North East Buses

21 and x21 seem to be keeping better time today
but 21a running 5 mintues late on the 9.44am from wingate to peterlee two passengers told me he missed wellfield road out went down a181 by pass which is off route then in peterlee missed pennine drive and passfield way out going old route past east durham college so have stockton drivers have not been told correct route from wingate via wellfield road and via pennine drive and passfield way in peterlee thats why we told in east durham stakeholder meeting was one of the reasons they were not going through shotton colliery and low numbers using that section or was this 21a driver done this as a one off

This isn't just Arriva but lately, I've seen many complaints about a small number drivers who don't drive to the road and traffic conditions (doing 20 in a 30) and in turn cause the bus to run late. I know there's the reason of getting off next shift for doing it due to turning in late but, is there any other reasons?

Former Arriva Southern Counties 4072 (GN10 KWJ) was being sanded down and looked to be ready to enter the paintshop today at Thorntons:

Arriva North East: ???? / GN10KWJ by danielgrahamm, on Flickr


I've made far too many posts today about the X21, but I'll just stick the photos in here:

Stockton's offering on the extra peak X21 this morning was 4658
Arriva North East: 4658 / NK05GXN by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Durham's offering likewise tonight was 7620
Arriva North East: 7620 / NK61EBL by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

EcoCity 4806 had a few problems today, meaning that it was delayed by 15-20 minutes... Even after the layover period in Park Lane, it left 18 minutes late (more or less the same time as the X7 was due to leave)
Arriva North East: 4806 / NK13CFL by danielgrahamm, on Flickr


Also worth a mention are the Volvo B6BLEs which are still awaiting disposal - kicking about at the back of Thorntons' yard...
Thornton Bros of Ashington: Arriva's Disposals by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Thornton Bros of Ashington: Arriva's Disposals by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Thornton Bros of Ashington: Arriva's Disposals by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

(27 Oct 2014, 7:29 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Former Arriva Southern Counties 4072 (GN10 KWJ) was being sanded down and looked to be ready to enter the paintshop today at Thorntons:

Arriva North East: ???? / GN10KWJ by danielgrahamm, on Flickr


I've made far too many posts today about the X21, but I'll just stick the photos in here:

Stockton's offering on the extra peak X21 this morning was 4658
Arriva North East: 4658 / NK05GXN by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Durham's offering likewise tonight was 7620
Arriva North East: 7620 / NK61EBL by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

EcoCity 4806 had a few problems today, meaning that it was delayed by 15-20 minutes... Even after the layover period in Park Lane, it left 18 minutes late (more or less the same time as the X7 was due to leave)
Arriva North East: 4806 / NK13CFL by danielgrahamm, on Flickr


Also worth a mention are the Volvo B6BLEs which are still awaiting disposal - kicking about at the back of Thorntons' yard...
Thornton Bros of Ashington: Arriva's Disposals by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Thornton Bros of Ashington: Arriva's Disposals by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Thornton Bros of Ashington: Arriva's Disposals by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

What a waste of them buses - been stuck there for years.

(27 Oct 2014, 7:49 pm)Cock Robin wrote [ -> ]What a waste of them buses - been stuck there for years.

Whick daf ikarus bus is it 

Shame they not been used they be good at Redcar for 63s

Sadly they wouldn't be big enough for Redcars 63s as at times they can very full

Shame like they good buses now I think about it could send some to Blyth put some on X5 X13 send few to Durham put them on 56-57

Shame like they good buses now I think about it could send some to Blyth put some on X5 X13 send few to Durham put them on 56-57

I'd have liked them at Darlington depot to use on the 8/8a instead of them awful Darts!

These B6's weren't known for reliability, so I guess ANE didn't want to use them for this reason or buy spare parts and familiarise drivers for them.

(28 Oct 2014, 3:00 pm)Stephen James Peter Johns wrote [ -> ]Sadly they wouldn't be big enough for Redcars 63s as at times they can very full

Dosn't stop them using MPDs and 1101-5 though!

How have the passenger numbers on the X21 been like today?

How have the passenger numbers on the X21 been like today?

No idea about today, but I'm planning on going to Sunderland and maybe Hartlepool tomorrow so I'll see how much the X21 plus the 22/23 have on board.

Is the 21/X21 full EcoCity operation? As every photo apart from my photo of 1799 on the 21 yesterday morning has been an EcoCity. Could it be that the 0636 21 from Peterlee to Darlington could be operated by a MPD or Solo.

