(25 Jun 2017, 9:42 pm)citaro5284 wrote Riverside

Interesting.

Never mind pvr reductions, another unjustifiable hike in monthly fares. With upcoming salary sacrifice and tax changes, It's becoming as economical now to take the car. Especially when now Omnishambles and B7s on the 21 are scheduled workings.

GNEs statement on Facebook is bloody woeful too. Wifi? USB? New vehicles and my favourites flexible ticketing payment options (you're gonna need a loan) and our app (which doesn't work and is massively inferior to competition !)

Vicious circle...passenger numbers down, invest in vehicles, result higher fare costs = passengers down

(25 Jun 2017, 9:27 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote 4922 and 4915 are expected to move a Independent once Withdrawn etc. I don't believe for preservation, More likely for contract's/Private Hire etc. Ive heard there's plan's for atleast one to gain Seatbelts.

It had been said previously that 4915 and 4922 would be heading to A-Line - the former for service work and the latter for preservation, given that 4922 is almost original internally, but perhaps a bit of 'Chinese Whispers' has occurred here. I suppose their Olympian sees regular use, so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.

(25 Jun 2017, 10:14 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Interesting.

Not long until we see South Tyne versas in Consett and Hexham

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Currently the X84 and X85 alternate to maintain an hourly service on both.
Extending the X85 to Newbrough will mess up this arrangement and these timings (unless an additional vehicle is added - though, of course they will lose the 687 buses which will probably be reallocated to 683/684 duties).

Changes to services in Hexham and Tyne Valley from 23 July 2017.

The departures from Newcastle are unchanged X85 +10,  X84 +10, and Arriva 685 at +45,  return times from Hexham are x85 +40, Arriva 685 +42,  X84  +55,  totally unbalanced

(26 Jun 2017, 8:20 am)G-CPTN wrote Currently the X84 and X85 alternate to maintain an hourly service on both.
Extending the X85 to Newbrough will mess up this arrangement and these timings (unless an additional vehicle is added - though, of course they will lose the 687 buses which will probably be reallocated to 683/684 duties).

Changes to services in Hexham and Tyne Valley from 23 July 2017.

The timings won't really be affected - both will depart Newcastle at the same time and from Hexham 5 minutes earlier than now. As you say the arrangement will be altered - they will continue to alternate at Newcastle but will no longer do so at Hexham. All it means is that the X84 will have a twelve minute layover at Hexham. An extra bus is being added to accommodate the extension to Newbrough but as the extension is not a full hourly round trip - departs at :54 and arrives at :36 - then this is what allows it to operate as an X85 both to Newbrough and on return, and is subsequently the source of the time for additional layover - which is a positive surplus of the extension. 

They aren't losing the 687 - it is just being incorporated into/re-numbered the 686. In fact there is an additional journey from Hexham at 14:40 and an additional journey from Corbridge at 16:57. The 683/4 will, I suppose, be allocated the vehicle currently allocated to the 683 as the section to Newbrough is merely replaced by an additional full-size vehicle on the X84/5.

(26 Jun 2017, 8:56 am)Coppercap40 wrote The departures from Newcastle are unchanged X85 +10,  X84 +10, and Arriva 685 at +45,  return times from Hexham are x85 +40, Arriva 685 +42,  X84  +55,  totally unbalanced

The 685 (85) used to leave Hexham for Newcastle at around twenty past the hour before the changes when it became Cross Pennine branded, so all three services were in the region of being about 20 minutes apart of departing Hexham for Newcastle but sadly since those changes, it's knocked that to hell. If you did some creative work with the timetables, you could have had something like this to space them apart a bit more:

Newcastle: X84 - 05, X85 - 35, 685 - 45
Hexham: X85 - 05, X84 - 20, 685 - 42

Sadly of course though, you have two operators competing on the same corridor and it seems the best thing to do is to time your service about 5 minutes in front of the competing operators service, that's not a direct dig at GNE, Arriva did the same thing by introducing the X1 when the OK1 started and it happens elsewhere as well, such as Transdev and ConnexionsBuses doing it with services in Harrogate for example.

