Arriva North East: Latest News & Discussion - April 2014
Arriva North East: Latest News & Discussion - April 2014
(04 Apr 2014, 8:57 pm)tyresmoke 2 more Enviro 400s arriving tomorrow to help bolster the double deck allocation whilst these Volvo B7TLs are sorted out. I am told some are going back to Ashington to be run in properly. Might have been a good idea in the first place but hey what do we know, still they seem to have done alright on the 81....
(04 Apr 2014, 8:57 pm)tyresmoke 2 more Enviro 400s arriving tomorrow to help bolster the double deck allocation whilst these Volvo B7TLs are sorted out. I am told some are going back to Ashington to be run in properly. Might have been a good idea in the first place but hey what do we know, still they seem to have done alright on the 81....
(04 Apr 2014, 9:35 pm)buznut Vosa update today
Is the X16 a new service or is it an ammended route of one of the normal Berwick boards.What is the PVR & which depot will be its home?
(04 Apr 2014, 9:35 pm)buznut Vosa update today
Is the X16 a new service or is it an ammended route of one of the normal Berwick boards.What is the PVR & which depot will be its home?
(04 Apr 2014, 9:37 pm)Tom Summer service from Belford only stopping at Gosforth, Regent Centre, Morpeth, Alnwick then all stops to Belford. It'll be one Prima, operated by Ashington.
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(04 Apr 2014, 9:37 pm)Tom Summer service from Belford only stopping at Gosforth, Regent Centre, Morpeth, Alnwick then all stops to Belford. It'll be one Prima, operated by Ashington.
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Service Manager, Coatham Connect
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Ok an update on the current situation for you all
Current Fleet updates
Reserve DAF 4045 has turned up in service at Jesmond following withdrawal (finally) by Stockton. Redcar DAF 4091 has been sent to Jesmond for review of some problem. 4068 has also transferred north but unsure where it has gone yet, possibly Blyth. All as a result of Volvo B7TLs arriving at Redcar. 7484/5/9/94 have so far arrived at Redcar, of which only 7489 is yet to enter service. ADL Enviro 400s 7508/11 are due to migrate south to Whitby over this weekend to provide extra double deck capacity for the Easter holidays whilst some B7s return to Ashington to have issues ironed out. Talking of Ashington, they now have the use of 7487.
Optare Solo 2503 was returned to Classic who have fitted it with a new engine, it is now back at Jesmond. DAF decker 7458 has been repainted for use at Jesmond.
Mini Dart 1711 is repainted as part of a 'float' fleet for later in the year to cover refurbishments, which will also include various Darts and probably a handful of double deck vehicles too.
Expected to be withdrawn (eventually, following refurbishment programs etc) as a result of new arrivals are:
MPDs below 1758
Darts 1611-1656
DAFs 7459-64
Tridents 7432-5
New Fleet
Changes to the known order sees the VDL Pulsars for the 306 become Streetlite "micro-hybrids", along with 2(?) for service 35 at Ashington and the 5 at Durham for service 23.
ADL Enviro 400s confirmed for Ashington service X18
Total orders now
Streetlite
Redcar x14 - service 4/X4 "Sapphire"
Stockton x10 - service 5/5a "Sapphire"
Streetlite "Micro-hybrid"
Jesmond x8 - service 306
Ashington x2 - service 35/35a
Durham x5 - service 23
ADL Enviro 400
Ashington x6 - service X18 "Max"
Ashington x6 - service X21/X22 "Sapphire"
Sapphire 2014
Alongside the new vehicles on order (as above), 8 ADL Enviro 400 (believed to be 7514-21) will be refurbished to be used on service X21/X22 at Ashington depot.
Introducing... Arriva Max
Max will be our new brand for express services, to be launched later in 2014. It will offer an upgraded specification for interurban services with free wi-fi and e-leather seating, so one step down from our "Sapphire" services but still upgraded. The North East will be the first to launch this in the UK group.
Services to be included in 2014 are:
- X10/X11 from Ashington... Refurbished VDL Gemini
- X14 from Ashington... Refurbished ADL Enviro 400
- X15 from Ashington... Refurbished coaches (believed to be transfers from GreenLine, those 55 plate Van Hools for example are heavily rumoured)
- X18 from Ashington... 6 new ADL Enviro 400
- X26/X27 from Darlington... Refurbished Scania Omnicity
- X66 from Darlington... Refurbished Scania Omnicity
Further Max services are expected to be announced for 2015.
