North East Buses

The latest Pulsar to transfer to Stockton is 1468

1774 has failed in Gosforth.

i know it has been noted that 1771 was badly damaged but does anyone know where it is because there is no sight in blyth depot

(12 Sep 2015, 9:57 am)DanPicken wrote [ -> ]1774 has failed in Gosforth.

On the X16

(11 Sep 2015, 9:34 pm)buss14 wrote [ -> ]well i think to make it more attractive they should make more trains stop at alnmouth because uses stopping there during the day is pointless

Hang on, it isn't that simple. If I remember correctly, there is one 1tph to London VTEC, 1tph to Edinburgh VTEC, 1tp2h to the South West XC and 1tp2h to Scotland XC...

Having the X18/X20 run roughly every half hour between Alnmouth and Alnwick, is an improvement to services at Alnmouth station and links better to trains and reduces bus waiting times. 

It's an inconvenience to have to walk to the bus stop at the roundabout for the X18. 

I suggested to Arriva, to promote the service calling at Alnmouth station. What happens? A sheet of paper in the (revised) X20 timetable stating the obvious. Who reads that when they're looking for bus times..? 

The promotion of the improved X20 is crap. Could Arriva have discussions with Northern Rail, VTEC and CrossCounty for them to advertise the half-hourly frequency to Alnwick and the Coast..? 

I'm going to say it now, Arriva are not going to be able to connect to East Coast Main Line services without messing up the 15-minute frequency between Morpeth and Newcastle with a hourly service.

1774 is cured

Driver on this service 5, I'd quite like to get home, get off the bloody phone to whoever the hell Molly is and get a flaming shift on, currently running over 10 minutes late due to this drivers phone calls.

This is the third time this week the 5/5A has been late as a result of drivers faffing around not keeping to the timetable for no good reason.

It's pathetic Arriva, at least I now know another reason why this service is always late. SORT IT OUT! [emoji35]

1800 is operating the first WW1 today. Passenger levels are really poor... No more than 5 passengers today.

7492 is still at Ashington, operating 35a.

4509 is currently on standby.

(12 Sep 2015, 2:12 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Driver on this service 5, I'd quite like to get home, get off the bloody phone to whoever the hell Molly is and get a flaming shift on, currently running over 10 minutes late due to this drivers phone calls.

This is the third time this week the 5/5A has been late as a result of drivers faffing around not keeping to the timetable for no good reason.

It's pathetic Arriva, at least I now know another reason why this service is always late. SORT IT OUT! [emoji35]

Molly could be the supervisor...?

Posting that here, as stated before won't get you anywhere.

(12 Sep 2015, 2:26 pm)GX03 SVC wrote [ -> ]Molly could be the supervisor...?

Posting that here, as stated before won't get you anywhere.

Nope no Molly's at Darlington, all leading drivers/supervisors are males at Darlington

If you know the fleet number and driver number, both should be on your ticket then report him and make them aware of this

(12 Sep 2015, 6:20 pm)Mark wrote [ -> ]Stockton are sending a number of their Cadets to Thorntons for DDA modifications. So far only 1920 has gone there due to Thorntons being kept busy with other work. Some of the Cadets due to be withdrawn are remaining in fleet as temporary cover until the others return and are ready for service again.

1905 was withdrawn last week. 1910 & 1911 are the most recent to be listed for disposal, but 1468 has arrived at Stockton and is not ready for service yet, while 1467 is still in service at Durham.

Pulling this across from the Rare workings thread.

Any ideas which are the other Cadets going for DDA modifications?

1505 currently being towed back to Jesmond by Alpha Recovery. It has a smashed front window.

(13 Sep 2015, 10:48 am)MurdnunoC wrote [ -> ]1505 currently being towed back to Jesmond by Alpha Recovery. It has a smashed front window.

An Arriva bus was involved in an RTA this morning - so probably this one.

