(21 Jul 2019, 9:22 am)Michael wrote Any fleet changes today due to service changes??

With the X31 moving to Consett there’s 3 additional boards to add. Might of thought that 5420, 5441 & 5442 might move from riverside. Iirc the 6/6A is down to 4 boards, wonder if the Mercs being released off the X30 when the new buses arrive will end up on the 6 ( if not needed back onto the scholars they came off)

So are these PVR's correct then:
- X31/X45/X46: 13
- X47/X70/X71: 9
- X5/X15: 3

So will this mean the following for the StreetDecks?
- 25x Consett (Main service)
- 3x Consett (Spares)
- 1x Crook/CLS (X21)
- 1x Crook/CLS (Spare)
- 1x float OM936 sample

(21 Jul 2019, 6:07 pm)L469 YVK wrote So are these PVR's correct then:
- X31/X45/X46: 13
- X47/X70/X71: 9
- X5/X15: 3

So will this mean the following for the StreetDecks?
- 25x Consett (Main service)
- 3x Consett (Spares)
- 1x Crook/CLS (X21)
- 1x Crook/CLS (Spare)
- 1x float OM936 sample

Yeah I worked out that it would work out as :

X45-X31-X46 pvr 8

X46-X45 pvr 5

X70/X71-X47-X71/X70 pvr 9

X5/X15 pvr 3

Looking at the duty boards early mornings will see a fair amount of inter working between streetdeck routes and it seems as though the daytime X70/X71 buses will remain out on the late night X45/X46 and the late X70s will run off X45 daytime boards.

(21 Jul 2019, 5:37 pm)Stanleyone wrote

With the X31 moving to Consett there’s 3 additional boards to add. Might of thought that 5420, 5441 & 5442 might move from riverside. Iirc the 6/6A is down to 4 boards, wonder if the Mercs being released off the X30 when the new buses arrive will end up on the 6 ( if not needed back onto the scholars they came off)

When Stanley was open, there was no school holidays PVR reduction, as all of the scholars buses were still used as taxis between Stanley Depot, Stanley Bus Station and Consett.

At Consett, those scholars buses aren't required for taxis anymore (other than one bus to operate the V11). Consett usually has a PVR of 55, but during the school holidays the depot now sees a PVR reduction down to 47 (including the X31), so plenty of buses to cope even without 5420/40/41.

Clearly it'll be a messy allocation pending delivery of new vehicles, but unavoidable really.

(21 Jul 2019, 9:22 am)Michael wrote Any fleet changes today due to service changes??

Yes.

Consett:

- 647 & 648 to Deptford (although 647 is currently VOR and hence cannot transfer), due to the loss of services 30/30A.

- 697 to Riverside (number of spare minibuses can be reduced following the PVR reduction, and this bus should be allocated to the M6/M7/M8 along with the five branded Solos).

Deptford:

- 650 & 651 to Percy Main (although 651 is still currently on loan to Peterlee and won't transfer to Percy Main until 647 transfers in from Consett). This means that service 19 should be operated by 4x Optare Solo now.

- 6126, 6127 & 6129 to Riverside, resuming their usual duties.

- 5201 & 5215 withdrawn

The outstanding withdrawal of 4969 should have also taken place this weekend.

Riverside:

- 5250 to Chester-le-Street

- 5420 to Deptford (to operate service 33 along with the three Solos, following the extension of the route from Silksworth to East Herrington via Gilley Law and Farringdon, off-peak).

- 3968, 4938, 5216, 5217, 9072, 9073 & 9074 withdrawn

Washington:

- 5262 to Chester-le-Street

- 3962, 3963, 3964, 5487 to Deptford

Percy Main:

- 5267 & 5268 to Chester-le-Street

The outstanding withdrawal of 5205 should have also taken place this weekend.

Chester-le-Street:

- 4932 to Deptford

- 8297, 8298, 8299, 8300 to Riverside (although 8300 is still currently at Chester-le-Street while 5267 is repainted).

Go North East: 0697 / YJ59NNH by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5217 / NK54NVN by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 8298 / NK09FUW by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

(21 Jul 2019, 7:08 pm)Dan wrote

Yes.

Consett:

- 647 & 648 to Deptford (although 647 is currently VOR and hence cannot transfer), due to the loss of services 30/30A.

- 697 to Riverside (number of spare minibuses can be reduced following the PVR reduction, and this bus should be allocated to the M6/M7/M8 along with the five branded Solos).

