(06 Dec 2015, 3:00 pm)Adrian wrote I think they've got some of the Sapphire Streetlites now displaying correctly, but there's still far too many buses going round with nothing at all displayed. The Solos are probably the most reliable, but there's quite a few of them without working nearside displays. 

I wonder if it's reported on the defect sheet, or whether there's no requirement to do so?

2810 has no side destination and 2813 has no rear - this is the only solo without a rear destination as far as I know.  The 61-plate pulsars, 3/4 don't work and 7610's works intermittently.  1766 also has a dodgy rear destination.  Aside from those, the rest should all be working and you can rest assure that I put it on the defect card every time (much to the annoyance of the fitters)

(07 Dec 2015, 10:26 pm)Jimmi wrote Haven't them three EcoCity's had reliability problems ever since we got them? For buses of that age I am slightly concerned by how many times I have seen those three at the side of the road broken down so I am starting to become less trusting in them which for me is a bad thing as knowing my luck before long I am probably get one of them three back from Sunderland/Peterlee one day and get stuck waiting an hour for the next one or wait 30 minutes and take a lengthy detour on the 21A to Stockton then to Darlington to reach home. The other EcoCity's don't seem so bad, 4811 is nearly always on the 21/X21 and stays there all day. The problem is, if you take them EcoCity's off the 21/X21, where would you put them at Darlington? 8/8A maybe.

X75/X76, by the time they are MAX'd they will be pretty much 11 years old although most MAX referbs are just a case of paint the exterior, paint the handrails, whack in some WiFi and re-trim the seats with e-leather so shouldn't cost too much. The Omnicity's now seem down on power and some of them just sound awful, 4649 is my least personal favourite.

Wonder if the side destination screens on at least one of Darlington's MAX Omnicity's will ever get fixed, been like that for, too long and not  something Arriva should be ignoring as in a few weeks time this will make the bus non DDA compliant.

DDA has quite a big loophole regarding destination screens.  The DDA states that the bus must be fitted with a destination screen (side and rear) capable of showing a certain amount of characters at a certain size.  It could be argued in a court that it doesn't state whether the destination screen has to be working, as it only states that it should be capable - have to have quite a good lawyer to argue it though.

Still no working NSA's on 7528, and one light downstairs has gone bright blue?

ANE have often been lumbered with older stock.
Even though they have invested in new vehicles recently - the biggest batch for a long time (since the 90's Lynx and Delta investment?), there is still the odd influx of older stuff.

Taking a step back, the refurbishment of older vehicles makes some sense.
Take the X20, a new extension (which is totally unproven), but with vehicles given a refurb (on the cheap?) which obviously has the ultimate goal of encouraging growth.
Tying it in with the X15 and X18, will maybe attract tourists in summer months too, if it looks and appears a nicer vehicle than seen currently.

I can't see bosses being able to justify new vehicles for the X20.
If the route takes off, then with the next lot of investment, we may see something newer on the X20 by way of direct purchases or cascades.

I think the X93 can fall into this category too.
A route bothered by all sorts of issues in the past, may be able to continue improving, following the upgrade we have seen from previous.

Facebook: Severe delays to X12 between Birtley and Gateshead towards Newcastle.Reason as yet unknown.

You'd think they'd know the bloody reason...!

(08 Dec 2015, 9:34 am)GX03 SVC wrote Facebook: Severe delays to X12 between Birtley and Gateshead towards Newcastle.Reason as yet unknown.

You'd think they'd know the bloody reason...!

The traffic in Birtley was at a standstill about 10 minutes ago, so probably still is. I can't see why though, must have been a breakdown, unless Blackpool Illuminations are playing up....

That's the traffic lights by the way.

5 car pile up on the Tyne Bridge is causing mayhem in Newcastle

(08 Dec 2015, 9:45 am)LeeCalder wrote The traffic in Birtley was at a standstill about 10 minutes ago, so probably still is. I can't see why though, must have been a breakdown, unless Blackpool Illuminations are playing up....

That's the traffic lights by the way.

The A1 at Washington is at a standstill too.

(08 Dec 2015, 3:44 am)palatine3833 wrote DDA has quite a big loophole regarding destination screens.  The DDA states that the bus must be fitted with a destination screen (side and rear) capable of showing a certain amount of characters at a certain size.  It could be argued in a court that it doesn't state whether the destination screen has to be working, as it only states that it should be capable - have to have quite a good lawyer to argue it though.

