(12 Jan 2014, 10:39 am)CatsFast101 wrote CrossTyne or another brand should be introduced to the 9.

I think the trouble is half of the service will not cross the Tyne with it terminating at Jarrow after the January changes.

(12 Jan 2014, 10:58 am)Michael wrote With the 9 having such a big PVR - wonder if it will ever be branded.

The 47 was the Derwent Ranger brand

The 39 will be simplicity, although, the new timetable says other wise..(which is wrong).

CrossCity sounds like a good brand name, although, maybe the 56 could of used that one, instead of the FAB 56.

However their is some pointless brands:

Laser
South Tyne
Pronto (should change the name)
Diamond
The Orbit
Pulse
Lime
Highwayman
East Durham

The Diamond is linked to J Hammel who used to operate under the Diamond name between Stanley and Durham, which GNE took over http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_North_East

I think The Orbit is a good name since it operates around the edges of Eastern Gateshead

(12 Jan 2014, 10:58 am)Michael wrote With the 9 having such a big PVR - wonder if it will ever be branded.

The 47 was the Derwent Ranger brand

The 39 will be simplicity, although, the new timetable says other wise..(which is wrong).

CrossCity sounds like a good brand name, although, maybe the 56 could of used that one, instead of the FAB 56.

However their is some pointless brands:

Laser
South Tyne
Pronto (should change the name)
Diamond
The Orbit
Pulse
Lime
Highwayman
East Durham

South Tyne - operates South Tyneside
Diamond - route it takes shapes out diamond on map
Orbit - similar to loop in terms of meaning
Pulse - like it states runs through heart of Gateshead (past hospital)
Highwayman - runs along whickham highway
East Durham - operates in east Durham
Lime - forgot what connection is

(12 Jan 2014, 11:12 am)citaro5284 wrote The Diamond is linked to J Hammel who used to operate under the Diamond name between Stanley and Durham, which GNE took over http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_North_East

I think The Orbit is a good name since it operates around the edges of Eastern Gateshead

Oh i didn't know that about the Diamond!

(12 Jan 2014, 11:19 am)Michael wrote Oh i didn't know that about the Diamond!

That's why 340 GUP has that registration. Its a reg that one of the old Diamond buses used to wear so it was nice to see it carried on I guess, shame its not at Stanley and doesn't appear on the Diamond services anymore though

(12 Jan 2014, 11:21 am)northtynelinks2 wrote That's why 340 GUP has that registration. Its a reg that one of the old Diamond buses used to wear so it was nice to see it carried on I guess, shame its not at Stanley and doesn't appear on the Diamond services anymore though

I didn't know about this history of that reg and until recently, thought it was Northern Irish!
However, when that batch of Renowns were first used, they were based in Washington and used on the 194 and 294.

(12 Jan 2014, 11:29 am)andreos1 wrote I didn't know about this history of that reg and until recently, thought it was Northern Irish!
However, when that batch of Renowns were first used, they were based in Washington and used on the 194 and 294.

If my knowledge serves me right I think the Hammels live in a house on Shafto Bank at Craghead.

I've just a look at the brands on Go North East website and I have to say no brands I'd say should be dropped. I think they all look nice, most come across nice and majority have some links where that's in historical context, route/area it operates etc.
I'd just like to see a few more added. For M2/M3/29/9/X30/X31/X70/X71/13/14/15.

(12 Jan 2014, 10:39 am)CatsFast101 wrote CrossTyne or another brand should be introduced to the 9.
What route was the Derwent Ranger?
Doxford Clipper is gone I'm afraid. 39 will soon be SimpliCity.
Black Cats, should of been Black i feel, as then it would have subtle reminders of SAFC, while remaining a good brand. Unfortunately at present doesn't think this brand should be brought back- too similar to Fast Cats. The 29 would of otherwise fitted the brand,
Magic Roundabout I assumed was maybe a placement deal with the company? But that's complete guess work.
I'd give the 29 a brand too, CrossCity? Think it could work well and that would be mean the majority of service branded from Deptford.

I feel like I've given my opinion on branding and personally I feel unless services have very low PVR, brand them all I mean the new X3, 99, 71, X22, 27X. Other than that I'd brand the rest, bring back Washington Street Shuttle (maybe something new for M2/M3), West Durham Swift. I'd start a new Gateshead local brand for 64/95/96. New Brands for the X25/13/14/15/15A maybe one brand for Langley Park?

