North East Buses

(23 Nov 2025, 4:23 pm)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ]1499 is in a terbble state fair worst than i have seen anywhere else in the north east

Yeah it is. All cushions old and scruffy and collapsed. Needs new cushions.

(23 Nov 2025, 7:59 pm)Arriva7446 wrote [ -> ]Yeah it is. All cushions old and scruffy and collapsed. Needs new cushions.

For a bus which is almost exclusively used on a hospital contract, which staff are encouraged to use to commute, it’s an absolute disgrace. 

Multiple seats are covered in thick black dirt, from memory the back row has a couple of cushions which are heavily soiled. This should be getting picked up on initial use checks. 

The general cleanliness on the rest of it isn’t much better, grime on the sidewalls and on the seat handles. Floor doesn’t look like it’s seen a proper clean in years. If I’m using it to commute it tends to be on one of its first trips of the day so, unless everyone each day has gone through a field before getting on, all of this dirt is carrying over and it isn’t leaving the depot clean each morning.

Theres rumors going around stating that the B9's are planned to leave Redcar and replaced by more 72 plate E400MMC's. Is there any truth in this. They still have a long life left in them.

I know theres going to be 2 E400MMC's being customized and transferred over to Whitby for the Park & Ride which I'm surprised they don't just use 2 B9's for it and use the transferred E400's on the X93. Also, they could be thrown on 62 duties which frees up some single deckers to be spare or for other services.

(26 Nov 2025, 9:51 pm)Mike_98 wrote [ -> ]Theres rumors going around stating that the B9's are planned to leave Redcar and replaced by more 72 plate E400MMC's. Is there any truth in this. They still have a long life left in them.

I know theres going to be 2 E400MMC's being customized and transferred over to Whitby for the Park & Ride which I'm surprised they don't just use 2 B9's for it and use the transferred E400's on the X93. Also, they could be thrown on 62 duties which frees up some single deckers to be spare or for other services.

Its true i herd the same x93 will be fully mmcs all year around castcade the b9s to easier work  and its brand new deckers whitby getting i also been inform

(26 Nov 2025, 10:37 pm)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ]Its true i herd the same x93 will be fully mmcs all year around castcade the b9s to easier work  and its brand new deckers whitby getting i also been inform

any reason why the B9s are being moved from the NE? seems quite odd, considering theyre barely 11 years old. unless, of course, there is a limited storage of parts.

(27 Nov 2025, 2:29 pm)TechnicallyTurkish wrote [ -> ]any reason why the B9s are being moved from the NE? seems quite odd, considering theyre barely 11 years old. unless, of course, there is a limited storage of parts.

There starting to become a issue on relbilty for sevice x93 number of brakes down  which is leading the sevice to be cancled so  there investing in the x93 for once.instend of elsewhere

(27 Nov 2025, 3:31 pm)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ]There starting to become a issue on relbilty for sevice x93 number of brakes down  which is leading the sevice to be cancled so  there investing in the x93 for once.instend of elsewhere

aye, makes sense then. always been a burden those B9s. wonder if theyll ever be repainted either; highly doubt it atp. i reckon theyre gonna head somewhere down south after those MMCs come in.

Just spotted this post on Facebook from a councillor for Pegswood Ward, confirming a new engineering manager at Ashington and the new buses for 2026

? Update on Arriva Bus Services ?

Today I met with Arriva to discuss the ongoing issues with driver shortages and bus breakdowns meaning an unacceptable service of the 35 bus.

To their credit, they were open and honest, acknowledging that the current situation is simply not good enough. I left with them every single bit of correspondence I have had on this matter.

There is a lot to process so I have bullet pointed the best I can:

✅ They have improved pay and conditions and have recruited more drivers.
✅ They admitted that an aging fleet has caused problems, with buses not running
✅They are looking at the bus timetable to build in "more slack" so that buses do not run late and therefore there is not a knock in effect for other services.
✅ Previously, one engineer manager covered two depots, which meant maintenance suffered. In the coming weeks, Ashington Depot (home of the 35 bus) will have its own dedicated engineer manager.
✅ More staff have also been recruited to work on the buses.
✅For children who are receiving detentions, I have been advised that if you contact school and ask them to contact Arriva they will ensure the school are aware of the issues they are having.

I asked for a realistic timeline for improvements, as I don’t want to give false hope. Arriva assured me that residents should start to see progress within a few weeks, once the new engineer manager settles in. The 35 bus has been made a priority.

