No gouges this week, so new panels must have been fitted. Guess their sticker book is empty!

Seems to take an age to get vinyls reapplied to damage repaired buses. That's not just an Arriva issue though. I'd guess it just falls down to when contractors are available to do it.

No gouges this week, so new panels must have been fitted. Guess their sticker book is empty!

Seems to take an age to get vinyls reapplied to damage repaired buses. That's not just an Arriva issue though. I'd guess it just falls down to when contractors are available to do it.

I'll have to send the boys out with some of their own. Littl'un's Thomas the tank engine stickers would tone beautifully, I think.

I've been around here for awhile just like to see what's happening in the area as I find it quite interesting but never really had anything to post.

But just had to say this happened on Woodhorn Road outside of Sports Direct / Co-op Building and, if you watch it, the route he takes does make sense. Definitely wasn't Park Road.

http://www.channel5.com/shows/police-int...sode-1-816 - Can see it there for those interested in it, it's on at around 3 mins 30 secs.

Looks like he was on the Spine Road near the Three Horse Shoes by the bridges aswell. I'm not saying it's not staged tho, wouldn't surprise me one bit on channel 5.

I've just watched it on my iPad, and where they're prepping outside is The Elephant Pub, in Ashington.

When it gets to the bus crash scene, first, why was the bus parked at Sports Direct? The first line on the destination looks to long to say "Morpeth". Secondly, why did the bus driver leave the bus without wearing a high-visibility vest? Why did the driver stand in front of the car dangerously? Why did he return to his bus and not assist the White Nissan driver?

When they pull up to a suspect, that's the Salvation Army building near Central Primary (not the old police station on Park Road). This has had to be filmed May-onwards as the streetlights visible in the street are the new ones. 

I couldn't watch anymore as I'm on data, but I'll try and watch it at tuition.

The main reason for the lack of uniform is because Durham now have almost 100 lines on the Sapphire rota, so the amount of spare drivers needed has increased too (most of which don't have Sapphire uniform)

This is a downside with having so many Sapphire services operated by one depot.

Whenever I go to Durham I now can't help but feel that the Sapphire brand kind of loses it Sparkle somewhat due to the amount of different Sapphire services, especially feel like this with the 7 which I think is because you have the 22/24 leaving from the stand directly opposite and because of the way buses can't always pull onto the correct stands in Durham Bus Station you think you may see a 7 when it is infact a 24 and until you are right by the door to board as you can't see the destination screens because the windows don't go so high, there is times I've jumped on the 7 in a rush at times and once on-board I've thought I've jumped on the 24 by mistake (have not jumped on the wrong Sapphire in Durham, but somedays I am not 100% that I'm on the right one). Now we also have the 6 as a Sapphire service which observes the same stops as the 7 between Croxdale and Cock o' the North using the same type of buses although slightly older.

This is a downside with having so many Sapphire services operated by one depot.

I'd say it's more a downside of having multiple uniforms. Why not just smarten the standard uniform up, or at least standardise it, rather than have two different uniforms?

I'd say it's more a downside of having multiple uniforms. Why not just smarten the standard uniform up, or at least standardise it, rather than have two different uniforms?

I quite like the standard uniform, however I notice some drivers will wear suit jackets and shirts, while others stick to the blue polo, 

I guess the Sapphire uniform makes it look like the more premium brand?

apparently the VWL should arrive at blyth the same time ashington will receive theirs

apparently the VWL should arrive at blyth the same time ashington will receive theirs

Is this a spare vehicle for Blyth? If so why can't 7609 (and whatever spare is coming from refurb) transfer to Belmont, and the 2 VLWs refurbished to MAX for spares?

Is this a spare vehicle for Blyth? If so why can't 7609 (and whatever spare is coming from refurb) transfer to Belmont, and the 2 VLWs refurbished to MAX for spares?

by the looks of things 7609 s intended for the service that used to be the x13 as t will only require 1 decker

Bringing this across from the Rare & Odd workings thread....


Yes Durham are getting a spare Gemini for the X12. There is a VLW under refurb at Thorntons at present into MAX spec, which in turn should displace a Gemini from Blyth to Durham.

Is this a spare vehicle for Blyth? If so why can't 7609 (and whatever spare is coming from refurb) transfer to Belmont, and the 2 VLWs refurbished to MAX for spares?

The VLWs allows a Gemini to move to Belmont - as already mentioned.

The VLWs allows a Gemini to move to Belmont - as already mentioned.

I thought an existing Gemini was being refurbished, apologies.

I've just watched it on my iPad, and where they're prepping outside is The Elephant Pub, in Ashington.

When it gets to the bus crash scene, first, why was the bus parked at Sports Direct? The first line on the destination looks to long to say "Morpeth". Secondly, why did the bus driver leave the bus without wearing a high-visibility vest? Why did the driver stand in front of the car dangerously? Why did he return to his bus and not assist the White Nissan driver?

