Go North East

[Marcus Green]

RE: Go North East
Former ''Diamond'' branded Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro 5284 (NK08 CFP) has emerged from Saltmeadows Road depot in a nice midnight blue base livery. Several photos are online, it has returned to it's home of Stanley depot and back in service. It was at Saltmeadows Road to receive repairs after having a window put through, but the opportunity was taken to repaint it ahead of schedule. It's next duties are unknown, although it is speculated that the ''Diamond'' 43/44/44A between Newcastle and Durham are to receive a brand upgrade ahead of planned changes (which will see the services split at Stanley, with a service between Durham and Stanley and a service between Stanley and Newcastle), but some are speculating it will be transferred to Washington depot to serve as a spare vehicle for ''Connections4'' service 4 between Heworth and Houghton-le-Spring, which is an identical base livery. I'm swaying towards the former scenario. Sister 5291 (NK08 CGG) is the next to be repainted, having arrived at Saltmeadows already.

[Marcus Green]

RE: Go North East
The following fleet movements have taken place;

The 14 new Optare Solos for Peterlee have now entered service resulting in a number of vehicle transfers and withdrawals. MPDs 560 and 619 have been transferred to Hexham, 546 to Deptford and 536 537 538 539 541 & 545 have been withdrawn. DAF SB120 8273 has been transferred from Hexham to Deptford. Other vehicles withdrawn are Volvo B10BLEs 4842 and 5161 from Deptford and Trident 3860 from Stanley. DAF SB120 8248 is a further vehicle of this type transferred to driver Training.

Information taken from the ''Enthusiasts Area'' of the Go North East website.

[Marcus Green]

RE: Go North East
Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne 3877 has been withdrawn from Chester-le-Street depot.

[Marcus Green]

RE: Go North East
Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro 5291 returned to service a couple of days ago following repaint. Forgot to mention it.

[Marcus Green]

RE: Go North East
Go North East have acquired yet another demonstration vehicle, in the form of Volvo B8RLE/Wright Eclipse 3 BA15 BXS. It carries fleet number 9108 and arrived yesterday, entering service this afternoon after driver familiarisation this morning. It can be found on ''Prince Bishops'' service 20/20A, operated by Deptford depot, between Durham and South Shields via Sunderland. It is expected to see use on another service during its time with Go North East, I'll keep everyone updated when I get more information. This vehicle spent time up in Edinburgh earlier this month, with Lothian Buses. A photograph of it this evening can be seen here; https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/danielgrah...39730@N02/

[Marcus Green]

RE: Go North East
Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6039 has transferred from Deptford to Chester-le-Street while Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown 4923 has moved from Deptford to Riverside.

[Marcus Green]

RE: Go North East
Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolynes 3864 and 3879 have been sold to independent operator Garnetts, from Ensign, after withdrawal. 3879 was in fact operating one of my scholars this morning...!

[Metroline1511]

RE: Go North East
When I came to the North East for a late August Bank Holiday visit at the beginning of September (!), the area I covered in the end was bounded by Durham, Peterlee, Whitley Bay and Newcastle. My Go North East bus rides were:-

Trident-President 3885 (X70) refurbished
Volvo B5LH-Gemini 6068 (21)
Volvo B10BLE-Renown 5154 (9) ex-Oxford
Scania-Solar 4952 (28)
Citaro 5333 (X7)
Streetlite 5399 (8)
Solo SR 666 (201)

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the Trident-President, as I was never able to ride a refurbished one in 2012!

[Marcus Green]

RE: Go North East
The Volvo B8RLE has ended it's trial with Go North East and has been returned to Volvo Bus and Coach in Coventry.

[Marcus Green]

RE: Go North East
Withdrawn Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renowns 4842 (R842 PRG) and 4846 (R846 PRG) have been sold, along with a couple of former ''East Durham'' MPDs and a handful of ex-Oxford Dual-Door Renowns.