North East Buses

(09 Mar 2014, 8:03 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]Despite the fact the 75/76 are the only services officially allocated to Darts, Darlington has 15 darts when the PVR of 75/76 is only 3! Therefore unfortunately there tends to be more more Darts on 9/10 and 13A/13B than Optare Solos which should be on there! As a result Tom if you head into Darlington Town Centre at a normal time of the day I guarantee you will see a Dart within 0-60 seconds of arriving there!

I second this, plus with 4809 out of service there's always a Dart on the 2 or 11 mixed with the Eco Cities. Occasionally get an X1 branded Pulsar on in place of a dart if we're lucky.

(09 Mar 2014, 9:50 pm)JoshP wrote [ -> ]I second this, plus with 4809 out of service there's always a Dart on the 2 or 11 mixed with the Eco Cities. Occasionally get an X1 branded Pulsar on in place of a dart if we're lucky.

Service 8 is allocated 3 Darts too, usually mini versions...

(09 Mar 2014, 10:00 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Service 8 is allocated 3 Darts too, usually mini versions...

thdra

I sat the 8a/33 whole journey Darlo/Ferryhill/Hartlepool and back when it existed on a now withdrawn MPD. It was hell!

(09 Mar 2014, 10:53 pm)JoshP wrote [ -> ]thdra

I sat the 8a/33 whole journey Darlo/Ferryhill/Hartlepool and back when it existed on a now withdrawn MPD. It was hell!

Yes the one time I used service 33 was operated by 1724 which was fairly new to Darlington at the time. Now generally operated by either a Solo or E200 with Scarlet Band. Or what's left of the 33 anyway.

Another route allocated Darts mostly in Darlington is the 19 (and 3 interworks with it) and also the 14/14a/14b alongside a couple of Solos.

(09 Mar 2014, 10:00 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Service 8 is allocated 3 Darts too, usually mini versions...

Service 8/8A usually has MPD 1799, a 05 reg MPD and an X reg Dart.

Service 3/19 is usually MPD operated, but Darts sometimes appear.

Services 9/10 & 13A/13B always have Darts on.

(09 Mar 2014, 10:53 pm)JoshP wrote [ -> ]thdra

I sat the 8a/33 whole journey Darlo/Ferryhill/Hartlepool and back when it existed on a now withdrawn MPD. It was hell!

I rode the 8A/33 once and I had 1308 which was okay but on return I had 1616 which was painfully slow, little wonder it was about 15 minutes late.

With the launch of the new Sapphire services in the North East this year in Teeside and Newcastle, are there any routes going Sapphire in Yorkshire?

Im told Something meant to happen with service 110. but not sure on exact details

(10 Mar 2014, 12:40 pm)JoshP wrote [ -> ]With the launch of the new Sapphire services in the North East this year in Teeside and Newcastle, are there any routes going Sapphire in Yorkshire?

Arriva Yorkshire seem to have steered clear of Sapphire so far - there are more routes being converted in 2014 though, including at least two in Midlands (one being 110 Tamworth-Birmingham) and two in the North West & Wales (one being the 12 Rhyl-Llandudno) as well.

On VOSA today.


PB0002032/11 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Blyth and Newcastle given service number X4 effective from 23-Mar-2014. To amend Route.


PB0002032/252 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Blyth and Newcastle given service number X5 effective from 23-Mar-2014. To amend Route.


PB0002717/28 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Hartlepool given service number 22 effective from 04-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.


PB0002717/256 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Hartlepool given service number 57/57A effective from 04-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.


PB0002717/257 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Sunderland given service number 24/24X effective from 04-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.


PB0002717/258 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Cockfield given service number 6 effective from 04-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.


PB0002717/293 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Brasside given service number 42 effective from 04-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

(11 Mar 2014, 11:58 am)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]On VOSA today.


PB0002032/11 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Blyth and Newcastle given service number X4 effective from 23-Mar-2014. To amend Route.


PB0002032/252 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Blyth and Newcastle given service number X5 effective from 23-Mar-2014. To amend Route.


PB0002717/28 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Hartlepool given service number 22 effective from 04-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.


PB0002717/256 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Hartlepool given service number 57/57A effective from 04-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.


PB0002717/257 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Sunderland given service number 24/24X effective from 04-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.


PB0002717/258 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Cockfield given service number 6 effective from 04-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.


