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RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(14 Mar 2015, 4:15 pm)Tom wrote My first time on the Jim Hughes' B7TLs at the minute.
Really nice, think I saw Mr Graham taking a photo at Four Lane Ends too.
Tridents - and yes you did!

Good job you got on that one, too, as there's been a 30 minute gap with no bus...
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(14 Mar 2015, 4:16 pm)Dan wrote Tridents - and yes you did!

Good job you got on that one, too, as there's been a 30 minute gap with no bus...

Aye I waited a while for one.
7458 still sat there doing nowt?
The only ones I've passed at another Trident and T318FGN.
Site Administrator
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(14 Mar 2015, 4:18 pm)Tom wrote Aye I waited a while for one.
7458 still sat there doing nowt?
The only ones I've passed at another Trident and T318FGN.
7458's driver was on a meal break. He is doing the 1620 out of Four Lane Ends.
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
Just curious to know was it Arriva drivers driving the Jim Hughes tridents or drivers from JH themselves?


And what is the link between Jim Hughes/Arriva? I know there was a link between Arriva/Classic/TGM and I know Jim Hughes took over Classic but I did not realise there still seem to be some sort of linkage between the 2 companies. 
Site Administrator
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(15 Mar 2015, 9:38 pm)Bus_User wrote Just curious to know was it Arriva drivers driving the Jim Hughes tridents or drivers from JH themselves?


And what is the link between Jim Hughes/Arriva? I know there was a link between Arriva/Classic/TGM and I know Jim Hughes took over Classic but I did not realise there still seem to be some sort of linkage between the 2 companies. 
JH drivers were driving JH buses. Could identify them a mile away as they didn't seem to be wearing any form of uniform other than a high viz with JH lettering on the back.

Arriva don't have enough spare double deckers on Saturdays to provide a full PVR for Metro Replacements themselves, unlike Go North East who have a tonne of spare Volvo B7s. There is of course a link between JH and Classic, so I guess agreements between Classic and Arriva carried on as normal when the staff moved over to JH.
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(15 Mar 2015, 9:43 pm)Dan wrote JH drivers were driving JH buses. Could identify them a mile away as they didn't seem to be wearing any form of uniform other than a high viz with JH lettering on the back.

Arriva don't have enough spare double deckers on Saturdays to provide a full PVR for Metro Replacements themselves, unlike Go North East who have a tonne of spare Volvo B7s. There is of course a link between JH and Classic, so I guess agreements between Classic and Arriva carried on as normal when the staff moved over to JH.

I wondered what happened this weekend as previously (on the Haymarket-Regent Ctr) it was a mix of Arriva and JH drivers using their buses.

The link exists as Ian Shipley and his son, John, are both directors at JH Coaches, and were involved at a high level in Classic too. Classic took over the coach work of Arriva Northumbria and of course were part of the old TGM business which was owned by Arriva

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Service Manager, Coatham Connect

RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(15 Mar 2015, 9:43 pm)Dan wrote JH drivers were driving JH buses. Could identify them a mile away as they didn't seem to be wearing any form of uniform other than a high viz with JH lettering on the back.

Arriva don't have enough spare double deckers on Saturdays to provide a full PVR for Metro Replacements themselves, unlike Go North East who have a tonne of spare Volvo B7s. There is of course a link between JH and Classic, so I guess agreements between Classic and Arriva carried on as normal when the staff moved over to JH.

So why is it classed as Arriva operating the service(in your photos) and at least in the last line suspension, it had "on hire to Arriva" on the buses?
Site Administrator
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(15 Mar 2015, 10:22 pm)Bus_User wrote So why is it classed as Arriva operating the service(in your photos) and at least in the last line suspension, it had "on hire to Arriva" on the buses?
Arriva was awarded with the contract. The buses are operating on behalf of Arriva.
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
No idea where it was going, but I passed a JH President on the A1 at Wetherby earlier.

Seemed to be going canny too. Certainly didn't look to be struggling.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
Site Administrator
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(23 Apr 2015, 5:06 am)JHCoaches wrote 5579MW - Scania Irizar - Now in full JH livery, sitting in the sun looking nice!

