(10 Oct 2025, 8:49 pm)Swiny1 wrote Yes 14 introduced.  Apologies I meant stop for college on Bede Bank

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I also don't get the 56 moving over to the side of the bus station for all the Grangetown and Ryhope departures.  Much better the 9 coming over near the 24 etc Where departures for Sundetland North go. When I asked about the 56. I was told because they couldn't get round on a night for taxis blocking the road. I can only assume they mean the  really late night services  or other buses would have the same problems

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The taxis for the night services is why, yes. We’ve been complaining for years about the taxis parked on the corner outside the Cooper Rose, but they’ve moved the bus rather than anyone stopping the taxis parking illegally.

I enjoy when you click County Durham it shows, just service 14… are the 60,61,65,20,X20,34,50,8,28/28A not in County Durham?

I don’t know why they don’t just list all services in numerical order? Rather than try and categorise into areas because I mean service 28 is not operating anywhere in Washington…

From the changes ,Service 56 has a slightly different route in Springwell Village when heading towards Newcastle, this is to help with the parked cars problem, so when heading up from Pereath Hall Rd/A194 bridge left at the painted roundabout up to springwell village then right towards The Guide Post.
On journeys to Sunderland it will operate as it does now.

(12 Oct 2025, 5:32 pm)Retro Nero wrote From the changes ,Service 56 has a slightly different route in Springwell Village when heading towards Newcastle, this is to help with the parked cars problem, so when heading up from Pereath Hall Rd/A194 bridge left at the painted roundabout up to springwell village then right towards The Guide Post.
On journeys to Sunderland it will operate as it does now.

Also Notice the Connections 4 timetable has reverted to GNE. Not sure if it was already like this but potential the remaining Citaros are going corporate.

(15 Oct 2025, 6:20 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote Also Notice the Connections 4 timetable has reverted to GNE. Not sure if it was already like this but potential the remaining Citaros are going corporate.

Or going completely with more fuel efficient StreetLite / E200MMC taking place instead?

Lets hope they aren't going altogether ;((

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(Yesterday, 8:03 am)Swiny1 wrote Lets hope they aren't going altogether ;((

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How much would these cost to convert to Euro 6? If they're pretty reliable, GNE would be better converting them and running them into the ground for the next 5-8 years especially around Derwentside where they'd likely be happy going up / down hills all day - maybe some hoyed on the quieter X30/X70 boards with more Enviros freed up for the X10.

(Yesterday, 11:01 am)L469 YVK wrote How much would these cost to convert to Euro 6? If they're pretty reliable, GNE would be better converting them and running them into the ground for the next 5-8 years especially around Derwentside where they'd likely be happy going up / down hills all day - maybe some hoyed on the quieter X30/X70 boards with more Enviros freed up for the X10.

What the Mercs? They absolutely would not be happy going up and down hills all day at their age. Why do you think the rest of them didn't last as long as the ones for the 4 have? They've had a relatively easy life compared to the other GNE Citaros.

(Yesterday, 11:41 am)deanmachine wrote What the Mercs? They absolutely would not be happy going up and down hills all day at their age. Why do you think the rest of them didn't last as long as the ones for the 4 have? They've had a relatively easy life compared to the other GNE Citaros.

Ah fair enough I suppose. I thought they'd be considered heavy duty like the Scania L94's, Volvo B10BLE's in that sense.

How did the original Mercs perform when allocated on the 43/44?

(Yesterday, 11:01 am)L469 YVK wrote How much would these cost to convert to Euro 6? If they're pretty reliable, GNE would be better converting them and running them into the ground for the next 5-8 years especially around Derwentside where they'd likely be happy going up / down hills all day - maybe some hoyed on the quieter X30/X70 boards with more Enviros freed up for the X10.

I think they'll leave them on the 4 now, they suit the route.

Sunderland seem to have most of their services interwork now (unless the upcoming changes change the interworking patterns) with streetlites so doubt they would have them.


I wonder how many more Streetlites will join Deptford when the 8 moves over.

(Yesterday, 2:01 pm)Michael wrote I think they'll leave them on the 4 now, they suit the route.

Sunderland seem to have most of their services interwork now (unless the upcoming changes change the interworking patterns) with streetlites so doubt they would have them.


I wonder how many more Streetlites will join Deptford when the 8 moves over.

7  in total to move across, 5394 - 5400

(Yesterday, 1:16 pm)L469 YVK wrote Ah fair enough I suppose. I thought they'd be considered heavy duty like the Scania L94's, Volvo B10BLE's in that sense.

How did the original Mercs perform when allocated on the 43/44?

They were fine but they got tired out by the end of their lives, especially the ones that got used on the X5 and X7 mid way through their service life. The ones for the 4 are nearly 12 years old, I don't expect them to last for much longer at GNE.

(Yesterday, 2:03 pm)Retro Nero wrote 7  in total to move across, 5394 - 5400

Cheers for the info!

(Yesterday, 2:01 pm)Michael wrote I think they'll leave them on the 4 now, they suit the route.

Sunderland seem to have most of their services interwork now (unless the upcoming changes change the interworking patterns) with streetlites so doubt they would have them.


I wonder how many more Streetlites will join Deptford when the 8 moves over.

Fair enough . I was thinking more the Coaster examples eventually displacing the Mercs on the 4 as mentioned by other members.

(Yesterday, 2:03 pm)Retro Nero wrote 7  in total to move across, 5394 - 5400

Guessing something is going in the opposite direction for the 14/50?

(Yesterday, 5:14 pm)Storx wrote Guessing something is going in the opposite direction for the 14/50?

