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(23 May 2022, 6:25 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]Yeah I can see 1493/1501-5 going to Durham. That's true actually tbf looking at fleet's I'd say Blyth is more deserving than Ashington for some of those new MMC's, apart from a handful to make the X21/22 fully MMC.
I'd strongly argue the opposite.
The X14, X15, X18, and X20 are all very punishing buses and 6 of the current vehicles (7511/2/4-7) for those routes are older than any Blyth bus. You then have 2014/15 E400s to make up the rest, all of which have been on express work since new. In comparison, the Blyth VDLs have been on considerably less punishing work for their entire lives. Not saying that Blyth don't need new stock, they very much do, but the VDLs have at least another couple of years in them while the 57/09-plate E400s are shot and the 64/15-plates aren't as reliable as they once were.
(23 May 2022, 6:35 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]I'd strongly argue the opposite.
The X14, X15, X18, and X20 are all very punishing buses and 6 of the current vehicles (7511/2/4-7) for those routes are older than any Blyth bus. You then have 2014/15 E400s to make up the rest, all of which have been on express work since new. In comparison, the Blyth VDLs have been on considerably less punishing work for their entire lives. Not saying that Blyth don't need new stock, they very much do, but the VDLs have at least another couple of years in them while the 57/09-plate E400s are shot and the 64/15-plates aren't as reliable as they once were.
Fair enough, I was looking at ages more than anything. When I said they should definitely get a few to make up numbers on the X21/22 I envisaged 7511-2/4-7 being replaced for sure as like you say they're older. I can see the 64/14/15 plates maybe being a tad tired but if I remember correctly there are 19 MMC's coming, 8 could go on the X10/X11 even and then you could still send 11 to Ashington covering the X15/X18 and make the X21/2 almost fully MMC. Then you could withdraw 7411/84/86, stick 7514-17 on the 35 with 7510, 7511/12 to Jesmond to replace 7412/91, 7524-33 for the X14/X20 and spares and then send 7522 and 7553-56 to Durham.
(23 May 2022, 6:25 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]Yeah I can see 1493/1501-5 going to Durham. That's true actually tbf looking at fleet's I'd say Blyth is more deserving than Ashington for some of those new MMC's, apart from a handful to make the X21/22 fully MMC.
Must admit I agree with mb123 that the Enviro's need replacing at Ashington tbf.
Mind whether the X14 and X20 need deckers is up for debate or would 1493 / 1501-5 plus the two that came from Jesmond be enough for them. The Pulsars do well in other areas on similar routes.
The X14 recently has been running with minibuses quite often lately with no real issues tbh and the X20 isn't particularly ever very busy either.
(23 May 2022, 8:04 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Must admit I agree with mb123 that the Enviro's need replacing at Ashington tbf.
Mind whether the X14 and X20 need deckers is up for debate or would 1493 / 1501-5 plus the two that came from Jesmond be enough for them. The Pulsars do well in other areas on similar routes.
The X14 recently has been running with minibuses quite often lately with no real issues tbh and the X20 isn't particularly ever very busy either.
X14 has one board which requires a decker due to interworking with a PM school contract, the one that starts as the 0640(?) to Thropton also gets busy on the first southbound trip so arguably a decker is best on that.
X20 wise, the board which does the first X15 to begin it's day requires a decker (and therefore realistically so does the board which finishes at Alnwick as there are no boards starting at Alnwick which a single deck is suitable for). Most X20s carry decent loads, even if not all the way to Newcastle. I've seen upwards of 20 get off at Ashington when the bus has arrived from Alnwick.
(23 May 2022, 8:41 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]X14 has one board which requires a decker due to interworking with a PM school contract, the one that starts as the 0640(?) to Thropton also gets busy on the first southbound trip so arguably a decker is best on that.
X20 wise, the board which does the first X15 to begin it's day requires a decker (and therefore realistically so does the board which finishes at Alnwick as there are no boards starting at Alnwick which a single deck is suitable for). Most X20s carry decent loads, even if not all the way to Newcastle. I've seen upwards of 20 get off at Ashington when the bus has arrived from Alnwick.
Aye that's fair then to be honest, the X14 always seemed rather quiet to me but I suppose with the X16 withdrawal then that could change over time between Morpeth and Newcastle aswell especially with investment.
With an order of 19, it matches up all the 'X' routes match up at Ashington.
- 3x X21/X22 (extra MMCs)
- 5x X18
- 4x X15
- 4x X20
- 3x X14
Then there's 14x classic E400s available for cascades. With three kept as spares for Ashington, the other 11x will likely end up at Jesmond witth 7522.
Blyth's turn will be next and I reckon unless wanting to stick with ADL for commonality, probably a massive StreetDeck order potentially including the 306. If Arriva got rid of the X8 (replaced by an enhanced X7 and a new 42 or 43A service), Blyth's order would work out:
- 306/308 - 18x (all at Blyth or split with Walkergate / Jesmond)
- X9/X10/X11 - 13x
- X7 - 7x
Arriva could even throw some 6 Cylinder StreetDecks in for the X93 and allow 7401-06 to provide summer extras as well as providing extra support for Whitby, Redcar and Ashington depots depending on demand.
