(07 Apr 2021, 10:22 am)Cobalt271 wrote 1407 tracks as itself because it's now permanently Ashington based according to the latest fleet list.

Heading to Blyth this weekend.

(07 Apr 2021, 4:58 pm)RobinHood wrote Heading to Blyth this weekend.

No it isn't.

(07 Apr 2021, 5:51 pm)Cobalt271 wrote No it isn't.

Okay then, but I can assure you it is.
1407, 1409, 1461, 1462, 1463 and 1475 will move to Blyth this weekend.

1579 and 1580 going to Durham.

(07 Apr 2021, 5:51 pm)Cobalt271 wrote No it isn't.

1407 staying at Ashington would be bizarre given the X21/22/35 are continuing to interwork, so it can't be used solely on the 35. It also doesn't meet the spec for the MAX routes, and is overkill for the 57/A.

(07 Apr 2021, 6:12 pm)RobinHood wrote Okay then, but I can assure you it is.
1407, 1409, 1461, 1462, 1463 and 1475 will move to Blyth this weekend.

1579 and 1580 going to Durham.

Ashington can't afford to lose any Buses as it is for a start, the X18 Summer TT is about to kick in. Blyth are receiving 1461,62,63 alongside 1481,2 & 3.

(07 Apr 2021, 7:44 pm)Cobalt271 wrote Ashington can't afford to lose any Buses as it is for a start, the X18 Summer TT is about to kick in. 

On paper, though, Ashington are currently 5 buses up (4 once the summer X18 comes on). 7445/6/84/86 and 7510 are, in theory, surplus to requirements - especially when dupes are no longer needed. If their engineering staff could figure out how to fix the buses properly, rather than bodge jobs, then the B7s wouldn't have been needed at all for the past few months.

(07 Apr 2021, 7:48 pm)mb134 wrote On paper, though, Ashington are currently 5 buses up (4 once the summer X18 comes on). 7445/6/84/86 and 7510 are, in theory, surplus to requirements - especially when dupes are no longer needed. If their engineering staff could figure out how to fix the buses properly, rather than bodge jobs, then the B7s wouldn't have been needed at all for the past few months.

I would be careful about what you say it's very slanderous. I'm a Driver with Arriva & can assure you there's no "bodge jobs" where safety is concerned!

(07 Apr 2021, 6:12 pm)RobinHood wrote Okay then, but I can assure you it is.
1407, 1409, 1461, 1462, 1463 and 1475 will move to Blyth this weekend.

1579 and 1580 going to Durham.

For the sakes of keeping things together you'd think they'd send 1579/1580 to Jesmond with 1408/1411 moving to Blyth instead since Jesmond don't need them currently since the X16 doesn't exist and Blyth has a tonne of MAX routes and it keeps all the Streetlite Max's in the eco livery together.

Also guessing the Solos will be going somewhere aswell, Ashington I'd guess to see off 1800/1801 and possibly 2809, might help with things since there's constantly 2 full size buses on there recently.

(07 Apr 2021, 7:44 pm)Cobalt271 wrote Ashington can't afford to lose any Buses as it is for a start, the X18 Summer TT is about to kick in. Blyth are receiving 1461,62,63 alongside 1481,2 & 3.

I'll let you into a little secret. I have already seen the allocation that was circulated internally at Arriva today.

Ashington are losing 1407 plus their two Streetlites.
1481 and 1482 are X12 branded and are going to Stockton (due to a short term transfer of work), not Blyth. 1483 is staying at Durham, as that is also X12 branded.

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(07 Apr 2021, 7:59 pm)Storx wrote For the sakes of keeping things together you'd think they'd send 1579/1580 to Jesmond with 1408/1411 moving to Blyth instead since Jesmond don't need them currently since the X16 doesn't exist and Blyth has a tonne of MAX routes and it keeps all the Streetlite Max's in the eco livery together.

Ive been told that those two are earmarked to replace the Omnicities at Ashington eventually. The X16 is still, on paper, "temporary" cancelled between Newcastle and Morpeth.

All of the Eco branded stuff, including Darlington gas buses are planned refurbishment this year.

