Go North East: 2018/19 Financial Year Order Predictions

[Michael]

For those who aren't on the 'Busesnortheast' Facebook Group, a comment by Martjn Gilbert on photos of the Enviro Demos has confirmed the following regarding the new vehicles:

The Enviro200MMCs are for Riverside depot, not Washington.
The initial Double Decker order will be for Consett and Stanley area services (presumably confirming the E400s are low-height examples for the X30, matches the PVR)
The additional vehicle added to the order is indeed a Streetdeck but unlike the rest, this will feature the 6 cylinder engine as a trial - as such, it will operated out of every depot at various points.

Thanks for sharing.

[deanmachine]

Had a feeling that those E200s were for the 97. Not like GNE these days to order no spare buses, which there wouldn't of been if they were for the 4.

[JP6004]

Had a feeling that those E200s were for the 97. Not like GNE these days to order no spare buses, which there wouldn't of been if they were for the 4.

Isn't the PVR for the 97 also 11?

[L469 YVK]

So will this mean the following?:
- 10x + 1x spare E200MMC for 97/97A
- 14+2x spare StreetDeck OM936 for 45/46/47
- 13x+1x spare StreetDeck OM936 for X1
- 3x E400MMC for X30
- 1x float StreetDeck OM936

[Kuyoyo]

So will this mean the following?: - 10x + 1x spare E200MMC for 97/97A - 14+2x spare StreetDeck OM936 for 45/46/47 - 13x+1x spare StreetDeck OM936 for X1 - 3x E400MMC for X30 - 1x float StreetDeck OM936

Interestingly, someone else commented on that photo that Washington are not due any new buses this year. Whether than just means if any are due, they're not due until early next year, is anyone's guess.
Also, there's only 1 OM936 Streetdeck - the float. The rest, as stated by Mr Gilbert, are the standard OM934 version.

[NewcastleOne]

Isn't the PVR for the 97 also 11?

No it’s 10

[JP6004]

No it’s 10

Ah thought it increased a couple years back

[L469 YVK]

Interestingly, someone else commented on that photo that Washington are not due any new buses this year. Whether than just means if any are due, they're not due until early next year, is anyone's guess.
Also, there's only 1 OM936 Streetdeck - the float. The rest, as stated by Mr Gilbert, are the standard OM934 version.

Unless the OM934s for Red Kite were ordered before MG took charge of GNE and MG want's to assess multiple vehicle types for the X1.

[JP6004]

Unless the OM934s for Red Kite were ordered before MG took charge of GNE and MG want's to assess multiple vehicle types for the X1.

A fair few demos have been on the X1. I can't see all 34 deckers going to consett. Let's not forget officially the X1 hasnt been ruled out.

[L469 YVK]

A fair few demos have been on the X1. I can't see all 34 deckers going to consett. Let's not forget officially the X1 hasnt been ruled out.

I think it will happen for the X1 but with Wrightbus now offering the OM936, that changes things a bit and GNE need to evaluate both the E400MMC more intensely and also evaluate Wrightbus' improved offering.

[JP6004]

I think it will happen for the X1 but with Wrightbus now offering the OM936, that changes things a bit and GNE need to evaluate both the E400MMC more intensely and also evaluate Wrightbus' improved offering.

Maybe they evaluating for X21 as they don't seem to cope very well on the long route

[BusLoverMum]

Maybe they evaluating for X21 as they don't seem to cope very well on the long route

Now this baffles me. Surely a bus in service for 12 hours or so is in service for 12 hours or so, whether the route is 5 miles or 50? Isn't the issue more accurately that those streetdecks don't like the fast stretches? </pedantic>

[JP6004]

Now this baffles me. Surely a bus in service for 12 hours or so is in service for 12 hours or so, whether the route is 5 miles or 50? Isn't the issue more accurately that those streetdecks don't like the fast stretches? </pedantic>

I didn't think u got any fast stretches will those streetdecks

[Michael]

For those who aren't on the 'Busesnortheast' Facebook Group, a comment by Martjn Gilbert on photos of the Enviro Demos has confirmed the following regarding the new vehicles:

The Enviro200MMCs are for Riverside depot, not Washington.
The initial Double Decker order will be for Consett and Stanley area services (presumably confirming the E400s are low-height examples for the X30, matches the PVR)
The additional vehicle added to the order is indeed a Streetdeck but unlike the rest, this will feature the 6 cylinder engine as a trial - as such, it will operated out of every depot at various points.

