(31 May 2026, 8:18 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote [ -> ]7596/7 where permanent vehicles at Blyth actually, they where covering for services while Blyth waiting for their charges to be installed for the BYDs to enter service, the only reason why 7596/7 are moving to Redcar is because they are going to be used on school boards from what I’ve heard
No there wasn't permanent there are steps in vechales at blyth until byds are ready ik people who high above
(31 May 2026, 9:16 pm)Dan manger wrote [ -> ]No there wasn't permanent there are steps in vechales at blyth until byds are ready ik people who high above
I believe busesofthenortheast is correct on this one. They are only moving due to the school contract.
(01 Jun 2026, 7:46 am)Shrek wrote [ -> ]I believe busesofthenortheast is correct on this one. They are only moving due to the school contract.
Actually, for once someone is correct - until this move to Redcar, there was no plans for 7596 and 7597 once Blyth’s BYDs entered service, given technically they were only allocated to Blyth due to the delay in getting those BYDs in service meaning some of the E400s would run out of MOT before their replacements were on the road.
(31 May 2026, 7:46 pm)Dan manger wrote [ -> ]Well im telling u ur wrong!!!!
Its not all about northrumbra u moan about 7596 97 moving to Redcar those where never a permanent vechale at blyth only temporary but northrumbra veg do love to argue
It's not moaning, it's just criticism and they deserve it.
Blyth has 15 single deckers for a PVR 6
Ashington has 22 single deckers for a PVR 12
There's 8 E400's which will be withdrawn soon and can barely do a days service
There's 11 14/64 Plate E400's which can barely do a days service (5/11 VOR and all of Ashington's are local)
There's now planned to be 6 B9TL's coming which can barely do a days service.
There's 12 quite reliable 17 Plate E400MMC's but they're off to Yorkshire supposedly because they can't do a days service on a route they're not meant to be on anyway.
Now 2 more reliable E400MMC's are going away.
There hasn't been a new bus in Blyth since 2013 and they went to Yorkshire and 6 buses isn't going to scratch the service.
Maybe there's a reason why people are pissed off up here, considering it's been blighted with vehicle shortages for ages now. The train service coming along adding fuel to the fire as it's made locals realise how crap Arriva really are, especially customer service wise as the Northern guards are fantastic across the board.
(01 Jun 2026, 9:00 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]It's not moaning, it's just criticism and they deserve it.
Blyth has 15 single deckers for a PVR 6
Ashington has 22 single deckers for a PVR 12
There's 8 E400's which will be withdrawn soon and can barely do a days service
There's 11 14/64 Plate E400's which can barely do a days service (5/11 VOR and all of Ashington's are local)
There's now planned to be 6 B9TL's coming which can barely do a days service.
There's 12 quite reliable 17 Plate E400MMC's but they're off to Yorkshire supposedly because they can't do a days service on a route they're not meant to be on anyway.
Now 2 more reliable E400MMC's are going away.
There hasn't been a new bus in Blyth since 2013 and they went to Yorkshire and 6 buses isn't going to scratch the service.
Maybe there's a reason why people are pissed off up here, considering it's been blighted with vehicle shortages for ages now. The train service coming along adding fuel to the fire as it's made locals realise how crap Arriva really are, especially customer service wise as the Northern guards are fantastic across the board.
Maybe what a friend of mine yesterday in a group chat
Answer Ashington and Redcar have routes that make money. Blyth is a **** hole and doesn’t- not helped by the Northumberland train set with its subsidised fares
One depot is always going to lose out - see Stockton in Durham County, 10 new Evoras when the depot last had new buses in 2014 and the vast majority of the fleet is over 15 years old (and those Evoras are replacing the ex-Merseyside Pulsars from what I undertsand - compared to Redcar who are losing the native ones).
(01 Jun 2026, 9:00 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]It's not moaning, it's just criticism and they deserve it.
Blyth has 15 single deckers for a PVR 6
Ashington has 22 single deckers for a PVR 12
There's 8 E400's which will be withdrawn soon and can barely do a days service
There's 11 14/64 Plate E400's which can barely do a days service (5/11 VOR and all of Ashington's are local)
There's now planned to be 6 B9TL's coming which can barely do a days service.
