Nice to know someone reads my posts on other forums - the 08/58-reg Solos are being repainted, those back so far are in normal livery minus the cream 'cow horn'. All we know for sure at present is that Darlington service 3/3a/3b, 4, 9/10 and 13a/13b are all getting branded (13a/13b, as we know, using 2852-61). As for WiFi on the older Solos - the only Solos I can confirm should be getting WiFi are Stockton's 7 when they get repainted for the 7.

Sounds like a decent plan and I hope allocations work out! No branding unique to my local service 2 instead of 'this bus runs on gas' then? Or the 12?

It won't be Max or Sapphire - a new brand will have to be agreed with Stagecoach.

Stagecoach could make it Gold.

Stagecoach could make it Gold.

But still, why waste so much money on a route that is also being operated by Arriva who wants to make it MAX. (from the Arriva MAX page)

It won't be Max or Sapphire - a new brand will have to be agreed with Stagecoach.

Would it?

I don't think this would have to be done as at it is still Arriva running the service so I don't see where having the service as MAX would mean any difference as the only thing that would be different as the colour of the bus (and the seats plus introduction of WiFi), I don't see where it would any different to Arriva having leather seating whilst Stagecoach have fabric as an example to having differences between the two operators.

Highly unlikely the 685 would become Sapphire as that brand is usually applied to higher frequency services.

It won't be Max or Sapphire - a new brand will have to be agreed with Stagecoach.

Why?

Why?

I was told that on the Arriva UK Enthusiasts Facebook group. 

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.

So you'd rather they put a single decker on and leave people behind or at best have them crammed in like sardines?

Do I use the contact us page http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/contact-us/ or some other way?

Whinger. 

So you'd rather they put a single decker on and leave people behind or at best have them crammed in like sardines?

As oppose to sending a single decker round with X12 plastered all over it, on anything but the X12? Because that's not going to be confusing is it? It wasn't me who branded the single decker

You'd be first to complain if your jar of Bisto contained Nescafe instead. It's an equal example of branding being applied to the wrong product.

Why brand a bus up if it's not going to be used on route, and the reason it's not, is for the examples you've described.

I look at the service number on the front.

Whinger. 

Your just discovering this now, have you never seen the What's annoying you today thread? [emoji1]

Whinger. 

I assume you don't mean that in a 'having a go' way but what the driver did was dangerous and illegal. Its only fair that the company is contacted and told about the incident to prevent something like that happening again.

As oppose to sending a single decker round with X12 plastered all over it, on anything but the X12? Because that's not going to be confusing is it? It wasn't me who branded the single decker

You'd be first to complain if your jar of Bisto contained Nescafe instead. It's an equal example of branding being applied to the wrong product.

Why brand a bus up if it's not going to be used on route, and the reason it's not, is for the examples you've described.

Let's not forget that customers on the X12 are not receiving the product that they 'technically' pay for. It wouldn't be as bad if the spare was already out and there was no more "MAX" specification vehicles available, but customers on the X12 service are being deprived of the "MAX" standard (ie Wi-Fi) based on the fact the spare is allocated elsewhere on a daily basis.

Didn't see any Lowlanders today, but that's primarily because I only saw Stockton's runs (one was 1443 but I can't remember the other).

Just had a look at the ANE Live Map to check where my bus was,  and noticed a X18 running 93 MINUTES late!!!!!

Just had a look at the ANE Live Map to check where my bus was,  and noticed a X18 running 93 MINUTES late!!!!!

Great service by Arriva North East...

Just had a look at the ANE Live Map to check where my bus was,  and noticed a X18 running 93 MINUTES late!!!!!

Is it still going too?

In the summer one from Berwick was 1h 15 minutes late, and the one from Alnwick came in 10 minutes late just after that one had left so that was fun and games. The whole bus was heaving and they done nothing about it. 

Is it still going too?

In the summer one from Berwick was 1h 15 minutes late, and the one from Alnwick came in 10 minutes late just after that one had left so that was fun and games. The whole bus was heaving and they done nothing about it. 

Not sure, it's not on at all if it is still running, and I imagine it is, however I know sometimes if a bus breaks down the tracker will stop for some time, and eventually start moving again, not changing how late it is. Still says it's 93 late now, near Amble 

Is it still going too?

In the summer one from Berwick was 1h 15 minutes late, and the one from Alnwick came in 10 minutes late just after that one had left so that was fun and games. The whole bus was heaving and they done nothing about it. 

Yep - if i have the right bus, it is operating the 15:40 X18 service from Morpeth to Alnwick.

Not sure, it's not on at all if it is still running, and I imagine it is, however I know sometimes if a bus breaks down the tracker will stop for some time, and eventually start moving again, not changing how late it is. Still says it's 93 late now, near Amble 

Yep - if i have the right bus, it is operating the 15:40 X18 service from Morpeth to Alnwick.

That's a disgrace!