Deptford:

- 650 & 651 to Percy Main (although 651 is still currently on loan to Peterlee and won't transfer to Percy Main until 647 transfers in from Consett). This means that service 19 should be operated by 4x Optare Solo now.

- 6126, 6127 & 6129 to Riverside, resuming their usual duties.

- 5201 & 5215 withdrawn

The outstanding withdrawal of 4969 should have also taken place this weekend.

Riverside:

- 5250 to Chester-le-Street

- 5420 to Deptford (to operate service 33 along with the three Solos, following the extension of the route from Silksworth to East Herrington via Gilley Law and Farringdon, off-peak).

- 3968, 4938, 5216, 5217, 9072, 9073 & 9074 withdrawn

Washington:

- 5262 to Chester-le-Street

- 3962, 3963, 3964, 5487 to Deptford

Percy Main:

- 5267 & 5268 to Chester-le-Street

The outstanding withdrawal of 5205 should have also taken place this weekend.

Chester-le-Street:

- 4932 to Deptford

- 8297, 8298, 8299, 8300 to Riverside (although 8300 is still currently at Chester-le-Street while 5267 is repainted).

Thanks for the info Dan.

Quite a few buses withdrawn, have 3962, 3963, 3964 moved to Deptford for the Metro replacement?

(21 Jul 2019, 7:22 pm)Michael wrote Thanks for the info Dan.

Quite a few buses withdrawn, have 3962, 3963, 3964 moved to Deptford for the Metro replacement?

No - some work is being carried out to the building facilities at Washington, which means some of the buses which are primarily allocated to their school contracts (and peak-time duplicate runs) need to transfer out temporarily.

(21 Jul 2019, 7:31 pm)Dan wrote

No - some work is being carried out to the building facilities at Washington, which means some of the buses which are primarily allocated to their school contracts (and peak-time duplicate runs) need to transfer out temporarily.

Ah right thanks,might as well do it now, while the schools are off.

How many buses are required for the Sunderland Airshow services?

(21 Jul 2019, 7:08 pm)Dan wrote

Yes.

Consett:

- 647 & 648 to Deptford (although 647 is currently VOR and hence cannot transfer), due to the loss of services 30/30A.

- 697 to Riverside (number of spare minibuses can be reduced following the PVR reduction, and this bus should be allocated to the M6/M7/M8 along with the five branded Solos).

Deptford:

- 650 & 651 to Percy Main (although 651 is still currently on loan to Peterlee and won't transfer to Percy Main until 647 transfers in from Consett). This means that service 19 should be operated by 4x Optare Solo now.

- 6126, 6127 & 6129 to Riverside, resuming their usual duties.

- 5201 & 5215 withdrawn

The outstanding withdrawal of 4969 should have also taken place this weekend.

Riverside:

- 5250 to Chester-le-Street

- 5420 to Deptford (to operate service 33 along with the three Solos, following the extension of the route from Silksworth to East Herrington via Gilley Law and Farringdon, off-peak).

- 3968, 4938, 5216, 5217, 9072, 9073 & 9074 withdrawn

Washington:

- 5262 to Chester-le-Street

- 3962, 3963, 3964, 5487 to Deptford

Percy Main:

- 5267 & 5268 to Chester-le-Street

The outstanding withdrawal of 5205 should have also taken place this weekend.

Chester-le-Street:

- 4932 to Deptford

- 8297, 8298, 8299, 8300 to Riverside (although 8300 is still currently at Chester-le-Street while 5267 is repainted).

Go North East: 0697 / YJ59NNH by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5217 / NK54NVN by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 8298 / NK09FUW by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

5267 has already been re-painted

(21 Jul 2019, 7:08 pm)Dan wrote

Yes.

Consett:

- 647 & 648 to Deptford (although 647 is currently VOR and hence cannot transfer), due to the loss of services 30/30A.

- 697 to Riverside (number of spare minibuses can be reduced following the PVR reduction, and this bus should be allocated to the M6/M7/M8 along with the five branded Solos).

Deptford:

- 650 & 651 to Percy Main (although 651 is still currently on loan to Peterlee and won't transfer to Percy Main until 647 transfers in from Consett). This means that service 19 should be operated by 4x Optare Solo now.

- 6126, 6127 & 6129 to Riverside, resuming their usual duties.

