(30 Oct 2022, 6:59 pm)RobinHood wrote They must be forgetting about the other 19 new vehicles they also got, if they are sulking about this.
(01 Nov 2022, 12:32 am)Rapidsnap wrote I'm curious to know on where or how they are bottoming out considering similar sized MPDs have been running around the regions roads without issues for over 20 years.It's nonsense. how could a vehicle with that wheelbase bottom out when Solos and even Pulsars on the same routes didn't...
(01 Nov 2022, 7:26 pm)54APhotography wrote It's nonsense. how could a vehicle with that wheelbase bottom out when Solos and even Pulsars on the same routes didn't...
(01 Nov 2022, 7:26 pm)54APhotography wrote It's nonsense. how could a vehicle with that wheelbase bottom out when Solos and even Pulsars on the same routes didn't...
(01 Nov 2022, 8:11 pm)Malarkey wrote I read the Darlington MP kicked up a fuss about them not getting due new buses to replace older unreliable buses in Darlington and Arriva then moved them over to keep him happy, personally i'd of told him where to go given they were bought with the Newcastle Emission Zone coming into effect soon and I doubt Arriva will want to buy more new buses anytime soon.
(01 Nov 2022, 8:11 pm)Malarkey wrote I read the Darlington MP kicked up a fuss about them not getting due new buses to replace older unreliable buses in Darlington and Arriva then moved them over to keep him happy, personally i'd of told him where to go given they were bought with the Newcastle Emission Zone coming into effect soon and I doubt Arriva will want to buy more new buses anytime soon.
(03 Nov 2022, 8:04 pm)JM03 wrote Seen some max E400s at SNE walkergate passing on the metro, don’t suppose they now having some ops out of there temporarily
(02 Nov 2022, 8:21 am)JoshP wrote Is Darlington now totally Solo free or are they retaining any of the 11/61 plates?Darlington remains reliant on Solos. There are still around 6 in operation with no current prospect of removal. Other plans must be in the pipeline for replacement. Many Darlington services are already on reduced frequencies and are operating on temporary 50 % ( or so) timetables. The 2, 4, 9, 10, 13a, 13b are examples. There is no scope within the current fleet to allow a return normal levels even when driver availability allows. So,add in the needs of Ashington and Durham and clearly something will have to be done.
(02 Nov 2022, 8:21 am)JoshP wrote Is Darlington now totally Solo free or are they retaining any of the 11/61 plates?
(04 Nov 2022, 7:45 pm)9920up wrote Darlington remains reliant on Solos. There are still around 6 in operation with no current prospect of removal. Other plans must be in the pipeline for replacement. Many Darlington services are already on reduced frequencies and are operating on temporary 50 % ( or so) timetables. The 2, 4, 9, 10, 13a, 13b are examples. There is no scope within the current fleet to allow a return normal levels even when driver availability allows. So,add in the needs of Ashington and Durham and clearly something will have to be done.
(05 Nov 2022, 10:33 am)peter wrote According to BusTimes the only ones still in use at Darlington within the past couple days are 2833, 2841, 2857 and 2858. 2860/61/64/65 have transferred to Durham - two of which appear to be tracking as 2850/2851.
2857/58 are in the Reserve fleet - looks like they'll stay at Darlington for the time being. 2833/41 are down to be withdrawn, perhaps being retained because 1593/94 appear to be off road or maybe as repaint floats.
I would hardly say Darlington are 'reliant' on Solos.
As for the reduced frequencies, other than the 2/2a, I can see the rest being permanent now or at least semi-permanent, 'normal levels' aren't really a thing anymore, it's been 2 and a half years now. Maybe in the next 12-18 months if driver shortages improve they'll get another fleet of MMC's and re-increase them if they're making that much money and/or the MMC's are at capacity on the current frequencies. But the 08 plate Solo's are done and Darlington is largely Solo free.
Once all the 08 plates are withdrawn as intended there should only be
2601-3 - At Walkergate for the 553
2837 - At Walkergate for the 555
2852-56 - At Ashington for the 57/57A
2857/58 - Reserve for use across Durham County
2859-61/64-69 - At Durham for the 49/49A/57/57A
2862/63/70/71 - At Whitby for the 95
(05 Nov 2022, 2:56 pm)9920up wrote The word reliant was used to highlight the need for the Solos to meet daily PVR from Darlington depot. Without the Solos, they couldn't do it. Also, when the service reductions to the 2, 4, 9, 10, 13a and 13b (and incidentally the X66/X67) were made drug 2022, all have been stated as being temporary due to driver shortages. Currently, Arrivas stated intent and actual operational capability do not match.
(05 Nov 2022, 7:36 pm)9920up wrote The point still stands then. The Solos are still needed (or they'd have gone!). Your point is valid in that excess vehicle stocks cannot be maintained. But, Arriva need to be up front with their customers and politically. Temporary is indisputably a variable. However, if as you intimate,it is the case there's likely no intent to recover what has been publicised as a non permanent change, Arriva need to manage their double speak with customers, MPs, councils and the like. Currently their pledge is to improve what have been described as shambolic services in Darlington. They certainly can't progress towards a goal of improvement whilst behind the scenes be stripping out their assets to minimal values. It would be a reasonable supposition that future planning allied to grant support funding applications and the likewill allow service development and increases beyond their current basement and inadequate levels.
(16 Nov 2022, 10:53 am)Andreos1 wrote Cadet/Merit/Renown type vehicle at Redcar. Tried checking back on here to see what it is. But can't see for looking.
Tracked last night as 'SP RR' when it appeared on the 62. Too far away (and dark to ID).
Not seen it before. Is it a recent arrival?
(22 Dec 2022, 11:45 pm)Storx wrote Sure someone will know but does anyone know what's going on with the Solo's at Ashington (which have been an absolute disaster 'surprisingly'). I'm assuming it's a glitch with the bizarre tracking down in Darlington today but neither of them were in service either (2852/2856, the second being VOR after breaking down, after being pulled the day before for weeks now) and then 2853 is at Jesmond. It's really not working, again, with Decker and Pulsar's on daily.
Not that it's much of a surprise since they just got arid of the last sheds with the exact same problems.