(01 May 2014, 7:46 am)AIG20 wrote "Bus Promotes Greener Travel" - Sunderland Echo news article on SNE, relating to "Catch the Bus Week"

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/local...-1-6588457

Good luck getting a bus home if you're on lates.

I can't believe people are moaning about the sunderland half marathon ! It's a excellent event and perhaps if more people looked after themselves, there would nt be so many pie eating obese people around Sunderland ! It's only 1 day a year . Surely people could walk rather than take the lazy option of a bus ! Granted if you are old and can't get far, do your shopping today, tomorrow, Saturday or Monday!

(30 Apr 2014, 5:01 pm)markydh wrote South Shields and Sunderland megariders are already cheaper than the Newcastle one so they will remain. Basically, the Newcastle Megarider becomes the Tyne & Wear Megarider at the Newcastle price at £12.90/week. This replaces the Newcastle Megarider and South Shields Megarider Plus. Essentially Newcastle residents will no longer be able to buy a Newcastle specific product whereas those in South Shields and Sunderland will have the option of the location specific Megarider or Tyne & Wear Megarider. The Tyne & Wear Megarider Plus will be required for anyone who travels beyond council boundaries into Northumberland (basically Darras Hall & Ponteland).

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/megariderchangesmay14.aspx

It's good to see them release a Tyne and Wear day rover, but it naturally leads me to two questions.

1) Why now?
2) Is their network really designed for Tyne and Wear wide travel?

I ask 'why now?', because Stagecoach in Tyne and Wear have always focused on the three individual markets, and I guess that extends back as far as the Busways days? This leads me on to my other question, and is their network designed for it? At a glance - nope. If I lived in Sunderland, and commute to South Shields for example, then that is already covered in the Sunderland Megarider area (using the E services). If I commute to Newcastle? Well that's a different story. I'd have to get the bus to Marsden, and then wait for a half hourly service (X34) to Newcastle. A trip of about 80-90 minutes at least. Not to mention that the earliest I can get there for is 7.55, which isn't ideal at all. Are Stagecoach going to venture into the interurban market, and potentially ruffle GNE's feathers?

With thanks to Richard for passing on the information - Period 13 movements are as follows:

Busways:

• 19199 (NK57 DWD) - Walkergate to Manchester
  
• 21153 (R253 KRG) - Sold for Scrap
  
• 22172 (T172 MVM) - Reserve to Disposal
  
• 22214 (T214 TND) - In service at Sunderland
  
• 22215 (T215 TND) - In service at Sunderland
  
• 22485 (T485 BNL) - Sold for Scrap
  
• 22488 (T488 BNL) - Sunderland to Stockton
  
• 22489 (T489 BNL) - Sunderland to Stockton
  
• 22727 (T727 OEF) - Reserve to Disposal
  
• 22728 (T728 OEF) - Reserve to Disposal
  
• 22729 (T729 OEF) - Reserve to Disposal
  
• 22730 (T730 OEF) - Reserve to Disposal
  
• 22736 (T736 OEF) - Reserve to Disposal
  
• 33492 (R472 MVN) - Reserve to Disposal
  

Transit:

• 22201 (T201 TND) - Stockton to Disposal
  
• 22208 (T208 TND) - Stockton to Reserve
  
• 22488 (T488 BNL) - Sunderland to Stockton
  
• 22489 (T489 BNL) - Sunderland to Stockton
  
• 22495 (T495 BNL) - Reserve to Disposal
  
• 33491 (R471 MVN) - Reserve to Disposal
  

NEB's fleet lists have been updated accordingly (thankfully it was only a 15-minute job). Should there be any movements which haven't been recorded on the allocation cards which Richard identifies in his fleet lists, I will update the fleet lists tomorrow night.

33101 was out running on service 3 today

South shields Dennis Alexander dart 33101 was seen on 3 in Hartlepool

Hi James. I am not very pleased about what you said of 33101 Running in Hartlepool on a service 3 hope we get it back soon. Regards Robin

What is 33101 doing at Hartlepool on a service 3 when it is surppost to be at south shields. Regards Robin

(02 May 2014, 9:02 pm)Robinwtait.19 wrote What is 33101 doing at Hartlepool on a service 3 when it is surppost to be at south shields. Regards Robin

It's now active reserve at Hartlepool replacing 33491 which is withdrawn due to a cracked chassis (which was discussed here a few pages back).

(02 May 2014, 8:38 pm)AIG20 wrote I'm surprised that 21141 and 21156 haven't been listed for disposal, since they have been SORN for quite a while now, and it is very unlikely that they will return to service.

