North East Buses

(28 Mar 2014, 9:44 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Do you not understand - we won't see a heavyweight decker again. We are now in the times that vehicles will be getting lighter and lighter, simply due to the emission levels required.

I do understand but how are operators going to cope where they need the capacity of a heavyweight double deck vehicle but can't justify the expense of an Astromega and can't compromise capacity by operating a heavyweight single deck vehicle? Are they going to operate a lightweight double deck vehicle and suffer from frequent reliability problems or will frequencies be increased with a heavyweight single deck vehicle like the B8RLE at a loss? Do you really want to know who I'm angry with becuase of all of this emissions crap? Brussels!

(28 Mar 2014, 9:50 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Yeah, that's what I was thinking. However, I don't know if the X14 or 57/57A would cope with the loadings on a Solo, as they are both busy services. Centros would be perfect, but sadly not possible

Temsa's could be good too

(28 Mar 2014, 9:56 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Temsa's could be good too

Temsas like to stay south of the Tyne

Jesmond have had their fair share of them lol

Think them that want the Temsa Avenues should be welcome to them and the "experience" I guess they are a good vehicle for certain operations, Redcars 63's for example but nor anything where a degree of comfort is required. There was talk of some of them being reconfigured/re-seated but now I guess they are being re-allocated instead?

(28 Mar 2014, 10:06 pm)robisdave15 wrote [ -> ]Think them that want the Temsa Avenues should be welcome to them and the "experience" I guess they are a good vehicle for certain operations, Redcars 63's for example but nor anything where a degree of comfort is required. There was talk of some of them being reconfigured/re-seated but now I guess they are being re-allocated instead?

The costs associated with re-seating them are too great due to the way the seating is installed on the Temsas... It was looked at though.

True! When you look at them it was difficult to see how. Still with only a handful staying here the chance of riding them is minimised! Spend some money on the Ommnicities I say and please don't move them away.

(28 Mar 2014, 10:17 pm)robisdave15 wrote [ -> ]True! When you look at them it was difficult to see how. Still with only a handful staying here the chance of riding them is minimised! Spend some money on the Ommnicities I say and please don't move them away.

The Omnicities are due for a well needed refurbishment this summer, I'm not sure when but they'll probably be after some of the new stock arrives. No doubt it'll give some Prestiges an extended stay to cover them. Once refurbished I think they'll be allocated to different depots than at present, though...

I think we'll see more Temsas stay at Redcar than expected as a result, with only a handful moving out. From what I've been told, as they're such a non standard batch, a lot of parts are not available quickly and therefore have to be specially ordered. Hence when they are VOR, it can be for long periods even for what you would think would be simple fixes. A new piece of glass can take 2-3 weeks to arrive for example. Therefore the idea was to spread them between the depots to help minimise the effect on one depot (ie Redcar) by spreading the issue between 2 or 3 depots instead.

(28 Mar 2014, 10:25 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]The Omnicities are due for a well needed refurbishment this summer, I'm not sure when but they'll probably be after some of the new stock arrives. No doubt it'll give some Prestiges an extended stay to cover them. Once refurbished I think they'll be allocated to different depots than at present, though...

I think we'll see more Temsas stay at Redcar than expected as a result, with only a handful moving out. From what I've been told, as they're such a non standard batch, a lot of parts are not available quickly and therefore have to be specially ordered. Hence when they are VOR, it can be for long periods even for what you would think would be simple fixes. A new piece of glass can take 2-3 weeks to arrive for example. Therefore the idea was to spread them between the depots to help minimise the effect on one depot (ie Redcar) by spreading the issue between 2 or 3 depots instead.

I'd like to see the Omnicities on the 35/35A personally.

I wish I hadn't asked! lol!

(28 Mar 2014, 10:25 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]The Omnicities are due for a well needed refurbishment this summer, I'm not sure when but they'll probably be after some of the new stock arrives. No doubt it'll give some Prestiges an extended stay to cover them. Once refurbished I think they'll be allocated to different depots than at present, though...

I think we'll see more Temsas stay at Redcar than expected as a result, with only a handful moving out. From what I've been told, as they're such a non standard batch, a lot of parts are not available quickly and therefore have to be specially ordered. Hence when they are VOR, it can be for long periods even for what you would think would be simple fixes. A new piece of glass can take 2-3 weeks to arrive for example. Therefore the idea was to spread them between the depots to help minimise the effect on one depot (ie Redcar) by spreading the issue between 2 or 3 depots instead.

