(17 Aug 2017, 7:37 pm)Ianthegoon wrote As there hasn't been an update to the Arriva fleetlist for a little while now, can anyone say if 1773 is still in service and, if so, which services it tends to be allocated to?

Thanks!

1773 is still in service and is typically allocated to the 1 route between Blyth, Ashington and Widdrington. Be quick though as all of Blyth's darts are supposed to be replaced by Durham Solos in September.

(17 Aug 2017, 7:48 pm)Pulsar wrote 1773 is still in service and is typically allocated to the 1 route between Blyth, Ashington and Widdrington. Be quick though as all of Blyth's darts are supposed to be replaced by Durham Solos in September.

I'll need to be quick anyway, as I shall be back in the deep, dark, diabolical South by September!

Many thanks for the info.

Looks like one of Darlington Optare solos have been involved in a minor collision according to the northern echo website

(17 Aug 2017, 11:53 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote Looks like one of Darlington Optare solos have been involved in a  minor collision according to the northern echo website

Alot of accidents involving buses lately, I hope those involved are ok - I do hope which ever Solo it is it can be repaired. Hopefully it isn't 2841 or 2859 as they're good solos.

(18 Aug 2017, 9:35 am)S830OFT wrote Alot of accidents involving buses lately, I hope those involved are ok - I do hope which ever Solo it is it can be repaired. Hopefully it isn't 2841 or 2859 as they're good solos.

It was one of the Spare Frequenta ones so either 2843/49/50/51, it shouldn't be out too long just a few scrapes


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7468 seen on trade plates, heading north on A1 at York.

(17 Aug 2017, 7:48 pm)Pulsar wrote 1773 is still in service and is typically allocated to the 1 route between Blyth, Ashington and Widdrington. Be quick though as all of Blyth's darts are supposed to be replaced by Durham Solos in September.

1773 is indeed still in service, but was lurking on the 58 today - fortunately I started my search in Cramlington!

(17 Aug 2017, 11:53 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote Looks like one of Darlington Optare solos have been involved in a  minor collision according to the northern echo website

If an Arriva driver farted the Northern Echo would report it... 

Was told last night by a driver that a StreetDeck is to arrive at Ashington depot today for the X15, but there's nothing on the computers about it, nor does anyone else at the depot who I've spoke to. Anyone know if it's true? Just seems a bit random to come out with if it's fake.

(20 Aug 2017, 10:22 am)omnicity4659 wrote Was told last night by a driver that a StreetDeck is to arrive at Ashington depot today for the X15, but there's nothing on the computers about it, nor does anyone else at the depot who I've spoke to. Anyone know if it's true? Just seems a bit random to come out with if it's fake.

Demonstrator is due this week to be used on the expresses.

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(18 Aug 2017, 3:52 pm)Andreos1 wrote 7468 seen on trade plates, heading north on A1 at York.

Seems this one was heading to A&A Coach Travel, Tockwith

(20 Aug 2017, 12:25 pm)tyresmoke wrote Demonstrator is due this week to be used on the expresses.

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Seems this one was heading to A&A Coach Travel, Tockwith

Cheers Scott 

(20 Aug 2017, 12:25 pm)tyresmoke wrote Demonstrator is due this week to be used on the expresses.

And at the top of the list for things that won't end well...

Arriva Northumbria: SK17 HHC by Tom, on Flickr

Engineer in charge says there's no fleet number allocated yet.

(20 Aug 2017, 12:25 pm)tyresmoke wrote Demonstrator is due this week to be used on the expresses.

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Seems this one was heading to A&A Coach Travel, Tockwith

Any idea where its been in the interim?

(21 Aug 2017, 12:18 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Arriva Northumbria: SK17 HHC by Tom, on Flickr

Engineer in charge says there's no fleet number allocated yet.

Can't find any other results for it on Flickr, so I assume Arriva are the first to have this one?

Well, that looks a bit....Northumbria?

