I'm just curious as to what they're going to do to the interior of them, they're already recently refurbished

(23 Mar 2021, 6:37 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I'm just curious as to what they're going to do to the interior of them, they're already recently refurbished

Probable's be putting the X-Line seats in, and giving it a deep clean.

Not actually sure if they would put tables on the Citaro's?

(23 Mar 2021, 6:42 pm)Michael wrote Probable's be putting the X-Line seats in, and giving it a deep clean.

Not actually sure if they would put tables on the Citaro's?

Would they really spend the money on replacing the seats though? I reckon they'll end up just reupholstering them in the new moquette and leaving them just as uncomfortable

(23 Mar 2021, 6:42 pm)Michael wrote Probable's be putting the X-Line seats in, and giving it a deep clean.

Not actually sure if they would put tables on the Citaro's?

They could try seat back tray tables like om coaches though I'm not sure that would work, although could be something to experiment with.

Confirmation in the Go North East Enthusiasts that the Mercedes-Benz Citaro 5328 5329 5330 5331 5332 and 5333 have been taken out of service for X Lines X20. I think these will look stunning

(23 Mar 2021, 6:55 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Would they really spend the money on replacing the seats though? I reckon they'll end up just reupholstering them in the new moquette and leaving them just as uncomfortable

Wouldn't take much effort to add some more padding before the new trimming, it's the seat frames themselves that are the expensive bit I believe.

Moderation note: Multiple threads regarding the upgrade of service X20 from Optare Solos to Mercedes Citaros merged into one.

5331 has now been put in a 2 tone burgundy and gold livery for the X lines X20 (not my photo)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60503103@N02/51006841230/

(27 Mar 2021, 3:30 pm)GNE6312 wrote 5331 has now been put in a 2 tone burgundy and gold livery for the X lines X20 (not my photo)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60503103@N02/51006841230/

Just gonna leave my opinion 
This is just so stunning. Absolutely beautiful can't wait to see the finshed product. Hopefully they get X Lines seats

(27 Mar 2021, 4:02 pm)MichealAaron wrote Just gonna leave my opinion 
This is just so stunning. Absolutely beautiful can't wait to see the finshed product. Hopefully they get X Lines seats

Agreed

(27 Mar 2021, 3:30 pm)GNE6312 wrote 5331 has now been put in a 2 tone burgundy and gold livery for the X lines X20 (not my photo)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60503103@N02/51006841230/

Nice,it looks smart, think the mercs suit pretty much any livery imo

(27 Mar 2021, 3:30 pm)GNE6312 wrote 5331 has now been put in a 2 tone burgundy and gold livery for the X lines X20 (not my photo)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/60503103@N02/51006841230/

Looks great! That burgundy does remind me of the old "Wear Express" brand on the X5. I'm guessing the front isn't too far off the defunct Laser 35 brand either.

Cant wait to see these citaros all fully branded, must say, I do like the gold pod on the roof

(27 Mar 2021, 9:44 pm)Adtrainsam wrote Looks great! That burgundy does remind me of the old "Wear Express" brand on the X5. I'm guessing the front isn't too far off the defunct Laser 35 brand either.

That is exactly what I thought after seeing it! Loved "Wear Xpress" (or "Parcel Tape Express" as enthusiasts dubbed it) and it's good to see the burgundy colour back on the rear of a Citaro.

The gold roof pod also looks amazing.

I'm still trying to recover from the shock of seeing a driver claim they'd rather have a StreetLite over a Merc... glutton for punishment maybe?

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According to bustimes, 5499 YH66 VMO is on the X20 today.
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/281071

(29 Mar 2021, 9:25 am)6049 wrote I'm still trying to recover from the shock of seeing a driver claim they'd rather have a StreetLite over a Merc... glutton for punishment maybe?

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I honestly don't understand all the hate the Streetlites get.
As a passenger, the only real issue with them is the emergency door rattling (which I'm fairly positive is an easy fix since just leaning against it solves the problem) and the engine being a bit rough on idle.
The ride is fairly smooth, it's only over big imperfections on the road that you really feel anything.

I think I've only ever been on a few Streetlites that have any rattles (apart from the aforementioned door).

A complaint I hear often is the seats are uncomfortable. But those are a very subjective thing and I find the Civic V3s to be rather comfortable (much better than the ones on the Enviros). 

Don't get me wrong, I'd definitely pick a good E200 over a Streetlite, but I'd pick a Streetlite over an average E200!

(29 Mar 2021, 9:40 am)streetdeckfan wrote I honestly don't understand all the hate the Streetlites get.
As a passenger, the only real issue with them is the emergency door rattling (which I'm fairly positive is an easy fix since just leaning against it solves the problem) and the engine being a bit rough on idle.
The ride is fairly smooth, it's only over big imperfections on the road that you really feel anything.

I think I've only ever been on a few Streetlites that have any rattles (apart from the aforementioned door).

I've not been on a GNE Streetlite for a good while now, but the route I used to use to work if I wasn't fancying walking had a mainly Streetlite allocation. The gearboxes are beyond awful, the build quality is so poor on some examples here that you can see the side panels almost warping over some roads, and the emergency exit door on these ones are even worse than what I remember it being like on GNEs examples.

There were times that I'd got on a Streetlite, only 4 or so years old at the time, which got swapped over at the driver changeover stop for a 11-12 year old B7RLE and the ride quality/build quality/performance was night and day.

