North East Buses

Whats the seating capacity on the Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrids?

(26 Oct 2014, 9:41 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]Whats the seating capacity on the Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrids?

The StreetLite Max is 11.5 metres (38 ft) long with capacity for up to 45 passengers seated,  25 standees, maximum capacity 70.

0928 21 from Darlington is Service 21/X21 branded 4813.

0958 Aycliffe to Darlington journey is 21/X21 branded 4812. This journey starts at Sedgefield.

Also saw an EcoCity on Service 5A.

Whats the seating capacity on the Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrids?

On Arriva's examples have 44 seats.

Well I have just ridden 4812, was quite nice liked the seats. It had some problems though as only one door would open and it was running around 15 minutes late and the driver did say that it was a new bus and had problems getting it out the depot this morning.

Also four way temporary traffic lights at North Road are causing problems to all services down North Road.

The X66 I saw was a Pulsar.

In a bizarre twist 4645 is on the next 26A to Colburn.

EcoCity 4811 is on the 19 to Faverdale now.

It would appear that the 5/19 interwork and the 26A/X66 do too.

Any idea what Ashington use on Sunday X18's? Is it still normal allocation? Or will they use the Omnicities?

Solo on service 22..expected a Pulsar as per previous Sunday operation on service 24?

4814 arrived in Darlington about 15 minutes late and now a fitter is looking at one of the mirrors. Hopefully it will stay in service.

I couldn't be bothered to see if it stayed in service and have now jumped on the 5A home.

Solo on service 22..expected a Pulsar as per previous Sunday operation on service 24?

What did the 22 use on a Sunday before the changes.

4644 was working the X66 out of Middlesbrough around 0915

(26 Oct 2014, 11:54 am)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]What did the 22 use on a Sunday before the changes.

Not sure what the 22 used, but the 24 was solid Pulsar.

Have just seen a Pulsar (1415) on service 24 though, as well as a Solo on service 22 (although in theory this could have been the one I saw from the A19 earlier).

Also the 1130 X66 didn't turn up, people didn't look impressed although these people didn't seem to know that the X66 timetable has changed so where there before 11am

Re 4814...
Could that be this one (shown below on map)?

Not keen on the doors on these mind (see pic below). Bit chilly!

Re 4814...

 Could that be this one (shown below on map)?
 
Not keen on the doors on these mind (see pic below). Bit chilly!

Yep, just seen it go past Newton Aycliffe Tesco.

Not surprised it is that late as the traffic lights outside Morrisons are not working and it has four way temporary lights, took the 5A 15 minutes to get from Darlington Centre to Morrisons, that's 10 minutes longer.

Is the one your on 4812, only one door would open earlier.

(26 Oct 2014, 12:11 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Re 4814...
Could that be this one (shown below on map)?

Not keen on the doors on these mind (see pic below). Bit chilly!

Can't be worse than the vykings? 

Are they designed like that or are they just broke?

Yeah it is.
The door closest to the front wouldn't open at Station Town but the driver pulled it forward and it's fine now... But it has still got the gap in between.

The power operated roof hatch keeps blowing off too...

(26 Oct 2014, 12:25 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Yeah it is.
The door closest to the front wouldn't open at Station Town but the driver pulled it forward and it's fine now... But it has still got the gap in between.

The power operated roof hatch keeps blowing off too...

And heres me thinking u cant get anything worse than a vyking....

They look to be badly built then...

4812
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...445016899/
4812 interior
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...010888194/
4813
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...628945481/
4813 rear
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...445650007/
4814
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...446149620/
4811 on service 19 (now interworks with service 5A on Sundays)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...608002366/
4645 on service 26A (now interworks with service X66 on Sundays)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...632535082/

4644 was working the X66 out of Middlesbrough around 0915

The X66 I saw was a Pulsar.

In a bizarre twist 4645 is on the next 26A to Colburn.

I think the Pulsar was 1428. Rather odd that these two Omnicitys were out today, I was expecting it to be all Pulsars today. No idea what the other bus was as I didn't see any bus on the 1130 X66 journey out of Darlington.
Is it possible that some Pulsars may have been off to have the next stop announcements sorted?

