 Aug 2016, 3:48 pm)Dan wrote Go North East: 0685 / NK66CXA by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

That was quick!

(31 Aug 2016, 4:04 pm)JP6004 wrote That was quick!

Bus was only at Saltmeadows for 20 minutes before the guys who brand the buses arrived!