(20 Jul 2025, 11:02 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Currently sitting on 5474 an external branded Coaster service (was 1 now 301) Internally all the commercial adverts are removed and only GNE necessary adverts / messages up... is something happening with this fleet? are they moving depots 

curiosity kills the cat ....

I reckon the Angel Streetdecks will be going on the 301 once the Electrics arrive for the 21 and the Streetlites will be will be split between Washington and Riverside for the 4/49's & 96 which would see off the 63 Plate Citaros/Versas.

(21 Jul 2025, 5:50 pm)Malarkey wrote I reckon the Angel Streetdecks will be going on the 301 once the Electrics arrive for the 21 and the Streetlites will be will be split between Washington and Riverside for the 4/49's & 96 which would see off the 63 Plate Citaros/Versas.

I wonder where the B9's on the 56 will go?

(21 Jul 2025, 5:50 pm)Malarkey wrote I reckon the Angel Streetdecks will be going on the 301 once the Electrics arrive for the 21 and the Streetlites will be will be split between Washington and Riverside for the 4/49's & 96 which would see off the 63 Plate Citaros/Versas.

Honestly can't see that personally. I still think they'll stay at Riverside for the 93/94, and 51/52 and get rid of the ex London Dual Doors etc out of frontline service with the ex London B9's going into the spare role instead. 

They're easy routes and will keep all the Streetdecks together. 

The 56 B9's going to Consett and upgrading the likes of the X5/X15 etc and getting the 07/08/58 Plates out of service there plus the B5TL's. I wouldn't be too surprised to see the E200MMC's get a proper role somewhere either.

Do we know for sure that new vehicles are coming for the 56. I reckon that is where the Angel Streetdecks will end up...

6353 has been confined to the 21 for the past few days after breaking down on the X10 last Thursday

(21 Jul 2025, 7:20 pm)citaro5284 wrote Do we know for sure that new vehicles are coming for the 56. I reckon that is where the Angel Streetdecks will end up...

Hopefully new buses for the 56, could mean alot of older buses getting withdrawn.


Did I read somewhere, that GNE have ordered ADL electric buses for the 21?

I'm suprised they didn't go for Yutongs.

---

When are GNE expecting the electric buses to arrive and when will work start on adding more chargers at the depot?

(21 Jul 2025, 7:58 pm)Michael wrote Hopefully new buses for the 56, could mean alot of older buses getting withdrawn.


Did I read somewhere, that GNE have ordered ADL electric buses for the 21?

I'm suprised they didn't go for Yutongs.

---

When are GNE expecting the electric buses to arrive and when will work start on adding more chargers at the depot?

Has there actually been any confirmation of the buses for the 56 though? There's been a lot of chat on here, but unlike all other EV orders I can't remember anything in the news or from GNE?

(21 Jul 2025, 8:02 pm)PH - BQA wrote Has there actually been any confirmation of the buses for the 56 though? There's been a lot of chat on here, but unlike all other EV orders I can't remember anything in the news or from GNE?

Electric ADLs E200s  for the X66s and there's 25 Cummins engines Streetdecks on order so some for 56 apparently, electric Deckers for 21s and 58s but not sure if there ADL or Streetdecks

(21 Jul 2025, 8:19 pm)Retro Nero wrote Electric ADLs E200s  for the X66s and there's 25 Cummins engines Streetdecks on order so some for 56 apparently, electric Deckers for 21s and 58s but not sure if there ADL or Streetdecks

Good selection of buses if true.


I think the 56 PVR is 15 so I'd imagine at least 17 would be for Deptford (same spec spares) leaves 8.

I wonder if the other 8 would go to Riverside.

Will be interesting to see if they put shiny new electric buses on the N21 vomit comet weekend services…

Why are GNE going to receive Cummins Ultroliners when the rest of GAG are getting ADL E400MMC as their standard diesel deckers?

The EV orders are:
- 21 - 18x double deckers
- X66 - 3x or 4x double deckers
- 58 - 7x or 8x single deckers

I doubt GNE will order more than 14x (plus 1x or 2x spare) for the 56.


My predictions for cascades are

B9TL:
- 6043-48 - Spares (some or all likely stay at Consett)

- 6149-55 - Gateshead locals & 57

- 6086-6109 - X5/X15 (5x*), X45 (5x), 16/16A (8x), 47 (6x)

- 6110-17 - X21 (8x)

* PVR 5x for X5/X15 based on rumoured changes.


