(24 Sep 2020, 7:58 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I definitely agree with you there. The new StreetDecks are brilliant.
They're so much more comfortable than the older ones, you wouldn't even believe they're the same type of vehicle. I tried an E400 and StreetDeck back to back on the X45 and the StreetDeck legit felt like it was floating whilst the E400s was clattering about. Not to say the E400s are uncomfortable, but the StreetDeck is in another league.

I think the 'nippiness' depends on the driver, the StreetDecks are surprisingly quick when you get a driver that puts their foot down, but on average the E400s do feel like they have a bit more shove.

The only thing I'd really disagree with you is with the 'red' interior. It's 100% brown. It's nowt like the E400 'red', which is tolerable. It looks bloody awful.

To me it's the same burgandy that Lothian have and I love it. Proper cosy. Had a B9 on the way back and the blue made u feel cold. I didnt realise how much it would affect your perspective. Even the detailing around the wheel arch just made it look 100x better. This is the Tom Hardy of buses 

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(24 Sep 2020, 7:17 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Maroon base livery for The Crusader and the 5, with the 5 branded as Maroon 5?!

Think bit of copyright infringement there like

(24 Sep 2020, 8:10 pm)JP6004 wrote To me it's the same burgandy that Lothian have and I love it. Proper cosy. Had a B9 on the way back and the blue made u feel cold. I didnt realise how much it would affect your perspective. Even the detailing around the wheel arch just made it look 100x better. This is the Tom Hardy of buses 

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Think bit of copyright infringement there like

See, I still much prefer the interior of the older StreetDecks, it feels much brighter, especially with the blue sky vinyl on the roof!

Then again, I do like being cold.
To me, there's nothing nicer than getting on an ice cold bus on a winter morning. When the X21 used to start in Woodhouse, I'd get on at the first stop and there'd be ice cold leather seats,  absolute heaven. Then the driver would put the heating on and I'd melt.
In the car I always have the AC blasting, and if I get too cold, I'd put the heated seat on. There's nothing worse than having warm air blowing at you.

(24 Sep 2020, 8:26 pm)streetdeckfan wrote See, I still much prefer the interior of the older StreetDecks, it feels much brighter, especially with the blue sky vinyl on the roof!

Then again, I do like being cold.
To me, there's nothing nicer than getting on an ice cold bus on a winter morning. When the X21 used to start in Woodhouse, I'd get on at the first stop and there'd be ice cold leather seats,  absolute heaven. Then the driver would put the heating on and I'd melt.
In the car I always have the AC blasting, and if I get too cold, I'd put the heated seat on. There's nothing worse than having warm air blowing at you.

But everything shrivels in the cold 

(24 Sep 2020, 8:27 pm)JP6004 wrote But everything shrivels in the cold 

That just means you can fit more in! That's why you always fill up with fuel in the morning

(24 Sep 2020, 12:27 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Yup that still happens if the vehicle has a newer (GPS equipped?) destination controller. I.e Cobalt & Coast destinations change from Newcastle, to Haymarket etc.   
If only the onboard NSA destination changed to match.

21 changes at the side of Gateshead Civic Centre - it actually goes blank for a few seconds.

On the NSA front, I caught the X30 over to Newcastle last week - we stopped at The Gate and as we set off the NSA said "next stop is Eldon Square", at which point the bus terminated outside St Andrew's Church, confusing most of the passengers.

(25 Sep 2020, 6:18 pm)busmanT wrote 21 changes at the side of Gateshead Civic Centre - it actually goes blank for a few seconds.

On the NSA front, I caught the X30 over to Newcastle last week - we stopped at The Gate and as we set off the NSA said "next stop is Eldon Square", at which point the bus terminated outside St Andrew's Church, confusing most of the passengers.

There's not much they can do about that though, nearly every route in the North East has been changed due to social distancing.

(25 Sep 2020, 6:32 pm)deanmachine wrote There's not much they can do about that though, nearly every route in the North East has been changed due to social distancing.

But with the newer systems it should be fairly easy to update the NSA, especially if the bus station changes are sticking around

(25 Sep 2020, 8:21 pm)streetdeckfan wrote But with the newer systems it should be fairly easy to update the NSA, especially if the bus station changes are sticking around

Record new messages for every route that GNE does? Seems like a big task, it's only now, nearly a decade after NSAs were introduced that nearly every route has them recorded.

(25 Sep 2020, 8:23 pm)deanmachine wrote Record new messages for every route that GNE does? Seems like a big task, it's only now, nearly a decade after NSAs were introduced that nearly every route has them recorded.

They wouldn't need re-recorded. It would be a trivial matter to just edit the "This is the X service to Y" audio file, assuming they have the original files. They would just need to cut out the part where she says "Eldon Square" and replace it with "Newgate Street", which they will already have recorded as it's a stop they serve. The "This bus will terminate at the next stop" wouldn't need changed as it's a separate announcement so it'd just need moved around in the programming.

