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RE: Scarlet Band Motors
Apparently Scarlet Band will be getting some new Enviro 200MMCs for the Durham Park and Ride. Will this mean the 64 plate Solos can replace the old fleet on Local Services, or are the 64 plates just loans from Dawson or Optate?


RE: Scarlet Band Motors
Added to the fleet at Scarlet Band are 5 Optare Versa’s from Transdev. Former fleet numbers
201 YJ57XWK
202 YJ57XWV
203 YJ57XWV
205 YJ08PKY
206 YJ08PKZ

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RE: Scarlet Band Motors
(31 Mar 2019, 4:21 pm)tyresmoke wrote Added to the fleet at Scarlet Band are 5 Optare Versa’s from Transdev. Former fleet numbers
201 YJ57XWK
202 YJ57XWV
203 YJ57XWV
205 YJ08PKY
206 YJ08PKZ

Are these replacing some of the older fleet?


RE: Scarlet Band Motors
(31 Mar 2019, 4:29 pm)S830OFT wrote Are these replacing some of the older fleet?

My guess is they will replace some of the older Solos as some are now close to the cut off point to be used on Durham County Council contracts (no older than 15 years).

(02 Apr 2019, 12:50 pm)Malarkey wrote I think the 58 from Durham to Hartlepool would be a good shout.
58 certainly seems busy when I often see it leaving Durham so possibly although no confirmation as to what they'll be used on yet, can see them going on 108/109 myself (and whatever else) as they are often busy as well.

Few other updates at Scarlet Band are:

SB10BUS is currently off the road whilst it has a Cummins engine fitted (replacing the unreliable MAN engine).

VU52UEF and MP53ZTW have left the fleet.
RE: Scarlet Band Motors
(31 Mar 2019, 4:21 pm)tyresmoke wrote Added to the fleet at Scarlet Band are 5 Optare Versa’s from Transdev. Former fleet numbers
201 YJ57XWK
202 YJ57XWV
203 YJ57XWW
205 YJ08PKY
206 YJ08PKZ

YJ57 XWV is out on service 58 today
[Image: 40569755053_a0e6de36a9.jpg]Scarlet Band: YJ57XWV by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr
RE: Scarlet Band Motors
(02 Apr 2019, 2:08 pm)Jimmi wrote My guess is they will replace some of the older Solos as some are now close to the cut off point to be used on Durham County Council contracts (no older than 15 years).

58 certainly seems busy when I often see it leaving Durham so possibly although no confirmation as to what they'll be used on yet, can see them going on 108/109 myself (and whatever else) as they are often busy as well.

Few other updates at Scarlet Band are:

SB10BUS is currently off the road whilst it has a Cummins engine fitted (replacing the unreliable MAN engine).

VU52UEF and MP53ZTW have left the fleet.

It does get very busy - was sometimes difficult to find a seat getting on at Thornley, Durham bound. Hopefully the versas will be more comfortable than the E200s and more reliable than GNE's versas!
RE: Scarlet Band Motors
(22 Apr 2019, 3:51 pm)Malarkey wrote Just out of curiosity do Scarlet Band accept Explorers on their services as I was thinking about doing a Scarlet Band day trip at some point.
They do on services supported by Durham County Council (but can't purchase them on board their buses)

They can't be used on:
85 between Bishop Auckland and Cockfield section of the route.
113 between Bishop Auckland and Ferryhill section of the route.
111 & 112 (I think but ain't certain)

Think they can be used on the 16 & 20 in Darlington but not 100% on that.
RE: Scarlet Band Motors
(22 Apr 2019, 3:57 pm)Jimmi wrote They do on services supported by Durham County Council (but can't purchase them on board their buses)

They can't be used on:
85 between Bishop Auckland and Cockfield section of the route.
113 between Bishop Auckland and Ferryhill section of the route.
111 & 112 (I think but ain't certain)

Think they can be used on the 16 & 20 in Darlington but not 100% on that.

That's ok as I wasn't thinking of using those services, what do they offer in terms of pricing for singles/day tickets?
RE: Scarlet Band Motors
(22 Apr 2019, 4:05 pm)Malarkey wrote That's ok as I wasn't thinking of using those services, what do they offer in terms of pricing for singles/day tickets?

I have no idea of current prices but when I lived in Thornley, it often cost about the same for me and one of hte boys to get a return to Durham on the 58 as just me on the Arriva 22. Obviously it took twice as long and there were half as many buses but it was cheap enough to be a good payoff, when I was in the mood for getting a sore back and earrache on an E200.
RE: Scarlet Band Motors

(14 Dec 2018, 8:42 pm)Jimmi wrote For some reason it has been repainted all cream
[Image: 45592771074_2cd66805c9.jpg]Scarlet Band: MX54KXR by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr
Now in full livery[Image: 48120094071_621dfcd4ed.jpg]Scarlet Band: MX54KXR by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

Services 108/109 was recently cut to each service only running every 2 hours on Saturday daytimes (combined hourly), weekday service remains combined half hourly, was also minor timetable changes to service 113
RE: Scarlet Band Motors
Do some of the Scarlet Band drivers know what an Explorer is?
Apparently the driver on the 13.05 58 from Durham doesn't. He had mistaken it for a GNE ticket.
I'm pretty sure the 58 accepts Explorers since I had one accepted before.
RE: Scarlet Band Motors

(03 Aug 2019, 1:29 pm)enviro7501 wrote Do some of the Scarlet Band drivers know what an Explorer is?
Apparently the driver on the 13.05 58 from Durham doesn't. He had mistaken it for a GNE ticket.
I'm pretty sure the 58 accepts Explorers since I had one accepted before.


Unless its changed, they are valid on all routes except the 85 between Cockfield and Bishop Auckland, 111/112/113 between Ferryhill and Bishop Auckland. You'll need to have a pre-purchased ticket, as they cannot issue them.


Most drivers I've found are fine with them, but you get the odd one that will refuse it unless you argue the toss.

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RE: Scarlet Band Motors

(03 Aug 2019, 3:50 pm)Adrian wrote


Unless its changed, they are valid on all routes except the 85 between Cockfield and Bishop Auckland, 111/112/113 between Ferryhill and Bishop Auckland. You'll need to have a pre-purchased ticket, as they cannot issue them.


Most drivers I've found are fine with them, but you get the odd one that will refuse it unless you argue the toss.



Interesting how you don't mention the Durham Park and Ride services. I believe Explorers aren't accepted on those either, at least that's what the driver told me when I asked.

RE: Scarlet Band Motors

(03 Aug 2019, 5:41 pm)enviro7501 wrote


Interesting how you don't mention the Durham Park and Ride services. I believe Explorers aren't accepted on those either, at least that's what the driver told me when I asked.



Nah they're not valid. Only P&R tickets and ENCTS passes are.

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