I know this post is a bit late but.... One of the scania bendies caught fire this morning on the coast road, fortunately I was on it haha filled up with black smoke and eventually engine cut out so looks like it could be the end of the line for that bus (didn't catch fleet number)
(11 Oct 2012, 5:45 am)dan wrote [ -> ] (10 Oct 2012, 6:37 pm)Wellsey18 wrote [ -> ]I know this post is a bit late but.... One of the scania bendies caught fire this morning on the coast road, fortunately I was on it haha filled up with black smoke and eventually engine cut out so looks like it could be the end of the line for that bus (didn't catch fleet number)
wot sevice wos it on
It was on the 58 on its way to Hadrian park and just set on fire haha
(11 Oct 2012, 7:40 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ] (11 Oct 2012, 7:26 pm)Brandon wrote [ -> ]Deptford B10BLE 4920 is now Northern Red - seen on the X3 today by Peter Barclay - http://www.flickr.com/photos/27204054@N07/8076831738/ - I think it went onto the 99 this evening.
To be honest I wasn't that keen on the new Highwayman branding when I first saw it, but it's growing on me now 
Sean Blair has some photos too - http://www.flickr.com/photos/77351420@N0...hotostream
as well as Steven Hodgson - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nerbp/page1/
Looks like the ex highwayman buses are going red, Wonder if they will become perm buses on the X3, hopefully not.
I was just thinking about the X3 too! From next month, some journey's on X3 will only run during school holidays, so I'm assuming that buses will drop out to interwork with Scholars. Double decks could be used - Vykings were used (alongside Tridents) during the Metro strike on 7 June, so they have proven themselves capable. I'm sure it was mentioned that the 9 was supposed to be getting Vykings, which would make Sunderland-East Boldon-Boldon ASDA fully double decker once again if the X3 was as well. Having said that though, some Scholar routes can be operated by single decks, depends on the specification of the contract.
I think for longer journeys like those on the X3, I would much prefer double decks rather than high-spec single decker buses such as mercs. I used to travel regularly between Hylton Castle and Newcastle on the 56 at one point, and the journey was horrendous. On the day of the Go North East strike in 2009, Yellow Bus Volvo Olympians were used (with a £1 flat fare!) and the journey was much better sitting upstairs with more room to spread out!
When did Arriva North East merged with Arriva Yorkshire?.
Interesting from Vosa today:
PB0002208/5 - ALEXANDER WILLIAM VOY & PATRICIA ELAINE VOY T/A CENTRAL COACHES, 7 ROSS WALK, NEWTON AYCLIFFE, DL5 5BE
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: BRASSIDE
Finish Point: DURHAM BUS STATION
Via:
Service Number: 42
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 05-NOV-2012
Other Details:
It's even better than what I was hoping it would be like. I can't really see anything a quality contract could offer that a partnership wouldn't deliver. I think the operators have presented a really strong case here, best of luck to them.