(08 Jan 2019, 8:46 pm)S830OFT wrote I disagree, those over 65s have paid all their life so should be entitled to Free Travel. If a service isn't making enough revenue decrease the vehicle size or withdraw the service.

Is this a level of irony that’s gone way over my head?

“Give the pensioners free buses! And when the buses don’t make any money.....withdraw the buses!” 

Yay! Everybody looses!

(08 Jan 2019, 10:58 pm)James101 wrote Is this a level of irony that’s gone way over my head?

“Give the pensioners free buses! And when the buses don’t make any money.....withdraw the buses!” 

Yay! Everybody looses!

That's not what I'm trying to suggest, although it has happened on many occasions, Nexus or Councils usually step in to continue the service. Take the 87 and 88 from Stagecarriage for example, they got replaced by Stockton Council with a minibus, although the 271 service was withdrawn without replacement.

Nexus and the councils are being hit with heavy cuts, ever increasing year on year... the only way for many subsidised services to continue is if the passengers subsidise them! When commercial bus services have flopped, yes, Nexus and the councils do step in and fund them, but like I say, that pot is getting smaller.

As for DB selling off Arriva back to private ownership... Deutsche Bahn AG is a private company.

(09 Jan 2019, 12:58 am)omnicity4659 wrote Nexus and the councils are being hit with heavy cuts, ever increasing year on year... the only way for many subsidised services to continue is if the passengers subsidise them! When commercial bus services have flopped, yes, Nexus and the councils do step in and fund them, but like I say, that pot is getting smaller.

As for DB selling off Arriva back to private ownership... Deutsche Bahn AG is a private company.

Except the owners are the German Government.

Again, all this is irrelevant. It is a nationally mandated scheme, all road-based public transport providers (other than coach companies like Megabus) have to provide it and who owns the company is irrelevant. Only a change in the law can get rid of free bus passes and that can only be done by the government in for England & Wales, or the Scottish government for Scotland. It’s a pointless discussion, tbh.

New suggestion to get those god awful darts off the road at blyth.

1499 blyth to durham in trade for 7453
7411 to jesmond with 1497 joining 1499 at durham and 7454 going to blyth with 7453
1493 blyth to jesmond with 1479 going back to durham and 7455 joining 7453/4 in blyth
1501 blyth to jesmond allowing 7492 to go to durham and 7456 joining the rest of the lowlanders at blyth all to be allocated to the 2 allowing the solos move over to the 1 to replace the darts
7609/10 to also come to blyth to replace 1493 and 1501 on the X7/8 with 1503 swapping to ashington for 7446 which is to be spare for blyths network one single decker board will be on the 2 since there is 5 solos that currently run the 2 and that is to usualy be a commander.
Sunday allocations will change too to have the solos on the 57A as usual there will be 2 commanders on the 1 and 2 X9 pulsars on the 2/X16 with 2 lowlanders operating the X9 and the other 2 to be spare.

The lowlanders will add extra peak and school copacity on the 2 aswell as better more reliable buses.

(14 Jan 2019, 8:21 pm)GNE6312 wrote New suggestion to get those god awful darts off the road at blyth.

1499 blyth to durham in trade for 7453
7411 to jesmond with 1497 joining 1499 at durham and 7454 going to blyth with 7453
1493 blyth to jesmond with 1479 going back to durham and 7455 joining 7453/4 in blyth
1501 blyth to jesmond allowing 7492 to go to durham and 7456 joining the rest of the lowlanders at blyth all to be allocated to the 2 allowing the solos move over to the 1 to replace the darts
7609/10 to also come to blyth to replace 1493 and 1501 on the X7/8 with 1503 swapping to ashington for 7446 which is to be spare for blyths network one single decker board will be on the 2 since there is 5 solos that currently run the 2 and that is to usualy be a commander.
Sunday allocations will change too to have the solos on the 57A as usual there will be 2 commanders on the 1 and 2 X9 pulsars on the 2/X16 with 2 lowlanders operating the X9 and the other 2 to be spare.

The lowlanders will add extra peak and school copacity on the 2 aswell as better more reliable buses.

Belmont need the Lowlander's for scholars work, some of which interwork with service 43 and other stuff. Whitby Park & Ride needs double deckers although some younger one's will need to be sourced for next year due to restriction on contract no longer allowing anything older than 10 years being used. Nothing can really be replaced unless something can be added to the fleet to replace anything currently in the fleet or if PVR reductions or service withdrawals etc happen.

(14 Jan 2019, 8:21 pm)GNE6312 wrote New suggestion to get those god awful darts off the road at blyth.

