(25 Sep 2025, 6:51 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Wouldn't surprise me if they did, the Pulsar's need to go not any deckers.
If they do withdraw them then it's going to leave 5 spares Pulsar's and they should be nowhere near the X7/X8/X10/X11 or 306/308 which is the only place they can go.
imo 7501-7/9, 1443*/63/80/93/5/6 should be what goes leaving 1499-5 for the 553/X9 and everything else Decker operated.
If the trial goes well, they could easily upgrade the 306/8 or X7/8/10/11 which would see off the 58 Plate E400's and 59 Plate DB300's. I'm sure there's a case for both.
*If it hasn't gone
Bye all counts Durham will be doing all x12s so i would of thought 1441 1443 15 would transfer straight to Durham for the x12s then Stockton sends the rest for the x12s
(25 Sep 2025, 8:43 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Yeah you're right sorry, got mixed up with 1499 at Blyth. Meant 1390-4.
I think they're supposed to be at Ashington right now for things being repainted there - assume it'll be the 17 Plate E400MMC's getting done, unsure what their future is though. I think all of the 1370-99 are Euro 6 though, so guess they could send anything really.
Ones at Blyth currently though, unsure why though when Ashington is the one struggling.
There could also send 1380 89 as there also e6 aswell plus 1405 to
I can't see the 306 & 308 going EV until franchising as a bid would most likely need to include the 307 & 309, unless GNE can work out a way to keep a North Tyneside operation with EV's.
(25 Sep 2025, 8:44 pm)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ] Bye all counts Durham will be doing all x12s so i would of thought 1441 1443 15 would transfer straight to Durham for the x12s then Stockton sends the rest for the x12s
There could also send 1380 89 as there also e6 aswell plus 1405 to
You don’t need to send loads of pulsars from Stockton to Durham for X12 because Durham has buses that can do X12 aswell, 1415, 1441 & 1443 will probably return to Stockton when they finish at Ashington
(25 Sep 2025, 9:54 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote [ -> ]You don’t need to send loads of pulsars from Stockton to Durham for X12 because Durham has buses that can do X12 aswell, 1415, 1441 & 1443 will probably return to Stockton when they finish at Ashington
How do you work that out when Stockton need less vehicles and Durham need more?
5 boards are transferring so 5 buses will go with them.
(25 Sep 2025, 9:54 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote [ -> ]You don’t need to send loads of pulsars from Stockton to Durham for X12 because Durham has buses that can do X12 aswell, 1415, 1441 & 1443 will probably return to Stockton when they finish at Ashington
Durham doesn't have the buses if it did they would use there own vehicle to cover the 7 board for Darlington which resulted in Darlington sending on loan 1516 to Durham with the keyboard
(25 Sep 2025, 9:54 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote [ -> ]You don’t need to send loads of pulsars from Stockton to Durham for X12 because Durham has buses that can do X12 aswell, 1415, 1441 & 1443 will probably return to Stockton when they finish at Ashington
Ur forgetting Durham are getting all the x12s so pulsars will leave Stockton
(26 Sep 2025, 1:59 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]How do you work that out when Stockton need less vehicles and Durham need more?
5 boards are transferring so 5 buses will go with them.
He don't like the fact that's Stockton are losing
As u say boards so which will see 5 vechales transferred other same with the 5a I herd two vechales will transfer to Redcar with the 5A i been told
(26 Sep 2025, 7:26 am)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ]He don't like the fact that's Stockton are losing
As u say boards so which will see 5 vechales transferred other same with the 5a I herd two vechales will transfer to Redcar with the 5A i been told
Maybe if certain people stopped acting like their depot is the most important.
Let’s not forget Redcar is also seeing a PVR decrease from these changes - the 63 is reduced to every 15 minutes but with the 5A interworking with that, that will actually increase the Saturday PVR. Plus the end of the Summer season sees the 5 Summer workings ending meaning the P&R deckers and at least 3 of the B9s will be spare for the winter. Redcar in theory will be able to cover the additional work with their own fleet.