(07 Apr 2021, 8:00 pm)RobinHood wrote I'll let you into a little secret. I have already seen the allocation that was circulated internally at Arriva today.

Well, if what you have seen occurs & nothing is sent to Ashington in return then that will well and truly blow up in Arriva's face.

(07 Apr 2021, 8:00 pm)RobinHood wrote I'll let you into a little secret. I have already seen the allocation that was circulated internally at Arriva today.

Ashington are losing 1407 plus their two Streetlites.
1481 and 1482 are X12 branded and are going to Stockton (due to a short term transfer of work), not Blyth. 1483 is staying at Durham, as that is also X12 branded.

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Ive been told that those two are earmarked to replace the Omnicities at Ashington eventually. The X16 is still, on paper, "temporary" cancelled between Newcastle and Morpeth.

All of the Eco branded stuff, including Darlington gas buses are planned refurbishment this year.

Yeah that's fair then, nice to see there's some refurbs planned.

Blyth and Ashington seem rather short on buses though mind, I know Ashington has been mentioned but Blyth has pretty much gained 4 buses for an allocation of 8 since 1401/1402 have gone (supposedly). I haven't done the maths but there doesn't seem to be enough buses without 7410/7411/7490 being frontline but I could be wrong or it's that's the lot of spares especially with the duplicates.

Also whoever mentioned Ashington being short Cobalt I believe, there'd be cancellations today if it was next week as 1580 has been on the 57 all afternoon with nothing seemingly to replace it.

(07 Apr 2021, 7:58 pm)Cobalt271 wrote I would be careful about what you say it's very slanderous. I'm a Driver with Arriva & can assure you there's no "bodge jobs" where safety is concerned!

Possibly, though it's been noted by a few members on here that there are certain vehicles which break down/are taken out of service with alarming regularity. As an example, 7530 in March. 

I don't think I was suggesting safety would be impacted, but if buses are taken off/break down as often as some do, it suggests that they aren't being 'properly' repaired.

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(07 Apr 2021, 8:20 pm)Storx wrote Also whoever mentioned Ashington being short Cobalt I believe, there'd be cancellations today if it was next week as 1580 has been on the 57 all afternoon with nothing seemingly to replace it.

That shouldn't be the case though. At the last service reduction, Ashington's PVR dropped by 5 iirc. Essentially the Volvo B7s and one Scania should have been reserve vehicles. They lost no vehicles. 

Now, their PVR is increasing by 1 (still 4 lower than what it was in January), yet are still struggling with vehicles? Something isn't right, clearly.

(07 Apr 2021, 8:48 pm)mb134 wrote That shouldn't be the case though. At the last service reduction, Ashington's PVR dropped by 5 iirc. Essentially the Volvo B7s and one Scania should have been reserve vehicles. They lost no vehicles. 

Now, their PVR is increasing by 1 (still 4 lower than what it was in January), yet are still struggling with vehicles? Something isn't right, clearly.

Possibly stuck in a bit of rut in a sense certain vehicles are just outright useless (7510 / 7445 / 7446 / 7484 / 7486) and aren't fit for purpose on any route at Ashington or are constantly broken / been off the road for months (2809 / 4653 / 4659 / 4664 / 7530 / 7556)

It's no wonder they're not maintaining things to be fair when you've got so much junk to deal with. Now I'm by no means an expert at buses but 7510, 7445, 7446, 4563, 4569 and 4664 should be no-where near a depot that only has routes which are fast express work or travel >40 mile away from the depot. 7445/7446 were absolutely dogs on the 306 nevermind Ashington's routes. I know it's dumping the crap on Jesmond but surely having 7522, 7558, 7559, 7561, 7563 up at Ashington would be better than the first 5, 7510 might actually be useful on the 43/44/45 especially now Ashington has lost their old dumping ground of the 35 where the likes of 7510/7445/7446 were actually useful on.

(07 Apr 2021, 9:22 pm)Storx wrote Possibly stuck in a bit of rut in a sense certain vehicles are just outright useless (7510 / 7445 / 7446 / 7484 / 7486) and aren't fit for purpose on any route at Ashington or are constantly broken / been off the road for months (2809 / 4653 / 4659 / 4664 / 7530 / 7556)

It's no wonder they're not maintaining things to be fair when you've got so much junk to deal with. Now I'm by no means an expert at buses but 7510, 7445, 7446, 4563, 4569 and 4664 should be no-where near a depot that only has routes which are fast express work or travel >40 mile away from the depot. 

