Are GNE only getting 10 Solo Sr's?

7 Indigo
3 Red

(01 Sep 2016, 7:27 pm)Michael wrote Are GNE only getting 10 Solo Sr's?

7 Indigo
3 Red

yup

(01 Sep 2016, 7:36 pm)citaro5284 wrote yup

Oh well, thought they might of got more.

Wonder what'll turn up next.... 

(01 Sep 2016, 7:25 pm)Jamie M wrote 6070 feels like a rocket compared to 6066. Not sure how this is only going to take 38 minutes to be honest!

Is this 'latest news'?

Indigo brand might become more relevant on North Tyneside when the new Indigo Business Park finally opens. Looks a huge site

(01 Sep 2016, 7:38 pm)Michael wrote Oh well, thought they might of got more.

Wonder what'll turn up next.... 

What you heard like Michael, we all know you have your ear to the ground   :s

(01 Sep 2016, 7:43 pm)citaro5284 wrote What you heard like Michael, we all know you have your ear to the ground   :s

Honestly Citaro, I've heard nothing, i didn't even know the Solo's had been ordered!


In the last couple years, Streetlites and Solo's have fronted the order, so i would imagine, Streetlites will be next... where for though.... is the question.


I do hope GNE have gone with something else though...

(01 Sep 2016, 5:34 pm)Adrian wrote Why?

I don't think it's the best brand in the world cosmetically, but interested why you think it's beyond comprehension that they've introduced it elsewhere?

It's a "local" brand for services connecting into the key routes - it's better than just making up brands for the sake of it.

Also allows flexibility with allocation, just need to change a few small parts of the branding.

(01 Sep 2016, 7:46 pm)busmanT wrote It's a "local" brand for services connecting into the key routes - it's better than just making up brands for the sake of it.

Also allows flexibility with allocation, just need to change a few small parts of the branding.

Yup, GNE have had far worse brand names in the past..

(01 Sep 2016, 7:16 pm)Jimmi wrote Unless the X21 was introduced to run beyond Durham on evenings and Sunday's, I would imagine Angel's would continue to do the 21/X21 as it's probably less confusing having Angel's on the X21 between Bishop Auckland and Durham than having Castles Express StreetDeck's on the 21 between Durham and Newcastle as people seeing Castle Express branded buses on the 21 may confuse people into thinking it's the limited stop X21 rather than the 21.

With any luck, if the 21 gets StreetDeck's they will hopefully be the same, or near as same specification as the examples on the X21.

I think you've misread my post, I suggested Crook running the current Sunday X21 between Bishop aswell as Durham to Newcastle via the weekday X21 route on a hourly frequency using the allocated Streetdecks.  It would not involve B5LHs on the X21 or vice versa with the Streetdecks.

(01 Sep 2016, 7:15 pm)Adrian wrote Not sure why Sunday X21s would move to Crook? The depot is not open at all on a Sunday, so if you were to open it, you'd have to increase the number of staff at the depot. You'd not be able to give everyone a rest day on a Sunday, as you'd have to rota for it, going forward.

The interworking still happens on an evening and Sunday too, so unless you're suggesting splitting the services, then there's an even bigger headcount increase required at Crook.

Sounds like a lot of upheaval to me, to try and fix something that isn't broken...

Just a suggestion.

No I'm not suggesting to split the services, It would simply just be the current weekday daytime X21 route during a Sunday and possibly Evenings too.
The depot is quite a wasted asset in my opinion and would possibly would make more use of it if evenings and Sunday's were on the weekday daytime X21 route.

Would also give a faster ( albeit not as frequent ) option between Durham and Newcastle ( would run hourly instead of half hourly )

(01 Sep 2016, 8:00 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote The depot is quite a wasted asset in my opinion and would possibly would make more use of it if evenings and Sunday's were on the weekday daytime X21 route.

Storing and driving buses from Crook to Bishop Auckland NIS every day would cost a lot less than running NIS from Chester-le-Street.

(01 Sep 2016, 8:10 pm)S813 FVK wrote Storing and driving buses from Crook to Bishop Auckland NIS every day would cost a lot less than running NIS from Chester-le-Street.

Indeed it would, I didn't mention any depot by accident and I was meant to put crook

It would use current weekday allocation of Streetdecks running hourly instead of half hourly aswell as running the full weekday daytime route.



Apologies

(01 Sep 2016, 5:55 am)Dan wrote Actually, the PVR was always 7 (even prior to the new vehicles being ordered). Previously it was done to accommodate an extra journey on the X21, and if my memory serves, it was related to Bishop Auckland College. I'm sure pdiddy will be able to recall.

The PVR was always intended to go to 7 during the day too with extra layover planned as well as extra running time. A spare vehicle wasn't ordered at any point. A multi-million pound company can't make decisions just like that at the drop of a hat!

The StreetDecks are some of the most reliable buses in the fleet and as I'm sure pdiddy will agree, there's only been a handful of times since they were launched where one has been VOR for a mechanical reason meaning another bus had to deputise all day. The majority of the time, they're pulled off for a journey or two so people like me can carry out repairs! This is always done off-peak, and usually between Chester-le-Street and Newcastle, in order to reduce the amount of time older vehicles spend on daytime service X21 runs. It'll happen again today, as I need to see 6301 this morning!

