(27 Aug 2014, 5:12 pm)Kuyoyo wrote I believe they are considering other options now.

(27 Aug 2014, 4:43 pm)JoshP wrote So are Eco Vehicles regarded as just standard specification? If so, why do the MAN's have headrests and not the Streetlite's? I guess it was just down to the time they were ordered?

(27 Aug 2014, 5:14 pm)citaro5284 wrote Such as?

(27 Aug 2014, 4:44 pm)Dan wrote Service 685 isn't getting new buses

(27 Aug 2014, 6:04 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Maybe what Dan said earlier might be a hint:


Now flip that round - maybe the 85/685 might be getting new stock maybe Dan is right and the OmniCitys will be refurbished, we shall have to wait and see what the 2015 order brings.

(27 Aug 2014, 5:23 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote The Streetlite isn't a conventional hybrid or a paralell. It's only in them colours to match the 308.

The StreetLite Micro Hybrid was launched in 2013. It is available in all of the standard StreetLite lengths and capacities. While not a "hybrid" in the usual sense, the StreetLite Micro Hybrid recovers energy lost from braking to power the vehicle electrics and compressed air systems, saving up to 10% in fuel costs. The bus itself runs from a conventional StreetLite drivetrain, as opposed to a small diesel engine and electric motor in normal hybrids.

(27 Aug 2014, 6:55 pm)Robert wrote Aren't they Micro Hybrids which are more eco-friendly than the Streetlite Max? Think if thats the case there is some logic behind the buses been in those colours and not just to match with the 308.

(27 Aug 2014, 7:06 pm)Dan wrote Yes, but all of the Streetlites ordered this year were in the Micro-Hybrid set up - and the ones for the 306 are the only ones in this livery.

Davey is right, it's to integrate the 306/308.

(27 Aug 2014, 7:15 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Just on another note too, will these ones also have free wi-fi to coordinate with the 308?

(27 Aug 2014, 7:19 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote With the 306 operating on Streetlites and no, I wouldn't particularly want Battle Hill to just become all silver and orange but for the sake of the 308, would it not be more beneficial to keep the 306 on the Coast Road? It would stop the need for a 10 minute gap between the 306 and the next 308 between Billy Mill and Willington Square which if running only slightly late, can get a hammering due to the 10 minute gap between the 2 services. It wouldn't prove too costly either due to the low running costs of the Streetlite.

(27 Aug 2014, 7:06 pm)Dan wrote Yes, but all of the Streetlites ordered this year were in the Micro-Hybrid set up - and the ones for the 306 are the only ones in this livery.

Davey is right, it's to integrate the 306/308.

(27 Aug 2014, 7:24 pm)Kuyoyo wrote All new vehicles have WiFi as standard.

(27 Aug 2014, 7:34 pm)Robert wrote They arent fully hybrid but i doubt that if they werent micro hybrids arriva would chose to place them in Standard Livery rather than their hybrid livery like the 308. Arriva will have tied in with the 308 livery and the fact that its also a part-hybrid (which obviously isnt enough when alone to place the outstanding batch of streetlites for services 35/35A and 23 in the same livery) to place it into this livery. In my opinion (which is different to yours), there is more than 1 reason for them been into this livery with service integration being 1 of them.

(27 Aug 2014, 8:22 pm)56everyday wrote Have noticed that the Omnicity which frequents service 24 has Civic 0 type seating. Am I correct in assuming this is common or do some Omnicities have Civic 2 type seating?

(27 Aug 2014, 8:39 pm)tyresmoke wrote That'll be 4643 ex Arriva North West. 4644/5 at Darlington are similar. Will soon be "Max"ed for X26/X27

(27 Aug 2014, 10:35 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Durham's 1575/6 and Ashington's 1581 should be joining 1588 very soon - all 3 at Heysham Docks today - it also seems either they have the wrong fleetnumbers - or Wrights have painted them in hybrid livery by mistake.

Information and photo @ Paul Jenkinson

(27 Aug 2014, 10:37 pm)Tom wrote What will make up the remaining PVR on the 35?

(27 Aug 2014, 10:35 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Durham's 1575/6 and Ashington's 1581 should be joining 1588 very soon - all 3 at Heysham Docks today - it also seems either they have the wrong fleetnumbers - or Wrights have painted them in hybrid livery by mistake.

Information and photo @ Paul Jenkinson

(27 Aug 2014, 10:43 pm)mb134 wrote Could Arriva have decided that they wanted them all in Hybrid livery?

(27 Aug 2014, 10:50 pm)Kuyoyo wrote While every other region gets them in standard livery? Mind, considering the cock-up last year with 1513-23 (and 1512 in a way), shouldn't be too surprised about this.

(27 Aug 2014, 10:51 pm)mb134 wrote What happened like?

(28 Aug 2014, 12:26 am)Kuyoyo wrote 1512 - minor wiring problem regarding the rear destination screen, which resulted in it having the front screen information showing up on the rear one
The Sapphries - I believe they turned up without plug sockets or they were wired slightly incorrectly, Scott might be able to shed more light on that

Then of course, they also mucked up with two of Go North East's Geminis orders last year as well.

(28 Aug 2014, 6:44 am)mb134 wrote Fair enough with 1512 but how on earth can you forget to put plugs in Sapphires??!!

The fact they've messed up with the Geminis as well as you've pointed out makes me wonder what on earth is going on there...

(28 Aug 2014, 6:49 am)Dan wrote With Go North East, they assumed they'd be done to the same specification as all other Wright-bodied Volvo B9TLs in the fleet (as explained previously, the full rear destination displays were favoured this year opposed to coloured destination displays).

I suspect it could have been a similar story with Arriva's Pulsars too.

(27 Aug 2014, 6:45 pm)citaro5284 wrote Canny few maybe's in there like Tony.....

(27 Aug 2014, 5:02 pm)Dan wrote “Our plans are that, from late summer, we will be replacing those vehicles with leather seats, with fabric seating. We’re looking at the options in terms of handrails and whether we can fit seatbelts in any of the forward or side-facing seats.”

Source: http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/2.2978/tynedale-bus-bosses-pledge-to-improve-685-fleet-1.1117652


Clearly, as summer has now passed, these plans have been delayed. I assume that the plan will still go ahead, but it's just delayed in order to allow for MAX refurbishments first? These are obviously the priority. I wouldn't like to think Arriva gave out false claims to the residents of Hexham - they don't take too kindly to that sort of thing...

(27 Aug 2014, 4:17 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Proper linked photos - rather than screenshots of Facebook pages you'll find Like Dan asked for earlier

As for the trade plates, bus operators do not go and collect their new stock, the manufacture or a special delivery company delivers them. Alexander Dennis and Optare use a company called Bens Transport based in Leyland Lancashire. I believe Wrightbus do their own deliveries along with any Wright-bodied Volvo products.

(27 Aug 2014, 3:44 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Do you think that ANE will use the MAX X18's or 7511 - 7513 as a backup for the X21 / X22 if there's a Sapphire shortage after 7509 is used? Also, what ones at Ashington are Tachographed and do you think Arriva will order the MMC and for what route.