Looking further ahead, Arriva confirmed that in 2026 a new fleet of 120 buses for the north east will be introduced, which should bring significant improvements across the network.

I know this is not necessarily an instant improvement, but lets keep and eye on it in the New Year and see where we are.

Which buses are order for Arriva again?

(06 Dec 2025, 9:53 am)Shrek wrote [ -> ]Looking further ahead, Arriva confirmed that in 2026 a new fleet of 120 buses for the north east will be introduced, which should bring significant improvements across the network.

I know this is not necessarily an instant improvement, but lets keep and eye on it in the New Year and see where we are.

Wow, A 120 New Buses in 2026, literally replacing 50% of the NE Fleet with this order. 

If Arriva Yorkshire's recent arrivals are anything to go by then it will be ADL E200/E400 MMC's and you also have the BYD BD11's starting arrive at Blyth.

7564 and 3051 appear to be back in use at Ashington, although 1497's return yesterday looks to have only lasted about 10 minutes.

1497's second return lasted about 15 minutes this time. That is mainly based on bustimes but I did try and look when it was meant to be passing my house and nothing came.

(07 Dec 2025, 3:55 pm)Arriva7446 wrote [ -> ]1497's second return lasted about 15 minutes this time. That is mainly based on bustimes but I did try and look when it was meant to be passing my house and nothing came.

 
1497 has been an absolute shed for years at this point. With it not getting a repaint, you'd hope it is in line for the scrapyard in 2026 with the new vehicles arriving.

When Darlington get their electric vehicles, what will happen with their streetlites? I imagine they will be sent to Stockton/Durham/Redcar/Northumbria to replace aging pulsars? Or could be sent south?

(07 Dec 2025, 7:36 pm)Mike_98 wrote [ -> ]When Darlington get their electric vehicles, what will happen with their streetlites? I imagine they will be sent to Stockton/Durham/Redcar/Northumbria to replace aging pulsars? Or could be sent south?

I don't know but I'd imagine they'll see off the 09/10 Pulsars at Durham and Darlington with the 61 Plates displaced to Durham.

(07 Dec 2025, 9:07 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]I don't know but I'd imagine they'll see off the 09/10 Pulsars at Durham and Darlington with the 61 Plates displaced to Durham.

 Wont be redcar good chance stockton for streetlites

(07 Dec 2025, 10:43 pm)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ] Wont be redcar good chance stockton for streetlites

I’d be surprised if their Streetlites went anywhere. E200s most likely to be leaving (the region) if anything!

(07 Dec 2025, 10:43 pm)Bob5666 wrote [ -> ] Wont be redcar good chance stockton for streetlites

Stockton supposed to be getting 18 brand new E200MMCs but it may change including some Evoras from the 24 that are coming to Tees Valley next year, haven’t heard anything about Stockton getting Streetlites

(07 Dec 2025, 7:36 pm)Mike_98 wrote [ -> ]When Darlington get their electric vehicles, what will happen with their streetlites? I imagine they will be sent to Stockton/Durham/Redcar/Northumbria to replace aging pulsars? Or could be sent south?

Unsure of any exact plans, other than there's only due to be 7? full size singles for electrics, the rest I think will be smaller which would displace the 14* E200MMCs. Darlington is due to get the E400MMCs from Belmont (likely 12 if Arriva retain the Whitby Park & Ride next year), so unless anything else moves in, that's only 19 buses and Darlington currently have 40 full size single deckers (23 Pulsars and 17 StreetLite's), I imagine 11 of those Pulsars will be withdrawn (the 09/59/10 plates) so certainly some of either the remaining Pulsars / StreetLite's or a mix of both types will still be required at Darlington.

* there was a suggestion previously that 2 E200MMCs may be retained at Darlington for the 16, 18 & Dalesbus services.

(07 Dec 2025, 7:36 pm)Mike_98 wrote [ -> ]When Darlington get their electric vehicles, what will happen with their streetlites? I imagine they will be sent to Stockton/Durham/Redcar/Northumbria to replace aging pulsars? Or could be sent south?

As stated, the 7 full sized electrics for the 2 will displaced older Pulsars for withdrawn while the midi-sized ones for the rest of the town network are to release the E200MMCs for cascade (mentions of them being bound for Yorkshire to replace their 2014 mini E200s - which will be 12 years old by that stage and are already in a poor state now).

So with Northumbria putting their vehicles into Journey Mark, will Stockton/Redcar/Darlo and Durham be doing the same does anyone know?

