Noticed 5284 has been tracking on the 8 today.

(24 Jul 2022, 7:02 pm)Michael wrote Noticed 5284 has been tracking on the 8 today.

Not sure if this is classed as rare since the 8 is now operated by Washington depot

(24 Jul 2022, 7:05 pm)Ds1197 wrote Not sure if this is classed as rare since the 8 is now operated by Washington depot

Noteworthy in that it should be 5284’s final day in service - only allocated today because the Country Ranger Streetlites needed to be transferred across from Chester-le-Street.


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8336 on 39a tonight why?? Surely there’s enough graphites

(24 Jul 2022, 10:06 pm)Acky81 wrote 8336 on 39a tonight why?? Surely there’s enough graphites

It seems like it interworks by going NIS to Doxford from Silksworth.

Hate them you can hardly see the destinations on them berries

(24 Jul 2022, 10:09 pm)Acky81 wrote Hate them you can hardly see the destinations on them berries

It also annoys me that it doesn't tell you what route is assigned to what. It really annoys me.

Cos it will say 

Red Kite Ranger newcastle > Metrocetnre > Rowlands Gill > Blackhall Mill > Consett, if that is allocated to the X45 people could mistaking think that it is the 47, as they looked the the livery. It wouldn't kill them to just add the number 47

Is the 941 always going to be allocated a Tyne Valley 10 Gemini 2?

Surprised to see a Solo SR on the X85, as it's usually a double decker.

(25 Jul 2022, 10:29 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Surprised to see a Solo SR on the X85, as it's usually a double decker.

The interworking patterns at Hexham have changed. Previously the evening X85 came off a scholars now it comes off the 686. 

The 74 and 683 still operate standalone. The 681 and 689 now operate standalone using a Solo each. 

The 680, 688 and even hour 684's from Hexham interwork using 3 Versa's. The AD122, 687 and odd hour 684's interwork using 3 Solo's. In the morning and afternoon it's a bit more jumbled up with the bus that operates the 686 during the day also being used.

(25 Jul 2022, 10:57 pm)peter wrote The interworking patterns at Hexham have changed. Previously the evening X85 came off a scholars now it comes off the 686. 

The 74 and 683 still operate standalone. The 681 and 689 now operate standalone using a Solo each. 

The 680, 688 and even hour 684's from Hexham interwork using 3 Versa's. The AD122, 687 and odd hour 684's interwork using 3 Solo's. In the morning and afternoon it's a bit more jumbled up with the bus that operates the 686 during the day also being used.

X85 does get quite popular, I saw about 35 people on it last week

(25 Jul 2022, 10:57 pm)peter wrote The interworking patterns at Hexham have changed. Previously the evening X85 came off a scholars now it comes off the 686. 

The 74 and 683 still operate standalone. The 681 and 689 now operate standalone using a Solo each. 

The 680, 688 and even hour 684's from Hexham interwork using 3 Versa's. The AD122, 687 and odd hour 684's interwork using 3 Solo's. In the morning and afternoon it's a bit more jumbled up with the bus that operates the 686 during the day also being used.

So the X85 will now always be a Solo? Service X85 was operated by Riverside for the afternoon trip before.

Solos will be allocated to all Hexham services apart from Versas on the 684/Morning X85?

Surprised yesterday the Venture Solo 645, now at Hexham, was on the 684. Should be replacing some Versas I believe.

Since the new contract for the 941 went to GNE for the 17:15 trip from Team Valley to Newcastle General Hospital (Fenham CAV Campus) yesterday will it always be a Tyne Valley 10 allocated by Riverside?

6332 appears to have transferred to Washington - it's currently on the 50.

(26 Jul 2022, 10:00 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote So the X85 will now always be a Solo? Service X85 was operated by Riverside for the afternoon trip before.

Solos will be allocated to all Hexham services apart from Versas on the 684/Morning X85?

Surprised yesterday the Venture Solo 645, now at Hexham, was on the 684. Should be replacing some Versas I believe.

Since the new contract for the 941 went to GNE for the 17:15 trip from Team Valley to Newcastle General Hospital (Fenham CAV Campus) yesterday will it always be a Tyne Valley 10 allocated by Riverside?

The afternoon X85 was operated by a Solo yesterday, assuming that was the correct allocation then yes it will be Solo operated. 

