(01 Oct 2022, 7:55 am)Storx wrote Guess it all depends on the interworking patterns, not sure there's enough time to do 52 -> 54 -> 53 and reverse without changing elsewhere maybe we might see some odd interworking patterns rather than just the 306/308.Could get rid of the 30 minutes Sat in Tynemouth doing nothing on an evening by interworking the evening 306 & 308
Guess it all depends whether the 43/44/45, X7/X8/X9 and 52/53/54 are kept together.
Maybe we could see changes at Haymarket ie the X7/X9 interworking with the 44/45 instead for just a random example using deckers. Then the X8 interworking with something else, maybe the 54 with singles etc.
43 working from Morpeth with Ashington drivers.
52/53 also moving to Ashington working from Cramlington (there's already an early 52 that runs from Ashington and returns at night).
There's lots that could potentially happen now they've scrapped MAX / Sapphire.
(07 Oct 2022, 1:00 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote Rumour on the grapevine is Darlington are due to receive 14 ADL E200 to replace aging solos at the depot, speaking to an engineer at the depot it should be 2701-2714 from Jesmond. Ones landing for familiarisation On Monday 10th OctoberIf this is True then arriva must be trying to Oust all Optare solo's from the fleet
(07 Oct 2022, 1:19 pm)Phillippatt wrote If this is True then arriva must be trying to Oust all Optare solo's from the fleet
(07 Oct 2022, 1:00 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote Rumour on the grapevine is Darlington are due to receive 14 ADL E200 to replace aging solos at the depot, speaking to an engineer at the depot it should be 2701-2714 from Jesmond. Ones landing for familiarisation On Monday 10th October
(07 Oct 2022, 1:44 pm)omnicity4659 wrote how can they oust Solos from the fleet by transferring vehicles...that have already replaced Solos?
the transfer of 2701-14 from Northumbria doesn't make any sense, as they pretty much cover the Northumbria midibus PVR post-reductions later this month.
(08 Oct 2022, 5:26 am)omnicity4659 wrote I'd say that the 59 plate Solos have a slightly better interior than the 08 plates.
But to deliver brand new buses with all the features to routes that have run with the dregs of the fleet for years, just to remove them two months later is bizarre.
(08 Oct 2022, 11:15 am)mb134 wrote To be honest the main issue with the Solos, especially those at Ashington, was the horrendous reliability. Everything was going wrong with them, drivers hated driving them, and yeah they were also grim inside. 59 plates aren't going to solve any of that - the E200s solved it all.
(08 Oct 2022, 12:08 pm)Storx wrote To be fair the bigger issue is the CAZ. Unless the 55 is getting withdrawn in 2 months then they need 3 buses from somewhere regardless unless they commit to an order beforehand to sort it as I can't see the 59 plate Solo's getting mods.Saw the 55 the otherday and it was empty, at a time you'd think it would be busy
Wonder if there might be plans for a second batch at some point in the new year which has been flipped with it coming North instead depending on what happens with the 55 with Darlington getting all 14 now to oust the remainder of the 08/58 scraps out who to be fair are desperate for investment and having a mix of Enviro 200's and Solo's on the same routes is a bit of a marketing nightmare.
Or alternatively order a batch of midibuses which are 10.5m or so for the 1, 2, 55 and 57/57A and get arid of the two small fleets of Pulsars and minibuses to allow a bit more flexibility especially since the 1 and 2 probably don't need full length singles either.
(08 Oct 2022, 1:33 pm)V514DFT wrote Saw the 55 the otherday and it was empty, at a time you'd think it would be busy
(10 Oct 2022, 1:06 pm)RobinHood wrote The E200s are moving because they are bottoming out on various parts of the midibus routes in Newcastle. There are staff notices up about it.The hell is the 51/55/57/57A gonna use or have they forgotten the 51/55 go into Newcastle. Has to be a euro6 bus
The Ashington batch are also moving to keep the entire lot together from an engineering point of view, which makes complete sense if you ask me.
Not to mention, Arriva have been getting some stick in their Darlington operations lately, this is a clear headline of intent to keep the politicians happy.
(10 Oct 2022, 1:06 pm)RobinHood wrote The E200s are moving because they are bottoming out on various parts of the midibus routes in Newcastle. There are staff notices up about it.
The Ashington batch are also moving to keep the entire lot together from an engineering point of view, which makes complete sense if you ask me.
Not to mention, Arriva have been getting some stick in their Darlington operations lately, this is a clear headline of intent to keep the politicians happy.
(10 Oct 2022, 7:18 pm)mb134 wrote Bodes well for the CAZ then.Is there any single deckers coming from any other Arriva area which are Euro 6 and due to be replaced.
Taking the Ashington ones away makes zero sense if that's the logic. They'll be replaced by, having also replaced, a batch of Solo's which will also be oddballs at Ashington... Solo's which, evidently, are increasingly unreliable - as well as being horrendous from a driver and passenger POV. Again, makes perfect sense.