Yes the PVR was seven... as the 7th used to do Spennymoor to Framwellgate Moor college . Which later was given to Chester , then the 7th bbs did Durham to Bishop College. 

And YES the streetdecker (NOT streetdeckers eh Citaro) have been very reliable, in 3 month we've only had 1 problem on route which has resulted in lost mileage. 

Most of the drivers were sceptical, having heard bad reports about Streetlights. But the streetdeck has proved very reliable and all the drivers like them. 

Ps Just need shot of 571 and 572 now 

(01 Sep 2016, 7:45 pm)Michael wrote Honestly Citaro, I've heard nothing, i didn't even know the Solo's had been ordered!


In the last couple years, Streetlites and Solo's have fronted the order, so i would imagine, Streetlites will be next... where for though.... is the question.


I do hope GNE have gone with something else though...

Maybe deckers this year? Specially since they have heavily purchased singles past few years...

(01 Sep 2016, 5:32 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote I can't believe they've extended the IndiGo brand to yet another area. It was bad enough they used it in North Tyneside; extending it to Washington is beyond comprehension!

Why?

I think it's good to have consistent branding marking out more localised services. No different to Arriva's Frequenta, Max and Sapphire brands appearing on services across multiple depots.

(01 Sep 2016, 8:28 pm)pdiddy wrote Yes the PVR was seven... as the 7th used to do Spennymoor to Framwellgate Moor college . Which later was given to Chester , then the 7th bbs did Durham to Bishop College. 

And YES the streetdecker (NOT streetdeckers eh Citaro) have been very reliable, in 3 month we've only had 1 problem on route which has resulted in lost mileage. 

Most of the drivers were sceptical, having heard bad reports about Streetlights. But the streetdeck has proved very reliable and all the drivers like them. 

Ps Just need shot of 571 and 572 now 

Also heard overly positive reports of the Streetdecks as a vehicle to drive. The Streetlites however seem to be disliked by almost all drivers. Jerky gearboxes, assisted steering, etc.

(01 Sep 2016, 8:30 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Why?

I think it's good to have consistent branding marking out more localised services. No different to Arriva's Frequenta, Max and Sapphire brands appearing on services across multiple depots.

No complaints from him on that......

(01 Sep 2016, 8:30 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I think it's good to have consistent branding marking out more localised services. No different to Arriva's Frequenta, Max and Sapphire brands appearing on services across multiple depots.

Exactly.

I know I posted an opinion that was similar to Gregs earlier in the week, not because i don't like the brand but instead because i felt like if they used it any more, it would start to become overused.

However, after reading the responses that it received plus Arriva and the brands that you have just mentioned, it seems perfectly fine and acceptable.

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(01 Sep 2016, 8:32 pm)Michael wrote No complaints from him on that......

Aye but as soon as GNE do it the police should be called...

(01 Sep 2016, 8:29 pm)JP6004 wrote Maybe deckers this year? Specially since they have heavily purchased singles past few years...

All the non DDA decker's will be replaced by Omnidekka's from Brighton, (i can't find the post now!) of cause, that doesn't mean none will be on order... i wonder if we'll see more Streetdeck out on the NE roads, would like to see the Angel upgraded to them, due to the X21 having them, without tables though.



Tyne Tees Xpress should be upgraded soon, like i said before and a few others, we don't want to the regular occurrence of them breaking down, like the B7's did...


Crusader could benefit from deckers. 



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Still hoping to see better buses on the 2/2A this year..... Simplicity could look decent on the Streetlites

(01 Sep 2016, 8:35 pm)S813 FVK wrote Aye but as soon as GNE do it the police should be called...

I think the reason why GNE get slated in this sense but Arriva don't is simply because of the IndiGo branding itself, just about every day I get to hear/see someone within the hobby say "it's not indigo, it's pink!" or "at least the really good bus company (Trentbarton) can get their buses in the right colour" not singling out anyone in particular here but I hear this from just about everybody on what I must be honest, on a far too regular basis.

(01 Sep 2016, 8:46 pm)Michael wrote All the non DDA decker's will be replaced by Omnidekka's from Brighton, (i can't find the post now!) of cause, that doesn't mean none will be on order... i wonder if we'll see more Streetdeck out on the NE roads, would like to see the Angel upgraded to them, due to the X21 having them, without tables though.



Tyne Tees Xpress should be upgraded soon, like i said before and a few others, we don't want to the regular occurrence of them breaking down, like the B7's did...


Crusader could benefit from deckers. 



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Still hoping to see better buses on the 2/2A this year..... Simplicity could look decent on the Streetlites

The regular breakdowns seem to be already happening!

Reckon another year or so will be eked out of those Versas on the 2/2a/61 before any changes are made there.

