(01 Oct 2014, 10:09 pm)Jimmi wrote Seem as there has been alot of talk of services with overcrowding and poor reliability I feel I have to mention that Durham service 64 is suffering from these problems:

Whilst I was stood in Durham around lunchtime today I saw a Dart heading towards the Arnison Centre and all seats were filled and there was no room to stand, so it was completely full and this isn't something rare to see especially during term time, even during the school holidays once I had to stand from Fram to Durham.

The reliability is terrible, often I used be stood waiting at Framwellgate Moor watching Go North East's buses fly past on-time whilst you have been stood there for so long you have completely lost your sanity. Whilst stood in Durham this afternoon I may not have been totally paying attention but I think there wasn't a 64 heading towards Musgrave Gardens or Sherburn for over half an hour then I saw two or three 64s heading to the Arnison Centre all on North Road at once. The Darts that are allocated to this service are awful, going up some of the hills in Newton Hall you have fears that the bus is going to roll back down the hill and they sound awful and the leg room between the seats is non existent.

Something needs to be done about this service as it is a terrible service, the loads between Durham and Framwellgate Moor do cause problems especially if you are stood at the University Hospital or County Hall and it drives straight past you full you will lose custom to the competition. To help with this problem I think service 7 should be extended to Framwellgate Moor so it could pick up New College students which would reduce the pressure on the 64 as when the 7/7A previously ran up to Framwellgate Moor every 15 minutes during the daytime there didn't seem to be as many problems with capacity on the 64 as the New College students had more buses between Fram and Durham.

(02 Oct 2014, 8:51 am)MrPottski wrote 1307 is now at Darlington

(03 Oct 2014, 8:39 pm)tyresmoke wrote 7515/16/17 have transferred to Blackburn to be refurbished, it is believed that 7514 will be joining them, if not already.

(04 Oct 2014, 7:24 pm)mb134 wrote Thought only three would be needed for the X14/14?

(04 Oct 2014, 8:16 pm)Dan wrote Aren't these examples for the X15 or have I got my wires crossed?

(04 Oct 2014, 8:18 pm)mb134 wrote Thought 7511/2/3 were for X15, along with 4563/9, although with the frequency things change with Arriva I haven't got a clue anymore  

(04 Oct 2014, 8:18 pm)mb134 wrote Thought 7511/2/3 were for X15, along with 4563/9, although with the frequency things change with Arriva I haven't got a clue anymore  

(05 Oct 2014, 11:02 am)Dan wrote You're right - I thought you'd quoted the part about 7511-13. Remind me not to post when I'm half asleep, eh?  

(05 Oct 2014, 11:29 am)DaveyBowyer wrote It still boggles my mind why Arriva chose 7501 - 7508 (not including the spare) over 7514 - 7521 for the X21 / X22.

(05 Oct 2014, 11:59 am)Kuyoyo wrote 7501-8 are f**cked, so why no put them on the less-demanding services (X21/X22) compared to the more demanding X14/14 and X15. 7514-21 were knackered when in their final months at Darlington, but since they moved to Ashington, they have improved. Extras spares are required for the X21/X22 though imho - plus given the majority of the E400s will soon either be Sapphire or MAX, might as well do what is left as MAX and Sapphire spares.

(05 Oct 2014, 3:06 pm)Dan wrote Hoping Scott doesn't mind, but I'm feeling rather productive again, so have taken the opportunity to update the fleet lists on his behalf... Most changes have just been to reflect the allocation changes at the back end of last month, as detailed in the news earlier today.

Call me picky, but I've changed a few things just to keep all of the fleet lists consistent. One thing that had really been bugging me was that the bodywork for the VDL DB300/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 vehicles in the fleet was down as 'Wright Gemini' - that has been changed now.

If I have time, I'm going to update the main www.northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/ page at some point this evening too - that's been irritating me for a while now too...

(05 Oct 2014, 3:26 pm)Michael wrote Think we need new pictures on the stagecoach tab etc... maybe of the new buses?

(05 Oct 2014, 5:32 pm)mb134 wrote Was on 7522 today, one of the headrests at the back of the upstairs has been slashed on the rear of it, and it looks like Arriva have attempted to use masking tape to cover over it...

(05 Oct 2014, 5:32 pm)mb134 wrote Was on 7522 today, one of the headrests at the back of the upstairs has been slashed on the rear of it, and it looks like Arriva have attempted to use masking tape to cover over it...

(05 Oct 2014, 5:57 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Not good that like particularly for a premium service.

(06 Oct 2014, 3:58 pm)Jimmi wrote 1308 is now at Darlington depot and is operating service 8/8A today.

(06 Oct 2014, 4:00 pm)Dan wrote Perhaps suggesting 1305 is now at Durham?

(06 Oct 2014, 4:03 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Arrived at Durham yesterday (details from Gary Hunter on the 'Arriva Bus News and Photos' Facebook Group

arriva_launch.jpg (Size 21.01 KB | Downloads 25)

We're launching 8 brand new micro-hybrid buses onto the 306 route in Tynemouth next week with a very special event - we'd love it if you could come along - Tuesday 14th October - 5pm-6pm