Not at all.

I'd suggest that a depot being completely low-floor is more or less expected of large operators these days, and this is why it's not ideal when those operators with high-floor vehicles remaining in their fleets allocate them to public services if they are not scheduled to do so.

I think that the customer expectation is moving on from low-floor vehicles to vehicles which feature 'new' on-board bus technology; such as free Wi-Fi, power sockets and Next Stop Announcements, as well as more comfortable seating. This is typical of new builds only, though some operators do refurbish existing vehicles within their fleets to this upgraded specification.

It wasn't expected at the time Hartlepool went low floor though.

I don't think most bus passengers give a fig about wifi, power sockets and next stop announcements, only a few enthusiasts and technophiles. Comfortable seating on the other hand is badly overdue as standards have plummeted since the days of Leopards and Tigers etc, and that is largely as a result of politically correct DDA pressure groups.

It wasn't expected at the time Hartlepool went low floor though.

I don't think most bus passengers give a fig about wifi, power sockets and next stop announcements, only a few enthusiasts and technophiles. Comfortable seating on the other hand is badly overdue as standards have plummeted since the days of Leopards and Tigers etc, and that is largely as a result of politically correct DDA pressure groups.

I think quite a few passengers do give a fig about wifi and power sockets.  The amount of users that use GNE wifi is very high.

Probably only the older members of society or traditionalists that done care about wifi, power sockets or NSA's.

It wasn't expected at the time Hartlepool went low floor though.

I don't think most bus passengers give a fig about wifi, power sockets and next stop announcements, only a few enthusiasts and technophobes. Comfortable seating on the other hand is badly overdue as standards have plummeted since the days of Leopards and Tigers etc, and that is largely as a result of politically correct DDA pressure groups.

That is what I am saying - customers' expectations have moved on from buses being low-floor, so really, from a customer perspective, Hartlepool's fleet may indeed be quite dated.

Growth rates to services following the introduction of Wi-Fi, power sockets, etc, provide evidence that customers do care about new on-board bus technology. I don't think there's enough "enthusiasts and technophobes" in the country to form the basis of the growth rates this technology has seen across operators all around the UK.

Using Hartlepools fleet quite often, despite the age of the buses, a fair few of them still have a lot of power in them. The only exceptions I would say is 34401, 34605-8/15 seem to struggle on the Tees Road on the long 1s, but this could be alleviated by just using them on town services, which is what I'm guessing they saw use on in previous depots

Bad parking leaves bus users stranded in Jarrow and South Shields = Shields Gazette

The editor must have been a bus enthusiast - taking photos of rare workings, the lot!

Mind, with regards to the quote below, other forum users ought to be thankful their delays are usually no more than 30 minutes... Wouldn't fancy waiting for a bus that was over ten hours late!

Robin Knight, commercial director with Stagecoach North East, said: “We have had nine instances since the beginning of May with the worst delay in services being over ten hours.

Fleet Movements (Period 2):

Busways:
37301* SK15 HDG ADL ENVIRO 200 New to South Shields
37302* SK15 HDH ADL ENVIRO 200 New to South Shields
37303* SK15 HDJ ADL ENVIRO 200 New to South Shields
37304* SK15 HDL ADL ENVIRO 200 New to South Shields
37305* SK15 HDN ADL ENVIRO 200 New to South Shields
* = prepare for service

Transit:
None

Vehicles for Disposal:
22480 T480 BNL MAN ALX300 SL
22733 T733 OEF MAN ALX300 ST SPARE

With thanks to "Michael Bonwick" of the "Stagecoach Enthusiasts" Facebook Group.

The editor must have been a bus enthusiast - taking photos of rare workings, the lot!

Mind, with regards to the quote below, other forum users ought to be thankful their delays are usually no more than 30 minutes... Wouldn't fancy waiting for a bus that was over ten hours late!

Robin Knight, commercial director with Stagecoach North East, said: “We have had nine instances since the beginning of May with the worst delay in services being over ten hours.

I assume that is where a bus must have got stuck, which includes being unable to reverse or turn around, and had to wait for ten hours for the obstruction in the carriageway to clear.

Yes, ten hours for the obstruction in the highway to be removed.

37303 (SK15 HDJ) on service 30.
37304 (SK15 HDL) on the 3/4/7/8 circuit.
37305 (SK15 HDN) on the 3/4/7/8 circuit.
Images owned by Flickr user "Guy Park-Royal"

I assume 37301/2 have entered service as well. This means that some current vehicles will now be withdrawn and cascaded to other depots.

