(31 Dec 2013, 2:08 pm)gtomlinson wrote I see our own Greg having a bash at GNE over the service changes.

Good for him.
GNE were pretty vague with their responses

(31 Dec 2013, 2:27 pm)Dan wrote Yawn... I must love repeating myself...
Here's another example instead. My point still stands, because of that example - as I've just said in Post 1877, in response to northtynelinks2.

Point being - a demonstration vehicle does not guarantee a service will receive that vehicle or even investment at all. You ideally trial demonstration vehicles on your most challenging services whilst bearing in mind the service in which that vehicle could serve if it was ever to be purchased by the company. You ideally do that over a longer period of time too (let me remind everyone of just how long the Versa and Streetlite were here for), rather than Arriva's week-long trial of the Versa a few weeks ago... It would have been on familiarisation for longer than it was actually used in service!


For the record, may I step in with my admin hat on and suggest we don't discuss the matter of a fault having developed on the Gemini vehicles resulting in the Enviro 400 vehicle loan? We've had one or two complaints in the past when discussing problems with manufacturers, and I'd like to avoid having that conversation with our GNE reps again!
As far as we enthusiasts should have been concerned, the vehicle was a demonstration vehicle (as per quote from GNE's official "Archive" document below). I remember members of this forum asked employees on the "Open Line" facility, and that's what they were told then - nothing about a fault being developed on buses and them needing to be sent back, so I suggest it stays that way.

Just a quick one, but pretty sure GNE stated at the time, there were alleged faults with the upstairs windows on the Gemini's.

(31 Dec 2013, 3:10 pm)andreos1 wrote Just a quick one, but pretty sure GNE stated at the time, there were alleged faults with the upstairs windows on the Gemini's.

To whom, and can you remember where?

Since its late in the year and booze has clouded my memory and ability to google, what type of vehicle did GNE have on loan from EYMS for the 21/22 trial?

(31 Dec 2013, 3:11 pm)Dan wrote To whom, and can you remember where?

Put it this way, it will have been said in the public domain, because I was working away at the time - well away from any enthusiast forum (which I wasn't part of prior to joining here anyway) and well away from any rumour network...

If I remember correctly, there were issues with water ingress from the first two opening windows on the upper deck.

However, Volvo did issue a recall for approx 1600 b9tl in 2011 due to water ingress into the alternator.
Press release is available to view online.

I shall say no more and my lips are sealed

(31 Dec 2013, 2:08 pm)gtomlinson wrote I see our own Greg having a bash at GNE over the service changes.

I cannot see his post, have you a link?

(31 Dec 2013, 3:21 pm)citaro5284 wrote I cannot see his post, have you a link?

It is on one of the GNE posts from earlier today.

(31 Dec 2013, 3:21 pm)citaro5284 wrote I cannot see his post, have you a link?

http://www.facebook.com/simplyGNE/posts/...d=45940713&offset=0&total_comments=4

The comments are showing weirdly, but see above link

How can it be said that services are being reduced and changes being made for the worse when the details aren't yet available? Surely it would be sensible to wait until the end of the week to see the details of the changes before commenting if they are better or worse?

(31 Dec 2013, 3:35 pm)Dan wrote http://www.facebook.com/simplyGNE/posts/...d=45940713&offset=0&total_comments=4

The comments are showing weirdly, but see above link

(31 Dec 2013, 3:42 pm)Crusader wrote How can it be said that services are being reduced and changes being made for the worse when the details aren't yet available? Surely it would be sensible to wait until the end of the week to see the details of the changes before commenting if they are better or worse?

Going by consultation and VOSA registrations, it would appear changes are mostly going ahead, which I believe means Marley Pots loses all GNE services & Castletown/Town End Farm is reduced from 4 to 3 buses each hour from/to City Centre. However I do agree we need to see what the changes are fully to comment on them.

(31 Dec 2013, 3:42 pm)Crusader wrote How can it be said that services are being reduced and changes being made for the worse when the details aren't yet available? Surely it would be sensible to wait until the end of the week to see the details of the changes before commenting if they are better or worse?

Exactly, What is the point, unless of course he wants to put the buses in OK livery

(31 Dec 2013, 3:45 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Going by consultation and VOSA registrations, it would appear changes are mostly going ahead, which I believe means Marley Pots loses all GNE services & Castletown/Town End Farm is reduced from 4 to 3 buses each hour from/to City Centre. However I do agree we need to see what the changes are fully to comment on them.

A lot more changes have been made compared to the ones which have been proposed.
Despite initial worries, I do feel that the network stands a chance of being more reliable... Let's see what the timetables say at the end of this week though.