(13 Dec 2025, 7:30 pm)Mike_98 wrote [ -> ]So with Northumbria putting their vehicles into Journey Mark, will Stockton/Redcar/Darlo and Durham be doing the same does anyone know?

They're only doing vehicles that are 12-plate or more modern. At one point they also seemed to be replacing Sapphire with Journey Mark but not sure if that's still the case. In theory the only vehicles which are contenders for repaint are: 

Northumbria: 
Max 12-plate Pulsars: 1503/4/5
Sapphire 17-plate E400 MMC's: 7541-48/50-52

North East: 
Sapphire 64-plate B9's: 7401-6
Sapphire 67-plate Streetlites: 1602-1614
Old Sapphire 12-plate Pulsar: 1528 

Everything else will be staying in its current livery and I reckon with the amount of new buses due for the North East next year there won't be too many Interurban liveried vehicles left once all delivered.

(13 Dec 2025, 8:31 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]They're only doing vehicles that are 12-plate or more modern. At one point they also seemed to be replacing Sapphire with Journey Mark but not sure if that's still the case. In theory the only vehicles which are contenders for repaint are: 

Northumbria: 
Max 12-plate Pulsars: 1503/4/5
Sapphire 17-plate E400 MMC's: 7541-48/50-52

North East: 
Sapphire 64-plate B9's: 7401-6
Sapphire 67-plate Streetlites: 1602-1614
Old Sapphire 12-plate Pulsar: 1528 

Everything else will be staying in its current livery and I reckon with the amount of new buses due for the North East next year there won't be too many Interurban liveried vehicles left once all delivered.

That still exist the 12 Plate thing? I thought it was vehicles which aren't being withdrawn in the next year nowadays which changed quite recently (was 12 year old or newer before the takeover though).

(13 Dec 2025, 9:38 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]That still exist the 12 Plate thing? I thought it was vehicles which aren't being withdrawn in the next year nowadays which changed quite recently (was 12 year old or newer before the takeover though).

At this point is it not purely because anything older than that will realistically be scrapped within 12-18 months? 

I could see the 61-plate DB300s being done after 1500-1505, but I think all 61-plate Pulsars will be next in line for withdrawal at the next vehicle intake?

Given it's also been mentioned that 59-plate DB300s may stay ahead of Pulsars to help with capacity, then there are only realistically the following deckers to get rid of: 7501-7/9, 7514-6/8-21, 7557/8/60/2. 19 deckers up for scrap. 

As a list of 33 confirmed exits:
19x - 2008/9 E400s. 
12x - 2022 E200s (believe it was mentioned a couple of these were staying?)
2x - 2009 DB300s 

Then you have the following 'batches' of Pulsars (withdrawn examples already removed from totals, and totals based on quick counting on bustimes):
'09 - 1370-1378, 1404-1428 (33)
'59 - 1379-1389, 1429-1432 (15)
'10 - 1390-1399, 1433-1460 (34)

82 total, in addition to the 33 above takes us to 115. The quoted number of new vehicles has always been around 120 I believe?

(13 Dec 2025, 11:33 pm)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]At this point is it not purely because anything older than that will realistically be scrapped within 12-18 months? 

I could see the 61-plate DB300s being done after 1500-1505, but I think all 61-plate Pulsars will be next in line for withdrawal at the next vehicle intake?

Given it's also been mentioned that 59-plate DB300s may stay ahead of Pulsars to help with capacity, then there are only realistically the following deckers to get rid of: 7501-7/9, 7514-6/8-21, 7557/8/60/2. 19 deckers up for scrap. 

As a list of 33 confirmed exits:
19x - 2008/9 E400s. 
12x - 2022 E200s (believe it was mentioned a couple of these were staying?)
2x - 2009 DB300s 

Then you have the following 'batches' of Pulsars (withdrawn examples already removed from totals, and totals based on quick counting on bustimes):
'09 - 1370-1378, 1404-1428 (33)
'59 - 1379-1389, 1429-1432 (15)
'10 - 1390-1399, 1433-1460 (34)

82 total, in addition to the 33 above takes us to 115. The quoted number of new vehicles has always been around 120 I believe?

Yeah honestly that's pretty much what I'd expect aswell. 

Hopefully they see sense and keep some of the E200's for the Solo SR's aswell which at no surprise are as junk as the rest of the Solo's that have ended up at Ashington.