Cross Tyne was a good brand for 9 they should bring it back but on different vehicles Doxford Clipper was good i liked that Black Cats i agree with Michael should have been red and white mainly because it goes past the Stadium Of Light and i am a Sunderland Supporter too like Michael Derwent Ranger was good on 47 canny good brand til these vehicles were refurbished and repainted purple for Orbit then went to gateshead from winlaton Magic Roundabout was an ok brand but was too much i liked it though X3, 99/99A, 71, X22 and 27X will probs not get a brand due to the PVR being low Washington Street Shuttle might return probs with a mix of Versas and Solos West Durham Swift would be ideal to bring back when they got the Angel cascases i thought they were gonna get a brand put on there but X25 should get branded as a simple X25, 13/14 something to do with its durham heritage 15/15A something like Venture express but the gateshead local routes will be ideal for 64/64A/95/95A

(12 Jan 2014, 11:18 am)JP6004 wrote South Tyne - operates South Tyneside
Diamond - route it takes shapes out diamond on map
Orbit - similar to loop in terms of meaning
Pulse - like it states runs through heart of Gateshead (past hospital)
Highwayman - runs along whickham highway
East Durham - operates in east Durham
Lime - forgot what connection is

I think someone (andreos1?) has touched upon this before, and that it may be related to the former limestone mining around the areas it serves between Consett and Chester Le Street.

Fast Cats is a pointless brand. Nothing 'fast' about it on the X35 end!

(12 Jan 2014, 12:17 pm)Bazza Houston wrote Cross Tyne was a good brand for 9 they should bring it back but on different vehicles Doxford Clipper was good i liked that Black Cats i agree with Michael should have been red and white mainly because it goes past the Stadium Of Light and i am a Sunderland Supporter too like Michael Derwent Ranger was good on 47 canny good brand til these vehicles were refurbished and repainted purple for Orbit then went to gateshead from winlaton Magic Roundabout was an ok brand but was too much i liked it though X3, 99/99A, 71, X22 and 27X will probs not get a brand due to the PVR being low Washington Street Shuttle might return probs with a mix of Versas and Solos West Durham Swift would be ideal to bring back when they got the Angel cascases i thought they were gonna get a brand put on there but X25 should get branded as a simple X25, 13/14 something to do with its durham heritage 15/15A something like Venture express but the gateshead local routes will be ideal for 64/64A/95/95A

I hope not. Awful brand on awful buses.

(12 Jan 2014, 12:20 pm)VolvoMarkII wrote Fast Cats is a pointless brand. Nothing 'fast' about it on the X35 end!

A bit like Arriva's X4 and X5 from Blyth - X means nothing

(12 Jan 2014, 12:22 pm)aureolin wrote I hope not. Awful brand on awful buses.

i used to hate the vehicles appearing on my local route 88/88A when they were off route some hurt my back

(12 Jan 2014, 12:18 pm)aureolin wrote I think someone (andreos1?) has touched upon this before, and that it may be related to the former limestone mining around the areas it serves between Consett and Chester Le Street.

I was at GNE when the orbit design was thought up and it as designed to be a sister brand to The Loop! As it orbits the extremes of Gateshead. The b7s originally allocated were cascaded from The Derwent Ranger which, simply vanished afrer having there hard urban seats taken out of them and replaced. Ironically these vehicles found there were back on in form of Toon Link I believe. Toon Link seems another pointless brand as it could include almost every bus that goes into Newcastle!

(12 Jan 2014, 12:20 pm)VolvoMarkII wrote Fast Cats is a pointless brand. Nothing 'fast' about it on the X35 end!

It's still marketed as an 'express service' however long it takes, hence 'Fast'. There are many express services - such as Arriva's X4/X5 as citaro5284 said above - which aren't particularly fast.

'Cats' no doubt links to the 'Black Cats' (hence colour of bus).

The brand is undoubtedly more suited to the X36 (it providing local Sunderland links as well as links further afield to Newcastle), but I wouldn't say it's 'pointless' for the X35 at all.

(12 Jan 2014, 8:24 am)Dan wrote Stagecoach can hardly compare to Go North East - the latter's fleet has approximately 200 more vehicles and their network size is huge compared to Stagecoach's.

You rarely see Stagecoach trying out new things (I admit - last year - they added a higher frequency on services in Newcastle and introduced an extension to Seaburn on service 23 in Sunderland), and I have a feeling Stagecoach's 'steady profit levels' are shown clearly by the lack of investment in certain depots, which must be pretty low for the lack of investment up until last year (or if they are high, why are SNE not investing profit back into the company like GNE?)
Teesside is highly neglected I feel. Go North East at least spread their investment out into depots evenly, where it can be justified. Stagecoach just don't seem to do that - with one depot getting all investment (Sunderland last year) and others left to cope with the cascades which are quite old now too.

I'd prefer a network which changes (often for the best) if Go North East are maximising profit levels and giving customers the best possible buses on those routes affected by change.

The two Newcastle and South Shields depots for Stagecoach have received huge investments in terms of vehicles and yet they seem to still bring in the money. I think the main problem is, Go North East do try and meddle with their services too much, so much that people don't know whether they're coming or going. Unfortunately, the majority of their plans put their profits before the customer demand.

(12 Jan 2014, 12:32 pm)palatine3833 wrote The two Newcastle and South Shields depots for Stagecoach have received huge investments in terms of vehicles and yet they seem to still bring in the money. I think the main problem is, Go North East do try and meddle with their services too much, so much that people don't know whether they're coming or going. Unfortunately, the majority of their plans put their profits before the customer demand.