When they pull up to a suspect, that's the Salvation Army building near Central Primary (not the old police station on Park Road). This has had to be filmed May-onwards as the streetlights visible in the street are the new ones. 

I couldn't watch anymore as I'm on data, but I'll try and watch it at tuition.

Im sure the driver had more things to worry about than making sure he wore his hi-vis outside the vehicle... The driver will have wanted to stop the car rather than let it go. He did move out of the way when it got too close.

I still can't get the fact why people say it is staged. If it has traffic lights, id suggest that it is a busy road and that they wouldn't want to disrupt people using it.

1599 might have been patched up fairly quickly, but 1598 has had a non-working side destination display for goodness knows how long, now. Big'un just recognised which bus passed us by that feature alone! He says the rear display isn't working, either and is just showing a few pixels.

1599 might have been patched up fairly quickly, but 1598 has had a non-working side destination display for goodness knows how long, now. Big'un just recognised which bus passed us by that feature alone! He says the rear display isn't working, either and is just showing a few pixels.

It seems there is a few problems with the side and rear screens on Belmont's Sapphire StreetLite's, 1601's rear screen only shows the service number.

It seems there is a few problems with the side and rear screens on Belmont's Sapphire StreetLite's, 1601's rear screen only shows the service number.

Many Jesmond solos have that issue

Many Jesmond solos have that issue

That will probably be because the rear screens are likely to be programmed to only show the service number on the rear screens.

That will probably be because the rear screens are likely to be programmed to only show the service number on the rear screens.

Yes - rear display switch setting will be set to 2 (32x17) instead of 3 (128x17). New vehicles come set as 0/1/2; whilst, as a temporary solution, one can set the switch setting of the rear display on the destination controller, this is over-written when the programme is loaded again.

Realistically, Arriva should also have a fifth display set up - sign 4 - given that their refurbished Sapphire vehicles have 144x19s on the back (which use sign 0 as per the front, meaning that the number is on the wrong side of the display).

New allocation effective 19th September 2015

Blyth
1758/99 and 1305 temporary allocated to release 1524-6/9 to Durham

Durham
1524-6 allow 1470-2 to transfer to Stockton
1529 replaces 659 to Yorkshire Tiger
7520/1 enter service from refurbishment, they take the place 'on paper' of 7619 and 7453 which are both under repair
The end of the U1 sees 664 enter reserve

Stockton
1470-2 arrive from Durham to replace 1912-4, which leaves 1915-7/20/2 as those, presumably, to be modified to DDA standard

by the looks of thing 7445 is VOR at ashngton

1305 on 1.

by the looks of thing 7445 is VOR  at ashngton

So is every other bus in the yard. 

So is every other bus in the yard. 

i do have a photo to prove it but i dont know how to upload it. if you know how to upload photos would you explain how

Click on new reply, type your message, then click on browse and it'll bring up a list of places to choose to upload from - eg a memory card in a USB adapter. Then Post reply.

Click on new reply, type your message, then click on browse and it'll bring up a list of places to choose to upload from - eg a memory card in a USB adapter. Then Post reply.

thank you

i thought i would tell you that when i went to london three days ago i had a look at some of the depots and one of the staff had a chat with me and he said that if the north east are getting some of there buses then you are right because arriva london have lost some of their services. he said that these are the possible candidates:
58 reg Volvo b7tl
10 reg volvo b7tl
11 re enviro 400
12 reg enviro 200
07 reg scania omnicidy double dekers
04 DLP stock

I think the 04 DLPs were strongly suggested?

i thought i would tell you that when i went to london three days ago i had a look at some of the depots and one of the staff had a chat with me and he said that if the north east are getting some of there buses then you are right because arriva london have lost some of their services. he said that these are the possible candidates:
58 reg Volvo b7tl
10 reg volvo b7tl
11 re enviro 400
12 reg enviro 200
07 reg scania omnicidy double dekers
04 DLP stock

I'd take it all with a pinch of salt.

I'd take it all with a pinch of salt.

are the buses for the x20 meant to be max or not?

---

I think the 04 DLPs were strongly suggested?

well there is a large quantity of 04 DLP's at thorntons so they maybe possibility

i thought i would tell you that when i went to london three days ago i had a look at some of the depots and one of the staff had a chat with me and he said that if the north east are getting some of there buses then you are right because arriva london have lost some of their services. he said that these are the possible candidates:
58 reg Volvo b7tl
10 reg volvo b7tl
11 re enviro 400
12 reg enviro 200
07 reg scania omnicidy double dekers
04 DLP stock

As much as I'd like to see this happen, I highly doubt it would. It's possible that we'd maybe get some of these in the North East but I'd highly doubt we'd get all of them, think some would go to other Arriva divisions.

As much as I'd like to see this happen, I highly doubt it would. It's possible that we'd maybe get some of these in the North East but I'd highly doubt we'd get all of them, think some would go to other Arriva divisions.

i didn't say we will get all of them what i am trying to say is we could get a batch of that variety as they are in storage