North East Buses

I believe Arriva will be operating new services for the New Hospital Cramlington.

NHS Northumbria are proposing to operate services between the Hospital and Cramlington Shops, and another to Northumberland Park.

I'd imagine these will be operated by Solos.

(28 Apr 2015, 5:47 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]I believe Arriva will be operating new services for the New Hospital Cramlington.

NHS Northumbria are proposing to operate services between the Hospital and Cramlington Shops, and another to Northumberland Park.

I'd imagine these will be operated by Solos.

You never know with Arriva's allocations  

7540 is currently on display in Darlington at Pease Place. Goody Bags given out included Sunglasses, Wristband & Timetable which includes a voucher for a free £7.70 day ticket.
Also "Sapphire making your journey sparkle" has been spray painted onto pavements across the Town Centre.

(29 Apr 2015, 10:44 am)John_R wrote [ -> ]7540 is currently on display in Darlington at Pease Place. Goody Bags given out included Sunglasses, Wristband & Timetable which includes a voucher for a free £7.70 day ticket.
Also "Sapphire making your journey sparkle" has been spray painted onto pavements across the Town Centre.

Any ideas what time it will be there until.

Should be there till about 4 ish I think. I've just passed 7536 on its way into town as well but I don't know whether this is for the launch, or, is it being put into service? Sapphire spare is on 21/X21

Relevant to recent discussion regarding service X12's timekeeping and reliability - although can be applied to all services across the board...

Onus is on the operator
Source: RouteONE

[attachment=6629]

Have also received some Sapphire day tickets through my door [emoji2]

Apparently the Enviro 400's should be out on the 7 tomorrow.

Hopefully this is true.

(29 Apr 2015, 10:44 am)John_R wrote [ -> ]7540 is currently on display in Darlington at Pease Place. Goody Bags given out included Sunglasses, Wristband & Timetable which includes a voucher for a free £7.70 day ticket.
Also "Sapphire making your journey sparkle" has been spray painted onto pavements across the Town Centre.

Vandals!

Got some shots of 7540 in Darlington this afternoon.
Arriva North East: 7540 / NK15 DZS by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

For more photos including a rear shot, interior shots and chalked promotions on the pavement click the link below to see an album of photos of 7540 on my Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...191123056/

With regard to the X12 timekeeping, the roadworks in the main street at Chester Le St cause a massive amount of delay, particularly Northbound  as it has to get along the dual carriageway and across the roundabout at Ropery Lane and then along Picktree Lane where the traffic is bad at most times then left at the roundabout to pick up in S Burns before getting back on route.
Thankfully normal route should operate from Monday.

(29 Apr 2015, 6:42 pm)Coppercap40 wrote [ -> ]With regard to the X12 timekeeping, the roadworks in the main street at Chester Le St cause a massive amount of delay, particularly Northbound  as it has to get along the dual carriageway and across the roundabout at Ropery Lane and then along Picktree Lane where the traffic is bad at most times then left at the roundabout to pick up in S Burns before getting back on route.
Thankfully normal route should operate from Monday.

The timekeeping has been an issue long before the roadworks started. It does cause a delay, but I wouldn't say it's a massive delay?

(29 Apr 2015, 6:45 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]The timekeeping has been an issue long before the roadworks started. It does cause a delay, but I wouldn't say it's a massive delay?

I was on the 1300 from Gateshead this afternoon and we arrived Durham on time at 1345, coming back on the 1621 we left about 5 late but we were about 20 late arriving into Gateshead,
the delays at Ropery lane and Picktree lane might have had something to do with the cricket, but the queues at all the roundabouts were lengthy.

Anybody waiting for a full fleet of MAX-branded vehicles on the X12 will have to wait - 7620/27 are the only other confirmed examples branded and none of Stockton's Pulsars have been treated (1443 is presently off the road - hence the appearance of standard examples recently). 7627 was however the only one out in service today (note the now-standard Durham way of leaving the non-MAX standard fleetnumbers and legals in place

[attachment=6633]

Enviro 400's are out on the 7 today.

They look to be on boards close together as I have seen three go in the Darlington direction.

(29 Apr 2015, 8:02 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Anybody waiting for a full fleet of MAX-branded vehicles on the X12 will have to wait - 7620/27 are the only other confirmed examples branded and none of Stockton's Pulsars have been treated (1443 is presently off the road - hence the appearance of standard examples recently). 7627 was however the only one out in service today (note the now-standard Durham way of leaving the non-MAX standard fleetnumbers and legals in place

It's the vinyl company that have left the fleet numbers in place.