21141 & 21156 were both listed as (For Disposal) status as part of the Period 12 movements, and this remains the case. The list above records only the movements that have taken place during Period 13.

The list above does therefore NOT show the complete list of vehicles and their status, only the "Changes of Status" during the past 4 weeks. The complete list will probably be contained in the Fleet List section of this forum as produced by Dan and on my own "Private" PDF list, circulated to a limited number of people and only at my own discretion.

(03 May 2014, 6:48 am)Richard Smiles wrote 21141 & 21156 were both listed as (For Disposal) status as part of the Period 12 movements, and this remains the case. The list above records only the movements that have taken place during Period 13.

The list above does therefore NOT show the complete list of vehicles and their status, only the "Changes of Status" during the past 4 weeks. The complete list will probably be contained in the Fleet List section of this form as produced by Dan and on my own "Private" PDF list, circulated to a limited number of people and only at my own discretion.

Correct - just had a look and it seems 21141 and 21156 were both listed for disposal during March.

I've also made the amendments you've e-mailed me, and have included 33101's move during Period 1 too.

(03 May 2014, 8:21 am)AIG20 wrote Whoops! My mistake.
Well at least now I know if they are listed for disposal in one period, they shouldn't reappear in the next period - unless they are miraculously brought back into service, which is highly unlikely.

33101 is a good example of a bus being brought back into service - see here for the history of the vehicle in the past few months.

Just for future reference, there are 13 Periods contained within a year, from Stagecoach North East's point of view.

These are NOT based on Calendar months, but financial periods based on the financial year, as the financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March, and the period changes every 4 weeks.

Period 13 (the final period of the 2013/2014) financial year, ran from 31 March 2014 until 27 April 2014. We are therefore now into the first Period (Period 1) of the 2014/2015 financial year which will run for 4 weeks from Monday 28th April 2014 until Sunday 25th May 2014, Period 2 will then commence on Monday 26 May 2014 for 4 weeks & so on.

Therefore the next Fleet Card (Period 2) will be dated 26 May 2014 & will show any movements during Period 1, for example the movement of 33101 from South Shields (Reserve) to Hartlepool (Reserve) or Hartlepool (On Loan).

Any Fleet movements recorded, are taken directly from the Official Stagecoach North East Fleet Allocation Cards as kindly supplied by Stagecoach North East. The document is restricted to a limited number of people outside of the company, but I get a copy, due to my many years of being involved in the Public Transport Industry & as an Enthusiast.

Effectively I also produce my Private PDF Fleet List from this, which is also actually used by several members of Stagecoach North East Management, and is why I now restrict this to a limited number of people only.

(03 May 2014, 8:31 am)Dan wrote 33101 is a good example of a bus being brought back into service - see here for the history of the vehicle in the past few months.

33101 hasn't moved to Hartlepool it is only on loan and is still a South Shields bus

(03 May 2014, 9:09 am)mrnut85 wrote 33101 hasn't moved to Hartlepool it is only on loan and is still a South Shields bus

Whether it's a loan or not, it's still transferred to another depot. We usually note these loans in our fleet list (see previous examples of Sunderland Darts on loan to Hartlepool and such), so I don't know why 33101 would be any different?

Interesting to note from the latest Stagecoach North East Changes, that whilst 22727-22730 are destined possibly for the Scrap man, 22731/22733/22734 & 22735 have had their Road Tax renewed (been re-certified) for a further year until May next year.

The latter 22735, did have a SoRN notice attached to it, but has now been removed & the vehicle taxed for a further 12 months.

(03 May 2014, 10:03 am)Richard Smiles wrote Interesting to note from the latest Stagecoach North East Changes, that whilst 22727-22730 are destined possibly for the Scrap man, 22731/22733/22734 & 22735 have had their Road Tax renewed (been re-certified) for a further year until May next year.

The latter 22735, did have a SoRN notice attached to it, but has now been removed & the vehicle taxed for a further 12 months.

Interesting, wonder why, extra spare buses for each depot?

(03 May 2014, 10:30 am)Michael wrote Interesting, wonder why, extra spare buses for each depot?

Probably to cover till next year Michael, Newcastle will then get New Stuff & send Stockton the DDA Compliant Cast Offs, which is usually the norm.

(03 May 2014, 10:36 am)Richard Smiles wrote Probably to cover till next year Michael, Newcastle will then get New Stuff & send Stockton the DDA Compliant Cast Offs, which is usually the norm.

Maybe..

Ye, which is good, what was the dealine for the non DDA buses?

(03 May 2014, 10:40 am)Michael wrote Maybe..

Ye, which is good, what was the dealine for the non DDA buses?

