(15 Aug 2020, 12:20 am)col87 wrote How long before the first break down and the coaches going on other routes like the 21 / X21 or Tyne Valley 10 while the X9/10 has everyone squashed onto a citaro.

The coaches won’t be able to go on any other route on the network - drivers need specific training and, as has already been mentioned, they aren’t permitted to use Eldon Square.


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(15 Aug 2020, 4:53 am)Dan wrote The coaches won’t be able to go on any other route on the network - drivers need specific training and, as has already been mentioned, they aren’t permitted to use Eldon Square.


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I know was a joke since most companies including Go North East have a habit of putting branded buses on other routes.

(15 Aug 2020, 4:53 am)Dan wrote The coaches won’t be able to go on any other route on the network - drivers need specific training and, as has already been mentioned, they aren’t permitted to use Eldon Square.


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Could perhaps start some weekend "day trips" when the economic climate improves and send the StreetDeck out as cover. Lightwater Valley, Flamingo Land etc. Don't think they'd get through Stokesley & Helmsley though or Thirsk & Sutton for that matter. Would have to be via York & A64.

Good thing about Flamingo Land I suppose is that EY could bail GoNE out if the coach ran into any problems. Don't know what nearest EY depot would be though.

(15 Aug 2020, 10:22 pm)L469 YVK wrote Could perhaps start some weekend "day trips" when the economic climate improves and send the StreetDeck out as cover. Lightwater Valley, Flamingo Land etc. Don't think they'd get through Stokesley & Helmsley though or Thirsk & Sutton for that matter. Would have to be via York & A64.

Good thing about Flamingo Land I suppose is that EY could bail GoNE out if the coach ran into any problems. Don't know what nearest EY depot would be though.

Wouldn’t the new Northern coaching unit cover any sort of return to Voyager branded day trips?

(15 Aug 2020, 4:53 am)Dan wrote The coaches won’t be able to go on any other route on the network - drivers need specific training and, as has already been mentioned, they aren’t permitted to use Eldon Square.


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What would be the plan if one was re-entering service after being long term VOR for a major part? I'm aware that some operators (though I'm not sure if GNE do) like to keep things local, or on less demanding work, for a few days or so just to bed it back in again. 

I'd imagine it'd be fairly unlikely that any of these will be suffering from any major issues in their time on the X9/X10 mind.

(15 Aug 2020, 10:25 pm)Ambassador wrote Wouldn’t the new Northern coaching unit cover any sort of return to Voyager branded day trips?

They could do. But depending on running costs & demand, the interdecks would be ideal. Don't know how close seating capacity is to some of the Northern Coaching Unit stock though.

"X-Lines Escapes"

(15 Aug 2020, 11:04 pm)L469 YVK wrote They could do. But depending on running costs & demand, the interdecks would be ideal. Don't know how close seating capacity is to some of the Northern Coaching Unit stock though.

"X-Lines Escapes"

That sounds like a good name for the northbound X9/X10 services

(15 Aug 2020, 10:51 pm)mb134 wrote What would be the plan if one was re-entering service after being long term VOR for a major part? I'm aware that some operators (though I'm not sure if GNE do) like to keep things local, or on less demanding work, for a few days or so just to bed it back in again. 

I'd imagine it'd be fairly unlikely that any of these will be suffering from any major issues in their time on the X9/X10 mind.

You can't do that with a long distance coach, not many "local" journeys on National Express.

(15 Aug 2020, 4:53 am)Dan wrote The coaches won’t be able to go on any other route on the network - drivers need specific training and, as has already been mentioned, they aren’t permitted to use Eldon Square.


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Has a decision been made on where they will terminate in Newcastle yet?

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(15 Aug 2020, 10:22 pm)L469 YVK wrote Could perhaps start some weekend "day trips" when the economic climate improves and send the StreetDeck out as cover. Lightwater Valley, Flamingo Land etc. Don't think they'd get through Stokesley & Helmsley though or Thirsk & Sutton for that matter. Would have to be via York & A64.

Good thing about Flamingo Land I suppose is that EY could bail GoNE out if the coach ran into any problems. Don't know what nearest EY depot would be though.

(15 Aug 2020, 10:25 pm)Ambassador wrote Wouldn’t the new Northern coaching unit cover any sort of return to Voyager branded day trips?

(15 Aug 2020, 11:04 pm)L469 YVK wrote They could do. But depending on running costs & demand, the interdecks would be ideal. Don't know how close seating capacity is to some of the Northern Coaching Unit stock though.

"X-Lines Escapes"

I'm fairly certain it's already been said GNE don't want to get into the day trip or even private hire business preferring to stick with the likes of rail replacement contracts. Equally when you've only got 7 XLines coaches and a PVR of 7 then why would you pull one off the X9/X10 when you've got other vehicles sat spare at weekends? 

(16 Aug 2020, 10:28 am)big mac wrote Has a decision been made on where they will terminate in Newcastle yet?

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The new registration suggests Newgate Stret and I believe a stop near the Gate shopping centre hasn't been mentioned?

(16 Aug 2020, 10:28 am)big mac wrote Has a decision been made on where they will terminate in Newcastle yet?

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It’s been stated that the terminus in Newcastle will be Newgate street


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(16 Aug 2020, 11:53 am)tyresmoke wrote I'm fairly certain it's already been said GNE don't want to get into the day trip or even private hire business preferring to stick with the likes of rail replacement contracts. Equally when you've only got 7 XLines coaches and a PVR of 7 then why would you pull one off the X9/X10 when you've got other vehicles sat spare at weekends? 
The new registration suggests Newgate Stret and I believe a stop near the Gate shopping centre hasn't been mentioned?

