(06 Oct 2013, 3:59 pm)Daniel wrote Can the ticket machines not read Key Cards? I've seen coffin dodgers using the ticket machines for their concessionary passes.

Yes they can, but still I know a friend who had an annual pass and was forced to pay 90p, £1.35 and £2.20 on three seperate journeys when I was with her this summer.
And not often Ciatro5284 but a three times too many. And in these case you have a valid pass don't carry change for the bus then get told you need to pay or get off. Isn't good at all.

(06 Oct 2013, 4:12 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Yes they can, but still I know a friend who had an annual pass and was forced to pay 90p, £1.35 and £2.20 on three seperate journeys when I was with her this summer.
And not often Ciatro5284 but a three times too many. And in these case you have a valid pass don't carry change for the bus then get told you need to pay or get off. Isn't good at all.

Why was she forced to pay, could she not have put her card on the ETM?
Lets be honest everything at some stage breaks down or becomes faulty (it is as guaranteed like taxes and death), your friend may have been unlucky, but I still think 3 times in 3 months is not often (and how many journeys were made successfully?), but what would you suggest in this case? You cannot just give 'everyone' free rides as how does the driver know the card is valid in the first place and you cannot take a bus out of service either.

I use my GNE key card at least 4 times a day, and I've very rarely had any problems, apart from the first month of the launch. Nobody should be made to pay, because even if the ETM gives a "travel not allowed" error, the driver can run a report and see exactly what tickets are stored. My only gripe with that is it shouldn't be up to me to tell the driver to do that. I've never yet had someone to offer to do it without prompt.

(06 Oct 2013, 4:38 pm)aureolin wrote I use my GNE key card at least 4 times a day, and I've very rarely had any problems, apart from the first month of the launch. Nobody should be made to pay, because even if the ETM gives a "travel not allowed" error, the driver can run a report and see exactly what tickets are stored. My only gripe with that is it shouldn't be up to me to tell the driver to do that. I've never yet had someone to offer to do it without prompt.

What happens if then the customer says I have paid for a product and it is not my fault it is not on. Where does this leave the driver?

(06 Oct 2013, 4:31 pm)citaro5284 wrote Why was she forced to pay, could she not have put her card on the ETM?
Lets be honest everything at some stage breaks down or becomes faulty (it is as guaranteed like taxes and death), your friend may have been unlucky, but I still think 3 times in 3 months is not often (and how many journeys were made successfully?), but what would you suggest in this case? You cannot just give 'everyone' free rides as how does the driver know the card is valid in the first place and you cannot take a bus out of service either.

I say over the summer it was probably over a 3-4 week period over the summer. And nope the drivers just make her pay and all they say is well it takes 48 hours for it to load but she bought it last September! But I appreciate this maybe extreme circumstances but it's still very inconvenient to have to pay when you've got a pass.

(06 Oct 2013, 4:41 pm)citaro5284 wrote What happens if then the customer says I have paid for a product and it is not my fault it is not on. Where does this leave the driver?

I've never had this happen to me before, but thinking about the technical side of things, it should only ever occur if the vehicle hasn't taken the latest dataset? If it was the first bus of the day, I'd either let it go or pay for a single fare for the time being. If I had been using my card all day though, I'd be a bit miffed if I was asked to pay. The chances of me doing so would be approximately zero.

Does anyone know if the fares would be refunded (either by cash or by ticket) if there was a problem and the driver made the customer pay the fare?

(06 Oct 2013, 5:48 pm)Daniel wrote Does anyone know if the fares would be refunded (either by cash or by ticket) if there was a problem and the driver made the customer pay the fare?

The approach is inconsistent from what I've seen.

• OAPs tend to just be let on the bus no questions asked.
  
• Adults/Teens/Kids are hit and miss - I've seen everything from someone being threatened with the police, to people just being waived on.
  

The most worrying thing I've seen is when I once had to pay a young lasses fare. Her card was showing 'travel not allowed'. Despite pleading that it's just worked on another bus, and that she didn't have enough money for the full fare, she was told she'd have to get off the bus. It was about 9pm during the dark winter months too.