- 5201 & 5215 withdrawn

The outstanding withdrawal of 4969 should have also taken place this weekend.

Riverside:

- 5250 to Chester-le-Street

- 5420 to Deptford (to operate service 33 along with the three Solos, following the extension of the route from Silksworth to East Herrington via Gilley Law and Farringdon, off-peak).

- 3968, 4938, 5216, 5217, 9072, 9073 & 9074 withdrawn

Washington:

- 5262 to Chester-le-Street

- 3962, 3963, 3964, 5487 to Deptford

Percy Main:

- 5267 & 5268 to Chester-le-Street

The outstanding withdrawal of 5205 should have also taken place this weekend.

Chester-le-Street:

- 4932 to Deptford

- 8297, 8298, 8299, 8300 to Riverside (although 8300 is still currently at Chester-le-Street while 5267 is repainted).

Go North East: 0697 / YJ59NNH by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5217 / NK54NVN by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 8298 / NK09FUW by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Will 9072/73/74 be reinstated next weekend for the Sunderland Airshow?

Does anyone know what is happening to the Red Kite buses in September

Is it possible that with the X30 on a lower allocation that it could go to Riverside when new buses arrive returning the 6 to Consett keeping some Streetlites there plus back-ups then a 2 sent to Riverside to fill in the extra X30 PVR now it is 4?

(21 Jul 2019, 5:34 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I wouldn't be surprised if they've hidden it to push people towards the day tickets because there's basically no mention of single or return tickets

Basically any fare under £2 has increased by 10p, returns are still available but are now capped at the price of a day ticket so you will get better value from a day ticket if it is the same price, also QR codes have been removed from return tickets to stop people using them more than they should, basically giving those who were doing it a cheap day ticket as they were not cancelled by the ticket machine after scanning them and could be used again on another vehicle between the same points

(21 Jul 2019, 10:26 pm)N1cholas wrote

Basically any fare under £2 has increased by 10p, returns are still available but are now capped at the price of a day ticket so you will get better value from a day ticket if it is the same price, also QR codes have been removed from return tickets to stop people using them more than they should, basically giving those who were doing it a cheap day ticket as they were not cancelled by the ticket machine after scanning them and could be used again on another vehicle between the same points

I did notice an Arriva driver on the 57A (Northumbria) doing the usual 'rip' on a return ticket after Arriva got ticketers installed.

On another note, could the QR codes not be setup to reject the ticket after use?

(21 Jul 2019, 10:26 pm)N1cholas wrote

Basically any fare under £2 has increased by 10p, returns are still available but are now capped at the price of a day ticket so you will get better value from a day ticket if it is the same price, also QR codes have been removed from return tickets to stop people using them more than they should, basically giving those who were doing it a cheap day ticket as they were not cancelled by the ticket machine after scanning them and could be used again on another vehicle between the same points

So that means the X21 from Bishop to Tindale is now 20p more than the Arriva as they kept their cheaper tickets the same price

I never understood why the QR code was on the return tickets, it did seem a bit out of place

On another note, could the QR codes not be setup to reject the ticket after use?

In an ideal world they should

I never understood why the QR code was on the return tickets, it did seem a bit out of place

To speed up the process of the driver not having to check the ticket, but as it flashes on the screen for 2 seconds it is easy to not see what has been scanned if they fold it up to QR code size like they do to day tickets

(21 Jul 2019, 5:25 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote

I noticed that. I think it's just temporary. GNE told me recently return fares will be online to inform customers, as I asked if return fares were being scrapped and they said any changes will be on the website. Some return fares are increasing. I think returns for longer journeys are being replaced with the new better value day tickets.

Shorter single/return fares are increasing, though longer ones are staying the same. So Arnison centre or Durham city centre to salutation remains £1.40 on Arriva but will go up from £1.60 to £1.70, I think, on GNE.

At least the family day tickets are still a tenner. Probably the only fare I request that hasn't increased.

(21 Jul 2019, 11:16 pm)BusLoverMum wrote

Shorter single/return fares are increasing, though longer ones are staying the same. So Arnison centre or Durham city centre to salutation remains £1.40 on Arriva but will go up from £1.60 to £1.70, I think, on GNE.

At least the family day tickets are still a tenner. Probably the only fare I request that hasn't increased.