1499 blyth to durham in trade for 7453
7411 to jesmond with 1497 joining 1499 at durham and 7454 going to blyth with 7453
1493 blyth to jesmond with 1479 going back to durham and 7455 joining 7453/4 in blyth
1501 blyth to jesmond allowing 7492 to go to durham and 7456 joining the rest of the lowlanders at blyth all to be allocated to the 2 allowing the solos move over to the 1 to replace the darts
7609/10 to also come to blyth to replace 1493 and 1501 on the X7/8 with 1503 swapping to ashington for 7446 which is to be spare for blyths network one single decker board will be on the 2 since there is 5 solos that currently run the 2 and that is to usualy be a commander.
Sunday allocations will change too to have the solos on the 57A as usual there will be 2 commanders on the 1 and 2 X9 pulsars on the 2/X16 with 2 lowlanders operating the X9 and the other 2 to be spare.

The lowlanders will add extra peak and school copacity on the 2 aswell as better more reliable buses.

So in other words; send all the shockers to Durham? 

MPDs have limited use here. They're ridiculous on the 56/57/57A and both the 49/49A and 64 are branded, Leaving the 61/62, which for most of the day is fine, but problematic during term time.

Whats the shelf like of the 28** batch of solos (excluding any 11/61 reg ones)

(16 Jan 2019, 8:40 pm)V514DFT wrote Whats the shelf like of the 28** batch of solos (excluding any 11/61 reg ones)

Decent, but not as good as what they used to be like.

(16 Jan 2019, 9:34 pm)S830OFT wrote Decent, but not as good as what they used to be like.

Certain ones better than others. Jesmond holds the best of the lot i reckon. Ashington and Belmont looks a bit outdated in the old livery. Blyths are getting better with repairs i think and 2870/1 have completely disappeared, they were mint them 2

(16 Jan 2019, 9:44 pm)JM03 wrote Certain ones better than others. Jesmond holds the best of the lot i reckon. Ashington and Belmont looks a bit outdated in the old livery. Blyths are getting better with repairs i think and 2870/1 have completely disappeared, they were mint them 2

They’re still in the NE

(16 Jan 2019, 10:16 pm)NewcastleOne wrote They’re still in the NE

Where?

(16 Jan 2019, 10:35 pm)JM03 wrote Where?

Whitby on 95, but occasionally pop up at Redcar.

(16 Jan 2019, 8:40 pm)V514DFT wrote Whats the shelf like of the 28** batch of solos (excluding any 11/61 reg ones)

Designed to last for around 12 years, so the oldest ones will be on borrowed time after next year.

(17 Jan 2019, 5:45 pm)pbjd wrote Designed to last for around 12 years, so the oldest ones will be on borrowed time after next year.

I'm sure Arriva will get more use than that, 1759 is still here and that's from late 2003...

New suggestion:
2801/02/10/16/21 to to go to yorkshire tiger in trade for SB180 MCV evolution 663-7 which will be used on the 2 and be fleet numbered 1395-99 they will recieve leather and usb ports aswell as a the Arriva livery with branding for the 2
1801 to swap with yorkshire tiger for 653 a MAN MCV evolutuon to be fleet numbered 1701 and that will receive leather seats and the Arriva livery with no branding and will be used on the 57/A
1800 will not swap.

(20 Jan 2019, 7:15 pm)GNE6312 wrote New suggestion:
2801/02/10/16/21 to to go to yorkshire tiger in trade for SB180 MCV evolution 663-7 which will be used on the 2 and be fleet numbered 1395-99 they will recieve leather and usb ports aswell as a the Arriva livery with branding for the 2
1801 to swap with yorkshire tiger for 653 a MAN MCV evolutuon to be fleet numbered 1701 and that will receive leather seats and the Arriva livery with no branding and will be used on the 57/A
1800 will not swap.

I'm sure Blyth need rid of the Commanders and MPDs prior to the Solos...

I'm sure that they need non-standard vehicles too...

New dart withdrawal suggestion:


5x wright streetairs for the 2 (1615-9) + 2 spare (1620/1)


4x streetlites for the X9 (1622-5) which will come in sapphire spec and get X9 branding + 2 spare (1626/7)
They will feature stop start technology

1502/4/5 are to move onto the 1 to allow for 1760/6/7 to be withdrawn
1493/1501/3 to join the other pulsars on the 1 (all getting branded for the 1) allowing 1768/69/91 with the X7/8 pulsars being replaced on the X7/8 by 7607/8 (7607 coming out of the role as a spare and being branded for the X7/8 7608 will also be X7/8 branded) the other bus will be a gemini or 1499/7(if the swap between 7411 & 1497 actually happens finally)

2 solos will go to ashington for the 57/A replacing 1800/1
1 solo will go to redcar to replace 1753
With another solo going to belmont replacing 1773
The last dart will go to ashington in trade for 7484 which can be used as a spare for Blyth's network and the solo being used on the 35


What do you think?

