Hasn't been noted yet but 2 sapphire enviro 400 have arrived at darlington these being 7534 and a unidentified one

Does anyone have any info about 7487? Last update on our fleet list was that it's under repair, but that was 6 month ago?

(09 Apr 2015, 7:15 pm)aureolin wrote Does anyone have any info about 7487? Last update on our fleet list was that it's under repair, but that was 6 month ago?

It arrived at Redcar a week or so ago, not been on the road yet though.
Should be "refurbished" to the same standard as 7486 ie high back seats

7485/6 both on 64s yesterday! 4709 also on 64s, with supplies of Whitby Park and ride leaflets still on board!

7438 appears to have failed on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland. Hazard lights on, no passengers, and driver is on his phone to someone.

(11 Apr 2015, 1:07 pm)Dan wrote 7438 appears to have failed on the outskirts of Bishop Auckland. Hazard lights on, no passengers, and driver is on his phone to someone.

Passengers probably destroyed it after getting fed up with the Urban90 seating 

There are currently 3 15-reg Sapphire E400s in Ashington depot. Dont know why, could be last minute changes?

I think I've asked this previously, however I've done some searches of the keywords I think I used, and couldn't find a thing, so apologies initially for that, anyway :

As Arriva allocated the B9's fleetnumbers 7401-6, does this mean that they are considering buying more Volvo double deckers in the future, or was it just a case of not wanting to move a few fleetnumbers around at the back end of 74xx? 

Again, apologies if I have asked this before, I'm positive I have, just can't remember for the life of me what the response was, or where I put it, cheers  

(11 Apr 2015, 3:01 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote There are currently 3 15-reg Sapphire E400s in Ashington depot. Dont know why, could be last minute changes?

Could it be prep? 

Ashington would have set up the last batch /know what to do, better than any other depot?

It could also be driver training?? 

(11 Apr 2015, 3:07 pm)mb134 wrote Could it be prep? 

Ashington would have set up the last batch /know what to do, better than any other depot?

It could also be driver training?? 

Prep is normally done at Jesmond?

I'd doubt it if Darlington have have already received a couple that they're prepping them here.

(11 Apr 2015, 3:30 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Prep is normally done at Jesmond?

I'd doubt it if Darlington have have already received a couple that they're prepping them here.

I was thinking more setting up mechanically etc. The only reason I could think of for them being there, other than driver type training. 

I'll try and get fleet numbers/reg after I've had my dinner, obviously with my one year old camera.

(11 Apr 2015, 3:33 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote I'll try and get fleet numbers/reg after I've had my dinner, obviously with my one year old camera.

Is the guy you normally talk to at the bus station? Would he know?

(11 Apr 2015, 3:33 pm)mb134 wrote I was thinking more setting up mechanically etc. The only reason I could think of for them being there, other than driver type training. 

My driver said that they've been there since this morning and he seen them again when he went and got something from the depot, they're unbranded. Hopefully they'll get a route a bit more local than Durham 

However, time will tell if they've changed the plans and send us the new ones and give greedy Durham the 57-reg ones (where they belong).

Well Davey Bowyer might be impressed if they're staying 

(11 Apr 2015, 3:38 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote My driver said that they've been there since this morning and he seen them again when he went and got something from the depot, they're unbranded. Hopefully they'll get a route a bit more local than Durham 

However, time will tell if they've changed the plans and send us the new ones and give greedy Durham the 57-reg ones (where they belong).

Well Davey Bowyer might be impressed if they're staying 

I still maintain that Arriva need to replace these ASAP, from my outings last week the only one's I saw over 10 minutes late were 7501-9. I know this might come across a bit unappreciative, but until they get them off, reliability is not going to improve, so growth of the service won't be what it potentially can be.

Additionally, I know that some people may have experienced them occasionally and they may seem fine, but when you get them every day (and rely on them being on time for a connection), you start to get a bit fed up.

Well they might just end up doing this:

- 7534 to 7540 to Ashington for the X21 / X22. This then means alongside 7522-7528 and 7518 that the X21 / X22 will have an almost new fleet of buses.
- One of the best of 7501 to 7509 remain at Ashington as spare for the X21 / X22.
- Rest go to Durham for the 6 / 7.

(11 Apr 2015, 4:01 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Well they might just end up doing this:

- 7534 to 7540 to Ashington for the X21 / X22. This then means alongside 7522-7528 and 7518 that the X21 / X22 will have an almost new fleet of buses.
- One of the best of 7501 to 7509 remain at Ashington as spare for the X21 / X22.
- Rest go to Durham for the 6 / 7.

