(08 Nov 2015, 4:49 pm)Jimmi wrote Does the Belmont Sapphire buses have the evening and Sunday variation for the 22 programmed in as the 22 I am on is displaying West View which is the stop after Easington Post Office on the daytime route (Durham bound). Might just be a wrong screen selection.

The odds are you're right and that the driver has the wrong destination on - there are 2 options Sunderland or Sunderland via Eas (for the Sunday one)

Does anyone know what number/reg this Prestige was at Blyth on the 7 June 2014?

(09 Nov 2015, 4:32 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Does anyone know what number/reg this Prestige was at Blyth on the 7 June 2014?

Based on it's livery; I'd suggest that it's not part of the batch that were delivered new to Arriva (and which did not see a repaint throughout their entire working lives). My guess is one of the ex-Go North East Prestiges (4001-4007 with Arriva I think, not sure on the fleet numbers at Go North East; 489x series I believe).

(09 Nov 2015, 4:46 pm)R852 PRG wrote Based on it's livery; I'd suggest that it's not part of the batch that were delivered new to Arriva (and which did not see a repaint throughout their entire working lives). My guess is one of the ex-Go North East Prestiges (4001-4007 with Arriva I think, not sure on the fleet numbers at Go North East; 489x series I believe).

it was S891 ONL 4001

(09 Nov 2015, 4:54 pm)buss14 wrote it was S891 ONL 4001

Can't of been 4001, as Tommy's photo was taken in June 2014 whereas 4001 will still in service at Darlington depot in November 2014: https://flic.kr/p/oZCe6y

Also 4001 had the registration S868 ONL, S891 ONL was 4005.

(09 Nov 2015, 5:13 pm)Jimmi wrote Can't of been 4001, as Tommy's photo was taken in June 2014 whereas 4001 will still in service at Darlington depot in November 2014: https://flic.kr/p/oZCe6y

Also 4001 had the registration S868 ONL, S891 ONL was 4005.

sorry 4005 i think S891 ONL was

1501 has been branded as X7/X8. Photo by Rob Smallwood on Facebook.

Severe delays to service X12 (Middlesbrough to Newcastle) due to a traffic census.

Delays of up to 15 minutes on services 35/35a (Morpeth to Newbiggin) due to traffic in the Ashington area.

someone off facebook said that 1402 and 1403 are going to be repainted into standard livery

(10 Nov 2015, 4:11 pm)buss14 wrote someone off facebook said that 1402 and 1403 are going to be repainted into standard livery

Yerp.

(10 Nov 2015, 4:11 pm)buss14 wrote someone off facebook said that 1402 and 1403 are going to be repainted into standard livery

Do you have any evidence that supports this claim?

(10 Nov 2015, 4:37 pm)R852 PRG wrote Do you have any evidence that supports this claim?

As the Quorum brand will be no longer used when the X7/X8 goes MAX, 1402/3 might going into Inter-urban.

I've already heard rumours of them going to Durham County and being MAXed for the X9, so I would take any information with a pinch of salt.

(10 Nov 2015, 4:37 pm)R852 PRG wrote Do you have any evidence that supports this claim?

yes once i figure out how to copy this piece off facebook and onto here

Sorry if this has been mentioned before but 2819 has now gained next stop announcement screens

(10 Nov 2015, 9:14 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote Sorry if this has been mentioned before but 2819 has now gained next stop announcement screens

From what I can gather 2817-20 have them, maybe 2822 too

(10 Nov 2015, 4:37 pm)R852 PRG wrote Do you have any evidence that supports this claim?

Does he need 'evidence'? He just said somebody said so. Presumably then anyone who reports an unusual working has to provide a photograph?

(11 Nov 2015, 9:41 am)Cock Robin wrote Does he need 'evidence'? He just said somebody said so. Presumably then anyone who reports an unusual working has to provide a photograph?

No - if he was to ask that question to anybody, it would be to Tommy who replied with "Yerp" or words to that effect as if he knew it was happening.

Don't wish to start an argument though.

(10 Nov 2015, 9:49 am)GX03 SVC wrote
1501 has been branded as X7/X8. Photo by Rob Smallwood on Facebook.

Saw it at Quorum earlier
Vvv smart

1505 is X9 liveried and 7605(?) is X7/8 liveried.

i dont know if it has already been noted that VLW105 LJ03 MHU and VLW125 LF02 OUY have turned up at thorntons with another 2 to join 1 03 reg and 1 52 reg maybe they could be for ashington i will try and find out more

The information that Arriva have up about arrangements for Lumiere is a refreshing contrast to the last time, when the website was down a lot more than it was up.

I even have a timetable for this evening, all printed out (despite the best efforts of my printer to be asleep) and everything. We're limited for when we can leave by when big'un gets home from school, so the P&R car parks will probably be full with a long queue by the time we get in. Easier to just get the bus from home, I think - and it'll motivate big'un to eat his tea early, instead of using the computer.

(12 Nov 2015, 9:28 am)BusLoverMum wrote The information that Arriva have up about arrangements for Lumiere is a refreshing contrast to the last time, when the website was down a lot more than it was up.