(31 Dec 2013, 3:16 pm)gtomlinson wrote Since its late in the year and booze has clouded my memory and ability to google, what type of vehicle did GNE have on loan from EYMS for the 21/22 trial?

Not sure about EYMS, but can remember a decker working that route.
Possibly a Brighton bus?

I will use your excuse too...

(31 Dec 2013, 3:57 pm)andreos1 wrote Not sure about EYMS, but can remember a decker working that route.
Possibly a Brighton bus?

I will use your excuse too...

Are we talking about Brighton & Hove's 440 (BK10 MGV), which was a former demonstrator vehicle?
That was numbered 9147, and was initially on loan at Washington depot for "Red Arrows" service X1 (as shown here).

Or are we talking about Brighton & Hove's 441 (BG61 SXS), which was used for familiarisation purposes at Chester-le-Street depot on "Angel" service 21, (as shown here)?

(31 Dec 2013, 4:04 pm)Dan wrote Are we talking about Brighton & Hove's 440 (BK10 MGV), which was a former demonstrator vehicle?
That was numbered 9147, and was initially on loan at Washington depot for "Red Arrows" service X1 (as shown here).

Or are we talking about Brighton & Hove's 441 (BG61 SXS), which was used for familiarisation purposes at Chester-le-Street depot on "Angel" service 21, (as shown here)?

Yup, as gtomlinson mentioned initially, it was the one for the 21 he was trying to remember.

(31 Dec 2013, 2:08 pm)gtomlinson wrote I see our own Greg having a bash at GNE over the service changes.

What really pissed me off was them wasting time on a ridiculous Facebook post about the Winter Carnival in Newcastle and GNE TAKING you there, but they can't bring you back as all the buses disappear by 7pm - when they can't be arsed to even SAY what the changes are (allegedly in response to the "consultation" it was almost impossible to find the forms for) weeks after they've been notified to Traffic Commissioners. They obviously know these changes, sorry ... reductions, aren't going to be popular.

(31 Dec 2013, 4:35 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote What really pissed me off was them wasting time on a ridiculous Facebook post about the Winter Carnival in Newcastle and GNE TAKING you there, but they can't bring you back as all the buses disappear by 7pm - when they can't be arsed to even SAY what the changes are (allegedly in response to the "consultation" it was almost impossible to find the forms for) weeks after they've been notified to Traffic Commissioners. They obviously know these changes, sorry ... reductions, aren't going to be popular.

Welcome to my world... It is like that every day of the week for me, never mind New Years Eve. Whether it is a show they are advertising at The Customs House, a match at SJP or someone on at the Arena, they can get me there, but they won't take me home

(31 Dec 2013, 4:35 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote What really pissed me off was them wasting time on a ridiculous Facebook post about the Winter Carnival in Newcastle and GNE TAKING you there, but they can't bring you back as all the buses disappear by 7pm - when they can't be arsed to even SAY what the changes are (allegedly in response to the "consultation" it was almost impossible to find the forms for) weeks after they've been notified to Traffic Commissioners. They obviously know these changes, sorry ... reductions, aren't going to be popular.

Weren't the Customer Consultation leaflets available on buses which were allocated to the services affected by the consultation? Surely this is the best way to distribute said leaflets, as it minimises the amount of "spoof responses" which could have been sent in, as was the case with previous customer consultations available online. Leaflets were also distributed to houses on the routes of the services affected, and if you still didn't receive one after all of that, you could e-mail Customer Services and they would have sent you one out in the post within about 5 working days. At a guess, if you're blind and living in the dark ages with no Internet access, you should have been able to pick up a copy in Park Lane's Nexus shop, and also in the City of Sunderland Library.

The day the customer consultation leaflets were made available on buses, I scanned one in for the members of this forum. I intend on doing the same thing later this week, as I'm led to believe the consultation results have hit the printers and should be distributed on vehicles from the end of this week (as Michael said earlier). This information will also be available online at the end of this week, giving just over three weeks for passengers to be alerted of the changes. Of course, plenty of notice will be given on GNE's Social Media pages also.

(31 Dec 2013, 4:08 pm)andreos1 wrote Yup, as gtomlinson mentioned initially, it was the one for the 21 he was trying to remember.

EYMS 9168 YX08 FYG on Angel Service 22
http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplytrans...4232481982

Was this not the one gtomlinson was on about rather the 2 Brighton Examples

I do think it's a bit late to notify people, if it's Thursday 2nd Januray they announce changes it's still only 24 days until changes come into affect. I recall the 24th March 2013 changes been announced early Feburary and I think it's only right people are notified well in advance.

