(10 Nov 2013, 7:25 pm)Dan wrote Well remember that as they're totally different buses, the livery design will need to be updated to match the new vehicle - that is, of course, assuming it's not a totally different design!

Ye, i hope they can do something good with the livery on the Citaro, i like the name "Pronto" but the design is rubbish.

(10 Nov 2013, 7:27 pm)Michael wrote Ye, i hope they can do something good with the livery on the Citaro, i like the name "Pronto" but the design is rubbish.

Smacks of something thrown together in 5 mins based on the Italian connotations of the word.... I would expect to see a new brand completely based along the lines of the current re-designs (new agency being used?).

(10 Nov 2013, 8:03 pm)tyresmoke wrote Smacks of something thrown together in 5 mins based on the Italian connotations of the word.... I would expect to see a new brand completely based along the lines of the current re-designs (new agency being used?).

Although I agree that the Pronto brand is perhaps one of the cheapest looking brands, I do like the font used. Ethnocentric if anyone is interested.

(10 Nov 2013, 8:17 pm)aureolin wrote Although I agree that the Pronto brand is perhaps one of the cheapest looking brands, I do like the font used. Ethnocentric if anyone is interested.

Is that similar to the one used on Connections 4?

(10 Nov 2013, 8:18 pm)citaro5284 wrote Is that similar to the one used on Connections 4?

I'm about 99% sure it is.

(10 Nov 2013, 6:55 pm)citaro5284 wrote Whilst I totally understand the traditionalists, is it not time to move on from liveries from years gone by.

To some people using the X21, they will not have a clue what OK Travel or OK Motor Services was. Lets move into 2013, and put the previous liveries into the history books.

The OK Expressway has only recently finished (and we still have the OK Way with the people of Evenwood and Cockfield desperate for it to be extended there as the Arriva 6 is diabolical and it would only take one extra bus) and most thought it a great livery. The X21 is historically more or less the main route of OK and local people have an empathy with it. The Venture is being updated now with two out of three colours of the traditional livery. I'm not advocating a return to the exact liveries of the former Northern constituents such as Tynemouth and SDO, but using them as the basis for a modern brand retaining some historic local relevance like the new Venture, which now I've had a closer look I like - apart from the silly "strapline" under the name, rather irrelevant as most V buses don't go very far.

(10 Nov 2013, 8:17 pm)aureolin wrote Although I agree that the Pronto brand is perhaps one of the cheapest looking brands, I do like the font used. Ethnocentric if anyone is interested.

How very Star Trek!

Not keen on an OK revival. As much as I dislike the pizza chain design used with Pronto I've faith that GNE are no longer designing brands on MS Paint

(10 Nov 2013, 3:47 pm)andreos1 wrote Just having a quick neb on the fb page and it appears there have been problems with the 60 today.

No idea what or how, but there seem to be a few unhappy passengers querying missing buses

The diversion for the Remembrance Parade in Ryhope was pretty lengthy and I suspect that might have sent the Drifter's a bit squiffy as the moans all seem to be around lunchtime and closure was on until 12.30 I think

First two Versa's out on the 34 / 34A this morning are 8302 and 8305.

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

Northern MPD on M2 (running onto M3) in Birtley a short while back was standing room only.
I suspect it was possibly connected with it being the first bus for many, after 9.30...

8309 has not yet been debranded, but has indeed been allocated to service 39.

Noticed the Silver Arrows have had their blinds updated so that the 2A/2C now have a blue square background. Much better!

Roads in Stanley closed after a fire at Wongs Chop Suey House at the bottom of Front Street.
Will affect a number of GNE services.

8306-8309 have indeed been allocated to service 39. All have been out, 8306 in a purple base coat, 8307/8308 have lost drifter vinyls and are in a green base and 8309 however retains its drifter vinyls. An Un-ID SPD made up the rest of the 39 allocation today with 8319 on 36A's this morning.
Drifter has been abysmal today. All day buses have been running in pairs, quite literally two buses every 20 minutes rather than one every 10! I've travelled on the 60 three times today, all three were late.

