(26 Apr 2025, 9:53 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Anyone fancy buying an open top bus? £16k toon tour branded?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226692410922?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=qxUCSaaETwi&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=korihdcur4y&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

You’d have to pay me £16k to sit in those seats…

Daft question.....why doesn't 6338-40 have bike racks installed to bring them in line with the rest of the E400MMC's?

How much would it cost to retrofit given that 6336-37 had the retrofit done?

6356 and 6956 both on the hard shoulder of the A1, northbound between Durham and Chester. 

Maybe a mile, 2 miles apart from each other.

6353 expired at Gateshead on a boro bound X10

6317 was pulled off the 21 to operate in its place whilst 6377…stays on the 2

Question......but are 6308-14 and 6356-63 that badly goosed now? Or could they have a second chance with some heavy TLC if taken off the road?

How did 6356-63 perform during their initial use on the X45/X46?

(30 Apr 2025, 6:45 pm)L469 YVK wrote Question......but are 6308-14 and 6356-63 that badly goosed now? Or could they have a second chance with some heavy TLC  if taken off the road?

How did 6356-63 perform during their initial use on the X45/X46?

The biggest problem with them is they're on the wrong work. The Streetdeck and B5TL were designed for stuff like the Stagecoach Newcastle urban routes where they'd be ideal - but they're not. The 5L engine, is never going to be good on long distance stuff with 70 mph running in parts or hills.

The X20, in particular, is a stupid route for them to be on after they were wrecked on the X10. It's no wonder they're absolutely useless at Deptford - not sure who signed that off personally.

It's why the B5's need to leave the region imo as there's nowhere useful for them as they're a microfleet and a microfleet which offers nothing useful for anywhere.

(30 Apr 2025, 7:15 pm)Storx wrote The biggest problem with them is they're on the wrong work. The Streetdeck and B5TL were designed for stuff like the Stagecoach Newcastle urban routes where they'd be ideal - but they're not. The 5L engine, is never going to be good on long distance stuff with 70 mph running in parts or hills.

The X20, in particular, is a stupid route for them to be on after they were wrecked on the X10. It's no wonder they're absolutely useless at Deptford - not sure who signed that off personally.

It's why the B5's need to leave the region imo as there's nowhere useful for them as they're a microfleet and a microfleet which offers nothing useful for anywhere.

If GNE changed the Derwentside interworking patterns meaning only a low height PVR of x4 was needed, subsequently freeing up most  E400MMC for the X10 & X21, would 6356-63 & 6308-14 have issues on the X32/X45/X70/X73 even if they had some heavy TLC?

Have 2 of the Cobalt and Coasts had prangs with something, 6111 (I think), but 6116 is missing its branding on the passenger side (the side with the doors in), makes no difference to me, just thought it was worth a mention

(01 May 2025, 11:22 am)L469 YVK wrote If GNE changed the Derwentside interworking patterns meaning only a low height PVR of x4 was needed, subsequently freeing up most  E400MMC for the X10 & X21, would 6356-63 & 6308-14 have issues on the X32/X45/X70/X73 even if they had some heavy TLC?

Not too sure, don't use the routtes much really. It's quite hilly over there though. They'd probably be alright though since it's not constant 60/70mph.

If, and big if, you wanted to move the E400MMC's I'd say do this:

X21 70 Plates -> Washington (50/X1)
50 16 Plates -> Riverside (51/52/93/94)
X20 B5TL -> Riverside (51/52/93/94)
62 Plate B9TL's -> Deptford (X20)
Angel Streetdeck's -> Consett

It means the two depots which are struggling right now get more newer vehicles and the really knackered vehicles are at Riverside doing easy work. It also gives Washington the ability to switch things around and a decent reserve for the X1, as the 50 isn't a badly loaded service tbh. 

Consett gaining 16 Streetdeck's for a trade off for the MMC's is probably a fair compromise and means you'd have enough buses to actually do the work, with the X5/X15 upgraded in the process which would also release the E200MMC's to do a route which deserves them, 60 maybe?

(01 May 2025, 7:08 pm)Storx wrote Not too sure, don't use the routtes much really. It's quite hilly over there though. They'd probably be alright though since it's not constant 60/70mph.

