North East Buses

Arriva North East: Latest News & Discussion - March 2015

Do vehicles used on the 14/X14 require a tachograph?

Edit: I only ask because of this, as I didn't think these were fitted with tachographs because they should only be on the X21/22?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gne-bus-ph...U7Y-r84Kkh

(01 Mar 2015, 12:58 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]Do vehicles used on the 14/X14 require a tachograph?

No they don't - which is why it is split at Morpeth. The X15, X18 and X93 are the only tachograph routes in our network at the moment, with the X93 becoming split from the end of this month.

Does anybody know what bus services these streetlites are going on? https://www.flickr.com/photos/81709772@N...36376@N07/

(02 Mar 2015, 6:15 pm)Davie wrote [ -> ]Does anybody know what bus services these streetlites are going on? https://www.flickr.com/photos/81709772@N...36376@N07/

X1 at Darlington.

(02 Mar 2015, 6:15 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]X1 at Darlington.

Thanks dan

(02 Mar 2015, 6:15 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]X1 at Darlington.

As previously discussed in the Arriva 2015 orders thread...

(02 Mar 2015, 6:26 pm)Robert wrote [ -> ]As previously discussed in the Arriva 2015 orders thread...

Sorry Robert, I didn't see that. Thanks for pointing it out

(02 Mar 2015, 7:16 pm)Davie wrote [ -> ]Sorry Robert, I didn't see that. Thanks for pointing it out

No bother. Its just i feel that more info can be found on that particular thread than any other as that is specified specifically on the area in question. Hope it helps!

A few updates from my end...

4512 arrived at Stockton depot yesterday and should replace 4039 (though it was still out today, and parked looking ready to go out tomorrow too!) - 1769/71 have now transferred to Blyth, with 1772 expected to follow shortly (if they can wrestle it out of the hands of Redcar that is... Ended up being thrown on the 63 this afternoon!). 1753 remains in use at Stockton but that too can't have long left

Has it been noted the ex Durham P&R Solos have wifi? I'm pretty sure it will have been, but was surprised when 2859 had it last night.

(03 Mar 2015, 7:26 pm)MrPottski wrote [ -> ]Has it been noted the ex Durham P&R Solos have wifi? I'm pretty sure it will have been, but was surprised when 2859 had it last night.

If it has, I think I've missed the post... Our fleet lists haven't been updated accordingly - but will do this tomorrow.

(03 Mar 2015, 7:26 pm)MrPottski wrote [ -> ]Has it been noted the ex Durham P&R Solos have wifi? I'm pretty sure it will have been, but was surprised when 2859 had it last night.

I've seen no posts saying that they have WiFi.

Did these have WiFi from when they were on the Park and Ride of have they just been fitted recently?


Noticed that EcoCity 4814 now has WiFi too, I imagine 4811/12/13 will also have WiFi now too as 4811 has been on the 21/X21 alot recently.

I just tried to complete the Darlington survey and where there are 5 categories where you had to rank the options from 1 to 5 the numbers I put in kept disappearing.

All I did was put that I live outside of Darlington and my regular service was the 5/5A. Also wrote that the reliability needs to be addressed on the 5/5A as it is often 5 or more minutes late and the reliability of the 7 needs to be addressed on Sunday's.

I did not give my thoughts on any of the suggested changes as they don't affect me.

(03 Mar 2015, 7:34 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]I've seen no posts saying that they have WiFi.

Did these have WiFi from when they were on the Park and Ride of have they just been fitted recently?


Noticed that EcoCity 4814 now has WiFi too, I imagine 4811/12/13 will also have WiFi now too as 4811 has been on the 21/X21 alot recently.

I don't think they did have wifi on Park & Ride and will have been fitted at refurb. 4811-14 were due to be fitted also, good to hear they've now been completed.

(03 Mar 2015, 9:43 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]I don't think they did have wifi on Park & Ride and will have been fitted at refurb. 4811-14 were due to be fitted also, good to hear they've now been completed.

Yeah I'd thought they'd have fitted the WiFi to the ex P&R Solos recently ahead of them going on the 13A/13B.

Was pleased to see WiFi on 4814 the other night on my way back from Peterlee as I can never get a data connection when I ride the 21.

(03 Mar 2015, 7:34 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]I've seen no posts saying that they have WiFi.

Did these have WiFi from when they were on the Park and Ride of have they just been fitted recently?