The full fleet number to registration allocation is given below:

• 37301 (SK15 HDG)
  
• 37302 (SK15 HDH)
  
• 37303 (SK15 HDJ)
  
• 37304 (SK15 HDL)
  
• 37305 (SK15 HDN)
  
• 37306 (SK15 HEV)
  
• 37307 (SK15 HFA)
  
• 37308 (SK15 HFB)
  
• 37309 (SK15 HFC)
  
• 37310 (SK15 HFD)
  
• 37311 (SK15 HFE)
  
• 37312 (SK15 HFF)
  
• 37313 (SK15 HFG)
  
• 37314 (SK15 HFH)
  
• 37315 (SK15 HFJ)
  
• 37316 (SK15 HFL)
  
• 37317 (SK15 HFM)
  
• 37318 (SK15 HFN)
  
• 37319 (SK15 HFO)

Another 2 E400's have arrived today making 4/6.

For clarification, the full allocation is listed below:

• 19642 (SP60 DSO)
  
• 19643 (SP60 DSU)
  
• 19644 (SP60 DSV)
  
• 19645 (SP60 DSX)
  
• 19646 (SP60 DSY)
  
• 19647 (SP60 DSZ)

The full fleet number to registration allocation is given below:

• 37301 (SK15 HDG)
  
• 37302 (SK15 HDH)
  
• 37303 (SK15 HDJ)
  
• 37304 (SK15 HDL)
  
• 37305 (SK15 HDN)
  
• 37306 (SK15 HEV)
  
• 37307 (SK15 HFA)
  
• 37308 (SK15 HFB)
  
• 37309 (SK15 HFC)
  
• 37310 (SK15 HFD)
  
• 37311 (SK15 HFE)
  
• 37312 (SK15 HFF)
  
• 37313 (SK15 HFG)
  
• 37314 (SK15 HFH)
  
• 37315 (SK15 HFJ)
  
• 37316 (SK15 HFL)
  
• 37317 (SK15 HFM)
  
• 37318 (SK15 HFN)
  
• 37319 (SK15 HFO)
  

For clarification, the full allocation is listed below:

• 19642 (SP60 DSO)
  
• 19643 (SP60 DSU)
  
• 19644 (SP60 DSV)
  
• 19645 (SP60 DSX)
  
• 19646 (SP60 DSY)
  
• 19647 (SP60 DSZ)
  

Cheers Dan,

Cheers Dan,

No problem - fleet lists updated accordingly.

Until they enter service, I've marked the ADL Enviro400s as 'Unallocated'.

No problem - fleet lists updated accordingly.

Until they enter service, I've marked the ADL Enviro400s as 'Unallocated'.

Have the last 2 E400's arrived yet, if not any idea when?

All 6 Arrived within a day of each other. 19642 went straight into the paintshop however 19643 has yet to be seen either

All 6 Arrived within a day of each other. 19642 went straight into the paintshop however 19643 has yet to be seen either

Cheers, last time i was at the depot, there was only 4, the other 2 weren't reported arriving on here so thought i'd ask, Thanks =D

I could be mistaken but there is definitely 5 of them. Like I say the only one not to have been seen or photographed is 19643. In a photo that was posted of an alx300 ready to enter paintshop an e400 can be seen in background semi done. Assumed it to be 19642 as the next pic was of 19644/5/6/7

Kind regards

Chris

more than likely the darts will transfer to Hartlepool or Sunderlan

Dan. Which depot are the enviro 400's going to. Regards robin

more than likely the darts will transfer to Hartlepool or Sunderlan

Not Sunderland.

Dan. Which depot are the enviro 400's going to. Regards robin

South Shields for the X34, although only 3 is currently needed, the other  3will probables stay at shields for the future increase on the X34 to every 20 minutes.

The current 3 E400's at Shields will go to Walkergate or Slatyford, can't remember which one.

Could be a shout for spare 3 to see use on x20 or busy E loadings until pvr increase of there is one And of course x34 odd workings. Could even see the 3 and other 6 in use over summer on Sunday economic services and particularly air show weekend

Could be a shout for spare 3 to see use on x20 or busy E loadings until pvr increase of there is one And of course x34 odd workings. Could even see the 3 and other 6 in use over summer on Sunday economic services and particularly air show weekend

Was hoping they would go on the eco's for the time being.

Speaking of the E services more time needs to be put in the timetable as it's a lot slower now with the new lights. No need for a 20 limit traffic can't reach that!

Speaking of the E services more time needs to be put in the timetable as it's a lot slower now with the new lights. No need for a 20 limit traffic can't reach that!

Ye and with work at Seaburn still going on, delays are still happening... might happen in the future though 

Thank you Michael for information sorry about last week. Friend Robin

Thank you Michael for information sorry about last week. Friend Robin

No prob's =), i am sorry to, i wasn't in the best of moods!

35158 is now at Hartlepool

35158 is now at Hartlepool

Wonder what Sunderland have gained.

Michael. I have just read a text from beefcake saying that 35158 is now at Hartlepool is it staying or just on loan. Friend Robin

Michael. I have just read a text from beefcake saying that 35158 is now at Hartlepool is it staying or just on loan. Friend Robin

I think staying, this is start of the cascades from the new enviro's at Shields.

Bye the way the 6 Enviro 400's are they for South Shields when allocated. Friend Robin