Arriva North East: Rare & Odd Workings - December 2015

[Jimmi]

Bit like when the B10's were on the X7.... got worse as they went kept on!

Luckily GNE had the Citaro's free when the 309/310 got B9's....

Difference is, Go North East acted fairly swiftly with the not so peachy reliability of the B10's, unfortunately I can't see Arriva doing the same, especially as the EcoCitys can only be based at Darlington in the Arriva North East division as it's the only depot that has the facilities to refuel the EcoCitys and unfortunately there isn't many other routes they can really do at Darlington, pretty much just the 8/8A which again is not ideal but it would be easier to send a bus up to Spennymoor should a breakdown occur rather than Sunderland or Peterlee on the 21/X21. The only other hope we could have is if Arriva North West were willing to take them as I believe they have some.

[BusLoverMum]

It's the ex demonstrator examples, particularly 4812/4813. The reliability of them is poor at best, I think they should not be on such a demanding route which the 21/X21 certainly is and a hourly route as well where if like I often am especially if I am heading home from Sunderland/Peterlee, I'd be faced with the following should a breakdown occur: be stuck on the failed bus for anything up to an hour or a lengthy detour home. These are only going to get worse as time goes on and I think if they don't do something soon, there could be repercussions.

It's making me think twice about going that way. There's much if the route where there's no alternative and the thought of being stranded in the arse ed of nowhere with a panic prone kid is the stuff of nightmares.

They need to put pulsars on that route and stick to local journeys with the gas buses.

[Stuartphin1639]

It's making me think twice about going that way. There's much if the route where there's no alternative and the thought of being stranded in the arse ed of nowhere with a panic prone kid is the stuff of nightmares.

They need to put pulsars on that route and stick to local journeys with the gas buses.

An ideal route would be the 12/12A, they have 3 pulsars on, or the odd solo on there so just swap them around and have 1 gas bus in 4811 on the 21, then surely there's a spare pulsar that Darlington can have

Ideal would be

4812/3/4 on the 12/12A

1406/14/24/25 on the 21/X21

[Jimmi]

An ideal route would be the 12/12A, they have 3 pulsars on, or the odd solo on there so just swap them around and have 1 gas bus in 4811 on the 21, then surely there's a spare pulsar that Darlington can have

Ideal would be

4812/3/4 on the 12/12A

1406/14/24/25 on the 21/X21

Isn't 1406 being refurbished to MAX specification though, plus 1425 is one that has next stop announcements for the 1/5/5A. I'd say 1461/62/63/65 would be better for the 21/X21.

[Dan]

I'd hate to do Sunderland - Darlington on a Pulsar. The high backed comfortable seating on the EcoCitys is what makes the long journey tolerable.

[Jimmi]

I'd hate to do Sunderland - Darlington on a Pulsar. The high backed comfortable seating on the EcoCitys is what makes the long journey tolerable.

One of the few redeeming things about them. I always hope one turns up purely for those seats, although the e-leather seats on the other EcoCitys aren't so bad. You must be one of the few people who have done the full 21/X21. Not many seem to have done Aycliffe - Sunderland when I have done it although I have seen a few do Fishburn - Sunderland.

[BusLoverMum]

Pulsar on 306
4501 on X8

And yes, I'd want comfortable seating for a 100 minute journey! Even my dodgy back doesn't find the Pulsars too bad, though. (unlike the GNE lolyne I spent a painful hour on, this afternoon)

[Jimmi]

7521 is on the 14:50 56 to Bishop Auckland.

Arriva North East: 7521 / NK09FVR by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

The Solo on the 64 was 2813.
In addition to 1479, there was an Enviro 200 on the 46/48.

[MrPottski]

One of the few redeeming things about them. I always hope one turns up purely for those seats, although the e-leather seats on the other EcoCitys aren't so bad. You must be one of the few people who have done the full 21/X21. Not many seem to have done Aycliffe - Sunderland when I have done it although I have seen a few do Fishburn - Sunderland.

I've done the full journey plenty of times! Haha! 4813 was my chariot yesterday and it wasn't bad at all, smooth, quiet and warm, just what was needed. 4812 normally does 60mph (when it works) and the takeoff 4814 has is phenomenal with its 4 speed box. I do agree with others though, they should be brought back locally or sold to ANW or Anglian Bus (the only other operators)

[Kuyoyo]

1439 has worked the first X93 into Middlesbrough. It's now on 64/64a replacing 7489 to work the first X93 from Middlesbrough. I wish him luck if he's returning via the diversion.

  ANE-7489a.JPG (Size 511.82 KB / Downloads 23)
Seemingly covering whichever B9 was on the chassis wash at Stockton at lunchtime. Although, if this had to go to Whitby, then that suggests there's 2 B9s off for some reason.

1443 on S1

  ANE-1443.JPG (Size 621.94 KB / Downloads 19)

[Stuartphin1639]

I've done the full journey plenty of times! Haha! 4813 was my chariot yesterday and it wasn't bad at all, smooth, quiet and warm, just what was needed. 4812 normally does 60mph (when it works) and the takeoff 4814 has is phenomenal with its 4 speed box. I do agree with others though, they should be brought back locally or sold to ANW or Anglian Bus (the only other operators)

Yeah I agree they should be sold, the capacity on the 21/X21 not sure about the X22 only warrants solos, I mean I was on 4812 (before it broke down and 4647 was the replacement) and it took around 30 passengers there and back, maybe not even that, and yeah 1461/2/5/6 would be better on there but refurbish them and brand it properly

[Jimmi]

Yeah I agree they should be sold, the capacity on the 21/X21 not sure about the X22 only warrants solos, I mean I was on 4812 (before it broke down and 4647 was the replacement) and it took around 30 passengers there and back, maybe not even that, and yeah 1461/2/5/6 would be better on there but refurbish them and brand it properly

The passenger numbers on the 21 are strange, on one journey you can be carrying a fair few passengers and other times it can be dead. The other week, I actually got the 21 from Aycliffe - Sunderland leaving Aycliffe at 08:36 and 4811 was allocated and there was actually standees once we got towards Station Town until we got to Peterlee Bus Station (although there was a few seats still left). Think it can be busier at the times the East Durham College students tend to be travelling on the 21 as well. You also have the Harrowgate Hill - Darlington Town Centre section being pretty busy at times. X21 certainly doesn't get busy in my experience, in fact you're lucky if the numbers make it into double figures. No idea about the X22.

[Jimmi]

7609 on X24.

[Kuyoyo]

1909 going onto 27a/27 replacing 1454. Last day for it and 1906.

[tyresmoke]

1445 on S1 today, first time a standard Pulsar has been used I believe

[MrPottski]

4802 has been let loose on the 21/X21,replacement for 4812. From what I've heard the EcoCitys are all being taken off the road to be filled up during the day, one by one. Then, tonight it should just be a top up for them.

[Jimmi]

7609 on X24.

Arriva North East: 7609 / NK59DMO by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

This should count as a 'odd' working.
Arriva North East: 7412 / LJ03MHU by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

[Kuyoyo]

1445 on S1 today, first time a standard Pulsar has been used I believe

  ANE-1445.JPG (Size 607.16 KB / Downloads 49)


1415 spent the day on X12s in place of either 1441 or 1442

[tyresmoke]

It was 1441 missing off the X12
Passed 1477 on 24 this evening