(30 Jan 2016, 7:31 pm)Davie wrote Does anyone know if 8270 went back on service X88, as me and Dan were on the 14:55 from Washington heading towards the Metrocentre, and it was chucking a load of white smoke, and smelt of burning (Typical Cadet). Once we reached the Metrocentre the driver was made aware, so he checked the engine and then went of to the layover bay with'Not In Service" on the blind.

8270 replaced another vehicle on service 4 at Concord around 10:35, and had a trip to Houghton and back before being replaced itself.

It was then allocated to service X88 for the 12:49 X88 service from Concord, and return journey, before going back to the depot. It was then allocated to service X88 again on the 14:49 X88 service from Concord, and, as you say, did not operate the return journey.

(30 Jan 2016, 7:39 pm)thetravelman wrote Would it not be more appropriate for a Dual-Door Volvo B7 to transfer to Percy Main for use on service 434, they are still younger than 3859.

Also, apart from running the Scholars service morning and afternoon, the 434 service never seems that busy, most times I've seen it pass at work, you are lucky if 4 or 5 people are on board often there is No passengers on board. This is usually between Sleekburn and Bedlington Stn, I'm not sure how busy it usually is towards Ashington and Linton.

I know even when Arriva ran this service, again in the same areas it was always almost empty.

Obviously, I don't know what its actual passenger loadings are, I am just expressing my opinion of what I see. I presume Dan or Citaro may be able to give a better indication of overall passenger numbers on this service.

It is not ideal for the depot to have to trek all the way to Ashington to replace a defective vehicle: this is probably why a younger Wright Eclipse Gemini bodied Volvo B7 was selected over an older East Lancs Vyking bodied example - the former is probably a lot more reliable.

In addition to that - without looking, I am unsure if there are any sort of contractual requirements with regards to capacity on service 448. 3859 seats 77 passengers, 3941 seats 74, and a Vyking seats 67 in total. It may be that 67 seats does not meet the required capacity for service 448?

As you say, it's not necessarily the 434 service which requires the double-deck capacity (if it was that busy, it wouldn't be secured by the local authority!)

(30 Jan 2016, 7:48 pm)DanPicken wrote There was 2 buses on today.

Roadworks on the A1 are causing delays to the X88 service. Where possible, Go North East is ensuring that the X88 service departs Concord on time, by deploying a spare bus and driver every trip. Drivers are also taking weird and wonderful routes to the Metrocentre (most often via Team Valley and Teams), in an attempt to combat delays.

The delayed bus then usually sits in Concord Bus Station or the depot until the next trip (becoming the spare bus), as in the above example with 8270.