North East Buses

(16 Oct 2024, 6:58 am)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]How many E400MMC are there going to be in total from Kent?

14 - all for Durham.

(16 Oct 2024, 7:42 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]14 - all for Durham.

Would it not have been better sending them to Ashington & Blyth with most of the newer classic E400s (14/64/15 reg) going to Durham in turn?
Surely it would make more sense keeping all the E400MMC together in Northumbria.

(16 Oct 2024, 8:07 am)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Would it not have been better sending them to Ashington & Blyth with most of the newer classic E400s (14/64/15 reg) going to Durham in turn?
Surely it would make more sense keeping all the E400MMC together in Northumbria.

Durham needs newer stock too, can’t just keep sending Northumbria's oldest stock there. 

Equally, the remaining 2014-5 E400s in Northumbria have had a particularly hard life and are now generally used on more relaxed work. 

Obviously Blyth don’t have any MMCs, so I’m not sure on the benefit of that over the E400s they currently have? Redcar have MMCs, so it’s not as if there aren’t any south of the Tyne.

(16 Oct 2024, 7:42 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]14 - all for Durham.

Assuming these are going to withdraw:
1351-1356
7416/18/19/22/29

With all the 09/14/15 E400 classics heading to Darlington and 7510-12 going into reserve or withdrawn aswell?

(16 Oct 2024, 8:07 am)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Would it not have been better sending them to Ashington & Blyth with most of the newer classic E400s (14/64/15 reg) going to Durham in turn?
Surely it would make more sense keeping all the E400MMC together in Northumbria.

It's probably better to keep them away from Blyth. I'd imagine there's an easier case to get something new there rather than some cast offs from down South. Mind it'd need to be a big order as looking at the timetables it appears the X7/X8/X10/X11 are all interworking with a PVR 18 after the next changes - I'm not 100% sure on that yet though.

(16 Oct 2024, 9:18 am)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]Durham needs newer stock too, can’t just keep sending Northumbria's oldest stock there. 

Equally, the remaining 2014-5 E400s in Northumbria have had a particularly hard life and are now generally used on more relaxed work. 

Obviously Blyth don’t have any MMCs, so I’m not sure on the benefit of that over the E400s they currently have? Redcar have MMCs, so it’s not as if there aren’t any south of the Tyne.

Well it would mean:

- All Ashington services would be fully E400MMC operated including the extra PVR for the X21/35 & X22

- All E400MMCs kept at nearby depots (Blyth & Ashington)

- Gearboxes the same on all classic E400's (ZF) for commonality in Durham & Tees

Fair enough about Redcar using some of Ashington's MMC's, but they're a subfleet deployed at Redcar / Whitby for a specific purpose which is the X93.

(16 Oct 2024, 10:17 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Assuming these are going to withdraw:
1351-1356
7416/18/19/22/29

With all the 09/14/15 E400 classics heading to Darlington and 7510-12 going into reserve or withdrawn aswell?

1437/65/6 will be released to Darlington alongside 7517/21. Durham retain 7514/5/6 and 7523/39 (which are Euro6 so helpful - alongside these MMCs - for the X12).
7510/1/2 are reserve for further use if required elsewhere - but given their height and age, more than likely be withdrawn.
The B7s are indeed withdrawn.

(16 Oct 2024, 11:58 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]1437/65/6 will be released to Darlington alongside 7517/21. Durham retain 7514/5/6 and 7523/39 (which are Euro6 so helpful - alongside these MMCs - for the X12).
7510/1/2 are reserve for further use if required elsewhere - but given their height and age, more than likely be withdrawn.
The B7s are indeed withdrawn.

Seems like a net increase in vehicles overall for Durham (14 in, 13 out composed of 5x B7TLs, 3x Pulsars, 7510-2/17/21), and an increase in overall capacity. Has there been an increase in passenger loadings on their services?

