Fleet Archive 2019 1 December 2019 Repaints last week included Optare Solo M890/Optare 632 (NK61 FEV) into Little Coasters livery. Float Optare Solo M890/Optare 635 (NK61 FJP) has transferred from Consett to Peterlee. Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5481 (HW07 CXR) has transferred from Riverside to Deptford, in exchange for Optare Versa V1110/Optare 8296 (NK09 FUU), as a continuation of the vehicle re-allocations last week to allow for the withdrawal of the five “Metrocentre Mini” branded Optare Solos. Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6137 (GX03 SVF) has transferred from Consett to Saltmeadows following the entry into service of ADL Trident 2/ADL Enviro 400MMC 6336 (YX64 VOO) at Consett, in order to allow former Brighton & Hove Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6165 (YN54 AOR) to be taken out of service from Saltmeadows. Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6163 (YN54 AOM) is now in service at Chester-le-Street, leading to the transfer of dual-door Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7TL 6914 (LX06 EBU) from Chester-le-Street to Consett, then 6930 (LX54 GZU) to Riverside. This has displaced 6139 (GX03 SVJ) from Riverside to Saltmeadows, to enable the withdrawal of ex-East Yorkshire Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6937 (MF51 MBX). Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5215 (NK54 NVL) has been sold to Davies Motors, Ruthin, while Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5319 (NK08 MZW) has been sold for scrap to Alpha Recovery, Weetslade, following completion of the thermal incident investigation. 24 November 2019 Repaints last week included Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6163 (YN54 AOM) into the 2019 fleet livery, and Optare Versa V1110/Optare 8319 (NK11 FXB) into a special commemorative Northern livery to advertised and support Beamish Museum’s Northern Bus Garage, which was publicly launched on Friday 22 November. Optare Solo M950/Optare 710 – 714 (WK59 CWU/CWW/CWX/CWY/CWZ) have been withdrawn from service at Riverside. Optare Versa V1110/Optare 8294, 8295, 8297, 8298 (NK09 FUP/FUT/FUV/FUW) have transferred to Riverside in lieu. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5227 (NK54 NWA) has also been withdrawn from service at Riverside, having been used as a taxi/staff shuttle vehicle for the past few weeks following the entry into service of the new ADL Enviro200s on “Green Arrow” service 97. Float Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5231 (NK55 OLJ) has transferred from Percy Main to Deptford. Dual-door Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6911 (LX06 EBN) has transferred from Chester-le-Street to Riverside. Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5235 (NK56 KHC) has transferred to East Yorkshire, whilst Volvo B5TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 797 (BX14 SYT) has been transferred to the Go North East fleet, now numbered 6335. Two demonstrator vehicles acquired for the X9/X10 services at Riverside are ADL Trident 2/ADL Enviro 400MMC 9077 (YX19 ONU) in a striking pink livery to raise awareness for breast cancer and Volvo B8RLE/Plaxton Panther LE 9069 (YX19 MMF). They are both here for a two-week loan period. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 4967 (NK53 UNT) has been sold to Davies Motors, Ruthin, while 5228 (NK54 NWB) has been sold to Coachpoint Ltd, Farnborough. 17 November 2019 Repaints last week included Wright Streetlite DF/Wright Streetlite 8345 (NL63 XBP) into the 2019 fleet livery. Optare Solo SR M890/Optare 636 (NK61 FXD) has transferred from Percy Main to Riverside, with similar 724 (YJ13 HMY) transferring in the opposite direction. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 4932 (Y932 ERG) has been sold for scrap to Alpha Recovery, Weetslade. Due to extra vehicle requirements; float Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5230 (NK55 OLH) and 5232 (NK55 OLM), as well as Optare Versa V1110/Optare 8297 (NK09 FUV), have all transferred from Percy Main Depot to Deptford. Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6164 (YN54 AOP) has similarly returned to service at Saltmeadows, still in Brighton & Hove base livery. ADL Trident 2/ADL Enviro 400MMC 6336 (YX64 VOO) has entered service at Consett. 10 November 2019 Repaints last week included Wright StreetDeck 6301 (NK16 BXA) into the 2019 fleet livery and former East Yorkshire Volvo B5TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 796 (BF63 HDC) into the generic grey/charcoal Xlines livery. This vehicle is now numbered 6334 within the Go North East fleet. The three new ADL Trident 2/ADL Enviro 400MMCs for Consett – 6338, 6339 and 6340 – entered service at Consett on Saturday 9 November 2019, having been treated to a partial repaint at the rear into a darker green base livery at Thorntons prior to entering service. A publicity launch took place at Tanfield Railway to mark the investment on Sunday 10 November. As a result, the four East Lancs OmniDekka bodied Scania N94UDs have been displaced as follows - 6123 and 6128 Consett to Saltmeadows - 6136 Consett to Riverside - 6162 Consett to Chester-le-Street As 6337 (YY64 GWX) is not yet ready to enter service, Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6137 (GX03 SVF) has transferred from Saltmeadows to Consett. The four similar examples allocated previously were due safety inspection this week and therefore could not remain at Consett. Due to the return of the buses which temporarily transferred to Consett, 6164 (YN54 AOP) has now been withdrawn from service at Saltmeadows Road for paint preparation. The final V-reg Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL in the fleet, 6033 (V233 LGC), has now been withdrawn from service at Riverside due to MOT expiry. 