(02 Jan 2022, 11:16 pm)Ambassador wrote Im not sure whether to be amused or a bit ahhh bless of the bunker mentality by Dan here. I do love gallows humour.  I can get middle management  and project owners suddenly feeling cornered and fearful at cuts and more losses and no govt slush fund to keep things going (they are always the first to go)

Tbf to MG. passengers don’t follow him,  nobody knows who he is, he’s tweeting about a nice journey home. It’s just more poorly judged if anyone were to look into it (which they won’t). If he was the CEO of say Nexus or LNER then there’d be interest about a forthcoming downgrade but he runs a bus company…nobody cares, not even his passengers…that’s half the problem

Give it 18 Months and those E400's won't be on the X9/X10, they'll be on something else. Go North East really need to have vehicles especially designed to take in the capabilities of such a demanding service, i'm sure if they spoke with say Plaxton's they'd be able to come up with a Double Decker Bus that has coaching chassis and gearbox etc, sorry to say but we are not in the age we were 20 Years Ago where a Leyland/Volvo Olympian or an MCW Metrobus had those capabilities. Closest we have had to this is the Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini 2.

As for the X84/X85 and MG promoting it as X-Lines on his Twitter this evening leaves a bad taste when the route is being downgraded to Versa's, No would've said anything if the E400's were replaced by the 17-Plated Streetlites and retained the X-Lines identity given the feature onboard these vehicles have, for me those Versa's should've went on the 12/12A.

(02 Jan 2022, 11:22 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Why does it need to?

There's nothing in Blaydon which the folk of Benwell couldn't easily get in Newcastle unless they have some sort of Morrisons/Home Bargains fetish and I don't think the folk of Blaydon or Winlaton will be too enamoured with what the delights Adelaide Terrace has to offer. The added journey time of the 12/12A if it went through Benwell and Elswick would probably deter people currently using the service from using it plus it would need an extra bus or two added into the PVR to maintain frequency. Resources costs money and I don't see this being a profitable venture, especially in the current climate ,where bus operators are looking to cut costs to reduce overheads; or being cajoled into to cooperating with each other along key corridors in order to receive subsidy - which removes any competitive element of your suggestion.

It's a dead horse, stop flogging it.

Is that the nickname for the Interdecks....  

Where is the best place to catch the 12/12A on Scotswood Road from Benwell? Scotswood Bridge? Is walking to Scotswood Bridge for the 12/12A the quickest way to get from Benwell to Blaydon/Winlaton or 684 to Newcastle and then a service from there?

(02 Jan 2022, 11:35 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Where is the best place to catch the 12/12A on Scotswood Road from Benwell? Scotswood Bridge? Is walking to Scotswood Bridge for the 12/12A the quickest way to get from Benwell to Blaydon/Winlaton or 684 to Newcastle and then a service from there?

If you're around Adelaide Terrace, then I'd suggest walking straight down Atkinson Road, turn left onto Whitehouse Road at the bottom, and catch the bus from one of the visible bus stops when you eventually reach Scotswood Road. 

If you're nearer Whickham View, cut down through Scotswood and catch the bus from Scotswood Bridge or from anywhere outside the former Vickers factory.

(02 Jan 2022, 10:59 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote That's what I meant, walk to Scotswood Bridge. Never thought of going to Hexham, but I'm not sure if the 684 will be around much longer? Benwell to Hexham also takes a while on the X84/684 unfortunately. Bus into Newcastle probably makes the most sense, but walking to Scotswood Bridge is the most direct. 

Why doesn't/couldn't the 12/12A (or a new 12B) serve Benwell?

There's no indication of the 684 being withdrawn -  it's been funded by Northumberland County Council for years now (as the X84) and if i'm not mistaken the contract is being renewed this year so I wouldn't worry about that.

(02 Jan 2022, 11:44 pm)peter wrote There's no indication of the 684 being withdrawn -  it's been funded by Northumberland County Council for years now (as the X84) and if i'm not mistaken the contract is being renewed this year so I wouldn't worry about that.

Ah, well that's good. Hopefully the 74 and 684 will continue to run. Unfortunately the 684 won't be running on evenings or Sundays, and I'll have to use the 12/12A instead (the 42A isn't as reliable with GCT running it, and I believe Scotswood Road is closer than Gosforth for Blakelaw, Slatyford, Cowgate, Fenham and Benwell).

(02 Jan 2022, 11:30 pm)Malarkey wrote Give it 18 Months and those E400's won't be on the X9/X10, they'll be on something else. Go North East really need to have vehicles especially designed to take in the capabilities of such a demanding service, i'm sure if they spoke with say Plaxton's they'd be able to come up with a Double Decker Bus that has coaching chassis and gearbox etc, sorry to say but we are not in the age we were 20 Years Ago where a Leyland/Volvo Olympian or an MCW Metrobus had those capabilities. Closest we have had to this is the Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini 2.

The E400MMCs are very capable machines and are probably just as stable as the B9TLs and B7TLs previously allocated if not slightly more.

Although Arriva are pushing their luck now going beyond 5 years old (now 7 years), ANE 7529-33 did ok on the X18 for their first 5 years.

GoEY operate E400MMCs on the X46 and Transdev (although I believe they did initially order OM936 StreetDecks) use them on CityZap. Both with ZF gearboxes like 6352-55.

(02 Jan 2022, 11:16 pm)Ambassador wrote Im not sure whether to be amused or a bit ahhh bless of the bunker mentality by Dan here. I do love gallows humour. I can get middle management  and project owners suddenly feeling cornered and fearful at cuts and more losses and no govt slush fund to keep things going (they are always the first to go)

Usually agree with a lot of your posts, Ambassador, and not sure if you’re being serious, but I’m afraid if you’re seeing a bunker mentality and/or gallows humour in my recent posts then you’re reading far too much into things. Bacon mentality, however… that’s a different matter!


