(23 Jun 2025, 9:38 am)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote 5454 is in Sunderland doing the 24s. Seen it but couldn't get a photo.

Not the best but got a quick snap of it.

A few cancellations on the 21 today

6316 was due on the long run to Brandon before being pulled onto the X10

6354 got pulled onto the 21 and starting from Gateshead 35 mins late, ran to Brandon bypassing Birtley and large parts of CLS but arrived on time

(24 Jun 2025, 3:18 pm)Ambassador wrote A few cancellations on the 21 today

6316 was due on the long run to Brandon before being pulled onto the X10

6354 got pulled onto the 21 and starting from Gateshead 35 mins late, ran to Brandon bypassing Birtley and large parts of CLS but arrived on time

Not making excuses for GoNorthEast, but it's more likely because of the absolute chaos in Durham today with issues on the A1(M) and a second incident on Sniperly roundabout at the opposite side of Durham.

Unsure why the swap happened earlier in the day though.

Aye. That accident at Sniperly caused half hour delays around 4pm. Particularly bad as Dryburn road is closed north (out) bound so traffic is diverted already.

The incompetence has reached new levels. 6361 failed at Peterlee on the X10 today after running out of fuel. 

I've noticed recently that the Streetdecks tend to get swapped off around 18:00, often then dropping onto the next board, which I now assume is for a refuel. Evidently someone has gambled on this one being able to make it for one more trip, and it's backfired rather embarrassingly.

(24 Jun 2025, 7:50 pm)Storx wrote Not making excuses for GoNorthEast, but it's more likely because of the absolute chaos in Durham today with issues on the A1(M) and a second incident on Sniperly roundabout at the opposite side of Durham.

Unsure why the swap happened earlier in the day though.

Driving hours ?

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(25 Jun 2025, 9:46 pm)PH - BQA wrote The incompetence has reached new levels. 6361 failed at Peterlee on the X10 today after running out of fuel. 

I've noticed recently that the Streetdecks tend to get swapped off around 18:00, often then dropping onto the next board, which I now assume is for a refuel. Evidently someone has gambled on this one being able to make it for one more trip, and it's backfired rather embarrassingly.

must admit it is a canny daily mileage

(25 Jun 2025, 9:46 pm)PH - BQA wrote The incompetence has reached new levels. 6361 failed at Peterlee on the X10 today after running out of fuel. 

I've noticed recently that the Streetdecks tend to get swapped off around 18:00, often then dropping onto the next board, which I now assume is for a refuel. Evidently someone has gambled on this one being able to make it for one more trip, and it's backfired rather embarrassingly.

If GNE can't sustain the X10 properly and are comstantly putting put 4 pot heaps of *****, they should give it up and allow Stagecoach Transit or Arriva Durham County & Tees the chance to run it properly.........both having depots in Teesside

(26 Jun 2025, 11:36 am)L469 YVK wrote If GNE can't sustain the X10 properly and are comstantly putting put 4 pot heaps of *****, they should give it up and allow Stagecoach Transit or Arriva Durham County & Tees the chance to run it properly.........both having depots in Teesside

Even if they had a depot in Peterlee where buses could be swapped or basic on the go engineering such as a coolant top up rather than wait for assistance from Riverside. 

Alternatively, use vehicles which are better suited to longer distance high speed running rather than a small engine at high/max revs for prolonged periods of time.

(26 Jun 2025, 5:12 pm)morritt89 wrote Even if they had a depot in Peterlee where buses could be swapped or basic on the go engineering such as a coolant top up rather than wait for assistance from Riverside. 

Alternatively, use vehicles which are better suited to longer distance high speed running rather than a small engine at high/max revs for prolonged periods of time.

The Enviros are fine, it's the lack of fleet rotation / suitable backups which are killing them!

I wonder why GNE are sending StreetDecks on it though rather than TVT / Crusader B9TLs?

(26 Jun 2025, 8:21 pm)L469 YVK wrote I wonder why GNE are sending StreetDecks on it though rather than TVT / Crusader B9TLs?

To be honest I had the same thought. The B9s can do a day on it on one tank of fuel, and even at their age are surely still more suited than some pretty knackered StreetDecks. After all, Arriva are still utilising slightly younger B9s on the X93/4 on a daily basis.

(26 Jun 2025, 8:31 pm)PH - BQA wrote To be honest I had the same thought. The B9s can do a day on it on one tank of fuel, and even at their age are surely still more suited than some pretty knackered StreetDecks. After all, Arriva are still utilising slightly younger B9s on the X93/4 on a daily basis.