Newcastle I agree will bring in the money, which is why a great deal of Enviro 400s have been purchased. Even still, you're looking at the latest batch (Hybrids) being from 2011. It's 2014 now.

South Shields... I agree less. Don't get me wrong, it will bring in a lot of money (there wouldn't be much point having its operations otherwise)... But I can't help but feel that if they were to play around with services and perhaps introduce a few more, they may be better off. They'd stand a higher chance of bigger profits and they would therefore be able to re-invest it into the fleets to provide customers with better vehicles.

In regards to plans putting profits before customer demand... I definitely disagree. Customers are who GNE get their profits from - if the demand is there and great enough, a service will be operated. If the demand for a service is small and it's not generating profit (run by run), that specific run will be axed. While it's great some operators justify operating underused services by looking at overall profit levels or looking at services they connect to, it's just not a particularly effective way of actually making a great deal of profit if you ask me.

(12 Jan 2014, 12:32 pm)palatine3833 wrote The two Newcastle and South Shields depots for Stagecoach have received huge investments in terms of vehicles and yet they seem to still bring in the money.

If you look at where Newcastle operate, most of their routes have a high proportion of students or they serve area's where there is a high percentage of families without access to a car, put this with a much smaller operating area, and that is how Newcastle bring the money in.

(12 Jan 2014, 12:39 pm)Dan wrote Newcastle I agree will bring in the money, which is why a great deal of Enviro 400s have been purchased. Even still, you're looking at the latest batch (Hybrids) being from 2011. It's 2014 now.

South Shields... I agree less. Don't get me wrong, it will bring in a lot of money (there wouldn't be much point having its operations otherwise)... But I can't help but feel that if they were to play around with services and perhaps introduce a few more, they may be better off. They'd stand a higher chance of bigger profits and they would therefore be able to re-invest it into the fleets to provide customers with better vehicles.

In regards to plans putting profits before customer demand... I definitely disagree. Customers are who GNE get their profits from - if the demand is there and great enough, a service will be operated. If the demand for a service is small and it's not generating profit (run by run), that specific run will be axed. While it's great some operators justify operating underused services by looking at overall profit levels or looking at services they connect to, it's just not a particularly effective way of actually making a great deal of profit if you ask me.

Stagecoach seem to be taking turns in investing for their depot's, for massive orders, it's Sunderland this time, with 61 buses ordered (23 more later this year).

question for dan when is the bi-weekly news update gonna be out?

(12 Jan 2014, 1:10 pm)Bazza Houston wrote question for dan when is the bi-weekly news update gonna be out?

About 19 minutes, if I can type it fast enough

(12 Jan 2014, 1:11 pm)Dan wrote About 19 minutes, if I can type it fast enough

sounds good so far

(12 Jan 2014, 1:14 pm)Bazza Houston wrote sounds good so far

Up now.

(12 Jan 2014, 12:32 pm)palatine3833 wrote The two Newcastle and South Shields depots for Stagecoach have received huge investments in terms of vehicles and yet they seem to still bring in the money. I think the main problem is, Go North East do try and meddle with their services too much, so much that people don't know whether they're coming or going. Unfortunately, the majority of their plans put their profits before the customer demand.

You've got it exactly.

(12 Jan 2014, 2:26 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote You've got it exactly.

And of course run an X3 for no profit all the way into Sunderland?

So as all of the Solar (excluding 5210) will be staying at Deptford, will no other SPD's be withdrawn other than Deptfords?

(12 Jan 2014, 2:30 pm)Tom wrote So as all of the Solar (excluding 5210) will be staying at Deptford, will no other SPD's be withdrawn other than Deptfords?

There is another Solar moving as well, but SPD's will be withdrawn from other locations when all the B9's from this batch enter service.

(12 Jan 2014, 2:30 pm)Tom wrote So as all of the Solar (excluding 5210) will be staying at Deptford, will no other SPD's be withdrawn other than Deptfords?

Of course, one or two B10BLE vehicles will also become available at the end of the month if the X36 is to be operated by Solars...
With that in mind, maybe one or two could go elsewhere to replace SPDs?

The remaining SPDs in the fleet after next week will all be withdrawn with the "Cobalt Clipper" cascades.

(12 Jan 2014, 2:34 pm)Dan wrote Of course, one or two B10BLE vehicles will also become available at the end of the month if the X36 is to be operated by Solars...
With that in mind, maybe one or two could go elsewhere to replace SPDs?

The remaining SPDs in the fleet after next week will all be withdrawn with the "Cobalt Clipper" cascades.

Yeah, I guess the ''Whey-aye-Five-0'' Solar will be transferred to various depots, as an example, 4926 will go to Stanley to replace 8221, 4927 to Gateshead to replace 8229, 4928 and 4929 staying at Chester-le-Street to replace 8236 and 8237, then 4930 and 4931 to Percy Main to replace 8239 and 8241. I reckon 8238 will be replaced by a B10BLE.