Would makes from across seas as far as China/Japan etc cost less than other makes, ie ADL when you consider shipping and fuel economy etc?
Bear in mind that Go-Ahead London have various BYD stuff - more recently the EvoSetis.

There are good numbers of them floating about down there so GNE could well be in on the act cross-group.

(29 May 2017, 9:44 am)Michael wrote It's defiantly for Go North East, confirmed in the comments.

That one is the first vehicle in the batch of 18 due: 5463 (NK17 GHO).

(29 May 2017, 7:23 pm)Dan wrote That one is the first vehicle in the batch of 18 due: 5463 (NK17 GHO).

Thanks Dan, thought it was.

Hopefully they start to arrive next week.

Just been listening to the Citylink57's announcements (thanks to Conor Watson's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rurihS8dMIY).

As for the announcements I wish they'd shorten the gap a little more between 'Next Stop'/This is' and '[Stop Name]'.

And its odd that some stop names are different to Cobalt Clipper announcements, e.g 'Sandyford Road, Portland Terrace' on the 57, but 'Sandyford Road, Benton House' on 309/310s - unless once the Cobalt Clippers get Emma's announcements they'll then match the 57's?

'Council Offices' isn't very good either - especially as that route runs through 3 different council's areas - Newcastle, Gateshead & North Tyneside.
'Newcastle Civic Centre, Northumbria University' would have been a better / more useful stop name.
(Its like on the metro having the stop 'University', ...which one? It should be 'Sunderland University'. Anyone entering the network at Central for example could spot that and presume its the uni they're after - Newcastle/Northumbria).


Other than a few niggles I'd personally change, overall its great to hear Emma Hignetts NSAs rolling out across the network. 
Its a shame Arriva only invest in NSAs on their premium routes, and well, Stagecoach just don't bother at all.
Well done GNE.

**EDIT.    Watching further into the video is seems they have the TA stop as 'Sandyford Road Council Offices', then the Civic Centre stop as 'Sandyford Road Civic Centre'.          Weird.

(29 May 2017, 11:41 am)Jimmi wrote Think this is an ideal opportunity for a Jimmi Flickr plug [emoji1]
https://flic.kr/p/S34faR

Also don't forget the metal seat's with minimal fabric on top: https://flic.kr/p/S34fak

Ouch. Internally, all that's fit for is urban short hops. Not the lengthy routes around the NE.

(29 May 2017, 9:46 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Just been listening to the Citylink57's announcements (thanks to Conor Watson's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rurihS8dMIY).

As for the announcements I wish they'd shorten the gap a little more between 'Next Stop'/This is' and '[Stop Name]'.

And its odd that some stop names are different to Cobalt Clipper announcements, e.g 'Sandyford Road, Portland Terrace' on the 57, but 'Sandyford Road, Benton House' on 309/310s - unless once the Cobalt Clippers get Emma's announcements they'll then match the 57's?

'Council Offices' isn't very good either - especially as that route runs through 3 different council's areas - Newcastle, Gateshead & North Tyneside.
'Newcastle Civic Centre, Northumbria University' would have been a better / more useful stop name.
(Its like on the metro having the stop 'University', ...which one? It should be 'Sunderland University'. Anyone entering the network at Central for example could spot that and presume its the uni they're after - Newcastle/Northumbria).


Other than a few niggles I'd personally change, overall its great to hear Emma Hignetts NSAs rolling out across the network. 
Its a shame Arriva only invest in NSAs on their premium routes, and well, Stagecoach just don't bother at all.
Well done GNE.

**EDIT.    Watching further into the video is seems they have the TA stop as 'Sandyford Road Council Offices', then the Civic Centre stop as 'Sandyford Road Civic Centre'.          Weird.

Ive noticed on the 42A that heading towards camperdown that Angus Close is said twice before the stop and then for the stop after it.
42/42A both ways have Glebe road in the wrong place it is 1/2 a mile out
41 heading into wallsend says wallsend forum as it goes passed the club and misses out buddle arts centre.

Just had my first experience of the 'service is terminating due to delays ' NSA.

Quite professional and passengers followed the instruction...except it was a false alarm and we weren't terminating as control changed their mind this morning. 

Zero traffic on the roads and we've still got 3 angel convoy Newcastle bound.

