ALL of the 13xx darts are awful. I've driven all of them at Darlington now (1306 yesterday being the latest) and they are an embarrassment in every single way. At the very least they all need new engines, but realistically they have just sent better for scrap. 1308 arrived in Darlington 20 mins late this afternoon and got taken out of service, it is by far the worst of the bunch.I can't stand them, I refuse to use service 8/8A because they are that bad, I wanted to go from Darlington Town Centre to Morrisons the other day and I didn't get on it and instead jumped on the Scarlet Band 16.
ALL of the 13xx darts are awful. I've driven all of them at Darlington now (1306 yesterday being the latest) and they are an embarrassment in every single way. At the very least they all need new engines, but realistically they have just sent better for scrap. 1308 arrived in Darlington 20 mins late this afternoon and got taken out of service, it is by far the worst of the bunch.I can't stand them, I refuse to use service 8/8A because they are that bad, I wanted to go from Darlington Town Centre to Morrisons the other day and I didn't get on it and instead jumped on the Scarlet Band 16.
(01 Nov 2014, 2:01 am)Jimmi I can't stand them, I refuse to use service 8/8A because they are that bad, I wanted to go from Darlington Town Centre to Morrisons the other day and I didn't get on it and instead jumped on the Scarlet Band 16.
If you want to know how bad they are, I jumped on one on the 64 at the Arnison Centre the other week and the GNE 14 pulled in behind and it was a Vyking and I was thinking that I'd rather be on the Vyking!
(01 Nov 2014, 2:01 am)Jimmi I can't stand them, I refuse to use service 8/8A because they are that bad, I wanted to go from Darlington Town Centre to Morrisons the other day and I didn't get on it and instead jumped on the Scarlet Band 16.
If you want to know how bad they are, I jumped on one on the 64 at the Arnison Centre the other week and the GNE 14 pulled in behind and it was a Vyking and I was thinking that I'd rather be on the Vyking!
They must be really bad, if you were thinking of jumping on a Vyking!They are, although I was also thinking that I'd rather be on the Vyking because the 14 is about 5 minutes faster than the 64.
They must be really bad, if you were thinking of jumping on a Vyking!They are, although I was also thinking that I'd rather be on the Vyking because the 14 is about 5 minutes faster than the 64.
1426 is just about to get towed in by Bradley's from Darlington town centre, it's been sat there since 08:45 this morning
1426 is just about to get towed in by Bradley's from Darlington town centre, it's been sat there since 08:45 this morningThink I had this the other day and it sounded terrible.
1426 is just about to get towed in by Bradley's from Darlington town centre, it's been sat there since 08:45 this morningThink I had this the other day and it sounded terrible.
On a recent visit to Exeter noticed most town services used E200s,would be good to see these used in darlington instead of the SLF and MPD darts.Very keen to see what's gonna be cascaded once the streetlite's and Max omnicities come into service. Where will the branded X1 pulsars end up, would they be suitable on the 8s! Agree with jimmi that this route needs better stock. Guess we'll see the ex P&R solo's from durham replace the darts!
On a recent visit to Exeter noticed most town services used E200s,would be good to see these used in darlington instead of the SLF and MPD darts.Very keen to see what's gonna be cascaded once the streetlite's and Max omnicities come into service. Where will the branded X1 pulsars end up, would they be suitable on the 8s! Agree with jimmi that this route needs better stock. Guess we'll see the ex P&R solo's from durham replace the darts!I think 1404/5/6 were rumoured to be moving to Belmont depot and 1407 will stay at Darlington depot, but I'm not sure that this is still the case. I think Pulsars were rumoured to be used on the 75/76 as I think Arriva are started to be pressured into putting younger buses on this route.
On a recent visit to Exeter noticed most town services used E200s,would be good to see these used in darlington instead of the SLF and MPD darts.Very keen to see what's gonna be cascaded once the streetlite's and Max omnicities come into service. Where will the branded X1 pulsars end up, would they be suitable on the 8s! Agree with jimmi that this route needs better stock. Guess we'll see the ex P&R solo's from durham replace the darts!I think 1404/5/6 were rumoured to be moving to Belmont depot and 1407 will stay at Darlington depot, but I'm not sure that this is still the case. I think Pulsars were rumoured to be used on the 75/76 as I think Arriva are started to be pressured into putting younger buses on this route.
(01 Nov 2014, 2:44 pm)Jimmi I think 1404/5/6 were rumoured to be moving to Belmont depot and 1407 will stay at Darlington depot, but I'm not sure that this is still the case. I think Pulsars were rumoured to be used on the 75/76 as I think Arriva are started to be pressured into putting younger buses on this route.
I think the ex Durham Park and Ride Solos are displacing the newer MPDs to Blyth depot. I think Darlington were also due to receive an additional 5 Solos from Belmont depot following the Service 23 StreetLites entering service but this hasn't happened.
I think the additional Solos and Omnicitys arriving at Darlington depot soon will help withdraw the older Darts and I imagine Arriva will invest in new buses to replace the Darts and other non DDA compliant buses by the end of next year.
Service 8/8A definitely needs better buses as them Darts can't cope with the route, recently I have seen these services running 10 minutes late alot lately and that's if they haven't broken down, they didn't seem to have these problems when MPDs were allocated. I don't think Pulsars would be suitable as I think they would struggle to get round York Hill Estate in Spennymoor.
