Silver B9's inside Riverside

(24 Dec 2013, 9:25 am)Tom wrote They are only 04, aren't they?

8247-52 are NA52, just like South Tyne 8242-46.
I'm sure I read somewhere that the average fleet age would be 8 years old in 2016, after another two years of 80 buses per year investment.

(24 Dec 2013, 9:35 am)citaro5284 wrote Silver B9's inside Riverside

Ooh la-la!
Impressive.

On a somewhat similar note...

Percy Main now have a silver B9 for driver familiarisation purposes. I believe Deptford still have 6101 too. No "Fab Fifty Six" branded examples as yet.


And also, the 56's blind looks a little different to what it looks like at present - with the same white number as X1, X85 etc, and same font as the 58... Quite like it, especially in the dark.

(24 Dec 2013, 9:14 am)Tom wrote The run behind me on the M2 was a ''Northern'' MPD and the M3 was a Lilac Versa! - Clearly some issues with Cadets

Been on a couple recently and thought their dashboards were joining in with the Christmas decorations!

I like the new style for the numbers much better than the last ones.

Glad to see buses in the riverside depot =D

Also Dan: I'm sure I read somewhere that the average fleet age would be 8 years old in 2016, after another two years of 80 buses per year investment.

Its on this PDF on the GNE site under Go North East Promotes Partnership Working - http://bit.ly/gonortheast - it was 2013 for the average age of 8.7 years, with it getting lower of the next 3 years.

80 buses for 2014/2015 - 11.2m spent
80 buses for 2015/2016 - 11.8m spent

(24 Dec 2013, 9:46 am)Michael wrote Its on this PDF on the GNE site under Go North East Promotes Partnership Working - http://bit.ly/gonortheast - it was 2013 for the average age of 8.7 years, with it getting lower of the next 3 years.

80 buses for 2014/2015 - 11.2m spent
80 buses for 2015/2016 - 11.8m spent

Close enough!
I'm glad to see just under a third of the fleet replaced in just three years... Think ANE and SNE need to get doing this too! Anyone know the average fleet age of their buses at present?

(24 Dec 2013, 10:04 am)Dan wrote Close enough!
I'm glad to see just under a third of the fleet replaced in just three years... Think ANE and SNE need to get doing this too! Anyone know the average fleet age of their buses at present?

ye =D, thought i would provide more details for it
Maybe by the middle/end of 2014 all of the Cadet's are withdrawn and most of the B10's and all Olym are gone.

Stagecoach are in their Sunderland Fleet, with 23 more gas buses arriving next year.

Not sure on Arriva

I was just thinking there, until the B9's are properly launched in January, why not allocate put a few out on Boxing Day on the 309 when they could easily capture Arriva's 308 market.

(24 Dec 2013, 10:21 am)Davey Bowyer wrote I was just thinking there, until the B9's are properly launched in January, why not allocate put a few out on Boxing Day on the 309 when they could easily capture Arriva's 308 market.

Not taxed yet

Omni 5250 now in a overall red base, presumably to gain go north east vinyls?

5205 on X35 today still with no branding, also fairly certain that I passed 5206 on the 56 yesterday in a similar shade of black too.

(24 Dec 2013, 10:21 am)Davey Bowyer wrote I was just thinking there, until the B9's are properly launched in January, why not allocate put a few out on Boxing Day on the 309 when they could easily capture Arriva's 308 market.

I don't think people will be fussed on boxing day to be honest. Most people will just be trying to get from A to B for a shopping trip.

Nobody bit earlier and I'm bored, so I'll try again...
At least the bus was blue, and not another colour... Unlike some...

(24 Dec 2013, 10:04 am)Dan wrote Close enough!
I'm glad to see just under a third of the fleet replaced in just three years... Think ANE and SNE need to get doing this too! Anyone know the average fleet age of their buses at present?

Go on then I'll bite Dan! Stagecoach have invested massively this year in the North East (makes a change...) with 60+ new vehicles for Sunderland alone. Expect next year you will see investment in MAN replacements for other depots too. Arriva have a potential 60+ new vehicles arriving next year too.

(24 Dec 2013, 9:09 pm)tyresmoke wrote Go on then I'll bite Dan! Stagecoach have invested massively this year in the North East (makes a change...) with 60+ new vehicles for Sunderland alone. Expect next year you will see investment in MAN replacements for other depots too. Arriva have a potential 60+ new vehicles arriving next year too.

Oh, I didn't want people to bite about that dig! I must make more than I realise..!
This one, towards the end of the vid.

(24 Dec 2013, 9:11 pm)Dan wrote Oh, I didn't want people to bite about that dig! I must make more than I realise..!
This one, towards the end of the vid.

Ah, the Quorum Express on the X10......

GNE Facebook wall is closed today yet they are still auto posting.

Whoever made the call to be shut today needs shot

(26 Dec 2013, 10:02 am)gtomlinson wrote GNE Facebook wall is closed today yet they are still auto posting.

Whoever made the call to be shut today needs shot

Just had a look - if they are running services, then they need a customer service team working too.