Edit driver advised us delay was due to new ticket machines and lack of training. He didn't have any suitable ticket wallets and had to consult a book for each fare. Mrs Ambassador had the same issue at 5.50 this morning!

(29 May 2017, 9:46 pm)ne14ne1 wrote
(Its like on the metro having the stop 'University', ...which one? It should be 'Sunderland University'. Anyone entering the network at Central for example could spot that and presume its the uni they're after - Newcastle/Northumbria).

I would argue that given this station is located two stations away from a station named 'Sunderland', which University it is would be quite clear.

Have anymore of the red solo's/scania's been branded "Black Cats" yet?

Inwas about to ask something similar, is 4990 the only vehicle treated thus far.

(30 May 2017, 8:17 am)S813 FVK wrote I would argue that given this station is located two stations away from a station named 'Sunderland', which University it is would be quite clear.

I would argue the more clarity the better. There is of course only one university in Sunderland, but which site/campus is it? It is a long walk between the two!

(30 May 2017, 7:21 pm)Adrian wrote I would argue the more clarity the better. There is of course only one university in Sunderland, but which site/campus is it? It is a long walk between the two!

Yeah my thinking is people visiting/new to the area know of 'Newcastle' and generally think Tynemouth, Gateshead, Metrocentre for example is all in Newcastle. Who's to say when quickly looking at the Metro map that Sunderland isn't just a suburb like Jesmond, Byker, Pelaw etc etc.
(I've looked at the map plenty of times and only now just noticed the grey circle marking Newcastle City Centre and Sunderland City Centre).

Nevermind, more importantly GNE's NSAs are coming along leaps & bounds - theres just a few odd bits here and there.

(30 May 2017, 7:21 pm)Adrian wrote I would argue the more clarity the better. There is of course only one university in Sunderland, but which site/campus is it? It is a long walk between the two!

Imagine the confusion if there was a limited clarity at the Durham Uni stop at Thornaby!

Even more a walk between that and the main sites in Durham.

One thing i find with NSA's is that somtimes by the time they are said the bus has gone past the bus stop and when the bus stop and it then repeats what stop it is the bus has sometimes left the stop and is up the road. They do seem to take quite a while

5421 has given up the ghost Sunderland bound just short of Herrington Interchange. Passengers were being transferred to another purple Streetlite.

#brokendownpurplestreetlite

(30 May 2017, 11:39 pm)dannygee wrote One thing i find with NSA's is that sometimes by the time they are said the bus has gone past the bus stop and when the bus stop and it then repeats what stop it is the bus has sometimes left the stop and is up the road. They do seem to take quite a while

Strongly Agree! - Often on 21, the bus has already reached the stop before announcement is broadcast - Far too late for anyone, especially elderly or with slight disability to have time to ring bell for bus to have time to stop (if it wasn't stopping already at that point) 
I'm guessing it's all activated by GPS, but surely this can be re-calculated or as in some cases have the next stop announced as soon as bus leaves previous stop.

Recently I was in Geneva, where this is the case, and also displayed on video screen showing immediate route with next 4-5 stops indicated - Next Immediate stop is shown in Bold type. Audio announcement made after leaving preceding stop.

On a separate issue, with Nexus planning expensive Metro extensions to Washington, Team Valley, Metro Centre etc.. Would new style trolley buses either running on existing roads (west-end) or dedicated roads (instead of laying rail tracks) be more cost effective?

Geneva images:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xpyfMY9kZY

New Style (Overhead power or Independent Battery (For roadworks/diversions etc..):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v97eyrLPJdE

Sweden(Malmo) BioGas version : Shows Next Stop/s screen (as I described on Geneva bus) at 2:17 through clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUWwBklUoT0

Range:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08_h0HYpSj4

(31 May 2017, 10:57 am)Venturego wrote Strongly Agree! - Often on 21, the bus has already reached the stop before announcement is broadcast - Far too late for anyone, especially elderly or with slight disability to have time to ring bell for bus to have time to stop (if it wasn't stopping already at that point) 
I'm guessing it's all activated by GPS, but surely this can be re-calculated or as in some cases have the next stop announced as soon as bus leaves previous stop.

Recently I was in Geneva, where this is the case, and also displayed on video screen showing immediate route with next 4-5 stops indicated - Next Immediate stop is shown in Bold type. Audio announcement made after leaving preceding stop.

