Got a free Sapphire DaySaver through the post today.  

(25 Mar 2015, 7:45 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Got a free Sapphire DaySaver through the post today.  

I got some of these awhile back sometime after the 7 became Sapphire.

Lots of people I know got them so I pinched them off everyone which was brilliant.

As someone has posted them on Facebook - here are the registrations for the new vehicles:

ADL E400
7534 NK15ACF
7535 NK15ACJ
7536 NK15ACO
7537 NK15DZO
7538 NK15DZP
7539 NK15DZR
7540 NK15DZS

Wright Streetlite
Darlington (MAX X1)
1590 NK15AAE
1591 NK15AAF
1592 NK15AAJ
1593 NK15AAN
1594 NK15AAO
Durham (Sapphire 22)
1595 NK15AAU
1596 NK15AAV
1597 NK15AAX
1598 NK15AAY
1599 NK15AAZ
1600 NK15ABX
1601 NK15ABZ

Note that there are 7 new Streetlites for the 22, not 6 as I previously thought.
The E400s for Durham are to be used on service 24, alongside the 5 cascaded Pulsars

EDIT: Can confirm now for sure that two of our MAX Streetlites, 1593 and 1594, are fitted with Euro6 Daimler engines which are understood to be (long term) demonstration models

Makes you wonder how they can realistically act as demonstrator models, when they'll be route branded for a particular service?

(25 Mar 2015, 9:57 pm)aureolin wrote Makes you wonder how they can realistically act as demonstrator models, when they'll be route branded for a particular service?

Same as the Streetdeck on Derby's 38 I guess

(25 Mar 2015, 7:56 pm)Jimmi wrote I got some of these awhile back sometime after the 7 became Sapphire.

Lots of people I know got them so I pinched them off everyone which was brilliant.

I had one posted to me two weeks after the Sapphire X21/22 launch, and then yesterday.

If they get posted to everyone, I'm still waiting for my Sapphire goodies... 

(24 Mar 2015, 9:23 pm)tyresmoke wrote 1578 arrived at Darlington to be used for familiarisation I understand.

Sapphire launches for 22/24 programmed for w/c 12th April, not sure which day yet though! The MAX ones on the X1 will probably go out before then

Revenue Inspector did familiarisation with X1 drivers at Bishop Auckland Bus Station during their breaktimes

Tommy- Do you know if 7525 has had it's panel replaced yet? 

Also, the WiFi on 7501 is either dreadfully slow, or not working at all.

(26 Mar 2015, 7:12 pm)mb134 wrote Tommy- Do you know if 7525 has had it's panel replaced yet? 

Also, the WiFi on 7501 is either dreadfully slow, or not working at all.

It hasn't. I was told about it again last night or the night before.

(26 Mar 2015, 7:12 pm)mb134 wrote Tommy- Do you know if 7525 has had it's panel replaced yet? 

Haven't seen it today, so I think it's still got it on.

mb134


Also, the WiFi on 7501 is either dreadfully slow, or not working at all.

I did a wifi test when it was in the stand, it connected but slowly.

I have been told that 1792 and 1801 do not have WiFi. I tested these and there is no WiFi fitted.

(26 Mar 2015, 7:16 pm)Dan wrote It hasn't. I was told about it again last night or the night before.

(26 Mar 2015, 7:21 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Haven't seen it today, so I think it's still got it on.



I did a wifi test when it was in the stand, it connected but slowly.

I have been told that 1792 and 1801 do not have WiFi. I tested these and there is no WiFi fitted.

Hmmmm, not even going to bother asking why, because it's Ashington...

Ah okay, that'll be why then, my phone avoids poor connections...

(26 Mar 2015, 7:16 pm)Dan wrote It hasn't. I was told about it again last night or the night before.

Doing that much work, he does not know what day it is 

(26 Mar 2015, 7:37 pm)citaro5284 wrote Doing that much work, he does not know what day it is 

It's Sunday, Dan  

(26 Mar 2015, 7:37 pm)citaro5284 wrote Doing that much work, he does not know what day it is 

The days of the week lose their meaning when you don't have a set routine to follow every hour!

Another thing that I've noticed that Ashington's Sapphire service lacks, compared to others (from what I know) is that they lack the "Sapphire" stickers on the driver's doors, again I know it's quite picky, but it is another inconsistency.

Additionally, I was on 7515 the other day and it still retains it's old "Welcome Aboard" sticker, not the MAX ones that most other MAX buses I've seen (again, not Ashington) have. It seems as though Ashington just don't do anything properly...

Is it safe to transport a vehicle like this, looks extremely low?!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/1679...otostream/

(26 Mar 2015, 9:01 pm)mb134 wrote Another thing that I've noticed that Ashington's Sapphire service lacks, compared to others (from what I know) is that they lack the "Sapphire" stickers on the driver's doors, again I know it's quite picky, but it is another inconsistency.

Additionally, I was on 7515 the other day and it still retains it's old "Welcome Aboard" sticker, not the MAX ones that most other MAX buses I've seen (again, not Ashington) have. It seems as though Ashington just don't do anything properly...