I wonder if 3 of the Volvo B5's will go to Washington since the X20 PVR is dropping to 3.

(Yesterday, 5:23 pm)Michael wrote I wonder if 3 of the Volvo B5's will go to Washington since the X20 PVR is dropping to 3.

X20 to interwork with the 65 in Durham - looks to be a PVR of 8 in total.

(Yesterday, 5:29 pm)Kuyoyo wrote X20 to interwork with the 65 in Durham - looks to be a PVR of 8 in total.

Does that mean the X20 will go to single deckers?, as it makes no sense having branded X-Lines B5's on the routes.

(Yesterday, 5:29 pm)Kuyoyo wrote X20 to interwork with the 65 in Durham - looks to be a PVR of 8 in total.

Could potentially swap the B5's with Consett's Enviro 200's? with the remaining examples at Riverside joining them once the X66 goes electric. Push the B5s onto the Xlines routes there and onto the X5/X15

(Yesterday, 5:23 pm)Michael wrote I wonder if 3 of the Volvo B5's will go to Washington since the X20 PVR is dropping to 3.

To be honest I was thinking that all 7 might go. 

Believe the PVR of the X20 is only 3 and it's questionable it really needs deckers and there's 2 buses from the 62 for starters plus an extra onefrom Washington, sure the 8 PVR is only 6.

Washington is desperate for more buses which are Euro 6 now they've lost most the Streetlites.

(Yesterday, 6:49 pm)Storx wrote To be honest I was thinking that all 7 might go. 

Believe the PVR of the X20 is only 3 and it's questionable it really needs deckers and there's 2 buses from the 62 for starters plus an extra onefrom Washington, sure the 8 PVR is only 6.

Washington is desperate for more buses which are Euro 6 now they've lost most the Streetlites.

Would it not be better keeping Washington all StreetDeck though?

Don't know how the exact numbers would work, but I'd maybe go something like this - again although exact numbers don't match up.

- B5TLs to Percy Main for 307 - 309 still B9TL operated though
- 8x Cobalt B9TLs to Riverside for X21
- 6356-76 at Washington for 14/50/X1

Any surplus Angel StreetDecks not used on the Coaster and 6301-07 make up the spares at Percy Main & Washington.

The 307 is p*** easy work IMO, and the B5TLs given their track record handling more difficult work would be well suited to pottering around on the 307

(Yesterday, 9:55 pm)L469 YVK wrote Would it not be better keeping Washington all StreetDeck though?

Don't know how the exact numbers would work, but I'd maybe go something like this - again although exact numbers don't match up.

- B5TLs to Percy Main for 307 - 309 still B9TL operated though
- 8x Cobalt B9TLs to Riverside for X21
- 6356-76 at Washington for 14/50/X1

Any surplus Angel StreetDecks not used on the Coaster and 6301-07 make up the spares at Percy Main & Washington.

The 307 is p*** easy work IMO, and the B5TLs given their track record handling more difficult work would be well suited to pottering around on the 307

It's not what I expect will happen but if I had a choice I'd move the B5TL's to Riverside for 58 and move the 62 Plate B9TL's to Washington for the 50. 

The Streetdecks are never on the 50 nowadays anyway and would be a decent upgrade over the 07 B9TL's on there currently. 

The B5TL's then leaving the North East to somewhere who might be able to keep them on the road for longer than a week once the 58 electrics turn up, with a few extra Streetdeck's at Washington to formally, on paper at least, meaning there's enough Streetdeck's for the 14/50/X1 with the Streetlite's displaced out of Percy Main also heading across and getting rid of the Versa's and Merc's. 

The B5TL's and Mercs are just microfleets and expensive ones aswell, they'd be better away imo.

What is the obsession of moving the Coast and Cobalt buses? 

if they are reliable and work and fit  to make a route profitable and reliable. why change it? 

additional cost of repainting etc...

I would say leave them there never mind mid way life bollocks and move them 

let GNE source the busses from elsewhere.

If you have been in management before you will understand if something works well dont touch it or try to improve it unless it is tested.


Percy Main Depot needs to maintain an excellent reliability service to compete for nexus secured contracts and services 

if a depot can extend a shelf life of buses by 3 years say. jesus look at the DFDS buses as an example then  that is better isnt it ... 

It is when reliability becomes an issue you need to worry but why divide problems over depots when you can contain an issue to one depot or a few services 

Go Ahead group has the ability to displace vehicles (often London). 

But dont mess with something that works

What is the obsession of moving the Coast and Cobalt buses? 

if they are reliable and work and fit  to make a route profitable and reliable. why change it? 

additional cost of repainting etc...

I would say leave them there never mind mid way life bollocks and move them 

let GNE source the busses from elsewhere.

If you have been in management before you will understand if something works well dont touch it or try to improve it unless it is tested.


Percy Main Depot needs to maintain an excellent reliability service to compete for nexus secured contracts and services 

if a depot can extend a shelf life of buses by 3 years say. jesus look at the DFDS buses as an example then  that is better isnt it ... 

It is when reliability becomes an issue you need to worry but why divide problems over depots when you can contain an issue to one depot or a few services 

Go Ahead group has the ability to displace vehicles (often London). 

But dont mess with something that works

(Yesterday, 1:16 pm)L469 YVK wrote Ah fair enough I suppose. I thought they'd be considered heavy duty like the Scania L94's, Volvo B10BLE's in that sense.

How did the original Mercs perform when allocated on the 43/44?

They werent the originals, the 07 reg batch from the X1 were