(29 Mar 2021, 9:40 am)streetdeckfan wrote I honestly don't understand all the hate the Streetlites get.
As a passenger, the only real issue with them is the emergency door rattling (which I'm fairly positive is an easy fix since just leaning against it solves the problem) and the engine being a bit rough on idle.
The ride is fairly smooth, it's only over big imperfections on the road that you really feel anything.

I think I've only ever been on a few Streetlites that have any rattles (apart from the aforementioned door).

A complaint I hear often is the seats are uncomfortable. But those are a very subjective thing and I find the Civic V3s to be rather comfortable (much better than the ones on the Enviros). 

Don't get me wrong, I'd definitely pick a good E200 over a Streetlite, but I'd pick a Streetlite over an average E200!

As a passenger you've never driven one. The only thing a StreetLite beats in my experience is a Solo. Anyone north of 6ft has to perform yoga to try and find a comfortable seating position in a Solo, even then you're generally wasting your time and might as well resign yourself to being in discomfort.

The Mercs are up there with the B7 President's and Omnicities in terms of driver comfort.

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(29 Mar 2021, 9:53 am)6049 wrote As a passenger you've never driven one. The only thing a StreetLite beats in my experience is a Solo. Anyone north of 6ft has to perform yoga to try and find a comfortable seating position in a Solo, even then you're generally wasting your time and might as well resign yourself to being in discomfort.

The Mercs are up there with the B7 President's and Omnicities in terms of driver comfort.

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Oh, I'm not disputing that they may be bad for the driver, but at the end of the day the passenger's comfort is more important 

Speaking of the Citaros, I actually think as a passenger I'd take a Streetlite over any of GNE's Citaros purely because the seats are so bad.
Heck, I'd take a Solo (with the Civic V3 seats at least) over a Citaro.

I can deal with harsh suspension and rattling doors, but I can't deal with those seats

I doubt 5499 is on the X20 due to it being for the Hospital shuttle between the RVI and Freeman Hospital.

I have a feeling there is a driver at Deptford trolling enthusiasts by changing the fleetnumber on the ticket machine to indicate there's one of the new vehicles out. Maybe something that Dan should investigate as it's a bit unfair winding up enthusiasts and sending them on a wild goose chase for a supposed unusual vehicle for it to be a bog standard Streetlite. It has happened several times before with the White Versa, the loan Steetdeck and Streetlite and now one of the Yutongs.

(29 Mar 2021, 10:19 am)Rapidsnap wrote I doubt 5499 is on the X20 due to it being for the Hospital shuttle between the RVI and Freeman Hospital.

I have a feeling there is a driver at Deptford trolling enthusiasts by changing the fleetnumber on the ticket machine to indicate there's one of the new vehicles out. Maybe something that Dan should investigate as it's a bit unfair winding up enthusiasts and sending them on a wild goose chase for a supposed unusual vehicle for it to be a bog standard Streetlite. It has happened several times before with the White Versa, the loan Steetdeck and Streetlite and now one of the Yutongs.

That's something I would definitely do! The look on their face when they realise it's not would be priceless.

(29 Mar 2021, 10:19 am)Rapidsnap wrote I doubt 5499 is on the X20 due to it being for the Hospital shuttle between the RVI and Freeman Hospital.

I have a feeling there is a driver at Deptford trolling enthusiasts by changing the fleetnumber on the ticket machine to indicate there's one of the new vehicles out. Maybe something that Dan should investigate as it's a bit unfair winding up enthusiasts and sending them on a wild goose chase for a supposed unusual vehicle for it to be a bog standard Streetlite. It has happened several times before with the White Versa, the loan Steetdeck and Streetlite and now one of the Yutongs.

The Government advice is to avoid making unnecessary trips, so I'd hope no one is heading out on a wild goose chase anyway.

Well to be honest I'm in Killingworth photoing swans, ducks and geese.

Can anyone confirm where the Solo's from the X20 will go?, When will the first Citaro enter service on the X20?

(03 Apr 2021, 11:55 am)Michael wrote Can anyone confirm where the Solo's from the X20 will go?, When will the first Citaro enter service on the X20?

Surely they will just stay where they are currently and have been for the last 12 months for now?

Two are used on the X6/X7, two are used on the staff shuttle, one is used on the evening 79/79A Nexus contract, and another is used on an Arriva North East school duplicate.

There’s no reason for this to immediately change just because different full-size buses will be allocated to the X20 service.

Beyond COVID, I’m sure there will be a plan.


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Looks like 5330 and 5333 are ready for the X20's. Just drove past salt meadows

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(08 Apr 2021, 6:41 pm)atlantean560 wrote Looks like 5330 and 5333 are ready for the X20's. Just drove past salt meadows

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Suits the Citaro really well, with the first 2 branded up, could see them enter service over the weekend?


Wonder if the Streetlites currently allocated to the X20 will end on the 61, so the Citaro's can go in the spare/school/duplicate role?

Agree they look good on the citaros, well done GNE[emoji106]

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(08 Apr 2021, 6:41 pm)atlantean560 wrote Looks like 5330 and 5333 are ready for the X20's. Just drove past salt meadows

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The Citaros really do suit the Xlines branding, certainly more so than the new Connections4 livery!