(16 Oct 2024, 11:58 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]1437/65/6 will be released to Darlington alongside 7517/21. Durham retain 7514/5/6 and 7523/39 (which are Euro6 so helpful - alongside these MMCs - for the X12).
7510/1/2 are reserve for further use if required elsewhere - but given their height and age, more than likely be withdrawn.
The B7s are indeed withdrawn.

Thanks for confirming, had a feeling that something would've went to Darlington. Mind surprised that Durham needs more deckers but what do I know.

(16 Oct 2024, 1:27 pm)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]Seems like a net increase in vehicles overall for Durham (14 in, 13 out composed of 5x B7TLs, 3x Pulsars, 7510-2/17/21), and an increase in overall capacity. Has there been an increase in passenger loadings on their services?

They're a few buses down, you've forgot the last few E200's have just recently left down to Yorkshire with nothing replacing them.

I'd guess this means the recent swathe of Streetlites on the X12 is soo to end

(15 Oct 2024, 2:00 pm)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]7583 (YX16OJS) has entered service with Durham, tracking as 1412, today.

On the 64, today, seems to be tracking as something else random.

Ironic that these second hand vehicles will decrease the average age of the Belmont fleet significantly.

I got told it could be the 61 plate Pulsars at Wythenshawe that could be coming to replace the Temsas.

In my opinion, the only way those Pulsars 1 would be in the North East, is if they went to Alpha to be scrapped.

(16 Oct 2024, 5:45 pm)davao123 wrote [ -> ]I got told it could be the 61 plate Pulsars at Wythenshawe that could be coming to replace the Temsas.

In my opinion, the only way those Pulsars 1 would be in the North East, is if they went to Alpha to be scrapped.

Not sure how true it is, but I've seen in other places that they're the ones destined for Derby, so who knows.

What about Yorkshire's pulsars that are meant to be coming up to Belmont? Any idea?

7594 has been pictured on the X12 today.

Given the age and nature of the vehicles utilised on the X21 between Durham and Newcastle, allocating MMCs onto the Newcastle X12 workings could be a good move if Arriva were able to do it on a regular basis.

(17 Oct 2024, 2:56 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote [ -> ]What about Yorkshire's pulsars that are meant to be coming up to Belmont? Any idea?

What's this about? Never heard of any Pulsars from Yorkshire coming up?

They can barely run a days service currently and have Tempos and Evolutions still in service which are both awful.

(17 Oct 2024, 2:56 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote [ -> ]What about Yorkshire's pulsars that are meant to be coming up to Belmont? Any idea?

You can't send the best buses out of Yorkshire's fleet, they're struggling to run a full service at is. Pulsars are the only reliable single deckers Yorkshire has. If you take the pulsars out and replace them with unreliable vehicles, they'd be in trouble.

(17 Oct 2024, 4:07 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]What's this about? Never heard of any Pulsars from Yorkshire coming up?

They can barely run a days service currently and have Tempos and Evolutions still in service which are both awful.

The pulsar swap for the e200s???

(17 Oct 2024, 6:56 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote [ -> ]The pulsar swap for the e200s???

Not a very fair swap.

Half of those e200s came to replace the commanders, and the others for a new service that Cas might be operating once they get more drivers.

I dont think those e200s are full sized singles either, there midibuses while pulsars are full sized singles.

(17 Oct 2024, 3:50 pm)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]7594 has been pictured on the X12 today.

Given the age and nature of the vehicles utilised on the X21 between Durham and Newcastle, allocating MMCs onto the Newcastle X12 workings could be a good move if Arriva were able to do it on a regular basis.

No doubt changes would be registered within days for the Derwentside - Newcastle services (releasing E400MMC's) if GoNE got wind of ADC looking to run the X12's on a full 30 minute frequency using some E400MMC's!

The competition would serve GoNE right though for the way they've ran the X21 in recent years, with vehicles (StreetDecks & B5TLs) clearly not cut out for the route!

(17 Oct 2024, 6:56 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote [ -> ]The pulsar swap for the e200s???