Arriva did the opposite by freezing the short fares and increasing the longer ones, which I think was a good move. I don't usually say nice things about Arriva, but their fares are starting to look a bit more attractive now they're quite a bit cheaper than GNE, it's getting to the point where I think I would consider travelling Arriva.

I'm assuming with all the allocations now being different that we will begin to see some of Hownsgills buses repainted? I imagine all the Red Kites in preperation for September and to prevent passenger confusion.

Are we more likely to see the spare deckers allocated to the X services when possible ahead of the Streetlites? Feel like theres corp/red kite B9's eveeywhere this morning.

(21 Jul 2019, 10:37 pm)L469 YVK wrote

I did notice an Arriva driver on the 57A (Northumbria) doing the usual 'rip' on a return ticket after Arriva got ticketers installed.

On another note, could the QR codes not be setup to reject the ticket after use?

I'd imagine it would be difficult  because I don't think that the QR codes aren't stored centrally to validate them on scan, but merely contain an encrypted expiry date within the QR code.

(21 Jul 2019, 10:26 pm)N1cholas wrote

Basically any fare under £2 has increased by 10p, returns are still available but are now capped at the price of a day ticket so you will get better value from a day ticket if it is the same price, also QR codes have been removed from return tickets to stop people using them more than they should, basically giving those who were doing it a cheap day ticket as they were not cancelled by the ticket machine after scanning them and could be used again on another vehicle between the same points

Those fares on the 20/X20 are going to be even more interesting than they already were then!

Have they done something to 6301? It sounded like it was struggling less than usual on the A1

(21 Jul 2019, 10:13 pm)JM03 wrote Is it possible that with the X30 on a lower allocation that it could go to Riverside when new buses arrive returning the 6 to Consett keeping some Streetlites there plus back-ups then a 2 sent to Riverside to fill in the extra X30 PVR now it is 4?

If the X30 would go there I think they would keep the 6 there as well but not sure

---

(21 Jul 2019, 9:50 pm)Citaro5338 wrote Does anyone know what is happening to the Red Kite buses in September

Probably Loops, Green Arrows or relief role

(22 Jul 2019, 2:48 pm)michaelb wrote

If the X30 would go there I think they would keep the 6 there as well but not sure

---

Probably Loops, Green Arrows or relief role

The Green Arrows are getting the new E200s.

Bit of a mix up for the 16:50 X21 from Newcastle to Durham tonight. 6139 turned up from Chester (as normal for school holidays) closely followed by 6033 from Riverside (as normal on school days), both for the same run. A lack of communication somewhere there.

(22 Jul 2019, 3:55 pm)Boggle wrote Bit of a mix up for the 16:50 X21 from Newcastle to Durham tonight. 6139 turned up from Chester (as normal for school holidays) closely followed by 6033 from Riverside (as normal on school days), both for the same run. A lack of communication somewhere there.

Lack of communication with Go North East, I don't believe that!

(22 Jul 2019, 2:48 pm)michaelb wrote

If the X30 would go there I think they would keep the 6 there as well but not sure

---

Probably Loops, Green Arrows or relief role

I'd imagine from the soon to be ex PB / RK StreetLites, 8x for CityLink 58 and 5x for Blaydon Racers leaving 1x spare. With the release of 4x Versas from CLS to Riverside, then Versas from 58 go on the Loop alongside these (with some remaining as spare or else) with Blaydon Racer Mercs going on the 6.

(22 Jul 2019, 3:55 pm)Boggle wrote Bit of a mix up for the 16:50 X21 from Newcastle to Durham tonight. 6139 turned up from Chester (as normal for school holidays) closely followed by 6033 from Riverside (as normal on school days), both for the same run. A lack of communication somewhere there.

Been a bit of a bad day at Chester it seems...

Blue Arrow branded 5268 was on peak X21 this morning.

3943 reportedly on loan to CLS on X22/14

(22 Jul 2019, 5:01 pm)Jimmi wrote Been a bit of a bad day at Chester it seems...

Blue Arrow branded 5268 was on peak X21 this morning.

3943 reportedly on loan to CLS on X22/14

Went to Saltmeadows for repaint immediately after... Shouldn't have been allocated this morning!

What a difference the matching red front panel makes. Much better: 

Go North East 6143 YN04 GKA by aptyldsley, on Flickr


Compared to before:

6143 YN04 GKA Go North East by North East Malarkey, on Flickr

Apparently 5258 has had its blue front repainted too so that'll be looking smarter as well.