Whatever happens it's going to be as hard manoeuvring one of these coaches wherever they go. Peterlee has a tight turning circle and an awkward reverse; Dalton Park I would say is tricky. Going to be interesting.

(17 Jul 2020, 1:56 pm)scanialover wrote Whatever happens it's going to be as hard manoeuvring one of these coaches wherever they go. Peterlee has a tight turning circle and an awkward reverse; Dalton Park I would say is tricky. Going to be interesting.

Rear steering, have driven the mk1 levante on NX, actually getting into Leeds coach station and for that matter getting out of Sammy's (vic drop off) is a damn site easier with a tri-axle than the normal size coaches, peterlee in my opinion will not cause any issues.

(17 Jul 2020, 3:00 pm)Stanleyone wrote Rear steering, have driven the mk1 levante on NX, actually getting into Leeds coach station and for that matter getting out of Sammy's (vic drop off) is a damn site easier with a tri-axle than the normal size coaches, peterlee in my opinion will not cause any issues.

Most definitely. As has been stated by Dan, there should be absolutely no issue with any other section of the route in terms of the coaches. 

Again for reference, the ones in Aberdeen manage the tight left turn from Union Street to Market Street without issue - I can't think of any places tighter than that on the X9/X10.

(17 Jul 2020, 3:17 pm)mb134 wrote Most definitely. As has been stated by Dan, there should be absolutely no issue with any other section of the route in terms of the coaches. 

Again for reference, the ones in Aberdeen manage the tight left turn from Union Street to Market Street without issue - I can't think of any places tighter than that on the X9/X10.

Appreciate they're not city centre roads, but the coaches used on 10 gets round some of the roads with ease on its route. One that stands out are the housing estates west of Nairn.

I might have mentioned in the past, that Gloucester Green isn't the biggest bus station in the world. I think the only thing it has over Peterlee or Eldon Square, is that it never seems as busy.

I reckon as said earlier St Mary's Place would be a good pick up point as well as Newgate Street.

(17 Jul 2020, 4:05 pm)L469 YVK wrote I reckon as said earlier St Mary's Place would be a good pick up point as well as Newgate Street.

Newgate St bus station would have been perfect! 
Don't think the diners of Lau's would be too keen if it came back though!

(17 Jul 2020, 4:34 pm)Andreos1 wrote Newgate St bus station would have been perfect! 
Don't think the diners of Lau's would be too keen if it came back though!

It pretty much is now, albeit on the opposite side of the road. That's where all buses bound for eldon square terminate and wait time.

Just dropping back to this thread for a moment. What is matter with the 63xx deckers that are supposed to be allocated on the X9/10? 6334/5 are regular performers, 6044 does it and 5278 was leaving Middlesbrough on an X9 a short while ago.

(22 Jul 2020, 1:42 pm)scanialover wrote Just dropping back to this thread for a moment. What is matter with the 63xx deckers that are supposed to be allocated on the X9/10? 6334/5 are regular performers, 6044 does it and 5278 was leaving Middlesbrough on an X9 a short while ago.

Looks to me as though 5278 was put on in Gateshead at 8am to replace 6312 which failed on its first trip this morning. 6334/5 are on in place of 6308/9 which are both not out today.
Looks like 6309 was dragged off half way through the day on Monday, which ironically only had two branded buses make it all the way through the day, when they finished up with 6312/4 out alongside 5277 5322 5498 6076 6334 and 6335.

(22 Jul 2020, 2:28 pm)tyresmoke wrote Looks to me as though 5278 was put on in Gateshead at 8am to replace 6312 which failed on its first trip this morning. 6334/5 are on in place of 6308/9 which are both not out today.
Looks like 6309 was dragged off half way through the day on Monday, which ironically only had two branded buses make it all the way through the day, when they finished up with 6312/4 out alongside 5277 5322 5498 6076 6334 and 6335.

Sooner they get onto the X21 the better then.....should keep one member of this forum happy 

You could easily stick a decent enough shelter outside City Library (in the current Megabus stop) and drop off there - 2 minutes walk to Northumberland Street, 10 to Newcastle and Northumbria Unis then it could turn onto B1309 and down Central Motorway back up into Gateshead.

(22 Jul 2020, 2:52 pm)citaro5284 wrote Sooner they get onto the X21 the better then.....should keep one member of this forum happy 

Going forward, it would be interesting to trial longer term the E400MMC on the X9 & X10 depending on the logistics (perhaps the OM936 StreetDeck covering at Hexham).

Arriva don't seem to have too much trouble with the classics that operate the X15 to Berwick. Only difference being is that on the single carriageway parts of the A1, I'd imagine they'd be barely going above 50MPH and also plenty of villages en route too. The X9 & X10 on the other hand are a constant 60MPH stint on the A19 for the most part.

I reckon that unless capacity becomes an issue (won't anytime soon), the coaches will be on the X9 & X10 for at least 5-7 years I reckon. They're the perfect vehicle type for the X9 & X10.

When are the 7 Volvo B11RT/Plaxton Elite interdeck's arriving?, as they're not getting used, i thought some would of arrived by now.

(26 Jul 2020, 2:02 pm)Michael wrote When are the 7 Volvo B11RT/Plaxton Elite interdeck's arriving?, as they're not getting used, i thought some would of arrived by now.

Didn't they say September?

(26 Jul 2020, 2:06 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Didn't they say September?

Sure it was said, they would be ready for service for September.