No, seemingly Versa's will be allocated to most journeys on the 688 (apart from 1st and last return trips), most journeys on the 680 (apart from 1st, 2nd and last return journeys), half of the 684 journeys and the morning X85. 

So the allocation has changed from 6 Solo's and 5 Versa's to 8 Solo's and 3 Versa's. However, when the CAZ is introduced then the new interworking pattern would mean the 3 Versa's and 4 of the Solo's would need to be Euro 6. As the contracts were only extended by 1 year I can't see GNE buying new vehicles so I wonder if some of the shorter 83xx Euro 6 Versa's will be moved to Hexham.

(26 Jul 2022, 11:22 am)peter wrote The afternoon X85 was operated by a Solo yesterday, assuming that was the correct allocation then yes it will be Solo operated. 

No, seemingly Versa's will be allocated to most journeys on the 688 (apart from 1st and last return trips), most journeys on the 680 (apart from 1st, 2nd and last return journeys), half of the 684 journeys and the morning X85. 

So the allocation has changed from 6 Solo's and 5 Versa's to 8 Solo's and 3 Versa's. However, when the CAZ is introduced then the new interworking pattern would mean the 3 Versa's and 4 of the Solo's would need to be Euro 6. As the contracts were only extended by 1 year I can't see GNE buying new vehicles so I wonder if some of the shorter 83xx Euro 6 Versa's will be moved to Hexham.

Can't see the Versa's moving to Hexham, they're needed for the 25/28/29 so you're just shifting the problem to Washington instead of Hexham and the rest are Euro 4/5 bar the 3 09 plates which got upgraded for some reason.

I have a feeling they'll just buy some buses for Hexham but sadly they'll be breadvans like they were trialing a few weeks ago to save money.

(26 Jul 2022, 5:02 pm)Storx wrote Can't see the Versa's moving to Hexham, they're needed for the 25/28/29 so you're just shifting the problem to Washington instead of Hexham and the rest are Euro 4/5 bar the 3 09 plates which got upgraded for some reason.

I have a feeling they'll just buy some buses for Hexham but sadly they'll be breadvans like they were trialing a few weeks ago to save money.

The ex-Quaylink Versa's could go on the 25/28/29, there's no other routes that are in need of a Euro 6 upgrade. Then the shorter Versa's could go on the Hexham services until the contracts are renewed, if they get them for a few years then they can fork out for replacements.

(26 Jul 2022, 5:49 pm)peter wrote The ex-Quaylink Versa's could go on the 25/28/29, there's no other routes that are in need of a Euro 6 upgrade. Then the shorter Versa's could go on the Hexham services until the contracts are renewed, if they get them for a few years then they can fork out for replacements.

Depends what goes where, the 57 is still running with Euro 5 buses atm. Can't see them using Versa's at Hexham. It's a low cost depot for a reason, there's no need for bigger buses imo.

The fact they've been trialing things over there would suggest that they've got plans to get a few new buses. I doubt they'd lose the contracts though it's been Arriva / GNE since forever pretty much.

(26 Jul 2022, 7:45 pm)Storx wrote Depends what goes where, the 57 is still running with Euro 5 buses atm. Can't see them using Versa's at Hexham. It's a low cost depot for a reason, there's no need for bigger buses imo.

The fact they've been trialing things over there would suggest that they've got plans to get a few new buses. I doubt they'd lose the contracts though it's been Arriva / GNE since forever pretty much.

I saw a LP Solo on the 28/29 when I was in Newcastle, which according to bustimes was 690, also 680 apparently was on the 4 this morning.

(26 Jul 2022, 7:45 pm)Storx wrote Depends what goes where, the 57 is still running with Euro 5 buses atm. Can't see them using Versa's at Hexham. It's a low cost depot for a reason, there's no need for bigger buses imo.

The fact they've been trialing things over there would suggest that they've got plans to get a few new buses. I doubt they'd lose the contracts though it's been Arriva / GNE since forever pretty much.

Technically there's enough Streetlites in the 5453-5469 batch for the 6/12 and 57. But also they seem to be putting deckers on the 57 atm, I reckon if the 58 get's something due to the surplus Streetdecks, the EG Rider's could go on the 57 or alternatively the new ex-London deckers due go on the 57 if any are euro 6 or get upgraded. 