There's 12 quite reliable 17 Plate E400MMC's but they're off to Yorkshire supposedly because they can't do a days service on a route they're not meant to be on anyway.
Now 2 more reliable E400MMC's are going away.
There hasn't been a new bus in Blyth since 2013 and they went to Yorkshire and 6 buses isn't going to scratch the service.
Maybe there's a reason why people are pissed off up here, considering it's been blighted with vehicle shortages for ages now. The train service coming along adding fuel to the fire as it's made locals realise how crap Arriva really are, especially customer service wise as the Northern guards are fantastic across the board.
I dont get your "Blyth has this PVR of single deckers". Half the time the X routes dont even warrant at double decker
(01 Jun 2026, 9:45 am)Nerd4321 wrote [ -> ]I dont get your "Blyth has this PVR of single deckers". Half the time the X routes dont even warrant at double decker
They all do at the peaks though.
Majority of routes don’t need deckers most of the time, but it’s the peaks you need to cater for - and every Arriva express out of Newcastle in the PM peak is a full standing load on a Pulsar (even the X7 and X8 look to have picked back up).
(01 Jun 2026, 9:45 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Maybe what a friend of mine said yesterday in a group chat
One depot is always going to lose out - see Stockton in Durham County, 10 new Evoras when the depot last had new buses in 2014 and the vast majority of the fleet is over 15 years old (and those Evoras are replacing the ex-Merseyside Pulsars from what I undertsand - compared to Redcar who are losing the native ones).
Aye not surprised either really, obviously I respect how Arriva want to run but to me from a passenger point of view. Going down the old (un)managed decline approach when there's a railway line in town also causing issues just seems a quick fire route to make things worse. I don't expect much but I always thought they'd attempt to put some form of fight out against the train and not necessarily brand new buses either but they've done nothing
It's almost like they've just gave up, and the fleet presentation just backs it up. The sort of thing being like sending the 16/17 Plate E400MMC's for a decent refurb and sending them here. They're old but they're a massive improvement to what's here now. I'm sure some of us would've moaned on here but at the end day we're irrelevant it's what the public sees and they'll see something more modern. The new buses going elsewhere where there's more money and everyone wins.
Must say I do feel for Stockton aswell, obviously not my area, but the fleet is poor there too.
(01 Jun 2026, 9:45 am)Nerd4321 wrote [ -> ]I dont get your "Blyth has this PVR of single deckers". Half the time the X routes dont even warrant at double decker
Happy to be corrected, it's just what the PVR actually is rather than opinion. There might be a few boards on the 43/44/45 which are singles but obviously they're due to be replaced.
Unless it's changed there used to be big problems that if you had a single which missed the morning peak, then it hit the afternoon peak instead and vice versa.
Blyth are not the poor child in any sense of the imagination. They are getting more new vehicles than both Durham & Stockton are, as an example.
The vehicle intake/withdrawal plan at both Ashington and Blyth removes around a dozen single deck vehicles overall, so the number of double deckers will increase as a percentage. Yes, that might not be to the satisfaction of some, but it is what it is.
A business will always put it's new investment where it will get the biggest return. It's basics and an unfortunate reality for those who may not agree. This will mean that some locations simply will not get the investment they think they are due, likely cascades most of the time.
(01 Jun 2026, 6:28 pm)Superman wrote [ -> ]Blyth are not the poor child in any sense of the imagination. They are getting more new vehicles than both Durham & Stockton are, as an example.
The vehicle intake/withdrawal plan at both Ashington and Blyth removes around a dozen single deck vehicles overall, so the number of double deckers will increase as a percentage. Yes, that might not be to the satisfaction of some, but it is what it is.
A business will always put it's new investment where it will get the biggest return. It's basics and an unfortunate reality for those who may not agree. This will mean that some locations simply will not get the investment they think they are due, likely cascades most of the time.
A dozen removed seems slightly too low given the actual board allocations. It's not really about what's to the 'satisfaction of some', more based on what Arriva themselves have boards allocated as.
Ashington, on paper, should need 12 for the 1/2/57 - and I believe there is 1x 35 single decker board. 13 overall - they currently have 26.
Blyth have, I believe, 4 boards allocated as single deckers (the 553 and 3x X9 boards). They currently have 13 saloons.
