(27 Mar 2015, 5:52 pm)Robert wrote I don't think it was although it is highly likely anyway. Also, is the Q3 commercial? They seem to be taking a few contracted routes and turning them into commercial operations (3 in total)

I'm not sure if the Q3 is being run as commercial... best person to ask would be Dan or Citaro  

(27 Mar 2015, 5:55 pm)Michael wrote I'm not sure if the Q3 is being run as commercial... best person to ask would be Dan or Citaro  

To be honest though, if it was a contracted service, would they be renumbering the service and merging it in with two commercial routes? Suppose that should give the answer that the service is commercial. It just seems strange that they are taking 3 contracted routes over at the same time.

RThe x66 streetlites where getting branded up this morning when I was in 

(27 Mar 2015, 7:15 pm)Si1989 wrote RThe x66 streetlites where getting branded up this morning when I was in 

Might be out on Sunday/Monday/Tuesday, etc. in that case then! Don't GNE usually send newly branded buses out on Sundays?

(27 Mar 2015, 7:30 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Might be out on Sunday/Monday/Tuesday, etc. in that case then! Don't GNE usually send newly branded buses out on Sundays?

Yes although it doesnt really matter with the X66 as all 4 vehicles are out any day of the week.

........oooooooooooo,

Just waiting for some random Citaro and some other person to tell us when the launch is.....

They don't appear to be taxed. For reference, you can check online here - https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/

Why would you tax a bus 4 days before the end of a month? I expect these will make their debut just before Easter at a guess.

(27 Mar 2015, 7:58 pm)RM2186 wrote Why would you tax a bus 4 days before the end of a month? I expect these will make their debut just before Easter at a guess.

I thought that was irrelevant since the changes in October last year? 

Always wondered this:
Why were 3801-3804 given those fleet numbers when they are 2 years younger than 3811-3833? I assume it has something to do with the registrations but i have always been unable to get the point of it.

(27 Mar 2015, 8:29 pm)Robert wrote Always wondered this:
Why were 3801-3804 given those fleet numbers when they are 2 years younger than 3811-3833? I assume it has something to do with the registrations but i have always been unable to get the point of it.

Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolynes 3801 - 3804 were new to Bishop Auckland Depot. They were numbered separately to fit in with the former OK method of allocating fleet numbers. Originally intended to be allocated registration marks including the numbers '101' to '104' to match the OK Olympians (105 - 110), these vehicles were instead registered with registration marks including numbers '801' to '804' due to unavailability.

(26 Mar 2015, 6:00 am)Dan wrote My guess is that it had been to Thorntons for a deep clean, so that the bus is pristine when it transfers to Hexham for use on the AD122.

Much to my surprise, 561 (NK53 TLF) has been branded for service AD122. There's a large logo (usually where the "Tyndeale Links" logo would be) for the AD122, and sub-branding at the top with all the places the AD122 serves. It's not as good as Alba Travel's Solo SR (as seen below - for those who haven't seen it before), but it's a lot better than running around in a plain yellow base livery.

Exterior shot of Alba Travel of Penrith's YJ10EZA, Optare Solo SR by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

557 (NK53 TKV) was absent from Saltmeadows Road yesterday, so my guess is that Thorntons have got that at the moment, following the return of 561. I'd expect that 561 would now transfer directly to Hexham rather than to Hexham via Deptford.

(26 Mar 2015, 6:20 pm)JP6004 wrote AD122 branded MPD operating Npower Shuttle

(26 Mar 2015, 6:35 pm)Michael wrote Any pics of 561?

It was operating the nPower Park & Ride service again today - potentially for the last time depending on when Deptford releases 561! Photographs below:

Go North East: 561 / NK53TLF by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Go North East: 561 / NK53TLF by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

(27 Mar 2015, 8:58 pm)Dan wrote It was operating the nPower Park & Ride service again today - potentially for the last time depending on when Deptford releases 561! Photographs below:

Go North East: 561 / NK53TLF by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Go North East: 561 / NK53TLF by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Looks alright.

Few things to note from today.

5234 repainted black on the 45/46 today.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...otostream/

6033 did the honours for the last 919 tonight.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...otostream/

The brilliant shot I had of an Angel Hybrid displaying the white numbered turned out to be blurred when I looked at it on the laptop and I mucked up the rest of the shots with the white numbers today.