PB0002717/293 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Brasside given service number 42 effective from 04-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

Does anybody know what the changes are for service 22 and 24 from 4th May 2014?.

did 4068 get withdrawn at all coz i saw it today on 63 in middlesbrough bus station

(11 Mar 2014, 8:21 pm)jaimzm wrote [ -> ]did 4068 get withdrawn at all coz i saw it today on 63 in middlesbrough bus station

4068 is down on the site fleetlist as withdrawn however a couple of months ago when Redcar gained Dennis Darts from Darlington and Durham they originally withdrew all Prestiges at Redcar.....then they changed their minds and reinstated a vast majority of them so they could withdraw the ex-Arriva Yorkshire ALX 300s! I presume 4068 was reinstated fairly recently displacing an ALX 300 into disposal and either it has not been noticed particularly by anyone or the fleetlist has not been updated for a while (but I presume it is the first reason).

To also point out 4068 has not been at Redcar for a large period of time. Before coming to Redcar 4068 was based at Belmont and saw daily, regular use on a variety of services therefore, if it's good enough for Belmont, it's certainly good enough for Redcar!

(11 Mar 2014, 9:18 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]4068 is down on the site fleetlist as withdrawn however a couple of months ago when Redcar gained Dennis Darts from Darlington and Durham they originally withdrew all Prestiges at Redcar.....then they changed their minds and reinstated a vast majority of them so they could withdraw the ex-Arriva Yorkshire ALX 300s! I presume 4068 was reinstated fairly recently displacing an ALX 300 into disposal and either it has not been noticed particularly by anyone or the fleetlist has not been updated for a while (but I presume it is the first reason).

No, 4068 is operating in a reserve capacity. Simply put, Redcar can't manage to cover their PVR with their own fleet (due to defects etc) hence their large use of reserve vehicles.

As for what happened (re Prestiges and ALX300 DAFs), originally all the Prestiges were coming off however problems with a number of the ALX300s meant they were earmarked for withdrawal instead (apart from 4096 which was withdrawn with the Prestiges). Officially, the only Prestiges Redcar should be using are 4042/71/80.

(11 Mar 2014, 9:27 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]No, 4068 is operating in a reserve capacity. Simply put, Redcar can't manage to cover their PVR with their own fleet (due to defects etc) hence their large use of reserve vehicles.

As for what happened (re Prestiges and ALX300 DAFs), originally all the Prestiges were coming off however problems with a number of the ALX300s meant they were earmarked for withdrawal instead (apart from 4096 which was withdrawn with the Prestiges). Officially, the only Prestiges Redcar should be using are 4042/71/80.

Indeed! Also in use are 1737, 1739, 4041, 4044 and 4068! lol
1711 has been withdrawn (again another reserve but was still being used...) with the arrival of 1653.

One has to question whether Redcar will ever manage to meet it's PVR requirement without using so called "withdrawn" vehicles? Even the introduction of the new fleet later this year won't solve the problem, it didn't several years ago when they got the infamous Temsa Avenues!

(11 Mar 2014, 9:18 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]4068 is down on the site fleetlist as withdrawn however a couple of months ago when Redcar gained Dennis Darts from Darlington and Durham they originally withdrew all Prestiges at Redcar.....then they changed their minds and reinstated a vast majority of them so they could withdraw the ex-Arriva Yorkshire ALX 300s! I presume 4068 was reinstated fairly recently displacing an ALX 300 into disposal and either it has not been noticed particularly by anyone or the fleetlist has not been updated for a while (but I presume it is the first reason).

To also point out 4068 has not been at Redcar for a large period of time. Before coming to Redcar 4068 was based at Belmont and saw daily, regular use on a variety of services therefore, if it's good enough for Belmont, it's certainly good enough for Redcar!

ah i see thank's peter i understand lol

(11 Mar 2014, 3:29 pm)cbma06 wrote [ -> ]Does anybody know what the changes are for service 22 and 24 from 4th May 2014?.

Ive got a reply back from Arriva, as I asked them to see if their have any information about the bus changes for service 22 and 24 in East Durham.

"the only change to service 22 is that the first Monday to Friday morning journey from Wheatley Hill to Durham is withdrawn due to extremely low usage. There are no alterations to service 24, while the morning journey on the 24X will run five minutes earlier throughout to improve reliability. Hope this helps"


But by the registration to VOSA it states route and timetable change for both bus services.