Between the depots that's 39 saloons for a PVR of 17. Even if you say there's an approximate spare percentage of 14%, that's only an additional 2-3, taking you to 19-20. So you'd think there should nearer to 19 saloons withdrawn, not 12.
(01 Jun 2026, 7:24 pm)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]A dozen removed seems slightly too low given the actual board allocations. It's not really about what's to the 'satisfaction of some', more based on what Arriva themselves have boards allocated as.
Ashington, on paper, should need 12 for the 1/2/57 - and I believe there is 1x 35 single decker board. 13 overall - they currently have 26.
Blyth have, I believe, 4 boards allocated as single deckers (the 553 and 3x X9 boards). They currently have 13 saloons.
Between the depots that's 39 saloons for a PVR of 17. Even if you say there's an approximate spare percentage of 14%, that's only an additional 2-3, taking you to 19-20. So you'd think there should nearer to 19 saloons withdrawn, not 12.
Romers are Stockton depot could be closing down
(02 Jun 2026, 11:30 am)Dan manger wrote [ -> ]Romers are Stockton depot could be closing down
Opposite - rumours are the land around Stockton depot has been acquired and it's Redcar which is closing. Indeed there's details that Redcar's staff have been invited to a meeting at 6pm this evening.
And in Blyth-related news - it appears 7723 has entered service today on 306/308 tracking as 7624.
(02 Jun 2026, 11:35 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Opposite - rumours are the land around Stockton depot has been acquired and it's Redcar which is closing. Indeed there's details that Redcar's staff have been invited to a meeting at 6pm this evening.
And in Blyth-related news - it appears 7723 has entered service today on 306/308 tracking as 7624.
An ‘Important Business Update’ no less… with all staff urged to make every effort to attend
(31 May 2026, 7:35 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Can't see 1500-1505 going mind, not yet.
7601-7608, 7611-15, 7557/8/60/2, 7501/3/6/9, 1389/90/1/2/3/1404/19/63/80/93/5/6, 7541-52, 7596/7
That's what's going imo.
The only missing bit is do the 7541-52 go to Yorkshire and if they do what's leaving Ashington to Blyth. Is it the E400's or is it a chunk of the 72 Plate E400MMC's as both could go really.
Yorkshire Management want to get rid of their 58 plate e400s quickly as they are costing a ton to repair and keep on the road and numerous drivers have said some deckers from the north east, could be coming to replace them. Not sure which batch
(02 Jun 2026, 12:28 pm)davao123 wrote [ -> ]Yorkshire Management want to get rid of their 58 plate e400s quickly as they are costing a ton to repair and keep on the road and numerous drivers have said some deckers from the north east, could be coming to replace them. Not sure which batch
Ashington 2017 built E400 MMCs are what Yorkshire are due to receive from North East.
(02 Jun 2026, 11:35 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Opposite - rumours are the land around Stockton depot has been acquired and it's Redcar which is closing. Indeed there's details that Redcar's staff have been invited to a meeting at 6pm this evening.
And in Blyth-related news - it appears 7723 has entered service today on 306/308 tracking as 7624.
7722 and 7724 also entered service today.
Notice that, despite a week parked in the depot where preparation work had plenty of time for completion, Arriva have sent these out with destinations programmed incorrectly.
![[Image: 55314629499_1a82c93cf5_6k.jpg]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55314629499_1a82c93cf5_6k.jpg)
Arriva Northumbria 7721 - YY26 FSP by
Lee W, on Flickr
(04 Jun 2026, 8:04 pm)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]Notice that, despite a week parked in the depot where preparation work had plenty of time for completion, Arriva have sent these out with destinations programmed incorrectly.
Arriva Northumbria 7721 - YY26 FSP by Lee W, on Flickr
It’s not just the new ones are like that, 7598/9 are the same aswell and a few others are, I’m pretty sure 7596/7 are the same aswell
Movements due to happen on Sunday as a result of the entry into service of the new E400MMCs are as followed:
- 1496 1502 7596 7597 Blyth to Redcar
- 1433 1440 Redcar to North West (reason for transfer as yet unknown)
(05 Jun 2026, 10:46 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Movements due to happen on Sunday as a result of the entry into service of the new E400MMCs are as followed:
- 1496 1502 7596 7597 Blyth to Redcar
- 1433 1440 Redcar to North West (reason for transfer as yet unknown)
I was told that 1503 is moving to Redcar aswell to replace 1429 once 1503s MOT is done
(05 Jun 2026, 11:26 am)busesofthenortheast wrote [ -> ]I was told that 1503 is moving to Redcar aswell to replace 1429 once 1503s MOT is done
Those 4 are confirmed as moving this weekend - 1503 may also have to wait given 7525 is currently working out of Durham due to a vehicle shortage.
