7458 on Blyth Expresses, 1305 on Morpeth-Blyth 2

Solo on the Durham 64s

1595 on the X24.

1443 on S1

Darlington have a sapphire pulsar on local service 2

(30 Dec 2015, 1:39 pm)ross13 wrote Darlington have a sapphire pulsar on local service 2

1515 is the one

4812 has failed at peterlee bus station as well, alternator and battery warning light on


4647 is now on the 21/X21 will be the 15:45 21 off peterlee, and the 17:20 to peterlee from Darlington

(30 Dec 2015, 12:20 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote 1595 on the X24.

1595 is now on the 43.
1479 is on 46/48.
7521 is on the 14:50 56 to Bishop Auckland.

(30 Dec 2015, 3:00 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote 1515 is the one

4812 has failed at peterlee bus station as well, alternator and battery warning light on

Those gas buses aren't doing very well, lately.

(30 Dec 2015, 3:21 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Those gas buses aren't doing very well, lately.

It's the ex demonstrator examples, particularly 4812/4813. The reliability of them is poor at best, I think they should not be on such a demanding route which the 21/X21 certainly is and a hourly route as well where if like I often am especially if I am heading home from Sunderland/Peterlee, I'd be faced with the following should a breakdown occur: be stuck on the failed bus for anything up to an hour or a lengthy detour home. These are only going to get worse as time goes on and I think if they don't do something soon, there could be repercussions.

(30 Dec 2015, 3:33 pm)Jimmi wrote It's the ex demonstrator examples, particularly 4812/4813. The reliability of them is poor at best, I think they should not be on such a demanding route which the 21/X21 certainly is and a hourly route as well where if like I often am especially if I am heading home from Sunderland/Peterlee, I'd be faced with the following should a breakdown occur: be stuck on the failed bus for anything up to an hour or a lengthy detour home. These are only going to get worse as time goes on and I think if they don't do something soon, there could be repercussions.

Bit like when the B10's were on the X7.... got worse as they went kept on!

Luckily GNE had the Citaro's free when the 309/310 got B9's....

(30 Dec 2015, 3:36 pm)Michael wrote Bit like when the B10's were on the X7.... got worse as they went kept on!

Luckily GNE had the Citaro's free when the 309/310 got B9's....

Difference is, Go North East acted fairly swiftly with the not so peachy reliability of the B10's, unfortunately I can't see Arriva doing the same, especially as the EcoCitys can only be based at Darlington in the Arriva North East division as it's the only depot that has the facilities to refuel the EcoCitys and unfortunately there isn't many other routes they can really do at Darlington, pretty much just the 8/8A which again is not ideal but it would be easier to send a bus up to Spennymoor should a breakdown occur rather than Sunderland or Peterlee on the 21/X21. The only other hope we could have is if Arriva North West were willing to take them as I believe they have some.

(30 Dec 2015, 3:33 pm)Jimmi wrote It's the ex demonstrator examples, particularly 4812/4813. The reliability of them is poor at best, I think they should not be on such a demanding route which the 21/X21 certainly is and a hourly route as well where if like I often am especially if I am heading home from Sunderland/Peterlee, I'd be faced with the following should a breakdown occur: be stuck on the failed bus for anything up to an hour or a lengthy detour home. These are only going to get worse as time goes on and I think if they don't do something soon, there could be repercussions.

It's making me think twice about going that way. There's much if the route where there's no alternative and the thought of being stranded in the arse ed of nowhere with a panic prone kid is the stuff of nightmares.

They need to put pulsars on that route and stick to local journeys with the gas buses.

(30 Dec 2015, 4:12 pm)BusLoverMum wrote It's making me think twice about going that way. There's much if the route where there's no alternative and the thought of being stranded in the arse ed of nowhere with a panic prone kid is the stuff of nightmares.

They need to put pulsars on that route and stick to local journeys with the gas buses.

An ideal route would be the 12/12A, they have 3 pulsars on, or the odd solo on there so just swap them around and have 1 gas bus in 4811 on the 21, then surely there's a spare pulsar that Darlington can have

Ideal would be

4812/3/4 on the 12/12A

1406/14/24/25 on the 21/X21

(30 Dec 2015, 4:41 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote An ideal route would be the 12/12A, they have 3 pulsars on, or the odd solo on there so just swap them around and have 1 gas bus in 4811 on the 21, then surely there's a spare pulsar that Darlington can have

Ideal would be

4812/3/4 on the 12/12A

1406/14/24/25 on the 21/X21

Isn't 1406 being refurbished to MAX specification though, plus 1425 is one that has next stop announcements for the 1/5/5A. I'd say 1461/62/63/65 would be better for the 21/X21.

I'd hate to do Sunderland - Darlington on a Pulsar. The high backed comfortable seating on the EcoCitys is what makes the long journey tolerable.