GNEs B9s like to overheat when on long journeys at high speed.

(23 Jun 2025, 2:07 pm)F114TML wrote Not the best but got a quick snap of it.

Why was 5454 in Sunderland bit of a distance from Percy main

(27 Jun 2025, 1:53 am)deanmachine wrote GNEs B9s like to overheat when on long journeys at high speed.

GNE are doing a disservice to the X10 & X21.

Total PVR of both services is 12x (or 15x if X9 brought back).

A new batch of deckers properly rotated between the two routes and looked after, would give 7 years of service. Then maybe cascade them onto something like the 27 or 16/16A/X5/X15 for the next 7 years and repeat.

If they're not going to sort out suitable vehicles for the route, I'd bet a few quid the fed up passengers start looking for an alternative.

Whether it's one not turning up, turning up late, or stuck in a lay-by on the A19, there's only so much that passengers can take.

(27 Jun 2025, 5:52 pm)Andreos1 wrote If they're not going to sort out suitable vehicles for the route, I'd bet a few quid the fed up passengers start looking for an alternative.

Whether it's one not turning up, turning up late, or stuck in a lay-by on the A19, there's only so much that passengers can take.

GNE need to forget about using eldon square on the X10, then coaches could be used. Most of the DD coaches with PSVAR have the wheelchair ramp on the rear door.

(27 Jun 2025, 7:19 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote GNE need to forget about using eldon square on the X10, then coaches could be used. Most of the DD coaches with PSVAR have the wheelchair ramp on the rear door.

Double Decker coaches are a no go as they have horrendous steps to get on board for normal passengers. Normal coaches can use Eldon Square anyway and there's products on the market nowadays that have a low floor at the front anyway (Plaxton Panther LE)

(27 Jun 2025, 7:19 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote GNE need to forget about using eldon square on the X10, then coaches could be used. Most of the DD coaches with PSVAR have the wheelchair ramp on the rear door.

Quite the opposite ...  GNE and every bus operator pays NEXUS  about 80-90p per bus to enter that bus station...

If there is an issue then we need Nexus to fix this to make buses suitable to use stands  not drive buses away from a Bus Station 

The whole point of a Bus Station is for Buses to meet up. 

Worst case scenario is to move bus stations move it from Eldon Square to Haymarket  and use the first stand as a bus drives in.

Could GNE not:

- Buy Plaxton Panther LE's? - Eldon Square issue resolved.

- Re-instate the X9 - still more capacity than just an hourly X10.

- Peak time extras between Newcastle and Peterlee......and matchday duplicates between Newcastle and Peterlee using normal buses.

I know there'd be ad-hoc occasions where 53 seats might not be enough, but surely there are trends and data available for GNE to act accordingly with hot spares and duplicates.

(29 Jun 2025, 8:14 am)L469 YVK wrote Could GNE not:

- Buy Plaxton Panther LE's? - Eldon Square issue resolved.

- Re-instate the X9 - still more capacity than just an hourly X10.

- Peak time extras between Newcastle and Peterlee......and matchday duplicates between Newcastle and Peterlee using normal buses.

I know there'd be ad-hoc occasions where  53 seats might not be enough, but surely there are trends and data available for GNE to act accordingly with hot spares and duplicates.

The caetano boavista also has front wheelchair boarding. I would also consider the same for the X21 if possible.

https://www.busandcoachcentre.co.uk/info...c-for-sale

(29 Jun 2025, 2:11 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote The caetano boavista also has front wheelchair boarding. I would also consider the same for the X21 if possible.

https://www.busandcoachcentre.co.uk/info...c-for-sale

Definitely bit overkill for the X21.

But would one of these fit in Eldon Square though?

6190 appears to have died outside of Tesco at Annfield Plain

The forums new Versa on the 21 (autumn 2024) is now…angel pulled off the 21 to rescue an X10

5385 expired on the H today at the Freeman.

Just a thought here....would a 12m Volvo B8L with the low height EvoSeti or E400MMC bodywork not be a solution for the X10 with the 1600nm torque ZF option?

I'm sure with only x4 purchased, GNE could keep them on the X10 for 7-8 years and then as there'd only be x4 as opposed to x7 when Martijn ruled out the idea back in 2019/20, they could be utilised as good spares......even on something like the 327.

At 12m, they'd have no issues in Eldon Square considering 12m OmniDekkas have been used in Eldon Square before.