(Yesterday, 8:14 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Yeah honestly that's pretty much what I'd expect aswell. 

Hopefully they see sense and keep some of the E200's for the Solo SR's aswell which at no surprise are as junk as the rest of the Solo's that have ended up at Ashington.

If any E200MMCs are retained, they are intended to remain at Darlington primarily for use on the Dalesbus work (plus the 16 and 18 if they are retained beyond the end of March next year - the 18 can't got electric due to the railway bridge in Albert Hill, same reason the Gas Buses couldn't be used on anything up North Road if they had to divert that way). I believe the cascade plan sees them move to Yorkshire for Wakefield to replace their short E200s - which are knackered (and have the shitty ZF AS Tronic Semi-Automatic Gearbox fitted).
Ashington will be fine once proper engineers have been sourced and trained - they currently have engineers from various depots on-loan to sort out the mess.

(13 Dec 2025, 9:38 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]That still exist the 12 Plate thing? I thought it was vehicles which aren't being withdrawn in the next year nowadays which changed quite recently (was 12 year old or newer before the takeover though).

As you've mentioned it was previously anything 12 years or newer but has now been extended to 12-plate or newer - it's the same here in Merseyside where 12-plate/62-plate Pulsars are now being repainted and receiving new seat covers but 61-plates aren't. 

In theory the 12-plates could still be in service come 2030, whereas it seems like a lot of investment is going on across Arriva as a whole to replace the large batch of Pulsars bought between 2009 and 2011 - clearly decided they need to get a few more years out of the more modern examples before they go - some of which have had repaints and some of which have never had them.

(Yesterday, 9:12 am)peter wrote [ -> ]As you've mentioned it was previously anything 12 years or newer but has now been extended to 12-plate or newer - it's the same here in Merseyside where 12-plate/62-plate Pulsars are now being repainted and receiving new seat covers but 61-plates aren't. 

In theory the 12-plates could still be in service come 2030, whereas it seems like a lot of investment is going on across Arriva as a whole to replace the large batch of Pulsars bought between 2009 and 2011 - clearly decided they need to get a few more years out of the more modern examples before they go - some of which have had repaints and some of which have never had them.

Aye that's fair, won't the 61 Plates need to go next year though in Merseyside because of the 15 year rule so are technically in the next year and that's maybe why? Can't see anyone else wanting them. 

Who knows sure we'll find out if a DB300 gets painted at Blyth or not.

(Yesterday, 9:01 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Ashington will be fine once proper engineers have been sourced and trained - they currently have engineers from various depots on-loan to sort out the mess.

The on-loan engineers don't seem to be doing much better, if anything it's getting worse. Multiple days this week where there were 6+ boards missing. 

The Pulsars, particularly the MX61 batch, and Streetlites are becoming increasingly problematic.

(13 Dec 2025, 8:31 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]They're only doing vehicles that are 12-plate or more modern. At one point they also seemed to be replacing Sapphire with Journey Mark but not sure if that's still the case. In theory the only vehicles which are contenders for repaint are: 

Northumbria: 
Max 12-plate Pulsars: 1503/4/5
Sapphire 17-plate E400 MMC's: 7541-48/50-52

North East: 
Sapphire 64-plate B9's: 7401-6
Sapphire 67-plate Streetlites: 1602-1614
Old Sapphire 12-plate Pulsar: 1528 

Everything else will be staying in its current livery and I reckon with the amount of new buses due for the North East next year there won't be too many Interurban liveried vehicles left once all delivered.

Ahh ok. The MMC's look great in the JM livery along with the streetlites. I do think they need to start merging the Streetlites into one area though instead of having them dotted around places. Personally, I think Stockton would be a perfect fit for alot of the north east Streetlites. They have a lot of non hill climb demanding routes like the 7,8,9,15,16,17's,28's,29. Depending on what Redcar have ordered for the 63, some could be sent over that way too for the 63 if they don't get electrics. Pulsars ain't gonna last forever. Will be good to see some MMC's coming for Stockton. Assuming there for the 5/5A?

I'm not to sure if they will do the B9's into Journey Mark unless they plan on transferring them elsewhere. However, they're super unique to Arriva as they don't really operate many B9's. If they are changing anything on them, they may go for what they did on the Evoras and do the Yorkshire Coast Connection style Livery on them but Arriva sometimes change their plans.

Also, whats with Arriva removing some of the Journey Mark Stripes off some of the buses. Surely theres a reason behind it.