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On a serious note - with the reduction in PVR on service X10, 7132 has transferred to Deptford, for use on the 4274 school contract. This displaces 6942, which is expected to be withdrawn by the end of this month (currently being retained to cover 3943 which is long-term VOR).

6354 and 6355 both had their final day on the X84/X85 today, being replaced by 5377 and 8347 respectively. Now at Saltmeadows for repaint. 6337 remains at Hexham currently, albeit off service this week (until Friday) for MOT.

(03 Jan 2022, 5:23 pm)Dan wrote On a serious note - with the reduction in PVR on service X10, 7132 has transferred to Deptford, for use on the 4274 school contract. This displaces 6942, which is expected to be withdrawn by the end of this month (currently being retained to cover 3943 which is long-term VOR).

6354 and 6355 both had their final day on the X84/X85 today, being replaced by 5377 and 8347 respectively. Now at Saltmeadows for repaint. 6337 remains at Hexham currently, albeit off service this week (until Friday) for MOT.

I take it 6337 will just end up at Consett? With 6377 being a Riverside spare as a backup for 6352-55?

(03 Jan 2022, 5:23 pm)Dan wrote On a serious note - with the reduction in PVR on service X10, 7132 has transferred to Deptford, for use on the 4274 school contract. This displaces 6942, which is expected to be withdrawn by the end of this month (currently being retained to cover 3943 which is long-term VOR).

6354 and 6355 both had their final day on the X84/X85 today, being replaced by 5377 and 8347 respectively. Now at Saltmeadows for repaint. 6337 remains at Hexham currently, albeit off service this week (until Friday) for MOT.

Well time to say bye to the X Lines X84/X85 album on my Flickr. Is there new brand coming for the 684 when it happens

(03 Jan 2022, 10:13 pm)Train8261 wrote Well time to say bye to the X Lines X84/X85 album on my Flickr. Is there new brand coming for the 684 when it happens

I heard on the grapevine that it's going to be the Hexham Honeydew, or potentially the Corbridge Courgette if they cut it back

(03 Jan 2022, 10:13 pm)Train8261 wrote Well time to say bye to the X Lines X84/X85 album on my Flickr. Is there new brand coming for the 684 when it happens

I can't imagine there will be until the Hexham contracts are renewed and the outcome of the ZEBRA funding is revealed - otherwise they might be branding buses to lose the routes or be replaced by new buses a short-while later.

Charter plan and Armstrong galley coaches are on the x10 just passing each over in Peterlee a few minutes ago


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(04 Jan 2022, 11:07 am)cbma06 wrote Charter plan and Armstrong galley coaches are on the x10 just passing each over in Peterlee a few minutes ago


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7128 also on today, with 7151 being the only interdeck out in service (1 out of 7 isn't bad!)

(04 Jan 2022, 11:12 am)Dan wrote 7128 also on today, with 7151 being the only interdeck out in service (1 out of 7 isn't bad!)

Depends on whether you look at a cup being 6/7ths empty or 1/7th full really, doesn't it?

Hopefully there’ll be some out on Saturday as I haven’t been on any yet and want a ride before they go.


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(04 Jan 2022, 1:01 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Hopefully there’ll be some out on Saturday as I haven’t been on any yet and want a ride before they go.


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Hopefully they'll stick one on the 42A to keep the forum happy

(04 Jan 2022, 1:33 pm)Ambassador wrote Hopefully they'll stick one on the 42A to keep the forum happy

Oh aye. Make someone happy. Stick one of them on the 1 to Whitley Bay. In fact each day till there withdrawn they must be allocated to one route each day

It would be nice for the final week of service (if they are ready) for them to be put back on X84/X85 for the final time to ride them.

(16 Jan 2022, 1:05 pm)Omega54 wrote It would be nice for the final week of service (if they are ready) for them to be put back on X84/X85 for the final time to ride them.

…ride them on their new route?

(16 Jan 2022, 2:44 pm)ne14ne1 wrote …ride them on their new route?

Yeah obvs. It was just a idea to see the views for one final time before they move on. You won't get the same views on the X10

Is it just me that finds it really difficult to read the nearside display on the E400s in the low sun? I I don't seem to have a problem with the ones on the StreetDecks/B5s despite them both being Hanover

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(16 Jan 2022, 2:48 pm)Omega54 wrote Yeah obvs. It was just a idea to see the views for one final time before they move on. You won't get the same views on the X10

I don’t think they should return for one last week to remind customers what they had.
Almost like salt in the wounds.

For travel on the X10, can tickets only be purchased on the X10 or any GNE bus? The X10 day ticket for £7 is valid for travel across the network plus the X10, whereas the All Zones day ticket doesn't allow travel on the X10.

Anyone know when 6337 is leaving Hexham, hoping to get a ride on it on Saturday, wondering if it i'll be gone by then.

(17 Jan 2022, 11:08 pm)Omega54 wrote Anyone know when 6337 is leaving Hexham, hoping to get a ride on it on Saturday, wondering if it i'll be gone by then.

I was actually wondering the same thing for the same reason. Got a video of it on the West Road this afternoon. Expect its staying until the end of the month.

Am I able to go one stop on the X10, just to sample the coaches before they go?

(18 Jan 2022, 12:43 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Am I able to go one stop on the X10, just to sample the coaches before they go?

Do Newcastle to Dalton Park and back? You'll get a decent run on the A19 that way, and it's just over 20 minutes wait for the return journey back.

(18 Jan 2022, 12:43 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Am I able to go one stop on the X10, just to sample the coaches before they go?

Only if you buy the X10 ticket, even going from Newcastle to Gateshead you need it

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