2 more Sapphires have arrived at Heysham Docks

http://malsfotofile.smugmug.com/HeyshamD...&k=xhNW8TM

http://malsfotofile.smugmug.com/HeyshamD...&k=nSxLR8W

An EcoCity was pictured on the X1 this morning. This is becoming quite common.

(07 Oct 2013, 8:04 am)JoshP wrote An EcoCity was pictured on the X1 this morning. This is becoming quite common.

The EcoCity works the recently added extra trip that starts at West Auckland and terminates in Darlington. It then goes back to the depot for refuelling I believe.

(07 Oct 2013, 9:54 am)Kuyoyo wrote The EcoCity works the recently added extra trip that starts at West Auckland and terminates in Darlington. It then goes back to the depot for refuelling I believe.

Is a duplicate of an existing service rather than an additional trip. This will revert to an official registered service starting in West Auckland from the end of October. I don't think it will be operated by an Ecocity though.

A Coach (think it was 1213) was on the 55 this morning....3rd time I have seen this in a week doing this journey (0651 ex Haymarket)

A complete list of the fleet number to registration allocation:

Stockton [Arriva]:

• 1512 (NL63 VRF)
  

Darlington [Sapphire]:

• 1513 (NL63 VRG)
  
• 1514 (NL63 VRJ)
  
• 1515 (NL63 VRK)
  
• 1516 (NL63 VRM)
  
• 1517 (NL63 VRN)
  
• 1518 (NL63 VRO)
  
• 1519 (NL63 VPT)
  
• 1520 (NL63 VPU)
  
• 1521 (NL63 VPV)

Belmont [Sapphire]:

• 1522 (NL63 VPW)
  
• 1523 (NL63 VVO)

(08 Oct 2013, 4:25 pm)Daniel wrote A complete list of the fleet number to registration allocation:

Stockton [Arriva]:

• 1512 (NL63 VRF)
  

Darlington [Sapphire]:

• 1513 (NL63 VRG)
  
• 1514 (NL63 VRJ)
  
• 1515 (NL63 VRK)
  
• 1516 (NL63 VRM)
  
• 1517 (NL63 VRN)
  
• 1518 (NL63 VRO)
  
• 1519 (NL63 VPT)
  
• 1520 (NL63 VPU)
  
• 1521 (NL63 VPV)

Belmont [Sapphire]:

• 1522 (NL63 VPW)
  
• 1523 (NL63 VVO)

The Sapphire colour/brand looks good =)

What will these replace?

(08 Oct 2013, 4:31 pm)Michael wrote The Sapphire colour/brand looks good =)

What will these replace?

Mainly DAF SB220 vehicles from Redcar

(08 Oct 2013, 4:31 pm)Michael wrote The Sapphire colour/brand looks good =)

What will these replace?

If specific details are allowed to be released on the public domain at this stage, Scott may be able to tell us - if not, he may be able to give us a hint.

Thanks =)

PB0002717/296 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Middlesbrough and Easington given service number 5A/5/5B effective from 13-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

(08 Oct 2013, 4:45 pm)Michael wrote Thanks =)

PB0002717/296 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Middlesbrough and Easington given service number 5A/5/5B effective from 13-Oct-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

Short notice change to take Skinningrove out of the route (5 and X4) with a few timetable amendments to remove the extra running time, buses will leave Easington upto 5 mins later towards Middlesbrough, and arrive upto 4 mins earlier coming from Middlesbrough. How this affects the timings to/from Whitby on the 5 journeys that go via Skinningrove I'm not too sure.

Allocation changes as of 5th October:

4004 Reserve - Jesmond (replacing 1213 to Ashington)
4072 Reserve - Jesmond (extra bus to combat late running on 43/45)

1213 Jesmond - Ashington (replacing 1211 to be converted to training coach)

4002/4027 Redcar - Disposal (end of 'peak' summer X93 timetable, PVR -2)

Why are Stockton gaining one (fairly random) bus?

