Dennis Trident / Plaxton
Trident 3887 is seen here at Gateshead Metro on service 21A.
GNE already had the Dennis Trident in its fleet but were unsatisfied with the East Lancs body so a batch of 15 Plaxton Presidents were delivered in 2001. Most of them are based at Chester Le Street, with others at Bishop Auckland and Percy Main. The 2 at Percy Main are for DFDS services. The Chester Le Street Presidents are route branded for the 723 (3881/2) and the 21group (3883-3889), 3884 is in the new style of branding, Simply Turn up and Go. The Bishop Auckland have 3 branded for the 724 (3893-3895) with 3892 been the only unbranded President in the fleet. 3890/1 were originally unbranded until they were repainted into DFDS.
The Tridents run on the routes that they are branded for, however on a Sunday some Chester examples operate on the 551. Bishop Auckland's Tridents very rarely go on another route, and Percy Mains are confined to DFDS, but may creep into service when there is a urgent need for a low floor bus.
Registrations
3881-3895 - NK51UCH/J/L/M/N/O/P/R/S/T/U/V/W/X/Y
Fleet Depositions
Chester Le Street (GoN) - 9 (3881-3889)
Percy Main (GoC) - 2 (3890/1)
Bishop Auckland (GoN) - 4 (3892-5)
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| 3890 a couple of weeks before been painted into DFDS Livery. It is seen here on the 308 to Newcastle at North Tyneside General Hospital. | Here is 3891 after it had been repainted into DFDS Seaways Livery. it is seen at Newcastle Central Station. |
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| The Problem with 3893 is that it is stuck on an Icy slope about 2 minutes away from its terminus at Bishop Auckland. | Here we see Trident 3882 leaving Gateshead on service 723 to Darlington. |
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| DFDS 3890 is seen here on the 301 at Gateshead Metro. | Two Tridents side by side at the 2002 Metrocentre Rally. |