(15 Jul 2025, 6:08 pm)Malarkey wrote I'd expect from new buses coming in the forthcoming months that the following would be withdrawn:

Volvo B7TL Wright Gemini 3941-43/3962-65: Hopefully some go into Preservation, I do think a donation of at least x2 of them to Beamish Museum would be ideal for there vintage bus services as I think they need them to help the those with disabilities navigate around the Museum as I seen a lot of people struggling when I was there a few weeks back, I'd also add 8319 in the donation list when that gets withdrawn.

Also withdrawn would be Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini 6177-79-6196 and Dennis Trident Enviro 400/Olympus' - 6944-66 /6970-76.

Yeah that's my thoughts aswell, have a feeling some of the dual door E400's might go aswell, believe there's enough without going counting. 

Depending what happens the B5TL's might come free with these X20 rumours flying around aswell. Well when I say free they won't be allocated to anything but as usual 4/7 are VOR again today. It's a shame they couldn't bundle an extra few on the 56 order for it tbh. The PVR will be only 3 or 4 depending if they can knock 5 minutes off it.

Surely the 60 is due new buses very soon

Not fleet livery, 8807 at Riverside

(15 Jul 2025, 6:48 pm)NL62WVW wrote Not fleet livery, 8807 at Riverside

Interesting, I take it more of them will be repainted?

(15 Jul 2025, 7:02 pm)Michael wrote Interesting, I take it more of them will be repainted?

Yeah all will be done, new Coltrane livery apparently

(15 Jul 2025, 7:31 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote Yeah all will be done, new Coltrane livery apparently

Interesting, seems like a random livery change though, will the Q3 buses be done too or is it just the ones on the 53/54?

(15 Jul 2025, 7:36 pm)Michael wrote Interesting, seems like a random livery change though, will the Q3 buses be done too or is it just the ones on the 53/54?

Is this the end for Go-Ahead's ownership, its a firstbus-esque liverly after all.

(15 Jul 2025, 7:31 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote Yeah all will be done, new Coltrane livery apparently

New Coltrane livery replacing Voltra?

(15 Jul 2025, 6:48 pm)NL62WVW wrote Not fleet livery, 8807 at Riverside

Coltrane Livery 

Man there goes my hopes of "Washington Street Shuttle Voltra" up in smoke 

To be honest though those E10's need a repaint as they're looking a bit worse for wear.

(15 Jul 2025, 9:05 pm)Malarkey wrote Coltrane Livery 

Man there goes my hopes of "Washington Street Shuttle Voltra" up in smoke 

To be honest though those E10's need a repaint as they're looking a bit worse for wear.

I was hoping for "Drifters Voltra" but hey, never mind.

(15 Jul 2025, 4:19 pm)Retro Nero wrote I believe the Explorers and Drifters are next

677 & 678 also repainted

(15 Jul 2025, 9:05 pm)Malarkey wrote Coltrane Livery 

Man there goes my hopes of "Washington Street Shuttle Voltra" up in smoke 

To be honest though those E10's need a repaint as they're looking a bit worse for wear.

I'm just waiting for the next livery to be named after a Scottish Actor. 

Alan Cumming or Brian Cox liveries would be popular amongst some of our members.

Why wouldn’t the electrics just be put into corporate livery (perhaps with a tag line about them being zero emissions)?
Why the swooping livery that looks nothing like the rest of GNE?

(15 Jul 2025, 6:24 pm)Storx wrote Yeah that's my thoughts aswell, have a feeling some of the dual door E400's might go aswell, believe there's enough without going counting. 

Depending what happens the B5TL's might come free with these X20 rumours flying around aswell. Well when I say free they won't be allocated to anything but as usual 4/7 are VOR again today. It's a shame they couldn't bundle an extra few on the 56 order for it tbh. The PVR will be only 3 or 4 depending if they can knock 5 minutes off it.

Would it not be worth swapping these with East Yorkshire's 7x dealer stock B9TLs (including ex 6118-21)? East Yorkshire would be better supporting these as they already have several B5TLs.

Then for the ex dealer stocks even if not Euro 6 - GNE could use them on the likes of the X5/X15, X20, 16/16A which don't go into the CAZ.

