(01 Dec 2014, 7:07 pm)mb134 wrote Are all of the MPD's in the fleet DDA compliant?

(01 Dec 2014, 7:32 pm)tyresmoke wrote No they're not, 1758-1775 plus 1790/1, 1798-1801 are though. The rest should be leaving the fleet within the next few months.

(01 Dec 2014, 7:37 pm)mb134 wrote Ah right ok, cheers  Will the non compliant ones be replaced by vehicles currently in the NE fleet, or will vehicles be sourced from elsewhere? 

(02 Dec 2014, 4:32 pm)Jimmi wrote Wish Arriva would remove the photo about the MAX launch in Morpeth last Friday from their Facebook, keeps making me think its for the X66 launch.

(29 Nov 2014, 12:59 pm)mb134 wrote Goes along with what I've said all along, with more than half the PVR being knackered you need 2 spares! Affecting other services now....

(02 Dec 2014, 4:58 pm)tyresmoke wrote Which is in Stockton on Friday, believe it'll be lunchtime.

(02 Dec 2014, 5:19 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Argh! Why are none of these launches on days I can show up on! haha

(02 Dec 2014, 5:20 pm)Tom wrote There is one on Saturday in Darlington I think - possibly in the evening though.

(02 Dec 2014, 5:25 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Mmm, not sure I could make Darlington with the plan I have prepare for this Saturday!

Would have to be by train! - and I'm crap at navigating around in the dark!

It might actually be on the Friday evening but I don't know.

(02 Dec 2014, 5:15 pm)Dan wrote Not just Arriva North East's examples which are said to be having a few issues...

The caption for this photo suggests the examples allocated to Wrexham - Chester service 1 are also having a few difficulties (resulting in the frequent allocation of 03-reg coaches).

(02 Dec 2014, 5:34 pm)mb134 wrote They're having to keep some of them on local routes too...  https://www.flickr.com/photos/arrivanorthwestwaleswrexhamdepotfleet/15273192463/

(02 Dec 2014, 5:37 pm)tyresmoke wrote I'd probably be inclined to comment on the engineering abilities of certain depots rather than the buses themselves being no good. I'm intrigued to see whether Ashington can look after the (rather temperamental) Omnicities.

(02 Dec 2014, 5:25 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Mmm, not sure I could make Darlington with the plan I have prepare for this Saturday!

Would have to be by train! - and I'm crap at navigating around in the dark!

(02 Dec 2014, 5:34 pm)mb134 wrote They're having to keep some of them on local routes too...  https://www.flickr.com/photos/arrivanorthwestwaleswrexhamdepotfleet/15273192463/

(02 Dec 2014, 5:50 pm)mb134 wrote When they are working, what are the Omnicities like? Are they suitable for the X15, power wise?
(I did have 4653 a couple of weeks back on an X18, but as it was an X18, there were no real opportunities to see anything power-wise, we were stuck in a long chain of traffic on the A1 from Berwick till the turn off)

(02 Dec 2014, 6:00 pm)Dan wrote 'Tis a bit annoying for those of us enthusiasts who have work or educational priorities, meaning that we can't attend weekday daytime launches. It's something which has always annoyed me about Go North East's launches and other marketing stunts too, which are typically held on weekdays rather than weekends. Go North East has started to grasp onto the idea of appealing to a larger audience by having some of the marketing stunts during peak times or on weekends though - hopefully Arriva will follow suit in the near future... After all, it's not just enthusiasts who have work and educational priorities during the day time!


Not good!
Had to say something when I saw the photo, knowing how much DB loves ADL Enviro400s!  
Admittedly, I had one of Ashington's normal ADL Enviro400s on service X20 at the weekend, and I thought it was fairly quick off the mark and handled the A1 decently.


I was blessed with an OmniCity or two on service X93 earlier this year, and it was such an improvement to the Volvo B7TLs currently allocated. They're full of power and handle the banks no bother. Capacity of OmniCitys is the only thing which worries me with the X15 though; whilst I appreciate they're being allocated to the 'quieter' runs, who is to say these runs will remain quiet and growth doesn't come due to the "MAX" impact?

Really was surprised to see Arriva go for the split allocation with the X15 - can't help but feel it adds unnecessary complexity to route costings, if nothing else...

(02 Dec 2014, 5:50 pm)mb134 wrote When they are working, what are the Omnicities like? Are they suitable for the X15, power wise?
(I did have 4653 a couple of weeks back on an X18, but as it was an X18, there were no real opportunities to see anything power-wise, we were stuck in a long chain of traffic on the A1 from Berwick till the turn off)

'Tis a bit annoying for those of us enthusiasts who have work or educational priorities, meaning that we can't attend weekday daytime launches. It's something which has always annoyed me about Go North East's launches and other marketing stunts too, which are typically held on weekdays rather than weekends. Go North East has started to grasp onto the idea of appealing to a larger audience by having some of the marketing stunts during peak times or on weekends though - hopefully Arriva will follow suit in the near future... After all, it's not just enthusiasts who have work and educational priorities during the day time!

Was just thinking about what I posted earlier, with 7525's artwork behind the cab, should these not have been applied when the vehicles first entered service rather than waiting 4 months? The Pulsars gained theirs immediately didn't they?

(02 Dec 2014, 8:23 pm)Jimmi wrote Probably should have been, but weren't maybe they there wasn't time to apply them before entering service or they may have only just been produced.

The Sapphire - 7 Pulsars had there's applied before entering service.

Aye true, but surely they should have got them ready before launch and they could have been applied when the internal branding was done.

 I've just seen a picture on Flickr of 7524 and it looks like it's picture is also the Tyne Bridge, when zoomed in. Don't the Pulsars have bits from different parts of the route?
 Do the Streetlites have artwork?

(02 Dec 2014, 8:38 pm)mb134 wrote Aye true, but surely they should have got them ready before launch and they could have been applied when the internal branding was done. 
I've just seen a picture on Flickr of 7524 and it looks like it's picture is also the Tyne Bridge, when zoomed in. Don't the Pulsars have bits from different parts of the route?
Do the Streetlites have artwork?