My X18 down from Berwick today was operated by 7514, (chose to put this in this thread instead of outings, hopefully it'll become clear why),

After having 7515 two weeks ago, and having been thoroughly disappointed, I wasn't looking forward to three and a half hours on 7514 when it pulled around the corner, I couldn't have been more wrong 

It absolutely flew down the A1, and then on the A roads from Belford for the rest of the journey. It seemed to have an abundance of power, catching up with cars on the road to Craster, and handling every hill with ease. 

Absolutely fantastic vehicle, and it got me thinking, this bus is 6 years old now, and performance wise seemed practically brand new, couldn't tell much difference between it and one of 7529-33, are these E400's far better buses than most people give them credit for? (myself included)

I seem to recall being on a Y-EBR Lowlander when it would've been around 6, it was dreadful. 

Now I know there are bad examples (7515 was nowhere near as good), but on the whole the 09 plate batch, and most of the 57-plates I've been on recently haven't been that bad (7502 is the only horrific example),

What does everyone else think?

I think you are correct, two weeks ago I had 7515 on the X15 to Alnwick and it flew...

Never been on a E400 recently but the X18 examples were fantastic when I had one on the X18 - but the NHS Solo on the X16 yesterday was shocking.

(13 Sep 2015, 8:12 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Never been on a E400 recently but the X18 examples were fantastic when I had one on the X18 - but the NHS Solo on the X16 yesterday was shocking.

I hate the Jesmond solos...

(13 Sep 2015, 8:05 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]My X18 down from Berwick today was operated by 7514, (chose to put this in this thread instead of outings, hopefully it'll become clear why),

After having 7515 two weeks ago, and having been thoroughly disappointed, I wasn't looking forward to three and a half hours on 7514 when it pulled around the corner, I couldn't have been more wrong 

It absolutely flew down the A1, and then on the A roads from Belford for the rest of the journey. It seemed to have an abundance of power, catching up with cars on the road to Craster, and handling every hill with ease. 

Absolutely fantastic vehicle, and it got me thinking, this bus is 6 years old now, and performance wise seemed practically brand new, couldn't tell much difference between it and one of 7529-33, are these E400's far better buses than most people give them credit for? (myself included)

I seem to recall being on a Y-EBR Lowlander when it would've been around 6, it was dreadful. 

Now I know there are bad examples (7515 was nowhere near as good), but on the whole the 09 plate batch, and most of the 57-plates I've been on recently haven't been that bad (7502 is the only horrific example),

What does everyone else think?

I recently drew the short straw on the X21 and got lumbered with 7504, I thought it performed reasonably well, my only problem with it was the panel at the front upstairs where the LED screen is and I had to press my legs/feet against the panel to stop it rattling. Other than that it was fine.

Not had any of 7514-7521 since they left Darlington apart from 7518 on the 35/35A from Ashington to Morpeth which I think was alright, might sample 7519-7521 when they enter service on the 6.

(13 Sep 2015, 8:13 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]I recently drew the short straw on the X21 and got lumbered with 7504, I thought it performed reasonably well, my only problem with it was the panel at the front upstairs where the LED screen is and I had to press my legs/feet against the panel to stop it rattling. Other than that it was fine.

Not had any of 7514-7521 since they left Darlington apart from 7518 on the 35/35A from Ashington to Morpeth which I think was alright, might sample 7519-7521 when they enter service on the 6.

Aye, I know what you mean, that was the only issue with 7514, that board rattled like hell, although I had my headphones on so it didn't really bother me 

I had 7507 last week and that felt very powerful, 

I think 7521 was good the last time I was on it, can't remember my last ride on 19 or 20

(13 Sep 2015, 8:17 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]Aye, I know what you mean, that was the only issue with 7514, that board rattled like hell, although I had my headphones on so it didn't really bother me 

I had 7507 last week and that felt very powerful, 

I think 7521 was good the last time I was on it, can't remember my last ride on 19 or 20

The rattle was horrendous, especially as I had a headache and felt a bit lightheaded when I was on it.

I used to have 7514-7521 on the 5 when they were still based at Darlington but it's not the easiest route to tell what their performance was like. Think the best I had was 7517 which got up Eldon Bank arguably better than the Pulsars do.

