Did a few GNE routes on Monday. Used a couple of Streetlites on the X66 and Red Kite services with e-Leather and a mock laminate floor effect. Not bad but kind of prefer the older blue interior/moquette style GNE had. Did the Pronto X22 and interestingly it got to Chester-le-Street only a minute or so earlier than the normal 22 I let go from Gateshead. It's interesting the Red Kite deckers still have the Volvo demonstrator interiors which I quite like, will GNE refurb these some time soon or keep them as is and do a refurb say 5 or so years from now. Also notice the 10-plate Optare Versa's for QuayLink are being debranded. Are some new vehicles coming in for this route/wonder where these Versa's will be re-allocated to if so.
(04/07/2015 20:17)Metroline1511 Wrote: [ -> ]The Quaylink services are due to merge with Orbit routes 51 and 52 on July 26th. Further details are available here
http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-...july-2015/
Old Q1 service merges with 51 and 52 to provide new services Q1 and Q2.
Old Q2 service merges with X40 to provide new service Q3.
(02/07/2015 19:26)Gillmoss 0324 Wrote: [ -> ]Did a few GNE routes on Monday. Used a couple of Streetlites on the X66 and Red Kite services with e-Leather and a mock laminate floor effect. Not bad but kind of prefer the older blue interior/moquette style GNE had. Did the Pronto X22 and interestingly it got to Chester-le-Street only a minute or so earlier than the normal 22 I let go from Gateshead. It's interesting the Red Kite deckers still have the Volvo demonstrator interiors which I quite like, will GNE refurb these some time soon or keep them as is and do a refurb say 5 or so years from now. Also notice the 10-plate Optare Versa's for QuayLink are being debranded. Are some new vehicles coming in for this route/wonder where these Versa's will be re-allocated to if so.
Hi, the Optare Versas previously used on the ''Quaylink'' services in Gateshead and Newcastle are being debranded in preparation for a big route amalgamation. I don't understand it myself, in terms of the route changes, but the outline is that the ''Quaylink'' services Q1 and Q2, along with ''a Orbit'' services 51 and 52, as well as ''Great Park & Ride'' service X40; are to become service Q1 (Q1 and 51 combined), service Q2 (Q1 and 52 combined) and Q3 (bringing the X40 into the ''Q'' group of services). There will be no new buses for the Quaylink services, although Go North East are taking it over on a commercial basis (previously received funding I believe!).
I'm not sure on the ''Red Kite'' branded Volvo B9s, used on the 47 service, being internally redone to the standard Go North East seating moquette. Some of the former Oxford Volvo B10BLEs (dual-door, ugh!) still retain their red seating from their Oxford days, and they've been with us for years. I agree with your comments about the e-leather seating used in the Wright Streetlites recently deployed onto ''Coast & Countey'' services 8/78, ''X66 MetroCentre'' service X66 and ''Red Kite'' services 45/46; I much prefer the fabric that I have become accustomed to. On a hot day, the buses can get awfully stuffy. The smell of leather to add to this isn't really nice, either. Just one more point, the ''Pronto'' service and ''Angel'' service are the 21 and X21, not the 22 and X22 (although there is an X22 between Durham and the MetroCentre!).
I hope this answers a few of your questions.
Marcus
Volvo Olympian/Northern Counties Palatine 2 3813 (S813 OFT) was withdrawn from Stanley depot just days ago, with the arrival of more Scania OmniDekkas from Brighton and Hove.
One of these OmniDekkas, 6133, has received a very smart and special livery for Metro Radio, which can be seen on this photograph here (by Lee Calder):
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/128497080@...39730@N02/
The remains of former ''Lime'' branded Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown 4851 (R851 PRG) were removed by Alpha Recovery from the rear of Chester-le-Street depot last week, having been parked up and used for spares since it's withdrawal in August 2014!
One of the new ''Quaylink'' branded Optare Versas has arrived at Saltmeadows Road depot to receive a special livery celebrating gay, lesbian and bisexual pride, known as the ''Pride Bus''. It is expected to be treated as an ordinary branded bus, appearing on the ''Quaylink'' services Q1/Q2/Q3. There is to be a launch on Saturday in Newcastle City Centre. I for one think it is fantastic that Go North East are supporting this.
On Monday, an Enviro400MMC demonstrator, registered YY64 GWX, arrived at Saltmeadows Road depot to be prepared. On Tuesday, it entered service at Crook depot to be used on ''Pronto'' service X21 between Newcastle and Bishop Auckland, which is expected to receive investment. It is expected to be on trial for two weeks.
Today, a second demonstrator, a Wright Streetdeck Gemini 3 registered SN64 CTU, arrived at Saltmeadows Road depot. It is here for two months, being trialled for one month on the ''Pronto'' X21 and then the second is currently not known. It was due here on Monday the 6th July, but was involved in an accident with it's previous company and had to be repaired. I imagine it will enter service tomorrow.
It is reported that at least half of the new Solo SRs have arrived at Saltmeadows Road depot.
I believe all of the ''indiGo'' Optare Solo SRs have arrived at Saltmeadows Road depot for preparation. One example is at Peterlee (the hub of that group of services) for driver familiarisation.