(31 Jul 2023, 7:20 pm)mb134 wrote 2856 runs a tad warm. 


I mean, aren't issues more likely to become major when you're asking a 13 year old minibus to complete a relatively demanding interurban route compared to it trundling around Darlington? 

They're also being used on said route 7 days a week, from start until end of service, and being driven by the newest drivers (who I imagine are more likely to report potential issues, being fresh out of the training school, requiring the bus to be checked by engineering and taken out of service).

Guess that's why it's not allowed on it.

(31 Jul 2023, 9:01 pm)peter wrote While I don't want to comment on Ashington's engineering, I do find it noteworthy that of the solo's remaining with Arriva Durham County, the 11-plates are seemingly being withdrawn before the 59-plates which, as you say, seem to handle some pretty intensive services around Durham not just Darlington town.

To be fair, apart from the 57/57A/58. Durham's work isn't particular that hard, the 49/49A is pretty much just trundling along at 30 mph for most of it's route and that was mostly their allocation. It's no worse than any of the Darlington work compared to the 57/57A which has quite a few 60 mph sections and it's usually where they break. Earsdon Road, in particular, seems to be a hot spot for killing them off.

I was going to say they had a good day, the 3 working but I'd be lying and something has clearly gone wrong with 2852 with it leaving Whitley Bay 30 minutes late, then being pulled at Cramlington.