4653 seen in layby between Seaton Burn and Moor Farm w rear engine cover open and breakdown vehicle in attendance

(18 May 2016, 9:02 am)BusLoverMum wrote I thought the same. The routes concerned are much more like Sapphire routes. Maybe Belmont thought they'd reached peak Sapphire, though.

What makes a route suitable for Sapphire branding, i also thought that max routes where for long distance routes such as the x12, the branding at times really isn't easy to get your head around.

(18 May 2016, 6:14 pm)OW1762 wrote What makes a route suitable for Sapphire branding, i also thought that max routes where for long distance routes such as the x12, the branding at times really isn't easy to get your head around.

Typically, the Max routes are the X services, either involving a long non-stop stretch eg the A66 or places where they're limited stop. Some of the Sapphire services are very long - the 22 and 24 are both a 3 hour round trip Durham - Sunderland/Hartlepool - Durham (the drivers must need a bladder like a hot water bottle!) There are some exceptions, though - the X21/X22 Ashington-Newcastle services are Sapphire, for example.

(18 May 2016, 6:42 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Typically, the Max routes are the X services, either involving a long non-stop stretch eg the A66 or places where they're limited stop. Some of the Sapphire services are very long - the 22 and 24 are both a 3 hour round trip Durham - Sunderland/Hartlepool - Durham (the drivers must need a bladder like a hot water bottle!) There are some exceptions, though - the X21/X22 Ashington-Newcastle services are Sapphire, for example.

I think it was said that the 46 would be renumbered X46 in line with the MAX upgrade. Nothing was ever mentioned of the 48 being marketed as a MAX service, though, despite services 46 and 48 still interworking once the MAX upgrade is done.

(16 May 2016, 11:48 pm)Jimmi wrote Is there any particular reason why 1498 always seems to be the go to allocation for Darlington's offering on the Moorsbus services? Just seems rather strange that it's always that one, especially when newer examples are available. The only conclusion I've managed to come to is, that it has a sticker for the National Park or something like that under the side destination screen.

Given 1498 spent a considerable amount of time off road due to accident repairs, it will probably have a lower mileage than other Pulsars.

The 335 has pvr 2

(18 May 2016, 9:57 pm)dannygee wrote The 335 has pvr 2

Updated

sorry to ask but what MPDS dose belmont have from Ashington cause 1 week i see 1761 1792 then another week i see 1761 1790

(19 May 2016, 6:13 am)jaimzm wrote sorry to ask but what MPDS dose belmont have from Ashington cause 1 week i see 1761 1792 then another week i see 1761 1790

1761, 1762, 1766, 1790, 1792.

Which ones you'll see will depend on what's allocated where and if any are VOR or anything like that. One MPD hides away on service 168 round the Hetton-le-Hole area each day.

(19 May 2016, 7:08 am)Jimmi wrote 1761, 1762, 1766, 1790, 1792.

Which ones you'll see will depend on what's allocated where and if any are VOR or anything like that. One MPD hides away on service 168 round the Hetton-le-Hole area each day.

Oh right so what Ashington go in return they got 2 solos to replace the 3 MPDS and thank you

(19 May 2016, 7:38 am)jaimzm wrote Oh right so what Ashington go in return they got 2 solos to replace the 3 MPDS and thank you

Ashington got 2809 and 2812.

Does anyone know why this swap between Ashington and Belmont took place? Just seems a bit odd that it happened and I haven't really heard any real reasons as to why it happened. Also seems daft as most the MPD's that went to Belmont have rear adverts for Internet or WiFi in Northumberland.

(19 May 2016, 7:51 am)Jimmi wrote Ashington got 2809 and 2812.

Does anyone know why this swap between Ashington and Belmont took place? Just seems a bit odd that it happened and I haven't really heard any real reasons as to why it happened. Also seems daft as most the MPD's that went to Belmont have rear adverts for Internet or WiFi in Northumberland.

I believe it took place when Ashington gained a turn on the evening 57a runs which are of course paid for by NEXUS within North Tyneside Council area and therefore require vehicles with Euro4 engines.

(17 May 2016, 7:18 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Knowing Arriva's most recent marketing faux pas, the actual launch will be before there's any Max spec vehicles available. Though, you never know, they may have learnt from that mistake!

The max decker at Gilesgate has been explained in the rare and odd workings thread, now, anyhow: 7609 on the 64.

It should have changed as of Sunday 15th May.  The new running boards on the 46s now say the allocation is 'Volvo B7TL', but since the only one we've been sent is 7423 and its condition wasn't too good to say the least, I wouldn't be surprised if they've postponed it.

(19 May 2016, 8:01 am)Kuyoyo wrote I believe it took place when Ashington gained a turn on the evening 57a runs which are of course paid for by NEXUS within North Tyneside Council area and therefore require vehicles with Euro4 engines.

Apparently the Solos are Euro 5, from what we've been told.  1792 was sent back to Ashington, and 1790 was sent in its place.

More from the interworking of the 5/12 in Darlington

If the journey arrives in Darlington as a service 5 it then goes not in service for 15 minutes and then does a 1

If the journey arrives in Darlington as a 5A it then goes on to the service 12, does the full 12 circle and then goes back on a service 1

(19 May 2016, 1:23 pm)palatine3833 wrote Apparently the Solos are Euro 5, from what we've been told.  1792 was sent back to Ashington, and 1790 was sent in its place.