StreetDeck:
- 6301-07 - Percy Main Spares / DFDS

- 6315-29 - 307/309 (14x)**

** 1x extra incase 309 PVR increases to 15x in future - likely given traffic conditions in North Tyneside and StreetDecks slower than B9TLs

- 6330-33 - 34 (1x), Washington Spares (3x)

- 6356-76 - 34 (2x), 50 (7x), X1 (12x)


E400/E400MMC:
- 6232-40 - Gateshead locals & 57

- 6336-37 - Consett spares

- 6338-51 - X30s / X70s (includes 2x spare)


B5TLs to another GAG subsidary if X20 changed to single deck.

Effectively, most 63 plate B9TL kept together other than 8x for the X21. All 20/70 plate StreetDecks kept together. Troublesome 6301-07 removed from frontline work into spare role. 307 & 309 (especially 307) run by more suitable fuel efficient vehicles which is also a benefit for the misc 352/3/4/5/6 workings which Cobalt B9TLs known to stray onto.

Asides from EV's, main diesel decker fleets at depots effectively standardised too and some crap such as the voyager B9TLs withdrawn too!

Consett - B9TL / E400MMC
Riverside - B9TL / E400 / E400MMC
Deptford - E400MMC
Percy Main - StreetDeck
Washington - StreetDeck

The Electric version of the ADL Enviro 200 hasn't been built yet. Only electrics from ADL at the minute are the ADL Enviro 100EV and Enviro 400EV.

(21 Jul 2025, 11:17 pm)Rapidsnap wrote The Electric version of the ADL Enviro 200 hasn't been built yet. Only electrics from ADL at the minute are the ADL Enviro 100EV and Enviro 400EV.

Added to this as I don't like questioning posts but I thought all the electrics were Wright buses as part of that massive order which was announced months ago from GoAhead group as a whole? 

https://newsroom.go-ahead.com/news/half-...een-growth - this

Streetdecks for the 56 is plausible though as only 90% of it supposed to be zero emissions so there's other stuff ordered somewhere.

Since that annoucement with Wrightbus, they have provided the following to the Go-Ahead group....

62x Wright Streetdeck Electroliners to Go-Ahead London. (order looks to be for 115 vehicles)
39x Wright GB Kite Electroliners to Go-Ahead London.
25x Wright Streetdeck Electroliners to Plymouth Citybus.
11x Wright Streetdeck Hydroliners to Metrobus.

The partnership is for delivery of 1200 buses over 3 years, so on average 400 at year. Still a lot left of the year to go, though Wright does seem to have a busy order book.

6353 made a triumphant return to the X10 today - lasting a whole 4 trips before conking out and 6323 being pulled off Angel duties to replace it

(23 Jul 2025, 12:58 pm)Ambassador wrote 6353 made a triumphant return to the X10 today - lasting a whole 4 trips before conking out and 6323 being pulled off Angel duties to replace it

Just a thought here. But given it's the school holidays and unlikely that any peak time capaciity will be needed on all 12x boards, would it not make sense to use some of 6338-51 on the X10 to help out? With some X30/X70 boards using E200MMCs instead - and the 6 using any full height deckers (or other singles) Consett have spare?

Both ADL 400s 9035/36 are working from Sunderland today on X20 and ADL 200 9032 is on staff shuttle.

(23 Jul 2025, 3:40 pm)L469 YVK wrote Just a thought here. But given it's the school holidays and unlikely that any peak time capaciity will be needed on all 12x boards, would it not make sense to use some of 6338-51 on the X10 to help out? With some X30/X70 boards using E200MMCs instead - and the 6 using any full height deckers (or other singles) Consett have spare?

Would more than likely have the same issues. 

This morning, I passed an expired streetlight near the Causey Arch — I’m unsure of the fleet number, but it’s the one that’s badly in need of repainting. Shortly afterward, I saw vehicle 6338 ("Get Your Bum on Board", ironically) broken at Sunniside.

(23 Jul 2025, 7:40 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote Would more than likely have the same issues. 

This morning, I passed an expired streetlight near the Causey Arch — I’m unsure of the fleet number, but it’s the one that’s badly in need of repainting. Shortly afterward, I saw vehicle 6338 ("Get Your Bum on Board", ironically) broken at Sunniside.

One of the 20/70 reg E400mmcs must have only made it light to Stanley on Sun morning to start service, seen being towed back to Consett by Alpha at 10.30am.