I think all other Sapphire and MAX services I have been on (minus recent referbs such as X12 Pulsars and Geminis which aren't branded yet) have the stickers on the drivers cab door, Darlington's Omnicitys briefly didn't carry the MAX stickers on the cab door with some carrying the Welcome / Hello stickers but now have the MAX stickers.

Ashington's Sapphire / MAX operation is frankly embarrassing, non spec buses appearing on these routes regularly and various other things.

Darlington could do with been looked at too as yesterday it was reported a Solo, 1307 and MAX spare were out on the X26/X27 recently, although some of the Omnicitys keep going away for new engines I think or something like that.

Will Ashington be replacing 7501 - 7509 over the next few years?

7620 in MAX will be the 0740ish X12 departure from Durham to Boro, if anyone is after a photo.

(26 Mar 2015, 11:44 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Will Ashington be replacing 7501 - 7509 over the next few years?

If they don't, I will make them by burning the damn things. 

mb134:- Aye, I've noticed the lack of Sapphire/MAX stickers on the drivers door, but then look at the MAXes, still got Lingfield Point advertising from when they were at Darlington.

I've mentioned many times - Arriva need to remove these vehicles from service, and source spares, no matter of which subsidy their from, to sort these vehicles out. The moulded seats at the front, back and top right have different levels of cushion, varies from no cushion to lots of cushion.

If I had buses (WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO SPARKLE!) so shoddily refurbished - I would send them back and expect them to be sorted out at the refurbishment company's own cost.

Also, as 7515 is a MAX spare vehicle, so shouldn't it carry the "this is our spare" not the "Quick links to Newcastle"?

I'm going to use my free DaySaver, although I should have one posted to me every time I use Sapphire, as I cba to telephone customer services and ask for my no quibble money back guarantee.

That's my mini rant over  

Ecocity 4802 broken down on woodland road this morning cones placed round the bus as a warning to let other motorists know but yet a bloke in a polo still manages to collide into the back of it and i mean a full on collision into it another ecocity off road for a while

(27 Mar 2015, 7:53 am)ross13 wrote Ecocity 4802 broken down on woodland road this morning cones placed round the bus as a warning to let other motorists know but yet a bloke in a polo still manages to collide into the back of it and i mean a full on collision into it  another ecocity off road for a while

Won't be long until Arriva wrap all if their buses is bubble wrap.... 

(27 Mar 2015, 7:47 am)Tommy_1581 wrote If they don't, I will make them by burning the damn things. 

mb134:- Aye, I've noticed the lack of Sapphire/MAX stickers on the drivers door, but then look at the MAXes, still got Lingfield Point advertising from when they were at Darlington.

I've mentioned many times - Arriva need to remove these vehicles from service, and source spares, no matter of which subsidy their from, to sort these vehicles out. The moulded seats at the front, back and top right have different levels of cushion, varies from no cushion to lots of cushion.

If I had buses (WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO SPARKLE!) so shoddily refurbished - I would send them back and expect them to be sorted out at the refurbishment company's own cost.

Also, as 7515 is a MAX spare vehicle, so shouldn't it carry the "this is our spare" not the "Quick links to Newcastle"?

I'm going to use my free DaySaver, although I should have one posted to me every time I use Sapphire, as I cba to telephone customer services and ask for my no quibble money back guarantee.

That's my mini rant over  

Put it this way, this week I've been on 7501 three times , 7503/5/15/22/24 once each, and I far preferred my journeys on 7515/22/24, I find the Sapphire refurbs quite dull places to be, with the tinted windows, add to that the rather worrying noises and it just isn't a nice place to be.

Moving on........

2805 is now at Stockton on 7s today (0826 from Stockton, so xx31 until lunchtime, will be xx01 by the end of the day)

Just seen a Sapphire Enviro heading along the Spine Road, towards Ashington, too far away to see if it was in service.

Some X21 and 35/35A journeys are being cancelled on arrival in Ashington/Newcastle. 1/X20/X21/X22/35/35A routes are all facing major disruption.

---

Just seen two X21s running in twos, my mam waited around 40 minutes for a bus at Wansbeck Hospital.

(27 Mar 2015, 4:01 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Some X21 and 35/35A journeys are being cancelled on arrival in Ashington/Newcastle. 1/X20/X21/X22/35/35A routes are all facing major disruption.

---

Just seen two X21s running in twos, my mam waited around 40 minutes for a bus at Wansbeck Hospital.

Must have been lucky then! Mine was on time (15.42 from Bedlington Red Lion to Newcastle)

It was driven by a driver I find to always be on time though, maybe that was the reason. Think it was 7526 can't remember fully 

I've just passed 7528 NIS heading out of Newcastle, with an in-service 57 plate following (on an X21)

As Kuyoyo posted earlier 2805 has arrived at Stockton and it has also been joined by 2829 so we now have all of our Solos finally! 1102 was also in our yard this afternoon with the spare buses, not sure why...