North East Buses

Wonder if it's mean to be 7502 instead of 7402.

(15 Aug 2026, 5:44 pm)Rapidsnap wrote [ -> ]Wonder if it's mean to be 7502 instead of 7402.

It seems it might be a mistake by the refurbishers....as North East's 7402 is there being refurbished as well.....so might not actually be North East bound after all.

(15 Aug 2026, 4:30 pm)Ryland wrote [ -> ]Redcar seem to be struggling with its fleet at the moment. Lots of chopping and changing buses from different routes.  Some often being the only bus for whats meant to be an hourly service. Lots of buses missing from service.

It’s not fleet issues there it’s lack of drivers as they wind down towards closure given plenty of staff have already left for pastures new.

(15 Aug 2026, 8:56 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]It’s not fleet issues there it’s lack of drivers as they wind down towards closure given plenty of staff have already left for pastures new.

It's almost as if some people don't learn their lessons doing it twice in the North East now with Arriva Jesmond which was a complete mess and caused issues for years and Chester Le Street (Gilbert) which is still causing issues to this date especially at Riverside.

It's not like Stockton hasn't been having driver issues the past few years, as it is, either.

(15 Aug 2026, 9:08 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]It's almost as if some people don't learn their lessons doing it twice in the North East now with Arriva Jesmond which was a complete mess and caused issues for years and Chester Le Street (Gilbert) which is still causing issues to this date especially at Riverside.

It's not like Stockton hasn't been having driver issues the past few years, as it is, either.

Redcar and Stockton merging depots has been on the cards for well over a decade now. At one point they were going to open a brand new depot in Middlesbrough and shut the pair of them, but the land that they were after was sold off to a developer.

(15 Aug 2026, 9:11 pm)220631612 wrote [ -> ]Redcar and Stockton merging depots has been on the cards for well over a decade now. At one point they were going to open a brand new depot in Middlesbrough and shut the pair of them, but the land that they were after was sold off to a developer.

Yeah no arguments about the closure, it was more about not having a plan that a chunk of the staff weren't going to move with them leading to mass cancellations. 

Whether that's having agency staff on call or whatever, who knows, but cancellations definitely isn't the answer as it's just going to piss people off again, which then means the remaining drivers get it in the neck, resulting in more drivers quitting and you're now in a vicious downwards spiral.

That all kicks off again later when they get their bonus for moving which happened at Blyth badly.

(15 Aug 2026, 9:08 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]It's almost as if some people don't learn their lessons doing it twice in the North East now with Arriva Jesmond which was a complete mess and caused issues for years and Chester Le Street (Gilbert) which is still causing issues to this date especially at Riverside.

It's not like Stockton hasn't been having driver issues the past few years, as it is, either.

I do find it crazy how it seems to work in the bus industry though. Every profession I've worked in you generally give 4-6 weeks notice period. From what I understand from one bus company, drivers literally walk out in a week. 

There is an argument that it's the poorly managed companies that get hit by mass walk outs, but at the same time, you also can't blame companies trying to cut costs in their estate if it makes sense.

(16 Aug 2026, 9:18 am)Shrek wrote [ -> ]I do find it crazy how it seems to work in the bus industry though. Every profession I've worked in you generally give 4-6 weeks notice period. From what I understand from one bus company, drivers literally walk out in a week. 

There is an argument that it's the poorly managed companies that get hit by mass walk outs, but at the same time, you also can't blame companies trying to cut costs in their estate if it makes sense.

Yeah totally, I don't know the true answer but imo they needed to find a way to make the move more seamless, even if it meant doing something like hiring extra drivers at Stockton and moving stuff over in batches rather than in one go.

Even the best company in the world (which isn't Arriva) is going to lose a chunk of their workforce when they're expected to travel an extra 30 minutes each way every day if heading from the Redcar direction. 

You'd be very naive to think otherwise. Mind speaking of money, it'd be interesting to see how much revenue they lose long time because of people moving to other modals of transport. If there's gap everywhere, the train could suddenly become very attractive down there similar to Northumbria in a way.

There's no doubt that the Durham fleet is a bit of a shambles, at the moment. 1595 is out on the 6, despite lacking in power so much that it can barely reverse and limps uphill. I commiserated with the driver who said he'd contacted engineering who had instructed him to persevere with it. 20 minutes late, last time I looked.

