(18 May 2015, 5:55 pm)tyresmoke 1464 and 1465 have gone temporarily to Blyth to help flush their Quorum Geminis out for MAX refurbishment (X4/X5)
A number of VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2 vehicles are currently on loan to Blyth Depot. The confirmed examples to have entered service temporarily at Blyth are as follows:
- 1457 (NK10 CGF)
- 1464 (NK61 CXV)
- 1465 (NK61 CXW)
- 1491 (NK61 CZE)
It is thought that these vehicles are being allocated to Blyth Depot temporarily to allow their "Quorum Express" liveried VDL DB300/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 vehicles to be converted to "MAX" specification. It is thought that they will continue to be allocated to services X4/X5.
(18 May 2015, 5:55 pm)tyresmoke 1464 and 1465 have gone temporarily to Blyth to help flush their Quorum Geminis out for MAX refurbishment (X4/X5)
A number of VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar 2 vehicles are currently on loan to Blyth Depot. The confirmed examples to have entered service temporarily at Blyth are as follows:
- 1457 (NK10 CGF)
- 1464 (NK61 CXV)
- 1465 (NK61 CXW)
- 1491 (NK61 CZE)
It is thought that these vehicles are being allocated to Blyth Depot temporarily to allow their "Quorum Express" liveried VDL DB300/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 vehicles to be converted to "MAX" specification. It is thought that they will continue to be allocated to services X4/X5.
(31 May 2015, 4:30 pm)Jimmi 1517 looks the worst as it has nothing applied above it.
Also saw 1520 yesterday and it looked to still have Barclays? bank Darlington behind the drivers cab.
(31 May 2015, 4:30 pm)Jimmi 1517 looks the worst as it has nothing applied above it.
Also saw 1520 yesterday and it looked to still have Barclays? bank Darlington behind the drivers cab.
(31 May 2015, 12:55 pm)Tommy_1581 4653 has returned from Thornton's and now carries "Quick links to Newcastle" branding.
![[Image: 18015969449_a2530e1fa7.jpg]](https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7786/18015969449_a2530e1fa7.jpg)
Arriva North East: 4650 / NK05 GXD by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr![[Image: 15285023744_5957122379.jpg]](https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8617/15285023744_5957122379.jpg)
Arriva North East: 4659 / NK05GXO by Daniel Graham, on Flickr(31 May 2015, 12:55 pm)Tommy_1581 4653 has returned from Thornton's and now carries "Quick links to Newcastle" branding.
Arriva North East: 4650 / NK05 GXD by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on FlickrArriva North East: 4659 / NK05GXO by Daniel Graham, on Flickr
(31 May 2015, 4:35 pm)Kuyoyo Just to flag this up, 1457/64/91 have not left Stockton for Blyth. The actual vehicles at Blyth are reportedly 1465/6.
(31 May 2015, 4:35 pm)Kuyoyo Just to flag this up, 1457/64/91 have not left Stockton for Blyth. The actual vehicles at Blyth are reportedly 1465/6.
(31 May 2015, 4:35 pm)Dan It wasn't the exterior sub-branding I was worried about - it was the interior branding. I had anticipated that any anything not Durham related would be removed in favour of something Peterlee or Sunderland related, but this is clearly not the case...
(31 May 2015, 4:35 pm)Dan It wasn't the exterior sub-branding I was worried about - it was the interior branding. I had anticipated that any anything not Durham related would be removed in favour of something Peterlee or Sunderland related, but this is clearly not the case...
(31 May 2015, 4:38 pm)mb134 Don't really see the point in that branding to be honest, would a simple "MAX" branding not do? Maybe with route numbers?
I find it quite hard to read the following "Quick Links" on the following:
(31 May 2015, 4:38 pm)mb134 Don't really see the point in that branding to be honest, would a simple "MAX" branding not do? Maybe with route numbers?
I find it quite hard to read the following "Quick Links" on the following:
(31 May 2015, 4:45 pm)Jimmi It's easier to read the text on 4650 if you actually see it in person rather then viewing photos but it still doesn't stand out very much.
![[Image: 16160254506_2186714b0f.jpg]](https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8613/16160254506_2186714b0f.jpg)
Arriva North East: 4650 / NK05GXD by Daniel Graham, on Flickr![[Image: 16955288735_77ce8606a7.jpg]](https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8715/16955288735_77ce8606a7.jpg)
Arriva North East: 7515 / NK09 FNA by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr
(31 May 2015, 4:45 pm)Jimmi It's easier to read the text on 4650 if you actually see it in person rather then viewing photos but it still doesn't stand out very much.
Arriva North East: 4650 / NK05GXD by Daniel Graham, on FlickrArriva North East: 7515 / NK09 FNA by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr
(31 May 2015, 4:53 pm)mb134 I just don't think the whole idea of the "Quick links into x" is a very good branding idea, you're not telling people the service number or where else it goes to. I still think it would have a better impact with just the "MAX" logo, or "MAX" with route numbers.
