(07 Oct 2015, 5:42 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Big'un spied a Sapphire 6 on the X12

Probably would have been the 21:10 out of Durham which is booked a Sapphire 6 branded vehicle until Thursday 15th October when the journey becomes MAX Gemini operated as the journey will start at Newcastle rather than Durham.

(07 Oct 2015, 8:53 pm)S813 FVK wrote Probably would have been the 21:10 out of Durham which is booked a Sapphire 6 branded vehicle.

The extra afternoon run which I think leaves Durham Bus Station at 17:15 is booked a Sapphire 6 vehicle. Can't remember if it still starts at Framwellgate Moor or not.

(07 Oct 2015, 8:53 pm)S813 FVK wrote Probably would have been the 21:10 out of Durham which is booked a Sapphire 6 branded vehicle until Thursday 15th October when the journey becomes MAX Gemini operated as the journey will start at Newcastle rather than Durham.

This would have been sometime just after 5pm, on his mammoth journey around the floods and traffic jams home from school (it's getting on for 50 miles without the detours - his school's south of Northallerton!)

(07 Oct 2015, 8:56 pm)Jimmi wrote The extra afternoon run which I think leaves Durham Bus Station at 17:15 is booked a Sapphire 6 vehicle. Can't remember if it still starts at Framwellgate Moor or not.

Cross posted - is that to 'Boro?

(07 Oct 2015, 8:56 pm)Jimmi wrote The extra afternoon run which I think leaves Durham Bus Station at 17:15 is booked a Sapphire 6 vehicle. Can't remember if it still starts at Framwellgate Moor or not.

Ah. I just knew about the journey that i mentioned (i remembered from a few weeks ago when Kuyoyo went out to photograph it).

(07 Oct 2015, 8:59 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Cross posted - is that to 'Boro?

Yes, Durham - Middlesbrough.

(07 Oct 2015, 8:56 pm)Jimmi wrote The extra afternoon run which I think leaves Durham Bus Station at 17:15 is booked a Sapphire 6 vehicle. Can't remember if it still starts at Framwellgate Moor or not.

Culled back to Durham back in May when operation passed to Durham. It was picking nobody up from Framwellgate Moor during the 9 months Stockton operated it.

(07 Oct 2015, 9:03 pm)S813 FVK wrote Ah. I just knew about the journey that i mentioned (i remembered from a few weeks ago when Kuyoyo went out to photograph it).

The 2110 is currently a Sapphire E400 (which certainly gets about - believe it does the morning 24X before going onto the 6). The Decker 6 workings are also quite random so you never know which working they work. For example, the 1202 from Cockfield is booked for one (as are the 1138 and 1238) which on arrive in Durham at 1314 then has a layover until 1357 when it works that trip to Bishop Auckland (schooldays) then onto the 865 or West Auckland and the 1502 return in the school holidays and then at all times works the 1616 from Framwellgate Moor and the 1840 from Durham to Cockfield before the X12.

(07 Oct 2015, 9:36 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Culled back to Durham back in May when operation passed to Durham. It was picking nobody up from Framwellgate Moor during the 9 months Stockton operated it.


The 2110 is currently a Sapphire E400 (which certainly gets about - believe it does the morning 24X before going onto the 6). The Decker 6 workings are also quite random so you never know which working they work. For example, the 1202 from Cockfield is booked for one (as are the 1138 and 1238) which on arrive in Durham at 1314 then has a layover until 1357 when it works that trip to Bishop Auckland (schooldays) then onto the 865 or West Auckland and the 1502 return in the school holidays and then at all times works the 1616 from Framwellgate Moor and the 1840 from Durham to Cockfield before the X12.

Thought it was culled back to Durham, but the timetable on Arriva's website says it still starts at Framwellgate Moor and I think the timetable changes page on Connect Tees Valley also says it currently starts at Framwellgate Moor (until the end of this week) hence my confusion. Part of the problems why it may not have been picking anyone from Framwellgate Moor is because most New College students finish long before 5pm and on the few occasions I saw it, the bus left from the Homlands Crescent stop instead of the Salutation Bus Gate stop.

Certainly is a bit crazy how the double deckers are switched about on the 6, they were getting switched about a lot when I was in Durham on Monday afternoon.

(07 Oct 2015, 9:48 pm)Jimmi wrote Certainly is a bit crazy how the double deckers are switched about on the 6, they were getting switched about a lot when I was in Durham on Monday afternoon.

It's to get them in the right place for school runs I believe.

Sapphire spare 1517 back on its old haunt of the 7's (08:37 off darlington)

No sapphire branded 7 buses from Durham today

1479 on the other running board from Durham, (09:09ish off Newton aycliffe)


4654 on 21/X21 11:15 off Sunderland

(07 Oct 2015, 8:38 pm)mb134 wrote Ashington 56 plate MPD on the X22 this evening, heading into Ashington around 7:15, I assume it was meant to work the 7:15 to Newcastle as well, however as it was nowhere near the bus station when I saw it, hopefully it was replaced. 

Also, 7506 which I noted early was absent from the run it should have been on, operated the 6:45 from Newcastle tonight, a run that should have been operated by 7524 if I've got my calculations right.

1790 was on for the rest of the night and got work on the 35 too. That was the only thing spare as the MAX decker that was spare was sent to Longhorsley moments before the X21 to the toon had a fault. 