I'm not saying it would be a 2 second job, but if Eldon Square are keeping the current layout for the foreseeable, it may be worth the investment to stop passenger confusion

(25 Sep 2020, 8:32 pm)streetdeckfan wrote They wouldn't need re-recorded. It would be a trivial matter to just edit the "This is the X service to Y" audio file, assuming they have the original files. They would just need to cut out the part where she says "Eldon Square" and replace it with "Newgate Street", which they will already have recorded as it's a stop they serve. The "This bus will terminate at the next stop" wouldn't need changed as it's a separate announcement so it'd just need moved around in the programming.

I'm not saying it would be a 2 second job, but if Eldon Square are keeping the current layout for the foreseeable, it may be worth the investment to stop passenger confusion

No, not a two second job and there’s only one person in the commercial team who does this (who also does many other jobs[emoji849]).

In an ideal world and if time permitted, yes. But that’s not the case and the temporary COVID diversions and restrictions are changing by the week. It’d be impossible to keep on top of.


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(24 Sep 2020, 7:58 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I definitely agree with you there. The new StreetDecks are brilliant.
They're so much more comfortable than the older ones, you wouldn't even believe they're the same type of vehicle. I tried an E400 and StreetDeck back to back on the X45 and the StreetDeck legit felt like it was floating whilst the E400s was clattering about. Not to say the E400s are uncomfortable, but the StreetDeck is in another league.

I think the 'nippiness' depends on the driver, the StreetDecks are surprisingly quick when you get a driver that puts their foot down, but on average the E400s do feel like they have a bit more shove.

The only thing I'd really disagree with you is with the 'red' interior. It's 100% brown. It's nowt like the E400 'red', which is tolerable. It looks bloody awful.

Bodywork & Fuel Economy = StreetDeck
Mechanics, durability, proven reliability and power = E400MMC

Got to remember that with the latter, Arriva use examples of both Euro 5 Classics & Euro 6 MMCs out of Ashington on some tough routes. Although perhaps not as efficient as a StreetDeck, they still use less than a B9TL. GoEY even have them on the X46.

The StreetDeck is a good bus for what it was designed for but a heavier option should've been available from the word go. Hopefully the OM936 fills the gap Wrightbus has been missing.

Amazingly thus far unreported/not discussed, Go North East has revised the format of its destination displays on the new StreetDecks (again).

Go North East 6365 (NK70BYB) by haley111, on Flickr

Go North East Xlines Red Kite Wright Streetdeck 6362 | NK70 BYL seen pulling off stand at Consett Bus Station on 26/09/20 working an X45 to Newcastle.

Flickr : https://flic.kr/p/2jLtp7s


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I think that looks better with the via points displayed correctly. Out of my own interest, I've tried swapping the two around in Photoshop:



Original image credit: haley111

(27 Sep 2020, 9:28 am)Dan wrote Amazingly thus far unreported/not discussed, Go North East has revised the format of its destination displays on the new StreetDecks (again).

Go North East 6365 (NK70BYB) by haley111, on Flickr

Looks better tbh. Just a shame about the X1 being at the wrong side but it's noticeable why there with half the top screen cut off. Really bad design flaw on the new Streetdecks.

(27 Sep 2020, 9:28 am)Dan wrote Amazingly thus far unreported/not discussed, Go North East has revised the format of its destination displays on the new StreetDecks (again).

Go North East 6365 (NK70BYB) by haley111, on Flickr

To be honest, I never even noticed it said 'express' until I zoomed in. there's just too much crammed into the top display IMO

(27 Sep 2020, 10:13 am)Adrian wrote I think that looks better with the via points displayed correctly. Out of my own interest, I've tried swapping the two around in Photoshop:



Original image credit: haley111

I think that’s the way it should be! Keeps to the house style of other routes across the area while making use of the double display. 
Having said that, the subtle changes made, as per original photo, are a marked improvement.

(27 Sep 2020, 2:10 pm)Drifter60 wrote I think that’s the way it should be! Keeps to the house style of other routes across the area while making use of the double display. 
Having said that, the subtle changes made, as per original photo, are a marked improvement.

Definitely, I've no idea why they're trying to cram so much information into the top display, it just makes it impossible to read.

(27 Sep 2020, 2:32 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Definitely, I've no idea why they're trying to cram so much information into the top display, it just makes it impossible to read.

What’s the difference of it being ‘crammed’ into the top vs using the same amount of space in the bottom?


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(27 Sep 2020, 3:11 pm)Dan wrote What’s the difference of it being ‘crammed’ into the top vs using the same amount of space in the bottom?


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Because, even if it's the same amount of space, visually it looks a lot more crammed in having the route number as well.
There's just too much going on in that one row, do you look at the route number, do you look at the 'express service', do you look at the via points.

To me, having them swapped around is a lot easier to read at a quick glance.

Plus, for me having the route number and destination next to each other makes a lot more sense, you don't say ' X1 via Gateshead and QE...' you say 'X1 to Easington Lane'

(27 Sep 2020, 3:16 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Because, even if it's the same amount of space, visually it looks a lot more crammed in having the route number as well.
There's just too much going on in that one row, do you look at the route number, do you look at the 'express service', do you look at the via points.

To me, having them swapped around is a lot easier to read at a quick glance.