There Euro 4, Only Solo's that are Euro 5 are Darlington's 11 Reg ones and the 59 Reg ones might be Euro 5 too.

(19 May 2016, 3:26 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote There Euro 4, Only Solo's that are Euro 5 are Darlington's 11 Reg ones and the 59 Reg ones might be Euro 5 too.

1792 has wifi and 1790 doesnt

(19 May 2016, 3:26 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote There Euro 4, Only Solo's that are Euro 5 are Darlington's 11 Reg ones and the 59 Reg ones might be Euro 5 too.

If you check the NEB fleet list for Arriva, you will find that the 08 & 58 reg Solos are Euro 5.

(19 May 2016, 3:31 pm)NK53 TKT wrote 57/57A: PVR 4
4 MPDs

Ashington currently have 2 Optare Solo's for this.

I also think, for the remainder of the routes, it's probably better to state vehicle type only. (Otherwise you could have people stating 7509 on the X21/22 as a rare/odd working, for example.)

(19 May 2016, 1:43 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote More from the interworking of the 5/12 in Darlington

If the journey arrives in Darlington as a service 5 it then goes not in service for 15 minutes and then does a 1

If the journey arrives in Darlington as a 5A it then goes on to the service 12, does the full 12 circle and then goes back on a service 1

Working all this out must have taken a fair bit of coffee!

(19 May 2016, 4:49 pm)John_R wrote If you check the NEB fleet list for Arriva, you will find that the 08 & 58 reg Solos are Euro 5.

How? Euro 5 wasn't for another 1 and a half years later, Unless they've been Eminoxed like what GNE done with some of their Scania's.

(19 May 2016, 6:58 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote How? Euro 5 wasn't for another 1 and a half years later, Unless they've been Eminoxed like what GNE done with some of their Scania's.

Go North East's Mercedes Citaros new in 2007 and 2008 are Euro 5 (with no SCRT mods).

Not sure where 2009 comes into it?

(19 May 2016, 7:14 pm)Dan wrote Go North East's Mercedes Citaros new in 2007 and 2008 are Euro 5 (with no SCRT mods).

Not sure where 2009 comes into it?

Yes I know, Only Mercedes made the jump from Euro 3 to Euro 5 without bothering with Euro 5, Rival's Scania didn't start producing Euro 5 Engines until late 2009, Stagecoach's first and second batch of N230UDs on E400 bodies were Euro 4 and the second batch was a year later than these Solo's, Which are Euro 5 apparently.

2009 was the deadline for all New Vehicles to be Euro 5, Arriva got away with there 59 and 10 reg Pulsar's as there engines were already in the UK before the deadline came.

(19 May 2016, 7:21 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Yes I know, Only Mercedes made the jump from Euro 3 to Euro 5 without bothering with Euro 5, Rival's Scania didn't start producing Euro 5 Engines until late 2009, Stagecoach's first and second batch of N230UDs on E400 bodies were Euro 4 and the second batch was a year later than these Solo's, Which are Euro 5 apparently.

2009 was the deadline for all New Vehicles to be Euro 5, Arriva got away with there 59 and 10 reg Pulsar's as there engines were already in the UK before the deadline came.

Not sure what you mean here, I believe that all ANE Pulsars are Euro 5?

(19 May 2016, 7:29 pm)mb134 wrote Not sure what you mean here, I believe that all ANE Pulsars are Euro 5?

I was under that impression too..?

(19 May 2016, 7:29 pm)mb134 wrote Not sure what you mean here, I believe that all ANE Pulsars are Euro 5?

(19 May 2016, 7:30 pm)Dan wrote I was under that impression too..?

No, 09/59 and 10 Reg Pulsar's are Euro 4, They have the same engine tuning as the Euro 4 Versa's, While 61 up Pulsar's have a similar tuning to Euro 5 E400s.
Also Euro 5 Pulsar's have restricted kickdowns, Which is part of the Euro 5 regulations, While the Euro 4 have unrestricted Kickdowns, Though Econospeed has restricted them now too.

Not sure if engine tuning is the right word though.

Just cross-referenced with a few more fleet lists - all seem to suggest the Pulsars (like the Solos) are Euro 5.

(19 May 2016, 7:38 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote No, 09/59 and 10 Reg Pulsar's are Euro 4, They have the same engine tuning as the Euro 4 Versa's, While 61 up Pulsar's have a similar tuning to Euro 5 E400s.
Also Euro 5 Pulsar's have restricted kickdowns, Which is part of the Euro 5 regulations, While the Euro 4 have unrestricted Kickdowns, Though Econospeed has restricted them now too.

Not sure if engine tuning is the right word though.

I was always under the impression that all Pulsars were Euro 5.

The '09 plate E400's (7514-21) are Euro 5, so I can't see the Pulsars being delivered at a similar time (and up to a year later) being Euro 4?

(19 May 2016, 7:45 pm)Dan wrote Just cross-referenced with a few more fleet lists - all seem to suggest the Pulsars (like the Solos) are Euro 5.

I've just checked a couple, both support this.

For all 3 reply's above.

Cummins never tuned a engine like the sound found in the Pulsar's I'm on about above Euro 4, Other examples with the same noise are Euro 4 E400s, Euro 4 Optare Versa's and others.

Without even talking about engines, 14** have a kickdown, Euro 5 regulations stipulates a restricted one, Which is found in the 61 batch upwards.