(01 Nov 2014, 2:44 pm)Jimmi I think 1404/5/6 were rumoured to be moving to Belmont depot and 1407 will stay at Darlington depot, but I'm not sure that this is still the case. I think Pulsars were rumoured to be used on the 75/76 as I think Arriva are started to be pressured into putting younger buses on this route.
I think the ex Durham Park and Ride Solos are displacing the newer MPDs to Blyth depot. I think Darlington were also due to receive an additional 5 Solos from Belmont depot following the Service 23 StreetLites entering service but this hasn't happened.
I think the additional Solos and Omnicitys arriving at Darlington depot soon will help withdraw the older Darts and I imagine Arriva will invest in new buses to replace the Darts and other non DDA compliant buses by the end of next year.
Service 8/8A definitely needs better buses as them Darts can't cope with the route, recently I have seen these services running 10 minutes late alot lately and that's if they haven't broken down, they didn't seem to have these problems when MPDs were allocated. I don't think Pulsars would be suitable as I think they would struggle to get round York Hill Estate in Spennymoor.
To be honest, Pulsars get round tighter spots than York Hill, I don't think they'd have a problem on the 8's at all. Bearing in mind before the X21 got announced, they were going to use EcoCity's on there! Personally I think they should bin the 8A off and just have the 8 up and down to Spennymoor, but the buses they use on there definitely need to be upgraded.Yeah they'd be fine on the 8 its the 8A it would struggle but you could probably still get them round York Hill.
To be honest, Pulsars get round tighter spots than York Hill, I don't think they'd have a problem on the 8's at all. Bearing in mind before the X21 got announced, they were going to use EcoCity's on there! Personally I think they should bin the 8A off and just have the 8 up and down to Spennymoor, but the buses they use on there definitely need to be upgraded.Yeah they'd be fine on the 8 its the 8A it would struggle but you could probably still get them round York Hill.
Well hopefully if blyth are getting solos then some of their 05 minibuses go to ashington because ashington are using just about anything lately.I haven't heard anything about Blyth getting Solos, from what I've heard Darlington depot are getting more Solos and will displace more 05/55 reg MPDS to Blyth depot.
Well hopefully if blyth are getting solos then some of their 05 minibuses go to ashington because ashington are using just about anything lately.I haven't heard anything about Blyth getting Solos, from what I've heard Darlington depot are getting more Solos and will displace more 05/55 reg MPDS to Blyth depot.
Got 1750 on the 2 today, thought it was never going to make it up the hill out of Morpeth...
Also when reversing out of the bus station, it looked like the driver was having a problem with the gears, we went forwards first and then looked like he was quite reluctant to give it another go, as if it hadn't gone into reverse we would have gone into the barriers.
Surely it cant have much longer left?
(Side note- Those Seats!!!!)
(02 Nov 2014, 11:10 am)Philly rf Does anyone know what's happening with v515 dft and v513 dft and v501 dft are going to redcar
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(02 Nov 2014, 11:10 am)Philly rf Does anyone know what's happening with v515 dft and v513 dft and v501 dft are going to redcar
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It's being a week since changes... how is the X21 doing?Nowt spectacular, most journeys I've seen have had only around 15 passengers. It is a shame, I know its the first week and I hope more people will know about the service and use it as I like having a direct bus to Sunderland without having to change in Peterlee or Durham and hopefully it won't end up being binned this time next year.
It's being a week since changes... how is the X21 doing?Nowt spectacular, most journeys I've seen have had only around 15 passengers. It is a shame, I know its the first week and I hope more people will know about the service and use it as I like having a direct bus to Sunderland without having to change in Peterlee or Durham and hopefully it won't end up being binned this time next year.
(02 Nov 2014, 12:20 pm)Jimmi Nowt spectacular, most journeys I've seen have had only around 15 passengers. It is a shame, I know its the first week and I hope more people will know about the service and use it as I like having a direct bus to Sunderland without having to change in Peterlee or Durham and hopefully it won't end up being binned this time next year.
(02 Nov 2014, 12:20 pm)Jimmi Nowt spectacular, most journeys I've seen have had only around 15 passengers. It is a shame, I know its the first week and I hope more people will know about the service and use it as I like having a direct bus to Sunderland without having to change in Peterlee or Durham and hopefully it won't end up being binned this time next year.
15 passengers isn't bad, hopefully the numbers go up over the next few weeksI really hope they do, the X21 is a cracking service just 26 minutes to get from Peterlee to Sunderland and the EcoCitys are nice, but it is a shame they couldn't have bought another one with a bit more power like 4812/3/4 have.
15 passengers isn't bad, hopefully the numbers go up over the next few weeksI really hope they do, the X21 is a cracking service just 26 minutes to get from Peterlee to Sunderland and the EcoCitys are nice, but it is a shame they couldn't have bought another one with a bit more power like 4812/3/4 have.
(02 Nov 2014, 12:29 pm)Jimmi I really hope they do, the X21 is a cracking service just 26 minutes to get from Peterlee to Sunderland and the EcoCitys are nice, but it is a shame they couldn't have bought another one with a bit more power like 4812/3/4 have.
(02 Nov 2014, 12:29 pm)Jimmi I really hope they do, the X21 is a cracking service just 26 minutes to get from Peterlee to Sunderland and the EcoCitys are nice, but it is a shame they couldn't have bought another one with a bit more power like 4812/3/4 have.