7620 and 7627 were both out in service yesterday.  7620 was on the 1720ish arrival into Middlesbrough.

All five Enviro 400's were out in service on the 7 today (here is a photo of 7536)
Arriva North East: 7536 / NK15 ACO by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

Sorry for the poor image quality on my photos today.

I have been for a ride on two of the Sapphire 7 Enviro 400's.

I thought they performed well on the route, even did well at getting up Durham Road heading into Ferryhill on the Darlington bound journey and seemed fast enough getting down the A167.

Thought the seats were okay.

One thing I was not impressed with was that on the journey to Durham where I sat a bit of rain managed to come through the closed window and blow in my face. Also on the journey home I couldn't connect to the WiFi.

There was a few issues with the next stop announcements and I thought the announcements on the journey home were quite loud, nearly had a heart attack when I first heard the announcements on the journey home.

Anyway other than the window that let in a bit of water I quite liked my rides on the two Enivro's I had this afternoon which is good as I will probably be using these a fair bit, it's also nice sitting upstairs with only a small amount of passengers also sat upstairs during the daytime

Updated Arriva allocation effective from 1st May 2015 or 17th May 2015

Durham
E400 7538/9 into service, replacing DAF DB250 7477/8 to disposal (both may be reallocated elsewhere within the division)
Pulsars 1517-21 transfer from Darlington, replacing Pulsars 1422/3/4 to Stockton and 1461/2 to Darlington
StreetLites 1595-1601 officially into service, replacing Pulsars 1409/10/7/8/20/1/64 to Stockton
Solo 2503 transfers from Darlington for additional required minibus for the 57A

Darlington
E400 7534-7/40 into service, replacing Pulsars 1517-21 to Durham
StreetLites 1593/4 into service, replacing MPD 1794 and Solo 2504 into disposal
Pulsar 1461/2 transfer from Durham, replacing Dart SLF 1305 into disposal and MPD 1799 into reserve
Solo 2505 withdrawn for disposal and Solo 2503 to Durham as a result of a PVR reduction

Stockton
Pulsar 1409/10/7/8/20-4/64 from Durham, replacing B10BLE 4501/2/5/6/8/9/12 and Cadets 1901/5/6 for disposal

Are the 56, 57, 57A and 86 all going to be standalone then?

(30 Apr 2015, 8:30 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Are the 56, 57, 57A and 86 all going to be standalone then?

No, that's how it's worded on the allocation changes sheet - without major retimings and moving the 86 to Tindale Crescent, they couldn't operate standalone.

(30 Apr 2015, 8:32 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]No, that's how it's worded on the allocation changes sheet - without major retimings and moving the 86 to Tindale Crescent, they couldn't operate standalone.

Ah okay thanks. 

I imagine that the reason why it says additional mini bus working for service 57A will be because it will no longer extend to/from Durham Johnston School on school days anymore (these journeys are currently double decker operated).

(30 Apr 2015, 8:46 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]I imagine that the reason why it says additional mini bus working for service 57A will be because it will no longer extend to/from Durham Johnston School on school days anymore (these journeys are currently double decker operated).

Ah right cheers Jimmi. 
I need to ride to Lowlanders quickly as they seem to be getting withdrawn quickly. 

(30 Apr 2015, 8:51 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Ah right cheers Jimmi. 
I need to ride to Lowlanders quickly as they seem to be getting withdrawn quickly. 

Non of the Lowlander's have been withdrawn yet I believe.

Can't have too much longer left though.

(30 Apr 2015, 8:55 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Non of the Lowlander's have been withdrawn yet I believe.

Can't have too much longer left though.

Yeah I got the wrong fleet no, its two ALX400's. Quite surprised really!

I can't believe 2505 is moving on again! That bus has had more homes than the council!

(30 Apr 2015, 9:00 pm)MrPottski wrote [ -> ]I can't believe 2505 is moving on again! That bus has had more homes than the council!

It says 2505 is getting withdrawn.

Surprised that Durham are getting 2503 mind, wonder which service it will most likely appear on.

(30 Apr 2015, 9:05 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]It says 2505 is getting withdrawn.

Surprised that Durham are getting 2503 mind, wonder which service it will most likely appear on.

Of course, I meant 2503, silly arse that I am!

One thing I noticed with them is their size. I was following 7534 up North Road late this afternoon and it was being followed by J&C Coaches Paramount, and there wasn't much difference in height. Quite small in comparison to other deckers