I even have a timetable for this evening, all printed out (despite the best efforts of my printer to be asleep) and everything. We're limited for when we can leave by when big'un gets home from school, so the P&R car parks will probably be full with a long queue by the time we get in. Easier to just get the bus from home, I think - and it'll motivate big'un to eat his tea early, instead of using the computer.

Have to agree the info is a lot better from Arriva this time around, the previous Lumiere I ended up getting most of the info from elsewhere including the Durham Pindar site.

Just a shame there isn't any extra 7's this time.

Also, Arriva will be running the Merryoaks P4, Park and Ride service for the event.

(12 Nov 2015, 11:40 am)Jimmi wrote Have to agree the info is a lot better from Arriva this time around, the previous Lumiere I ended up getting most of the info from elsewhere including the Durham Pindar site.

Just a shame there isn't any extra 7's this time.

Also, Arriva will be running the Merryoaks P4, Park and Ride service for the event.

E400's for the night time 7's though.

(12 Nov 2015, 11:40 am)Jimmi wrote Have to agree the info is a lot better from Arriva this time around, the previous Lumiere I ended up getting most of the info from elsewhere including the Durham Pindar site.

Just a shame there isn't any extra 7's this time.

Also, Arriva will be running the Merryoaks P4, Park and Ride service for the event.

Good to hear that the information is better received this year, the information on our part of the website has definitely improved since it has been done by local teams.

I understand the PR4 will be PVR 6, likely to be all of the B7s from Redcar plus a few of Durham's mixed in.

More news later once I've got things sorted...

It's obvious why there's extra 22s on, though - they usually stop leaving Durham before 8pm!

Wondering if Arriva will use the lessons it learnt from the bridge works, in the summer, to plan better for the Christmas festival, this year? Buses were all over the place, last year.

Well I said I'd be back with more news later...

I thought I would just do a bit of rounding up of all of the refurbishments going on

Refurbishment complete and in service at Blyth are 1493, 1501, 1503, 1505, 7410, 7411, 7601, 7602, 7604, 7607
At Thornton's for refurb: 7605, 7606 (with 7603 awaiting to go)

1502 & 1504 away at Stockton on loan temporarily.

This gives them 15 vehicles for PVR 13 (X7/X8/X9) albeit 7607 has effectively replaced 7609 so they have 14 vehicles for PVR 13.
So far branded, all are for X7/X8, are 1493, 1501, 7601, 7602, 7604
EDIT: 1505 now confirmed as X9 branded

In other refurbishment news, 1922 has returned from Thorntons following DDA modifications, and is now back in service at Stockton (returned on 17 yesterday). It's place I believe has been taken by 1917 (need to check, either that or 1916). 1404 and 1405 are also up there for X66/X67 MAX refurbishment.

These have all been joined by two further Volvo B7TL / Wright Gemini from London, these being VLW105 (LJ03MHU) and VLW125 (LF52UOY), making up part of the allocation for Ashington's X20 MAX program.
Temsa's 4700, 4721-6 are all nearly ready for deployment to Redcar depot, and once ready these are expected to replace 1101, 1102, 1105, 4507, 4511, 4513 and 4515.

(12 Nov 2015, 4:59 pm)tyresmoke wrote Well I said I'd be back with more news later...

I thought I would just do a bit of rounding up of all of the refurbishments going on

Refurbishment complete and in service at Blyth are 1493, 1501, 1503, 1505, 7410, 7411, 7601, 7602, 7604, 7607
At Thornton's for refurb: 7605, 7606 (with 7603 awaiting to go)

1502 & 1504 away at Stockton on loan temporarily.

This gives them 15 vehicles for PVR 13 (X7/X8/X9) albeit 7607 has effectively replaced 7609 so they have 14 vehicles for PVR 13.
So far branded, all are for X7/X8, are 1493, 1501, 7601, 7602, 7604
EDIT: 1505 now confirmed as X9 branded

In other refurbishment news, 1922 has returned from Thorntons following DDA modifications, and is now back in service at Stockton (returned on 17 yesterday). It's place I believe has been taken by 1917 (need to check, either that or 1916). 1404 and 1405 are also up there for X66/X67 MAX refurbishment.

These have all been joined by two further Volvo B7TL / Wright Gemini from London, these being VLW105 (LJ03MHU) and VLW125 (LF52UOY), making up part of the allocation for Ashington's X20 MAX program.
Temsa's 4700, 4721-6 are all nearly ready for deployment to Redcar depot, and once ready these are expected to replace 1101, 1102, 1105, 4507, 4511, 4513 and 4515.

What will Whitby do if they have a mini off the road!!

(12 Nov 2015, 6:11 pm)Cock Robin wrote What will Whitby do if they have a mini off the road!!

I imagine they'll have the use of 1103/4? They're going into winter reserve but I am sure they will be kept active.

also i spotted LJ03 MHK and LF52 UOU heading to thorntons but i could be wrong.

(12 Nov 2015, 7:19 pm)buss14 wrote also i spotted LJ03 MHK and LF52 UOU heading to thorntons but i could be wrong.

Yes you are wrong. They've been on the 254 and 279 (respectively) in London today.