Hi Dan. Any News To Report. Did You Go To Depot Today At Sunderland. Is 35157 Still There. Regards Robin

(26 Nov 2013, 8:08 pm)ROBIN wrote Hi Dan. Any News To Report. Did You Go To Depot Today At Sunderland. Is 35157 Still There. Regards Robin

Didn't get to the depot, no - found myself going home to a whole load of work (so much so, I only got to test my new camera out in fading light). Did walk down to Hylton Road to see what the allocation was on the 8s, and 55/58 off memory were the allocated Darts. No sign of 57 yet.

Dan. 21156 and 33492 Are still Running In South Shields. I think 22047 is still in the Chicester Depot, also 22466 is also there as well. Regards Robin

(26 Nov 2013, 9:18 pm)ROBIN wrote Dan. 21156 and 33492 Are still Running In South Shields. I think 22047 is still in the Chicester Depot, also 22466 is also there as well. Regards Robin

Thanks for the update, Robin.

(26 Nov 2013, 8:08 pm)ROBIN wrote Hi Dan. Any News To Report. Did You Go To Depot Today At Sunderland. Is 35157 Still There. Regards Robin

Knew I'd find it sooner or later by keeping track of the 8's allocation (providing a surprise transfer did not occur)!
35157 is on 8s today, working alongside 35158.

35157 is on xx30s, while 158 is on xx00s from town.

Thanks Dan For Info. No News from this end Thank God. Regards Robin

Hi do you think that stagecoach on Teesside well get some alx 300 man when new gas buses come then or man alx 300 will be withdraw then.

(27 Nov 2013, 1:37 pm)Richard Smiles wrote A text message received this morning has suggested the first of the GAS buses for Sunderland has been delivered this morning, in the shape of 28001 (YN63BXO).

In addition, it appears that although the vehicles will now be delivered as per the original delivery Schedule, so many will be stored at Sunderland & so many stored at Walkergate.

It also seems these vehicles will NOT be registered with the DVLA or enter service before February 2014 & in addition Registration Marks are certainly now subject to change as a consequence.

This appears to be linked with the refuelling infrastructure, NOT being in place at Sunderland.

Regards, Richard

Wait so they won't be in service untill February?

Are they just stored at Sunderland and Watergate untill they over to Sunderland depot untill the refueling infrastructure be built?

Where about's are they building this?

(27 Nov 2013, 4:40 pm)Richard Smiles wrote The refuelling facility still has to be built at the Wheatsheaf (Sunderland Depot) Michael, so although the buses are being built & delivered to Stagecoach North East, they will be Stored at Sunderland & Walkergate Depot's until the refuelling facility has been built.

And yes, it has been indicated that the buses wont enter service before February, unless of course the refuelling station is built & completed sooner. Though I have to protect my sources, the information has been provided to me by Sunderland's actual Engineering Department.

Regards Richard

-.-, hopeless, is it Sunderland Council building it?

I was looking forward to riding them so soon

(27 Nov 2013, 5:05 pm)Richard Smiles wrote Not sure who is building the refuelling Station Michael. But as mentioned previously by both myself & Dan, they have known for some months roughly when the vehicles would be due to be delivered, so you would have thought once the order had been confirmed, priority 1 would have been to have got the refuelling station & infrastructure in place ready for their arrival.

This is as much of a puzzle to me, as everybody else Michael. If it is the case that they don't enter service until February or even March, then ALL of the vehicles will have to perhaps be re-registered with 14 mark registration plates. Regards Richard

Maybe all 40 might arrive by then, but i'm also puzzled at this new info.

(27 Nov 2013, 5:16 pm)Richard Smiles wrote Just to clarify something for you Michael, ALL of GAS Buses will be allocated to Sunderland, but the storage of them will be split between Sunderland & Walkergate (probably down to available storage space at the Depots). Once the refuelling facility is in place at Sunderland, the ones stored at Walkergate will just be taken back to Sunderland & put in to service. Remember, the buses were allocated for Sunderland following the Green Bus Funding Award, based on a bid submitted for that purpose.

