(10 Nov 2015, 7:54 pm)GX03 SVC wrote If thats the case, tell me why it doesnt carry X21/X22 branding.

Cause Ashington are too lazy to do it.

(10 Nov 2015, 7:57 pm)DanPicken wrote Cause Ashington are too lazy to do it.

So why do 7501-7509 and 7522-7528 carry X21/X22 branding???

And 7518 has had Sapphire branding applied inside too, so theyre not lazy.

(10 Nov 2015, 7:58 pm)GX03 SVC wrote So why do 7501-7509 and 7522-7528 carry X21/X22 branding???

Because they were done before 7518  as they were suffering reliability issues.

(10 Nov 2015, 7:54 pm)GX03 SVC wrote If thats the case, tell me why it doesnt carry X21/X22 branding.

I don't see why you are trying to avoid the problem? The fact that it doesnt carry X21/X22 branding doesnt withdraw the fact that the vehicle has been refurbished to Sapphire spec to be used as an X21/X22 spare.

I think this argument has been done to death, mainly because everyone has a valid point. On the one hand it is not one of the official buses dedicated to be allocated to the X21/22 constantly but on the other hand it is a Sapphire bus on a Sapphire route. Should it happen, in an ideal world, no, does it happen, yes, very regularly - hence it's existence. In conclusion it is not necessarily rare, odd or even incorrect but that doesn't mean it does not deserve any sort of significance because at the end of the day it is different to the Sapphire X21/22 buses because it does not have sub-branding.

I think we may all have to agree to disagree and ultimately it is a persons judgement as to what they class as rare or odd.

(10 Nov 2015, 7:59 pm)DanPicken wrote Because they were done before 7518  as they were suffering reliability issues.

Uninformed drivel. 

Ashington didn't apply branding as requested by MANAGEMENT as it is a spare vehicle, look at other Sapphire spare vehicles.

Until 7518 officially becomes allocated onto X21/X22 I will keep classing it as an odd working.

(10 Nov 2015, 8:06 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Uninformed drivel. 

Ashington didn't apply branding as requested by MANAGEMENT as it is a spare vehicle, look at other Sapphire spare vehicles.

Spare vehicles no-one reports because they aren't rare.

My thoughts on the 7518 X21/X22 issue is that it could be argued as an "odd" working, however as it happens so often I don't feel it is worth reporting on a regular basis as it's certainly not an allocation that happens on a rare basis. Unfortunately this is a problem with noting spare Sapphire buses on here I feel, I never can decide whether to report Belmont's Sapphire spares appearing on the 6, 7, 22 and 24 as although they aren't branded for a specific route, they are still in the Sapphire brand.

EDIT: same applies with 1512 at Stockton for 5/5A and 1440 at Redcar for X3/X3A/X4/4.

If it was a corporate liveried vehicle to the same specification then maybe i'd maybe argue that it is acceptable to post. However, as it was blatantly refurbished, repainted and branded to act as a spare vehicle for services X21/X22, I don't see how it is rare/odd because it is just serving its purpose.

This is pretty much a pointless argument. If it's to the same specification of the vehicles allocated to the route, it shouldn't be viewed as rare or odd.

My thoughts on this is if I stop posting reports on these spare vehicles then everyone else can too.

That includes if 7515/6/8 appear on the 35 or any route like that.

(10 Nov 2015, 8:14 pm)GX03 SVC wrote My thoughts on this is if I stop posting reports on these spare vehicles then everyone else can too.

That includes if 7515/6/8 appear on the 35 or any route like that.

No - because 7515/6/8 are not to the same specification as the vehicles normally allocated to the 35.

(10 Nov 2015, 8:17 pm)S813 FVK wrote No - because 7515/6/8 are not to the same specification as the vehicles normally allocated to the 35.

Free WiFi, e-leather seats?

I'll take it that everyone has expressed their views now, and we'll leave it at that. It's pointless arguing the same points over and over. Just read the previous handful of posts again instead.

(10 Nov 2015, 8:18 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Free WiFi, e-leather seats?

Which means 7518 is the same according to that logic especially since X21/2 are the only Sapphire at Ashington.

(10 Nov 2015, 8:18 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Free WiFi, e-leather seats?

Do they have plug sockets?

(10 Nov 2015, 8:19 pm)Adrian wrote I'll take it that everyone has expressed their views now, and we'll leave it at that. It's pointless arguing the same points over and over. Just read the previous handful of posts again instead.

I think we should take note of this post now. I've posted things of the same principle about 3 times now.

(10 Nov 2015, 7:32 pm)GX03 SVC wrote As 7518 is a all-routes spare and is not branded for services X21/X22 it is a rare/odd working.

Thank you

(10 Nov 2015, 8:08 pm)Jimmi wrote My thoughts on the 7518 X21/X22 issue is that it could be argued as an "odd" working, however as it happens so often I don't feel it is worth reporting on a regular basis as it's certainly not an allocation that happens on a rare basis. Unfortunately this is a problem with noting spare Sapphire buses on here I feel, I never can decide whether to report Belmont's Sapphire spares appearing on the 6, 7, 22 and 24 as although they aren't branded for a specific route, they are still in the Sapphire brand.

EDIT: same applies with 1512 at Stockton for 5/5A and 1440 at Redcar for X3/X3A/X4/4.