You should see if they can do a deal and get 6099 or 100 from Deptford when they are on

(11 Apr 2015, 4:01 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Well they might just end up doing this:

- 7534 to 7540 to Ashington for the X21 / X22. This then means alongside 7522-7528 and 7518 that the X21 / X22 will have an almost new fleet of buses.
- One of the best of 7501 to 7509 remain at Ashington as spare for the X21 / X22.
- Rest go to Durham for the 6 / 7.

Anyone know the height of the 57 reg Enviro 400's as I don't think they'd fit under Priestgate in Darlington, also do you think it's fair for the passengers on the 7 to get these old sheds in place of modern stock especially with the awful piles of garbage that came before the Pulsars. Also the Enviro 400's are no longer going on the 6 and will now be allocated to service 24 which runs on a half hourly frequency so the passenger numbers would sharp drop if those old heaps end up breaking down on there all the time.

I know the 57 reg heaps are terrible but it seems like they will be used on the X21/X22 for the foreseeable future much to your dismay.

7536 (NK15 ACO) and 7540 (NK15 DZS) were on show in the yard. The other E400 was either on the jacks or it didn't exist. Both are unbranded and have the fleet numbers on a A4 piece of paper stuck on the window similar to when the 14 and 57 batch were about to be branded.

Maybe it's just a lack of storage space at Jesmond..?

I agree with Davey that the X21/22 needs replacements for 7501-9, however I don't think that they should then go onto a service that has newer stock currently. I think the best bet for them would be to send them onto a service that currently has old stock, but is profitable (if such a route exists). Either way, most of them are shot and only any real use on a local town/city service, not an "express" route. 

Also to note at Ashington depot was a small sign next to the gates with "ASHINGTON & NEWCASTLE twinned with HECKMONDWIKE" "Arri va va voom"

(11 Apr 2015, 4:40 pm)Dan wrote Maybe it's just a lack of storage space at Jesmond..?

There are already Sapphire E400s at Darlington, so couldn't these have been sent down as well, instead of being at Ashington? Could have sent them to Belmont or Blyth if that was the case.

Is it possible that Ashington could be preparing the Enviro 400s for service to send them to Darlington/Belmont as it could be a case that Jesmond could be busy trying to get the StreetLite's ready for Darlington/Belmont.

(11 Apr 2015, 4:40 pm)mb134 wrote I agree with Davey that the X21/22 needs replacements for 7501-9, however I don't think that they should then go onto a service that has newer stock currently. I think the best bet for them would be to send them onto a service that currently has old stock, but is profitable (if such a route exists). Either way, most of them are shot and only any real use on a local town/city service, not an "express" route. 

They're better on an express route to Alpha's. Of course in true style on the back of an Alpha truck 

1595 should now be at Darlington as I passed it on Durham Road.

(11 Apr 2015, 5:18 pm)danpick wrote 1595 should now be at Darlington as I passed it on Durham Road.

1595 is a Sapphire example so it won't be going to Darlington, the Sapphire examples are going to Belmont.

Darlington is only getting MAX StreetLite's.

(11 Apr 2015, 4:22 pm)Jimmi wrote Anyone know the height of the 57 reg Enviro 400's as I don't think they'd fit under Priestgate in Darlington, also do you think it's fair for the passengers on the 7 to get these old sheds in place of modern stock especially with the awful piles of garbage that came before the Pulsars. Also the Enviro 400's are no longer going on the 6 and will now be allocated to service 24 which runs on a half hourly frequency so the passenger numbers would sharp drop if those old heaps end up breaking down on there all the time.

I know the 57 reg heaps are terrible but it seems like they will be used on the X21/X22 for the foreseeable future much to your dismay.

They are 14ft 6ins, which I doubt would be considered by Arriva an ideal allocation for the 7.

Also, why would Arriva pay however many millions on these 5 E400s for the 7 and 2 for the 24 (now) and instead give them to Ashington, who's present standing in the North East Sapphire table I understand is terrible?

There's also the fact that since last year, Thorntons have branded all new Sapphire vehicles might explain why 7536/40 are at Ashington.

(11 Apr 2015, 5:41 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Also, why would Arriva pay however many millions on these 5 E400s for the 7 and 2 for the 24 (now) and instead give them to Ashington, who's present standing in the North East Sapphire table I understand is terrible?

There's also the fact that since last year, Thorntons have branded all new Sapphire vehicles might explain why 7536/40 are at Ashington.

If Thornton's brand the Sapphire vehicles - why haven't I seen Pulsars and StreetLites in Ashington depot?   

Surely they could have taken them straight to Thornton's without faffing about with them in Ashington depot?   

Seems that drivers of the X93 still haven't got used to the split route. I saw two consecutive services (Temsa and B7) between Whitby and Scarborough with 'Guisborough' on the destination. According to the B7, it wasnt even supposed to be going to Scarborough as it had Guisborough for Whitby Only on the display.