(15 Oct 2016, 12:30 pm)beefcake wrote As far as I'm aware, only 5211 got fully repainted, minus the route vinyls along the top. One of the others (5204 I think) only has a couple of pawprint vinyls near side and a couple have bits of orange paint visible

(15 Oct 2016, 12:33 pm)S813 FVK wrote 5204 was also repainted from Prince Bishops. I think 5206 is the solar you are on about.

Yeah, sure there was more than one ex-purple Solar that ended up black.

(15 Oct 2016, 1:09 pm)cbma06 wrote there was some solars got painted into prince bishop livery when the service got extended to shields, and then shortly after the streetlites arrived.

It just seems two minutes since those Solar's went black. 
I think the Solar's that were painted purple for the Shields extension were that colour for about a year.

(15 Oct 2016, 1:16 pm)Andreos1 wrote Yeah, sure there was more than one ex-purple Solar that ended up black.

It just seems two minutes since those Solar's went black. 
I think the Solar's that were painted purple for the Shields extension were that colour for about a year.

the solars been black for quite sometime now.

(15 Oct 2016, 12:17 pm)Michael wrote With recent changes to the Sunderland area appearing on VOSA, some amends to my predication's:

As we know: Streetlites are RUMORED for Blaydon Racers...

Blaydon Racers Citaro's to be allocated to the X5/X6 along with the current ones remaining on the X7, X5/X6 will also offer WIFI.(we don't know the frequancy of each route so i can't say how many Citaro's will be allocated to X5/X6/X7.


Scania's from the X5 (Current X35) will replace the B10's and some older Scania's in the fleet

Has the X35 been officially confirmed as renumbered to X5. Don't think so...

(15 Oct 2016, 7:29 pm)ifm001 wrote Has the X35 been officially confirmed as renumbered to X5. Don't think so...

Looks to be the exact same route, sorry for speculating...

(15 Oct 2016, 7:29 pm)ifm001 wrote Has the X35 been officially confirmed as renumbered to X5. Don't think so...

Given that the VOSA registration is variation rather than a new registration for a service currently running between Sunderland and Hartlepool and there is no X5, what else can it be other than a renumbering of the X35 to coincide with the new X6 and X7?

(15 Oct 2016, 7:29 pm)ifm001 wrote Has the X35 been officially confirmed as renumbered to X5. Don't think so...

Ask Dan [emoji12]


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(15 Oct 2016, 7:32 pm)Michael wrote Looks to be the exact same route, sorry for speculating...

No need to say sorry for speculating, as there's loads of speculating messages on the forum as info are being held until GNE publish the changes.


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X5 is the X35 renumbered.
X6 and X7 are hourly, combining into every 30 minutes to Seaham. X6 via Dalton Park and A19, Burnhope Way. X7 via route as now, Essington Way.

X6 via Arriva 23 route to Hartlepool, but to the Marina instead of Victoria Rd.
X7 terminates on a loop of Pennine Drive and Oakerside

(16 Oct 2016, 9:43 am)RobinHood wrote X5 is the X35 renumbered.
X6 and X7 are hourly, combining into every 30 minutes to Seaham. X6 via Dalton Park and A19, Burnhope Way. X7 via route as now, Essington Way.

X6 via Arriva 23 route to Hartlepool, but to the Marina instead of Victoria Rd.
X7 terminates on a loop of Pennine Drive and Oakerside

Good move having the X6 go to Dalton Park especially when the new development has just opened.

I would imagine the services will finish between 6pm and 7pm? (expect the X5 with will probables stay the same as of now)


The PVR is likely to be around 12 all together? (just a massive guess!!!)

7 for the X5 as of now 
3 for the X6
2 for the X7


Wonder if Peterlee will run the X6 along side the X7?

X6 and X7 interwork in Sunderland

(16 Oct 2016, 11:51 am)RobinHood wrote X6 and X7 interwork in Sunderland

Do u know what buses the X5/X6/X7 will use?

