Go North East Xlines Red Kite 6358 | NK20 EMF entered service this morning here it is seen at Eldon Square working an X71 to Consett.
Flickr : https://flic.kr/p/2jB94M3


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Just saw 6358 by the MetroCentre and the top display was very dim, you could barely read it, couldn't even read what service it was.
The bottom one was as bright as usual though

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(29 Aug 2020, 2:00 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Just saw 6358 by the MetroCentre and the top display was very dim, you could barely read it, couldn't even read what service it was.
The bottom one was as bright as usual though

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Go North East X-lines 6358 / NK20 EMF by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Was like that yesterday when it was on a road test


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(26 Aug 2020, 11:02 pm)6049 wrote Seems to be confirmed that the B9s from Consett will be deployed onto the 27 as a stop gap until the Red Arrow B9s are released and have been refurbished.

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Looks like Consett's B9's have moved to Riverside (6153 last tracked yesterday) for the 26/27, according to bustimes.org, the only Crusader Citaro out is 5321, which is tracking on the X66.


Wonder if all of the Crusader Citaro's will be withdrawn in the next few days?

Has there been any confirmation on what is happening with the Crusader, Tynedale Express Citaros once the B9TLs/ E400MMCs replace them ?


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(29 Aug 2020, 5:33 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Has there been any confirmation on what is happening with the Crusader, Tynedale Express Citaros once the new / cascades replace them ?


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The X84/85 are getting E400 MCC

And the 27 is getting the red arrows B9s after they get a bit of refurbishment the Toonlink/GNE B9s I think are meant to be a stock gap until the red arrows B9s are ready

(29 Aug 2020, 5:33 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Has there been any confirmation on what is happening with the Crusader, Tynedale Express Citaros once the B9TLs/ E400MMCs replace them ?


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All but confirmed they'll be withdrawn, been hinted at by both Dan and MG.

(29 Aug 2020, 5:33 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Has there been any confirmation on what is happening with the Crusader, Tynedale Express Citaros once the B9TLs/ E400MMCs replace them ?


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I have a feeling some Citaros will go to Deptford to top up the 55/61 allocations, the rest won't last much longer I think though, once everything has been painted and moved around.

(29 Aug 2020, 7:34 pm)deanmachine wrote I have a feeling some Citaros will go to Deptford to top up the 55/61 allocations, the rest won't last much longer I think though, once everything has been painted and moved around.

Could a few of them be used for the X6/ X7? At the moment it’s either Solos or ex-Southern Vectis Citaros. I’m pretty sure one reason why the Xlines solos were used on the X20 instead was because of capacity reasons/ social distancing.

The ex Southern Vectis Citaros could go to Konect Bus, as they’ve already got quite a few. The 55 reg ones there are in a dire state and GNEs sound much healthier.

(29 Aug 2020, 8:37 pm)Adtrainsam wrote Could a few of them be used for the X6/ X7? At the moment it’s either Solos or ex-Southern Vectis Citaros. I’m pretty sure one reason why the Xlines solos were used on the X20 instead was because of capacity reasons/ social distancing.

The ex Southern Vectis Citaros could go to Konect Bus, as they’ve already got quite a few. The 55 reg ones there are in a dire state and GNEs sound much healthier.

The 07 plate ones you mention are great buses, it's a shame to withdraw them from service, but their funny interior layout makes it understandable. I think they'd prefer Solos on the X6/X7 but it could end up with Citaros if there's no Solos around the company going spare, not sure if there is.

Just spotted on Dan's Twitter that most of the B5's will be back in service on the X21 from next week

I don't think you will see anything withdrawn massively quick. The school requirements will likely see every bus available pressed into service as per every other operator around the country.

(30 Aug 2020, 11:46 am)tyresmoke wrote I don't think you will see anything withdrawn massively quick. The school requirements will likely see every bus available pressed into service as per every other operator around the country.

Ye every scholar services seem to be getting a dupe now.

Anyone know if The Crusader brand is getting a new livery or if the brand is being dropped when the Citaros get replaced? 2019 livery designs have not been done/buses have not been repainted yet for Tyne Valley Ten, Durham Diamond, The Angel, The Crusader, Saltwell Park, Fab 56, Citylink, indiGo, Tynedale Links, Coast and Country, Quaylink and X66, are there any plans?

Are the new buses for the X84/X85 entering service next year? I believe these are cascades rather than new buses? The Citaros off the Tynedale Express services are getting scrapped?

(30 Aug 2020, 1:02 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Anyone know if The Crusader brand is getting a new livery or if the brand is being dropped when the Citaros get replaced? 2019 livery designs have not been done/buses have not been repainted yet for Tyne Valley Ten, Durham Diamond, The Angel, The Crusader,  Saltwell Park, Fab 56, Citylink, indiGo, Tynedale Links, Coast and Country, Quaylink and X66, are there any plans?