Agreed, and they badly need investment. However, I don't think that should excuse the frequency with which their vehicles are removed from service the day they return after a breakdown/period off road. 7525, I think it was, in Jan/Feb had a period of a week or so where it came back, broke, was off for a few days, returned and broke the next day (and repeat). 7530 was a similar story yesterday, taken off early afternoon in its first day in service since March 24th. Again, I'm not suggesting that they're letting them out in an unsafe condition - but if the bus has been road tested or fixed correctly it shouldn't break/be taken off on its first day back. I understand there will be occasions where this does happen, but as regularly as it seems to? 

With 7510, I'm sure they had a suitable rear diff for it in 7513 (which is now at Alpha according to a post on a FB group) so I'm not sure what happened there. The Scania's and the 57/09-plate E400s are not in a good way at all. With the Volvo's, the two 05 plates seem to be very hit and miss, but again agreed they're not really suitable for that sort of depot if there isn't a route like the 35. 7484 seems ridiculously reliable for how old it is, the last time I got it (last summer) the driver seemed to be enjoying it, and commented on it being decent on driver changeover at Ashington. 7486 I'm not sure on, but I assume has a serious problem as it hasn't surfaced since February while the rest of the B7s have been in constant service. 

On the vehicles in your first paragraph, 7556 was off due to an accident so shouldn't be out of action much longer.

Wonder if the 57/57A will get different buses as 1800/1801/2809/2812/2813 all seem to break down or hardly work on that route now. Mostly it's 7510 allocated to it. In todays case it was 1580. Its been deckers StreetLite and 1407 with the odd Scania OmniCity on it

(07 Apr 2021, 9:38 pm)mb134 wrote Agreed, and they badly need investment. However, I don't think that should excuse the frequency with which their vehicles are removed from service the day they return after a breakdown/period off road. 7525, I think it was, in Jan/Feb had a period of a week or so where it came back, broke, was off for a few days, returned and broke the next day (and repeat). 7530 was a similar story yesterday, taken off early afternoon in its first day in service since March 24th. Again, I'm not suggesting that they're letting them out in an unsafe condition - but if the bus has been road tested or fixed correctly it shouldn't break/be taken off on its first day back. I understand there will be occasions where this does happen, but as regularly as it seems to? 

With 7510, I'm sure they had a suitable rear diff for it in 7513 (which is now at Alpha according to a post on a FB group) so I'm not sure what happened there. The Scania's and the 57/09-plate E400s are not in a good way at all. With the Volvo's, the two 05 plates seem to be very hit and miss, but again agreed they're not really suitable for that sort of depot if there isn't a route like the 35. 7484 seems ridiculously reliable for how old it is, the last time I got it (last summer) the driver seemed to be enjoying it, and commented on it being decent on driver changeover at Ashington. 7486 I'm not sure on, but I assume has a serious problem as it hasn't surfaced since February while the rest of the B7s have been in constant service. 

On the vehicles in your first paragraph, 7556 was off due to an accident so shouldn't be out of action much longer.

Yeah your right about investment, mind I have noticed what you mean there 7510 (Tues), 7484 (Today), 7543 (Multiple Days, got 2809's broken tracker? not sure), 2809 (Sunday) are a few other buses that have done the same within the last week of a breakdown or lengthy absense in the week beforehand.

Be interesting to see what happens as we had this conversation a few month ago and we said that at least they've got time with less buses on the road to fix things and here we are in the exactly the same boat bar 3 of there better buses have been took off them and the PVR is still down when let's be honest with the X21/X22 and the 35 in particular it shouldn't be.

I don't know what the numbers were like on the 1 and 2 but Arriva seem to be causing a right headache to reduce the PVR by 4 between them when they don't have any buses realistically to replace the minis without investment especially when big bus drivers get paid more anyway and the extra costs between a full size single (no doubt decker at Blyth) vs a Solo.