Very poor decision - unless their hands were tied and the customer services team don't live on a route where they can get into work, cos they aren't running today...

(26 Dec 2013, 10:17 am)andreos1 wrote Just had a look - if they are running services, then they need a customer service team working too.

Very poor decision - unless their hands were tied and the customer services team don't live on a route where they can get into work, cos they aren't running today...

I'm cringing, its the busiest I've ever seen that board since the snow and there's no-one on it.

You'd even hope Hignett or Clifford would step in!

Utterly embarassing. Fire someone

what buses are on services where thier depot is shut today

(24 Dec 2013, 9:09 pm)tyresmoke wrote Go on then I'll bite Dan! Stagecoach have invested massively this year in the North East (makes a change...) with 60+ new vehicles for Sunderland alone. Expect next year you will see investment in MAN replacements for other depots too. Arriva have a potential 60+ new vehicles arriving next year too.

Will the 60 buses be Wright Pulsar for sapphire services?

I'm hoping Stagecoach do an massive investment next year - all will be Enviro of course.. unless we get some more Gas buses

(26 Dec 2013, 12:23 pm)Michael wrote Will the 60 buses be Wright Pulsar for sapphire services?

I'm hoping Stagecoach do an massive investment next year - all will be Enviro of course.. unless we get some more Gas buses

Mix of mini, single and double deck vehicles I understand. Refurbishments planned for Omnicities and Enviro 400s I believe.

(26 Dec 2013, 12:28 pm)tyresmoke wrote Mix of mini, single and double deck vehicles I understand. Refurbishments planned for Omnicities and Enviro 400s I believe.

Cool, Wonder if any of the routes will get Double Decker sapphire.. not sure on which Arriva route's are busy etc, not in my area.

(26 Dec 2013, 12:31 pm)Michael wrote Cool, Wonder if any of the routes will get Double Decker sapphire.. not sure on which Arriva route's are busy etc, not in my area.

I reckon the X10/X11 could get an upgrade.

(26 Dec 2013, 12:38 pm)Tom wrote I reckon the X10/X11 could get an upgrade.

The route that's just got branded Geminis? Can't see them doing that just yet.

(26 Dec 2013, 11:58 am)gtomlinson wrote I'm cringing, its the busiest I've ever seen that board since the snow and there's no-one on it.

You'd even hope Hignett or Clifford would step in!

Utterly embarassing. Fire someone

But Arriva operate on a Saturday and Sunday throughout the year, and their Customer Services is not open........, so is that embarrassing as well?

(26 Dec 2013, 1:41 pm)citaro5284 wrote But Arriva operate on a Saturday and Sunday throughout the year, and their Customer Services is not open........, so is that embarrassing as well?

I thinks it the automated update that cause confusion, generally public can't or don't know how to set up a status so when GNE come up people think they're online when they really aren't. And that's the problem GNE keep appearing in my newsfeed despite not been online for almost 48 hours! I don't think it's terrible the fact no ones around in customer services today. But maybe someone doing the FB page from home or something could be an idea?

(26 Dec 2013, 11:58 am)gtomlinson wrote I'm cringing, its the busiest I've ever seen that board since the snow and there's no-one on it.

You'd even hope Hignett or Clifford would step in!

Utterly embarassing. Fire someone

Certainly isn't the best PR move after they 'upped' their game following the appearances of the characters earlier in the year.

It was bound to be a busy day.
Can't understand why there isn't some sort of online activity other than the automated tweets and fb messages.

Just been driving through part of my favourite village (took all of 3 minutes) and noted the following in the Tyne & Wear part of it:

* 3 people waiting at two different bus stops.

* 7 people walking between the North View Terrace petrol station and Burn Park Road towards/coming from Houghton laden with carrier bags.

There were several other people walking about, but without bags of shopping, I was unsure of where they were walking to/from, so didn't count them.

So even though there is apparently no demand for public transport, 10 potential passengers were on foot in the few minutes it took me to drive through that small section of the village.

Obviously those 10 people were only representative of the population, but if an unscientific observation like mine can be carried out, I wonder why GNE seem so determined to state there is no demand for services in the area on Boxing Day...

Not enough resources and/or staff, because there is insufficent demand or for some other reason?

(26 Dec 2013, 1:41 pm)citaro5284 wrote But Arriva operate on a Saturday and Sunday throughout the year, and their Customer Services is not open........, so is that embarrassing as well?

No idea - but do you meet the demand of your customers or copy your competitors?

(26 Dec 2013, 5:13 pm)aureolin wrote No idea - but do you meet the demand of your customers or copy your competitors?

GNE had there Bus Station Manager at the MetroCentre Today, Didn't see any other Station Managers about Today at The Galleries and Eldon Square, So there was a small form of Customer Service provided.

I also Noticed Nexus decided for the sake a Day to Move the 2C onto the M2/M3/50/W5 and W6 Stand heading towards Lambton etc, But the 2A remained on it's Correct Stand, I Fail to understand the Logic behind this as the Driver on the 2C pulled onto the Correct Stand that it stops at anyway.