Sunderland appears to be a gas bus-free zone today, with all the usual Stagecoach gas bus-allocated services I've seen today running with ADL E200s:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/27204054@N...ateposted/

Two breakdowns in two days on the "E's":

Stagecoach NEast‏ @StagecoachNE Mar 17 
SS Ops: The 11:37 service E1 from Sunderland will depart around 15 minutes late due to a breakdown on the previous journey. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Stagecoach NEast‏ @StagecoachNE 3h3 hours ago 
SS OPS The 13:54 service E1 from Sunderland may suffer a slight delay due to a breakdown.

(18 Mar 2018, 4:42 pm)AIG20 wrote Two breakdowns in two days on the "E's":

I'd be very surprised if a day went by when a bus on the E's didn't incur a defect/breakdown, if I'm honest.

I'm shocked (and impressed) that they're even bothering to report it on Social Media, given that the next 'E' service wouldn't be too far behind by the time they got that message online (especially on parts of the routes which operate on a shared corridor - granted there aren't that many).

I've been quite vocal recently about having not seen an Enviro400 on the X34 for months. It seems only right, in the interests of fairness, to note that I saw two yesterday (as usual could have been the same one twice, as I never really see the numbers, when I'm on the Felling Bypass). Whatever issues they seem to have had (if all of my observations in recent months haven't just been a coincidence) must be improving.

Interestingly both of the above Tweets show delays from Sunderland and not South Shields. I do often wonder (specifically with regards to the X34, but can be said for other services too) whether Stagecoach are quite proactive, and if they see any sort of delay to services, they send a spare bus/driver out to cover mileage and make sure that the bus leaves the nearest terminal point on time, which is why we see so many 'wrong' allocations, as we do with Arriva's services operating out of Blyth Depot.

I've noticed it's gas free to.

(18 Mar 2018, 4:54 pm)Dan wrote I'd be very surprised if a day went by when a bus on the E's didn't incur a defect/breakdown, if I'm honest.

I'm shocked (and impressed) that they're even bothering to report it on Social Media, given that the next 'E' service wouldn't be too far behind by the time they got that message online (especially on parts of the routes which operate on a shared corridor - granted there aren't that many).

I've been quite vocal recently about having not seen an Enviro400 on the X34 for months. It seems only right, in the interests of fairness, to note that I saw two yesterday (as usual could have been the same one twice, as I never really see the numbers, when I'm on the Felling Bypass). Whatever issues they seem to have had (if all of my observations in recent months haven't just been a coincidence) must be improving.

Interestingly both of the above Tweets show delays from Sunderland and not South Shields. I do often wonder (specifically with regards to the X34, but can be said for other services too) whether Stagecoach are quite proactive, and if they see any sort of delay to services, they send a spare bus/driver out to cover mileage and make sure that the bus leaves the nearest terminal point on time, which is why we see so many 'wrong' allocations, as we do with Arriva's services operating out of Blyth Depot.

Shields will tend to put spare timekeeping buses on the X34 from Horsley Hill end rather than the Newcastle end, obviously due to the Shields depot being just 5 mins away. If waiting in Newcastle you have no choice but to wait, regardless of the elements.

I've said a few times that some NCL drivers should be trained for X34 (and X24) to assist with timekeeping issues.

Which gas buses have so far been repainted?

(21 Mar 2018, 6:52 pm)Michael wrote Which gas buses have so far been repainted?

28002
28006
28009
28010
28027
28033

(21 Mar 2018, 7:02 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote 28002
28006
28009
28010
28027
28033

Thanks, still a long way to go until all 40 are done....

Stagecoach X47 wouldn't start at Eldon Square this afternoon, around 3:30pm or so.

28007 is the latest gas bus to be repainted 
34605 is also now back at Sunderland

12072 is the 3rd hybrid to be repainted into standard livery.

20551 out and about in Sunderland today.

Stockton's 27164 and another ADL E300 were loaned to Scotland last week.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/41987105@N06/40124252265/ = Photo by Flickr user "Prisma Aberdeen"

Are Day Riders available/valid on the Stagecoach 685 to Eldon Square? Please move this if posted in the wrong place.

(26 Mar 2018, 5:20 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Are Day Riders available/valid on the Stagecoach 685 to Eldon Square? Please move this if posted in the wrong place.

Yes, both DayRider and MegaRiders are valid in the NE zones..

(26 Mar 2018, 7:00 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote Yes, both DayRider and MegaRiders are valid in the NE zones..

Thanks. I have never used the 685.

I hope to ride a few different services actually, GNE Tynedalexpress and the Stanley Travel 84/84A in particular. Does the GNE Tynedalexpress have NSAs? (please answer in GNE discussion).

(26 Mar 2018, 4:14 pm)AIG20 wrote Stockton's 27164 and another ADL E300 were loaned to Scotland last week.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/41987105@N06/40124252265/ = Photo by Flickr user "Prisma Aberdeen"

Why?!

(27 Mar 2018, 4:06 pm)Cock Robin wrote Why?!

Probably as First Aberdeen was on strike, so extra capacity was needed.

Saw on Facebook Stockton Depot are having an open day, would anyone know the date


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(27 Mar 2018, 5:47 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Saw on Facebook Stockton Depot are having an open day, would anyone know the date


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Never mind, found it out


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(27 Mar 2018, 4:11 pm)citaro5284 wrote Probably as First Aberdeen was on strike, so extra capacity was needed.

Thanks

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(27 Mar 2018, 5:47 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Saw on Facebook Stockton Depot are having an open day, would anyone know the date


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Never mind, found it out


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Sunday 8th April.