You need to enable JavaScript to run this app.

Skip to main content

Arriva North East: Rare & Odd Workings - August 2014

Arriva North East: Rare & Odd Workings - August 2014

RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(15 Aug 2014, 8:34 am)Kuyoyo wrote 22/64/64A - Dart SLF and Prestiges (so both 1105 and 1737 are odd workings as Redcar officially has no Minibus workings)
63 - Temsa Avenue (so 4044 and 4094 are officially odd but given it's Redcar, it's more or less a regular wrong type working)
81/81a - 2 boards down for OmniCity, 2 for Temsa - so 4071 is odd but 4715 isn't

I hadn't actually realised that the 81/81A allocation had changed from fully Omnicity (previously fully Temsa) to half and half as I hadn't looked at the list at the start of the thread in a while. As a result, I just assumed it was still fully Omnicity whereas in reality I should of checked that one as really there is no reason why a Temsa couldn't/shouldn't be used on the service unlike all the remaining rare/odd allocations I saw which, by the way, I was fully aware were most definitely rare/odd.
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(15 Aug 2014, 1:08 pm)peter wrote I hadn't actually realised that the 81/81A allocation had changed from fully Omnicity (previously fully Temsa) to half and half as I hadn't looked at the list at the start of the thread in a while. As a result, I just assumed it was still fully Omnicity whereas in reality I should of checked that one as really there is no reason why a Temsa couldn't/shouldn't be used on the service unlike all the remaining rare/odd allocations I saw which, by the way, I was fully aware were most definitely rare/odd.


So by you're reasoning if the 64 scheduled for a B10BLE was operated by a Dart or Prestige it would be a rare working? If you didn't have access to inside information then how would you decide an odd working?
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(15 Aug 2014, 1:48 pm)Roland Pratt wrote So by you're reasoning if the 64 scheduled for a B10BLE was operated by a Dart or Prestige it would be a rare working? If you didn't have access to inside information then how would you decide an odd working?

No. All I was trying to say was that I knew the other rare/odd workings I had posted on this thread on that day in particular were correct (as I far as I could be aware - though they were confirmed to be correct by Kuyoyo) as per the list at the beginning of the thread and also that I am usually correct in the sense that I only post any workings I am led to believe are rare/odd according to the first post of this thread as I am not insider. Apologise if the way I worded it sounded like I could report any rare/odd workings that would require inside knowledge without any!
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(18 Aug 2014, 12:50 pm)Jimmi wrote Oh dear, 7516 is on too.
Seems they still haven't got the hang of Sapphire.

Is anyone really surprised by this? We all knew it wouldn't last
Site Administrator
Re: RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(18 Aug 2014, 12:50 pm)Jimmi wrote Oh dear, 7516 is on too.
Seems they still haven't got the hang of Sapphire.
Still... Seems to be working better than in other parts of the country!

The Sapphires in other parts of the country are appearing off route whilst vehicles which aren't to Sapphire spec are being allocated to the Sapphire service.
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(18 Aug 2014, 1:25 pm)Dan wrote Still... Seems to be working better than in other parts of the country!

The Sapphires in other parts of the country are appearing off route whilst vehicles which aren't to Sapphire spec are being allocated to the Sapphire service.

Darlington/Durham seem to be the depots to actually get the Sapphire allocations right, apart from when the spare goes wandering
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(18 Aug 2014, 1:25 pm)Dan wrote Still... Seems to be working better than in other parts of the country!

The Sapphires in other parts of the country are appearing off route whilst vehicles which aren't to Sapphire spec are being allocated to the Sapphire service.

Indeed, The Shires haven't exactly got theirs working well - Sapphires seem to be on everything but 280s most of the time.

Rhyl - having 2 spares and managing to get all 18 branded examples on the 12 daily, are using theirs spares as spares for both the 12 and 11 (11 is to similar spec as our MAX vehicles).

Of course, just wait until after the Stockton launch - first Friday a Streetlite fails first use check and 1512 ends up starting the day on 5s, opens the chance for the defected one, if defects are sorted by lunchtime, to appear on the extra 7 working.
Site Administrator
Re: RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(18 Aug 2014, 1:47 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Indeed, The Shires haven't exactly got theirs working well - Sapphires seem to be on everything but 280s most of the time.

Rhyl - having 2 spares and managing to get all 18 branded examples on the 12 daily, are using theirs spares as spares for both the 12 and 11 (11 is to similar spec as our MAX vehicles).

Of course, just wait until after the Stockton launch - first Friday a Streetlite fails first use check and 1512 ends up starting the day on 5s, opens the chance for the defected one, if defects are sorted by lunchtime, to appear on the extra 7 working.
To get this back to the North East again... When is 1512 expected to receive refurbishment?
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(18 Aug 2014, 1:54 pm)Dan wrote To get this back to the North East again... When is 1512 expected to receive refurbishment?

