City Transport have advertised an event they are doing on Monday evening, ahead of their takeover of the Sunderland Connect contract.

(16 Aug 2025, 3:36 pm)S830OFT wrote City Transport have advertised an event they are doing on Monday evening, ahead of their takeover of the Sunderland Connect contract.

Shame I can't make the event, as I'm at work but hope it all goes well.


Anyone know what will be allocated to the 700/701 when they takeover in September?


I'm not sure if the fleet list on their website is up to date.

Where is the event?

[https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jamesfair...5504-uVPw/

'Presenting the future of City Transport' - just happened to come across this for when the Optare Solo SR first came out...
https://youtu.be/UyP_envYizA?si=7cFqOUzNGCLFc9Tp

I wonder if a Solo would be the best choice for the 700, as aside from ex-GNE 5323 I don't believe they currently have anything else that would comfortably get round the route...

Citaro artic. having a problem the other day in Sunderland pulling out of Frederick Street into Borough Rd , a refuse truck and another bus having to reverse so the citaro could negotiate the turn .The 700 route obviously tight for the artic.

Anyone know when the new contract starts?

GNE have yet to post, they've lost the contract.

(24 Aug 2025, 4:00 pm)Michael wrote Anyone know when the new contract starts?

GNE have yet to post, they've lost the contract.

September changes

(24 Aug 2025, 4:00 pm)Michael wrote Anyone know when the new contract starts?

GNE have yet to post, they've lost the contract.

GNE last day of service for the 700 is Sunday 7th September, last day of 701 is Saturday 6th September

(22 Aug 2025, 8:45 pm)Retro Nero wrote Citaro artic. having a problem the other day in Sunderland  pulling out of Frederick Street into Borough Rd , a refuse truck and another bus having to reverse so the citaro could negotiate the turn .The 700 route obviously tight for the artic.

Amazed it managed to negotiate West/East Sunniside along with junction at Frederick Street/Athenaeum Street.

Citaro Artics are far to big for this route in terms of length, perfect for capacity and people moving. Think City Transport should use 5323 or find a Decker that is more suitable for the contract.

Ensign have shed loads of Buses for sale at the moment.

(24 Aug 2025, 5:18 pm)N1cholas wrote GNE last day of service for the 700 is Sunday 7th September, last day of 701 is Saturday 6th September

Cheers

(24 Aug 2025, 5:38 pm)Malarkey wrote Amazed it managed to negotiate West/East Sunniside along with junction at Frederick Street/Athenaeum Street.

Citaro Artics are far to big for this route in terms of length, perfect for capacity and people moving. Think City Transport should use 5323 or find a Decker that is more suitable for the contract.

Ensign have shed loads of Buses for sale at the moment.

Not to mention Park Lane is unsuitable for them too. They must be using something else?

Strange, Park Lane hasn't been an issue for Bendy Buses before - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...4108462576

(24 Aug 2025, 7:58 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Strange, Park Lane hasn't been an issue for Bendy Buses before - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...4108462576

I don't think that's very safe using a 2 door vehicle on stand S, as well as it would have made stand T impossible to use due to its length. Definitely an issue.

The 700 currently uses Stand H, if a bendy is used Stand J will be inaccessible.

(24 Aug 2025, 8:33 pm)deanmachine wrote I don't think that's very safe using a 2 door vehicle on stand S, as well as it would have made stand T impossible to use due to its length. Definitely an issue.

The 700 currently uses Stand H, if a bendy is used Stand J will be inaccessible.

Why use a bendy bus. Just use a decker.

(24 Aug 2025, 9:04 pm)Economic505 wrote Why use a bendy bus. Just use a decker.

On the 700? It's one way to make an open topper

(24 Aug 2025, 8:33 pm)deanmachine wrote I don't think that's very safe using a 2 door vehicle on stand S, as well as it would have made stand T impossible to use due to its length. Definitely an issue.

The 700 currently uses Stand H, if a bendy is used Stand J will be inaccessible.

The station is hardly working over capacity, at the moment. It's not like Durham where often a bus turns up and all the stands are already in use. All that space and often there's only one or two buses on a stand.

(24 Aug 2025, 9:45 pm)BusLoverMum wrote The station is hardly working over capacity, at the moment. It's not like Durham where often a bus turns up and all the stands are already in use. All that space and often there's only one or two buses on a stand.

Park Lane isn't set out for bendy buses though, neither is most of the 700/701 routes.

I've seen many cases over the years where bendy buses have used bus stations that weren't suitable.

Liverpool South Parkway - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1298809226
Coventry Pool Meadow - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...3120967204
Bolton Bus Station (Closed) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0597493841
Glasgow Buchanan Street (Reversing Stands) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2140445106
Norwich Bus Station - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1618947032
Kilmarnock Bus Station (Reversing Stands) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9487788162
Cumnock Bus Station (Reversing Stands) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9487082493
Ayr Bus Station - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9487579976
Bury Interchange - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0596751258
Regent Centre - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1145220191

Other bus stations that aren't apparently suitable that spring to mind that have had a visit from bendys on a regular basis that I didn't get photos at include Blaydon Bus Station, Concord Bus Station, Dunfermline Bus Station, Metrocentre Coach Park (frequented by Shopper specials from Fife), Kirkcaldy Bus Station, Aberdeen Bus Station, Preston Bus Station, Burnley Bus Station.