Currently on 4653, which is my X18 from Berwick to Morpeth. Firstly how loud is its bell!! Secondly, during its refurbishment would it not have been a good idea to replace some of the interior lights, two aren't working on the left hand side and the rest seem very dull. It does seem pretty pacey though

(26 Oct 2014, 3:46 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]Currently on 4653, which is my X18 from Berwick to Morpeth. Firstly how loud is its bell!! Secondly, during its refurbishment would it not have been a good idea to replace some of the interior lights, two aren't working on the left hand side and the rest seem very dull. It does seem pretty pacey though

I'm sure a Sapphire is on the X15.

Sapphire on the X15? Are you sure that Ashington hasn't secretly merged with Blyth? Mind you though, what would it be like if Blyth upgraded the X10 / X11 to Sapphire?

Hint: "Your next stop is, the Silverlink"

(26 Oct 2014, 4:41 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote [ -> ]Sapphire on the X15? Are you sure that Ashington hasn't secretly merged with Blyth? Mind you though, what would it be like if Blyth upgraded the X10 / X11 to Sapphire?

Hint: "Your next stop is, the Silverlink"

Considering only the Sapphire routes have next stop announcements, you won't. In any case, apart from 1, 2 and 308, all Blyth's Express work are going MAX within the next year.

I withdraw my earlier comment about 4653's lights, much brighter now it's a bit darker outside.

(26 Oct 2014, 4:47 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Considering only the Sapphire routes have next stop announcements, you won't. In any case, apart from 1, 2 and 308, all Blyth's Express work are going MAX within the next year.

They should brand them all the same, something like ''Blyth Express'', so that there won't be odd workings. 

Also got a couple of photos of the EcoCitys today myself - in different locations to Jimmi's photos...

Arriva North East: 4812 / WX61FXO by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 4812 / WX61FXO by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 4813 / WX61HSL by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 4813 / WX61HSL by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 4814 / WX13GHN by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

All in all, a fairly successful day of operation on service 21, despite the delays...

Traffic lights near Darlington were reportedly causing delays of 10+ minutes according to one driver, a shortage of change also meant that drivers had to stop for a little while to exchange cash, and general issues with doors, wing mirrors and unknown factors (4813 kept on bleeping every two minutes, and the driver seemed to be unable to identify what was causing it) caused delays too. Thankfully, the 10+ minute layover in Peterlee helped reliability a lot.

Look forward to seeing them in Sunderland tomorrow - though I do have a feeling 4812 will be VOR tomorrow as the driver kept on filling out that defect card every time he had a problem with the doors!

(26 Oct 2014, 6:00 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Also got a couple of photos of the EcoCitys today myself - in different locations to Jimmi's photos...

Arriva North East: 4812 / WX61FXO by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 4812 / WX61FXO by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 4813 / WX61HSL by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 4813 / WX61HSL by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 4814 / WX13GHN by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Nice shots, do all of them have the original interior?

do all of them have the original interior?

4812 and 4813 do, not sure about 4814 though.

4812 still had MAN stickers saying how environmentally friendly it was from when it was a demonstrator.

(26 Oct 2014, 6:01 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Nice shots, do all of them have the original interior?

Cheers. I believe so.
4812/13 have retained the interior for definite as I caught a ride from both of those, and I only caught a glimpse of 4814 but I'm fairly sure it also retained the seat moquette it had previously.

4812 retained a fleet number from one of its operators during its time as a demonstration vehicle, while 4813 retained a 'MAN EcoCity' sticker at the very front of the vehicle near the cab.

The moquette on 4813 was a little tatty in comparison to 4812, but not too bad.

4812/13 have retained the interior for definite as I caught a ride from both of those, and I only caught a glimpse of 4814 but I'm fairly sure it also retained the seat moquette it had previously.

I've just had a look at my photo of 4814 and zoomed in and the seats look either really dark blue or black but is difficult to tell as the windows look really dark plus things are reflecting onto the windows, so 4814 may have been done but I'm not 100% on that.

I'll try and see tomorrow.

Anyone know when the ex Durham Park and Ride Solos will move to Darlington depot and enter service.

Will they briefly operate in white basecoat?