Fleet news from GNE:
As we know, 8302-8305 have gone to Chester. Allowing 4862, 4864, 4865 to be out of service. (We now know that they will soon be on Lumiere duties then will be withdrawn. This also allows, 8216 to been transferred to Deptford, thus meaning 8222 is withdrawn.
603, 604, 606 have indeed gone to Washington (605 oddly remains at Deptford). 527-529 withdrawn as a result.
522 has been withdrawn from Peterlee, with 540 going from Deptford to Peterlee to cover the loss.
3873 has also gone to Percy Main from Chester-Le-Street.

(11 Nov 2013, 4:48 pm)Liam wrote NL63 YAV and NL63 YAW both arrived today in orange, while NL63 YAY arrived today in red.

Northern red for spare allocation vehicle?

(11 Nov 2013, 5:03 pm)cbma06 wrote Northern red for spare allocation vehicle?

Yes Chris - one of our GNE representatives confirmed it a while ago (see post here). This ignited further discussion as to whether it's possible the same will be happening for the Fab56 and Cobalt Clipper too (see here).

(11 Nov 2013, 5:10 pm)Dan wrote Yes Chris - one of our GNE representatives confirmed it a while ago (see post here). This ignited further discussion as to whether it's possible the same will be happening for the Fab56 and Cobalt Clipper too (see here).

Sorry, those posts must of went straight over my head

(11 Nov 2013, 5:11 pm)cbma06 wrote Sorry, those posts must of went straight over my head

Easily done, haha!

I do still quite like the idea of the Northern spares though. If it's helping get rid of the older vehicles as well as improving the state of branding affairs as of late, I can't see how anyone would think it's a bad idea!

Due to an incident on the Byker Bridge, the number 1 is operating along Fossway and up Cradlewell bypass

5201? not sure but a fab 56 scania was parked up hylton castle with all its lights off and not in service, this was about 20 mins ago

(11 Nov 2013, 5:22 pm)Dan wrote Due to an incident on the Byker Bridge, the number 1 is operating along Fossway and up Cradlewell bypass

That's a canny diversion!

Seems chaos on the roads tonight.
Just been on traffic/travel that a coach has broken down on A69

(11 Nov 2013, 4:46 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Fleet news from GNE:
As we know, 8302-8305 have gone to Chester. Allowing 4862, 4864, 4865 to be out of service. (We now know that they will soon be on Lumiere duties then will be withdrawn. This also allows, 8216 to been transferred to Deptford, thus meaning 8222 is withdrawn.
603, 604, 606 have indeed gone to Washington (605 oddly remains at Deptford). 527-529 withdrawn as a result.
522 has been withdrawn from Peterlee, with 540 going from Deptford to Peterlee to cover the loss.
3873 has also gone to Percy Main from Chester-Le-Street.

605 might move over sometime this week or next weekend when more fleet changes happen, should be intresting to see how the cadets from the 88/88A cope on the M2/M3..

Why does chester lee street need 3873... lol

(11 Nov 2013, 5:44 pm)Michael wrote 605 might move over sometime this week or next weekend when more fleet changes happen, should be intresting to see how the cadets from the 88/88A cope on the M2/M3..

Why does chester lee street need 3873... lol

Yeah likely, don't know why it didn't move over is weekend though. Next week is going to a busy one, WSS MPD's withdrawn/Trasnferred leading to other withdrawals, Versa's moving over to Washington, cadets to the M2/M3. It's all getting slightly hectic. Branding will be a mess next week though, the 39's already got a mixture of colours going on, the M2/M3 are likely to be allocated some plain lilac debranded cadets, with the 88 gaining Veras which likey will be again plain debranded green.

3873 has gone to Percy Main.

Does anybody know what Peterlee depot is losing from the mpd fleet and what mpds that there are gaining after the dust clears of the fleet being reshuffled.

Also a question for the GNE representatives on this group, is GNE going to get rid of the East Durham Brand as the buses havnt had a bath for ages, and the yellow base cost is horrible showing up the dirt and muck.

