On the 10th August 2010 Go North East launched nine, new Euro 5 Optare Versas onto the Newcastle - Gateshead Quaylink services.

Stagecoach had operated the services since the service began five years ago and now Go North East has won a new five year contract, having taken over the services from 18th July using a temporary fleet of hired in Dennis Darts.

All nine of the new buses were lined up on Newcastle's quayside where speeches were made, followed by a convoy of new buses making their way to the bus stops near the junction with Sandhill and The Side.

The nine new buses were lined up on the Newcastle side of the River Tyne with the Tyne Bridge in the background. © David Gambles

The convoy of buses moves away from the Quayside to the bus stops at The Side, ready to go into service. © David Gambles

As the temporary fleet of Dennis Darts arrived, they were taken out of service one by one and replaced by the new Versa's, watched by Newcastle City Sheriff Geoff O'Brien and Gateshead Mayor Cllr Michael Hood.

NK10 GOH awaits the arrival of the next hired in Dennis Dart from which it will take over service. The buses have been named after local Newcastle and Gateshead personalities, this particular vehicle being named Harry Clasper. © David Gambles

The hand over, as the Dennis Dart arrives and NK10 GOH begins to move forward to take over service. © David Gambles

Passenger numbers were initially very low but Newcastle and Gateshead Councils together with Nexus (Tyne & Wear PTE) wanted the service in place to help encourage expansion in the Quayside areas, which has now happened to a certain extent and numbers have reached 20,000 per week, some of this being due to the re-location of Gateshead College which is now served by Quaylink.

Bernard Garner Director General of Nexus, said that ‘having built passenger numbers using Quaylink up to 20,000 per week, we want to build from that figure in the next five years and it is the right time to update the service by working with Go North East to improve the already high standards it offers passengers'.

NK10 GOC travelling along the Gateshead side of the river with the Tyne Bridge and the High Level Bridge in the background and part of the Sage building just visible to the left. © David Gambles

The new Versa's provide passengers with visual and aural ‘next stop’ announcements for the first time and are fitted with passenger information screens. They have coving panels that will assist in the promotion of Newcastle Gateshead events and attractions and real time information is provided at bus stops, on the web and on mobiles.

Last year go North East invested in a fleet of 16 new Versas and the success of these, both from an operational and passenger point of view led Go North East to select the Euro5 version for the Quaylink service.

NK10 GOJ fleet number 8316 and named Thomas Bewick, has just travelled under the Tyne Bridge and is heading past the Guildhall. © David Gambles

Great speculation now surrounds what will happen to the five year old redundant Designline Olymbus hybrid buses which are owned by Nexus and Newcastle and Gateshead Councils. They have acquired a reputation for unreliability, not helped by the arduous route, which has steep gradients from the river side to Newcastle and Gateshead centres. Stagecoach are being consulted to see if they can find a use for them elsewhere in the Newcastle area but in the meantime they are lined up at the Stagecoach Walkergate depot awaiting news of their fate.

Designlines in service a few days before their withdrawal in July. These attractive looking buses are battery powered, charging being carried out by means of a high speed turbine. © David Gambles

The Designline Olymbus is manufactured in New Zealand. They have twin doors giving disabled access via a centre door ramp. © David Gambles

The line up at Stagecoach Walkergate depot where the buses are being stored pending discussions on their future. © David Gambles

Three step entrance Dennis Darts were helping out on Quaylink services due to the unreliability of the Designline vehicles and were painted in the Quaylink livery. © David Gambles