(16 Aug 2026, 7:32 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Yeah totally, I don't know the true answer but imo they needed to find a way to make the move more seamless, even if it meant doing something like hiring extra drivers at Stockton and moving stuff over in batches rather than in one go.

Even the best company in the world (which isn't Arriva) is going to lose a chunk of their workforce when they're expected to travel an extra 30 minutes each way every day if heading from the Redcar direction. 

You'd be very naive to think otherwise. Mind speaking of money, it'd be interesting to see how much revenue they lose long time because of people moving to other modals of transport. If there's gap everywhere, the train could suddenly become very attractive down there similar to Northumbria in a way.

The train won’t become an attractive option in Teesside as the reliability is through the floor. It got so poor that people switched back to the bus as despite the longer journey times, if a journey is missing it’s a much shorter wait in arguably better waiting conditions.

What is the other bus tracking as 7581

1495 now in service at Stockton tracking as SP SN

(21 Aug 2026, 11:50 am)Teessider2014 wrote [ -> ]1495 now in service at Stockton tracking as SP SN

What has it replaced?

Another allocation masterclass at Ashington today, 19 brand new E400s yet they've allocated 1543 to the PM Kelso. There's an MMC completely wasted on the 434 too.

Obviously braindead from whoever allocated, but equally poor from whoever let 6 additional 72-plate MMCs leave the depot when they were already short on deckers vs what the PVR is.

Even when 7401-6 enter service they will only just have enough deckers to cover PVR should all of them be available. The lack of planning is astonishing.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...s-34479251

This makes no sense to me. They’re wanting to improve emissions around Corner House/Cradlewell on the Coast Road so they’re getting 18 new EV’s for the 307/309 to improve it but if you think about it it’s a stupid decision.

What about the 58/60 plates on the Stagecoach 37/38?

What about the 58/61 plates on the Arriva 306/308?

They’re replacing 63 plates on 307/309 so they’re replacing newer older buses instead of the much older ones. At least make it make sense if you’re going to waste more money!

Anyone know what Blyth are getting to replace the Pulsar 2’s that are heading to Stockton?

(22 Aug 2026, 2:04 pm)TransitObserver wrote [ -> ]Anyone know what Blyth are getting to replace the Pulsar 2’s that are heading to Stockton?

There won't be anything, they've been running with more spares than they should have had since all BYDs entered service.

(22 Aug 2026, 10:18 am)TransitObserver wrote [ -> ]https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...s-34479251

This makes no sense to me. They’re wanting to improve emissions around Corner House/Cradlewell on the Coast Road so they’re getting 18 new EV’s for the 307/309 to improve it but if you think about it it’s a stupid decision.

What about the 58/60 plates on the Stagecoach 37/38?

What about the 58/61 plates on the Arriva 306/308?

They’re replacing 63 plates on 307/309 so they’re replacing newer older buses instead of the much older ones. At least make it make sense if you’re going to waste more money!

Surely the 63 plates will cascade down and replace the old old buses in the fleet. That’s what normally happens. Makes perfect sense.

(22 Aug 2026, 7:00 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]Surely the 63 plates will cascade down and replace the old old buses in the fleet. That’s what normally happens. Makes perfect sense.

Probably end up on the 301! They'd actually suit it and Percy Main's B9TLs have had relatively charmed lives compared to the rest of them.

(22 Aug 2026, 10:18 am)TransitObserver wrote [ -> ]https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...s-34479251

This makes no sense to me. They’re wanting to improve emissions around Corner House/Cradlewell on the Coast Road so they’re getting 18 new EV’s for the 307/309 to improve it but if you think about it it’s a stupid decision.

What about the 58/60 plates on the Stagecoach 37/38?

What about the 58/61 plates on the Arriva 306/308?

They’re replacing 63 plates on 307/309 so they’re replacing newer older buses instead of the much older ones. At least make it make sense if you’re going to waste more money!

I’m no expert but I’d assume the local council spoke to all three operators and that GoNorthEast accepted. Having just received a good amount of new buses I can’t see Arriva getting any more for a little while, and I believe Stagecoach’s plan is to continue getting EVs for Slatyford rather than Walker as the former already has charging infrastructure. 