(31 Dec 2013, 5:54 pm)CatsFast101 wrote I do think it's a bit late to notify people, if it's Thursday 2nd January.

I don't

I have been looking into bus operators in and around Yorkshire and neighbouring areas and discovered something very interesting about a bus operator called Trent Barton, which is summarised in a quote below:

'the villager' services run south to Burton on Trent with the numbering system, V1, V2, V3 and V4 and a number of services run north towards Ilkeston and Heanor such as the 'black cat' and 'H1'.

Trentbarton also operate a number of express services around the East Midlands. These include:
'red arrow' service from Nottingham to Derby
'pronto' (operated jointly with Stagecoach) from Nottingham and Mansfield to Chesterfield

V1, V2, V3, V4 are also route numbers used for the GNE Venture network. Black Cats was a brand previously used by GNE and I believe there was also previously a H1 service/route. Red Arrows and Pronto are also brands both used by GNE. A coincidence?

(31 Dec 2013, 4:55 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote EYMS 9168 YX08 FYG on Angel Service 22
http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplytrans...4232481982

Was this not the one gtomlinson was on about rather the 2 Brighton Examples

It most probably was that one!
Gtomlinson - is this the one you were on about?

(31 Dec 2013, 5:54 pm)CatsFast101 wrote I do think it's a bit late to notify people, if it's Thursday 2nd Januray they announce changes it's still only 24 days until changes come into affect. I recall the 24th March 2013 changes been announced early Feburary and I think it's only right people are notified well in advance.

As long as it is well advertised, then surely 3.5 weeks is ample time to become aware of changes, if they were only given 7 days that would be taking the piss, but 3 weeks in advance is a good amount of time

(31 Dec 2013, 6:19 pm)peter wrote I have been looking into bus operators in and around Yorkshire and neighbouring areas and discovered something very interesting about a bus operator called Trent Barton, which is summarised in a quote below:

'the villager' services run south to Burton on Trent with the numbering system, V1, V2, V3 and V4 and a number of services run north towards Ilkeston and Heanor such as the 'black cat' and 'H1'.

Trentbarton also operate a number of express services around the East Midlands. These include:
'red arrow' service from Nottingham to Derby
'pronto' (operated jointly with Stagecoach) from Nottingham and Mansfield to Chesterfield

V1, V2, V3, V4 are also route numbers used for the GNE Venture network. Black Cats was a brand previously used by GNE and I believe there was also previously a H1 service/route. Red Arrows and Pronto are also brands both used by GNE. A coincidence?

Dont know about conincidence, are any of the services you menioned anything to do with The Go-Ahead-Group?

(31 Dec 2013, 6:27 pm)fozzovmurton wrote As long as it is well advertised, then surely 3.5 weeks is ample time to become aware of changes, if they were only given 7 days that would be taking the piss, but 3 weeks in advance is a good amount of time


Dont know about conincidence, are any of the services you menioned anything to do with The Go-Ahead-Group?

There is no doubting that there was at some stage a relationship between Trent Barton and Go North East, presumably their management teams shared ideas on how to improve both companies. Brands such as Red Arrow are use by both. I've used Trent Barton many times so I'm sure I can give a few insights.

(31 Dec 2013, 6:27 pm)fozzovmurton wrote As long as it is well advertised, then surely 3.5 weeks is ample time to become aware of changes, if they were only given 7 days that would be taking the piss, but 3 weeks in advance is a good amount of time


Dont know about conincidence, are any of the services you menioned anything to do with The Go-Ahead-Group?

Nope, Trent Barton are part of the Wellglade Group along with Notts and Derby, Kinchbus and TM Travel who have nothing to do with the Go Ahead group.

Thanks for the answer, national bus companies is not really my specialist subject (Y)

(31 Dec 2013, 6:38 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote Nope, Trent Barton are part of the Wellglade Group along with Notts and Derby, Kinchbus and TM Travel who have nothing to do with the Go Ahead group.

Nothing to do with Go Ahead, but I'm positive I recall meetings between management of both parties when branding was first introduced to both Go North East and Trent Barton.

So basically any relationship GNE has with Trent Barton is purely informal to/was to collaborate on branding...

How effective is the branding on Trent Bartons patch, does it work well

(31 Dec 2013, 6:21 pm)andreos1 wrote It most probably was that one!
Gtomlinson - is this the one you were on about?

It absolutely was. Great ride she was