(10 Oct 2022, 7:18 pm)mb134 wrote Bodes well for the CAZ then.
Taking the Ashington ones away makes zero sense if that's the logic. They'll be replaced by, having also replaced, a batch of Solo's which will also be oddballs at Ashington... Solo's which, evidently, are increasingly unreliable - as well as being horrendous from a driver and passenger POV. Again, makes perfect sense.
(10 Oct 2022, 7:58 pm)Storx wrote Assuming the 55 will be going to Ashington from the 30th October so guessing they want the batch together. Kind of makes sense than having an oddball batch of Solo's and Enviro's at Ashington (there's no space for minibuses under the Blyth redevelopment plans).
(10 Oct 2022, 7:58 pm)Storx wrote Assuming the 55 will be going to Ashington from the 30th October so guessing they want the batch together. Kind of makes sense than having an oddball batch of Solo's and Enviro's at Ashington (there's no space for minibuses under the Blyth redevelopment plans).As grounding is the primary issue here, it makes sense to move the E200s asap to prevent damage. Darlington is the obvious place to put them due to the large number of elderly Solos deployed there. Clearly the movement of Solos to Ashington will be a temporary measure to enable service delivery. It would seem to follow that Euro 6 stock will be required from somewhere to satisfy CAZ requirements and there is sure to be a plan for this.. Meanwhile, Darlington has gained a partial early upgrade, something that was needed and had to be on the cards anyway, due to the age and condition of the 08 Solos. It stands to reason that further investment is going to have to follow to resolve the Ashington problem and to complete the required transition at Darlington. Arriva can only keep the knackered old stock going for so long after all,
Wasn't they talk of investment in the Southern depots on here next year anyway, maybe it'll be going to Ashington instead of potentially Darlington. Not sure what mind, short Streetlite's maybe? since Optare buses have gone out of favour with Arriva.
(10 Oct 2022, 8:25 pm)9920up wrote As grounding is the primary issue here, it makes sense to move the E200s asap to prevent damage. Darlington is the obvious place to put them due to the large number of elderly Solos deployed there. Clearly the movement of Solos to Ashington will be a temporary measure to enable service delivery. It would seem to follow that Euro 6 stock will be required from somewhere to satisfy CAZ requirements and there is sure to be a plan for this.. Meanwhile, Darlington has gained a partial early upgrade, something that was needed and had to be on the cards anyway, due to the age and condition of the 08 Solos. It stands to reason that further investment is going to have to follow to resolve the Ashington problem and to complete the required transition at Darlington. Arriva can only keep the knackered old stock going for so long after all,
(10 Oct 2022, 8:12 pm)mb134 wrote No services are moving to Ashington at the end of October, so the 55 will need Euro 6 vehicles ahead of moving to Ashington (i.e not Solo's) if that is where it's moving to.
(10 Oct 2022, 8:25 pm)9920up wrote As grounding is the primary issue here, it makes sense to move the E200s asap to prevent damage. Darlington is the obvious place to put them due to the large number of elderly Solos deployed there. Clearly the movement of Solos to Ashington will be a temporary measure to enable service delivery. It would seem to follow that Euro 6 stock will be required from somewhere to satisfy CAZ requirements and there is sure to be a plan for this.. Meanwhile, Darlington has gained a partial early upgrade, something that was needed and had to be on the cards anyway, due to the age and condition of the 08 Solos. It stands to reason that further investment is going to have to follow to resolve the Ashington problem and to complete the required transition at Darlington. Arriva can only keep the knackered old stock going for so long after all,
(10 Oct 2022, 8:39 pm)Storx wrote Not necessarily, there's an exception clause in the CAZ that you can continue to run vehicles that don't hit the criteria as long as there's an order in so as long as there's an order in for something Euro 6 then they can run them indefinitely.
https://www.breathe-cleanair.com/exemptions
"Vehicles awaiting replacement or retrofitting, where evidence is supplied that a compliant vehicle has been ordered or proof that the vehicle has been accepted for retrofitting by an approved supplier and is awaiting work to take place."
Yeah totally agreed, I wouldn't be surprised if there's not a second order anyway which gets shot of all the Solo's bar the 11/61 plate. Durham still have a few lingering on which badly need to go aswell tbh and Arriva seem to be one of the big operators actually buying buses atm which is rather ironic.
(10 Oct 2022, 8:54 pm)peter wrote The 57/57A, while I appreciate there may be reliability issues with the Solo's there, you're gonna get reliability issues with the Solo's anywhere. Darlington has a large Solo fleet and there's nothing else for the E200's made surplus at Jesmond to go on. It makes sense to upgrade the Darlo locals and keep the MMC's together. Plus Ashington has just gotten all the double deckers so not like it's deprived of investment.