I had 4649 out of the depot this morning for an X66, side screen worked, then didn't, then stayed off. It didn't drive too badly either. Next up was 4654 for two trips to Barnard Castle. Seat was comfy, and that's about it. Last up was 4643 for two X26's, this is one of the better OmniCitys, if a bit in the rattly side (aren't they all!) by the end of the week, if allocation is correct, I'll have driven 7 Scanias in 4 days. I fear for my bones.

(08 Dec 2015, 10:55 pm)MrPottski wrote I had 4649 out of the depot this morning for an X66, side screen worked, then didn't, then stayed off. It didn't drive too badly either. Next up was 4654 for two trips to Barnard Castle. Seat was comfy, and that's about it. Last up was 4643 for two X26's, this is one of the better OmniCitys, if a bit in the rattly side (aren't they all!) by the end of the week, if allocation is correct, I'll have driven 7 Scanias in 4 days. I fear for my bones.

Some of them feel a bit like a rollercoaster.

Typing on my phone is fun on them. Would take me 10 minutes to badly write this little post on a windy road!

I noticed that one on the X67 didn't have its rather too short bits of foam padding in front of the seats    behind the step towards the back, on Saturday. Can't say that didn't make me nervous, though after a journey on a toonlink, the other week, I wouldn't mind if the windows had foam padding on, too. Bumped me 'eed, on a bend, I did.

News from home is that 7486/7487 have arrived at Stockton depot. Expect to see them on the road shortly...

(10 Dec 2015, 7:37 am)tyresmoke wrote News from home is that 7486/7487 have arrived at Stockton depot. Expect to see them on the road shortly...

How long they at Stockton for I guess they be used on X12

What would be the best way of complaining to Arriva about WiFi not working as sure enough I've got 4811 for the next 90 minutes on the 21/X21 with WiFi that doesn't work, yet again!

Oh and it's so warm on here I feel like I'm going to pass out and I've only made it as far as Sedgefield!

(10 Dec 2015, 8:22 am)jaimzm wrote How long they at Stockton for I guess they be used on X12

Need 3!

(10 Dec 2015, 8:41 am)Jimmi wrote What would be the best way of complaining to Arriva about WiFi not working as sure enough I've got 4811 for the next 90 minutes on the 21/X21 with WiFi that doesn't work, yet again!

Oh and it's so warm on here I feel like I'm going to pass out and I've only made it as far as Sedgefield!

I'm sure they'll give that a high priority!

(10 Dec 2015, 8:41 am)Jimmi wrote What would be the best way of complaining to Arriva about WiFi not working as sure enough I've got 4811 for the next 90 minutes on the 21/X21 with WiFi that doesn't work, yet again!

Oh and it's so warm on here I feel like I'm going to pass out and I've only made it as far as Sedgefield!

I'll mention it. However, Facebook or Twitter is normally good as well

(10 Dec 2015, 9:38 am)Cock Robin wrote I'm sure they'll give that a high priority!

Well customers are paying the highest prices in the North East for this so-called "luxury" travel, so yes, I would complain especially as I have to pay £7.00 for a return to Newcastle, and it ain't a pleasant journey without WiFi. 

If wearing the correct tie is a priority at a certain depot, I'm sure the WiFi is too...

(10 Dec 2015, 2:42 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Well customers are paying the highest prices in the North East for this so-called "luxury" travel, so yes, I would complain especially as I have to pay £7.00 for a return to Newcastle, and it ain't a pleasant journey without WiFi. 

If wearing the correct tie is a priority at a certain depot, I'm sure the WiFi is too...

Pay the same fare for the 'luxury' travel as the bog standard.

---

4724 on 64.

(10 Dec 2015, 8:41 am)Jimmi wrote What would be the best way of complaining to Arriva about WiFi not working as sure enough I've got 4811 for the next 90 minutes on the 21/X21 with WiFi that doesn't work, yet again!

Oh and it's so warm on here I feel like I'm going to pass out and I've only made it as far as Sedgefield!

What did you do before WiFi,

better to have a bus or should it stay in the depot and not run the service I know what I would have

(10 Dec 2015, 6:07 pm)RayB wrote What did you do before WiFi,

better to have a bus or should it stay in the depot and not run the service I know what I would have

Use 3G?

(10 Dec 2015, 9:38 am)Cock Robin wrote I'm sure they'll give that a high priority!

(10 Dec 2015, 6:07 pm)RayB wrote What did you do before WiFi,

better to have a bus or should it stay in the depot and not run the service I know what I would have

I'd imagine that Arriva North East would much prefer customers to report faults with Wi-Fi, so individual instances can be investigated.