At a guess i'd say:

X5: Fast Cats solars
X6/X7: ex-WTX Citaros plus one of the Seeit Doit Citaros with the PVR now being 14 with 15 branded vehicles

That would match your PVR guesses you made earlier

(16 Oct 2016, 12:07 pm)S813 FVK wrote At a guess i'd say:

X5: Fast Cats solars
X6/X7: ex-WTX Citaros plus one of the Seeit Doit Citaros with the PVR now being 14 with 15 branded vehicles

That would match your PVR guesses you made earlier

Use 5332 from Riverside so they are all 10 reg? And if needs be transfer one of the See it do it Citaros to Riverside.

Hopefully the X6 will do well, has the potential to!

(16 Oct 2016, 12:09 pm)Tom wrote Use 5332 from Riverside so they are all 10 reg? And if needs be transfer one of the See it do it Citaros to Riverside.

Hopefully the X6 will do well, has the potential to!

They will all have WiFi if that happens, too. No WiFi spare citaro for the 27 though but i guess they have other spares with that feature (5389 etc)

(16 Oct 2016, 12:07 pm)S813 FVK wrote At a guess i'd say:

X5: Fast Cats solars
X6/X7: ex-WTX Citaros plus one of the Seeit Doit Citaros with the PVR now being 14 with 15 branded vehicles

That would match your PVR guesses you made earlier

That was just a guess though, could be completely wrong!

(16 Oct 2016, 12:13 pm)Michael wrote That was just a guess though, could be completely wrong!

Aye haha. Your guess looks good to me though and if you are wrong, i can't see it being by more than a 1 - can't see where they would source the vehicles from (unless any new streetlites arrive later this month and are pushed out into service next month which is unlikely)

Do they have enough Solos if the 202 PVR increases by 1 too?

(16 Oct 2016, 12:03 pm)Michael wrote Do u know what buses the X5/X6/X7 will use?

My initial thoughts went to the outstanding ex-Thames Solo's (sure there's still some to come - lost track of what's arrived and what hasn't). However, I wonder if some of them are for Peterlee and say the extension of the 202.

I would have thought that the three routes would have a common vehicle type (tying in with a joint relaunch and brand), but I don't think this is possible.

(16 Oct 2016, 12:09 pm)Tom wrote Use 5332 from Riverside so they are all 10 reg? And if needs be transfer one of the See it do it Citaros to Riverside.

Hopefully the X6 will do well, has the potential to!

I'm happy to be proven wrong, but I'm not convinced.
The northern section has some good links, but I think the demand for the southern section will be it's downfall. As well as competing with the new X5 between Peterlee and Hartlepool, it has the Arriva routes too. I don't think there is enough demand down there.
I use the Durham Coast Line quite a bit and the demand on the train always seems to be between Newcastle and Hartlepool - not Sunderland and Hartlepool. I appreciate the express GNE had between Newcastle and Hartlepool failed, but is there a big enough frequency, a quick enough connection and attractive enough pricing to attract punters away from the train - ultimately the sorts of numbers that could make or break the service.

I'm also wondering what impact the X6 will have with the 202 regarding those loyal to GNE on that common section.

(16 Oct 2016, 12:26 pm)Andreos1 wrote My initial thoughts went to the outstanding ex-Thames Solo's (sure there's still some to come - lost track of what's arrived and what hasn't). However, I wonder if some of them are for Peterlee and say the extension of the 202.

I would have thought that the three routes would have a common vehicle type (tying in with a joint relaunch and brand), but I don't think this is possible.

I'm happy to be proven wrong, but I'm not convinced.
The northern section has some good links, but I think the demand for the southern section will be it's downfall. As well as competing with the new X5 between Peterlee and Hartlepool, it has the Arriva routes too. I don't think there is enough demand down there.
I use the Durham Coast Line quite a bit and the demand on the train always seems to be between Newcastle and Hartlepool - not Sunderland and Hartlepool. I appreciate the express GNE had between Newcastle and Hartlepool failed, but is there a big enough frequency, a quick enough connection and attractive enough pricing to attract punters away from the train - ultimately the sorts of numbers that could make or break the service.