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(04 Apr 2014, 9:51 pm)Tom The new ''Max'' for those services sounds fantastic, I think the X15/X18 deserves the wi-fi. Now, if the X14 is getting ''Max'' will the ones with interworking at Morpeth onto the 33/57A still be darts?
(04 Apr 2014, 10:01 pm)aureolin Sounds good, but surprised there's no changes for the Pulsars on the X1/X2. Needs to go 100% deckers ASAP in my opinion.
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(04 Apr 2014, 9:51 pm)Tom The new ''Max'' for those services sounds fantastic, I think the X15/X18 deserves the wi-fi. Now, if the X14 is getting ''Max'' will the ones with interworking at Morpeth onto the 33/57A still be darts?
(04 Apr 2014, 10:01 pm)aureolin Sounds good, but surprised there's no changes for the Pulsars on the X1/X2. Needs to go 100% deckers ASAP in my opinion.
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(04 Apr 2014, 10:01 pm)aureolin Sounds good, but surprised there's no changes for the Pulsars on the X1/X2. Needs to go 100% deckers ASAP in my opinion.
(04 Apr 2014, 10:01 pm)aureolin Sounds good, but surprised there's no changes for the Pulsars on the X1/X2. Needs to go 100% deckers ASAP in my opinion.
(04 Apr 2014, 10:03 pm)Tom I had a suggestion that 7607/7609/7610 go to Stockton from Blyth to make the X1/X2 fully deckers, and then 1441/42/43 go from Stockton to Blyth to make the X13 fully Pulsar operational?
(04 Apr 2014, 10:03 pm)Tom I had a suggestion that 7607/7609/7610 go to Stockton from Blyth to make the X1/X2 fully deckers, and then 1441/42/43 go from Stockton to Blyth to make the X13 fully Pulsar operational?
(04 Apr 2014, 10:06 pm)Kuyoyo I'm sure we've said this many times - Stockton cannot have an allocation of deckers as they can't maintain them. Pulsars at Stockton are required anyway - there's been previous mentions that the 17 group may be upgraded to Pulsars later this year.
(04 Apr 2014, 10:06 pm)Kuyoyo I'm sure we've said this many times - Stockton cannot have an allocation of deckers as they can't maintain them. Pulsars at Stockton are required anyway - there's been previous mentions that the 17 group may be upgraded to Pulsars later this year.
(04 Apr 2014, 10:07 pm)Tom Well if thats the case, can't the whole operation not go to Belmont with some timetable amendments?
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(04 Apr 2014, 10:07 pm)Tom Well if thats the case, can't the whole operation not go to Belmont with some timetable amendments?
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Looking forward to Service X66 being part of Max branding, its good that this service will have WiFi once again.
Wonder what they will do on Sundays as the X66 interworks with Service 5A
(04 Apr 2014, 10:28 pm)Tom It'll be Sapphire then?
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(04 Apr 2014, 10:28 pm)Tom It'll be Sapphire then?
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(04 Apr 2014, 10:30 pm)tyresmoke No Tom, Darlington's 5A to Bishop Auckland. I don't think there will be an issue with Max though, whereas Sapphire is more of an exclusive brand.
Stockton have the issue with Sunday service 5 (Sapphire) trips but like Darlington's 7, they will likely be split off and do nothing else.
(04 Apr 2014, 10:30 pm)tyresmoke No Tom, Darlington's 5A to Bishop Auckland. I don't think there will be an issue with Max though, whereas Sapphire is more of an exclusive brand.
Stockton have the issue with Sunday service 5 (Sapphire) trips but like Darlington's 7, they will likely be split off and do nothing else.
Wonder if the Darlington evening and Sunday Service 26A will use Max branded Omnicitys. If so, the 26A could interwork with Service X66 on Sundays.
Be good to see - sorry to keep on - the issues on our X93 resolved and then upgraded to "Max", really think Arriva are missing a trick here, unless there is something I don't know? Must assume (and hope) that Ashington must be so equipped to deal with the issues that seem to be blighting our B7TL's?