(26 Sep 2025, 7:53 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Maybe if certain people stopped acting like their depot is the most important.
Let’s not forget Redcar is also seeing a PVR decrease from these changes - the 63 is reduced to every 15 minutes but with the 5A interworking with that, that will actually increase the Saturday PVR. Plus the end of the Summer season sees the 5 Summer workings ending meaning the P&R deckers and at least 3 of the B9s will be spare for the winter. Redcar in theory will be able to cover the additional work with
Apparently DB300's could be leaving as next year as its been mentioned there wont meet the age agreement on the park and ride due to them been 15 years old i bleve
(25 Sep 2025, 9:07 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]I can't see the 306 & 308 going EV until franchising as a bid would most likely need to include the 307 & 309, unless GNE can work out a way to keep a North Tyneside operation with EV's.
Why would Arriva care about what GNE were using for their services? There has been a lot of investment in electric by Arriva recently, and I don't think it is all linked to bids.
Even if they did get funding, why would it need to be a joint bid?
As much as there is a partnership in the scheduling and ticketing, even now there is a very different approach to vehicle allocation from each company - so I don't see why there'd need to be alignment on that.
(26 Sep 2025, 10:34 am)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]Why would Arriva care about what GNE were using for their services? There has been a lot of investment in electric by Arriva recently, and I don't think it is all linked to bids.
Even if they did get funding, why would it need to be a joint bid?
As much as there is a partnership in the scheduling and ticketing, even now there is a very different approach to vehicle allocation from each company - so I don't see why there'd need to be alignment on that.
A joint bid would be a lot stronger and have a lot more weighting, especially given the partnership.
(26 Sep 2025, 7:26 am)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ]He don't like the fact that's Stockton are losing
As u say boards so which will see 5 vechales transferred other same with the 5a I herd two vechales will transfer to Redcar with the 5A i been told
Its not the fact that Stockton are losing actually, I know Durham are getting the X12s so you can’t have a go at someone for making a mistake & also you need to realise that 5As are only moving temporarily not permanent
(26 Sep 2025, 10:34 am)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]Why would Arriva care about what GNE were using for their services? There has been a lot of investment in electric by Arriva recently, and I don't think it is all linked to bids.
Even if they did get funding, why would it need to be a joint bid?
As much as there is a partnership in the scheduling and ticketing, even now there is a very different approach to vehicle allocation from each company - so I don't see why there'd need to be alignment on that.
Personally I'd be surprised if they did the 306/308. The 308 is a strong route, no question of a doubt, but the 306 isn't a route which they've regularly invested in over the years.
The X7/X8/X10/X11 imo would be the better routes considering they've had nothing since 2009/11 now, with housing expansion all over the place (Cramlington / Killingworth / South Blyth) plus the trains competing against them - it probably would be sensible to do something to actually fight back a bit as a battered DB300 isn't exactly a big selling point really.
It's generally how those routes have been invested in, for at least 30 years, with the Scania's in 1996/97 - unsure before that.
(25 Sep 2025, 7:07 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Yeah agreed, to be honest, I'd be tempted to send them to Ashington and withdraw 1394-1399/1404 either as there's not much chance of the 1/2/57/57A getting anything new, I can't remember the 2/57/57A or their previous carnations ever getting anything new, ever, and I'm not counting the Vario's that were stored in a field.
By all the rumours going around it seems like there's a lot of Pulsar's on the chopping block and putting 2+2 together, the fact the 09/10 Plates are 'paint floats' which need painting thereselves I'm going to put my neck on the line and say that most vehicles 09/59/10 Plate are on borrowed time but that is a big assumption. I'm sure we'll learn soon enough though when things aren't getting repainted.
Edit some quick maths if the 60 vehicles excluding electrics rumour is true.
60+ Mystery Buses
8/9 Electrics for the 2 (forgot which)
14 Electrics for Durham (7 E400's to go)
5 From Blyth
That's not a kick in teeth away from that either as a very quick count I get 83 Pulsars 10 Plate or older with/without Blyth's tbh.