33 Deckers (+ 1 for the trial)

16 for Red Kite (2 spare)
10 for X31/X70/X71 (1 spare)
3 E400MMC on the X30

4 - Not sure where they could go...

>11 Single deckers:

97/97A - 1 spare

[Stanleyone]

33 Deckers (+ 1 for the trial)

16 for Red Kite (2 spare)

10 for X31/X70/X71 (1 spare)

3 E400MMC on the X30

11 Single deckers: 97/97A - 1 spare

I like your thinking Michael. As MG has said the additional streetdeck will be a spare for all streetdeck depots, so in your thinking it will be Chester-Le-Street, Consett and Crook. Will the X31 return to Consett?, maybe the X30,X31,X70 & X71 might get the Xlines treatment with new E400s & streetdecks. Is the streetdeck available in low height to go under Dunston bridge otherwise in the event that a E400 is unavailable it’ll be a omnidekka replacement

[Michael]

I like your thinking Michael. As MG has said the additional streetdeck will be a spare for all streetdeck depots, so in your thinking it will be Chester-Le-Street, Consett and Crook. Will the X31 return to Consett?, maybe the X30,X31,X70 & X71 might get the Xlines treatment with new E400s & streetdecks. Is the streetdeck available in low height to go under Dunston bridge otherwise in the event that a E400 is unavailable it’ll be a omnidekka replacement

The spare Streetdeck, will be used at all Depots at some point, probables starting at Riverside and ending at Deptford - Can't see it heading to Peterlee and Saltmeadows though.


I think the Xlines could be used on the X30,X31,X70 and X71, if they get deckers.

I just hope if the Red Kite gets deckers... then the bird will be designed around the advertisement boards, they look daft with half of the bird cut off!

[L469 YVK]

Well going by the word 'initial' and also the Stanley / Consett areas being mentioned, that will presumably be the 3x E400MMCs, 16x StreetDecks (OM934) & 1x float (OM936). Then depending upon the results obtained from the E400MMC demo (incl the 3x on the X30) and the OM936 StreetDeck, the next batch using funds from this year's budget will be for the X1 either late on this year or early next year depending on what happens.

Phase 1 predictions:
- 10x + 1x spare E200MMC for 97/97A (Solars withdrawn)
- 14x + 2x spare Wright StreetDeck OM934 for 45/46/47
- 3x E400MMC for X30
- 1x float Wright StreetDeck OM936

Phase 1 cascades (Option 1):
- 8x StreetLites for 58
- 5x StreetLites for 12/12A
- 1x StreetLite Riverside spare
- 8x Versas (plus another sourced) for 93/94
- 6118-20 for 15/15A
- 6121 spare either at Hownsgill or Crook (may be temporarily at Percy Main for Coaster PVR increase)
- 8x Mercs (5x from 12/12A + 3x from 57 IF curtailed) for 6/X31

Phase 1 cascades (Option 2):
- 8x StreetLites for 6/X31
- 5x StreetLites for X70/X71 (busier boards allocated spare StreetDecks or 6121 if not required on 15/15A/45/46/47)
- 1x StreetLite spare for either Hownsgill or Riverside
- 6118-20 for 15/15A
- 6121 spare at Hownsgill
- Ex London B9TLs displaced elsewhere within fleet or moved to another Go-Ahead division

[Malarkey]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the possibility of the 16/16A possibly getting upgraded to double deckers yet rather than the X70/X71 given the B9's have only been on those services 14 months.

[NewcastleOne]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the possibility of the 16/16A possibly getting upgraded to double deckers yet rather than the X70/X71 given the B9's have only been on those services 14 months.

I would have thought if they were going to be upgraded then they would get B9s off another route rather than new stock.

[Rapidsnap]

The Streetdeck is available in low height form as Oxford Bus Company has a fleet of them due to the low bridge at the Railway Station.

Here is a pair of them https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...6306406476