(17 Jul 2017, 9:56 pm)JoshP wrote Been a smash on the A167 between a Honda and either 4812/13/14. The rear of the bus is heavily damaged, could be a write off?

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15...assengers/

The bus involved was 4813.

(17 Jul 2017, 9:56 pm)JoshP wrote Been a smash on the A167 between a Honda and either 4812/13/14. The rear of the bus is heavily damaged, could be a write off?

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15...assengers/

It was 4813.

(17 Jul 2017, 9:56 pm)JoshP wrote Been a smash on the A167 between a Honda and either 4812/13/14. The rear of the bus is heavily damaged, could be a write off?

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15...assengers/

(17 Jul 2017, 10:05 pm)Jimmi wrote The bus involved was 4813.

Yup

My unexpert opinion says it's a bit bu... broken

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/north-east/L...s-X21-X22/

Join us for the official launch of the our new Sapphire buses this Friday 21st July 

The official unveiling will be at Ashington Leisure Centre followed by lots of prizes and giveaways on Station Road

Ashington Leisure Centre - 10/00 -11.00am
Station Road - 11.30 - 1.30pm

(17 Jul 2017, 7:06 pm)Pulsar wrote Arriva press release on the new E400 MMC
Brand new buses from Newcastle to Newbiggin...

They are being launched this Friday at Ashington Leisure Centre at 10am


Sent from my iPad Pro using Tapatalk

7542 has just left Ashington on an X21 to Newcastle. Its the only one I have seen in service so far.

7541 was on an x21 into Newcastle this morning. It is still completely vynal free though, no branding, no fleet no. or legal info that I could see.

(17 Jul 2017, 9:56 pm)JoshP wrote Been a smash on the A167 between a Honda and either 4812/13/14. The rear of the bus is heavily damaged, could be a write off?

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15...assengers/

I'd be surprised if it wasn't, parts of the engine are pretty mashed up.

(18 Jul 2017, 4:48 pm)Cobalt271 wrote I'd be surprised if it wasn't, parts of the engine are pretty mashed up.

Seen things come back from worse remember 1451 new front end and new rear on that one!

(18 Jul 2017, 11:44 pm)Multi21 wrote Seen things come back from worse remember 1451 new front end and new rear on that one!

I remember 1428 when it had its smash at nevilles cross, whilst on the 7 came back with a new front and back end because it was that smashed up

1541 X21 off Ashington is 7541.

I see there's been confusion over 7542, it entered service as 7542 and is on the allocation lists as 7542, but was delivered as 7544 and says that in the cab... It might have been miscommunication within the depot, suppose we'll have to wait and see what the vinyls say.

7541 and 7542 are in action again today. 1310 X22 off Ashington will be 7542's next journey

The E400s that are transferring to Jesmond have had their NSAs updated for 43/44/45.

Over two weeks since the 'launch' and still no sign of any more branded 27s!

(20 Jul 2017, 4:26 pm)Cock Robin wrote Over two weeks since the 'launch' and still no sign of any more branded 27s!

the MPD I was on popped into Ashington depot earlier and they're still doing the MMCs...  :s

Arriva connecting Newcastle is the new tagline for the Northumbria operations, first bus to carry it is 7552 YX17 NOU.

7542-7552 have all received vinyls, just 7541 needs doing now.

Photos from today's launch. They will enter service tomorrow.

Arriva Northumbria: 7551 | YX17 NOH by Tom, on Flickr


Arriva Northumbria: 7542 | YX17 NNT by Tom, on Flickr

(17 Jul 2017, 9:56 pm)JoshP wrote Been a smash on the A167 between a Honda and either 4812/13/14. The rear of the bus is heavily damaged, could be a write off?

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/15...assengers/

(21 Jul 2017, 11:30 am)omnicity4659 wrote 7542-7552 have all received vinyls, just 7541 needs doing now.

Photos from today's launch. They will enter service tomorrow.

Arriva Northumbria: 7551 | YX17 NOH by Tom, on Flickr


Arriva Northumbria: 7542 | YX17 NNT by Tom, on Flickr

Still not convinced. The colours are all wrong

New Sapphire X21/X22 Enviro400 MMC's are now in service.
Arriva North East: 7546 / YX17NNV by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

One thing I noticed when I rode 7544 was that it had frames fitted to the panels above the windows but had seemingly been removed prior to entering service, guessing it will receive interior branding in this area at a later stage? Also the next next stop announcement slides advertise stuff like WiFi, contactless payments etc. but also includes advert slides for MAX service X12 and Cross Pennine service 685/X85.

