(26 Nov 2020, 8:28 pm)citaro5284 wrote Who likes the promo video then....the switch is flipped!

https://twitter.com/gonortheast/status/1...2875699204

Looks like it was very expensive to produce, but doesn't really tell passengers what it is - more a promotional video for Martijn than the buses!

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(26 Nov 2020, 7:48 pm)Michael wrote The Electric buses will be out tomorrow morning.

https://twitter.com/MartijnGNE/status/13...3889405954


Who will be the first to get all 9 photographed?

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Edit: The GNE website indicates that, they enter service in 11 hours and 10 minutes - (current time of posting is 19:50pm) - https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/voltra


Promo: https://twitter.com/gonortheast/status/1...2875699204
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With the Yutong buses entering service tomorrow, I wonder where the Streetlites will be allocated?

I guess that there will be a lot of non-essential journeys on Friday

(26 Nov 2020, 8:28 pm)citaro5284 wrote Who likes the promo video then....the switch is flipped!

https://twitter.com/gonortheast/status/1...2875699204

So is this like the Tyneside version of Gangs of London or Top Boy?

Can't wait until the series comes out on either Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Go North East launches game-changing electric buses in Newcastle and Gateshead



https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/go-north-e...-gateshead

(26 Nov 2020, 7:48 pm)Michael wrote The Electric buses will be out tomorrow morning.

https://twitter.com/MartijnGNE/status/13...3889405954


Who will be the first to get all 9 photographed?

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Edit: The GNE website indicates that, they enter service in 11 hours and 10 minutes - (current time of posting is 19:50pm) - https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/voltra


Promo: https://twitter.com/gonortheast/status/1...2875699204
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With the Yutong buses entering service tomorrow, I wonder where the Streetlites will be allocated?

I'm sure someone we know will get them all by 10am 

The bitching and moaning has already started because people have photos of them.

If people want to go out and get pictures, then let them, if they get fined, then be it.

I really want to ride them but can't because of a number of factors... like being at work today and they're out of my area but I can wait.

(27 Nov 2020, 11:58 am)Michael wrote The bitching and moaning has already started because people have photos of them.

If people want to go out and get pictures, then let them, if they get fined, then be it.

I really want to ride them but can't because of a number of factors... like being at work today and they're out of my area but I can wait.

Legally, there's absolutely nothing to say you can't go out and take photos, as long as you do a little bit of walking whilst you're there to fulfil the the exercise requirements. The rules even state you can go out:

• to spend time or exercise outdoors - this should be done locally wherever possible, but you can travel to do so if necessary (for example, to access an open space)
  

and 

• If you need to travel we encourage you to walk or cycle where possible, and to plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport. This will allow you to practise social distancing while you travel.
  

Saltwell Park is an open space, so it's reasonable to assume that you can use the 53/54 to get there


Anyway, I wonder how long it'll be until we see the first breakdown. there's a lot less to go wrong with a EV

I flipped the switch this evening after I finished work and got some night shots of the new Yutong E10's, have to say they look better in person.

Here is a few photos I took this evening - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...7067369673

(27 Nov 2020, 8:30 pm)Malarkey wrote I flipped the switch this evening after I finished work and got some night shots of the new Yutong E10's, have to say they look better in person.

Here is a few photos I took this evening - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...7067369673

Look better in the evening than in the daytime by a mile. 

The trend of going against best practice and putting the route number on the offside seems to be continuing - possibly even worse on a single deck as the destination is even lower down than a double deck, so passengers are even more snookered when the bus is in traffic.

What are the fleet numbers again?

I assume Voltra will be the generic game given to all future electric buses? In the same way that XLines is the express brand. The ‘red spare’ being branded as “Voltra” suggests that it will perform a similar role to the Black XLines buses in time ie. being used to cover across the Voltra network when future electric buses enter the fleet.
The problem I have is XLines makes sense as a brand, Voltra doesn’t. XLines represents more than just the bus type, it is about passengers being able to identify the gold XLines as express buses that get somewhere ‘quick’ or at least more ‘direct’. Whereas Voltra says nothing about the type of service just that it’s an electric bus, which is good, but if it isn’t going to the right place, the electric bus doesn’t really matter...
EDIT: Also, the two promo videos I’ve seen are missing four crucial words at the end for me... “from Go North East”.

(27 Nov 2020, 11:46 pm)V514DFT wrote What are the fleet numbers again?