I appreciate they do have a map with route numbers on the back of the Darlington Omnicities, but I'd struggle to read this after it passed me:
I think my opinion of the "Quick Links" branding was immediately bad, as I find the application on 7515 dull and with no real MAXimum inpact, that awful blue backing makes it look even worse:
![[Image: 16466856525_17d9495d1f_c.jpg]](https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7299/16466856525_17d9495d1f_c.jpg)
Arriva North East: 7609 / NK59DMO by Daniel Graham, on Flickr
(31 May 2015, 4:53 pm)mb134 I just don't think the whole idea of the "Quick links into x" is a very good branding idea, you're not telling people the service number or where else it goes to. I still think it would have a better impact with just the "MAX" logo, or "MAX" with route numbers.
I appreciate they do have a map with route numbers on the back of the Darlington Omnicities, but I'd struggle to read this after it passed me:
I think my opinion of the "Quick Links" branding was immediately bad, as I find the application on 7515 dull and with no real MAXimum inpact, that awful blue backing makes it look even worse:
Arriva North East: 7609 / NK59DMO by Daniel Graham, on Flickr
(31 May 2015, 4:53 pm)mb134 I just don't think the whole idea of the "Quick links into x" is a very good branding idea, you're not telling people the service number or where else it goes to. I still think it would have a better impact with just the "MAX" logo, or "MAX" with route numbers.
I appreciate they do have a map with route numbers on the back of the Darlington Omnicities, but I'd struggle to read this after it passed me:
I think my opinion of the "Quick Links" branding was immediately bad, as I find the application on 7515 dull and with no real MAXimum inpact, that awful blue backing makes it look even worse:
(31 May 2015, 4:53 pm)mb134 I just don't think the whole idea of the "Quick links into x" is a very good branding idea, you're not telling people the service number or where else it goes to. I still think it would have a better impact with just the "MAX" logo, or "MAX" with route numbers.
I appreciate they do have a map with route numbers on the back of the Darlington Omnicities, but I'd struggle to read this after it passed me:
I think my opinion of the "Quick Links" branding was immediately bad, as I find the application on 7515 dull and with no real MAXimum inpact, that awful blue backing makes it look even worse:
(31 May 2015, 5:09 pm)Jimmi The one I really don't like is the "branding" 7609 has which says something like: "Your usual bus is in for a service so enjoy our spare" it just looks cheap, tacky and half arsed.
(31 May 2015, 5:09 pm)Jimmi The one I really don't like is the "branding" 7609 has which says something like: "Your usual bus is in for a service so enjoy our spare" it just looks cheap, tacky and half arsed.
(31 May 2015, 5:20 pm)Tommy_1581 It's not even "MAX" branding. It would have made more sense having the blithering corporate livery on it, it'll still make its way onto the 1.
(31 May 2015, 5:20 pm)Tommy_1581 It's not even "MAX" branding. It would have made more sense having the blithering corporate livery on it, it'll still make its way onto the 1.
(31 May 2015, 5:25 pm)Dan As we've discussed in the past, this is why I much prefer corporate liveried spares to the same specification as the branded vehicles. Depending on how high the PVR of a service is, chances are the spare may have to be utilised on other services a fair amount. If it's in corporate livery, no biggie.
Durham have had their spare MAX Pulsar out on just about every service the depot operates. What's worse is the fact this one has specific sub-branding for service X12, opposed to any sort of generic livery. If the spare has to be in "MAX" livery, do away with all the gimmicks and just throw the logo and that's it, just like the Sapphire spares in the region. I doubt customers will care if the "usual bus" (how do you define that with Blyth?) is in for a service...
(31 May 2015, 5:25 pm)Dan As we've discussed in the past, this is why I much prefer corporate liveried spares to the same specification as the branded vehicles. Depending on how high the PVR of a service is, chances are the spare may have to be utilised on other services a fair amount. If it's in corporate livery, no biggie.
Durham have had their spare MAX Pulsar out on just about every service the depot operates. What's worse is the fact this one has specific sub-branding for service X12, opposed to any sort of generic livery. If the spare has to be in "MAX" livery, do away with all the gimmicks and just throw the logo and that's it, just like the Sapphire spares in the region. I doubt customers will care if the "usual bus" (how do you define that with Blyth?) is in for a service...
(31 May 2015, 5:25 pm)Dan As we've discussed in the past, this is why I much prefer corporate liveried spares to the same specification as the branded vehicles. Depending on how high the PVR of a service is, chances are the spare may have to be utilised on other services a fair amount. If it's in corporate livery, no biggie.
Durham have had their spare MAX Pulsar out on just about every service the depot operates. What's worse is the fact this one has specific sub-branding for service X12, opposed to any sort of generic livery. If the spare has to be in "MAX" livery, do away with all the gimmicks and just throw the logo and that's it, just like the Sapphire spares in the region. I doubt customers will care if the "usual bus" (how do you define that with Blyth?) is in for a service...
(31 May 2015, 5:25 pm)Dan As we've discussed in the past, this is why I much prefer corporate liveried spares to the same specification as the branded vehicles. Depending on how high the PVR of a service is, chances are the spare may have to be utilised on other services a fair amount. If it's in corporate livery, no biggie.