(26 Jul 2020, 2:10 pm)Michael wrote Sure it was said, they would be ready for service for September.

If that is the case, I'd expect them to start arriving in the next week or two, assuming they're getting repainted up here. 
Like you say, they're not being used so there's no real reason for them not to come straight up, unless they're getting the repaint down there

Didn't the photo of the coach shown some time back show the front panel and an area on the offside having been rubbed down and in primer. It could well be that repaints are underway elsewhere. This would relieve Saltmeadows of a lot of pressure with many repaints scheduled there

(26 Jul 2020, 3:14 pm)RM2186 wrote Didn't the photo of the coach shown some time back show the front panel and an area on the offside having been rubbed down and in primer. It could well be that repaints are underway elsewhere. This would relieve Saltmeadows of a lot of pressure with many repaints scheduled there

Aye there was....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgrah...ateposted/

(26 Jul 2020, 3:37 pm)citaro5284 wrote Aye there was....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgrah...ateposted/

The fact that photo was taken in June suggests that they should all be just about painted by now. It's bad for the bodywork to leave it unprotected like that

Semi-related; ahead of the coaches transferring north, X9|X10 branded Volvo B5TLs 6308 - 6314 have now been taken out of service at Riverside, and generic X-lines branded 6334/35 have transferred to Chester-le-Street.

6308 - 6314 have been taken out of service to be repainted and also to allow for some mechanical upgrades to be completed prior to their transfer to Chester-le-Street, ironing out a couple of the recent niggles they've had while operating the X9/X10 services. Taking their place on the X9/X10 services until the coaches transfer north are Volvo B9TLs (6043/44 from Riverside's own fleet allocation, 6048 from Hexham's allocation, 6084-86 from Deptford's allocation and 6099/6100 from Percy Main's allocation).

Go North East: 6085 / NL63YHN by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

(26 Jul 2020, 4:20 pm)Dan wrote Semi-related; ahead of the coaches transferring north, X9|X10 branded Volvo B5TLs 6308 - 6314 have now been taken out of service at Riverside, and generic X-lines branded 6334/35 have transferred to Chester-le-Street.

6308 - 6314 have been taken out of service to be repainted and also to allow for some mechanical upgrades to be completed prior to their transfer to Chester-le-Street, ironing out a couple of the recent niggles they've had while operating the X9/X10 services. Taking their place on the X9/X10 services until the coaches transfer north are Volvo B9TLs (6043/44 from Riverside's own fleet allocation, 6048 from Hexham's allocation, 6084-86 from Deptford's allocation and 6099/6100 from Percy Main's allocation).

Go North East: 6085 / NL63YHN by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Will the generic X-Lines be allocated to the X21 straight away in replacement of 6331/2?

(26 Jul 2020, 4:27 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Will the generic X-Lines be allocated to the X21 straight away in replacement of 6331/2?

Not immediately. They'll be used for familiarisation for a couple of days first (on paper, at least).

Chester-le-Street have float OmniDekka 6143 covering for 6331 and the usual school holidays PVR reduction provides an OmniDekka to replace 6332.

(26 Jul 2020, 4:28 pm)Dan wrote Not immediately. They'll be used for familiarisation for a couple of days first (on paper, at least).

Chester-le-Street have float OmniDekka 6143 covering for 6331 and the usual school holidays PVR reduction provides an OmniDekka to replace 6332.

With all the B5s taken off to get repainted/upgraded at once, are they expected to be rolled out gradually as they're finished or all swapped over at once?

Seems a bit strange to me to take them all off rather than one at a time

Has Martijn done his weekly Facebook video including cascades info yet, or is that this week coming?

(26 Jul 2020, 4:38 pm)streetdeckfan wrote With all the B5s taken off to get repainted/upgraded at once, are they expected to be rolled out gradually as they're finished or all swapped over at once?

Seems a bit strange to me to take them all off rather than one at a time

Everything seems strange to you though!

(26 Jul 2020, 4:39 pm)Dan wrote Everything seems strange to you though!

These are strange times we're living in Daniel, strange times indeed!

(26 Jul 2020, 4:39 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Has Martijn done his weekly Facebook video including cascades info yet, or is that this week coming?

It was done on weds afternoon and nothing mentioned about cascades as far as I can remember.

(26 Jul 2020, 4:38 pm)streetdeckfan wrote With all the B5s taken off to get repainted/upgraded at once, are they expected to be rolled out gradually as they're finished or all swapped over at once?

Seems a bit strange to me to take them all off rather than one at a time

Why do you think it is a bit strange?

(26 Jul 2020, 4:38 pm)streetdeckfan wrote With all the B5s taken off to get repainted/upgraded at once, are they expected to be rolled out gradually as they're finished or all swapped over at once?

Seems a bit strange to me to take them all off rather than one at a time

I wouldn't say it is strange as it results in the repaints been done a lot quicker, iirc there is already 3 Red Kite Streetlites at Saltmeadows for repaint, something like 11/12 vehicles withdrawn for repaint now.

Repaints won't be done half as quick once new buses arrive as focus will be on those being prepared for service.

(26 Jul 2020, 5:43 pm)citaro5284 wrote Why do you think it is a bit strange?

I would have thought it would make more sense to do one B5, one StreetDeck and one Streetlite at a time, that way they can all get switched around at the same time. I suppose it depends on how fast they can turn around the repaints.

Does anyone know what the capacity of Saltmeadows is for repaints?