Are the new buses for the X84/X85 entering service next year? I believe these are cascades rather than new buses? The Citaros off the Tynedale Express services are getting scrapped?

I believe MG on Twitter mentioned that the Crusader brand would be sticking around, but I can't be bothered to look back and find it. 
I think they're just changing over to the 2019 design as and when repaints are required, there's no use repainting vehicles just to update the style, especially when they have their own livery anyway. If they were completely changing the corporate identity, maybe they would.

The last I heard, the new E400s for the X84/X85 would be arriving in October

(30 Aug 2020, 1:02 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Anyone know if The Crusader brand is getting a new livery or if the brand is being dropped when the Citaros get replaced? 2019 livery designs have not been done/buses have not been repainted yet for Tyne Valley Ten, Durham Diamond, The Angel, The Crusader,  Saltwell Park, Fab 56, Citylink, indiGo, Tynedale Links, Coast and Country, Quaylink and X66, are there any plans?

Are the new buses for the X84/X85 entering service next year? I believe these are cascades rather than new buses? The Citaros off the Tynedale Express services are getting scrapped?

The X84/X85 are getting 4 new Enviro 400's and 6336/6337 (with 6337 being the spare)... the new ones should be arriving soon.

Saltwell Park are getting electric buses, so they'll have a complete new style when they arrive in October.

(30 Aug 2020, 1:25 pm)Michael wrote The X84/X85 are getting 4 new Enviro 400's and 6335/6336 (with 6336 being the spare)... they should be arriving soon.

Saltwell Park are getting electric buses, so they'll have a complete new style when they arrive in October.

Don't you mean 6336 and 6337?

(30 Aug 2020, 1:23 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I believe MG on Twitter mentioned that the Crusader brand would be sticking around, but I can't be bothered to look back and find it. 
I think they're just changing over to the 2019 design as and when repaints are required, there's no use repainting vehicles just to update the style, especially when they have their own livery anyway. If they were completely changing the corporate identity, maybe they would.

The last I heard, the new E400s for the X84/X85 would be arriving in October

I think the Crusader brand would suit the B9's, i wonder if they'll change the colour from Silver back to burgundy/maroon.

Dan confirmed that SM's are full for repaints for rest of the year, and that the 4 Red Kite B9's will be repainted at East Yorkshire... so they must have quite a lot of repaints coming up.

A bit of a daft question but, given that there will be 18x E400MMC consisiting of 69/20/70(?) plates, why are older examples forming the PVR on the X84 & X85?

Surely something like this could've been done.

Consett:
- 12x NEW ADL E400MMC for X30/X70/X71 & X31
- 1x 2019 ADL E400MMC XLines Spare*
- 1x 2014 ADL E400MMC XLines Spare*

Hexham:
- 3x NEW ADL E400MMC for X84 & X85
- 2x 2019 ADL E400MMC for X84 & X85*
- 1x 2014 ADL E400MMC XLines Spare*

* = Bike racks retrofits needed

Furthermore, I still don't agree with B5TLs on the X21. That route from the start has never had the right type of bus and if bike racks could've been fitted on the StreetDeck for the X84 & X85, it would've made sense to allocate E400MMCs to the X21. I know the build quality isn't as 'flush' as Wrights but they do exactly what they say on the tin.

Could coaches like the x9/x10 be an option. Its a long route which also uses part of motorway.

(30 Aug 2020, 2:41 pm)L469 YVK wrote A bit of a daft question but, given that there will be 18x E400MMC consisiting of 69/20/70(?) plates, why are older examples forming the PVR on the X84 & X85?

Surely something like this could've been done.

Consett:
- 12x NEW ADL E400MMC for X30/X70/X71 & X31
- 1x 2019 ADL E400MMC XLines Spare*
- 1x 2014 ADL E400MMC XLines Spare*

Hexham:
- 3x NEW ADL E400MMC for X84 & X85
- 2x 2019 ADL E400MMC for X84 & X85*
- 1x 2014 ADL E400MMC XLines Spare*

* = Bike racks retrofits needed

Furthermore, I still don't agree with B5TLs on the X21. That route from the start has never had the right type of bus and if bike racks could've been fitted on the StreetDeck for the X84 & X85, it would've made sense to allocate E400MMCs to the X21. I know the build quality isn't as 'flush' as Wrights but they do exactly what they say on the tin.