(28 Oct 2014, 6:52 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]No idea about today, but I'm planning on going to Sunderland and maybe Hartlepool tomorrow so I'll see how much the X21 plus the 22/23 have on board.

Is the 21/X21 full EcoCity operation? As every photo apart from my photo of 1799 on the 21 yesterday morning has been an EcoCity. Could it be that the 0636 21 from Peterlee to Darlington could be operated by a MPD or Solo.

A Pulsar was meant to be allocated, but it seems they are using a Ecocity from town services instead.

There have been major delays on 685s and 85s this afternoon due to an accident closing the A69 just west of Haltwhistle. The bus I'm currently waiting for now, the 1745 ex Newcastle (1841 off Hexham) is 27 minutes late.

A Pulsar was meant to be allocated, but it seems they are using a Ecocity from town services instead.

Weren't Darlington EcoCitys bought from the Green Bus Fund, if so they shouldn't really be used on anything but the town services, like on Sundays they are used on the 5A/19 while the 2/11/12 are allocated Solos.

(28 Oct 2014, 6:52 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]No idea about today, but I'm planning on going to Sunderland and maybe Hartlepool tomorrow so I'll see how much the X21 plus the 22/23 have on board.

Is the 21/X21 full EcoCity operation? As every photo apart from my photo of 1799 on the 21 yesterday morning has been an EcoCity. Could it be that the 0636 21 from Peterlee to Darlington could be operated by a MPD or Solo.

There is one morning 21 journey that presumably runs onto Service 4 when it arrives into town.

There is also a morning 4 journey that appears to be operated by an Ecocity.

Might appear to be madness, but I expect it is something they do for duty efficiency or maybe to even avoid a required changeover 'too early' in the town centre.

I know they use them on more lengthy routes at the weekend to give them a run out, helping their reliability. Too much slow town work is just as bad as too much high speed work.

There is one morning 21 journey that presumably runs onto Service 4 when it arrives into town.

 There is also a morning 4 journey that appears to be operated by an Ecocity.
 Might appear to be madness, but I expect it is something they do for duty efficiency or maybe to even avoid a required changeover 'too early' in the town centre.

An EcoCity probably wouldn't be able to do the 21/X21 all day from leaving the depot at around 0530 until arriving back at the depot at around 2030.

2 days in a row I've seen examples of 2 off peak (9am - 3pm) 308's running 10 - 15 minutes late in both directions. I'm not having a dig but Arriva either need to add more time or launch an express service to mirror the route. No bus especially outside peak hours should run more than 5 minutes late.

X21 I got this evening took half an hour to get to Regent Centre from Haymarket, and then my mate sent me a text saying it broke down in Bedlington somewhere, driver must have been seriously annoyed 

(28 Oct 2014, 6:55 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]A Pulsar was meant to be allocated, but it seems they are using a Ecocity from town services instead.

1410 was transferred as part of the PVR increase for the 12/12a to release an EcoCity to make up the fourth vehicle on the 21/X21.

(28 Oct 2014, 10:18 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]1410 was transferred as part of the PVR increase for the 12/12a to release an EcoCity to make up the fourth vehicle on the 21/X21.

Oh right, are four branded?

(28 Oct 2014, 10:19 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Oh right, are four branded?

3 branded - 4812-4. Means all 11 original examples can be used on 2/11/12/12a/21/X21 rather than restricting 4 to 21/X21.

Was it a 57 reg one?

Neglected to mention that on Monday 4046 was removed from Stockton depot for scrap

It's another bad day for the 21/21A/X21 as the road in Wingate was closed with police and ambulance on the scene. Expect delays to these services and the 58 and X7.

(28 Oct 2014, 10:20 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote [ -> ]Was it a 57 reg one?

Guessing this was in response to my post, as none of the others could refer to 57-reg vehicles, no it was 7528 if I recall correctly 

Blimey! Was it a mechanical fault or an electrical fault?

I rode the 0831 21 and the 21 had a decent load on it, unfortunately due to an incident in Wingate it arrived in Peterlee Bus Station about 20 minutes late although thankfully because of the lengthy layover it left about 15 minutes late and arrived at Park Lane at around 1015 and left about 2 minutes late. The X21 had 10 passengers onboard with 2 connecting from the 21. The driver also accepted a Network One pass in Sunderland.

The 1115 X21 left with about 15 onboard.

Also just saw a 23 with few seats left entering PL and a busy 22 as well.