I think by the end of 2016. There was talk Stockton may have been getting some of the Ex Carlisle Darts which I wouldn't mind, as I like them but they are all going down South to Chichester.

Stockton also have to find replacements for our last 4 Volvo Olympians 16833/834/836 & 839.

(03 May 2014, 11:38 am)AIG20 wrote I've heard that the Tridents at Stockton are non DDA buses (since they are "S" registered vehicles). So is it likely that Stockton may get Ex-London Tridents in the future, as well as Slatyford for the Sightseeing services? The Sightseeing Leyland Olympian are approaching their 25th Birthday, so I guess they may need replacing soon.

Glancing at the current Fleet Cards (and excluding Reserve & Awaiting Disposal Vehicles). The non-DDA Vehicle stats are currently as follows:

Walkergate Depot = 100% DDA Compliant Fleet.
City Sight seeing = 5 Vehicles (The Open Top Double Deckers).
Slatyford = 12 Vehicles all 22xxx MANs.
South Shields = 100% DDA Compliant Fleet.
Sunderland = 15 Vehicles all 22xxx MANs (wiped out when GAS Buses arrive).
Hartlepool = 100% DDA Compliant Fleet
Stockton = 47!! Non DDA Compliant vehicles comprising of 4 Volvo Olympian Double Deckers, 6 ALX 400 bodied Trident Double Deckers & 37 22xxx MANs of which 25 should be wiped out with arrival of the 25 E300s. That still leaves 22 vehicles to be replaced. Still a lot compared to other Depot's in the North East Group of Fleets.

To be fair all they have to do is make the Macmillan contracts fully termly passes and off bus revenue - and thereby can be unregistered services, which have no need to operate with DDA compliant vehicles.

33101 seen on the 4 today.

(03 May 2014, 3:27 pm)James Moss Mccrossan wrote why say your not pleased with me say 33101 is in Hartlepool cause it is here so what's the problem

I think he meant that he's not pleased that 33101 is at Hartlepool because he's from South Shields and is a fan of the vehicle.

Something needs to happen at Hartlepool now as they are "On The Edge".

By this I mean, they have very little to play with Spare Bus Wise

5 Groups of services: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 2 Engineering Spares, 2 Spares & only 1 Reserve.

So if! 5 buses break down, you're stuffed as there are always going to be a couple off the road for either servicing, repaint or PSV Test.

The fact that 33101 has had to be sent to Hartlepool & pressed into service proves my point.

(03 May 2014, 3:57 pm)AIG20 wrote Can a full sized single decker work on Hartlepool's services, or does this depot's services involve too many tight corners, and so on?

Hartlepool can indeed use full sized Single Deckers & even Double Deckers. For many years Hartlepool operated Bristol RE's, Leyland Nationals, Dennis Falcon's, Leyland Leopards, Leyland Lynxes, Volvo B10Ms etc.

(03 May 2014, 3:57 pm)AIG20 wrote Can a full sized single decker work on Hartlepool's services, or does this depot's services involve too many tight corners, and so on?

While they can, it's well known by the drivers at Stockton from the period when a number of Hartlepool drivers were transferred across after the contract work there ended, the drivers aren't particularly fond of driving full size vehicles. It's why, despite them having the 1 and 7 in the screen list, no Stockton vehicle has ever worked either route and it's normally a spare Hartlepool vehicle that is sent to Middlesbrough in the event of one breaking down there.

Sorry james for what I said are we still friends. Regards Robin ps have you seen the mans at south shields are having there rear adverts removed.

(03 May 2014, 11:59 am)Richard Smiles wrote Glancing at the current Fleet Cards (and excluding Reserve & Awaiting Disposal Vehicles). The non-DDA Vehicle stats are currently as follows:

Walkergate Depot = 100% DDA Compliant Fleet.
City Sight seeing = 5 Vehicles (The Open Top Double Deckers).
Slatyford = 12 Vehicles all 22xxx MANs.
South Shields = 100% DDA Compliant Fleet.
Sunderland = 15 Vehicles all 22xxx MANs (wiped out when GAS Buses arrive).
Hartlepool = 100% DDA Compliant Fleet
Stockton = 47!! Non DDA Compliant vehicles comprising of 4 Volvo Olympian Double Deckers, 6 ALX 400 bodied Trident Double Deckers & 37 22xxx MANs of which 25 should be wiped out with arrival of the 25 E300s. That still leaves 22 vehicles to be replaced. Still a lot compared to other Depot's in the North East Group of Fleets.

What else will Sunderland loose as there's 23 gas buses, some of 22072 etc?