I tend to report the Belmont Sapphire spares if they're away from their "sister" buses eg 1595 appearing on the 7 or a pulsar on the 22. Usually, if there's a spare Sapphire on the 22, it's 1595, as that's from the same batch of Streetlites, so anything else is rare/odd.

(10 Nov 2015, 10:21 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I tend to report the Belmont Sapphire spares if they're away from their "sister" buses eg 1595 appearing on the 7 or a pulsar on the 22. Usually, if there's a spare Sapphire on the 22, it's 1595, as that's from the same batch of Streetlites, so anything else is rare/odd.

Speaking of 1595 it ended up on the 7s today

(10 Nov 2015, 7:54 pm)GX03 SVC wrote If thats the case, tell me why it doesnt carry X21/X22 branding.

It doesn't carry branding because it's an all routes spare. However, it's PRIMARY purpose is to provide backup for the X21/X22 and therefore, it is not a rare and odd working when it appears on these routes as needed. However, due to it being an all routes spare, it can be used on other Ashington routes and be classed as a rare and odd working. Look at GNE's examples below:

6116 or 6117: X39/309/310 = Correct allocation, 1/9/17/40/41/80/327 = Rare and Odd Working.

6099/6100: 56 = Correct allocation, 9/20/X36 = Rare and Odd Working.

6084= 10a/10b/X9/X10 (inc any scheduled odd workings, any evening boards which include the full 10 but finish at Riverside) = Correct allocation, any other Riverside route including any evening boards which include the 10 and finish at Hexham = Rare and odd working

(10 Nov 2015, 5:19 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote Unless it gets swapped over there should be a double decker out all night on a 7 Backturn, should be the 20:15 off darlington, unless it gets swapped



Said decker 7537 was swapped for 1513

That had replaced a Pulsar earlier.

(11 Nov 2015, 5:57 am)DaveyBowyer wrote It doesn't carry branding because it's an all routes spare. However, it's PRIMARY purpose is to provide backup for the X21/X22 and therefore, it is not a rare and odd working when it appears on these routes as needed. However, due to it being an all routes spare, it can be used on other Ashington routes and be classed as a rare and odd working. Look at GNE's examples below:

6116 or 6117: X39/309/310 = Correct allocation, 1/9/17/40/41/80/327 = Rare and Odd Working.

6099/6100: 56 = Correct allocation, 9/20/X36 = Rare and Odd Working.

6084= 10a/10b/X9/X10 (inc any scheduled odd workings, any evening boards which include the full 10 but finish at Riverside) = Correct allocation, any other Riverside route including any evening boards which include the 10 and finish at Hexham = Rare and odd working

Woulldn't agree with that. 6084 isn't branded for X9/X10 so would count it as an unusual working.

(10 Nov 2015, 7:25 pm)Andreos1 wrote There was a Yxxx EBR on the Durham 64 this evening.

Probably 7444 as that went on early afternoon.

Terrible congestion at Durham last night. Appeared to be caused by a CENSUS near Houghall College. My X12 ended up 30 mins late, passed two together at Coxhoe.

(11 Nov 2015, 5:57 am)DaveyBowyer wrote It doesn't carry branding because it's an all routes spare. However, it's PRIMARY purpose is to provide backup for the X21/X22 and therefore, it is not a rare and odd working when it appears on these routes as needed. However, due to it being an all routes spare, it can be used on other Ashington routes and be classed as a rare and odd working. Look at GNE's examples below:

6116 or 6117: X39/309/310 = Correct allocation, 1/9/17/40/41/80/327 = Rare and Odd Working.

6099/6100: 56 = Correct allocation, 9/20/X36 = Rare and Odd Working.

6084= 10a/10b/X9/X10 (inc any scheduled odd workings, any evening boards which include the full 10 but finish at Riverside) = Correct allocation, any other Riverside route including any evening boards which include the 10 and finish at Hexham = Rare and odd working

They seem to spend more time on the other routes than the 56, but I see what you mean.
Probably rarer for them to be on the 56 over the course of a week.

Hadn't noticed it previously, but on a recent trip on 6099 (not on a 56), I couldn't help notice the monitors advertising the 56.
Not sure if the other spares advertise a specific service.

A 15 branded Pulsar on the 7A last night.

(11 Nov 2015, 9:38 am)Cock Robin wrote Terrible congestion at Durham last night. Appeared to be caused by a CENSUS near Houghall College. My X12 ended up 30 mins late, passed two together at Coxhoe.

The census is on gilesgate, this morning, 

Edited because I got my days mixed up

(11 Nov 2015, 9:48 am)Cock Robin wrote A 15 branded Pulsar on the 7A last night.

7As officially run off a 15 board now since the X66/X67 rota change (although unofficially it has done since the July changes when the driver did 15s then was meant to pick up the bus off the 6). So yes it's odd but it depends what goes on that 15 board)

(11 Nov 2015, 9:43 am)Andreos1 wrote They seem to spend more time on the other routes than the 56, but I see what you mean.
Probably rarer for them to be on the 56 over the course of a week.

Hadn't noticed it previously, but on a recent trip on 6099 (not on a 56), I couldn't help notice the monitors advertising the 56.
Not sure if the other spares advertise a specific service.

For now, they show 'Fab Fifty Six'. In time, there will be a red Go North East screen when any vehicle is allocated to a route without Next Stop Announcements.