I do wonder whether, all this aggro has something to do with Stagecoach threatening to pull out of the North East, due to the threat of Quality Contracts being possibly imposed upon them?. I genuinely don't know though. Regards Richard

Ye i knew all of them are for Sunderland, i'm glad we won all 40, just this info of them not going in service till February, its just surprising

(27 Nov 2013, 5:28 pm)Richard Smiles wrote I've still not heard of any delivery date for the additional 23 Michael, so the info posted relates to the initial batch of 17, but yes, as far as I know one of the conditions of the Green Bus Funding Award is that the vehicles have to be in service by no later than the end of March 2014.

As also previously mentioned, they have known for sometime when the buses were due to be delivered, so really the Refuelling Station should have already been built by now, ready for the first 17 arriving.

Perhaps, you could email Stagecoach North East & ask them & then let us ALL know the response.

That's a good idea, i might email them, but your right the re-fueling station should of being completed by now

Thanks Richard for that info much appreciated. glen.

Sounds a familiar story, the refuelling process at Faverdale in Darlington still takes 4 hours per bus as their pumps aren't ready yet either. The mains gas has to be upgraded to supply enough to the depot so I wouldn't be surprised if Sunderland are facing similar issues.

(27 Nov 2013, 6:57 pm)tyresmoke wrote Sounds a familiar story, the refuelling process at Faverdale in Darlington still takes 4 hours per bus as their pumps aren't ready yet either. The mains gas has to be upgraded to supply enough to the depot so I wouldn't be surprised if Sunderland are facing similar issues.

That is a long time for them to re-fuel atm.

Dan Both 21156 and 33492 were seen today at Shields market. All of shields 35's were out all so. so no change here at the Movement. Regards Robin

Michael, Are There any 19 Hundreds coming to south shields to do the X34 Service. 3 are all ready here 19194,19196,19197 because I was told some more were coming soon. some one has told me that we are getting some T reg Mans From Newcastle Is This True. Regards Robin

(27 Nov 2013, 10:12 pm)ROBIN wrote Michael, Are There any 19 Hundreds coming to south shields to do the X34 Service. 3 are all ready here 19194,19196,19197 because I was told some more were coming soon. some one has told me that we are getting some T reg Mans From Newcastle Is This True. Regards Robin

I have no idea about south shields getting more deckers

Dan. Have You a updated fleetlist to look at. Regards Robin

(28 Nov 2013, 3:20 pm)ROBIN wrote Dan. Have You a updated fleetlist to look at. Regards Robin

I'm updating NEB's fleetlist tonight (hopefully). Richard Smiles shared his own personal fleetlist in a pdf file format a few pages ago which is likely to be the most updated fleetlist on the market at present.

The 100 has broken down on the sliproad from the metrocentre.. worst place to breakdown?

Michael. which bus broke down on the 100 service tonight.

(28 Nov 2013, 8:50 pm)ROBIN wrote Michael. which bus broke down on the 100 service tonight.

No idea of the fleet number i was in the car, sorry but it was their normal allocated bus.

Dan. Any news from sunderland depot about the new gas buses coming soon.

(28 Nov 2013, 8:54 pm)ROBIN wrote Dan. Any news from sunderland depot about the new gas buses coming soon.

The latest information on the gas buses can be found in this post, Robin.

(28 Nov 2013, 7:03 pm)Michael wrote The 100 has broken down on the sliproad from the metrocentre.. worst place to breakdown?

I seen one broken down last week as well! useless, could do with something newer on there.

Theirs a sign being put on the buses about the megariders over chriatmas, extra day added due to services not running on Christmas day.

Seem early this year compaired to last year.

What about the limited service xmas eve, boxing day and NYE?! Really gets me that they don't compensate for that.

Nice full picture of Gas Scania 28005 pictured now in full livery. Interior also on Gregg's Flickr.

(29 Nov 2013, 7:00 pm)mattdw92 wrote Nice full picture of Gas Scania 28005 pictured now in full livery.

=D, looks good, looks nice inside to, where about's was the pictures took, if i may ask?