I'm also wondering what impact the X6 will have with the 202 regarding those loyal to GNE on that common section.

Yeah the X6 will be a lot quicker than the 202 though - the 202 takes forever between Dalton Park and peterlee

(16 Oct 2016, 12:30 pm)Tom wrote Yeah the X6 will be a lot quicker than the 202 though - the 202 takes forever between Dalton Park and peterlee

Exactly.
The 202 is going to have passengers who travel locally and those who travel between Peterlee and Dalton Park. 
If passengers who fall in to the latter category chose the quicker X6, it is obvious numbers (and revenues) however small, will drop on the 202.

(16 Oct 2016, 12:37 pm)Andreos1 wrote Exactly.
The 202 is going to have passengers who travel locally and those who travel between Peterlee and Dalton Park. 
If passengers who fall in to the latter category chose the quicker X6, it is obvious numbers (and revenues) however small, will drop on the 202.

Yeah it is going to be interesting how the passenger numbers will be! Especially on the X6

(16 Oct 2016, 12:26 pm)Andreos1 wrote My initial thoughts went to the outstanding ex-Thames Solo's (sure there's still some to come - lost track of what's arrived and what hasn't). However, I wonder if some of them are for Peterlee and say the extension of the 202.

I would have thought that the three routes would have a common vehicle type (tying in with a joint relaunch and brand), but I don't think this is possible.

I'm happy to be proven wrong, but I'm not convinced.
The northern section has some good links, but I think the demand for the southern section will be it's downfall. As well as competing with the new X5 between Peterlee and Hartlepool, it has the Arriva routes too. I don't think there is enough demand down there.
I use the Durham Coast Line quite a bit and the demand on the train always seems to be between Newcastle and Hartlepool - not Sunderland and Hartlepool. I appreciate the express GNE had between Newcastle and Hartlepool failed, but is there a big enough frequency, a quick enough connection and attractive enough pricing to attract punters away from the train - ultimately the sorts of numbers that could make or break the service.

I'm also wondering what impact the X6 will have with the 202 regarding those loyal to GNE on that common section.

It could be though, not just straight away, wonder if all of them would be branded "Fast Cats", i would like to see Ciatro's on all of the routes with WIFI. 

GNE might of took a massive risk and got new buses for the routes but that's unlikely although the X35 is a busy route.

Wouldn't be surprised if the PVR for the X5 be reduced, can't see having two X5's and a X6 per hour, 30 minute service between peterlee and Hartlepool is enough, so if GNE sorts the timings out for X5,X6 and X7 then the X5 will be half hourly between peterlee and Sunderland and then the X6 can provide a 30 minute service with X5 between peterlee and Hartlepool. GNE needs wifi on the peterlee corridor to compete against Arriva wifi buses.


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(16 Oct 2016, 12:42 pm)Michael wrote It could be though, not just straight away, wonder if all of them would be branded "Fast Cats", i would like to see Ciatro's on all of the routes with WIFI. 

GNE might of took a massive risk and got new buses for the routes but that's unlikely although the X35 is a busy route.

Indigo Express! 
But they would have to paint the vehicles an indigo colour though

(16 Oct 2016, 12:52 pm)cbma06 wrote Wouldn't be surprised if the PVR for the X5 be reduced, can't see having two X5's and a X6 per hour, 30 minute service between peterlee and Hartlepool is enough, so if GNE sorts the timings out for X5,X6 and X7 then the X5 will be half hourly between peterlee and Sunderland and then the X6 can provide a 30 minute service with X5 between peterlee and Hartlepool. GNE needs wifi on the peterlee corridor to compete against Arriva wifi buses.


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If they did that with the X5, I would hope it maintained it's 30min frequency between Sunderland and Peterlee.

(16 Oct 2016, 1:09 pm)Andreos1 wrote Indigo Express! 
But they would have to paint the vehicles an indigo colour though

If they did that with the X5, I would hope it maintained it's 30min frequency between Sunderland and Peterlee.

