Today is the first day of Olympic Football in Newcastle, and Go North East have been operating a service X50 between MetroCentre Coach Park and Newcastle.
Below is a couple of pictures:
3873 on the service.
And
3967 on the service.
Yes, they have finally began arriving! Looking at the side I'm liking the Gold X design, I have high hopes for the livery on these!
They do look very smart. I'm assuming it will still be called the 'Tyne-Tees Express', judging by the 'X' design.
Just to confirm, the first to arrive will be the six new deckers for the X9/X10, alll of which will be in service w/c 11 August. These will be followed by the Red Arrows deckers, which will see these services fully double-deck operated.
(24/07/2012 16:10)B.I.Q. Wrote: [ -> ]The TEN will be converted to double decker operation at some point, it's a case of when. The suitability of both a standard diesel and a hybrid Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 will be tested on the route to see which is most appropriate. If it is deemed that hybrid deckers are suitable for the route, funding will be sought after from the Green Bus Fund. It is also likely that another batch of vehicles will be applied for though the Green Bus Fund.
I'd be interested to know where B.I.Q gets his information! There is no Green Bus Funding on offer from the DfT at the moment, so there are no plans to use hybrids on service TEN. Unless a GBF offer is suddenly available, I would anticipate that the TENs new vehicles will all be hi-spec B9s.
3 'Orbit' Versa's on the 'Quaylink' services, and another on the 27.
NK53UNT was on the 58.
S590KJF was on the X25.
Go North East have a Wright Streetlite DF demonstrator (ERZ 2028) on loan - currently parked up in Park Lane Interchange. It was displaying the 42 route when I got on the 36 bus home.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83287407@N0...otostream/
Apologies for the poor lighting! I was in a hurry and a 73 was waiting to pull out from the stand on my right. It's been a while since I've taken bus photos, trying to get used to it again!
Anyone had a ride in it?
I must say I think Wright bodywork looks very smart. If it's a good bus, I would be very happy to see GNE end up with a fleet comprising Streetlite 'wheel forward' small buses to replace the MPDs, Streetlite Max as the standard full-size single decker and Wright Gemini 2 as the standard double-decker (OK, just my fantasy, as it would take 14 years to achieve...!!!)
Ex-MetroCentre branded Wright Solar 5227 (NK54 NWA) is now green -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76984289@N0...otostream/ (Photo by aroundnortheastbuses on Flickr). Along with 4932 (Y932ERG) -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27204054@N07/7661756356/ (Photo by peter_b2008 on Flickr)
Both NK12CGO & NK12CGU (unsure of fleet numbers at present) are at Saltmeadows. Driver training may have commenced/will definitely commence on Monday (X9 driver told me he has been told to go down on Monday at 11am) for the digital tacograph usage. Unsure whether they will be gradually introduced or whether all will enter at the same time (Have been told one story from Saltmeadows and another from Sunderland Road.
(28/07/2012 16:15)Kate Wrote: [ -> ]Ex-MetroCentre branded Wright Solar 5227 (NK54 NWA) is now green - http://www.flickr.com/photos/76984289@N0...otostream/ (Photo by aroundnortheastbuses on Flickr). Along with 4932 (Y932ERG) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/27204054@N07/7661756356/ (Photo by peter_b2008 on Flickr)
Both NK12CGO & NK12CGU (unsure of fleet numbers at present) are at Saltmeadows. Driver training may have commenced/will definitely commence on Monday (X9 driver told me he has been told to go down on Monday at 11am) for the digital tacograph usage. Unsure whether they will be gradually introduced or whether all will enter at the same time (Have been told one story from Saltmeadows and another from Sunderland Road.
The plan is that they all go into service together on 11 August.