(30 Dec 2015, 4:54 pm)Dan wrote I'd hate to do Sunderland - Darlington on a Pulsar. The high backed comfortable seating on the EcoCitys is what makes the long journey tolerable.

One of the few redeeming things about them. I always hope one turns up purely for those seats, although the e-leather seats on the other EcoCitys aren't so bad. You must be one of the few people who have done the full 21/X21. Not many seem to have done Aycliffe - Sunderland when I have done it although I have seen a few do Fishburn - Sunderland.

Pulsar on 306
4501 on X8

And yes, I'd want comfortable seating for a 100 minute journey! Even my dodgy back doesn't find the Pulsars too bad, though. (unlike the GNE lolyne I spent a painful hour on, this afternoon)

(30 Dec 2015, 3:03 pm)Jimmi wrote 7521 is on the 14:50 56 to Bishop Auckland.

Arriva North East: 7521 / NK09FVR by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

The Solo on the 64 was 2813.
In addition to 1479, there was an Enviro 200 on the 46/48.

(30 Dec 2015, 5:03 pm)Jimmi wrote One of the few redeeming things about them. I always hope one turns up purely for those seats, although the e-leather seats on the other EcoCitys aren't so bad. You must be one of the few people who have done the full 21/X21. Not many seem to have done Aycliffe - Sunderland when I have done it although I have seen a few do Fishburn - Sunderland.

I've done the full journey plenty of times! Haha! 4813 was my chariot yesterday and it wasn't bad at all, smooth, quiet and warm, just what was needed. 4812 normally does 60mph (when it works) and the takeoff 4814 has is phenomenal with its 4 speed box. I do agree with others though, they should be brought back locally or sold to ANW or Anglian Bus (the only other operators)

(30 Dec 2015, 9:07 am)Kuyoyo wrote 1439 has worked the first X93 into Middlesbrough. It's now on 64/64a replacing 7489 to work the first X93 from Middlesbrough. I wish him luck if he's returning via the diversion.

Seemingly covering whichever B9 was on the chassis wash at Stockton at lunchtime. Although, if this had to go to Whitby, then that suggests there's 2 B9s off for some reason.

(30 Dec 2015, 12:32 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 1443 on S1

(30 Dec 2015, 7:44 pm)MrPottski wrote I've done the full journey plenty of times! Haha! 4813 was my chariot yesterday and it wasn't bad at all, smooth, quiet and warm, just what was needed. 4812 normally does 60mph (when it works) and the takeoff 4814 has is phenomenal with its 4 speed box. I do agree with others though, they should be brought back locally or sold to ANW or Anglian Bus (the only other operators)

Yeah I agree they should be sold, the capacity on the 21/X21 not sure about the X22 only warrants solos, I mean I was on 4812 (before it broke down and 4647 was the replacement) and it took around 30 passengers there and back, maybe not even that, and yeah 1461/2/5/6 would be better on there but refurbish them and brand it properly

(30 Dec 2015, 10:09 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote Yeah I agree they should be sold, the capacity on the 21/X21 not sure about the X22 only warrants solos, I mean I was on 4812 (before it broke down and 4647 was the replacement) and it took around 30 passengers there and back, maybe not even that, and yeah 1461/2/5/6 would be better on there but refurbish them and brand it properly

The passenger numbers on the 21 are strange, on one journey you can be carrying a fair few passengers and other times it can be dead. The other week, I actually got the 21 from Aycliffe - Sunderland leaving Aycliffe at 08:36 and 4811 was allocated and there was actually standees once we got towards Station Town until we got to Peterlee Bus Station (although there was a few seats still left). Think it can be busier at the times the East Durham College students tend to be travelling on the 21 as well. You also have the Harrowgate Hill - Darlington Town Centre section being pretty busy at times. X21 certainly doesn't get busy in my experience, in fact you're lucky if the numbers make it into double figures. No idea about the X22.

7609 on X24.

1909 going onto 27a/27 replacing 1454. Last day for it and 1906.

1445 on S1 today, first time a standard Pulsar has been used I believe

4802 has been let loose on the 21/X21,replacement for 4812. From what I've heard the EcoCitys are all being taken off the road to be filled up during the day, one by one. Then, tonight it should just be a top up for them.

(31 Dec 2015, 8:58 am)Jimmi wrote 7609 on X24.

Arriva North East: 7609 / NK59DMO by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

This should count as a 'odd' working.
Arriva North East: 7412 / LJ03MHU by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

(31 Dec 2015, 12:53 pm)tyresmoke wrote 1445 on S1 today, first time a standard Pulsar has been used I believe

1415 spent the day on X12s in place of either 1441 or 1442

It was 1441 missing off the X12
Passed 1477 on 24 this evening