A quite a few years ago when GNE had a consultation at castle dene shopping centre, I handed over couple a A4 pieces of paper about future proposals, one was witch was extending the 208 to Durham in replace of the 260 sequence as it was carrying fresh air between easington lane and peterlee via X35 route and the 260 was running at the same time as the X35 from easington lane to peterlee.

Another suggestion was:

X36 renumbered as X56.
New X36 Sunderland-dalton park-peterlee-Hartlepool every hour.
X35 every half hour Sunderland to Peterlee then hourly extension to Hartlepool providing a 30 minute service with X36.

I didn't mention about any proposed changes about the X7, but I did mention that GNE should operate south of burnhope way section which includes oakerside area but more proposing to operate service 201 hourly and propose new service 200 hourly but operate via southway, oakerside, pennine drive, between peterlee and moorcock then existing same route between moorcock and peterlee industrial estate.


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(16 Oct 2016, 12:52 pm)cbma06 wrote Wouldn't be surprised if the PVR for the X5 be reduced, can't see having two X5's and a X6 per hour, 30 minute service between peterlee and Hartlepool is enough, so if GNE sorts the timings out for X5,X6 and X7 then the X5 will be half hourly between peterlee and Sunderland and then the X6 can provide a 30 minute service with X5 between peterlee and Hartlepool. GNE needs wifi on the peterlee corridor to compete against Arriva wifi buses.


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Maybe, infact you're probables right, i do agree that the X5/X6 needs WIFI.


I don't see GNE going from Scania's/Citaro's to Solo's on the routes at all.


I'm still hoping for all Citaro on the routes because Arriva already offer better buses on the 23 to Hartlepool over GNE's X35 Scania's, along with the 22 to Peterlee, soon to be joined by the X21.

If the rumours about the Angel B5LHs going onto the Crusader are true, then could the Citaros off there go onto the X5, X6 and X7 allowing 5204 - 5209 and 5211 going onto a "back seat" role.

Does anyone know when the streetlites are supposed to arrive for the blaydon racers?.


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(17 Oct 2016, 5:58 pm)cbma06 wrote Does anyone know when the streetlites are supposed to arrive for the blaydon racers?.


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I've heard they aren't due until late February, early March.

With some of Stanley's Omnidekka's getting debranded then, it can start to rule out (nothing confirmed) the Red Kite's becoming fully double deck as previously anticipated. This then leaves 2x options (the B5LH's being a 90% no go due to the nature of the 6/X70/X71).

Option 1:
- 16 + 2 spare deckers to Riverside / Hexham for TEN services 10/10A/10B/10X.

- 6071 - 6080 + 6081 as spare to Stanley for services 6/X70/X71.

- 6082 to Stanley as additional spare with 6083 to Percy Main for Cobalt Clipper services X39/309/310 either becoming spare (meaning 6116 or 6117 becoming part of PVR and branded) or just gets branded with no repaint required (leaving 6116 and 6117 as spares). Both scenarios would mean the Cobalt Clipper going back to 2x spare vehicles as before September 2014.

OR....6082 AND 6083 to Percy Main for Cobalt Clipper services X39/309/310 if PVR is increased to 17 vehicles either becoming spares (meaning 6116 + 6117 becoming part of PVR and branded) or both just get branded with no repaint required (leaving 6116 and 6117 as spares). Both scenarios would mean the Cobalt Clipper going back to 2x spare vehicles as before September 2014.

- 6084(T) remains at Riverside and becomes dedicated spare for TTX services X9/X10.

Option 2:
- 16 or 17 + 2 spare deckers to Percy Main for Cobalt Clipper services X39/309/310.

- 6107 - 6116 + 6117 as spare to Stanley for services 6/X70/X71.

- 6104 - 6106 to Riverside / Hexham for TEN services 10/10A/10B/10X.

- 6102 + 6103 to Riverside / Hexham as corporate spares for TEN services 10A/10B/10X

- 6101(T) to Riverside (No fluid boards unless necessary due to Tachograph) as spare alongside 6084(T) for TEN services 10/10A/10B/10X and TTX services X9/X10. Same applies for 6084(T)

Both options would free up 4x Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Geminis.