(20 Aug 2014, 9:44 am)Kuyoyo wrote Maybe if you checked past posts - 7501-4 the former X93 E400s are now 'Sapphire' vehicles. Of the 3 going MAX, 7512/3 spent minimum 6 months on the X93 (both had modifications while based at Whitby) while 7511's time on the X93 was just a few weeks at the end of the E400 operation. None of them are knackered.

At present, the official allocation on the X15 is coaches but as they officially only have 4 Coaches for a PVR of 4 (1208 is officially sold but of course, still in use) the E400s and Lowlanders are allocated to cover as well as working the X18. In the next few weeks, 7529-33 are due to covert the X18 to MAX allowing 7514-21 to move onto more local work (and presumably the X14 as well) and 7436-40/53-6 to Durham.

(20 Aug 2014, 5:04 pm)Dan wrote 7611 now branded: https://flic.kr/p/oMQkEL
7622 now branded: https://flic.kr/p/oxnpFy

Fleet lists updated accordingly.

Still not a fan. Was hoping it would grow, but the light blue on light blue is becoming increasingly irritating - as is the non-standard location for the fleet number.
Though I'd imagine it was cost prohibitive, I'd have liked to see another blue swoop towards the back for the base livery too. As the brand itself is so simple and the livery seemingly relies on the base livery for impact, that's the least Arriva could have done.

The "We're all in" ad works surprisingly well with the livery, but I'd that's not going to stay on there forever!

(20 Aug 2014, 5:09 pm)Robert wrote Interesting how both of them appear to be off route. Typical Blyth im guessing.

(20 Aug 2014, 5:54 pm)mb134 wrote 7509's been branded, took their time like...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/14794833059/in/set-72157646671342265/

(21 Aug 2014, 7:08 pm)Dan wrote Fleet Allocation from 1st September:
- 0220: Durham > Returned to Yorkshire
- 1209: Ashington > Sold (Sold to Listers PSV, Bolton)
- 1213: Ashington > Sold (Sold to Listers PSV, Bolton)
- 1712: Reserve > Blyth (Not Shown on Movements)
- 1753: Awaiting Disposal > Stockton (Not Shown on Movements)
- 4001: Awaiting Disposal > Stockton (Not Shown on Movements)
- 4062: Awaiting Disposal > Stockton (Not Shown on Movements)
- 4501: Ashington > Ashington (NOT MOVED TO STOCKTON)
- 4513: Ashington > Ashington (NOT MOVED TO STOCKTON)
- 4515: Jesmond > Ashington (PVR Increase)
- 4714: Awaiting Disposal > Sold for Scrap (Not Shown on Movements)
- 7480: Durham > Jesmond (PVR Transfer)
- 7483: Awaiting Disposal > Ashington (Not Shown on Movements)
- 7491: Ashington > Reserve (Not Shown on Movements)
- 7615: Bus & Coach World > Blyth (MAX Refurbish - Completed)
- 7616: Bus & Coach World > Blyth (MAX Refurbish - Completed)
- 7617: Blyth > Bus & Coach World (Max Livery/Refurbishment)
- 7621: Blyth > Bus & Coach World (Max Livery/Refurbishment)
- 7621: Blyth > Bus & Coach World (Max Livery/Refurbishment)

With thanks to Richard Smiles for the information.

Scott will update NEB's fleet list as/when movements occur.

(21 Aug 2014, 7:10 pm)Dan wrote The photos below show these vehicles with Jim Hughes, Birtley:
https://flic.kr/p/oydJsR
https://flic.kr/p/oQGNyH

(22 Aug 2014, 9:58 am)jaimz13 wrote Which depot does service 44 to Morpeth

(22 Aug 2014, 10:07 am)Tom wrote Jesmond.

(22 Aug 2014, 10:38 am)jaimz13 wrote Ah thank you when did Ashington stop doing it

(22 Aug 2014, 10:39 am)Tom wrote Quite a while a go.