Plus, for me having the route number and destination next to each other makes a lot more sense, you don't say ' X1 via Gateshead and QE...' you say 'X1 to Easington Lane'

Although I am actually of the same opinion as you in that setting these out more like the conventional displays would be better, it's your second point I agree with, not the first.

In real terms there’s more space on the top than the bottom, even with the route number on the top one, but it does read better having them flipped over.

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(27 Sep 2020, 3:36 pm)Dan wrote Although I am actually of the same opinion as you in that setting these out more like the conventional displays would be better, it's your second point I agree with, not the first.

In real terms there’s more space on the top than the bottom, even with the route number on the top one, but it does read better having them flipped over.

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Like I say, it's not about the physical space available, it's more to do with how much information is in one area.
Personally, I find it very difficult to read any of the stuff on the top display because there's just too much there so my brain just gets confused, but when it's on it's own underneath, it's easier, even if it is smaller. 

Not sure if that makes sense?

Why does the front screen say “express service” , just seems a waste of potential good space, it’s obvious a express service by any eyes as it says X1, X45 etc...


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(27 Sep 2020, 4:05 pm)cbma06 wrote Why does the front screen say “express service” , just seems a waste of potential good space, it’s obvious a express service by any eyes as it says X1, X45 etc...


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Is it obvious? To you and I, maybe, but we understand buses and the wider public transport industry. Would a non-bus user understand that an 'X' in the route number denotes it being express or limited stop?

It's being used to promote the headline selling points of the route - 'express service', 'fast and direct', 'up to every x minutes' and 'clean, safe & comfy' (plus any other messages that Go North East would like to display).

(27 Sep 2020, 4:09 pm)Dan wrote Is it obvious? To you and I, maybe, but we understand buses and the wider public transport industry. Would a non-bus user understand that an 'X' in the route number denotes it being express or limited stop?

It's being used to promote the headline selling points of the route - 'express service', 'fast and direct', 'up to every x minutes' and 'clean, safe & comfy' (plus any other messages that Go North East would like to display).

Not when services like X45/46/47 have an X in front

(27 Sep 2020, 4:18 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Not when services like X45/46/47 have an X in front

If you think the X45/6/7 are bad, I dread to think what your opinion is of the Arriva X12.

(27 Sep 2020, 4:26 pm)Dan wrote If you think the X45/6/7 are bad, I dread to think what your opinion is of the Arriva X12.

The X12 is an X21 'competitor' that happens to continue on to Middlesbrough. Between Newcastle and Durham it's not /that/ bad, they run limited stop via Birtley rather than via the A1. I also use the word competitor very loosely, I'm talking in terms of route, not the experience!

My issue with the X45/6/7 is that there's not really a slower version of the route, so it's not express. It's just a regular route. 

You can twist the meaning of express all you like by saying it includes routes that go the same way as the car, but at the end of the day, if there isn't a slower way to get there, it's not express.

Removing a couple stops that nobody used anyway and calling that section 'limited stop' doesn't count either.


Having said that, I do like the fact the marketing technically says 'rapid bus links' rather than calling them express routes explicitly, even if it is implied.

(27 Sep 2020, 4:53 pm)streetdeckfan wrote The X12 is an X21 'competitor' that happens to continue on to Middlesbrough. Between Newcastle and Durham it's not /that/ bad, they run limited stop via Birtley rather than via the A1. I also use the word competitor very loosely, I'm talking in terms of route, not the experience!

My issue with the X45/6/7 is that there's not really a slower version of the route, so it's not express. It's just a regular route. 

You can twist the meaning of express all you like by saying it includes routes that go the same way as the car, but at the end of the day, if there isn't a slower way to get there, it's not express.

Removing a couple stops that nobody used anyway and calling that section 'limited stop' doesn't count either.


Having said that, I do like the fact the marketing technically says 'rapid bus links' rather than calling them express routes explicitly, even if it is implied.

Isn't the X12 limited stop between Coxhoe and Durham aswell, it's a proper express bus to me. If we're going down the Arriva lack of express routes then they're definitely awarded to the X7, X8, X21 (Darlington), X22 (Darlington), X46 (Crook) and X75. The X7 and X8 miss 5 stops max I believe and aren't express anywhere else - infact it's a right slog and quicker to use the 19/57/57A and Metro to town from Delaval / Holywell most the time especially at rush hour. Are the others express at all..?

(27 Sep 2020, 5:39 pm)Storx wrote Isn't the X12 limited stop between Coxhoe and Durham aswell, it's a proper express bus to me. If we're going down the Arriva lack of express routes then they're definitely awarded to the X7, X8, X21, X22, X46 (Crook) and X75. The X7 and X8 miss 5 stops max I believe and aren't express anywhere else - infact it's a right slog and quicker to use the 19/57/57A and Metro to town from Delaval / Holywell most the time especially at rush hour. Are the others express at all..?

Could well be, I've never used it that direction!

I don't believe any of the X46 is limited stop at all, at least I've never noticed it being whenever I've used it

(27 Sep 2020, 4:26 pm)Dan wrote If you think the X45/6/7 are bad, I dread to think what your opinion is of the Arriva X12.

Or the Blyth X8 for that matter!