Fleet Archive 2020 15 March 2020 Repaints last week included Optare Solo M890/Optare 628 (NK61 DBZ) into “Little Coasters” livery. Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6004 (NK11 BHE) has also lost its branding for the “Red Arrows”, having been stripped of all vinyls, ahead of the introduction of new vehicles to this service in May. There were no fleet movements last week. 8 March 2020 Repaints last week included Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5278 (NK07 KPN) and 5279 (NK07 KPO) into the 2019 fleet livery. Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6143 (YN04 GKA) is no longer a float/reserve vehicle and now forms part of the main fleet allocation at Riverside. It has replaced former East Yorkshire Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6935 (X508 EGK) which has suffered defects uneconomical to repair. Float Optare Solo M890/Optare 636 (NK61 FMD) is now allocated to Percy Main to provide cover for the remaining “Little Coasters” branded Optare Solo repaints. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5226 (NK54 NVZ) has now been withdrawn from service at Riverside and, together with 5231 (NK55 OLJ), has transferred to East Yorkshire on temporary loan. 1 March 2020 The final coach to be repainted as part of the ongoing work into the new Northern Coaching unit is Scania K340EB/Caetano Levante 7098 (JCN 822) into Voyager livery. Notable is the allocation of the registration mark JCN822: this registration mark being allocated to Leyland Tiger/Plaxton Paramount 7038 (E116 KFV) from 1990 to 1997 whilst a part of the Northern fleet in Voyager livery. Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6143 (YN04 GKA) has transferred from Chester-le-Street to Riverside, as a float/reserve vehicle. Withdrawn Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5232 (NK55 OLM) has transferred to East Yorkshire on temporary loan, although has in fact been sold to Plymouth Citybus, where it will transfer onward in a few weeks time, for their expanding Go Cornwall Bus operation, following the award of a large number of contracts previously held by First Group. 23 February 2020 Repaints last week included Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5280 (NK07 KPP) into the 2019 fleet livery, and Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante 7110 (BF63 ZRC) into Armstrong Galley livery, as part of the ongoing work into the new Northern Coaching unit. There have been no fleet movements during the week, but a number of vehicles in the fleet have been re-registered. These are: - 7098, which has received registration mark JCN822 (from 3962, which has re-gained its original registration NK06JXE) - 7108, which has received registration mark A10EYC (from 7144, which has re-gained its original registration FJ11GJZ) - 7110, which has received registration mark FCU190 (from 3943, which has re-gained its original registration NK05GZR) - 7111, which has received registration mark N21GNE (from 5321, which has re-gained its original registration NK58DVX). 16 February 2020 Following the recent application of the Public Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR), Go North East is raising the profile of its small contracted coach operation with newer vehicles being cascaded from its other operations and is grouping its 100% PSVAR wheelchair accessible fleet together under a new ‘Northern Coaching’ banner which will see each coach painted in a different retro colour scheme reflecting the glory days of British coaching from across the North of England. Designed to evoke some nostalgia with a fun modern twist, it has currently brought back the names of “Charterplan”, on repainted Volvo B9R/Caetano Levante coach 7108 (BF63 ZPZ), and “OK”, on repainted coach 7111 (BF63 ZRY). Also repainted last week was Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5277 (NK07 KPL), into the 2019 fleet livery. Former East Yorkshire Volvo B5TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 797 (BX14 SYT), now numbered 6335 within the Go North East fleet, has entered service at Riverside. It has been repainted into the “spare bus” X-lines livery and existing seats replaced with high-back Esteban Civic V3 seats trimmed in Go North East’s new moquette, with cream headrests. It should see primary allocation to services X9/X10 (Newcastle – Middlesbrough), as well as the Tyne Valley Ten 10/10A/10B services when not required to run on the X9/X10. 9 February 2020 Repaints last week included Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5287 (NK08 CFX) and 5291 (NK08 CGG) into the 2019 fleet livery. Service revisions came into effect from Sunday 26 January which saw revised bus workings at Riverside for operational effiencies and to improve reliability on service 6. As such, Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaros 5275 – 5282 are all to undergo repaint into fleet livery (from Blaydon Racer and Citylink). Following completion of the last remaining “Wear Xpress” branded Citaro, float 5486 (HW07 CXX) and 5487 (HW07 CXY) have now transferred from Deptford to Riverside, in order to provide cover whilst 5275 – 5282 undergo repaint. 2 February 2020 Repaints last week included Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6166 (YN54 AOT) and Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5290 (NK08 CGF) into the 2019 fleet livery. Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6166 (YN54 AOT) is now in service at Chester-le-Street, so similar 6143 (YN04 GKA) is now in a float/reserve capacity to allow cover for 6162 – 6164 to undergo seat re-trim. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5230 (NK55 OLH) has been sold to Coachpoint Ltd. 26 January 2020 Repaints last week included Wright StreetDeck 6331 (NK67 GNZ) into the blue variant of X-lines livery for service X21. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5230 (NK55 OLH) has transferred from Deptford to Riverside, in order to replace similar 5231 (NK55 OLJ) which has been withdrawn. 5230 (NK55 OLH) was also later withdrawn from service at Riverside that week. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5232 (NK55 OLM) has also been withdrawn from service at Riverside. Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6084 (NL63 XBS) has transferred from Riverside to Deptford, displacing recently refurbished 6099 (NL63 YJC) to Percy Main. As a result of service changes, there have been a large number of vehicle movements this week: Optare Solo SR M900/Optare 637, 638 and 639 (NK12 HCD/HCE/HCF) have transferred from Riverside to Deptford, allowing the similar pre-owned examples 718, 719 and 720 (YJ62 FMA/FME/FYH) to transfer from Deptford to Consett, to operate the new 30/31/32 services which operate from Stanley to Lanchester, East Stanley and Annfield Plain. Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6143 (YN04 GKA) has transferred from Percy Main to Chester-le-Street, displacing Vovlo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6912 (LX06 EBO) from Chester-le-Street to Consett and Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6932 (LX54 GZW) from Consett to Saltmeadows. Dual-door Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6911 (LX06 EBN) has also transferred from Riverside to Consett. Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6146 (YN55 NFE) has transferred from Chester-le-Street to Riverside, whilst Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6043 (NK12 GCO) and 6044 (NK12 GCU), as well as dual-door Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6910 (LX06 EBM), have transferred from Riverside to Chester-le-Street. The two Volvo B9s should be allocated to “X-lines” service X21, following service changes on this route requiring more vehicles. Wright Streetlite DF/Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid 5419 (NK15 EOL) has transferred from Consett to Chester-le-Street. Scania CN230UB/Scania OmniCity 5262 (NK56 KJX) and 5263 (NK56 KJY) have transferred from Chester-le-Street to Washington, displacing Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5486 (HW07 CXX) and 5487 (HW07 CXY) to Deptford, acting as float vehicles, covering for the repaints on the similar examples still branded as “Wear Xpress”. In order to isolate dual-door configuration Volvo B7TLs at Saltmeadows, with provincial specification vehicles allocated to Riverside (where they are more likely to be allocated to services on the frontline core commercial network). - 3967, 3970, 3971, 3973, 3975, 3977, 3983 from Riverside to Saltmeadows - 6920, 6921, 6922, 6923, 6924, 6925, 6926, 6927, 6928, 6929, 6930, 6931 from Riverside to Saltmeadows - 3995, 3996, 6122, 6123, 6124, 6125, 6128, 6131, 6136, 6137, 6138, 6139 from Saltmeadows to Riverside - 6935, 6936, 6938, 6939, 6940, 6941 from Saltmeadows to Riverside. Vehicles sold this week included Optare Solo M950/Optare 710, 711, 712, 713 and 714 (WK59 CWU/CWW/CWX/CWY/CWZ) to Scarlet Band, West Cornforth, and Scania K340EB/Caetano Levante 7096 (FJ08 KLU) to Weardale Motor Services. 19 January 2020 Repaints last week included Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6129 (GX03 SVD) into the 2019 fleet livery. Following repaint, Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6129 (GX03 SVD) has transferred from Saltmeadows to Riverside, in exchange for similar 3996 (GX03 STZ) which is now allocated to Saltmeadows. Similarly, Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6165 (YN54 AOR) is now in service at Chester-le-Street following repaint, displacing dual-door Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6910 (LX06 EBM) to Riverside. In turn, 6136 (GX03 SUA) has transferred from Riverside to Saltmeadows, allowing 6166 (YN54 AOT) to be taken out of service from Saltmeadows for paint preparation and re-trim. Former East Yorkshire Volvo B5TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 796 (BF63 HDC), now numbered 6334 within the Go North East fleet, has entered service at Riverside. It has been repainted into the “spare bus” X-lines livery and existing seats replaced with high-back Esteban Civic V3 seats trimmed in Go North East’s new moquette, with cream headrests. It should see primary allocation to services X9/X10 (Newcastle – Middlesbrough). Scania K340EB/Caetano Levante 7099 (FJ08 KMU) has been withdrawn from service at Hexham and sold to Cochranes Coaches, Peterlee. Other vehicles sold include; Volvo B7TL/East Lancs Vyking 3974 (PJ02 PZA), Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 4989 (YN51 MKV) and Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5229 (NK55 OLG), all for scrap to Alpha Recovery, Weetslade.