1213 was seen this afternoon getting towed through Morpeth from the north, also 7440 on the 1322 X18 failed in the bus station and passengers transferred to the 1337 X14

(12 Mar 2014, 12:49 pm)cbma06 wrote [ -> ]Ive got a reply back from Arriva, as I asked them to see if their have any information about the bus changes for service 22 and 24 in East Durham.

"the only change to service 22 is that the first Monday to Friday morning journey from Wheatley Hill to Durham is withdrawn due to extremely low usage. There are no alterations to service 24, while the morning journey on the 24X will run five minutes earlier throughout to improve reliability. Hope this helps"


But by the registration to VOSA it states route and timetable change for both bus services.

That really doesn't mean anything and is quite often misleading, don't read too much into it.

The recent change to Service 6 in Stockton listed it as a timetable only amendment, but it is a significant route change too!

(12 Mar 2014, 9:18 pm)VolvoMarkII wrote [ -> ]That really doesn't mean anything and is quite often misleading, don't read too much into it.

The recent change to Service 6 in Stockton listed it as a timetable only amendment, but it is a significant route change too!

And by what is on the timetable, it's being marketed as a completely new service despite using the same number and a very small part of the current route.

Does anyone think the Cadets at Stockton will ever get transferred up North? Would love to see them at Blyth or Ashington!

(12 Mar 2014, 9:57 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Does anyone think the Cadets at Stockton will ever get transferred up North? Would love to see them at Blyth or Ashington!

Unlikely Tom, they'll more than likely see out what's left of their lives at Stockton before they get retired next year. Some of them are still a joy to drive.
I think Blyth will see some Solos at some point.

(12 Mar 2014, 9:57 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Does anyone think the Cadets at Stockton will ever get transferred up North? Would love to see them at Blyth or Ashington!

They won't - along with 7436-44 and 4501/2/4-15, they will be up for replacement next year (once the Prestiges and the intended Darts for withdrawal this year, they are next on the 'hit list')

When the new buses enter service, where does everyone think cascades will go? I'll post my suggestions tomorrow as I'm too tired now.

(12 Mar 2014, 11:05 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]When the new buses enter service, where does everyone think cascades will go? I'll post my suggestions tomorrow as I'm too tired now.

Will be interesting to see - certainly Stockton are expecting Volvo B10BLEs from Northumbria, as are Redcar. Unsure on the exact numbers as yet but a lot of the fleet will move around to go with service upgrades etc

Out of interest has anyone heard the radio ads for the East Durham tickets? Heard one the other night and it sounded pretty well done

(13 Mar 2014, 7:02 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Will be interesting to see - certainly Stockton are expecting Volvo B10BLEs from Northumbria, as are Redcar. Unsure on the exact numbers as yet but a lot of the fleet will move around to go with service upgrades etc

Out of interest has anyone heard the radio ads for the East Durham tickets? Heard one the other night and it sounded pretty well done

Are they as good as the ones which featured a cameo from the bod?

(13 Mar 2014, 7:02 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Will be interesting to see - certainly Stockton are expecting Volvo B10BLEs from Northumbria, as are Redcar. Unsure on the exact numbers as yet but a lot of the fleet will move around to go with service upgrades etc

Out of interest has anyone heard the radio ads for the East Durham tickets? Heard one the other night and it sounded pretty well done

I'm incredibly bored, so here suggestion for cascades:

14 X VDL Pulsar for services 4/X3/X4:
1429-30 Redcar-Durham for services 46 and 48, allowing it to be fully Pulsar operated. 7477/78 would be withdrawn.
1431-32 Redcar-Durham for service 43, allowing it to be fully Pulsar operated. 4519/20 would be transfered to Stockton to replace 4001/06, while 7432/33 would be transferred to Jesmond for the 43/44/45.
1433-40 Redcar-Durham for service 64, replacing 1301-04/1311-15 to replace 1646-7/1649-56 at Darlington/Redcar.

8 X VDL Pulsar for services 5/5A:
4652/54/58/59 Stockton-Ashington for services 20/X20. 7466/68/70/72 withdrawn.
1441/42/43/44 remain at Stockton for use on the 21A, replacing 4007/30/38/39.

8 X VDL Pulsar for service 306:
1497/99/00 Jesmond-Blyth for the Quorum Express. 1401/02/03 would be transferred to Jesmond to replace 4504/07/10 that would go to Stockton to replace 4039/40/43.
1481/82/83/95/96 would replace 4512/14/16/17/18 that would replace 4045/46/48/62/63 at Stockton. 1481/82/83/95/96 would be used on the 52/53.