Oh forgot to say aswell someone asked the other day was 1407 tracking right now, it was as it was on the 57A the other day (seen it pass by).

Apparently 1407, 1475 & 1461 are now at Blyth with 2 more Durham based pulsars due to move north tomorrow.

(08 Apr 2021, 7:38 pm)GNE6312 wrote Apparently 1407, 1475 & 1461 are now at Blyth with 2 more Durham based pulsars due to move north tomorrow.

These transfers were detailed by Robin Hood in the "Bustimes Tracking Queries" thread the other day, the full set of movements are there for anyone wanting to see them.

So something I want to point out. I think Ashington should withdraw 1800/1801/2809/2812/2813. Mainly because there are showing to be performing badly on the 57/57A rota. Cause today 7484 and 7515 are on it today with a failed 2813 without 2812 or 2809 replacing it. It makes me wonder now that 1579 and 1580 have gone to Belmont that now leaves 1407 being the only long single decker at Ashington which is rarely allocated to the 57 rota. I think Ashington should ethier.

A/ get the darts from Blyth and put them on or

B/ bring two long single decekrs up to replace them like VDL Pulsar. Cause there isn't a need for a decker to be put on that route as it's never busy enough to have one on. I think the 57/57A should have VDL Pulsar allocated full time. Like give 1407 a full time allocation. Pretty sure Blyth won't mind giving 1497 up to Ashington then all you need is two more Pulsar

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Btw this is just my opinion about the darts and solos at Ashington

(09 Apr 2021, 3:01 pm)MichealAaron wrote So something I want to point out. I think Ashington should withdraw 1800/1801/2809/2812/2813. Mainly because there are showing to be performing badly on the 57/57A rota. Cause today 7484 and 7515 are on it today with a failed 2813 without 2812 or 2809 replacing it. It makes me wonder now that 1579 and 1580 have gone to Belmont that now leaves 1407 being the only long single decker at Ashington which is rarely allocated to the 57 rota. I think Ashington should ethier.

A/ get the darts from Blyth and put them on or

B/ bring two long single decekrs up to replace them like VDL Pulsar. Cause there isn't a need for a decker to be put on that route as it's never busy enough  to have one on. I think the 57/57A should have VDL Pulsar allocated full time. Like give 1407 a full time allocation. Pretty sure Blyth won't mind giving 1497 up to Ashington then all you need is two more Pulsar

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Btw this is just my opinion about the darts and solos at Ashington

Okay, here goes:

Your option 'A' involves replacing them with even older Darts, that are being withdrawn? Sure that'll help the allocation a load.

Your option 'B' involves putting Pulsars on. Firstly, there's a reason it's minibus operated. 1407 will have a full time allocation at Blyth now, on the 1/2. Why wouldn't Blyth mind sending 1497? It will also be needed for the 1/2. 

New vehicles are required for those routes, replacing them with 16 year old MPDs or massively increasing costs and putting Pulsars on are not viable solutions.

(09 Apr 2021, 3:01 pm)MichealAaron wrote So something I want to point out. I think Ashington should withdraw 1800/1801/2809/2812/2813. Mainly because there are showing to be performing badly on the 57/57A rota. Cause today 7484 and 7515 are on it today with a failed 2813 without 2812 or 2809 replacing it. It makes me wonder now that 1579 and 1580 have gone to Belmont that now leaves 1407 being the only long single decker at Ashington which is rarely allocated to the 57 rota. I think Ashington should ethier.

A/ get the darts from Blyth and put them on or

B/ bring two long single decekrs up to replace them like VDL Pulsar. Cause there isn't a need for a decker to be put on that route as it's never busy enough  to have one on. I think the 57/57A should have VDL Pulsar allocated full time. Like give 1407 a full time allocation. Pretty sure Blyth won't mind giving 1497 up to Ashington then all you need is two more Pulsar

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Btw this is just my opinion about the darts and solos at Ashington

1407 has gone to Blyth and there's also still the Omnicity's for singles.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Solo's come from Jesmond / Blyth for the MPD's and hopefully 2809 there's a lot lying around doing nothing atm. The Deckers are only allocated as there's simply nothing else to allocate, it's not by choice.