Are Arriva still the UK dealers for them?
You would have thought Temsa would have set up some sort of parts deal as part of the contract, bearing in mind they're (or were) obviously wanting to make inroads into the UK.

A shame then that Arriva chose to bring this type, Temsa Avenue, across to the UK, whatever deal/s that were struck at the time appear to have backfired? Having vehicles that are VOR for unnecessary but seemingly unavoidable periods is not smart, one must question is this one of the reasons that Redcar seem to have continual problems meeting their PVR requirement? Clearly swopping them around the depots is not such a practical idea or us it? Having one VOR can be coped with but if 4 or 5 are involved then surely it does?

I'd like to see the ugly Omnicities transferred from Darlington and the Temsa's to replace them on the X66. Won't happen though.

(29 Mar 2014, 8:50 am)JoshP wrote [ -> ]I'd like to see the ugly Omnicities transferred from Darlington and the Temsa's to replace them on the X66. Won't happen though.

Darlington will be the home to Omnicities by the end of the year, when the X26/X27 gets upgraded to full size.

(29 Mar 2014, 8:56 am)VolvoMarkII wrote [ -> ]Darlington will be the home to Omnicities by the end of the year, when the X26/X27 gets upgraded to full size.

Really? So will they be shared between the X66 and the X26/X27? I don't know the PVR of the routes

PVR 4 for the X26, PVR 2 for the X27, PVR 5 for the X66.

X26 and X27 do at times need a bigger bus but going in and out of Tesco can be pain and as this will never be missed out the size of vehicle must be given some thought. On the subject of Temsas they could be trialled on Darlo X1 where their larger wheels would be an advantage when travelling over rough surfaces on some of the faster none stop sections of the route.This is the case when at odd times the Scanias have appeared but I believe they struggle with the turning circle at Stanley

(29 Mar 2014, 9:58 am)upt50k wrote [ -> ]X26 and X27 do at times need a bigger bus but going in and out of Tesco can be pain and as this will never be missed out the size of vehicle must be given some thought. On the subject of Temsas they could be trialled on Darlo X1 where their larger wheels would be an advantage when travelling over rough surfaces on some of the faster none stop sections of the route.This is the case when at odd times the Scanias have appeared but I believe they struggle with the turning circle at Stanley

I certainly wouldn't want Temsas on any long distance run with their seats (which is a pity when Darlington is one of the rumoured 2 depots due to received them, and the rumoured route for them is 75/76).

(29 Mar 2014, 10:09 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]I certainly wouldn't want Temsas on any long distance run with their seats (which is a pity when Darlington is one of the rumoured 2 depots due to received them, and the rumoured route for them is 75/76).

I was always led to believe that the 75/76 were to be upgraded to Pulsars? Is this now not the case anymore?

(29 Mar 2014, 10:18 am)JoshP wrote [ -> ]I was always led to believe that the 75/76 were to be upgraded to Pulsars? Is this now not the case anymore?

This was when the remainder of the older Pulsars on the 1/5 were due to be replaced however Arriva have instead decided to introduce Streetlites on the 23.

(29 Mar 2014, 10:18 am)JoshP wrote [ -> ]I was always led to believe that the 75/76 were to be upgraded to Pulsars? Is this now not the case anymore?

That plan changed when the order for Darlington was diverted to Durham,. The original plan was for 1424-8 to be used to upgrade the 75/75 when replaced by newer vehicles on the 1/5, however since that order is now Durham bound the 75/76 will be getting whatever can be sourced for it.

(29 Mar 2014, 10:23 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]That plan changed when the order for Darlington was diverted to Durham,. The original plan was for 1424-8 to be used to upgrade the 75/75 when replaced by newer vehicles on the 1/5, however since that order is now Durham bound the 75/76 will be getting whatever can be sourced for it.