8801 - ND70 AFA
8802 - ND70 AET
8803 - ND70 AEU
8804 - ND70 AEV
8805 - ND70 AEW
8806 - ND70 AEX
8807 - ND70 AEY
8808 - ND70 AEZ
8809 - ND70 AFK


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Go North East Voltra 8809 / ND70 AFK by kieron mathews, on Flickr

If anyone hasn’t seen the spare one here’s a photo


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

(27 Nov 2020, 8:49 pm)mb134 wrote Look better in the evening than in the daytime by a mile. 

The trend of going against best practice and putting the route number on the offside seems to be continuing - possibly even worse on a single deck as the destination is even lower down than a double deck, so passengers are even more snookered when the bus is in traffic.

I have made my views clear in the past that I'm not a fan of route numbers being on the offside, but to be fair, there aren't many buses with a big massive green LED strip on the front... I don't think there'll be much of a problem in identifying the bus well before it arrives, traffic or not.

What was the tune used in the background for the promo from 28 seconds?

(27 Nov 2020, 11:58 am)Michael wrote I really want to ride them but can't because of a number of factors... like being at work today and they're out of my area but I can wait.

At least you'll have the chance as soon as you're able to escape - I'm stranded 270 miles away from them, with no likelihood of getting a ride until next summer!   

Stay safe, everyone - the buses will still be here long after Lurgy has gone!  

(28 Nov 2020, 6:42 am)Dan wrote I have made my views clear in the past that I'm not a fan of route numbers being on the offside, but to be fair, there aren't many buses with a big massive green LED strip on the front... I don't think there'll be much of a problem in identifying the bus well before it arrives, traffic or not.

The green LEDs are barely visible when the sun is shining against them. And even then, if the bus was parked behind another bus, I'd want to be able to know instantly if it was the 53 or 54!

I know the argument for having them on the left is "because it's the 53 to Gateshead and not the Gateshead 53" but surely practicality should prevail over if it's easier to say? If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

(28 Nov 2020, 11:12 am)omnicity4659 wrote The green LEDs are barely visible when the sun is shining against them. And even then, if the bus was parked behind another bus, I'd want to be able to know instantly if it was the 53 or 54!

The 53 and 54 go in opposite directions though.

Why is the route number even on the wrong side? I can understand for the Streetdecks as it's hard to read because of the glass but there's not really any excuse for the Yutongs.

Also https://www.flickr.com/photos/ten6083/50652646648/ that's confusing as hell, not sure if the display is meant to change but that's just wrong at that point as it should be Newcastle, then Gateshead & Saltwell Park at that point.

(28 Nov 2020, 11:12 am)omnicity4659 wrote The green LEDs are barely visible when the sun is shining against them. And even then, if the bus was parked behind another bus, I'd want to be able to know instantly if it was the 53 or 54!

I know the argument for having them on the left is "because it's the 53 to Gateshead and not the Gateshead 53" but surely practicality should prevail over if it's easier to say? If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Completely agree, here. The other annoying thing about the displays on the Voltra Buses is the destination seems to be a lot less clearer than all the other buses. The font seems too 'skinny' and the route number too large (yes, I know it's part of the brand). What's the reason they can't have the usual font? Mobitec instead of Hanover or is it because the route number is too large? Either way, it just looks a bit messy imo.

It seems like every bus company is trying to imitate what Transdev has done, and even though they do have good ideas, GNE and others seem to be copying everything, even when it's probably not the best way forward. The new destination is very similar to Transdev's displays on their 464, which aren't as legible as the ones before hand. If anything, the new trend to have large route numbers on the offside reminds me of smaller bus companies (in the early 2000s) who don't know how to program their displays and then making a right mess of it!

Here's some examples - I find the old displays on the 464 much clearer than the new ones.

I prefer the spare livery to the 53/54 one personally.

(28 Nov 2020, 6:42 am)Dan wrote I have made my views clear in the past that I'm not a fan of route numbers being on the offside, but to be fair, there aren't many buses with a big massive green LED strip on the front... I don't think there'll be much of a problem in identifying the bus well before it arrives, traffic or not.

That seems like the hope is people don't even look at the destination and recognise the branding (or some LEDs) instead though - which opens up another can of worms. It just looks, from the outside, that someone in the company is hell bent on doing something a particular way despite it not being logical, or what is classed as best practice, and is throwing up ridiculous solutions to a problem that doesn't even need to exist. 

Another thing on that actually. These are meant to be eco-friendly, and I assume the aim is to use as little energy as possible, so increasing energy use for a reason such as this seems bizarre. I know LEDs aren't exactly thirsty in terms of electricity consumption but it all adds up, especially across a fleet.