3 November 2019 Repaints last week included Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5273 (NK56 KKJ) into the 2019 fleet livery and former East Yorkshire ADL Trident 2/ADL Enviro 400MMC 794 (YX64 VOO) into the generic grey/charcoal Xlines livery. This vehicle is now numbered 6336 within the Go North East fleet. The three open-top format Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TLs at Percy Main – 3997, 3998 and 3999 – have been temporarily delicensed over the winter season. Mercedes-Benz 516CDI Sprinter/EVM VS30 Cityline 729 (NK69 FAA) is now in service at Riverside. Scania L94UB/Wright Solars withdrawn are 5224 (NK54 NVX) from Riverside due to a PVR reduction on “Loop” services 93/94, 5228 (NK54 NWB) from Riverside due to the entry into service of the new ADL Enviro200 vehicles on “Green Arrow” service 97, and 5229 (NK55 OLG) from Percy Main due to the return from refurbishment of most of the Volvo B9 on “Cobalt & Coast” services 309/310. 27 October 2019 Repaints last week included Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6162 (YN04 GJK) into the 2019 fleet livery and Optare Solo M880/Optare 704 (YJ10 MFK) into Little Coasters livery. ADL Enviro 200MMC 5488 (NK69 FAU) has now been delivered, and is undergoing preparation for service at Saltmeadows Road; whilst 5493, 5494, 5496 and 5497 have now entered service at Riverside. Withdrawn as a consequence are Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 4944 (NK51 OLH) and Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5234 (NK56 KHB), 5235 (NK56 KHC) and 5237 (NK56 KHE). The latter three are expected to transfer to East Yorkshire imminently. Due to delay of the three new ADL Enviro 400MMCs entering service at Consett; a further swap of Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekkas have taken place in line with vehicle safety inspections being completed, with 6122, 6124, 6125 and 6138 returning to Saltmeadows from Consett, and 6123, 6128 and 6136 taking their place at Consett from Saltmeadows. Ex-Brighton & Hove Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6162 (YN04 GJK) has also now entered service, temporarily at Consett. Similar 6163 (YN54 AOM) has been taken out of service from the Saltmeadows Road school fleet to be repainted. Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekkas 3995, 3996 and 6131 have now transferred from Percy Main to Riverside to operate the private scholars contract 850/851. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5217 (NK54 NVN) has been sold for preservation to the Northern National Restoration Group. 20 October 2019 Repaints last week included former East Yorkshire ADL Trident 2/ADL Enviro 400MMC 795 (YY64 GWX) into the generic grey/charcoal Xlines livery. This vehicle is now numbered 6337 within the Go North East fleet. The delivery of new vehicles continues, with the latest being Mercedes-Benz 516CDI Sprinter/EVM VS30 Cityline 729 (NK69 FAA). As such, 9071 (BU55 EVM) has been returned to EVM following its loan period to Go North East. Further new ADL Enviro 200MMCs into service at Riverside are 5491 and 5498. This has allowed for the withdrawal of Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5236 (NK56 KHD) from the fleet at Riverside, which was subsequently transferred to East Yorkshire along with the return of Plaxton President bodied Volvo B7TL 9073 (MF51 LZX) following its loan period to Go North East. Further pre-owned buses acquired from East Yorkshire include ADL Trident 2/ADL Enviro 400MMC 794 (YX64 VOO) and Volvo B5TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 796 (BF63 HDC). They have been re-numbered 6336 and 6334 respectively. East Yorkshire 797 (BX14 SYT) will also be amalgamated into the Go North East fleet soon. As driving colleagues have faced issues navigating the vehicles around the route on the private scholars contract they have been allocated to at Riverside, long wheelbase Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekkas 6167 (YN56 FFG), 6168 (YN56 FFH) and 6169 (YN56 FFJ) have transferred to Percy Main. After the school holidays, they will be swapped for three short wheelbase examples in the short-term, but the longer-term plan is to repaint the three black examples allocated to this route previously, when there is a gap in the paint schedule to accommodate this. Alternative plans are being reviewed to combat the high passenger loadings (which was the reason for the allocation of the longer vehicles from September). 13 October 2019 Repaints last week included Wright StreetDeck 6332 (NK67 GOA) into the blue variant of the Xlines livery.