Also what year the new solos going to be bought for Peterlee lol

(11 Nov 2013, 6:06 pm)cbma06 wrote Does anybody know what Peterlee depot is losing from the mpd fleet and what mpds that there are gaining after the dust clears of the fleet being reshuffled.

Also a question for the GNE representatives on this group, is GNE going to get rid of the East Durham Brand as the buses havnt had a bath for ages, and the yellow base cost is horrible showing up the dirt and muck.

Also what year the new solos going to be bought for Peterlee lol

I'd imagine all X and 51 reg plates, probably replaced by 52/53 reg MPD's, so nothing special.

(11 Nov 2013, 5:50 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Yeah likely, don't know why it didn't move over is weekend though. Next week is going to a busy one, WSS MPD's withdrawn/Trasnferred leading to other withdrawals, Versa's moving over to Washington, cadets to the M2/M3. It's all getting slightly hectic. Branding will be a mess next week though, the 39's already got a mixture of colours going on, the M2/M3 are likely to be allocated some plain lilac debranded cadets, with the 88 gaining Veras which likey will be again plain debranded green.

3873 has gone to Percy Main.

Opps i misread it for the 3873.

(11 Nov 2013, 6:06 pm)cbma06 wrote Does anybody know what Peterlee depot is losing from the mpd fleet and what mpds that there are gaining after the dust clears of the fleet being reshuffled.

Also a question for the GNE representatives on this group, is GNE going to get rid of the East Durham Brand as the buses havnt had a bath for ages, and the yellow base cost is horrible showing up the dirt and muck.

Also what year the new solos going to be bought for Peterlee lol

I think it's been long suggested and quite likely that Peterlee will receive an update once they venture solos come in allowing the venture MPD's to replace some older ones at Peterlee.

I don't think the East Durham brand will go I quite like it tbh. And muck is always going to be slightly more noticeable on the yellow but even the drifter StreetLites are quite mucky at the bottom two days in service! I'd love to see solos at Peterlee that will be good, hopefully if they venture ones enter service smoothly then some more may be bought.

(11 Nov 2013, 6:25 pm)CatsFast101 wrote I think it's been long suggested and quite likely that Peterlee will receive an update once they venture solos come in allowing the venture MPD's to replace some older ones at Peterlee.

I don't think the East Durham brand will go I quite like it tbh. And muck is always going to be slightly more noticeable on the yellow but even the drifter StreetLites are quite mucky at the bottom two days in service! I'd love to see solos at Peterlee that will be good, hopefully if they venture ones enter service smoothly then some more may be bought.

Looking at the numbers (like for like replacements), it is clear that when the "Venture" Solo SRs enter service MPDs 512, 515, 518, 521, 532, 533 and 534 will be withdrawn, while MPDs 545, 546, 560, 565, 618 and 619 will be transferred to Peterlee, replacing MPDs 501, 502, 503, 510, 519 and 520 to withdrawn.

I believe it is those examples that are to be withdrawn that have all had reupholstered seating also. Perhaps this will allow a sale to be more likely, as opposed to scrapping them. Other MPDs have also had reupholstered seating, but I think they're just being done on an if/when at the depot situation.

I do not think the "East Durham" network will receive investment for a few years yet.

(11 Nov 2013, 6:35 pm)Dan wrote Looking at the numbers (like for like replacements), it is clear that when the "Venture" Solo SRs enter service MPDs 512, 515, 518, 521, 532, 533 and 534 will be withdrawn, while MPDs 545, 546, 560, 565, 618 and 619 will be transferred to Peterlee, replacing MPDs 501, 502, 503, 510, 519 and 520 to withdrawn.

I believe it is those examples that are to be withdrawn that have all had reupholstered seating also. Perhaps this will allow a sale to be more likely, as opposed to scrapping them. Other MPDs have also had reupholstered seating, but I think they're just being done on an if/when at the depot situation.

I do not think the "East Durham" network will receive investment for a few years yet.

Are 618/619 any different to the normal Go North East MPD's? Never rode them.