(29 Jan 2019, 9:52 pm)GNE6312 wrote New dart withdrawal suggestion:


5x wright streetairs for the 2 (1615-9) + 2 spare (1620/1)


4x streetlites for the X9 (1622-5) which will come in sapphire spec and get X9 branding + 2 spare (1626/7)
They will feature stop start technology

1502/4/5 are to move onto the 1 to allow for 1760/6/7 to be withdrawn
1493/1501/3 to join the other pulsars on the 1 (all getting branded for the 1) allowing 1768/69/91 with the X7/8 pulsars being replaced on the X7/8 by 7607/8 (7607 coming out of the role as a spare and being branded for the X7/8 7608 will also be X7/8 branded) the other bus will be a gemini or 1499/7(if the swap between 7411 & 1497 actually happens finally)

2 solos will go to ashington for the 57/A replacing 1800/1
1 solo will go to redcar to replace 1753
With another solo going to belmont replacing 1773
The last dart will go to ashington in trade for 7484 which can be used as a spare for Blyth's network and the solo being used on the 35


What do you think?

Streetair's are awful, if you are going to replace Solos then I would buy Solo SR's

(29 Jan 2019, 9:52 pm)GNE6312 wrote New dart withdrawal suggestion:


5x wright streetairs for the 2 (1615-9) + 2 spare (1620/1)


4x streetlites for the X9 (1622-5) which will come in sapphire spec and get X9 branding + 2 spare (1626/7)
They will feature stop start technology

1502/4/5 are to move onto the 1 to allow for 1760/6/7 to be withdrawn
1493/1501/3 to join the other pulsars on the 1 (all getting branded for the 1) allowing 1768/69/91 with the X7/8 pulsars being replaced on the X7/8 by 7607/8 (7607 coming out of the role as a spare and being branded for the X7/8 7608 will also be X7/8 branded) the other bus will be a gemini or 1499/7(if the swap between 7411 & 1497 actually happens finally)

2 solos will go to ashington for the 57/A replacing 1800/1
1 solo will go to redcar to replace 1753
With another solo going to belmont replacing 1773
The last dart will go to ashington in trade for 7484 which can be used as a spare for Blyth's network and the solo being used on the 35


What do you think?

1759 is only at Redcar whilst the Temsas go for refurbishment.

35 needs deckers for peak times, no point taking them off or we'll go back to all the problems we had a couple of years back...

The 1/2 would be best suited with StreetLites, maybe the short ones as per the Darlo 1/5/5A. The Pulsars should stay on the expresses as they're more capable than the StreetLites. Also, no fancy spec or liveries either, just paint all the buses at the depot into Standard and fit all the usual features such as USBs etc.

(29 Jan 2019, 10:23 pm)Malarkey wrote Streetair's are awful, if you are going to replace Solos then I would buy Solo SR's

I haven't been on a streetair but they seem decent. So what problems do they have so I can consider the changing the suggestion?

---

(30 Jan 2019, 12:38 am)S830OFT wrote 1759 is only at Redcar whilst the Temsas go for refurbishment.

Thats the one I mean

(30 Jan 2019, 1:19 am)omnicity4659 wrote 35 needs deckers for peak times, no point taking them off or we'll go back to all the problems we had a couple of years back...

The 1/2 would be best suited with StreetLites, maybe the short ones as per the Darlo 1/5/5A. The Pulsars should stay on the expresses as they're more capable than the StreetLites. Also, no fancy spec or liveries either, just paint all the buses at the depot into Standard and fit all the usual features such as USBs etc.

The 1 doesn't need new buses because the passengers in ashington grafiti them and allsorts hence the pulsars and the 2 and X9 get the buses I suggested

(30 Jan 2019, 7:59 am)GNE6312 wrote The 1 doesn't need new buses because the passengers in ashington grafiti them and allsorts hence the pulsars and the 2 and X9 get the buses I suggested

Everywhere you go a bus can be vandalised...

(30 Jan 2019, 7:59 am)GNE6312 wrote The 1 doesn't need new buses because the passengers in ashington grafiti them and allsorts hence the pulsars and the 2 and X9 get the buses I suggested

Is this based on a fact, or just a stereotype?

I can assure you that I've seen more vandalism in action on Blyth expresses than the locals...!

(31 Jan 2019, 2:47 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Is this based on a fact, or just a stereotype?

I can assure you that I've seen more vandalism in action on Blyth expresses than the locals...!

We might need more Security Steve's lol!

(30 Jan 2019, 7:59 am)GNE6312 wrote The 1 doesn't need new buses because the passengers in ashington grafiti them and allsorts hence the pulsars and the 2 and X9 get the buses I suggested

Yet Arriva have a Sapphire route operating out of Ashington, with vehicles that were all bought new...

(31 Jan 2019, 2:47 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Is this based on a fact, or just a stereotype?

I can assure you that I've seen more vandalism in action on Blyth expresses than the locals...!

Fact. The darts usually have scrached windows on the inside and once I seen one with oi oi written in marker pen. And alot of  people get on drunk at Ashington so they are likely to grafiti too.