An E200MMC in the new Sapphire Livery on service 700 with Arriva Southern Counties and it looks awful - https://www.flickr.com/photos/thebestint...922837792/

(22 Jul 2017, 9:52 pm)Malarkey wrote An E200MMC in the new Sapphire Livery on service 700 with Arriva Southern Counties and it looks awful - https://www.flickr.com/photos/thebestint...922837792/

I quite like that, the light blue wrap around at the front looks rather smart imo.

(22 Jul 2017, 9:52 pm)Malarkey wrote An E200MMC in the new Sapphire Livery on service 700 with Arriva Southern Counties and it looks awful - https://www.flickr.com/photos/thebestint...922837792/

I prefer that than the double decker version.

Speaking of the E200. Had a few short hops on the MMC version recently.
Ignoring the fact that it's a dart with a facelift, in my limited experience of them, I can't see what the fuss is about them.

In regards to Andreos' post above (stupid Tapatalk app won't quote the post).

I ain't a massive fan of the E200, especially more recent ones, rode a Stephensons of Easingwold old style E200 66 plate on Moorsbus a few months back and the rattles and shaking of panels from the back of the bus was Irritating (even when the bus was in motion), also rode a Stagecoach Yorkshire E200 MMC on the 22x from Barnsley to Rotherham and it sounded like it was plagued with mice as it was squeaking pretty much constantly.

Although it wasn't the smoothest, I still thought E400 MMC 7544 which I had back to Newcastle offered a more comfortable ride than the StreetDeck I got from Durham to Newcastle on the GNE X21 (was quieter too). Video of 7544: https://youtu.be/vz3zyNkX6rI

7551 has internal branding, theres just a few things that need fixing, then it'll be rolled out into 7541-50

(22 Jul 2017, 10:36 pm)Jimmi wrote In regards to Andreos' post above (stupid Tapatalk app won't quote the post).

I ain't a massive fan of the E200, especially more recent ones, rode a Stephensons of Easingwold old style E200 66 plate on Moorsbus a few months back and the rattles and shaking of panels from the back of the bus was Irritating (even when the bus was in motion), also rode a Stagecoach Yorkshire E200 MMC on the 22x from Barnsley to Rotherham and it sounded like it was plagued with mice as it was squeaking pretty much constantly.

Although it wasn't the smoothest, I still thought E400 MMC 7544 which I had back to Newcastle offered a more comfortable ride than the StreetDeck I got from Durham to Newcastle on the GNE X21 (was quieter too). Video of 7544: https://youtu.be/vz3zyNkX6rI

Just had a watch there and I struggled to notice that it was a Voith gearbox. Must say that these seem a tad queiter compared to previous voith gearboxed tridents / enviros as well as ZF examples.

Do ZF gearboxes no longer come as an option and if they do, can they come with stop / start?

(23 Jul 2017, 12:41 am)L469 YVK wrote Just had a watch there and I struggled to notice that it was a Voith gearbox. Must say that these seem a tad queiter compared to previous voith gearboxed tridents / enviros as well as ZF examples.

Do ZF gearboxes no longer come as an option and if they do, can they come with stop / start?

Yes these are ( Irritatingly ) fitted with Voith D854.6's to be exact, Arriva's standard spec now. Completely unsuitable for the work there being put on, They seem to top out at the rev limiter first before the Speed limiter, Which is another bug for me.

ZF do still come as a option, Speculation is buyer's arnt specking Ecolife's due to not being compatible with Cummins Stop-Start feature, But I disagree as ZF have been offering the Ecolife with Stop-Start compatibility since 2015 for up to 1600nm of Torque, These coming in at 1100-1200nm should be a cosy fit. Id hint it's a money saving decision.

A rather boring fact is that this batch suld come with a extra 100nm of Low End Torque to help fill the gap of slow acceleration from a standstill, Though it is barely noticeable due to how Voith's work in 1st Gear, And how ADL Tune the things down for more MPG, This is commonplace for all Cummins offerings from 2017 so is expected to be on all Cummins fitted buses from this year.