(17 Jul 2025, 4:09 pm)L469 YVK wrote Would it not be worth swapping these with East Yorkshire's 7x dealer stock B9TLs (including ex 6118-21)? East Yorkshire would be better supporting these as they already have several B5TLs.

Then for the ex dealer stocks even if not Euro 6 - GNE could use them on the likes of the X5/X15, X20, 16/16A which don't go into the CAZ.

Guess it depends what the new E400's displace out ff the rumours are true.

Wouldn't be surprised if it's those that go as part of it and down to East Yorkshire but nothing coming in return. 

I don't know what the loads are like on the X20, but the deckers I believe are on there because of the college students at the Western side of the route which is also rumoured to be getting split off. 

Maybe it might be downgraded to single decker? There's the E200MMC's around which could easily be sent there from Consett and Riverside with Streetlites and the ex Fab 56 B9's going in the opposite direction? Could maybe upgrade the Drifter aswell which is desperate for newer vehicles? 

Obviously Riverside's being replaced by electrics soon anyway.

(17 Jul 2025, 4:50 pm)Storx wrote Guess it depends what the new E400's displace out ff the rumours are true.

Wouldn't be surprised if it's those that go as part of it and down to East Yorkshire but nothing coming in return. 

I don't know what the loads are like on the X20, but the deckers I believe are on there because of the college students at the Western side of the route which is also rumoured to be getting split off. 

Maybe it might be downgraded to single decker? There's the E200MMC's around which could easily be sent there from Consett and Riverside with Streetlites and the ex Fab 56 B9's going in the opposite direction? Could maybe upgrade the Drifter aswell which is desperate for newer vehicles? 

Obviously Riverside's being replaced by electrics soon anyway.

I believe much of the requirements for double deckers on the X20 are around school/college start/finish times from the Langley Park end, so if the X20 is being split off at Durham, then I see no reason why single deckers would be an issue for the X20.

Dread to think what else they have planned in terms of route & timetable changes.

(17 Jul 2025, 5:03 pm)Jimmi wrote I believe much of the requirements for double deckers on the X20 are around school/college start/finish times from the Langley Park end, so if the X20 is being split off at Durham, then I see no reason why single deckers would be an issue for the X20.

Used to manage with solos didn't it when it was just Sun-Dur

I have a feeling the B5s will be off like is said here. It would explain why they haven't bothered repainting them.

(17 Jul 2025, 5:03 pm)Jimmi wrote I believe much of the requirements for double deckers on the X20 are around school/college start/finish times from the Langley Park end, so if the X20 is being split off at Durham, then I see no reason why single deckers would be an issue for the X20.

Dread to think what else they have planned in terms of route & timetable changes.

Yeah thought they were, just wasn't too sure. You're right there though and no doubt none of it is positive, as it never is tbh.

(17 Jul 2025, 5:41 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Used to manage with solos didn't it when it was just Sun-Dur

Got upgraded to the Mercs quite quickly as the Solo's stuggled if I remember right but definitely started with them. If they do cut it back to less than 45 minutes somehow, then the 3x E200MMC's at Riverside which are getting displaced by the electrics would be ideal for it really. There's not really anywhere else where they'd be useful.

Could you not have the X20 as Sunderland-Houghton DIRECT - Durham with E200 and bringback the 20a to rainton

(17 Jul 2025, 7:48 pm)Unber43 wrote Could you not have the X20 as Sunderland-Houghton DIRECT - Durham with E200 and bringback the 20a to rainton

Yeah, not sure it would be useful though. Truthfully I don't think you'll get it under 45 minutes though. 

Just remembered the 9 has a ridiculous layover right now of like 29 minutes every round trip so interworking with that's probably the more likely option.

(17 Jul 2025, 7:08 pm)Storx wrote Yeah thought they were, just wasn't too sure. You're right there though and no doubt none of it is positive, as it never is tbh.


Got upgraded to the Mercs quite quickly as the Solo's stuggled if I remember right but definitely started with them. If they do cut it back to less than 45 minutes somehow, then the 3x E200MMC's at Riverside which are getting displaced by the electrics would be ideal for it really. There's not really anywhere else where they'd be useful.

Not sure about a revised X20, but I reckon 6086-6100 will all end up at Consett on the 16/16A, 47, X5/X15 and X45.