4653 and 4659 were removed from the X14, as they were both stuck at Longhorsley due to a major RTA between Longhorsley and the crossroads near Cragside. All passengers were transferred onto the MAX decker to complete the journey to Thropton via Newton-on-the-Moor and Alnwick.

(08 Oct 2015, 8:07 am)GX03 SVC wrote 1790 was on for the rest of the night and got work on the 35 too. That was the only thing spare as the MAX decker that was spare was sent to Longhorsley moments before the X21 to the toon had a fault. 

4653 and 4659 were removed from the X14, as they were both stuck at Longhorsley due to a major RTA between Longhorsley and the crossroads near Cragside. All passengers were transferred onto the MAX decker to complete the journey to Thropton via Newton-on-the-Moor and Alnwick.

Don't understand how it was out on the 35? A 19:15 X22 to Newcastle would stay on the X22 for the rest of the evening, going nowhere near the 35? 

I understand how it would've been placed onto the X21 initially, working an X22 back to Ashington? 

I was sure it was 180x I saw?

1415 on 7s

Eco Green / Service 23 StreetLite 1576 replaced 1479 on Sapphire service 7.
https://flic.kr/p/yCr4v9

Frequenta 2850 replaced 4654 on service 21/X21.
https://flic.kr/p/zhS8ps

A unidentified Frequenta 9/10 branded Solo was also on the 21/X21.

1101 and 7487 both observed this afternoon on 22/64/64A.

(08 Oct 2015, 4:54 pm)Jimmi wrote A unidentified Frequenta 9/10 branded Solo was also on the 21/X21.

2868.

(08 Oct 2015, 4:54 pm)Jimmi wrote Eco Green / Service 23 StreetLite 1576 replaced 1479 on Sapphire service 7.
https://flic.kr/p/yCr4v9

Frequenta 2850 replaced 4654 on service 21/X21.
https://flic.kr/p/zhS8ps

A unidentified Frequenta 9/10 branded Solo was also on the 21/X21.

While jimmi got 1576 on the 7 I got 1479 on the 7 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartsnor...ed-public/

Also got 4654 at Sunderland bus station will put photo on tomorrow

(08 Oct 2015, 10:55 am)mb134 wrote Don't understand how it was out on the 35? A 19:15 X22 to Newcastle would stay on the X22 for the rest of the evening, going nowhere near the 35? 

I understand how it would've been placed onto the X21 initially, working an X22 back to Ashington? 

I was sure it was 180x I saw?

There was definitely an MPD on Hawthorn Road/College Road at about 2030, might have been SNIS.

1790 was there on the X21 (and quite a few disgruntled passengers!) when I arrived at 1755.

I have 1416 on 1/5A/19 this morning

Big'un's scores for the day

Lowlander 7444 on the 56 (school run regular?)
Pulsar 1479 on 22
Sapphire 24 on the 22

7533 on 35's

After the traffic farce that happened in Newcastle this evening, Jesmond's 4518 (Volvo/Alexander ALX300) was sent out on the late-running 1845 85 Newcastle - Hexham.

(09 Oct 2015, 10:30 pm)northern156 wrote After the traffic farce that happened in Newcastle this evening, Jesmond's 4518 (Volvo/Alexander ALX300) was sent out on the late-running 1845 85 Newcastle - Hexham.

Are those horrendous roadworks still there as you leave Newcastle? The delays from those roadworks were horrendous, took forever to get through them.

(09 Oct 2015, 10:36 pm)Jimmi wrote Are those horrendous roadworks still there as you leave Newcastle? The delays from those roadworks were horrendous, took forever to get through them.

At Wingrove (just west of the General Hospital) aye, whole load of resurfacing there.

Also the rugby wasn't helping much with stop-start traffic until the start of West Road due to the road next to St James' Park being shut. Seen SNE 12s, 20s and 38s running in pairs.

(09 Oct 2015, 10:40 pm)northern156 wrote At Wingrove (just west of the General Hospital) aye, whole load of resurfacing there.

Also the rugby wasn't helping much with stop-start traffic until the start of West Road due to the road next to St James' Park being shut. Seen SNE 12s, 20s and 38s running in pairs.

Oh dear! I'm not going to Hexham again until those works are finished, took ages to get to Hexham the other week. The X84/X85 has had all sorts on recently with buses being chucked out at Hexham to keep the service as close to time as possible.

(09 Oct 2015, 10:49 pm)Jimmi wrote Oh dear! I'm not going to Hexham again until those works are finished, took ages to get to Hexham the other week. The X84/X85 has had all sorts on recently with buses being chucked out at Hexham to keep the service as close to time as possible.

I wouldn't let it put you off going, it takes about 10-15 minutes longer than normal but still is manageable. Especially with free Wifi.
If not there's always the TEN! :p

Seen two MPDs on the TDX today (or definitely one; the other was blinded for X85), as well as an MPD on the TEN (full route 10 from Hexham) and a TDX Solar on the TEN too, again full route.
It's good that this is happening if it maintains a decent level of service; especially where there is strong competition such as the A69 corridor.

1450/67 on 17a

Stockton Max spare 1415 on the 28

(10 Oct 2015, 11:49 am)BusLoverMum wrote Stockton Max spare 1415 on the 28

While 1453 is on the X12.

Sapphire Pulsars 1479 and 1517 on 46/48.

1924 on 15
1906 on 7