On a separate issue, with Nexus planning expensive Metro extensions to Washington, Team Valley, Metro Centre etc.. Would new style trolley buses either running on existing roads (west-end) or dedicated roads (instead of laying rail tracks) be more cost effective?

Geneva images:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xpyfMY9kZY

New Style (Overhead power or Independent Battery (For roadworks/diversions etc..):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v97eyrLPJdE

Sweden(Malmo):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUWwBklUoT0

Most of the plans for Extenstion's are on Mothballed/Underused lines around Tyne and Wear, So it's much a case of electrification, Replacing Some track and updating the Signalling, And there you have it.

Building a Trollybus System would take atleast a Year or more in the planning, Adding that to Planning Permission etc for infrastructure, Sorting a contract with a contractor and procuring a whole new fleet of Trollybuses, So id heavily doubt Nexus are going to be wasting there time on these things when extending the existing Metro over mostly Railway land, And will do the job, Aswell as saving time/Money.

From a enthusiast's point of view, I wouldn't mind them for some Variety.

4976? Now branded "Black Cats", its on the 35 or 36, stand L, in Park Lane

(31 May 2017, 12:41 pm)Michael wrote 4976? Now branded "Black Cats", its on the 35 or 36, stand L, in Park Lane

4976 is indeed branded for Black Cats now although it was on the X5 a bit earlier on though.

(31 May 2017, 12:44 pm)Jimmi wrote 4976 is indeed branded for Black Cats now although it was on the X5 a bit earlier on though.

Might be on that service, it had no number on, i passed it on a hurry.

Any idea why 5299 and 5438 was at Saltmeadows today?

Also a routemaster was spotted.

A 9 was evacuated on Park Road Jarrow this afternoon because someone had left a package on a seat

Looks like NEBPT's Routemaster that's at Saltmeadows, it previously carried The Potato Story livery. It looks like its had a repaint possibly at Saltmeadows as The Potato Story vinyls were removed sometime prior to North East Bus & Coach Show and looked like it was in need of repainting, it was the Bus at the entrance where people paid to enter.


Sent from my iPad Pro using Tapatalk

(31 May 2017, 5:19 pm)Michael wrote Any idea why 5299 and 5438 was at Saltmeadows today?

Also a routemaster was spotted.

NEBPT's JJD530D. It was recently stripped of the 'Potato Story' vinyls.



Photo credit: North East Bus Preservation Trust

(30 May 2017, 11:39 pm)dannygee wrote One thing i find with NSA's is that somtimes by the time they are said the bus has gone past the bus stop and when the bus stop and it then repeats what stop it is the bus has sometimes left the stop and is up the road. They do seem to take quite a while

On the X21 it will say "we are now approaching [name of stop]" when the bus is already at or has just gone past said stop.

(31 May 2017, 6:14 pm)Adrian wrote NEBPT's JJD530D. It was recently stripped of the 'Potato Story' vinyls.

Didn't take very long for that one to be leaked... This is of course the first new bus to be acquired for the X9/X10 services - it will have Wi-Fi, tables and power sockets retrofitted. The lower saloon will be converted to a first class lounge, which passengers will be able to buy tickets for. This will include more comfortable seating, and an at-seat service, with tea, coffee and light refreshments provided, free of charge.

It is pictured below whilst undergoing preparation for repaint. Fleet number 6901.

Now where is that like button!

Behind the Routemaster, looks like there's a "Black Cats" Scania, anyone know which one it is?

On this photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/135164140@...ateposted/

(31 May 2017, 6:30 pm)Dan wrote Didn't take very long for that one to be leaked... This is of course the first new bus to be acquired for the X9/X10 services - it will have Wi-Fi, tables and power sockets retrofitted. The lower saloon will be converted to a first class lounge, which passengers will be able to buy tickets for. This will include more comfortable seating, and an at-seat service, with tea, coffee and light refreshments provided, free of charge.

It is pictured below whilst undergoing preparation for repaint. Fleet number 6901.

Will a Solo sr be following the bus just in case it breaks down on the A19 [emoji23]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(31 May 2017, 6:40 pm)Michael wrote Behind the Routemaster, looks like there's a "Black Cats" Scania, anyone know which one it is?

On this photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/135164140@...ateposted/

4992. Daniel Picken posted a photo of it leaving.