Fleet Archive 2019 9 June 2019 Further repaints into the “Little Coasters” livery include Optare Solo SR M890/Optare 693 (YJ13 HNY) and Optare Solo M880/Optare 700 (YJ10 MFU). Wright Streetlite DF/Wright Streetlite Max Micro-Hybrid 5440 (NK16 AZV) has also been repainted into the 2019 fleet livery. Optare Solo M880/Optare 700 (YJ10 MFU) has transferred from Deptford to Percy Main, and similar 705 (YJ10 MFN) from Washington to Percy Main. As such, Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 680 (NK16 BXY) has transferred from Percy Main to Washington in exchange. Float Scania L94UB/Wright Solars 4932 (Y932 ERG) and 4933 (Y933 ERG) have transferred from Riverside Depot to Chester-le-Street. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5204 (NK54 NUX) has been withdrawn. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5206 (NK54 NVA) has been sold to ConnexionsBuses, Harrogate. Ex Go-Ahead London Metrobus Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 563 (YN08 OAV) has been acquired for spare part recovery, while similar 567 (YN08 OAZ) acquired earlier this year has now been sold to Alpha Recovery, Weetslade, for scrap. 2 June 2019 Buses repainted last week included Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 678 (NK16 BXW) into a new four-colour base livery for the “X-lines” X6/X7 and X20 services and Wright Streetlite DF/Wright Streetlite Max Micro-Hybrid 5441 (NK16 AZW) into the 2019 fleet livery. Following the recent announcement that the Stagecoach operated City Sightseeing tour of Newcastle will not be returning this season, we have decided to launch our own trial operation of a part replacement seasonal open top bus service. As such; 6000, which was originally intended to be used in the Special Events fleet and for stakeholder engagement, has been re-numbered 3999. This vehicle will act as the spare, with two further examples being painted and branded for the NewcastleGateshead Toon Tour open-top service, due to commence operation from 29 June. East Yorkshire open-top Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 884 (794 EYD) has also been acquired and numbered 3998 within the Go North East fleet. Scania K340EB/Caetano Levante 7095 (FJ08 KLS) has been sold to Ensign Bus Co., Purfleet, while Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipses 4979 (NK54 NUJ) and 4982 (NK54 NUP) have both been sold to Go North West, following conversion to Driver Training vehicles at Thornton Bros, Ashington. Go North West is a newly created arm of transport giant Go Ahead Group, which began running services in Worsley and Radcliffe, as well as a number of other routes across Greater Manchester, from Sunday 2 June. Timetables and bus routes will not change, although the buses will have a new livery. 27 May 2019 Buses repainted last week included Optare Solo SR M890/Optare 692 (YJ13 HNX) into a two-tone blue base livery for “Little Coasters” – it is the first example to have the vinyls added too. Other repaints included Wright Streetlite DF/Wright Streetlite Max Micro-Hybrid 5420 (NK16 BYA) and Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5266 (NK56 KKB) into the 2019 fleet livery. A number of vehicles which were unable to transfer to their new depot on 19 May were instead transferred during last week. Summarised as follows: 638 - Deptford to Riverside 4978 4980 4981 - Withdrawn from service at Percy Main 5206 - Reinstated at Percy Main 8301 - Chester-le-Street to Riverside 20 May 2019 Buses repainted last week included Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 677 (NK16 BXV) into a new four-colour base livery for the “X-lines” X6/X7 and X20 services. Optare Solo SR M890/Optare 691 (YJ13 HNW) has been repainted into a new two- tone blue base livery; the brand name for the revitalised North Tyneside network has been revealed as “Little Coasters”. Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5258 (NK56 KJN) has been repainted into the 2019 fleet livery - the first of this type to be repainted into the new fleet livery. In line with service changes and the introduction of new brand identities, there were a large number of vehicle re- allocations which took place on Sunday 19 May, the significance of which has been likened to the South Shields and Bishop Auckland depot closures in 2005 and 2006 respectively. These are summarised as follows: 626 628 633 634 - Riverside to Percy Main 637 639 - Deptford to Riverside 648 - Percy Main to Hownsgill 649 650 651 - Percy Main to Deptford 653 654 - Percy Main to Peterlee 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 - Percy Main to Deptford 679 - Percy Main to Washington 681 689 690 - Deptford to Washington 691 692 693 694 - Peterlee to Percy Main 695 696 - Howsngill to Percy Main 697 - Deptford to Hownsgill 698 699 - Deptford to Percy Main 701 702 703 704 - Washington to Percy Main 718 719 720 - Peterlee to Deptford 724 725 - Crook to Percy Main 4949 - Riverside to Peterlee 4979 4982 - Withdrawn from service at Percy Main 5206 - Withdrawn from service at Chester-le-Street 5229 5230 5231 5232 - Chester-le-Street to Percy Main 5249 5251 5252 - Riverside to Chester-le-Street 5263 5264 5265 5266 - Percy Main to Chester-le-Street 5420 5440 5441 - Deptford to Riverside 6100 - Deptford to Percy Main 6136 - Percy Main to Chester-le-Street 6332 - Chester-le-Street to Crook 8302 8304 8305 8325 8326 - Chester-le-Street to Riverside Further vehicle re-allocations and withdrawals will take place during this week and reported next, once buses return to service after completion of repairs. 