If the Angel StreetDecks end up at Percy Main, then 6101-17 split with some at Riverside on the X21 with the rest to Consett allowing 6043-48 to become just 'spares'.

Then 6356-63 can join the rest of the StreetDecks at Washington and allow 6301-07 to take a more backseat role too.

(17 Jul 2025, 8:41 pm)L469 YVK wrote Not sure about a revised X20, but I reckon 6086-6100 will all end up at Consett on the 16/16A, 47, X5/X15 and X45.

If the Angel StreetDecks end up at Percy Main, then 6101-17 split with some at Riverside on the X21 with the rest to Consett allowing 6043-48 to become just 'spares'.

Then 6356-63 can join the rest of the StreetDecks at Washington and allow 6301-07 to take a more backseat role too.

Kind of agree but not the 16/16A. Personally I have a feeling it might be:

Deptford:
56 - 15x E400MMC's
9/X20 Interworking - 7x E200MMC's from Consett

Consett
6/78 - Streetlite's (including 5391-4 moving across from Deptford from the 9)
X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X72/X73 - E400MMC's
X5/X15/X45/47/Langley Park Service - Derwent Ranger/Fab 56 B9TL's

Withdrawn
7x B5TL
9x Junk From Consett (Extra 1 from the 9 being cut at Jarrow) 

The fact they've prioritised these Streetlite's aswell, is a kind of a hint they're going on another route, especially at Consett.

It's basically what the allocations have been for weeks anyway due to the Consett mechanical woes.

(17 Jul 2025, 8:46 pm)Storx wrote Kind of agree but not the 16/16A. Personally I have a feeling it might be:

Deptford:
56 - 15x E400MMC's
9/X20 Interworking - 7x E200MMC's from Consett

Consett
6/78 - Streetlite's (including 5391-4 moving across from Deptford from the 9)
X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X72/X73 - E400MMC's
X5/X15/X45/47/Langley Park Service - Derwent Ranger/Fab 56 B9TL's

Withdrawn
7x B5TL
9x Junk From Consett (Extra 1 from the 9 being cut at Jarrow) 

The fact they've prioritised these Streetlite's aswell, is a kind of a hint they're going on another route, especially at Consett.

It's basically what the allocations have been for weeks anyway due to the Consett mechanical woes.

Which is exactly the point I made on another thread, but will leave it at that.

Asides, looks pretty solid and well thought out IMO. The former TTX B9's (6043-48) will eventually need to 'just' become spares.

Surely 60 is due electrics as the first deptford service eventually

(17 Jul 2025, 9:07 pm)L469 YVK wrote Which is exactly the point I made on another thread, but will leave it at that.

Asides, looks pretty solid and well thought out IMO. The former TTX B9's (6043-48) will eventually need to 'just' become spares.

Yeah, if I've done my maths they pretty much would be anyway, sure the PVR for all them are 15.

(17 Jul 2025, 9:25 pm)Storx wrote Yeah, if I've done my maths they pretty much would be anyway, sure the PVR for all them are 15.

Would PVR not be?

- X45 - 5
- 47 - 7
- X5/X15 - 5

Also taking into account the extra bus in the 47 cycle from next week, and a re-routing of the X5/X15 meaning a likely PVR increase

(17 Jul 2025, 5:03 pm)Jimmi wrote I believe much of the requirements for double deckers on the X20 are around school/college start/finish times from the Langley Park end, so if the X20 is being split off at Durham, then I see no reason why single deckers would be an issue for the X20.

Dread to think what else they have planned in terms of route & timetable changes.

Pretty sure the deckers were allocated because they were spare and the PVR fitted. 

The bonus being it passed the college. Think that was more luck than design though.

The rest being post covid BSIP and PR spin.

(17 Jul 2025, 9:08 pm)Unber43 wrote Surely 60 is due electrics as the first deptford service eventually

Only when the government pay for it.

(17 Jul 2025, 10:21 pm)L469 YVK wrote Would PVR not be?

- X45 - 5
- 47 - 7
- X5/X15 - 5

Also taking into account the extra bus in the 47 cycle from next week, and a re-routing of the X5/X15 meaning a likely PVR increase

The 47 currently is 6 and the X5/X15 4 isn't it? I haven't fully checked but believe that's what they are.