I'm currently on 5427 on the 9 (towards Jarrow) and when I was waiting on Stockton Road for the bus to arrive, I saw 8350 looking like it had broken down with its hazards on. 

Suddenly a maintenance person arrived (at full speed I may add and nearly took me out as he mounted the curb), however this was a plain white van so it looked like a random person. Luckily the engineer had his overalls around his waist as the driver not I knew why he was approaching and parked with haste. 

And of course the wing mirror had fallen off! 

(As of writing this it has just passed me going up Sunderland road albeit still NIS so I guess it was a 24?)

(27 Jul 2025, 3:58 pm)logidoodah wrote I'm currently on 5427 on the 9 (towards Jarrow) and when I was waiting on Stockton Road for the bus to arrive, I saw 8350 looking like it had broken down with its hazards on. 

Suddenly a maintenance person arrived (at full speed I may add and nearly took me out as he mounted the curb), however this was a plain white van so it looked like a random person. Luckily the engineer had his overalls around his waist as the driver not I knew why he was approaching and parked with haste. 

And of course the wing mirror had fallen off! 

(As of writing this it has just passed me going up Sunderland road albeit still NIS so I guess it was a 24?)

Priceless 

(27 Jul 2025, 3:58 pm)logidoodah wrote I'm currently on 5427 on the 9 (towards Jarrow) and when I was waiting on Stockton Road for the bus to arrive, I saw 8350 looking like it had broken down with its hazards on. 

Suddenly a maintenance person arrived (at full speed I may add and nearly took me out as he mounted the curb), however this was a plain white van so it looked like a random person. Luckily the engineer had his overalls around his waist as the driver not I knew why he was approaching and parked with haste. 

And of course the wing mirror had fallen off! 

(As of writing this it has just passed me going up Sunderland road albeit still NIS so I guess it was a 24?)

How've they managed that?

(27 Jul 2025, 3:58 pm)logidoodah wrote I'm currently on 5427 on the 9 (towards Jarrow) and when I was waiting on Stockton Road for the bus to arrive, I saw 8350 looking like it had broken down with its hazards on. 

Suddenly a maintenance person arrived (at full speed I may add and nearly took me out as he mounted the curb), however this was a plain white van so it looked like a random person. Luckily the engineer had his overalls around his waist as the driver not I knew why he was approaching and parked with haste. 

And of course the wing mirror had fallen off! 

(As of writing this it has just passed me going up Sunderland road albeit still NIS so I guess it was a 24?)

It’s not just purple Solars that have missing wing mirrors, then!

6317 with the engine flap open yesterday on A689 after finsihing X21

(27 Jul 2025, 5:00 pm)F114TML wrote How've they managed that?

He got off to adjust it and it fell off in his hands.

Not a good day for Hownsgill. My daughter said her bus had a bump with another in Stanley bus station today and tonight coming home from work i saw 5404 in a bus stop at Pickering Nook with a smashed back window.

(29 Jul 2025, 5:31 pm)Tiger5105 wrote Not a good day for Hownsgill. My daughter said her bus had a bump with another in Stanley bus station today and tonight coming home from work i saw 5404 in a bus stop at Pickering Nook with a smashed back window.

Serious question here. But given the mention of a single decker also going off road - are GNE short changing themselves with the current low height interworking patterns and a PVR of 12x?

6336-37 aren't renown for reliability. If anything happens to the 2x spare out of the 14x (6338-51) - GNE are snookered and have to rely on single deckers, which of course are needed on other routes and potentially pulled from other routes.

GNE need to at least reduce the low height requirement to 8x and have either the X32 & X73 interworking with the X45 - or have the X71, X73, X30, X31 interworking with the X32 & X70 interworking. Or X30/X31/X70/X71 all interwork with the X32 & X73 interworking.

It's more from a flexibility and contingency POV I'm coming from than anything. When it was just the X71 (via Gateshead) and X72 interworking on a PVR of 5x and the X30/X31/X45 interworking on a PVR of 8x - there was no issue as GNE could simply put a misc B9TL or Classic E400 on the X71/X72.

All these reliability issues have been prevailent in the last 12 months since the July 2024 changes when the X32, X70 and X73 were introduced - and the inflexible interworking patterns.

personally I would just change the route to avoid the low bridge

(29 Jul 2025, 9:30 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote personally I would just change the route to avoid the low bridge

Can't really without adding time.

6238 expired outside the old Wilko at Newgate St whilst on a 6