No Pulsars were swapped for E200s - Durham's E200s were released by PVR reductions (1320-2 and 1329/31) and by the changes to the 58 contract requiring Euro6 Streetlites being transferred from Darlington which were freed up by the entry into service of the ex-North West E300s (1323-7 and 1330).

(17 Oct 2024, 6:56 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote [ -> ]The pulsar swap for the e200s???

(17 Oct 2024, 7:56 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]No Pulsars were swapped for E200s - Durham's E200s were released by PVR reductions (1320-2 and 1329/31) and by the changes to the 58 contract requiring Euro6 Streetlites being transferred from Darlington which were freed up by the entry into service of the ex-North West E300s (1323-7 and 1330).

Was going to say, I've never heard of any Pulsar's coming up here from Yorkshire, especially since some were just sent down there in quite recent times. Just Manchester / Merseyside. Yorkshire are desperate for anything lately from checking their forums, they make the fleet issues at Redcar seem like a breeze especially since their main depot has just been condemned and demolished. Comes across as a right mess of an area.

All award winning stuff though if you believe the bus awards...

1404 as transferred back to Ashington after been on loan to Stockton

(18 Oct 2024, 9:25 am)Mark66t wrote [ -> ]1404 as transferred back to Ashington after been on loan to Stockton

Yep because maybe Ashington have finally realised that the solos current uo there (not talking the 3 small onez) are dog sh/t. This I believe replaced 1 of them. Tbf they need to get rid of all of them. Then again they could get rid of the 3 small ones as well since we know that the longer buses can do the route. Brand 2 StreetLite in the Northumberland Line connect route branding. Would look nice but yea. I think Ashington have finally decided to make the change

(18 Oct 2024, 10:33 am)Aaron21 wrote [ -> ]Yep because maybe Ashington have finally realised that the solos current uo there (not talking the 3 small onez) are dog sh/t. This I believe replaced 1 of them. Tbf they need to get rid of all of them. Then again they could get rid of the 3 small ones as well since we know that the longer buses can do the route. Brand 2 StreetLite in the Northumberland Line connect route branding. Would look nice but yea. I think Ashington have finally decided to make the change

They could probs send them Solos to Redcar or Stockton to throw on routes which don't have high passenger demand. Or they could straight scrap them or even sell them off. Make a little cash off them.

Transfers from Durham to Darlington have now started, 1465 and 7521 being the first two

(18 Oct 2024, 1:52 pm)Mike_98 wrote [ -> ]They could probs send them Solos to Redcar or Stockton to throw on routes which don't have high passenger demand. Or they could straight scrap them or even sell them off. Make a little cash off them.

Stockton for the 8 then keeps bigger buses off the 8 that's could be needed on more busy routes

(18 Oct 2024, 10:33 am)Aaron21 wrote [ -> ]Yep because maybe Ashington have finally realised that the solos current uo there (not talking the 3 small onez) are dog sh/t. This I believe replaced 1 of them. Tbf they need to get rid of all of them. Then again they could get rid of the 3 small ones as well since we know that the longer buses can do the route. Brand 2 StreetLite in the Northumberland Line connect route branding. Would look nice but yea. I think Ashington have finally decided to make the change

As much as I hate them. I'd imagine it's more to do with the PVR increase with the X21/X22/35 going back upto every 20 minutes instead. 

2601 is just as bad as the longer ones mind.

(18 Oct 2024, 6:24 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]As much as I hate them. I'd imagine it's more to do with the PVR increase with the X21/X22/35 going back upto every 20 minutes instead. 

2601 is just as bad as the longer ones mind.

1404 is a replacement for 2859.

(18 Oct 2024, 7:24 pm)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]1404 is a replacement for 2859.

Ah that's fair, surprised they've replaced with it a full size bus to be honest.

Notice a post on Flickr (https://flic.kr/p/2qnRSoG) seems to suggest that the 74-plate MMCs at Gillingham were originally ordered for Durham and Darlington.