(21 Aug 2017, 1:21 pm)James101 wrote Well, that looks a bit....Northumbria?

I was thinking more Kryten off Red Dwarf.

The other demonstration vehicle has turned up at Darlington in the form of Wright Streetlite SK17HHL. It is to be used on services 1, 5, 12 and 19 in preparation for potential new vehicles next year.

(23 Aug 2017, 11:55 am)tyresmoke wrote The other demonstration vehicle has turned up at Darlington in the form of Wright Streetlite SK17HHL. It is to be used on services 1, 5, 12 and 19 in preparation for potential new vehicles next year.

Have they not already got enough experience of Streetlites?

(23 Aug 2017, 2:33 pm)mb134 wrote Have they not already got enough experience of Streetlites?

Obviously not but there absolutely shocking, haven't they learnt that the X1 ones are always off the road, more to the point where are the pulsars going off there? Possibly MAX for X26/27/66/67/75/76


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Surely E200 MMCs would be a more superior option than StreetLites?

Reinstated MPDs would be a more superior option than Streetlites!

(23 Aug 2017, 2:45 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Surely E200 MMCs would be a more superior option than StreetLites?

Definitely. Both of these demonstrators strike me as odd - Arriva seem to be set on ADL products currently and this year's orders reflect that. 

Possible that Wright want Arriva to return to them and are providing these in order to somehow tempt them? I imagine one of the main UK operators moving their entire order to a rival would have hurt them, or definitely has the potential to do so.

Edit: Dread to think what they'll turn to in a couple of years when the Omnicitys need to be replaced. Hopefully they look at some of the B8RLEs Stagecoach are getting, with the Plaxton coach type bodywork and we avoid another X1 Streetlite nightmare.

(23 Aug 2017, 2:34 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote Obviously not but there absolutely shocking, haven't they learnt that the X1 ones are always off the road, more to the point where are the pulsars going off there? Possibly MAX for X26/27/66/67/75/76


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Well Omnicities are supposedly being replaced next year, so that could well be a possibility, number of non MAX/Sapphire spec Pulsar's at Darlington at the moment is 16, so that could make 14 for X26/X27, X66/X67, X75/X76 (not lncluding a spare) but that would only leave two left for the 8/8A although the question as to what livery specification would they be in with all the new Arriva liveries and logo coming in? 

Still got the Cadets at Stockton and Volvo B10BLE's at Jesmond to replace, so there could be a possibility the Pulsar's  could head there as well (maybe?)

Could be a possibility of new buses for at least one of the: X26/X27, X66/X67, X75/X76 as well (speculation).

Wonder if Arriva would even consider more EcoCity's for Darlington?

(23 Aug 2017, 3:44 pm)Jimmi wrote Well Omnicities are supposedly being replaced next year, so that could well be a possibility, number of non MAX/Sapphire spec Pulsar's at Darlington at the moment is 16, so that could make 14 for X26/X27, X66/X67, X75/X76 (not lncluding a spare) but that would only leave two left for the 8/8A although the question as to what livery specification would they be in with all the new Arriva liveries and logo coming in? 

Still got the Cadets at Stockton and Volvo B10BLE's at Jesmond to replace, so there could be a possibility the Pulsar's  could head there as well (maybe?)

Could be a possibility of new buses for at least one of the: X26/X27, X66/X67, X75/X76 as well (speculation).

Wonder if Arriva would even consider more EcoCity's for Darlington?

If Arriva plan on replacing those with Streetlites, they better invest in a tow truck to go alongside. In no way are they built for express routes.

(23 Aug 2017, 3:54 pm)mb134 wrote If Arriva plan on replacing those with Streetlites, they better invest in a tow truck to go alongside. In no way are they built for express routes.

Go North East's Streetlites seem to cope fairly well on long-distance and demanding routes? The 8/78 and 20/20A/X20 spring to mind as being the most demanding.