To answer - nobody knows. We could see Stockton launch without a spare vehicle.
Site Administrator
Re: RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(18 Aug 2014, 1:56 pm)Kuyoyo wrote To answer - nobody knows. We could see Stockton launch without a spare vehicle.
I ain't complaining... I've only actually seen 1512 once, on 28s, and I wasn't in a position to get a photo as I'd have lost my place in the X93 queue!
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
When the Stockton and Redcar Sapphire services launch, giving the region 4 Sapphire spares, could these move around depots if they one of the Sapphire spares is off the road and a depot is already short of one Sapphire vehicle. Obviously only if needed?
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(18 Aug 2014, 2:02 pm)mb134 wrote When the Stockton and Redcar Sapphire services launch, giving the region 4 Sapphire spares, could these move around depots if they one of the Sapphire spares is off the road and a depot is already short of one Sapphire vehicle. Obviously only if needed?

Yes that is what is meant to happen already, if Durham need Darlingtons spare bus then they are meant to give them it. Same will happen with Stockton and Redcar, as Redcar are getting a spare and Stockton are not, though we will get 1512 refurbished with high back seats and wifi etc

Forum Moderator   | Let us know if you have any issues

Service Manager, Coatham Connect

RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(18 Aug 2014, 1:25 pm)Dan wrote Still... Seems to be working better than in other parts of the country!

The Sapphires in other parts of the country are appearing off route whilst vehicles which aren't to Sapphire spec are being allocated to the Sapphire service.

Could you imagine Blyth having the X10 / X11 Sapphire spec?
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
1920 on 15 this afternoon as a changeover for 1924.

Forum Moderator   | Let us know if you have any issues

Service Manager, Coatham Connect

RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(18 Aug 2014, 2:55 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yes that is what is meant to happen already, if Durham need Darlingtons spare bus then they are meant to give them it. Same will happen with Stockton and Redcar, as Redcar are getting a spare and Stockton are not, though we will get 1512 refurbished with high back seats and wifi etc

Whatvwill happen to 1512's old seats? Less than a year old!
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(19 Aug 2014, 7:09 am)Roland Pratt wrote What will happen to 1512's old seats? Less than a year old!

Used for the 685 vehicles?
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(19 Aug 2014, 7:09 am)Roland Pratt wrote Whatvwill happen to 1512's old seats? Less than a year old!

I believe they just take the plastic handles off the top and fix a headrest into them, rather than totally new seats.

Forum Moderator   | Let us know if you have any issues

Service Manager, Coatham Connect

RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(19 Aug 2014, 7:38 am)tyresmoke wrote I believe they just take the plastic handles off the top and fix a headrest into them, rather than totally new seats.

Ah right.
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(19 Aug 2014, 6:15 pm)Jimmi wrote Pulsar on the X66
2867 on the 3/19
1309 on 75/76

1426? I think the Pulsar was, by this afternoon 1762 had also appeared on the X66
Stockton meanwhile had 4508 on 9/27A and 4505 on plain 27s
Redcar had a mix of Darts on 63s including 2 minis, 1104? and 1739 I think
Also working for Whitby on X93 was Temsa 4718

Forum Moderator   | Let us know if you have any issues

Service Manager, Coatham Connect

Re: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
Was looking at the following link earlier, and wondering why Sapphire appears to be getting gradually downgraded... What happened to the wider high back seats for extra comfort? Ones on Pulsars and E400s in the NE are bog standard seats upholstered in e-leather. Hardly high back if you're taller than 6ft either.

Seems strange to have a branded service spec that differs pet service.

http://thebuspeople.co.uk/?p=1957
Forum Moderator | Find NEB on facebook
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(19 Aug 2014, 8:59 pm)aureolin wrote Was looking at the following link earlier, and wondering why Sapphire appears to be getting gradually downgraded... What happened to the wider high back seats for extra comfort? Ones on Pulsars and E400s in the NE are bog standard seats upholstered in e-leather. Hardly high back if you're taller than 6ft either.

Seems strange to have a branded service spec that differs pet service.

http://thebuspeople.co.uk/?p=1957

Wales only thing it seems - but then the Welsh are odd anyway Wink

Should consider ourselves lucky - Leicester's route have e-Leather on standard seats.
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
(19 Aug 2014, 8:59 pm)aureolin wrote Was looking at the following link earlier, and wondering why Sapphire appears to be getting gradually downgraded... What happened to the wider high back seats for extra comfort? Ones on Pulsars and E400s in the NE are bog standard seats upholstered in e-leather. Hardly high back if you're taller than 6ft either.

Seems strange to have a branded service spec that differs pet service.

http://thebuspeople.co.uk/?p=1957

I just wish I got a more comfortable seat than the flip down seats in the wheelchair bay on the 7 this afternoon, why on earth did Arriva have to go for that insane layout on the Sapphire Pulsars with pushchair bay where you can't fit a person and pushchair in and only has 40 seats rather than the standard 44.
RE: Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings
The Sapphire spec looks decent though still but I get what you mean about headrests and that's probably why they used 7501 - 7509 (8 - 1 spare) rather than 7514 to 7521 due to the cost. On that note, did Arriva add buggy bays to the 57 reg examples?