I've suggested it before, but understanding it's a huge investment (no idea how lucrative the X9/10 are or aren't) but I'd love to see an Oxford Tube style service introduced with high spec coaches that can still cope with a stopping service to a degree

Again would love a 21 upgrade, B7s and until lastly Tridents aren't acceptable and it needs addressing, I'd probably accept at least a decent deep clean of the hybrids, they're in an awful state

Re-Indigo, I don't like branding but I'm warming to corporate group branding (like Arriva and Stagecoach) but Indigo is a nice compromise for those lower level local services and plain Red Northern for the 'have you seen the price of petrol, were only running this out of the goodness of our hearts' route that don't warrant investment or branding

I honestly dont think the 11 is going to last,ive saw it on different days of the week and different times of the day and everytime ive saw it,its either got nobody on it or a handful of passengers

(01 Sep 2016, 9:42 pm)V514DFT wrote I honestly dont think the 11 is going to last,ive saw it on different days of the week and different times of the day and everytime ive saw it,its either got nobody on it or a handful of passengers

It's had deckers an all sorts on. It's like a mix between the 1/27/310, all of which are really popular services. Don't see what the need was, reliability is fine but who on earth goes directly from newcastle to metrocentre using that route? The only system of gateshead to metrecentre as 96 was good. It's an unneeded service on the whole but let's see if it can mature within a couple of months given how poor the advertising was.

(01 Sep 2016, 9:42 pm)V514DFT wrote I honestly dont think the 11 is going to last,ive saw it on different days of the week and different times of the day and everytime ive saw it,its either got nobody on it or a handful of passengers

Sadly I agree with you there, it normally has a few passengers going into town say between 10 and 12 and coming out of town at 3 or 4 but other than that it is normally empty between Walllsend and Newcastle which is a shame as it's quicker. Even when the 11 is in front of the 1 or 22 people still seem to wait for the 1 or 22...

(01 Sep 2016, 9:49 pm)Jamie M wrote It's had deckers an all sorts on. It's like a mix between the 1/27/310, all of which are really popular services. Don't see what the need was, reliability is fine but who on earth goes directly from newcastle to metrocentre using that route? The only system of gateshead to metrecentre as 96 was good. It's an unneeded service on the whole but let's see if it can mature within a couple of months given how poor the advertising was.

How is it a mix between the 27 and 310? And also it's not a unneeded service because without it places like Willington Quay, East Howdon, Knightside Gardens etc. would be left without a service unless you mean bring back the 17/96?

I've never liked Arriva's Sapphire, Max and Frequenta brands - the first two are meaningless. GNE brands are usually good and sometimes quite original. IndiGo wasn't wonderful to start with and extending it to other areas is daft when they could have had their own local identities - as Tyneside did with the perfectly acceptable North Tyne Links. When IndiGo was extended there a senior manager said they "liked the colour and couldn't think of anything else"! That's a really good commendation for a Commercial department.

(01 Sep 2016, 9:51 pm)Tom wrote Sadly I agree with you there, it normally has a few passengers going into town say between 10 and 12 and coming out of town at 3 or 4 but other than that it is normally empty between Walllsend and Newcastle which is a shame as it's quicker. Even when the 11 is in front of the 1 or 22 people still seem to wait for the 1 or 22...


How is it a mix between the 27 and 310? And also it's not a unneeded service because without it places like Willington Quay, East Howdon, Knightside Gardens etc. would be left without a service unless you mean bring back the 17/96?

Aye, most of the destinations are accessible on other services, or general areas. Ignore my comment about the 27, I forgot that was south tyne. 310 gans along past met college and on to north shields etc.

(01 Sep 2016, 9:49 pm)Jamie M wrote It's had deckers an all sorts on. It's like a mix between the 1/27/310, all of which are really popular services. Don't see what the need was, reliability is fine but who on earth goes directly from newcastle to metrocentre using that route? The only system of gateshead to metrecentre as 96 was good. It's an unneeded service on the whole but let's see if it can mature within a couple of months given how poor the advertising was.

I don't think the service is designed for people to travel from Newcastle to the Metrocentre (unless you boarded before Newcastle and don't wish to change buses). It is mainly for local connections such as Newcastle/Gateshead to Lobley Hill and Lobley Hill to Metrocentre vice versa.

(01 Sep 2016, 9:51 pm)Tom wrote Sadly I agree with you there, it normally has a few passengers going into town say between 10 and 12 and coming out of town at 3 or 4 but other than that it is normally empty between Walllsend and Newcastle which is a shame as it's quicker. Even when the 11 is in front of the 1 or 22 people still seem to wait for the 1 or 22...

I'd guess people prefer Stagecoach because it's cheaper, has more connections in Newcastle (day tickets) more recognisable brand and service to people.

I can't see the gamble working but complaints about the Whickham/Lobely Hill section seem to have dropped considerably based on anecdotal Facebook views

(01 Sep 2016, 9:57 pm)S813 FVK wrote I don't think the service is designed for people to travel from Newcastle to the Metrocentre (unless you boarded before Newcastle and don't wish to change buses). It is mainly for local connections such as Newcastle/Gateshead to Lobley Hill and Lobley Hill to Metrocentre vice versa.

That lobley hill stretch could easily be run on an alternative route, 97A could do it or whatever. It's such a long journey that could easily just be split up without anyone noticing like.