(27 Mar 2015, 8:58 pm)Dan wrote It was operating the nPower Park & Ride service again today - potentially for the last time depending on when Deptford releases 561! Photographs below:

Go North East: 561 / NK53TLF by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Go North East: 561 / NK53TLF by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Would think Deptford are clutching onto this as 628 is VOR by the looks of it, either 548 or 562 was parked on the Layover Area at Washington Galleries before doing the Evening 37s, and I am guessing either 629/630 or 640 are also VOR due to the allocation of 5371/4 on the 700 on Tuesday, just out of curiosity what has the allocations to the 700/701 been like since Tuesday.

oh dear...SN64 CTU has been involved in a little bump.

conway street brighton and hove bus company 8888 sn64ctu by lodekka2079, on Flickr

(27 Mar 2015, 8:58 pm)Dan wrote Photographs below:

Go North East: 561 / NK53TLF by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Go North East: 561 / NK53TLF by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

I'm disappointed by the branding - not nearly as striking as the Alba Travel design - but better than last year (just a card in the windscreen).

(27 Mar 2015, 9:36 pm)G-CPTN wrote I'm disappointed by the branding - not nearly as striking as the Alba Travel design - but better than last year (just a card in the windscreen).

I think it looks really smart - unfortunately, the funding just isn't there to go all flash with branding which is disappointing. Still better than a card in the windscreen and a plain yellow bus. 

I think it works well, and is a good example that all branding doesn't need to be extravagant.

(27 Mar 2015, 9:15 pm)Malarkey wrote Would think Deptford are clutching onto this as 628 is VOR by the looks of it, either 548 or 562 was parked on the Layover Area at Washington Galleries before doing the Evening 37s, and I am guessing either 629/630 or 640 are also VOR due to the allocation of 5371/4 on the 700 on Tuesday, just out of curiosity what has the allocations to the 700/701 been like since Tuesday.

629 is VOR with 628 covering on the 700. 548 covered for 628 on services 701/37 today.

In other news, Scania L94 4934 returned to Chester-le-Street this morning following its loan to Stanley yesterday.

(27 Mar 2015, 9:40 pm)Dan wrote 629 is VOR with 628 covering on the 700. 548 covered for 628 on services 701/37 today.

In other news, Scania L94 4934 returned to Chester-le-Street this morning following its loan to Stanley yesterday.

Thanks Dan, thought one of the Hybrids would be VOR.

Anyone expecting the first day of Service 128's operation this season to be quite packed? I would expect the 09:45, 10:45, 11:45 runs from Durham to be quite well-loaded, coming back to Durham at those times, I wouldn't expect so.

(27 Mar 2015, 8:03 pm)aureolin wrote I thought that was irrelevant since the changes in October last year? 

Afraid not regarding start date, tax today, pay for whole of March.

Does an know if the Quaylink services will receive new investment?

(27 Mar 2015, 11:07 pm)Davie wrote Does an know if the Quaylink services will receive new investment?

I've heard they will get new updated brandings etc to go with GNE's 'colour scheme' what ever that is!

It could be;

Red
Blue
Green
Orange
Purple
Pink
Indigo
Yellow
Aqua
Etc

(27 Mar 2015, 11:20 pm)leestransportphotos wrote I've heard they will get new updated brandings etc to go with GNE's 'colour scheme' what ever that is!

It could be;

Red
Blue
Green
Orange
Purple
Pink
Indigo
Yellow
Aqua
Etc

I think that the 'lemon' colour is distinctive.

It ain't broke so don't 'fix it'.

Just going on what I was told

(28 Mar 2015, 12:47 am)G-CPTN wrote I think that the 'lemon' colour is distinctive.

It ain't broke so don't 'fix it'.

But they will need to do something to reflect that the service is no longer contracted so i think they will at least be repainted. Plus you have the PVR increase with the X40 been merged in as Q3...

Venture branded Solo SR 646 is doing the first 128 of the season.

(28 Mar 2015, 9:40 am)aureolin wrote Venture branded Solo SR 646 is doing the first 128 of the season.

*Claps*

They can't even allocate the correct bus onto a route with 1 PVR.