It’s been posted there are 60 new diesels arriving over the next year or so. Add the electrics of:
14x Blyth
14x Durham
21x Darlington
Brings the total of new vehicles to 109.
Obviously minus any cascades out of the fleet (potentially 14x E200) shows you how many will be withdrawn.
(26 Sep 2025, 10:33 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]It’s been posted there are 60 new diesels arriving over the next year or so. Add the electrics of:
14x Blyth
14x Durham
21x Darlington
Brings the total of new vehicles to 109.
Obviously minus any cascades out of the fleet (potentially 14x E200) shows you how many will be withdrawn.
Seems like it's pretty much nailed on then as assuming the 15 older E400's go then that's 80 buses.
Massive speculation but assume the big project that was mentioned is going to be at Redcar as, in theory, they should be Pulsar free.
(27 Sep 2025, 6:22 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Seems like it's pretty much nailed on then as assuming the 15 older E400's go then that's 80 buses.
Massive speculation but assume the big project that was mentioned is going to be at Redcar as, in theory, they should be Pulsar free.
By all counts that's changed its now temsas are supposed to be gone by November December I was told that information by staff who knows what's going on
1421 as returned to Redcar after been on loan to Stockton currently on the 62 in to Redcar
Drove behind a very battered looking 1426 this morning. Sounded as though it was struggling with gear changes spent a while in first gear
1428 is currently at Durham on the X46. Not sure it's tracking though.
(03 Oct 2025, 12:56 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote [ -> ]1428 is currently at Durham on the X46. Not sure it's tracking though.
Probably be on loan possibly
7548 making an appearance on the 777 this morning. Looks like it took over from 1393.
(08 Oct 2025, 9:24 am)thw1008 wrote [ -> ]7548 making an appearance on the 777 this morning. Looks like it took over from 1393.
From the sounds of things, deckers will be a common sight on the 777 from next month.........
(08 Oct 2025, 9:49 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]From the sounds of things, deckers will be a common sight on the 777 from next month.........
Really? Why? Is there not going to be another Pulsar going into Northumberland Airlink livery?
Whenever I've went to see deckers on the 777 it's been a false tracking.
(08 Oct 2025, 10:31 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]Really? Why? Is there not going to be another Pulsar going into Northumberland Airlink livery?
Whenever I've went to see deckers on the 777 it's been a false tracking.
The 777 presently interworks with the X16 - from November, the Morpeth expresses will all be interworking with each other in Newcastle with the timetable changes, meaning buses that start the day on an X18 out of Alnwick outstation may at some point in the day work a 777 trip.
(08 Oct 2025, 10:47 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]The 777 presently interworks with the X16 - from November, the Morpeth expresses will all be interworking with each other in Newcastle with the timetable changes, meaning buses that start the day on an X18 out of Alnwick outstation may at some point in the day work a 777 trip.
Thanks. I wasn't sure if deckers could work the 777. Never actually seen one besides false trackings on Bustimes. So 7548 actually is on the 777/X16 today?
(08 Oct 2025, 10:55 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]Thanks. I wasn't sure if deckers could work the 777. Never actually seen one besides false trackings on Bustimes. So 7548 actually is on the 777/X16 today?
Yes it is. Multiple deckers have operated the 777 at this point, mostly if they have not been swapped off the X22 board which works the 17:52 trip.
That's the Eclipse gone. Short stay and wasn't even used.
Getting pretty fed up of Arriva Ashington cancelling trips on the X21 and X22. Know it's due to vehicle shortages as some drivers have had their boards cancelled. The 14:59 was cancelled aa 7573 was took off to do the 1. Seems to be issues with Pulsars, Streetlites and the older Enviro 400's.
The Ashington vehicle situation is getting worse and worse, with management clearly being unwilling to do anything about it.
Today alone, the following were taken out of service/broke down (some of which failed multiple times!):
1404, 1539, 1541 (x2), 1575, 7529, 7530 (x2), 7544, 7546, 7552, 7570.