Durham have had their spare MAX Pulsar out on just about every service the depot operates. What's worse is the fact this one has specific sub-branding for service X12, opposed to any sort of generic livery. If the spare has to be in "MAX" livery, do away with all the gimmicks and just throw the logo and that's it, just like the Sapphire spares in the region. I doubt customers will care if the "usual bus" (how do you define that with Blyth?) is in for a service...
(31 May 2015, 5:09 pm)Kuyoyo But surely it's better than this:
maybe that two tone blue they used on 281 and that ex-GNE B10 a few years back? 
(31 May 2015, 5:35 pm)Kuyoyo There's no pleasing some people - you'd be complaining if it was in normal livery yet making daily appearances on a MAX route
As for Durham, notice that they seemingly prefer to use one of the ex-Ashington Lowlander on the X12 if a Gemini is VOR rather than 1415 - however, it's likely come the autumn they'll have no choice to use 1415 if what I've heard turns out to be true
(31 May 2015, 5:09 pm)Kuyoyo But surely it's better than this:
maybe that two tone blue they used on 281 and that ex-GNE B10 a few years back? (31 May 2015, 5:35 pm)Kuyoyo There's no pleasing some people - you'd be complaining if it was in normal livery yet making daily appearances on a MAX route
As for Durham, notice that they seemingly prefer to use one of the ex-Ashington Lowlander on the X12 if a Gemini is VOR rather than 1415 - however, it's likely come the autumn they'll have no choice to use 1415 if what I've heard turns out to be true
(31 May 2015, 5:35 pm)Kuyoyo There's no pleasing some people - you'd be complaining if it was in normal livery yet making daily appearances on a MAX route
As for Durham, notice that they seemingly prefer to use one of the ex-Ashington Lowlander on the X12 if a Gemini is VOR rather than 1415 - however, it's likely come the autumn they'll have no choice to use 1415 if what I've heard turns out to be true
(31 May 2015, 5:35 pm)Kuyoyo There's no pleasing some people - you'd be complaining if it was in normal livery yet making daily appearances on a MAX route
As for Durham, notice that they seemingly prefer to use one of the ex-Ashington Lowlander on the X12 if a Gemini is VOR rather than 1415 - however, it's likely come the autumn they'll have no choice to use 1415 if what I've heard turns out to be true
Why don't they scrap MAX and Sapphire and launch these brands?
X21 / X22 = The Milburn Way - Fast frequent links to the heart of Ashington, Bedlington and Newcastle
X10 / X11 = Coast Express - Fast frequent connections to Blyth, Cramlington and Newcastle
X15 / X18 / X20 = Coast & Castles Connections
X14 = The Villager - Keeping Northumberland Connected
1 / 2 = Valleyway - Frequent links from the Blyth Valley to Bedlington, Ashington and Morpeth
52 / 53 / 57 / 57A = Easylink - Easy links for local people
X12 = Three Rivers Express - Fast frequent connections to and from Teesside, Durham and Newcastle
(31 May 2015, 5:39 pm)mb134 Something happening with the Lowlanders?
(31 May 2015, 5:39 pm)mb134 Something happening with the Lowlanders?
(31 May 2015, 5:35 pm)Kuyoyo There's no pleasing some people - you'd be complaining if it was in normal livery yet making daily appearances on a MAX route
As for Durham, notice that they seemingly prefer to use one of the ex-Ashington Lowlander on the X12 if a Gemini is VOR rather than 1415 - however, it's likely come the autumn they'll have no choice to use 1415 if what I've heard turns out to be true
(31 May 2015, 5:35 pm)Kuyoyo There's no pleasing some people - you'd be complaining if it was in normal livery yet making daily appearances on a MAX route
As for Durham, notice that they seemingly prefer to use one of the ex-Ashington Lowlander on the X12 if a Gemini is VOR rather than 1415 - however, it's likely come the autumn they'll have no choice to use 1415 if what I've heard turns out to be true
(31 May 2015, 5:44 pm)Kuyoyo I can't say anything until I have it confirmed - but from what I've heard, Durham and Ashington may be having a modern standard-specification decker swap before the 6 goes Sapphire so all Sapphire deckers in the region are of the same type
(31 May 2015, 5:44 pm)aureolin Why does the depot's preference come into it? If someone at Arriva has signed off painting and branding an extra vehicle for the X12, then surely that should be used in the first instance? It's a ridiculous situation having an 'X12' branded vehicle going round Durham on everything but the X12, and it confuses customers.Could it be more to do with capacity, a Lowlander will be better at peak times than a Pulsar would be?
(31 May 2015, 5:44 pm)Kuyoyo I can't say anything until I have it confirmed - but from what I've heard, Durham and Ashington may be having a modern standard-specification decker swap before the 6 goes Sapphire so all Sapphire deckers in the region are of the same type
(31 May 2015, 5:44 pm)aureolin Why does the depot's preference come into it? If someone at Arriva has signed off painting and branding an extra vehicle for the X12, then surely that should be used in the first instance? It's a ridiculous situation having an 'X12' branded vehicle going round Durham on everything but the X12, and it confuses customers.Could it be more to do with capacity, a Lowlander will be better at peak times than a Pulsar would be?