Thanks for clearing that up guys! I'm still waiting for the day that deckers are back in Darlington, some routes like the 1/X1 and 7 really need them sometimes

(29 Mar 2014, 10:26 am)JoshP wrote [ -> ]Thanks for clearing that up guys! I'm still waiting for the day that deckers are back in Darlington, some routes like the 1/X1 and 7 really need them sometimes

Unfortunately for you, I remember somebody telling me that the depot manager at Darlington did not want double deckers in his depot again, probably after this happened:

http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co...collision/

As anyone who has been to Darlington will know, almost all buses must pass under the part of the Cornmill Shopping Centre that 7519 got wedged under, therefore it will have been quite risky for the depot manager at Darlington to continue letting double-deckers go under it if there was any chance of that happening again. However, it was only until after this happened, that it was decided the double-deckers were not suited for Darlington:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/98...wn_centre/

As a result, all of the Enviro 400's at Darlington for the 1/1B were shifted to Ashington with Darlington gaining (more) Pulsars to replace them. After all that has happened previously, it is likely that the chance of Darlington ever getting double-deckers (or coaches) in the future is 0, especially as it seems that the standard double-deck bus for Arriva in the Uk (as a whole) is now the Enviro 400.

I agree it is unlikely that darlington will see double deckers in service again. With regard to the cornmill bridge it is tight for a single.decker goin under esp with all the disabled parking under the bridge which i reckon did play apart in one of the enviros gettin wedged

If ever a bus station is built somewhere in Darlington (eventually) and busses don't have to use the Cornmill route, maybe there could be a chance at a return of deckers? I mean it was one incident out of probably thousands that passed under the Cornmill

(29 Mar 2014, 11:37 am)peter wrote [ -> ]Unfortunately for you, I remember somebody telling me that the depot manager at Darlington did not want double deckers in his depot again, probably after this happened:

http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co...collision/

As anyone who has been to Darlington will know, almost all buses must pass under the part of the Cornmill Shopping Centre that 7519 got wedged under, therefore it will have been quite risky for the depot manager at Darlington to continue letting double-deckers go under it if there was any chance of that happening again. However, it was only until after this happened, that it was decided the double-deckers were not suited for Darlington:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/98...wn_centre/

As a result, all of the Enviro 400's for the 1/1B and all of the Olympians for the X66 were shifted to Ashington (and I believe some may have gone to Blyth) with the Enviro's being replaced by Pulsars and the Olympians by the DAFs which were themselves transferred to Ashington when this happened:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/89...wn_centre/

After all that has happened previously, it is likely that the chance of Darlington ever getting double-deckers (or coaches) in the future is 0.

Darlington also lost double deckers because Service X66 was upped to run every 20 mins and the X1 was launched it meant there was 4 Arriva buses an hour between Darlington and Crook.

These changes meant there wasn't really any need for double deckers anymore.

The DAF coaches were booted off the X66 because there was complaints from the elderly and disabled saying they could not use the service.

(29 Mar 2014, 12:04 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Darlington also lost double deckers because Service X66 was upped to run every 20 mins and the X1 was launched it meant there was 4 Arriva buses an hour between Darlington and Crook.

These changes meant there wasn't really any need for double deckers anymore.

The DAF coaches were booted off the X66 because there was complaints from the elderly and disabled saying they could not use the service.

I edited my post after realising the X66 coach incident was before the Enviro 400 double-decker incidents.

Any reason why we are wasting mileage and money by running service 5 through to Easington ( from Middlesbrough) on an evening when there is a perfectly acceptable and reliable local service, provided by Redcar and Cleveland Council, paid for by it's residents? Makes sense to terminate the 5 trips at Guisbborough and let those that want to travel through use the service so provided.

(29 Mar 2014, 10:23 pm)robisdave wrote [ -> ]Any reason why we are wasting mileage and money by running service 5 through to Easington ( from Middlesbrough) on an evening when there is a perfectly acceptable and reliable local service, provided by Redcar and Cleveland Council, paid for by it's residents? Makes sense to terminate the 5 trips at Guisbborough and let those that want to travel through use the service so provided.

I wouldn't say its a waste. We get good loads out of Middlesbrough on those evening 5s, and it keeps the evening service the same as the daytime service. The (20?) seater Bluebirds used on the 707/708 wouldn't cope with all of the connecting passengers anyway, and can you imagine connections working?? We have enough problems on that last one that connects in Skelton!

Same as the connections don't work between the 5 and 4 ? I've tried talking to Arriva but seemingly it's not an issue?