With reference to the reduced need for spare vehicles at depots, Go North East I believe have lost a number of school contracts to Independent operators so no doubt a number of red deckers (and prob the remaining Volvo Olympians) will be withdrawn.

You also couldn't do it because Stand A at Eldon Square is occupied at xx05 and xx35 by Stagecoach's X82.

(26 Jun 2017, 12:21 pm)markydh wrote You also couldn't do it because Stand A at Eldon Square is occupied at xx05 and xx35 by Stagecoach's X82.

Ah, didn't think of that. Guess that's what we get for having such small bus stations [emoji19]

Currently the GNE X85 leaves Hexham a few minutes after the Arriva/Stagecoach 685 and chases it to Corbridge where it usually catches it up, in resulting chaos for passengers not knowing which one to catch as they both try to occupy the single bus stop.
The situation at Hexham is no better because the X85 has arrived as the X84 so is occupying one stand whilst the layover TEN is occupying the other departure stand.
The Arriva/Stagecoach comes in from Carlisle and has to dither as it usually has a layover of 3 minutes.

(25 Jun 2017, 6:44 pm)Malarkey wrote Hmmm like 27 and 56 being reduced to operate every 12 minutes instead of every 10.

lets not forget the 27X either.

Maybe we should talk about the service reductions on the 23rd July while we are at it.

The 27X was funded partly by Nexus - due to low numbers of passengers travelling who couldn't use other buses it was agreed to withdraw the funding.

As for the X36, if passengers actually used it it would still be running. Go North East isn't the only operator who is/has cut services.

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(25 Jun 2017, 7:07 pm)Michael wrote We could but then we'll go off topic haha, i've heard the services which run every 10 minutes will be cut to every 12 minutes, and the 
18 will go which isn't a surprise.

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I'm sure the funding had ran out from a "Kick starter" fund, hence why they had to change those services.

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Along with the upgrade of Citaro's on the X84/X85, if true.

Stagecoach have recently reduced some of their services in South Shields from every 10 mins to every 12 mins, Go NE did that to a small number of services last year.

Why is the 18 going to be withdrawn?

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(25 Jun 2017, 4:50 pm)citaro5284 wrote I think you will be right there Michael - you got some insider info haha 

Someone is leaking information here Michael....

(25 Jun 2017, 6:36 pm)S813 FVK wrote or when they spend millions on buying new, more reliable vehicles which break down a lot less meaning the previous number of spares can no longer be justified.

With all the new buses over the last few years reducing spares is normal practice - it will only be the odd bus here and there, nothing significant.

Withdrawing services leads to buses being withdrawn - services aren't withdrawn just to allow buses to be withdrawn.

(26 Jun 2017, 6:06 pm)busmanT wrote With all the new buses over the last few years reducing spares is normal practice - it will only be the odd bus here and there, nothing significant.

Withdrawing services leads to buses being withdrawn - services aren't withdrawn just to allow buses to be withdrawn.

Ye, i can see Deptford's dropping quite a few, with the 18 Streetlites entering service.

(26 Jun 2017, 5:55 pm)busmanT wrote

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Stagecoach have recently reduced some of their services in South Shields from every 10 mins to every 12 mins, Go NE did that to a small number of services last year.

Why is the 18 going to be withdrawn?

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Someone is leaking information here Michael....

No one ever uses the 18, its rarely full, i was on the 7:24am from Springwell this morning towards Southwick and it didn't even have 10 people on it.


I never leaked information though?, it was just a guess as there were the only 2 remaining at Deptford would need to move, so it seemed likely Riverside and Chester would get one each......

From the GNE website:

5320 has returned from refurbishment and 5292 has now been sent for refurbishment.

5166 has been sold to Hopauctions.com, Goole.

(26 Jun 2017, 8:57 pm)EL1TE wrote From the GNE website:

5320 has returned from refurbishment and 5292 has now been sent for refurbishment.

5166 has been sold to Hopauctions.com, Goole.

