(27 Jul 2014, 8:38 am)mb134 wrote Could some of them be refurbished for the X14?

(27 Jul 2014, 7:59 pm)David McGloin wrote They are going to Durham at later date Phil

(26 Jul 2014, 9:55 pm)mb134 wrote Any information on when the B9TL'S for the X93 will be delivered?

(26 Jul 2014, 4:37 pm)tyresmoke wrote Cascades due to happen (as far as I know) this week when the Sapphires enter service

5 out of 4501/2/5/6/8/9 to Stockton, with 4513/5 likely to move to Redcar
7466 to Blyth to replace 4045 (ie 1712)
7511/2/3 come off to go for refurb
7480/1 to Durham replacing 2 T-FGNs to disposal
7482/3 to disposal (though 7483 will stay to cover a B7 Gemini going to Redcar for the summer)
1208 to disposal

Further new deliveries will set off even more cascades...

(28 Jul 2014, 9:31 am)mb134 wrote Just passed a broken 7512 (I think) on the A1, will these need to be like looked at mechanically with their X15 refurbishment?

(28 Jul 2014, 9:51 am)DaveyBowyer wrote I would've chosen out of 7514 to 7521 for the X15 (3) and X14 (4).

I still don't see why Arriva didn't put an order in for B9TL's before the deadline for Euro 6 for the X15 and X18. I rate Enviros well for mid distance work like the X21 and X22 but for long distances, the B9TL is far better. I know 6071 and the B7 spares have been making several appearences on the TTX but if they had've bought 10, they could've used them in rotation with one day on the X15 / X18 then swapping the following day. They are only unreliable when constantly thrashed like what they are on the A19 and that would cause problems for the X15 but if rotated properly, they'd be quite reliable particularly on the X18.

(28 Jul 2014, 9:51 am)DaveyBowyer wrote I would've chosen out of 7514 to 7521 for the X15 (3) and X14 (4).

(28 Jul 2014, 9:55 am)Dan wrote Simply put, I think it'll be down to the cost.
Go North East's Volvo B9TLs cost near enough £200k each, to the Arriva equivalent of Sapphire specification. ADL E400s on the other hand, will cost £10k-£20k or so less.

I don't think it's a coincidence that GNE purchased so many (34) last year, given that the vehicle would no longer be manufactured, after those orders.

(28 Jul 2014, 10:50 am)Philly rf wrote Saying that the enviros that where mainly allocated to the x18 did the job just as good as any bus. Also thinking it mustn't be to much strain if they can put either v513 dft or v515 dft on the x18 or a 13/14 yr old volvo b7tl ex london bus then surely almost any bus can go one in the other hand the x18 has had v207 djr and v214 djr coach on it aswell so that must show some concerns aswell

(28 Jul 2014, 11:07 am)DaveyBowyer wrote All old Volvos were and still are bullet proof! The B7's are on borrowed time and coaches well, they're made for that purpose! I remember one driver on a B10BLE from Jesmond telling me that some of the 09 reg Pulsars were in worse shape than some of the B10BLE's. They certainly don't build 'em like what they used to!

(28 Jul 2014, 11:00 am)Philly rf wrote Does anyone know if the 35/35a streetlites are due. Well I know that they are 1579 to 1581 because when I went upto hey sham docks the kind man said the three that are in the corner are for ane ashington.
I'll just have to wait and see

(28 Jul 2014, 9:55 am)Dan wrote Simply put, I think it'll be down to the cost.
Go North East's Volvo B9TLs cost near enough £200k each, to the Arriva equivalent of Sapphire specification. ADL E400s on the other hand, will cost £10k-£20k or so less.

I don't think it's a coincidence that GNE purchased so many (34) last year, given that the vehicle would no longer be manufactured, after those orders.

(28 Jul 2014, 12:13 pm)tyresmoke wrote Given we've just had 1560 and 1561 delivered, I would suggest another couple of weeks yet.

(28 Jul 2014, 9:51 am)DaveyBowyer wrote I would've chosen out of 7514 to 7521 for the X15 (3) and X14 (4).

I still don't see why Arriva didn't put an order in for B9TL's before the deadline for Euro 6 for the X15 and X18. I rate Enviros well for mid distance work like the X21 and X22 but for long distances, the B9TL is far better. I know 6071 and the B7 spares have been making several appearences on the TTX but if they had've bought 10, they could've used them in rotation with one day on the X15 / X18 then swapping the following day. They are only unreliable when constantly thrashed like what they are on the A19 and that would cause problems for the X15 but if rotated properly, they'd be quite reliable particularly on the X18.

(28 Jul 2014, 4:15 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote I was thinking of you yesterday afternoon as I was tucking into my Steakhouse Whopper at Wetherby Services Burger King.
An Enviro400 was parked up (didn't note the name of the operator), and it was full of kids and their parents, presumably returning from a day out somewhere.

Given that is was parked at the services, I am guessing it was on a tacho and the driver was having his rest break.
Even if it wasn't on a tacho, the trip was obviously long enough to force the need for a rest break.

#envrio400onthemotorway
#hashtagsonNEB

(28 Jul 2014, 4:16 pm)tyresmoke wrote Was it Acklams of Beverley? They send their E400 all over without any problems, indeed it's been to Wembley a few times.