I mean they already use 5 Versa's at Hexham, since these changes it's decreased to a requirement of 3 but I don't see why that wouldn't re-increase so they had Euro 6 buses. Those smaller Versa's could displace 5377-79 to be with the rest of the batch. You could have 5377-83 to Washington for the 25/28/29, and 5384-90 stay at Riverside for the 57. 8321-28 go Hexham for the 684, 680, 688 which use Versa's already, the 74 which needs a Euro 6 bus and the AD122 and 687 (which in the past has had MMC's on it technically) are upgraded as a by product. Then the 681, 683, 686 and 689 could still use the Solo's.

3995 going strong on the 6 today, great bus. (Unless it’s the ticket machine out for a blast)

56 - 6149 - LJ62 KBY

(27 Jul 2022, 5:50 pm)Unber43 wrote 56 - 6149 - LJ62 KBY

I can confirm this was on the 56 earlier this afternoon and not Bus Times being inaccurate with tracking.

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(27 Jul 2022, 1:22 pm)Arcticrossy92 wrote 3995 going strong on the 6 today, great bus. (Unless it’s the ticket machine out for a blast)

It's getting about fair bit, it was on 67/69 yesterday.

Graphite Solo 678 was put to use around Peterlee today replacing 657 which expired between Station Town and Hutton Henry at Lunchtime. Passengers had a fair wait for the replacement bus as it broke down on the section where it was the only bus to Peterlee that serves that area. Although the 57/58 run along the road, they only do it Westbound and only head to Durham due to the junction layout at the A19 to the east of Hutton Henry Village.

Go North East 643 / NL63 XZP by kieron mathews, on Flickr

(26 Jul 2022, 5:02 pm)Storx wrote Can't see the Versa's moving to Hexham, they're needed for the 25/28/29 so you're just shifting the problem to Washington instead of Hexham and the rest are Euro 4/5 bar the 3 09 plates which got upgraded for some reason.

I have a feeling they'll just buy some buses for Hexham but sadly they'll be breadvans like they were trialing a few weeks ago to save money.

Yet just a couple of weeks into operating the 25/28/29, Washington have struggled on an effectively daily basis to maintain a fully Euro 6 allocation. If things carry on like this, with the fines they'll incur, they might as well not have bothered with the cost-cutting measures in the first place.

(06 Aug 2022, 4:26 pm)R852 PRG wrote Yet just a couple of weeks into operating the 25/28/29, Washington have struggled on an effectively daily basis to maintain a fully Euro 6 allocation. If things carry on like this, with the fines they'll incur, they might as well not have bothered with the cost-cutting measures in the first place.

Washington & Deptford have always struggled with Euro 6 allocation for the X1&56.

(06 Aug 2022, 4:26 pm)R852 PRG wrote Yet just a couple of weeks into operating the 25/28/29, Washington have struggled on an effectively daily basis to maintain a fully Euro 6 allocation. If things carry on like this, with the fines they'll incur, they might as well not have bothered with the cost-cutting measures in the first place.

Wonder if there's a parts shortage for Optare vehicles again, the Versa's in general seem to be seriously unreliable lately ignoring the 09 plates there seem to be 15 VOR if you add the three which got pulled out of services today, one on the 2, one on the 49 and another on the QA/QB. The Quaylink has been having bother for awhile aswell lately for quite a bit now (picked up a bit the last week or so).

(06 Aug 2022, 5:01 pm)Unber43 wrote Washington & Deptford have always struggled with Euro 6 allocation for the X1&56.

As a condition of the agreement with Nexus to fund the 25/28/29, they must be allocated Euro 6 vehicles. They are incurring Nexus fines daily.

(06 Aug 2022, 5:25 pm)R852 PRG wrote As a condition of the agreement with Nexus to fund the 25/28/29, they must be allocated Euro 6 vehicles. They are incurring Nexus fines daily

There has been atleast 3-5 Euro 4/5 buses since 25th July. Wonder how big the fines are

(06 Aug 2022, 5:25 pm)R852 PRG wrote As a condition of the agreement with Nexus to fund the 25/28/29, they must be allocated Euro 6 vehicles. They are incurring Nexus fines daily.

Go North East should probably look at upgrading further vehicles to Euro 6 such as the Connections 4 Mercs/Country Ranger Streetlites giving them more allocation flexibility given a handful are now spare and have been used daily on the 25/28/29 over the past week.