The E400 clearly isn't the right type either otherwise they would have ordered that instead of the StreetDecks in the first place.
The B5s are probably a better fit than the 16 plate StreetDecks, and on par with the 67 plated (the StreetDecks better in town, and the B5s better on the motorway)

I've nothing against the E400, if GNE ordered full height ones, I wouldn't mind them on the X21, but as I've said in the past low height vehicles on a route that don't need them are a terrible idea, and as a 'person of height', they put me off. To the point that I wait for 6337 if I'm getting the X30

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(30 Aug 2020, 2:41 pm)L469 YVK wrote Furthermore, I still don't agree with B5TLs on the X21. That route from the start has never had the right type of bus and if bike racks could've been fitted on the StreetDeck for the X84 & X85, it would've made sense to allocate E400MMCs to the X21. I know the build quality isn't as 'flush' as Wrights but they do exactly what they say on the tin.

Think that's more to do with fleet standardisation. Consett already has E400s in it's fleet whereas Chester doesn't. Chester previously had the Volvo hybrids so their engineering team will at least be familiar them. If anything, I would have expected the refurbed B5s to go on the X84/X85 as to keep Volvos together at Hexham and newer StreetDecks to go onto the X21 but that would still leave an imbalance with the numbers of E400s to go round so a service may have ended up with a mixed allocation if I've tallied the PVRs up right.

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(31 Aug 2020, 1:16 pm)6049 wrote Think that's more to do with fleet standardisation. Consett already has E400s in it's fleet whereas Chester doesn't. Chester previously had the Volvo hybrids so their engineering team will at least be familiar them. If anything, I would have expected the refurbed B5s to go on the X84/X85 as to keep Volvos together at Hexham and newer StreetDecks to go onto the X21 but that would still leave an imbalance with the numbers of E400s to go round so a service may have ended up with a mixed allocation if I've tallied the PVRs up right.

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I wonder if the thought of my perpetual complaints about banging my head if they put low height E400s on the X21 may have factored into it!

(31 Aug 2020, 1:41 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I wonder if the thought of my perpetual complaints about banging my head if they put low height E400s on the X21 may have factored into it!

I'm 6' 3", I have the same problem on any double decker. The amount of times I've clouted my head off the door getting on an OmniDekka!

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(31 Aug 2020, 1:43 pm)6049 wrote I'm 6' 3", I have the same problem on any double decker. The amount of times I've clouted my head off the door getting on an OmniDekka!

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I do exactly the same, it's one of the many reasons I avoid the Omnidekkas! 

I can just about stand up on the StreetDecks, I mean, I still hit my head if I stand up straight, but I just have to bend my neck a little bit. The E400s on the other hand I literally have to break my neck to walk around upstairs.

6337 is alright though, I think it might even have slightly more headroom than the StreetDeck, but it's been quite a while since I've been on it.

It's a shame that an operator with such a big focus on the customer experience would buy low height vehicles for no real reason.
I understand for the X30, but the new batch were originally for the X1 so there really was no reason.
Plus, as I've said, the fact that 6337 can still fit under the bridge in Dunston whilst being considerably taller shows that they didn't need to be that low.

(31 Aug 2020, 1:41 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I wonder if the thought of my perpetual complaints about banging my head if they put low height E400s on the X21 may have factored into it!

Doubt it somehow

2 blue xlines streetdecks are parked up at Hownsgll tonight.

(31 Aug 2020, 3:42 pm)streetdeckfan wrote It's a shame that an operator with such a big focus on the customer experience would buy low height vehicles for no real reason.

If it were that big an issue then they wouldn't. 

I'm over 6 foot and manage fine with all low height deckers - as do the majority of people I know. Maybe a bit of bending while walking upstairs, but in reality it's a few seconds max before you're seated and it really doesn't have that much of an impact. Put it this way, in the years I've used the bus I've not once heard anyone complain about the ceiling being too low.

Additionally, it's not for "no real reason". Years down the line, GNE may need to reallocate them onto a route with a low bridge, and it likely also helps with resale (or is at least a bonus). Essentially it gives much more operational flexibility down the road, for a minimal at most impact on passenger experience.

(31 Aug 2020, 9:27 pm)mb134 wrote If it were that big an issue then they wouldn't. 

I'm over 6 foot and manage fine with all low height deckers - as do the majority of people I know. Maybe a bit of bending while walking upstairs, but in reality it's a few seconds max before you're seated and it really doesn't have that much of an impact. Put it this way, in the years I've used the bus I've not once heard anyone complain about the ceiling being too low.

Additionally, it's not for "no real reason". Years down the line, GNE may need to reallocate them onto a route with a low bridge, and it likely also helps with resale (or is at least a bonus). Essentially it gives much more operational flexibility down the road, for a minimal at most impact on passenger experience.

So, why don't they order low height StreetDecks then?

(31 Aug 2020, 9:36 pm)streetdeckfan wrote So, why don't they order low height StreetDecks then?

I think it's because they don't fit under the bridge at Dunston