Let's not forget that customers on the X12 are not receiving the product that they 'technically' pay for. It wouldn't be as bad if the spare was already out and there was no more "MAX" specification vehicles available, but customers on the X12 service are being deprived of the "MAX" standard (ie Wi-Fi) based on the fact the spare is allocated elsewhere on a daily basis.

Didn't see any Lowlanders today, but that's primarily because I only saw Stockton's runs (one was 1443 but I can't remember the other).

I'm sure they'd rather be 'deprived' of the 'Max standard' than be deprived of a seat or worse still deprived of the chance of getting on at all.

I'm sure they'd rather be 'deprived' of the 'Max standard' than be deprived of a seat or worse still deprived of the chance of getting on at all.

If capacity issues are such a worry, the Lowlanders should have been converted to "MAX" spec for the X12.

I look at the service number on the front.

I'm sure they'd rather be 'deprived' of the 'Max standard' than be deprived of a seat or worse still deprived of the chance of getting on at all.

I don't suppose you've ever considered a career as a marketing consultant have you? You'd save businesses an absolute fortune in their marketing budget, as it's clearly all irrelevant. I mean what did marketing a product ever do?

Some members (and don't get me wrong - I'm not pointing fingers at you here) are really quick to jump down other members throats when it comes to the matter of whether or not a service is commercially viable for example. Well the operators are marketing a commercial service to try and both retain existing custom and to also attract new custom. Hence the provision of WiFi, plug sockets and other on board technology. It's not done because the bosses think it's a great idea - it's because the marketing value of such features outweigh the initial expense. 

As a customer and someone with no involvement in the industry, I expect the operator to provide a bus that is suitable for demand, but not at the expense of the service advertised. We really need to get past this 'you get what you're given' approach that seems to still exist in the industry. It's a business that's being ran since deregulation, and not a public service, as is quickly pointed out in other posts...

Following the update of the destinations on X21/X22 E400s - at least 2 or all of them have now gained problems with the NSAs. They won't change from Haymarket Barras Bridge/Seacrest Road.

More fun and games...

Following the update of the destinations on X21/X22 E400s - at least 2 or all of them have now gained problems with the NSAs. They won't change from Haymarket Barras Bridge/Seacrest Road.

More fun and games...

7503 is one, although its destinations weren't updated from what I can tell (route number still on the right hand side)

That's a disgrace!

Think it's still going, there's one leaving Morpeth now 57 minutes late...

59...

Think it's still going, there's one leaving Morpeth now 57 minutes late...

59...

Haha something really needs to be done about the whole Northumberland network really.

The only services that are relatively fine from my experience are the 1, 2, 20/X20 and 35/35A

Haha something really needs to be done about the whole Northumberland network really.

The only services that are relatively fine from my experience are the 1, 2, 20/X20 and 35/35A

Blyth's are a disgrace to be honest, used the X10/11 and X13 to get to Cramlington in the Easter Holidays, and I think maybe one was on time, the rest were late. 

I've noticed an improvement in X21/22 recently too, and I find generally Ashington drivers do try and push it to get on time, within what they can do. 

Don't really know much about how Blyth work, but the fact they have to pretty much switch every vehicle on arrival in Blyth surely tells us something? 

The 20/X20 can be awful at times too like  

Blyth's are a disgrace to be honest, used the X10/11 and X13 to get to Cramlington in the Easter Holidays, and I think maybe one was on time, the rest were late. 

I've noticed an improvement in X21/22 recently too, and I find generally Ashington drivers do try and push it to get on time, within what they can do. 

Don't really know much about how Blyth work, but the fact they have to pretty much switch every vehicle on arrival in Blyth surely tells us something? 

The 20/X20 can be awful at times too like  

Yeah, I doubt it would happen, but the whole network needs looking at.

I've never had any problems with the X20, that's why I mentioned it

Yeah, I doubt it would happen, but the whole network needs looking at.

I've never had any problems with the X20, that's why I mentioned it

I've had a couple myself, but nothing massive, maybe 8 minutes late tops. 

Think the equipment Blyth has is shot, and this is something I've been wondering for a long time, how do they look after their buses :
7501-6 are shot, as are most of their Gemini's from my experience, 

Ashington's 7507-13 (excluding 7510 for obvious reasons) are better, although 7511-3 are miles better than 7507/8/9.

They need 7458/66 constantly, and they had 7470 when I used an X5, unless they don't have enough to cover PVR's anyway, this suggests Gemini's are off the road.

I've had a couple myself, but nothing massive, maybe 8 minutes late tops. 

Think the equipment Blyth has is shot, and this is something I've been wondering for a long time, how do they look after their buses :
7501-6 are shot, as are most of their Gemini's from my experience, 

Ashington's 7507-13 (excluding 7510 for obvious reasons) are better, although 7511-3 are miles better than 7507/8/9.

They need 7458/66 constantly, and they had 7470 when I used an X5, unless they don't have enough to cover PVR's anyway, this suggests Gemini's are off the road.

The B5LH's on the 308 are decent, and the MPDs/Commanders are all right, but my god those Geminis are a disgrace.