Managing Go North East's Wi-Fi is part of my job, and customer complaints (as well as messages from enthusiasts on this forum) put me in the right direction, as it's not a five minute job to check session details on all vehicles with Wi-Fi, when the amount of buses we have with free Wi-Fi is in triple figures (and is increasing every month!) It's something I try to do once a week on a Monday (checking the previous week's details), but it takes up an hour or two of my time on what is usually a pretty busy day.

Sure, it probably wouldn't be a valid reason to keep the bus off the road, but the sooner a fault is recorded, the sooner it can be fixed. It's a good job it's not a "Sapphire" branded vehicle, as customers would be well within their rights to claim a "no quibble money back guarantee".

(10 Dec 2015, 6:23 pm)Dan wrote I'd imagine that Arriva North East would much prefer customers to report faults with Wi-Fi, so individual instances can be investigated.

Managing Go North East's Wi-Fi is part of my job, and customer complaints (as well as messages from enthusiasts on this forum) put me in the right direction, as it's not a five minute job to check session details on all vehicles with Wi-Fi, when the amount of buses we have with free Wi-Fi is in triple figures (and is increasing every month!) It's something I try to do once a week on a Monday (checking the previous week's details), but it takes up an hour or two of my time on what is usually a pretty busy day.

Sure, it probably wouldn't be a valid reason to keep the bus off the road, but the sooner a fault is recorded, the sooner it can be fixed. It's a good job it's not a "Sapphire" branded vehicle, as customers would be well within their rights to claim a "no quibble money back guarantee".

Had 7521? on the 6 on Monday and couldn't connect to the WiFi, was showing up as Moovbox on list of available networks. I assume that you would be able to claim the "no quibble money back guarantee" if a non Sapphire bus is used, such as 1510 was on the 7 on Monday.

The WiFi on 4811 hasn't worked since it was fitted which was a fair few months. Probably a good thing Arriva have never actually advertised that the buses on the 21/X21 have WiFi especially as the last time I checked 4813 doesn't even have it.

(10 Dec 2015, 6:46 pm)Jimmi wrote Had 7521? on the 6 on Monday and couldn't connect to the WiFi, was showing up as Moovbox on list of available networks. I assume that you would be able to claim the "no quibble money back guarantee" if a non Sapphire bus is used, such as 1510 was on the 7 on Monday.

The WiFi on 4811 hasn't worked since it was fitted which was a fair few months. Probably a good thing Arriva have never actually advertised that the buses on the 21/X21 have WiFi especially as the last time I checked 4813 doesn't even have it.

If it's showing "Moovbox", that means the Wi-Fi unit has been installed but not configured correctly. I think you'll be able to connect sometimes, but not all of the time. That was certainly the case with Go North East's Streetlites on service 60, before they were configured.

But yes, passengers would be well within the right to complain and get their money back (in vouchers!)

1503 is now branded for MAX services X7/X8.

(10 Dec 2015, 6:07 pm)RayB wrote What did you do before WiFi,

better to have a bus or should it stay in the depot and not run the service I know what I would have

If you bought a car, and it came without an engine, would that be ok?

At least you'd have the car after all...

Stockton MAX vehicles 1404 & 1405 were due to be branded for the X66/X67 today. They should both be back on the road tomorrow.

(10 Dec 2015, 8:22 am)jaimzm wrote How long they at Stockton for I guess they be used on X12

Believe it or not...  That's not what they are at Stockton for. After speaking to someone in the know it turns out 7486 and 7 will not be on the X12 unless one of 1441-3 and 1415 are VOR or being used elsewhere (1415 obviously) as Stockton don't want a branded bus on the wrong services! Expect to see the deckers on Middlesbrough Towns, 21A and 28s Maybe X66/7 depending on Branded bus avaliablity. They will definitely not appear on 5/5A/X5, 7, 29/29A This is due to bridges and trees

is there any chance of blyth branding the commanders for 1 or 2 if they get upgraded?

(11 Dec 2015, 1:34 am)Multi21 wrote Believe it or not...  That's not what they are at Stockton for. After speaking to someone in the know it turns out 7486 and 7 will not be on the X12 unless one of 1441-3 and 1415 are VOR or being used elsewhere (1415 obviously) as Stockton don't want a branded bus on the wrong services! Expect to see the deckers on Middlesbrough Towns, 21A and 28s Maybe X66/7 depending on Branded bus avaliablity. They will definitely not appear on 5/5A/X5, 7, 29/29A This is due to bridges and trees

so could they do 17s or 27/9 it be good to see stockton have deckers i think probz used more on X66 X67 21a