(22 Aug 2014, 12:01 pm)mb134 wrote Sat behind 7620 (Not In Service) on the A1 going south, this had been on since at least the Seaton Burn roundabout junction, thought this was allocated to Durham, any idea where it's been?
Edit: A Pulsar, can't see which one, is in front of it also

(22 Aug 2014, 8:24 pm)Jimmi wrote I've noticed that the passenger numbers on Sapphire 7 are busy, especially at peak times and is often at almost full capacity to/from Darlington and Durham at college times and even in the middle of the afternoon it can be carrying standees' does the X21/X22 ever get busy because everytime I've seen it its had a few on downstairs and about 4 people upstairs yet on the 7 we are having to stand at various points in the day on a single decker yet the X21/X22 gets double deckers and carries fresh air.

(22 Aug 2014, 8:24 pm)Jimmi wrote I've noticed that the passenger numbers on Sapphire 7 are busy, especially at peak times and is often at almost full capacity to/from Darlington and Durham at college times and even in the middle of the afternoon it can be carrying standees' does the X21/X22 ever get busy because everytime I've seen it its had a few on downstairs and about 4 people upstairs yet on the 7 we are having to stand at various points in the day on a single decker yet the X21/X22 gets double deckers and carries fresh air.

(22 Aug 2014, 8:27 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yes watch the peak time ones leave Newcastle, full seated load down and upstairs. The 7 I am told is on the list for improvements. I wondered if we could have had the two E400s that came spare from Shires but it appears they've gone to Gillingham for their Sapphire run.

(22 Aug 2014, 8:27 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yes watch the peak time ones leave Newcastle, full seated load down and upstairs. The 7 I am told is on the list for improvements. I wondered if we could have had the two E400s that came spare from Shires but it appears they've gone to Gillingham for their Sapphire run.

(22 Aug 2014, 8:37 pm)Tom wrote I agree - the X21/X22 is busy off-peak too.

(22 Aug 2014, 8:38 pm)Jimmi wrote It would be brilliant if the 7 had double deckers at peak times one could go to Framwellgate Moor for New College students and the other could go to Darlington and possibly extend to Darlington College.

I think possibly upgrading the frequency to every 12 minutes would work only issue being more buses would be required and the 5/5A, 8 and 21 timetables would have to be altered too.

I also wish the 7 ran every 30 minutes on Sundays again.

(22 Aug 2014, 8:50 pm)tyresmoke wrote Certainly would be interesting to see double decks operating on service 7...

(23 Aug 2014, 8:24 am)cbma06 wrote I went out the other week with the family, got a family day ticket, got on the 21 from Peterlee to Darlington, I was so bored sitting on the Solo for an hour and a half, im sure the 21 is longer from Peterlee to Darlington than the old 213?, it was a good job that when the 21 reached the 7 route to Darlington it was behind the 7 otherwise the solo would of been packed. The 7's that I saw were pretty packed with standees, I always thought that the 7 was double deckers, did their change them when the service went to every 15 minutes?. Their could do with the 7 as double deckers again, their could of extended 2 of the 7's from Durham to Sunderland and give GNE run of their money via Rainton Bridge and Doxford International to Sunderland.

While I eventually arrived into Darlington, their changed the layout in Darlington (Is their any places in Darlington or Bishop Auckland to get timetables from?). After Darlington I decided to go to Bishop Auckland, I jumped on the X1 and throughout the trip to Bishop, their was only about 8 passengers in total and this was just after dinnertime, is the X1 still profitable since OK1 left the scene?, From Bishop jumped on the 6 to Durham then onto 24 then 22. So I was on one solo and the rest of the day was pulsars.

When the streetlites arrive for service 23 will their be branded for the service, as I can see these streetlites being on other services in durham after a few weeks after been arrived, their should brand some of the pulsars and the streetlites in a dedicated brand ie (East Durham Links) or some other similar brand.

Im surprised that Arriva hasn't sorted out the issue of driver changovers for service 23 at Sunderland Interchange, having seen plenty of times that service 23 and service 24 leaving the interchange the same time as the relief driver turned up late coming from Durham in a van etc... Their could of extended a hourly service 23 from Sunderland to Durham via Doxford International and Rainton Bridge, this would probably save passengers money having to buy a Arriva weekly or monthly ticket and then having to purchase the GNE tickets for onward travel to Rainton and Doxford. and also save fuel driving the vans etc... to Sunderland for the changeover.