(05 Jun 2026, 10:46 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Movements due to happen on Sunday as a result of the entry into service of the new E400MMCs are as followed:
- 1496 1502 7596 7597 Blyth to Redcar
- 1433 1440 Redcar to North West (reason for transfer as yet unknown)
Be nice seeing a max pulsar based out of Redcar
(05 Jun 2026, 2:54 pm)Dan manger wrote [ -> ]Be nice seeing a max pulsar based out of Redcar and what depo 1433 40 goring to
(05 Jun 2026, 10:46 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Movements due to happen on Sunday as a result of the entry into service of the new E400MMCs are as followed:
- 1496 1502 7596 7597 Blyth to Redcar
- 1433 1440 Redcar to North West (reason for transfer as yet unknown)
I've just been told that the fleet manager at Arriva North West have cancelled the transfer of 1433/1440, I'm not sure if this is true or not but it's what I've been told
(06 Jun 2026, 4:22 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote [ -> ]I've just been told that the fleet manager at Arriva North West have cancelled the transfer of 1433/1440, I'm not sure if this is true or not but it's what I've been told
I been told Redcar will still receive 1496 1503 02 7596 97 as plain
1433 1440 have got rotten underneath and there is due to run out i understand so probably be the end of the these
(06 Jun 2026, 6:54 pm)Dan manger wrote [ -> ]I been told Redcar will still receive 1496 1503 02 7596 97 as plain
1433 1440 have got rotten underneath and there mot is due to run out i understand so probably be the end of the these
1496 1502 7596 97 have all transferred down to Redcar this morning just 1503 to go and there will have there's
(04 Jun 2026, 11:53 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote [ -> ]It’s not just the new ones are like that, 7598/9 are the same aswell and a few others are, I’m pretty sure 7596/7 are the same aswell
Intresting, Yellow Poles. Looks nice but its a strange change.
(04 Jun 2026, 11:53 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote [ -> ]It’s not just the new ones are like that, 7598/9 are the same aswell and a few others are, I’m pretty sure 7596/7 are the same aswell
Incorrect the Yx72s have white handrails same as 7578 99 do aswell
Its only the 26 plates that's as yellow handrails
(07 Jun 2026, 5:36 pm)Dan manger wrote [ -> ]Incorrect the Yx72s have white handrails same as 7578 99 do aswell
Its only the 26 plates that's as yellow handrails
I wasn't even on about the handrails at all, I was on about the rear displays that someone mentioned about the new buses, clearly someone doesn't listen
(07 Jun 2026, 9:44 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote [ -> ]I wasn't even on about the handrails at all, I was on about the rear displays that someone mentioned about the new buses, clearly someone doesn't listen
And it's not totally Arriva's fault with the rear destinations - it's down to how they've been set up in the factory. As the majority of Arriva's vehicles still only have number-only rear displays, this is very likely set as 'Sign 2' on the Hanover software. If these new MMCs have the rear screen set up as 'Sign 2', then they pick up the data for the number-only screen.
I'm sure GNE had similar issues with their new Streetdecks only showing numbers for a while (or not showing anything).
The bigger issue is that, from my trip up to Newcastle on Thursday, none of the new E400s had their new stop announcements programmed.
(08 Jun 2026, 8:26 am)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]And it's not totally Arriva's fault with the rear destinations - it's down to how they've been set up in the factory. As the majority of Arriva's vehicles still only have number-only rear displays, this is very likely set as 'Sign 2' on the Hanover software. If these new MMCs have the rear screen set up as 'Sign 2', then they pick up the data for the number-only screen.
I'm sure GNE had similar issues with their new Streetdecks only showing numbers for a while (or not showing anything).
The bigger issue is that, from my trip up to Newcastle on Thursday, none of the new E400s had their new stop announcements programmed.
Ah yes, because it’s impossible to check that they’re correctly programmed and rectify accordingly ahead of putting them into service…