(11 Oct 2022, 6:58 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Medway Estate used to boast the M55 and 355 using Volvo B10BLEs. However having driving around the estate recently photoing the ADL E200MMCs on the 55, it looks tricky for full length buses to get around it now due to the amount of cars that park on the estate. I think Arriva will end up chopping the service leaving Nexus to fund the replacement either in the form of a like for like bus service or rerouting the 335/342 through the estate whilst arranging for "Express" services to stop on the unserved part of the routes from Four Lane Ends to Newcastle.
The X7 and X8 already stop at every bus stop now. It's just not very well advertised and no-one knows about it. Has been like that since March with the 52 doing between Four Lane Ends and South Gosforth. It's a strange bus route which isn't really needed at all (subsidy wise), Meadway having the Metro which does pretty much the same route or 62/63 (whichever one it is) doing the other side.
(13 Oct 2022, 12:00 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Noticed an Arriva London Gemini and an E400 on the backs of Thorntons' trailers yesterday afternoon, on the Spine Road headed towards Ashington. It's been rumoured in the past that there may be London stock coming up for the region?
Not sure which ones these are but a lot of the buses Arriva are withdrawing in London currently aren't owned by them and were leased. They've been keen in getting arid of them recently. Quite likely be one of those.