Wasn’t Northern got rid of the day trips etc.. what there inherited from the OK business as Go Highstyle and sold/gifted to Classic to stop them competing on northern routes at the time?


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Has it been mentioned yet what will be happening regards the accessible seating/ wheelchair bays on the coaches?
Will they be getting the screens installed for the driver

(17 Aug 2020, 2:06 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Has it been mentioned yet what will be happening regards the accessible seating/ wheelchair bays on the coaches?
Will they be getting the screens installed for the driver

I'd imagine screens would be installed to protect the drivers from Covid, if not assault too. 

I take it the entry area where the driver is actually has enough head room for passengers to stand up straight in it? I know that sounds stupid, but from looking at photos of interdecks the driver's area looks so low down - I'm sure its just because the rest of the vehicle is so large.

(16 Aug 2020, 10:28 am)big mac wrote Has a decision been made on where they will terminate in Newcastle yet?

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stop 08NC20 outside Lau's restaurant and opposite St Andrew's Church

(17 Aug 2020, 4:47 pm)busmanT wrote stop 08NC20 outside Lau's restaurant and opposite St Andrew's Church

This stop across the road?


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MG posted pix of coaches on twitter. Colours spot on. Not a fan of the purple on the front

(17 Aug 2020, 6:16 pm)JP6004 wrote MG posted pix of coaches on twitter. Colours spot on. Not a fan of the purple on the front

Yeah, the front looks bloody awful. 

What is their obsession with putting contrasting colours on the front, it hasn't worked yet!

(17 Aug 2020, 6:25 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Yeah, the front looks bloody awful. 

What is their obsession with putting contrasting colours on the front, it hasn't worked yet!

I am surprised Ray Stenning has not snapped you up as one of his designers.

(17 Aug 2020, 2:54 pm)ne14ne1 wrote I'd imagine screens would be installed to protect the drivers from Covid, if not assault too. 

I take it the entry area where the driver is actually has enough head room for passengers to stand up straight in it? I know that sounds stupid, but from looking at photos of interdecks the driver's area looks so low down - I'm sure its just because the rest of the vehicle is so large.

From memory it's fine, though I've not been on one since March. I'll double check when Aberdeen is out of lockdown again, but I'm over 6ft and I can't remember ever having an issue - the only place to watch out for is the seats at the front upstairs.

(17 Aug 2020, 6:39 pm)mb134 wrote From memory it's fine, though I've not been on one since March. I'll double check when Aberdeen is out of lockdown again, but I'm over 6ft and I can't remember ever having an issue - the only place to watch out for is the seats at the front upstairs.

Oh hell aye.....banged my heed there a couple of times 

(17 Aug 2020, 6:33 pm)citaro5284 wrote I am surprised Ray Stenning has not snapped you up as one of his designers.

I don't mean to brag, but I probably could do a lot better than some of their designs!

Anyway, I've slightly modified the front, not my best work by a long shot, but as usual, I think it looks 10x better without the horrendously out of place patch of colour!

https://twitter.com/martijngne/status/12...27424?s=21


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(17 Aug 2020, 6:48 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I don't mean to brag, but I probably could do a lot better than some of their designs!

Anyway, I've slightly modified the front, not my best work by a long shot, but as usual, I think it looks 10x better without the horrendously out of place patch of colour!

That looks much better. Maybe the gold could even be brought down further to just above the number plate and along the tops of the silver daytime running lights.

As it currently stands at HD Trim it just looks crap with the weird triangle and doesn’t match any other version of the Xlines liveries. It also looks very countryish & East Yorkshirey with so much cream on the front. 

Other than the disappointing front end, the rest looks smart.

(17 Aug 2020, 8:13 pm)ne14ne1 wrote That looks much better. Maybe the gold could even be brought down further to just above the number plate and along the tops of the silver daytime running lights.

As it currently stands at HD Trim it just looks crap with the weird triangle and doesn’t match any other version of the Xlines liveries. It also looks very countryish & East Yorkshirey with so much cream on the front. 

Other than the disappointing front end, the rest looks smart.

Exactly, they always seem to have a solid design, then ruin it with a stupid panel at the front, they did exactly the same with the corporate livery, look low well that went down with the blue panel!

There's absolutely no need for it to be purple on the front, like you say, it doesn't fit with the rest of the Xlines liveries.

It looks cheap and tacky, the rest of the Xlines liveries look posh

I just hope to god the B5s don't come back looking anything like that.

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Apoligies if it's been asked before but have the fleet numbers been announced yet

(17 Aug 2020, 8:22 pm)JACK6081 wrote Apoligies if it's been asked before but have the fleet numbers been announced yet

Not yet

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MG has said coaches receiving quite a big upgrade inside. Does this include converting some of the storage space into more priority seating?

A couple of other things I've seen on Twitter

MG has also said the coaches should be here in 2-3 weeks

Dan has said the B5s should all be up and running on the X21 by the 3rd September. They were supposed to start coming back yesterday (not sure if they have though) but once they get back, they just need to be vinyled up and have the buggy bay fittted

Don't thionk the purple triangle thingy would be too bad if it continued up the side and petered out next to the cctv.

(18 Aug 2020, 8:07 am)JP6004 wrote MG has said coaches receiving quite a big upgrade inside. Does this include converting some of the storage space into more priority seating?

Without massively changing the structure of the vehicle you can't really do that. Note this picture below, you'd have to remove 1-2 of those seats behind the cab in the first place to even think about putting in more seating - and that's without taking into account that the floor of the upstairs is raised above the cab/accessible seating area, so any space behind that (i.e where the luggage space is) is nowhere near big enough to consider seating (2nd link). 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/42318062@N...s4k-artEbH

https://www.flickr.com/photos/thejamster...Yja-LH1oTQ