At the end of the day, it's up to the company on what it wants to do regardless if anyone else likes it or not. Companies will do what is best for them, not for us spotters, for example Dan isn't going to repaint all his buses to another colour because I don't like the colour blue (North Star livery is actually quite nice), Go North East haven't got rid of their Streetlites because I don't like them (tbh I think they got more to spite me).

If City Transport wants to run bendies on the service, then let them, it's obvious all relevant authorities are happy with it and they are willing to take the risk and the extra costs that come with running such vehicles. Having travel on many examples in the UK and Europe (even on the tightest of places) they are more flexible than they look, I dread to think what your reaction would be when you go to Mainland Europe and see bendy buses like this https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...678597757/ or even buses pulling a trailer https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1682644828

Are City Transports Citaros wheelchair accessible by the front door?

(25 Aug 2025, 6:43 am)DodgepotMcDougal wrote Are City Transports Citaros wheelchair accessible by the front door?

Yes, wheelchair bay is at the front of the bus.

I don't think the Artics are going on the 700, ( watch this space) and the contract for the 701 has to be a Decker with NSA and in Connect Livery.

The artics, 3 of them, were at Seaburn, this morning.

(25 Aug 2025, 2:17 pm)BusLoverMum wrote The artics, 3 of them, were at Seaburn, this morning.

Some photo's I took of them as I got down there nice and early for everything coming in before the usual bunching together - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/albums

(25 Aug 2025, 5:55 pm)Malarkey wrote Some photo's I took of them as I got down there nice and early for everything coming in before the usual bunching together - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/albums

Even once they had parked together, there was plenty of space to walk around the 3 of them together through the morning. The gaps either side looked almost deliberate.

(25 Aug 2025, 7:19 am)Retro Nero wrote I don't think the Artics are going on the 700, ( watch this space) and the contract for the 701 has to be a Decker with NSA and in Connect Livery.

At least one of them is, I heard one of the drivers saying one of them was going to get repainted for it, unless have misunderstood.

(25 Aug 2025, 6:47 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Even once they had parked together, there was plenty of space to walk around the 3 of them together through the morning. The gaps either side looked almost deliberate.

Aside from these all the other buses in attendance particularly up the top were bunched together which was what I was referencing to.

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(25 Aug 2025, 7:19 am)Retro Nero wrote I don't think the Artics are going on the 700, ( watch this space) and the contract for the 701 has to be a Decker with NSA and in Connect Livery.

It'll be interesting to see what they use on the 700, can't see them getting away with using "5811-YJ51 RCV" on it.

(25 Aug 2025, 7:21 pm)Malarkey wrote It'll be interesting to see what they use on the 700, can't see them getting away with using "5811-YJ51 RCV" on it.

That certainly shouldn't appear on the 700 at least given the route goes under the low bridge at St Peter's Metro Station. My guess would be 5323 for the 700, although they did aquire at least one Citaro from Kinchbus a while back which hasn't seen use as yet.

Unsure on what the contractual requirements are for the Sunderland Connect routes, think they're fine for NSA/PIA screens as at least one of the ex First York bendies certainly still has the kit in and USB ports.

(25 Aug 2025, 7:21 pm)Malarkey wrote Aside from these all the other buses in attendance particularly up the top were bunched together which was what I was referencing to.

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It'll be interesting to see what they use on the 700, can't see them getting away with using "5811-YJ51 RCV" on it.

Simple for the 700, they can just use the citaro 5323 (ex-GNE) as singles are no problem on the 700. 

However I can see ALX400 5811 being used as a temporary vehicle until they source/allocate something else possibly...? Shame that J888 CTG - 386 isn't wheelchair accessible as that could've been used for the 701. 

Albeit they need 3 permanent (and more importantly suitable) vehicles for the routes... something tells me it's not coincidence there's 3 bendy buses in their fleet

Any truth into this at Seaburn today?

Nothing happened whilst I was there this morning.

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(25 Aug 2025, 8:05 pm)logidoodah wrote Simple for the 700, they can just use the citaro 5323 (ex-GNE) as singles are no problem on the 700. 

However I can see ALX400 5811 being used as a temporary vehicle until they source/allocate something else possibly...? Shame that J888 CTG - 386 isn't wheelchair accessible as that could've been used for the 701. 

Albeit they need 3 permanent (and more importantly suitable) vehicles for the routes... something tells me it's not coincidence there's 3 bendy buses in their fleet

I was thinking 5323 would be used but then I was I like they need another two buses to cover the PVR, there's a couple of Ex-London E200MMC's available with Ensign that might be suitable for them.