Was mentioned the other day that this would occur.

(26 Jun 2017, 6:18 am)Dan wrote It had been said previously that 4915 and 4922 would be heading to A-Line - the former for service work and the latter for preservation, given that 4922 is almost original internally, but perhaps a bit of 'Chinese Whispers' has occurred here. I suppose their Olympian sees regular use, so it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.

Basically I visted A Line yesterday for part's for another Enthusiast's SPD, And got into a discussion about A-Line's future with the Part Owner.

All that was said was 4915/22 will be heading there once withdrawn, And the owner has a interest in doing atleast one of them up with Seatbelts, While I'm on about it I might aswell say a Optare Versa will also be acquired via Dawson Rental's.

Nothing about " Preserving 4922 " was said there and then, But if it is going to be preserved that will be great.

Don't know when the Oly sees use, As it was the first time in a while I visted there.

And for one I don't post any " Chinese Whisper's " onto public places, As I prefer to get the info myself from the Owner instead of listening to other's, It's easier and also more trustworthy.

Go North East

Due to a vehicle issue, the X10 from Newcastle at 07:55 & from Middlesbrough at 09:30 will not be operating.


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Have any of 5468, 5472, 5473, 5575 entered service yet?

I would imagine when these enter service, the remaining Versa's will be moved out of Deptford?

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When are Go North East expecting the refurbishments to the Crusader Citaro's to be finished? 

(27 Jun 2017, 7:58 am)Michael wrote Go North East

Due to a vehicle issue, the X10 from Newcastle at 07:55 & from Middlesbrough at 09:30 will not be operating.


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Have any of 5468, 5472, 5473, 5575 entered service yet?

I would imagine when these enter service, the remaining Versa's will be moved out of Deptford?

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When are Go North East expecting the refurbishments to the Crusader Citaro's to be finished? 

I was going to come up with some satirical questions to mock you, but you've used them all already!

[SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH]

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(27 Jun 2017, 9:53 am)Jamie M wrote I was going to come up with some satirical questions to mock you, but you've used them all already!

[SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH]

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???

(27 Jun 2017, 9:54 am)Michael wrote ???

You've asked a lot of questions recently!

[SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH AND SMILING EYES]

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(27 Jun 2017, 9:57 am)Jamie M wrote You've asked a lot of questions recently!

[SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH AND SMILING EYES]

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, might have peace from Saturday, as i'm off to the lakes for a week....

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700 has brokedown in front of Sunderland Uni.

Engineer currently with the bus.

seen 5320 today, and it looks more like battleship grey, not shiny silver.

(27 Jun 2017, 7:58 am)Michael wrote Have any of 5468, 5472, 5473, 5575 entered service yet?

I would imagine when these enter service, the remaining Versa's will be moved out of Deptford?

5472 and 5475 have:

Go North East: 5472 NK17GJJ Wright StreetLite by emdjt42, on Flickr

Go North East: 5475 NK17GJV Wright StreetLite by emdjt42, on Flickr

(27 Jun 2017, 7:19 pm)S813 FVK wrote 5472 and 5475 have:

Go North East: 5472 NK17GJJ Wright StreetLite by emdjt42, on Flickr

Go North East: 5475 NK17GJV Wright StreetLite by emdjt42, on Flickr

Thanks S813 FVK, didn't have to chance to look myself today as i was at work till late and got a lift home.

(27 Jun 2017, 7:55 pm)Michael wrote Thanks S813 FVK, didn't have to chance to look myself today as i was at work till late and got a lift home.

5472 (and 5475 i think) was ready to go on Friday after it had its destinations set up.

I could brag and say that I managed to get one more destination working on my first attempt than Dan on his, but i'm not that kind of person

If the TynedaleXpress does get Mercedes Citaros soon to replace the current Solars, will they be refurbed Citaros?

(27 Jun 2017, 9:39 pm)thetravelman wrote If the TynedaleXpress does get Mercedes Citaros soon to replace the current Solars, will they be refurbed Citaros?

I would like to think so, as the current Scania's have wifi on them.