If, and big if, you wanted to move the E400MMC's I'd say do this:

X21 70 Plates -> Washington (50/X1)
50 16 Plates -> Riverside (51/52/93/94)
X20 B5TL -> Riverside (51/52/93/94)
62 Plate B9TL's -> Deptford (X20)
Angel Streetdeck's -> Consett

It means the two depots which are struggling right now get more newer vehicles and the really knackered vehicles are at Riverside doing easy work. It also gives Washington the ability to switch things around and a decent reserve for the X1, as the 50 isn't a badly loaded service tbh. 

Consett gaining 16 Streetdeck's for a trade off for the MMC's is probably a fair compromise and means you'd have enough buses to actually do the work, with the X5/X15 upgraded in the process which would also release the E200MMC's to do a route which deserves them, 60 maybe?

As a starting point, I'd go for this to keep the E200MMC & E400MMC together:

Routes:
- X30/X71 moved to Riverside, interworks with 1x X21 per-hour so that meal breaks can happen in Gateshead.

Driver 1 would do GHD > WA > GHD (X21) with Driver 2 then doing GHD > NCL > CON > NCL > STA > NCL > GHD (X21>X71>X30>X21). There'd be over 20 minutes layover in Consett which would allow things to get back on time should anything happen on the earlier X21.

- Evening & Sunday X30's either remain Consett operated using single deckers, or move to Riverside if alternative interworking pattern can be formed.

- 12 moved to Consett interworking with 6.

- X45 interworks with 1x X32 per-hour and X73.

- X70 interworks with the other X32 per-hour. X70 serves Lobley Hill estate instead of X32.

- X31 dropped.


Vehicles:
- All E400MMC at Riverside for X10, X21, X30, X71.

- All E200MMC to Consett for 6 & 12 with X66 getting stop-gap until EV's arrive.

(01 May 2025, 7:40 pm)L469 YVK wrote As a starting point, I'd go for this to keep the E200MMC & E400MMC together:

Routes:
- X30/X71 moved to Riverside, interworks with 1x X21 per-hour so that meal breaks can happen in Gateshead.

Driver 1 would do GHD > WA > GHD (X21) with Driver 2 then doing GHD > NCL > CON > NCL > STA > NCL > GHD (X21>X71>X30>X21). There'd be over 20 minutes layover in Consett which would allow things to get back on time should anything happen on the earlier X21.

- Evening & Sunday X30's either remain Consett operated using single deckers, or move to Riverside if alternative interworking pattern can be formed.

- 12 moved to Consett interworking with 6.

- X45 interworks with 1x X32 per-hour and X73.

- X70 interworks with the other X32 per-hour. X70 serves Lobley Hill estate instead of X32.

- X31 dropped.


Vehicles:
- All E400MMC at Riverside for X10, X21, X30, X71.

- All E200MMC to Consett for 6 & 12 with X66 getting stop-gap until EV's arrive.

Aye could do, I don't know the routes too well to comment there though. 

The important thing to me imo is getting 6301-6314 off long distance stuff and onto town work asap. They're all shot to bits and are causing bother at both Deptford and Washington. What you replace them with there's loads of options but imo they're the biggest issues in the fleet, right now.

Consett also desperately need something newer aswell since they're relying on the battered X10 B9's and ex Yorkshire / Manchester junk and the reliability is coming with it.

Riverside is hard to comment as anything that touches that place is unreliable lately so it's hard to say whether it's the vehicles or the engineers or a bit of both.

(01 May 2025, 8:43 pm)Storx wrote Aye could do, I don't know the routes too well to comment there though. 

The important thing to me imo is getting 6301-6314 off long distance stuff and onto town work asap. They're all shot to bits and are causing bother at both Deptford and Washington. What you replace them with there's loads of options but imo they're the biggest issues in the fleet, right now.

Consett also desperately need something newer aswell since they're relying on the battered X10 B9's and ex Yorkshire / Manchester junk and the reliability is coming with it.

Riverside is hard to comment as anything that touches that place is unreliable lately so it's hard to say whether it's the vehicles or the engineers or a bit of both.

How about something like the following once EV's arrive for 21, 58 and X66?