May try and sample some more of the older E400's at some point to see what their like myself.

The only Arriva E400s I've sampled are the Belmont ones for the 24 and they seem capable, if spartan. When they were temporarily doing our on route through the summer, they coped well with Witch Hill/Silent Bank and showed no signs of fatigue through Sherburn House . both of which tend to test the worth of a bus (and some cars - forget it with a 1l Corsa with 4 occupants) pretty well.

From what I've picked up, speed limiting seems ot have a lot to answer for with certain buses. People complain about how underpowered streelites are, for example, but they actually feel quite consistent over the challenging route tou our house from Durham. There are no panic points where you thinks the bus is either going to grind to a halt or burn out. When we first moved here, 12 years ago, that route was a regular killer of lowlanders and various other buses built through the 90s, whether deckers or midis.

I think the Enviro's are 50/50 and so is ADL but I think ADL are now giving Wrightbus and even Volvo chassied buses bar the B9TL, a good run for their money. My perception of ADL used to be influenced by this and the main culprits were the ones engined by the 8 litre C series Cummins units:

- GNE V/W XXX PNL / SCU / EGR Lolynes overheating and getting temp sensors removed and them also strugglimg when the Coaster got extended as well as slightly struggling on the old 21/22 Angel services.

- Arriva Northumbria WXXX RBB ALX400s struggling on the 308 and even being rested on Sundays in favour of Palatine 2s when they were at Jesmond on the 306. Never rode one on the 602 but I have a very vivid memory of one when it was only a year old (circa 2001) broken down on the Redheugh Bridge approach slip road next to the Shell Garage with it's hazards on.

Now, I think the following factor applies mainly and in general, I do like ADL a lot now but I think it depends on who is looking after them too. Blyth and Redcar gave some of the 57 plates a very hard time but Ashington did look after theirs which were bought for the X31 / X32 / X33.

7620 into M'bro bus station and wrong way round the roundabout this morning. Not seen a bus do that for a long time.

Just seen an EDC1 heading to Peterlee from Easington Lane way...

Is that a College only or is all passengers welcome

(14 Sep 2015, 11:31 am)MrFozz wrote [ -> ]Just seen an EDC1 heading to Peterlee from Easington Lane way...

Is that a College only or is all passengers welcome

College use only I believe. Runs from Houghton-le-Spring, we run an ED2 from Blaydon via Stanley and Consett too

(14 Sep 2015, 11:51 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]College use only I believe. Runs from Houghton-le-Spring, we run an ED2 from Blaydon via Stanley and Consett too

The ED1 is the Blaydon via Stanley one. I usually get to Durham Road at around 08:05 (when it is supposed to leave Stanley Bus Station) and it has been passing as early as 08:03 and baring in mind it is around 2 minutes away from Stanley Bus Station. If it is running so early, it makes me wonder if anybosy is being left behind as a result of the early running. I know passengers are advised to get to the stop 5 minutes early but the bus shouldnt be running early either.

A quick check on VOSA suggests it isn't registered, so there is no timetable that needs to be adhered to.

Likelihood is that it doesn't take fares, which is why its not on VOSA.

is tomorrow the launch day for the 6 going sapphire

(14 Sep 2015, 3:55 pm)RobinHood wrote [ -> ]A quick check on VOSA suggests it isn't registered, so there is no timetable that needs to be adhered to.

Likelihood is that it doesn't take fares, which is why its not on VOSA.

Doesn't matter, it departs Stanley at 08:00. False alarm guys. Should still follow a timetable though:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showth...#pid120394

(14 Sep 2015, 3:56 pm)buss14 wrote [ -> ]is tomorrow the launch day for the 6 going sapphire

Tomorrow is the launch for service 6 going Sapphire, the event will be at Bishop Auckland Shopping Park (Tindle Crescent) between 11:30-13:30.

I imagine most of the buses should be fully out on the 6 on Wednesday, although most (if not all) of the Pulsar's are already branded for the 6 with many of them appearing on the 6 already. Not heard anything about Enviro 400's 7519/7520/7521 though.