There's also no Pulsars free to send to Ashington either, the fleet is rather stretched at Ashington, Durham and Blyth as it is to send more to Ashington for no reason and Darlington is constantly loading buses from Stockton. Arriva quite badly need investment atm as Ashington has it's own problems with having 57/09 deckers running to Berwick which are also finished, no doubt the reason the X21/X22 isn't going every 20 minutes atm.

In theory 1431 should transfer back to redcar or 2866 to see 1759 into withdrawl and either pulsar or solo acts as a spare for Whitby

I'm just saying this and I aint being harsh to Arriva but Arriva won't invest in new buses. I don't think they have had new buses for ages now. If I remember correctly the last order they had was the E400MMC for Ashington. The darts and solos need to be taken of as there proven to be not the best lately

(07 Apr 2021, 10:22 am)Cobalt271 wrote 1407 tracks as itself because it's now permanently Ashington based according to the latest fleet list.

(07 Apr 2021, 8:20 pm)Storx wrote Yeah that's fair then, nice to see there's some refurbs planned.

Blyth and Ashington seem rather short on buses though mind, I know Ashington has been mentioned but Blyth has pretty much gained 4 buses for an allocation of 8 since 1401/1402 have gone (supposedly). I haven't done the maths but there doesn't seem to be enough buses without 7410/7411/7490 being frontline but I could be wrong or it's that's the lot of spares especially with the duplicates.

Also whoever mentioned Ashington being short Cobalt I believe, there'd be cancellations today if it was next week as 1580 has been on the 57 all afternoon with nothing seemingly to replace it.

During full allocation Blyth should have 4 left over decksrd between dupes with 1 left over during dupes as 3 Blyth buses are required on dupes for the 308, X7 & X11. Blyth should in theory be recieving 2 deckers from Durham seeing as 7485/87 were only meant to be there when 7609/10 were at Blyth (I think) although not sure weather Durham will send 7485/87, 2 other decksrs or nothing except the pulsars is a mystery. If Blyth don't get anymore deckers they may need to consider putting on or 2 dupes up to contract to someone else.

(09 Apr 2021, 6:39 pm)MichealAaron wrote I'm just saying this and I aint being harsh to Arriva but Arriva won't invest in new buses. I don't think they have had new buses for ages now. If I remember correctly the last order they had was the E400MMC for Ashington. The darts and solos need to be taken of as there proven to be not the best lately

To be honest, I think Arriva are beyond caring now.

(09 Apr 2021, 8:49 pm)GNE6312 wrote During full allocation Blyth should have 4 left over decksrd between dupes with 1 left over during dupes as 3 Blyth buses are required on dupes for the 308, X7 & X11. Blyth should in theory be recieving 2 deckers from Durham seeing as 7485/87 were only meant to be there when 7609/10 were at Blyth (I think) although not sure weather Durham will send 7485/87, 2 other decksrs or nothing except the pulsars is a mystery. If Blyth don't get anymore deckers they may need to consider putting on or 2 dupes up to contract to someone else.

Thanks for that, had a feeling it would be rather tight with the dupes on especially when Blyth doesn't have the most reliable fleet at the best of times.

(10 Apr 2021, 8:17 am)Storx wrote Thanks for that, had a feeling it would be rather tight with the dupes on especially when Blyth doesn't have the most reliable fleet at the best of times.

I don't get why they haven't continued to "dock" the morning / afternoon 306 journeys despite the X6 not running considering that dupes are required for other services.

According to Bustimes 1768 and 1769 have transferred from Blyth to Durham - it must be quite a while since an MPD was on the streets of Durham!

All Blyth new transfers have entered service on the following routes today

1407-X7/X8/X9
1461-X10/X11 (board thst does a round trip on the 308 to start off)
1462-X7/X8/X9
1463-X7/X8/89
1475-2/X16

Although thought to be withdrawn commanders 1401/2 have went to Ashington both on the 35/X21/X22

And 1768/69 have gone to Durham

1768 is on the 49/49A/57/57A (or however it goes)
1769 is on the 56

Why are 1401/1402 allocated to the 35/X21/X22