E400MMC:
- 6336-37 - Riverside - Spare
- 6338-55 - Riverside - X10**, X21, X30/X71
** X10 increased half-hourly NCL > Peterlee

StreetDeck:
- 6301-07 - Percy Main - 307/309 (incl 2x spare)
- 6315-23 - Percy Main - 307/309
- 6324-31 - Consett - X32/X45/X70/X73 (incl 2x spare)
- 6332-33 - Washington - Spare
- 6356-76 - Washington - 34/50/X1 (incl 1x spare)
- 6377 - Riverside - Spare

B5TL:
- 6308-14 - Consett - X32/X45/X70/X73

B9TL:
- 6043-48
* 1x Deptford - X20
* 3x Deptford - Spare
* 2x Consett - Spare
- 6100-17- Consett - 16/16A/47/X5/X15
- 6149-54 - Deptford - X20

E200MMC:
- 5488, 5490-98 - Consett - 6/12 (incl 1x spare)

(02 May 2025, 7:41 pm)L469 YVK wrote How about something like the following once EV's arrive for 21, 58 and X66?

E400MMC:
- 6336-37 - Riverside - Spare
- 6338-55 - Riverside - X10**, X21, X30/X71
** X10 increased half-hourly NCL > Peterlee

StreetDeck:
- 6301-07 - Percy Main - 307/309 (incl 2x spare)
- 6315-23 - Percy Main - 307/309
- 6324-31 - Consett - X32/X45/X70/X73 (incl 2x spare)
- 6332-33 - Washington - Spare
- 6356-76 - Washington - 34/50/X1 (incl 1x spare)
- 6377 - Riverside - Spare

B5TL:
- 6308-14 - Consett - X32/X45/X70/X73

B9TL:
- 6043-48
* 1x Deptford - X20
* 3x Deptford - Spare
* 2x Consett - Spare
- 6100-17- Consett - 16/16A/47/X5/X15
- 6149-54 - Deptford - X20

E200MMC:
- 5488, 5490-98 - Consett - 6/12 (incl 1x spare)

Possibly E200MMC for Sunderland for service 60 as apparently before they were Green Arrow they were destined for the Drifters so maybe end up where they were supposed to go

I think a good idea would be for 6301-6333 to be Repowered to Battery-Electric for long term use in the existing fleet because there existing Diesel Engines are not suitable for most work here that they're used on in the North East and would in turn accelerate decarbonisation of the fleet.

Streetdeck'a would be completed via "Wrightbus Newpower" and the B5TL's by "Kleanbus", the latter are currently converting Lothian Buses Open Top Fleet, obviously this would require investment from Go-Ahead and/.or awarding of EV Grants of some form.

https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/new-power

(02 May 2025, 8:49 pm)Retro Nero wrote Possibly E200MMC for Sunderland for service 60 as apparently before they were Green Arrow they were destined for the Drifters so maybe end up where they were supposed to go

Most E200MMC are already at Consett for the 6. The only change would be three current  'supershuttles' would go to Consett once the X66 got converted to EV and the 6 would interwork with the 12 which would move from Riverside.

In return, Riverside would take the X30/X71 and all E400MMC of Consett. The X30/X71 would interwork with 1x X21 board per hour so that driver reliefs could be done at Gateshead.

(02 May 2025, 9:49 pm)Malarkey wrote I think a good idea would be for 6301-6333 to be Repowered to Battery-Electric for long term use in the existing fleet because there existing Diesel Engines are not suitable for most work here that they're used on in the North East and would in turn accelerate decarbonisation of the fleet.

Streetdeck'a would be completed via "Wrightbus Newpower" and the B5TL's by "Kleanbus", the latter are currently converting Lothian Buses Open Top Fleet, obviously this would require investment from Go-Ahead and/.or awarding of EV Grants  of some form.

https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/new-power

Why go to all the trouble of converting emission heavy buses when they will be welcomed with open arms for County Durham services?

5443, any intentions of giving it a white rear destination display again?

So had a think about this one. And it includes Storx's good idea of moving the B5TL's on given they're non-standard (and useless too haha).

I've attached a PDF showing my fleet suggestions including some standardisation. This is based on EV's arriving for the 21, 58 and X66.