5 X Wright Streetlite for service 23:
2803/04/05/07/08 to Blyth to replace 1733/42/51 and 1795/96.

Durham Park and Ride Solos:
2852-2857 to Darlington to replace 1712/24/37/47/93/94.
2858-2861 to Whitby to replace 1101/03/04/05.


6 X ADL Enviro 400/8 X ADL Enviro Refurbished for services X21/X22:
4501/02 would be withdrawn and 4505/06/08 to Stockton to replace Prestiges 4069 at Stockton and 4042/4071 at Redcar.
7505 would be used on the 14/X14 to allow it to be fully ADL operated, and therefore replacing 4509 to move to Redcar, to allow 4080 to be withdrawn, the last of the prestiges.

6 X B9 for Coast and Castles service X18:
7453/54/55/56 and 7505/06 remain at Ashington for the 35/35A, allowing 7436/37/38/39/40 to move to Jesmond, and 7475 to replace 7467 at Jesmond to be withdrawn. This would enable 4521 to transfer to Redcar as a spare, with 4522/23 remaining at Jesmond.

All buses in bold would be withdrawn.

Interesting Tom, but DLAs withdrawn just a year after arriving?
The Tridents are certainly planned to go, plus all of the 16xx Darts I believe, not just the R-COOs. They're in a far worse state.

(13 Mar 2014, 5:05 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]I'm incredibly bored, so here suggestion for cascades:

14 X VDL Pulsar for services 4/X3/X4:
1429-30 Redcar-Durham for services 46 and 48, allowing it to be fully Pulsar operated. 7477/78 would be withdrawn.
1431-32 Redcar-Durham for service 43, allowing it to be fully Pulsar operated. 4519/20 would be transfered to Stockton to replace 4001/06, while 7432/33 would be transferred to Jesmond for the 43/44/45.
1433-40 Redcar-Durham for service 64, replacing 1301-04/1311-15 to replace 1646-7/1649-56 at Darlington/Redcar.

8 X VDL Pulsar for services 5/5A:
4652/54/58/59 Stockton-Ashington for services 20/X20. 7466/68/70/72 withdrawn.
1441/42/43/44 remain at Stockton for use on the 21A, replacing 4007/30/38/39.

8 X VDL Pulsar for service 306:
1497/99/00 Jesmond-Blyth for the Quorum Express. 1401/02/03 would be transferred to Jesmond to replace 4504/07/10 that would go to Stockton to replace 4039/40/43.
1481/82/83/95/96 would replace 4512/14/16/17/18 that would replace 4045/46/48/62/63 at Stockton. 1481/82/83/95/96 would be used on the 52/53.

5 X Wright Streetlite for service 23:
2803/04/05/07/08 to Blyth to replace 1733/42/51 and 1795/96.

Durham Park and Ride Solos:
2852-2857 to Darlington to replace 1712/24/37/47/93/94.
2858-2861 to Whitby to replace 1101/03/04/05.


6 X ADL Enviro 400/8 X ADL Enviro Refurbished for services X21/X22:
4501/02 would be withdrawn and 4505/06/08 to Stockton to replace Prestiges 4069 at Stockton and 4042/4071 at Redcar.
7505 would be used on the 14/X14 to allow it to be fully ADL operated, and therefore replacing 4509 to move to Redcar, to allow 4080 to be withdrawn, the last of the prestiges.

6 X B9 for Coast and Castles service X18:
7453/54/55/56 and 7505/06 remain at Ashington for the 35/35A, allowing 7436/37/38/39/40 to move to Jesmond, and 7475 to replace 7467 at Jesmond to be withdrawn. This would enable 4521 to transfer to Redcar as a spare, with 4522/23 remaining at Jesmond.

All buses in bold would be withdrawn.

Very wrong, for a start the Sapphire Vehicles and the ones for the 23 are Streetlite Maxs. The vehicles leaving Redcar are Temsas not Pulsars (with 2 Streetlites replacing 2 of the DAF SB220s). Stockton are losing Prestiges only, the OmniCitys are staying at Stockton (20/X20 should be going low floor once the B7TLs enter service). The only DAF DB250s being replaced this year are the T-FGNs at Durham. All the B10BLEs will be moving south later this year (I understand at present the plan is that Redcar will gain the ALX300s plus 3 of the Wright-bodied examples while Stockton gain the remaining Wright-bodied examples).