(08 Oct 2013, 8:11 pm)peter wrote Why are Stockton gaining one (fairly random) bus?

1512? It was due for Stockton originally, then the plan changed with it going to Darlington and 1493 would return to Stockton. However, the application of the X1 advert on 1493 means that the plan has changed back to the original plan.

(08 Oct 2013, 4:55 pm)tyresmoke wrote Allocation changes as of 5th October:

4004 Reserve - Jesmond (replacing 1213 to Ashington)
4072 Reserve - Jesmond (extra bus to combat late running on 43/45)

1213 Jesmond - Ashington (replacing 1211 to be converted to training coach)

4002/4027 Redcar - Disposal (end of 'peak' summer X93 timetable, PVR -2)

Extra bus on the 43/45 to combat late running - remind me how many times the 43 has changed in the past year or so ? Claudio Ranieri is at Doxford these days it seems !!!

(08 Oct 2013, 8:23 pm)busman101 wrote Extra bus on the 43/45 to combat late running - remind me how many times the 43 has changed in the past year or so ? Claudio Ranieri is at Doxford these days it seems !!!

I think we're getting into the kettle calling the pot black here..

I don't know the exact PVR'S but I think that the best fleet strategy is the way forward for Arriva.

- Extend the 306 to Whitley Bay from Tynemouth Mannor Road via the Coaster route every 15 minutes (30 minutes evenings and Sundays). Also, serve North Shields Metro and Bedford Street towards Whitley Bay rather than Christ Church. For journeys to Newcastle, operate via Northumberland Square and Church Way. Displace the 10 Volvo B5 Gemini 2's if the 308 on to the 306 as them type of buses will be betted suited to the 306. Also, if service 306 becomes well used through the Marden Estate, keep it on the Coast Road rather than Battle Hill with the 308.

- For service 308, X10, X11, X15, X18, X21 and X22, order Volvo B9 Gemini 2's with high back seating, Wi-Fi and power sockets (X15, X18, X21, X22 ONLY FOR POWER SOCKETS). The B9 will suit these routes better due to the powerful engines and reliability.

- Due to the above, the DAF ALX400'S, Optare Spectras and Y reg DAF Lowlanders can be withdrawn due to the availability of the VDL DB300 Gemini 2's and Alexander Dennis Enviro 400's. The only requirement of the VDL Gemini 2's will be the X13

-The availability of the two vehicle types above plus the 2 Volvo B7TL ALX400'S at Jesmond, could be used to:

- Make up the total PVR on the 306
- Upgrade the Quorum Express services to the 61 reg VDL Gemini 2's and use the remaining ones plus, a few of the 59 reg ones on the X13.
- Upgrade the X20 / 20 and 14 / X14 and long 44 runs
- Upgrade the 43 to double deck vehicles
- Act as spare vehicles
- Potentially launch a half hourly ( hourly evenings and Sundays) express route shadowing the 308 route to Billy Mill then limited stop to Newcastle only calling at Formica and Willingtin Square

VDL Commanders 1402/03 have now been fully branded branded for "Quorums Express" duties.

Passengers hanging back from a tynedale express at Eldon Square just earlier in favour of the 685.

Not many seats (majority 2x2) on the 685 as it pulled away

(08 Oct 2013, 8:45 pm)aureolin wrote I think we're getting into the kettle calling the pot black here..

Amen.

The 43 has had reliability issues for a few years.

Previous holders of commercial positions at Arriva never managed to sort it out either.

(10 Oct 2013, 9:51 am)Andreos1 wrote Passengers hanging back from a tynedale express at Eldon Square just earlier in favour of the 685.

Not many seats (majority 2x2) on the 685 as it pulled away

Maybe going beyond Hexham

(10 Oct 2013, 11:28 am)citaro5284 wrote Maybe going beyond Hexham

There could be a whole load of reasons why they chose Arriva (this one was Pulsar worked) over GNE.

Just merely stating an observation.