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(28 Nov 2020, 12:08 pm)Adtrainsam wrote Here's some examples - I find the old displays on the 464 much clearer than the new ones.

That new one is beyond awful. For all their misgivings I actually find the ANE destinations the smartest around at the moment, they're simple, give the information needed and are easy on the eye. Contrast that to the "464" and I don't think anyone would side with Transdev there.

On your point about Transdev and GNE, I wonder if its more to do with their reliance on Best Impressions for just about everything?

(28 Nov 2020, 12:08 pm)Adtrainsam wrote Completely agree, here. The other annoying thing about the displays on the Voltra Buses is the destination seems to be a lot less clearer than all the other buses. The font seems too 'skinny' and the route number too large (yes, I know it's part of the brand). What's the reason they can't have the usual font? Mobitec instead of Hanover or is it because the route number is too large? Either way, it just looks a bit messy imo.

 It seems like every bus company is trying to imitate what Transdev has done, and even though they do have good ideas, GNE and others seem to be copying everything, even when it's probably not the best way forward. The new destination is very similar to Transdev's displays on their 464, which aren't as legible as the ones before hand. If anything, the new trend to have large route numbers on the offside reminds me of smaller bus companies (in the early 2000s) who don't know how to program their displays and then making a right mess of it!

Here's some examples - I find the old displays on the 464 much clearer than the new ones. 

Speaking of displays on blinds. 

Saw a Stockton based SNE vehicle the other day which was NIS. 
From a distance, it looked like the blind was glitchy - almost like the old flip dot displays that didn't quite show all of the characters.
As the vehicle got a bit closer, I could make out what they were trying to achieve. 
It was actually bubbles and a message about cleaning regimes.

(28 Nov 2020, 12:04 pm)Storx wrote Why is the route number even on the wrong side? I can understand for the Streetdecks as it's hard to read because of the glass but there's not really any excuse for the Yutongs.

Also https://www.flickr.com/photos/ten6083/50652646648/ that's confusing as hell, not sure if the display is meant to change but that's just wrong at that point as it should be Newcastle, then Gateshead & Saltwell Park at that point.

Go North East Voltra 8803 / ND70 AEU by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Go North East Voltra 8802 / ND70 AET by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Guessing it could have been a problem with the blinds as 8802/8803 were parked at Riverside with engineers from Pelican attending to them both as they were sitting in the driver cab doing something


Sent from my iPhone XS using Tapatalki KJU

(28 Nov 2020, 6:42 am)Dan wrote I have made my views clear in the past that I'm not a fan of route numbers being on the offside, but to be fair, there aren't many buses with a big massive green LED strip on the front... I don't think there'll be much of a problem in identifying the bus well before it arrives, traffic or not.

The destination letters and numbers on these don't appear to be very sharp, slightly "fuzzy" - I've only seen three buses from the car but they look the same in the photos.

(28 Nov 2020, 5:53 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Guessing it could have been a problem with the blinds as 8802/8803 were parked at Riverside with engineers from Pelican attending to them both as they were sitting in the driver cab doing something

That'd make sense then just didn't seem right having Gateshead there, the route is registered Newcastle to Newcastle so having Gateshead there wouldn't make sense unless it changed. Big improvement (if it works) than having Newcastle permantely like on the old Streetlites tbf.

(28 Nov 2020, 10:15 am)Michael wrote What was the tune used in the background for the promo from 28 seconds?

I Will Deliver by Strength to Last

Has anyone noticed if the Voltras announce their service number and destination when the doors close? 
As of yet I haven’t.

Any of you guys managed to nab a ride on the new buses yet?,if so,how are they?

From the Fleet Archive:

8809 (ND70 AFK) carries a red variant of the “Voltra” livery, with the intention of this example being a shared spare bus for “Voltra” services 53/54 and “Quaycity” service Q3, following earlier trials of electric buses on the latter route.

(03 Dec 2020, 7:16 pm)Michael wrote From the Fleet Archive:

8809 (ND70 AFK) carries a red variant of the “Voltra” livery, with the intention of this example being a shared spare bus for “Voltra” services 53/54 and “Quaycity” service Q3, following earlier trials of electric buses on the latter route.

I'm going to guess it'll spend quite a lot of it's time on the Q3 as an 'extended trial'.

(03 Dec 2020, 6:43 pm)V514DFT wrote Any of you guys managed to nab a ride on the new buses yet?,if so,how are they?

Yes, a few NSA issues aside, they gave a very nice solid rattle-free and peaceful ride. It’s so much nicer not having a diesel engine churning away. Role on more electrics and new hybrids!