(02 Apr 2015, 2:30 pm)tyresmoke wrote I think everything is taking a battering today both loadings and traffic wise... Some of the 5s in Middlesbrough have been 15-30 late thanks toCargo Fleet Lane being backed up...
So glad I am off lol! Been for a run out mind, more on that in the outings & reviews thread later

(02 Apr 2015, 2:17 pm)Tom wrote Seems to be issues with the 1/2 too.

Bus 1 14:48 Blyth Bus station to Wansbeck Hospital Main entrance + 22
Bus 1 14:28 Blyth Bus station to Widdrington Station Turning circle + 14
Bus 2 14:17 Kirkhill Abbey Meadows shops to Blyth Bus station + 16
Bus 2 14:57 Kirkhill Abbey Meadows shops to Blyth Bus station + 5

Roadworks somewhere?

(02 Apr 2015, 3:20 pm)forster wrote Withdrawn 1636 was being towed away from Blyth depot this afternoon, 1637 & 1639 which were there a couple of weeks ago, have now gone, leaving MPD's 1733, 1742, 1750, 1796 & 1797 parked outside at the back of the depot awaiting disposal.

(02 Apr 2015, 5:33 pm)mb134 wrote Unusual for Blyth to have stuff leaving for there 22 late like! 

I'll write up my (small) review later on and that'll have more details in on what I found most odd.

(02 Apr 2015, 5:38 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote That is odd. Might have been an accident up my end or Cowpen Road is gridlocked due to an accident.

(02 Apr 2015, 5:42 pm)Tom wrote The 18:18 2 from Blyth is 23 minutes late too!

(02 Apr 2015, 6:55 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote There'll be a problem in Bedlington, the 19 is running late. Two went past about an hour ago within 20 minutes of each other.

(02 Apr 2015, 2:44 pm)Jimmi wrote I'm sure I read seized up engine or something like that on here which is why it hasn't been seen (or noted) as being back from MAX referb or back in service.

One 57 reg Lowlander has been on the X12/X2 each day I've seen it.

(02 Apr 2015, 6:55 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote There'll be a problem in Bedlington, the 19 is running late. Two went past about an hour ago within 20 minutes of each other.

(02 Apr 2015, 9:17 pm)Stewy wrote Was this about half past 3? If so someone was sick on a previous journey so it had to be cleaned before going back out in service it was already 15 mins late anyway due to high volume traffic in bishop Auckland on a previous journey, if it was me I wouldn't have ran it 24 mins later but due ton passengers complaining it had to be ran

(02 Apr 2015, 9:20 pm)Jimmi wrote Think it was the 1530 5A from Darlington Town Centre.

Other things were causing other services to run late as I also saw 7 and X66 running around 15 minutes late on the Live Map at the same sort of time.

(02 Apr 2015, 8:32 pm)palatine3833 wrote 7619 is awaiting a new engine but is apparently getting refurbished at the same time (not sure about that though)

7626 was fitted with a new engine a few months back and was towed back to Durham today after its new engine ceased too.

Screenshot_2015-04-03-14-25-16.png (Size 281.46 KB | Downloads 40)

(03 Apr 2015, 12:43 am)DaveyBowyer wrote Lesson1, whatever the requirements, don't buy Cummins. If pi**ing around the doors, B5TL or Wright Streetdeck or if running down A19 or Tyne Valley, Scania N series.

(03 Apr 2015, 1:28 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote

OMFG!

(03 Apr 2015, 4:40 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote 14 minutes late.

X21 1635 from The Elephant, arrived at 1649.

Wonder if that qualifies for my money back?

(03 Apr 2015, 4:59 pm)mb134 wrote What bus was it out of interest?

I noticed that 7524 and 7525 seemed to be keeping the X22 pretty much "on time" when I saw them (although they had been 7/5 minutes late earlier)

(03 Apr 2015, 5:22 pm)tyresmoke wrote Time that bank holiday timetables and service levels were looked at I think - heard stories from some drivers today that suggest it has been almost as busy as a weekday. Running a Sunday service no longer meets the demand unfortunately.

(03 Apr 2015, 4:40 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote 14 minutes late.

X21 1635 from The Elephant, arrived at 1649.

Wonder if that qualifies for my money back?

(03 Apr 2015, 5:22 pm)tyresmoke wrote Time that bank holiday timetables and service levels were looked at I think - heard stories from some drivers today that suggest it has been almost as busy as a weekday. Running a Sunday service no longer meets the demand unfortunately.

(03 Apr 2015, 7:41 pm)Multi21 wrote Try driving a bus to a Sunday timetable with FRIDAY  YES FRIDAY NOT SUNDAY loadings!  When you have and kept it on time then you have grounds to complain about bank holiday services being late till then can I suggest you stop slating arriva! If we had a list of how many Go North East or Stagecoach buses that were late today we would be here all day! 

(03 Apr 2015, 7:41 pm)Multi21 wrote Try driving a bus to a Sunday timetable with FRIDAY  YES FRIDAY NOT SUNDAY loadings!  When you have and kept it on time then you have grounds to complain about bank holiday services being late till then can I suggest you stop slating arriva! If we had a list of how many Go North East or Stagecoach buses that were late today we would be here all day! 

(03 Apr 2015, 7:57 pm)aureolin wrote Thankfully I got a lift to and from mine today, so haven't had to bother with any buses in Durham. The one X12 I seen was fairly packed, and it was only passing through Coxhoe at the time. 

The point about weekday loadings is a very good point, and it's not limited to Good Friday. I can understand not running a Mon-Fri timetable (because of work services etc), but it should be a Saturday timetable at a minimum. I was briefly at the Galleries bus station earlier today, and there were floods of people waiting for various buses. Nothing like your regular Sunday. The Galleries itself was packed too, and I noticed a few friends on Facebook commenting that they couldn't even get parked.

Tomorrow is going to tell a tale I feel. Easter Sunday, and neither Arriva or Go North East are putting extra services on for the derby. Yet look at all the extra services that were put on for the stadium concerts. 

(04 Apr 2015, 8:08 am)Tommy_1581 wrote It wasn't Friday loadings, have you seen the average X21 loadings between Newcastle and Ashington?

Not even a single decker full. 

I counted around seven people on top and bottom decks.

I can slate Arriva all I want, I'm not the one running a 306, 46 minutes late. I'm not the one running Sapphire buses, of which Arriva staff don't give a toss about if the power sockets, wifi and NSAs don't work.

And no, I won't try driving an Enviro400 on the X21, probably because I'm 13. Thank you very much.