In terms of service changes:
X10 - increased to half-hourly Newcastle to Peterlee
X30 - does current X32 route via Team Valley North and Gateshead, increased to 2bph and omits Lobley Hill Estate
X31 - does current X30 route, combines with X71 to provide bus every 30 minutes via Whickham and Dunston
X70 - serves Lobley Hill Estate

For X30's/X70's - Odds via Whickham & Dunston & Evens via Team Valley North and Gateshead

Depot service moves:
12 - Riverside > Consett
X31/X71 - Consett > Riverside

And interworking changes:
6/12 - (PVR 9)
X21 - 1bph standalone (PVR 4)
X21/X31/X71 - (PVR 8) - 1bph interworks with X31/X71, first driver does GHD>WA>GHD with following driver doing GHD>NCL>CON>NCL>STA>NCL>GHD
X30/X70 - (PVR 4)
X30/X45/X73 - (PVR 9)

(03 May 2025, 11:36 am)L469 YVK wrote So had a think about this one. And it includes Storx's good idea of moving the B5TL's on given they're non-standard (and useless too haha).

I've attached a PDF showing my fleet suggestions including some standardisation. This is based on EV's arriving for the 21, 58 and X66.



In terms of service changes:
X10 - increased to half-hourly Newcastle to Peterlee
X30 - does current X32 route via Team Valley North and Gateshead, increased to 2bph and omits Lobley Hill Estate
X31 - does current X30 route, combines with X71 to provide bus every 30 minutes via Whickham and Dunston
X70 - serves Lobley Hill Estate

For X30's/X70's - Odds via Whickham & Dunston & Evens via Team Valley North and Gateshead

Depot service moves:
12 - Riverside > Consett
X31/X71 - Consett > Riverside

And interworking changes:
6/12 - (PVR 9)
X21 - 1bph standalone (PVR 4)
X21/X31/X71 - (PVR 8) - 1bph interworks with X31/X71, first driver does GHD>WA>GHD with following driver doing GHD>NCL>CON>NCL>STA>NCL>GHD
X30/X70 - (PVR 4)
X30/X45/X73 - (PVR 9)

Slight change to the fleet listings:

- 6085 to Deptford as 10/10A/10B PVR would be 14x without the 12.

- 6099 to Consett in place of 6322 to give Consett another spare.

- 6322 to give Percy Main a spare StreetDeck. Likelihood that 309 would potentially need future PVR increase given North Tyneside Council's s***show record of road & traffic planning!

I sometimes wish there was a part on this site to post the constant "im moving these buses cause I can" thread. Every thread about gne mentions these constant fleet movements and it's getting annoying. Move them somewhere else as it's in nearly every thread now. All I see is this same post that "Cobalt wasted StreetDecks to Percy Main" please just stop for once or create a thread where you can keep it in there and stop posting it everywhere

(05 May 2025, 7:14 am)Aaron21 wrote I sometimes wish there was a part on this site to post the constant "im moving these buses cause I can" thread. Every thread about gne mentions these constant fleet movements and it's getting annoying. Move them somewhere else as it's in nearly every thread now. All I see is this same post that "Cobalt wasted StreetDecks to Percy Main" please just stop for once or create a thread where you can keep it in there and stop posting it everywhere

Nothing wrong with members thinking outside the box whatever their opinions are. It's evident that GNE are having issues due to unsuitable vehicle allocations.

If GNE did something like I suggested, it would actually put GNE in a stronger position to invest.

An additional 14x new E400MMC at Riverside ordered down the line (enough for the 10/10A/10B)? That would give Riverside a good sized fleet that could be utilised on a good chunk of their work with rotation for flexibility and to reduce wear & tear. Then the current B9TLs allocated to the 10/10A/10B  could then fill other gaps within GNE.

I didn't just sit and create it on a whim. I actually put a lot of thought into it especially from a standardisation POV.

What happened to 5362?

https://flickr.com/photos/182309254@N08/...6y-2r264jq

(07 May 2025, 9:04 pm)nova347 wrote What happened to 5362?

https://flickr.com/photos/182309254@N08/...6y-2r264jq

Withdrawn to keep the rest of them going

(07 May 2025, 9:04 pm)nova347 wrote What happened to 5362?

https://flickr.com/photos/182309254@N08/...6y-2r264jq

Coming soon to the 21.

Notice Percy Main had both of its open tops on the North Tyneside local services today

Assume considering how cold it was today this was a result of vehicle shortages and not just an utterly mental allocation

6312:

The second it stops "warning! Please apply handbrake!"

The second the handbrake is released to pull away "warning! Please apply handbrake!"

While reversing "warning! Please apply handbrake!"

While crawling through slow traffic...

It's a danger to anyone's sanity, especially in combination with other passengers moaning about it!