(14 Feb 2015, 2:51 pm)Dan wrote Blyth's 7607 and 7611 were on loan to Jesmond today for use on Metro Replacement work.

(14 Feb 2015, 6:43 am)tyresmoke wrote Well today see's Jesmond operating Metro Replacement service 900 between Haymarket & Regent Centre. Should be operated by a mix of DAF DB250s and Volvo B7TLs plus a few loaned deckers from Jim Hughes

(14 Feb 2015, 6:48 pm)tyresmoke wrote Others used were 7467, 7485 and 7490

(14 Feb 2015, 6:48 pm)tyresmoke wrote Others used were 7467, 7485 and 7490

(14 Feb 2015, 8:06 pm)Tom wrote Saw you driving 7485 at South Gosforth at about 14:30?
Was on T421GGO.

(14 Feb 2015, 11:08 pm)Racer_Experience wrote could make 685 a max or sapphire route would be nice i suggest sapphire as the power sockets would be handy en route to carlisle

(15 Feb 2015, 7:09 am)Dan wrote On the topic of MAX... Is there any particular reason for 1416 being loaned to Blyth?

(14 Feb 2015, 11:14 pm)Robert wrote From what i understand, it will be going MAX - just a rumour though, wouldnt trust anything at this stage

(14 Feb 2015, 11:17 pm)mb134 wrote Just my opinion here, but would long distance routes not benefit from power sockets as part of their MAX refurbishment? 

The X18 for example, 4 hours from Newcastle to Berwick, surely it would be sensible to include power, so that people can use the WiFi for their whole journeys?

(15 Feb 2015, 10:18 am)mb134 wrote Is this just a typo, or is there a new service we don't know about? 
X4/5 Newcastle - Loftus/Whitby

Taken from the MAX section of Arriva's website.
http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/about-us/max--new-inter-urban-express-services-from-arriva/

I assume it's meant to be Newcastle to Blyth? And they've copy and pasted badly from a Sapphire section? 

(15 Feb 2015, 10:49 am)Robert wrote Likewise service X1 apparently goes between Darlington and  Middlesbrough. Obviously copied and pasted from the X66.

(15 Feb 2015, 1:25 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote I don't think MAX on the 85 / 685 will make a difference as GNE's 55 reg Solars already have high back seating and free WiFi and they'd probably end up with Mercs on the TDExpress over the coming years.

(15 Feb 2015, 1:33 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Leather seats? 

Look at what Sapphire did for the 7. 

(15 Feb 2015, 1:37 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Look at what Sapphire is doing for the 5/5a and X3/X3a/X4/4 - growth is already apparently quite steady despite only being Sapphire for only 5 months (shame the same cannot be said for Ashington but then at least they aren't the worse in terms of growth).

(15 Feb 2015, 1:37 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Look at what Sapphire is doing for the 5/5a and X3/X3a/X4/4 - growth is already apparently quite steady despite only being Sapphire for only 5 months (shame the same cannot be said for Ashington but then at least they aren't the worse in terms of growth).

(15 Feb 2015, 1:39 pm)mb134 wrote Has Sapphire seen those routes grow at all? 

Also, has Sapphire been introduced on any routes that have suffered passenger loss?

(15 Feb 2015, 1:42 pm)Michael wrote That's good, i hope it happens when the 22 (Sunderland - Durham) is upgraded to it or is it going to MAX?

(15 Feb 2015, 1:46 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 22/24 are going Sapphire - should be around April-May time once the NW Pulsars are refurbished along with once a decision is made regarding the deckers for the services.

(15 Feb 2015, 1:52 pm)Michael wrote Is it worth risking decker's on the 22, i'm not sure on current numbers for the service (same as the X21 and 23), as i know its route from Sunderland to Peterlee is GNE dominated.

Of course it might change once the 22 goes Sapphire. 

(15 Feb 2015, 1:45 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Every service has had growth - just some haven't seen the growth others have. The Shires' 280 service has the best growth, while Wrexham's 1 has very little growth. The X21/X22 is said to sit just above the 1 I understand but not sure by how much it has grown.

(15 Feb 2015, 1:57 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Some journeys require deckers (more so on the 24 - which is where the decker boards are mainly) hence needing some. There's then also the 24X to consider.