It is quite surprising that GNE would install charging at Percy Main however I can see why they might want to spread the electrics over more areas, and they’d probably have to get more chargers installed at Riverside if they were to get another batch of EVs there.

The article also doesn’t seem to be particularly sure that they actually are getting EVs for the 307/309 for some reason might just be me tho. 

If they do, I’d assume they’d get some more Electroliners but I’d be nice to see them get some Yutong U11s

Can’t see this making much of an impact on the air quality though as I’m sure the issue is with the amount of private traffic idling at the junction there… bus lanes might deter people from driving that way and would obviously decrease journey times on the bus and there’s definitely enough buses running that way to make it worth it

(22 Aug 2026, 10:18 am)TransitObserver wrote [ -> ]https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...s-34479251

This makes no sense to me. They’re wanting to improve emissions around Corner House/Cradlewell on the Coast Road so they’re getting 18 new EV’s for the 307/309 to improve it but if you think about it it’s a stupid decision.

What about the 58/60 plates on the Stagecoach 37/38?

What about the 58/61 plates on the Arriva 306/308?

They’re replacing 63 plates on 307/309 so they’re replacing newer older buses instead of the much older ones. At least make it make sense if you’re going to waste more money!

Political spin I'd say.

Sounds better than Newcastle City Council funds buses for passengers in North Tyneside Council area which in reality is happening.

It's the same political spin about all the electric buses for SE Northumberland when in reality 95% of the fleet is 10+ year old and are definitely not electric.

7633 has NSA fitted (the display downstairs is currently showing the date and time). Nice to see the attention to detail 

1438 withdrawn from service
1426 due to be withdrawn within the next week

1409 looks like it expired on it way up Claypath on Saturday (I’ve come close, a few times; it’s a swine of a hill) and hasn’t been out, since. Wondering if that will ever go back into service, given that its contemporaries are all disappearing. Durham is a little quieter without it whimpering its way round the 64 (and Youngest is slightly bereft without it!)

(26 Aug 2026, 7:35 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]1409 looks like it expired on it way up Claypath on Saturday (I’ve come close, a few times; it’s a swine of a hill)  and hasn’t been out, since. Wondering if that will ever go back into service, given that its contemporaries are all disappearing. Durham is a little quieter without it whimpering its way round the 64 (and Youngest is slightly bereft without it!)

I'm sure 1480 would liven up Durham. You'd be able to hear it coming miles away.

(22 Aug 2026, 2:04 pm)TransitObserver wrote [ -> ]Anyone know what Blyth are getting to replace the Pulsar 2’s that are heading to Stockton?

Nothing, they received the 5 E400 MMC's which displaced the single decks.

Let the people winge on there

7631 is now at Ashington due to non caz. Was taken off 777 due to this reason. Then dead ran to Sainsbury's Monkseaton and died on the 57A lasting a grand total of 15 minutes

Just remember when blyth become short of buses and you lot winge of cancellation journeys. You wanted the Pulsars gone and you got your wish. Sit there and complain more

Also while we're at it. I see blyth allocation of the BYD is pathetic. They last very little on the 40s and are then swapped onto other routes

(27 Aug 2026, 6:32 pm)Nerd4321 wrote [ -> ]Also while we're at it. I see blyth allocation of the BYD is pathetic. They last very little on the 40s and are then swapped onto other routes

There are a number of the 40s boards which actually do this by design, as the electrics can’t last the full day and they don’t have the capacity for any of the Nexus school work that’s built into the 40s cycle. This means that some do end up on expresses at peak time because they are scheduled to do that.

That said, misallocation directly is poor if that is the case.

(27 Aug 2026, 6:32 pm)Nerd4321 wrote [ -> ]Just remember when blyth become short of buses and you lot winge of cancellation journeys. You wanted the Pulsars gone and you got your wish. Sit there and complain more

The Pulsars were replaced by brand new E400 MMCs, so I don't think you have a clue what you're talking about.

(27 Aug 2026, 6:39 pm)Superman wrote [ -> ]There are a number of the 40s boards which actually do this by design, as the electrics can’t last the full day and they don’t have the capacity for any of the Nexus school work that’s built into the 40s cycle. This means that some do end up on expresses at peak time because they are scheduled to do that.

That said, misallocation directly is poor if that is the case.

To be fair I was watching for the BYD to be allocated to the wrong routes, but they have been very good getting them out where they should be.