(07 Aug 2014, 9:23 pm)mb134 wrote Have all of Stocktons Streetlites been delivered?

(07 Aug 2014, 9:24 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yes they're all stored at Jesmond/Thorntons I believe. 1550 was picked up this morning and arrived around 1055. Engineering have it at present then it will be used for driver familiarisation from next week.

(07 Aug 2014, 9:26 pm)mb134 wrote When is the Sapphire launch due to be for Stockton, since they've all been delivered could it be moved forward?

(07 Aug 2014, 9:59 pm)tyresmoke wrote Mid September. They're all booked dates as the same launch team is going around doing them all. Derby are next up this weekend I think.

(07 Aug 2014, 10:05 pm)Jimmi wrote Will the Sapphire be launched on the X3/X3A/X4 at the same time as the 5/5A.

(07 Aug 2014, 10:05 pm)Jimmi wrote Will the Sapphire be launched on the X3/X3A/X4 at the same time as the 5/5A.

(08 Aug 2014, 11:33 am)Roland Pratt wrote Should have been the same date for maximum impact, but when did Arriva ever take the sensible option?

(08 Aug 2014, 11:33 am)Roland Pratt wrote Should have been the same date for maximum impact, but when did Arriva ever take the sensible option?

(08 Aug 2014, 1:36 pm)Philly rf wrote Why don't they refurb the b7 gemini or the low landers to sapphire as a spare then those low landers have something else to do as they are sitting in the depot gathering dust

(08 Aug 2014, 2:01 pm)Kuyoyo wrote The Lowlanders are all going to Durham later this year.

(08 Aug 2014, 2:08 pm)tyresmoke wrote And Ashington don't have any B7 Geminis at present...

(08 Aug 2014, 2:16 pm)mb134 wrote Have 7491/2 been transferred? I'm sure I saw 7492 on the 35 yesterday

(08 Aug 2014, 2:55 pm)tyresmoke wrote 7491 has, forgot about 7492 lol! Redcars are undergoing modifications so that's why they have been given an additional two (7490/1)

(08 Aug 2014, 12:36 pm)VolvoMarkII wrote It also depends on how fast the vehicles can be delivered, plus the logistics behind the scenes I expect.

Why sit the buses until October when Stockton are ready to go?

(08 Aug 2014, 1:00 pm)mb134 wrote Could Blyth loan Ashington a MAX Gemini until they get their E400's sorted out, just so that all buses had WiFi and leather seats as a minumum?

(08 Aug 2014, 7:57 pm)aureolin wrote I'm a bit behind after this week - what's the issue with the Sapphire E400s? How many vehicles affected? Is it a common problem across all?

(08 Aug 2014, 8:02 pm)Dan wrote Sapphire hasn't worked particularly well at Ashington, with vehicles that aren't to Sapphire specification being allocated daily. This is, of course, in addition to the fact vehicles were launched without branding, and some with issues too.

I don't know if the issues where Wi-Fi and power sockets weren't working have been fixed or not, but I'd definitely hope so, given that normal corporate liveried vehicles are appearing so frequently.

We established that Ashington only has one spare vehicle to cover for a PVR of 15 - something which should realistically be covered by two vehicles, otherwise they're always going to encounter problems. I can't help but feel that this is somewhat short-sighted move by Arriva. Sapphire is allegedly an up-market premium bus service, yet Ashington has been left short of spares really...

ADL Enviro400 7504 is yet to enter service as far as I know, so that's Ashington's spare bus VOR...

(08 Aug 2014, 8:12 pm)aureolin wrote Are Sapphire branded E400s being allocated elsewhere?

You know my feelings on WiFi not working, but I'd be concerned if they were pulling a significant amount of vehicles off road to resolve the issues. If it was down to me, I'd rather fork out for it to be done outside of normal operating hours, or at least on a Sunday.

I agree that one spare isn't enough for that PVR, but I think having the Sapphire spec interior is always going to present a problem. You've either got to have non-route branded Sapphire spares running round on non-Sapphire services if required, or route branded Sapphire spares running round on non-Sapphire services if required. Both arguably cause confusion to the customer, and is far from ideal. I guess the ideal solution would have been to take a page out of GNE's book, and have the spares in fleet livery. Interior would still be 'Sapphire spec', but the customers are on the bus to their destination before the confusion can kick in!

(08 Aug 2014, 8:12 pm)aureolin wrote Are Sapphire branded E400s being allocated elsewhere?

You know my feelings on WiFi not working, but I'd be concerned if they were pulling a significant amount of vehicles off road to resolve the issues. If it was down to me, I'd rather fork out for it to be done outside of normal operating hours, or at least on a Sunday.

I agree that one spare isn't enough for that PVR, but I think having the Sapphire spec interior is always going to present a problem. You've either got to have non-route branded Sapphire spares running round on non-Sapphire services if required, or route branded Sapphire spares running round on non-Sapphire services if required. Both arguably cause confusion to the customer, and is far from ideal. I guess the ideal solution would have been to take a page out of GNE's book, and have the spares in fleet livery. Interior would still be 'Sapphire spec', but the customers are on the bus to their destination before the confusion can kick in!

(08 Aug 2014, 8:24 pm)Kuyoyo wrote No. When 7491 appeared on the X22 on Tuesday, it replaced a late running 7501 (which came in about 20 minutes late, behind 7509 which was the 1130 from Ashington).

As for an extra spare, I think people need reminding that 'Sapphire' funding comes from Arriva UK's special funding pot, unlike 'MAX' which comes from ANE's own pot. So, the funding for either a brand new spare or to refurbish one of 7514-21 (whichever ones don't get done for the X14/14) would require the Sapphire team to release extra funding for it. And I think that will also count for one being done to Sapphire specification internally (much like 1512 for Stockton).

(08 Aug 2014, 8:15 pm)Dan wrote Other than the plentiful scheduled allocations whereby the "Sapphire" branded vehicles are used on other services besides the X21/X22 - no, from what I've seen in Newcastle and on Flickr.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:30 pm)VolvoMarkII wrote Is this one not on the 35!?

(08 Aug 2014, 8:30 pm)VolvoMarkII wrote Is this one not on the 35!? During the day? Dont know if this was Sunday though?

(08 Aug 2014, 8:29 pm)mb134 wrote I'm sure the new Sapphire route in Rhyl? had two spares?

(08 Aug 2014, 8:35 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Rhyl's 12 has a PVR of 18 and received 20 new E400s. Those 2 E400s carry a non-route specific 'Sapphire' branding and have appeared on 'Cymru Coastliner' service 11 between Rhyl and Chester as back-up to the Geminis used on that route.