In addition to this, there were multiple vehicles which were in service yesterday that were not fit for service today - either for the full day or for morning runout. They ended up loaning 7505 from Blyth, and still had a full 2 missing from morning until evening, multiple X21/22 trips cancelled, and an X15 and X16. This is with a Saturday PVR too, where the X21/22 are at a reduced frequency and you don't have a school bus - Monday will be an absolute war zone with cancellations.
The examples of 1541 and 7530 above also show that they're back to their old tricks of sending stuff out when it clearly isn't fit for service. Today was 7530s first day in service for over a week, when it failed twice on an X22, and it has been swapped twice again today. 1574 is back to failing constantly too, with the exact same issue it had earlier in the summer.
The company have put a significant amount of extra services into that depot over the past few years without giving them any suitable buses to run them with. The X16, 777, and X30s are all intense services and the newest buses given to the depot to supplement PVR were new in 2011.
They're about to add a further vehicle into the Morpeth cycle, which will increase the strain further on the MMCs. As these services will fully interwork, it'll be a full double decker allocation too - where are these extra buses coming from? No doubt it'll be yet more life expired Pulsars from Merseyside/Stockton/Redcar (delete as appropriate) to downgrade the X21/22 even further.
Aware the lack of investment is clear across the region, however given Ashington operate the most demanding group of services in terms of mileage it is negligent to allow their fleet to be in the condition it is.
Given the investment into other regions, are the management of the NE too inept to even put together a case to UK Bus for investment up here?
(18 Oct 2025, 7:04 pm)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]The Ashington vehicle situation is getting worse and worse, with management clearly being unwilling to do anything about it.
Today alone, the following were taken out of service/broke down (some of which failed multiple times!):
1404, 1539, 1541 (x2), 1575, 7529, 7530 (x2), 7544, 7546, 7552, 7570.
In addition to this, there were multiple vehicles which were in service yesterday that were not fit for service today - either for the full day or for morning runout. They ended up loaning 7505 from Blyth, and still had a full 2 missing from morning until evening, multiple X21/22 trips cancelled, and an X15 and X16. This is with a Saturday PVR too, where the X21/22 are at a reduced frequency and you don't have a school bus - Monday will be an absolute war zone with cancellations.
The examples of 1541 and 7530 above also show that they're back to their old tricks of sending stuff out when it clearly isn't fit for service. Today was 7530s first day in service for over a week, when it failed twice on an X22, and it has been swapped twice again today. 1574 is back to failing constantly too, with the exact same issue it had earlier in the summer.
The company have put a significant amount of extra services into that depot over the past few years without giving them any suitable buses to run them with. The X16, 777, and X30s are all intense services and the newest buses given to the depot to supplement PVR were new in 2011.
They're about to add a further vehicle into the Morpeth cycle, which will increase the strain further on the MMCs. As these services will fully interwork, it'll be a full double decker allocation too - where are these extra buses coming from? No doubt it'll be yet more life expired Pulsars from Merseyside/Stockton/Redcar (delete as appropriate) to downgrade the X21/22 even further.
Aware the lack of investment is clear across the region, however given Ashington operate the most demanding group of services in terms of mileage it is negligent to allow their fleet to be in the condition it is.
Given the investment into other regions, are the management of the NE too inept to even put together a case to UK Bus for investment up here?
The case has already been put forward. New double decker vehicles are coming for Ashington in 2026, along with 14 new electric vehicles for Blyth, 14 electric vehicles for Durham, 21 electric vehicles for Darlington and another two dozen Volvo Evoras for Tees Valley.
Arriva Yorkshire also due to receive 50 new vehicles by Christmas, the same senior management team making all of these calls (and arguably the Yorkshire fleet needs the investment much more to be honest).
They can't change the world overnight.
I am also aware that the senior engineering personnel have also been shown the door already due to the failures in the north specifically. The Head of Engineering and the Engineering Manager both not seen for a while and the former already advertising the need for a new job on linkedin.
A business left to rot by DB, investment now starting you flow, but it all takes time.