Arriva North East: Latest News & Discussion - April 2015
Arriva North East: Latest News & Discussion - April 2015
![[Image: a27c545d9ff07b0b6cefa6f9ca085092.jpg]](http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/04/07/a27c545d9ff07b0b6cefa6f9ca085092.jpg)
Does anyone know if there is roadworks or anything along the 1/5/5A routes at the moment as I have just had a look to see where my 5A is and saw this:
Been running late a few times in the last week or so.
Also what time is 1590 due back in Darlington?
(07 Apr 2015, 1:02 pm)John_R 1590 is currently heading into Darlington on X1Not seen any others yet, currently on board 1590.
Possibly there is another Streetlite on X1
(07 Apr 2015, 1:02 pm)John_R 1590 is currently heading into Darlington on X1The rest are Pulsars I think on the X1.
Possibly there is another Streetlite on X1
(06 Apr 2015, 8:15 pm)Multi21 High passenger loadings and by the sound of it he's on Emergency Tickets. The guy doesn't deserve criticising he needs a medal!
(06 Apr 2015, 8:15 pm)Multi21 High passenger loadings and by the sound of it he's on Emergency Tickets. The guy doesn't deserve criticising he needs a medal!
(07 Apr 2015, 2:33 pm)Tommy_1581 Not on emergency tickets, the previous driver was having a tab so he came over, I'm not criticising I'm just saying that these were the reasons that the bus ran late.Surely if they were that late because of the ticket machine, the bus would have been changed at Ashington, or at least they would have sent out an extra bus in front to leave on time and run the one behind to drop off only?
(07 Apr 2015, 2:33 pm)Tommy_1581 Not on emergency tickets, the previous driver was having a tab so he came over, I'm not criticising I'm just saying that these were the reasons that the bus ran late.Surely if they were that late because of the ticket machine, the bus would have been changed at Ashington, or at least they would have sent out an extra bus in front to leave on time and run the one behind to drop off only?
(07 Apr 2015, 2:34 pm)mb134 Surely if they were that late because of the ticket machine, the bus would have been changed at Ashington, or at least they would have sent out an extra bus in front to leave on time and run the one behind to drop off only?
(07 Apr 2015, 2:34 pm)mb134 Surely if they were that late because of the ticket machine, the bus would have been changed at Ashington, or at least they would have sent out an extra bus in front to leave on time and run the one behind to drop off only?
1590 in service today on the X1
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...otostream/
Sorry the LED isn't clear but I took hundreds of shots but this was the best I managed.
As well as getting a photo of 1590 I also went for a ride on it between Darlington and Bishop Auckland.
I have the following to say:
The seats looked slightly different to the other MAX buses I have been on with the most noticeable thing being the headrests being a darker blue than on other MAX buses and the shape of the e-leather looked different to say the MAX Omnicity's I thought. Found the seats comfortable.
Going down the A68 past Burtree Gate I thought that it wasn't very fast, it wasn't slow but it didn't feel like we were thrashing down here though. It felt rather smooth going down this section of the route which was surprising as the road surface is horrendous. Can't really comment on how it did on hills as the only real bit of this journey where it went uphill we got stuck behind a lorry.
Was slightly surprised to find that it has charging points like Sapphire buses do. Not 100% if it actually has screens for next stop announcements as it should be below the stopping light but was difficult to tell as I was sat towards the back and all I could see was black. I tried the WiFI and got connected no problem at all which was good.
So I quite liked this one this afternoon although not 100% if they will handle this route perfectly, will have to ride them more and more of the route before making a decision on exactly what I think of them but I quite enjoyed my journey on 1590 this afternoon.
(07 Apr 2015, 4:49 pm)Jimmi Was slightly surprised to find that it has charging points like Sapphire buses do.
(07 Apr 2015, 4:49 pm)Jimmi Was slightly surprised to find that it has charging points like Sapphire buses do.
(07 Apr 2015, 5:34 pm)Tommy_1581 Eh?
Wasn't expecting that, surely all the new 2014 StreetLites should have got them, instead of the Sapphire ones. But the X1? :s
The "MAX" brand can't decide on its features then...
(07 Apr 2015, 5:34 pm)Tommy_1581 Eh?
Wasn't expecting that, surely all the new 2014 StreetLites should have got them, instead of the Sapphire ones. But the X1? :s
The "MAX" brand can't decide on its features then...
(07 Apr 2015, 5:40 pm)mb134 The 2015 MAX E400's in Yorkshire also feature sockets, is it possible the MAX spec has changed?
I think that on the whole, you can't argue that Arriva have invested in a lot more newer buses over the last few years - that said, they went years in a lot of areas with no new vehicles at all, so the time had to come where new buses had to be bought.
My two main criticisms of them in my area would be a lack of evening services and no hardly any real express services.
We have the X5 from Loftus to Middlesbrough which has only a couple of journeys in each direction running to an unusual route which stops at every stop to Skelton, then misses Guisborough completely and goes none stop direct to Middlesbrough. Surely a limited stop service along the lines of the old X56 would've been better? And more express services during the day?
And except for the 5 they have nothing venturing into East Cleveland or Whitby on an evening....Whitby is cut off after 7.pm.
I can understand that subsidies have been cut and later journeys can be unprofitable if they look at it that way, BUT surely if people can get to/from somewhere late evening they may use buses at other times of the day too. If they know the service just isnt there when they need it, they'll avoid using the bus at all and make alternative arrangements for travel the rest of the time aswell.
I know Arriva are a business, but sometimes I think they should realise not every journey is going to be busy, but at least providing a service (say the X4) every hour and a half or two hours even on a night wouldn't break the bank, and would encourage use at other times.
Had 1426/1427 on the 5A today and the next stop announcements were practically on mute.
Getting ridiculous now
(07 Apr 2015, 10:34 pm)NK05 GWZ I noticed the NSA's on the X66 OmniCity's are very vague, at Stockton it simply said 'High Street' and for Middlesbrough simply said 'Bus Station'; surely if it was to allow people who are not familiar with the area to understand where they are its not very good!
(07 Apr 2015, 10:34 pm)NK05 GWZ I noticed the NSA's on the X66 OmniCity's are very vague, at Stockton it simply said 'High Street' and for Middlesbrough simply said 'Bus Station'; surely if it was to allow people who are not familiar with the area to understand where they are its not very good!