Incredibly smart!
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
Bus & Coach Fleet Numbers


A few people have asked us to publish our vehicle fleet numbers as soon as they became available, so here they are [Image: smile.png]

Fleet Update - Updated 24/04/2015


656 CCE - Mercedes Sorroco (16 Seat Standard) - Fleet No. 11
AA05 SET - Mercedes Cheetah (33 Seat Standard) - Fleet No. 12
VNP 893 - Volvo Premier (48 Seat Executive) - Fleet No. 21
YSV 815 - Volvo Premier (48 Seat Executive) - Fleet No. 22
PIL 2166 - Volvo Premier (53 Seat Standard) - Fleet No. 31
YKZ 9965 - Volvo Premier (70 Seat Standard) 3+2 Config. - Fleet No. 32
OTP 940 - Volvo Excalibur (49 Seat Executive) - Fleet No. 23
WSU 486 - Volvo Excalibur (49 Seat Executive) - Fleet No. 24
MSU 392 - Mercedes Touro (49 Seat Executive) - Fleet No. 25
MSU 830 - Mercedes Touro (49 Seat Executive) - Fleet No. 28
OTP 392 - Mercedes Touro (49 Seat Executive) - Fleet No. 27
PJI 2407 - Mercedes Touro (49 Seat Executive) - Fleet No. 26
TVE 804 - Mercedes Touro (53 Seat Standard) - Fleet No. 29
UGD 735 - Mercedes Touro (53 Seat Standard) - Fleet No. 30
SN09AZU - Van Hool B12 (57 Seat Executive) - No Fleet Number Allocated (Temporary Vehicle)
5579 MW - Scania Iriza Century - Fleet No. 34
6963 MW - Van Hool Astrobel (79 Seat Executive) - Fleet No. 36
3262 MW - Van Hool Astrobel (79 Seat Executive)  -  Fleet No. 35
KU52 RYF - Dennis Dart - Fleet No. 52
KU52 RYM - Dennis Dart - Fleet No. 51
M135 UWY - Volvo Excalibur - Fleet No. 33
S236JUA - DAF DB250 - ALX400 - Fleet No. 72
T312 FGN - DAF DB250 - ALX400 - Fleet No. 71
T317 FGN - DAF DB250 - ALX400 - Fleet No. 73
T318 FGN - DAF DB250 - ALX400 - Fleet No. 74
T319 FGN - DAF DB250 - ALX400 - Fleet No. 75
T320 FGN - DAF DB250 - ALX400 - Fleet No. 76
T421 GGO - DAF DB250 - ALX400 - Fleet No. 77
LT02 ZZJ - Dennis Trident - Fleet No. 91
LT02 ZZL - Dennis Trident - Fleet No. 92
LT02 ZZM - Dennis Trident - Fleet No. 94
LT02 ZZO - Dennis Trident - Fleet No. 93
W905UJM - Volvo B10(BLE) -  Fleet No. 53

JH12 COM - Volvo Plaxton Elite - Fleet No. 36
JH15 COM - Due
JH15 BUS - Due
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
B66 - North East to Blackpool Service
Launches Friday 19th June 2015
We are pleased to announce that our B66 - North East to Blackpool service timetable has been finalized and will operate every Monday, Friday and Sunday as of Friday 19th June 2015 until Monday 9th November 2015.
Site Administrator
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(27 Apr 2015, 11:36 am)JHCoaches wrote
B66 - North East to Blackpool Service
Launches Friday 19th June 2015
We are pleased to announce that our B66 - North East to Blackpool service timetable has been finalized and will operate every Monday, Friday and Sunday as of Friday 19th June 2015 until Monday 9th November 2015.

Sounds good!
Have you got a timetable that you could upload as an attachment? Any ideas of fares, too?
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(27 Apr 2015, 12:13 pm)JHCoaches wrote Dan

Find attached

If you read elsewhere in the forum, you will know where I think an additional stop should be... :p

Hopefully it comes off for you and hopefully the service is used locally too - not just for distance stuff.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(07 May 2015, 7:10 am)JHCoaches wrote Coach Day Trips - May Departures

@JHCoaches
How do I make a booking for one of your Day Trips?
If I book do I get a reserved seat number of is it take any unoccupied seat on boarding?
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
Fleet Update 12/05/2015


6963MW Vanhool Astrobel now registered as WA56ENN

AA05SET Mercedes Cheetah now allocated registration 6963MW


SO12WJD Volvo Plaxton Elite now registered as JH12COM
Site Administrator
RE: Jim Hughes of Sunderland/Birtley
(13 May 2015, 5:57 am)JHCoaches wrote JH15COM and JH15BUS (Santander Docks) arriving soon!

Saw those photos on Facebook last night. Looks really smart - especially the interior.

Bet they cost quite a bit too!