13 May 2019 Buses repainted last week included Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 675 (NK16 BXS) and 676 (NK16 BXU) into a new four- colour base livery. The brand name has been revealed as “X-lines”, although vinyls won’t be fitted until after the buses transfer to Deptford. There were no fleet movements last week. 6 May 2019 Buses repainted last week included Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 674 (NK16 BXR) into a new four-colour base livery. Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6143 (YN04 GKA) has been repainted into the 2019 fleet livery. Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante 7104 (FJ61 GZD) has been reinstated into the Driver Training fleet following its earlier withdrawal. Coaches sold are withdrawn Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante 7103 (FJ61 GZC) and 7115 (FJ60 EHY), together with Special Events Caetano Levantes 7116 (FJ60 KVM) and 7117 (FJ60 KVO). 29 April 2019 Buses repainted last week included Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 673 (NK16 BXP) into a new four-colour base livery. 673 (NK16 BXP) and five others in this batch will be repainted and branded for the X6, X7 and X20 services effective 19 May 2019. Scania K340EB/Caetano Levante 7097 (FJ08 KLX) has been on long-term loan to the Driver Training fleet since 24 January 2019, training new National Express recruits. The fleet list and allocation has been amended to reflect this. The Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid 3 loan vehicle, covering for native examples in the fleet undergoing warranty work,9087 (SK68 TXP), has now been returned to Wrightbus following completion of this warranty work. 22 April 2019 There were no full repaints last week, but Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 673 (NK16 BXP) has been fitted with USB charging points at Thornton Bros, Ashington, and has now been returned to Go North East for repaint. “Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus” branded Optare Solo SR M890/Optare 635 (NK61 FJP) and 636 (NK61 FXD) have both returned to service at Hexham for this year’s operation of the seasonal AD122 service. 15 April 2019 Buses repainted last week included Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 672 (NK16 BXO) into the 2019 fleet livery. It was also fitted with USB charging points at Thornton Bros, Ashington. Scania K340EB/Caetano Levante 7094 (FJ08 KLF) has been sold to Ensign Bus Co., Purfleet. 8 April 2019 Buses repainted last week included Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 690 (NK66 CXF) into pink (subsequently receiving "indiGo Washington" branding). After two and a half years of development, the region’s largest bus operator, Go North East opened the doors to its brand new £3.5 million, state-of-the-art Hownsgill Depot in Consett, County Durham, on Friday 15 March 2019. The high-tech operation replaces the company’s Stanley Depot, which it operated from for nearly 100 years. Therefore; most vehicles based at Stanley transferred to Hownsgill on Sunday 7 April, the date from which the new depot commenced operations. In exchange for 5234 – 5237, ex-Go South Coast Mercedes Citaros 5482 – 5485 have transferred from Saltmeadows to Hownsgill. Likewise, Mercedes Citaro 5481 has transferred from Riverside to Hownsgill in exchange for Scania OmniCity 5238. The nine remaining Scania OmniCitys based at Stanley (5239 – 5242, 5249 – 5253) have also transferred to Riverside, along with the operation of services 6 and X31. 1 April 2019 Buses repainted last week included Optare Solo SR M925/Optare 689 (NK66 CXE) into pink (subsequently receiving "indiGo Washington" branding) and Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5260 (NK56 KJU) into the 2016 fleet livery. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5216 (NK54 NVM) has returned to full service at Riverside, serving as a replacement vehicle for already-withdrawn 5218 (NK54 NVO). The final Alexander Mini Pointer Darts, 618 (NK55 RUV) and 619 (NK55 RUW), have left the fleet. Both have been sold for scrap to Alpha Recovery, Weetslade. Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante 7113 (FJ60 EGY) has been sold, and 7114 (FJ60 HXW) has also been withdrawn and similarly sold. 18 March 2019 East Yorkshire 885 (X594 EGK), a Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL in open top format has been acquired and numbered 6000. Optare Solo 635 (NK61 FJP) has transferred from Deptford to Percy Main. Withdrawn Scania L94/Wright Solar 4992 (YR02 ZYM) and 5218 (NK54 NVO), and Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6030 (V330 LGC) have been sold to Alpha, Weetslade for scrap.