I don't profess to be completely familiar with the services at Darlington, but I can't imagine them being too dissimilar from the aforementioned Go North East services?

(23 Aug 2017, 3:59 pm)Dan wrote Go North East's Streetlites seem to cope fairly well on long-distance and demanding routes? The 8/78 and 20/20A/X20 spring to mind as being the most demanding.

I don't profess to be completely familiar with the services at Darlington, but I can't imagine them being too dissimilar from the aforementioned Go North East services?

Was thinking more in terms of the ones based at Ashington. I've been on a Streetlite operated X18 (418) before, and it struggled for a good amount of the route.

(23 Aug 2017, 3:59 pm)Dan wrote Go North East's Streetlites seem to cope fairly well on long-distance and demanding routes? The 8/78 and 20/20A/X20 spring to mind as being the most demanding.

I don't profess to be completely familiar with the services at Darlington, but I can't imagine them being too dissimilar from the aforementioned Go North East services?

(23 Aug 2017, 4:04 pm)mb134 wrote Was thinking more in terms of the ones based at Ashington. I've been on a Streetlite operated X18 (418) before, and it struggled for a good amount of the route.

I'd say that the X26/X27 & X75/X76 are somewhat similar in terms of demands for routes although the X66/X67 are a bit more duel carriageway road blastings, the Middlesbrough - Saltburn stretch of the X3/X4 routes would probably be a better comparison and whilst the StreetLite's can sit at 50mph easily enough,  I think you would maybe have to add a little bit of extra running time to these services to ensure that they have enough running time, even the worst Omnicity's branded for the X66/X67 allocation can manage about 55mph, so I think a bus limited to 50mph may not be the best fit, EcoCity's manage 52mph, unsure about E200 MMC's but think it may me more than both of them? 

One thing I will say about both demonstrators, just because they are trialing them, doesn't necessarily mean any will actually be purchased, no Optare Versa's or Mercedes Citaro's were purchased for Arriva North East after trials at North East depots in the past.

(23 Aug 2017, 4:20 pm)Jimmi wrote I'd say that the X26/X27 & X75/X76 are somewhat similar in terms of demands for routes although the X66/X67 are a bit more duel carriageway road blastings, the Middlesbrough - Saltburn stretch of the X3/X4 routes would probably be a better comparison and whilst the StreetLite's can sit at 50mph easily enough,  I think you would maybe have to add a little bit of extra running time to these services to ensure that they have enough running time, even the worst Omnicity's branded for the X66/X67 allocation can manage about 55mph, so I think a bus limited to 50mph may not be the best fit, EcoCity's manage 52mph, unsure about E200 MMC's but think it may me more than both of them? 

One thing I will say about both demonstrators, just because they are trialing them, doesn't necessarily mean any will actually be purchased, no Optare Versa's or Mercedes Citaro's were purchased for Arriva North East after trials at North East depots in the past.

Yeah this is a good point. If you look at the routes 4653/9 are allocated onto at Ashington, the main place they can make up time is along dual carriageway stretches. If you suddenly allocate buses that can only just keep to time along those stretches, you're asking for trouble.

I definitely agree that just because they're on demonstration doesn't mean that we'll see Streetdecks and Streetlites in next year's order, but the fact they've decided to trial the Streetdeck on the Alnwick expresses is concerning.

(23 Aug 2017, 4:46 pm)mb134 wrote Yeah this is a good point. If you look at the routes 4653/9 are allocated onto at Ashington, the main place they can make up time is along dual carriageway stretches. If you suddenly allocate buses that can only just keep to time along those stretches, you're asking for trouble.

I definitely agree that just because they're on demonstration doesn't mean that we'll see Streetdecks and Streetlites in next year's order, but the fact they've decided to trial the Streetdeck on the Alnwick expresses is concerning.

At least the StreetDeck is being trialled on some demanding routes rather than just being trialled 
on a town/city route and then they buy them for these demanding routes and hope they perform alright on them.