They've only been properly in service for a day and I want the 57 regs back! 

For some reason the doors only open/close in neutral, so that's extra idling time, the stop-start rubbish is rather annoying, as the lights flicker and the air con goes off. 

Rather sluggish on the high speed sections of route too, totally unsuitable for the X21/X22, and the various other routes they run.

(22 Jul 2017, 9:59 pm)mb134 wrote I quite like that, the light blue wrap around at the front looks rather smart imo.

Looks better on a single-deck than a double-deck, and agree that the light blue wrap on the front is a significant improvement, but beyond the swoosh, it isn't very easy on the eye. Even the swoosh itself isn't a nice round one.

(22 Jul 2017, 10:36 pm)Jimmi wrote In regards to Andreos' post above (stupid Tapatalk app won't quote the post).

I ain't a massive fan of the E200, especially more recent ones, rode a Stephensons of Easingwold old style E200 66 plate on Moorsbus a few months back and the rattles and shaking of panels from the back of the bus was Irritating (even when the bus was in motion), also rode a Stagecoach Yorkshire E200 MMC on the 22x from Barnsley to Rotherham and it sounded like it was plagued with mice as it was squeaking pretty much constantly.

Although it wasn't the smoothest, I still thought E400 MMC 7544 which I had back to Newcastle offered a more comfortable ride than the StreetDeck I got from Durham to Newcastle on the GNE X21 (was quieter too). Video of 7544: https://youtu.be/vz3zyNkX6rI

The Enviro 200MMC is horrible in comparison to the Enviro 400MMC - I don't understand how they could deliver so many improvements to the traditional Enviro 400 with the MMC, but they couldn't do this for the Enviro 200?

Start/stop technology is horrible on Enviro 400MMCs. I recently rode one of Arriva Yorkshire's new ones from Castleford back to Leeds, and my head was done in. The Enviro 400MMC is, naturally, quite loud, then when it goes deathly silent while pulled up at a bus stop and then starts again, it only highlights how much noise the bus is truly making (rattles, engine, etc), paired with a flicker of the interior lights at every stop.

The older Enviro 400MMCs definitely seem to be smoother and more comfortable than any of the newer ones. Whilst I had no major preference between the StreetDeck and the Enviro 400MMC, the StreetDeck will win every time now, against a start/stop Enviro 400MMC. In my opinion; traditional Enviro 400MMCs and StreetDecks were largely the same from a passenger perspective, and the customer experience was entirely dependent on how the bus has been spec'd by the operator in build.

Anyone know which E400s are staying on the X21/22 with 7541-52? I assumed it was 7522-26, and some sightings yesterday backed that up, though there were some pictures of the 57 plates still in service.

---

(19 Jul 2017, 3:38 pm)omnicity4659 wrote I see there's been confusion over 7542, it entered service as 7542 and is on the allocation lists as 7542, but was delivered as 7544 and says that in the cab... It might have been miscommunication within the depot, suppose we'll have to wait and see what the vinyls say.

Few days late with this, but the registrations for 7542-4 were meant to be NNP/R/T, however ADL messed up when registering them. In order to keep other details in the same order, they are now NNT/P/R.

(22 Jul 2017, 10:36 pm)Jimmi wrote In regards to Andreos' post above (stupid Tapatalk app won't quote the post).

I ain't a massive fan of the E200, especially more recent ones, rode a Stephensons of Easingwold old style E200 66 plate on Moorsbus a few months back and the rattles and shaking of panels from the back of the bus was Irritating (even when the bus was in motion), also rode a Stagecoach Yorkshire E200 MMC on the 22x from Barnsley to Rotherham and it sounded like it was plagued with mice as it was squeaking pretty much constantly.

Although it wasn't the smoothest, I still thought E400 MMC 7544 which I had back to Newcastle offered a more comfortable ride than the StreetDeck I got from Durham to Newcastle on the GNE X21 (was quieter too). Video of 7544: https://youtu.be/vz3zyNkX6rI

The examples I used were both 2017.
I sat behind the driver, mainly to read the plates (warranty, manufacturing details etc).

The rattles in th at seat were minimal.