Noticed that EcoCity 4814 now has WiFi too, I imagine 4811/12/13 will also have WiFi now too as 4811 has been on the 21/X21 alot recently.

I genuinely don't know when it was fitted. Cannot believe they've all still got the radio system fitted after refurb though.

now that the Volvo B7TL Geminis are at jesmond what will happen to the DAF ALX 400s at jesmond 

(04 Mar 2015, 4:37 pm)jaimzm wrote [ -> ]now that the Volvo B7TL Geminis are at jesmond what will happen to the DAF ALX 400s at jesmond 

They will go / have gone to Durham as a temporary replacement for the Geminis which have gone for MAX refurb.

(04 Mar 2015, 4:49 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]They will go / have gone to Durham as a temporary replacement for the Geminis which have gone for MAX refurb.

Or are due to go.... Many of them seen in the last few days still trundling around!

(04 Mar 2015, 10:15 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Or are due to go.... Many of them seen in the last few days still trundling around!

Aye - that's why I said "will go" first, clearly assuming that Durham don't just give in and send the Geminis without replacement, making themselves short!

Saw one of them the other day at Jesmond, accounting for why 7626/27 are still in service. I am sure all of the Volvo B7s are in service at Jesmond, too, as I have seen them on scholars and normal public services over the past few days alone.

Little update 1416 has transferred to Darlington in a swap with 1493 which is now at Blyth.

(05 Mar 2015, 8:40 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Little update 1416 has transferred to Darlington in a swap with 1493 which is now at Blyth.

No doubt this swap has happened to save money refurbishing another bus to MAX standard, presumably will be used on the X75/X76 when it becomes MAX.

Will have to lookout for 1416 for the next few days, so if anyone sees it let me know.

What's the PVR of Belmont's 6?

(05 Mar 2015, 5:49 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]Aye - that's why I said "will go" first, clearly assuming that Durham don't just give in and send the Geminis without replacement, making themselves short!

Saw one of them the other day at Jesmond, accounting for why 7626/27 are still in service. I am sure all of the Volvo B7s are in service at Jesmond, too, as I have seen them on scholars and normal public services over the past few days alone.

7618 is now back in use at Durham MAX'd - it was the 1405 from Middlesbrough.

(05 Mar 2015, 11:16 am)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]No doubt this swap has happened to save money refurbishing another bus to MAX standard, presumably will be used on the X75/X76 when it becomes MAX.

Will have to lookout for 1416 for the next few days, so if anyone sees it let me know.

It's on the 2 at the minute

(05 Mar 2015, 4:00 pm)MrPottski wrote [ -> ]It's on the 2 at the minute

it seems unusual for 1493 to leave Darlo as it has a vinyl wrap for Service1 which it got by mistake and meant it could not return home to Stockton with sister 1492 and Stockton got a new 1512 instead. It has spent most of its time as the fifth bus at the X1 outstation and was mainly used on the keyboard which worked Service 1B on the late turn

It is strange that. Unless Blyth have etched the Darlington-ness and the X1 promo stuff off and kept the "people are disappearing" bit.

(05 Mar 2015, 5:49 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]Aye - that's why I said "will go" first, clearly assuming that Durham don't just give in and send the Geminis without replacement, making themselves short!

Saw one of them the other day at Jesmond, accounting for why 7626/27 are still in service. I am sure all of the Volvo B7s are in service at Jesmond, too, as I have seen them on scholars and normal public services over the past few days alone.

It'd seem they're already short over at Durham. I had a response from management regarding my 'concerns' about capacity, and they've said that another decker has been put in to the X12 PVR (presumably replacing a Pulsar). They noted further in the email that they're trying to source further deckers, but they're having difficulty in doing so at present.

(05 Mar 2015, 6:56 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]It'd seem they're already short over at Durham. I had a response from management regarding my 'concerns' about capacity, and they've said that another decker has been put in to the X12 PVR (presumably replacing a Pulsar). They noted further in the email that they're trying to source further deckers, but they're having difficulty in doing so at present.

Yeah, the extra double decker is as a result of the transfer of 7610 from Blyth to Durham (converted to "MAX" spec in the process). It replaced 1416 which had already been converted to "MAX" spec for the X12. Full PVR is now made up of double deckers, and 1415 should be the spare (once all vehicles are converted)?

Clearly the deckers being sourced while the Geminis are away for refurb are the ALX400s. Jesmond, despite having extra buses following the transfer of Volvo B7s from Whitby, must also be short if they're refusing to release the ALX400s which Durham should rightly have at present...