Does jesmond depot have different rotas like ashington for certain routes.
Heard from a driver at Newcastle that the managers held a meeting at the depot last night to tell them that it will be closing on 30 October.
Some services will transfer to Blyth and some will operate temporarily from another site.
(12 Aug 2022, 4:27 pm)RobinHood wrote [ -> ]Heard from a driver at Newcastle that the managers held a meeting at the depot last night to tell them that it will be closing on 30 October.
Some services will transfer to Blyth and some will operate temporarily from another site.
Do you know if the supposed move to Walkergate or wherever off the table now?
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(12 Aug 2022, 4:47 pm)Adrian wrote [ -> ]Do you know if the supposed move to Walkergate or wherever off the table now?
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Think it's been suggested that the plans for that had seen costs rise significantly - which given costs of pretty much everything else are increasing seems more than plausible.
Even if the Walkergate one was build. I was talking to a driver about it. The only routes that would move would be 46/46A/51/51A/55/685 but that's it..rest would move to Blyth
(12 Aug 2022, 5:39 pm)Aaron21 wrote [ -> ]Even if the Walkergate one was build. I was talking to a driver about it. The only routes that would move would be 46/46A/51/51A/55/685 but that's it..rest would move to Blyth
There wouldn't be enough space at Blyth to house the 43/44/45, 52/53/54 and 306 on top of their current routes.
One thing I have noticed which may not be a coincidence is the 30th October is when the Covid money runs out...perhaps we've got some cuts coming so there is enough room for everything at Blyth (apart from the midibus routes and 685).
(12 Aug 2022, 5:44 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]There wouldn't be enough space at Blyth to house the 43/44/45, 52/53/54 and 306 on top of their current routes.
Some are planned to be moving to Ashington I think. Goes along with the near constant rumours that they're looking to expand that depot into the wasteland to the west of the current site.
(12 Aug 2022, 6:07 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Will be interesting to see how this plays out after Union action at CLS.
Yes, I agree. The distances involved are arguably less reasonable than Chester-le-Street, and I'd say present greater travel issues.
Obviously there's 'winners and losers' in any workplace move, depending where they're commuting from. Plus it's a workers market in the bus industry right now, so arguably the company needs their workers more than they need the company.
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If the 43/52/53/54 move there sort of okay however the big ones go to the 44/45 as they are they are the most long distance route to travel Blyth to Dinnington & the 6.27 53 journey from North Shields
306 is fine as Blyth do a morning run anyway
(12 Aug 2022, 6:19 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]Some are planned to be moving to Ashington I think. Goes along with the near constant rumours that they're looking to expand that depot into the wasteland to the west of the current site.
Yeah that makes sense. Only thing is with a max number of 58 buses at Blyth according to the plans it's awkward as to what could move there. If they did the 306 and 52/53/54 that would be a PVR of 53. At one point it was rumoured the X10/X11 would move to Ashington but who knows.
Part of me thinks they could even split up the current interworkings. Perhaps have the 43, 52/53 go Ashington and the 44/45, 54 and 306 go to Blyth? Will have to wait and see I suppose.
(12 Aug 2022, 6:56 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Arriva bus depot to close in October with staff to move to sites in Northumberland and Durham: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...r-24745636
Seems as though everything's going to be a bit up in the air until March 2023, presumably so they can sort out Ashington and Blyth to accommodate everything
(12 Aug 2022, 6:57 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]Yeah that makes sense. Only thing is with a max number of 58 buses at Blyth according to the plans it's awkward as to what could move there. If they did the 306 and 52/53/54 that would be a PVR of 53. At one point it was rumoured the X10/X11 would move to Ashington but who knows.
Part of me thinks they could even split up the current interworkings. Perhaps have the 43, 52/53 go Ashington and the 44/45, 54 and 306 go to Blyth? Will have to wait and see I suppose.
Seems as though everything's going to be a bit up in the air until March 2023, presumably so they can sort out Ashington and Blyth to accommodate everything
Surely it would make more sense to move the 43/44/45 to Ashington and work it with the Morpeth drivers since the 43 already goes there.
I always found the fact they ordered 14 Enviro 200 MMC's (believe that was a number) a bit odd as there's too many (or too little), it's questionable if they ever had plans to move there. Knock off say the 55 just to pick one of Jesmond's routes (the X7/X8 stopping everywhere is a bizarre thing to do if the Newcastle services are struggling on it's only unique section), suddenly there's now enough of them to cover all the minibus routes which no doubt will be going to Ashington since there's no space at Blyth including the 57/57A, strange co-incidence.
Its a shame the plans (or rumours) for a super depot at Sandy Lane didn't come to anything, that might have worked out as a better compromise.
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