Fair point but thinking of the customer experience I would rather be on the GNE 10 as opposed to being one of 77 crushed into a Scania on the 685.

I agree, because the thing is, you can fit around 50 on an MPD (including standees)... think I'd rather wait for the next bus than play tetris with other commuters.

i would like to see temsas in darlington. ive heard if darlo get 5 new pulsars that they are to displace the 09 reg examples onto the 75/6

i would like to see temsas in darlington. ive heard if darlo get 5 new pulsars that they are to displace the 09 reg examples onto the 75/6

I think it looks likely that they will end up operating on service 23 between Hartlepool and Sunderland. Lets not forget they've been pushing this one with the East Durham student tickets recently too.

The Temsas cascaded out of Redcar look likely to go to Durham but there are possibilities for them ending up at Stockton too, although other depots too could be in with a shout.

Cascaded Volvo B7 Geminis are due from London to replace the remaining high floor double decks in the fleet, these being Olympian 7367 and Spectras 7482/3 all based at Ashington. I believe the figure quoted is 11 and this would allow the 6 T-FGN DAF DB250s based at Durham to be retired too, while also potentially replacing the 2 similar vehicles due to join from the TGM fleet, though this is purely speculation on my part

I agree, because the thing is, you can fit around 50 on an MPD (including standees)... think I'd rather wait for the next bus than play tetris with other commuters.

In the days before the X84/X85, the 685 'broke down' (threw a rear tread) at Corbridge. The 687 (which still ran through to Newcastle) was the next bus along and took on board the 'survivors', but it was so full that whenever anyone wanted to get off several of the standees had to get off to allow the trapped passengers to get off, then the waiting passengers were taken on board until the bus was full (leaving behind a few) so the MPD ran at maximum capacity all the way from Corbridge to Newcastle!

bloody hell, what is your problem with these buses, if they were so bad why would Arriva and stagecoach continue to invest in them, look at the amount if E400's in the stagecoach fleet, and look at how very little problems they have. 19151 only went up in smoke because something got stuck in the engine (think it was a matress) so you cant blame the bus. Touching on the lolynes i think they are great buses, and theyve certainly lasted throughout the years, with not that many issues, yes fair enough some have had problems but that's mainly age related, i think you just need to end your little war against the E400 and just got on with them, along with your hatred for the 308

Firstly, I don't hate the 308, I'm stating the facts wifh justification and an unbiased view. Secondly, I'm being completely and utterly honest about the E400's. They're good town and city buses but, when it comes to express and rural routes that depend upon power, the turbochargers are heavily used and over relied upon meaning that the bus looses power and performance. The B9TL doesn't depend too much on turbochargers and has a good 9 litre engine happly chuckling the bus along whether through the Tyne Valley or down the A19. I've jad drivers from Ashington thay turn around and say that despite the coaches being cold and damp, they're far better to drive and far more reliable than the E400's. Have you seen the Flickr account of one of the managers at Arriva who lists the buses that he's driven. He stated on a photo of an E400 that he didn't like the demo and the fitters didn't like the look of the reliability of them. If you look at it this way, when you're on a DB250 powered double deck, it's just pure good old engine power letting the bus chuckle along. But if you get on a Cummins ISBe 6.7l engine double deck, you can hear the turbo kicking in all the time particularly on the E400 and on the DB300's too.

4005 is parked in Blyth depot (looks ready for disposal with camera's removed)

Interesting that 2 routes that always used to need deckers will be all single deck operated with the new arrivals

Which two are these?

Which two are these?

306 and 1/1b ?

Which two are these?

From the list shown earlier - the Darlo 1 & the 306

From the list shown earlier - the Darlo 1 & the 306

Service 1 hasn't required double deckers for two years now, not since the X1 was introduced. In reality, seats per hour is much higher now on that corridor than it was when it was every 30 minutes with double decks.

Not surprising that GNE decided to compete with it, when Arriva did nothing with it at the time.

Double deckers were still used on Service 1 when the X1 was introduced.

At one point it became single / double deck operated, then it became full single deck operated in March 2013 when 7445/7446 and the two remaining Enviro 400s went to Northumberland while 7501-7504 went to Redcar/Whitby for the 93/X93 which saw 4 Redcar/Whitby Omnicitys move to Darlington.

Also in March 2013 Service 1 was cut to terminate at Bishop Auckland bus station which enabled it to interwork with service 5/5A.

306 and 1/1b ?

Didn't they get new Pulsars for the 306 not long ago?!

Having driven 7432-5 at Durham, it seems like the problem with these 4 has been the lack of TLC. Since 7434 has had its repaint, its a real workhorse, it keeps time better than most Pulsars and just laughs at hills; at times you have to remind yourself that it's a Trident because it certainly doesn't behave like one - 7432/5 have also had work done to their engines and are significantly improved on what they were when they first arrived at Belmont.
[/quote]

Amazing what a repaint can do!

These routes that are becoming Sapphire 'spec' this year, will they be actual Sapphire branded vehicles/the full sapphire deal with next stop technology, or just Pulsars/Enviro 400s with plug sockets and comfy seats in normal Arriva branding?
And do you reckon any Temsa's will end up in Darlington or is this very unlikely?

Having driven 7432-5 at Durham, it seems like the problem with these 4 has been the lack of TLC. Since 7434 has had its repaint, its a real workhorse, it keeps time better than most Pulsars and just laughs at hills; at times you have to remind yourself that it's a Trident because it certainly doesn't behave like one - 7432/5 have also had work done to their engines and are significantly improved on what they were when they first arrived at Belmont.

Amazing what a repaint can do!
[/quote]

It is amazing, as all of the buses which have been repainted at Durham spend almost 1-2 weeks on the pits having work done to make them mechanically sound, hence why 7434 is, in my opinion, our best Trident.

Not sure if this has been mentioned or not before.

An Arriva Gemini was working through Wrekenton this morning on a scholars (873 I think it was showing).
Presumed it would be a Jesmond vehicle, but by the time I was passing Cardinal Hume, it had dropped its load and was heading back towards Wrekenton.
It was a Durham vehicle (had x2 advertising).

Does anyone know if this picks up a short working somewhere or does it run light all the way back to Durham?

Not sure if this has been mentioned or not before.

An Arriva Gemini was working through Wrekenton this morning on a scholars (873 I think it was showing).
Presumed it would be a Jesmond vehicle, but by the time I was passing Cardinal Hume, it had dropped its load and was heading back towards Wrekenton.
It was a Durham vehicle (had x2 advertising).

Does anyone know if this picks up a short working somewhere or does it run light all the way back to Durham?

Goes to Low Fell to work an X2 into Newcastle. School holidays, it starts fresh in Durham connecting with the 0813 arrival on the X1 (only time a change of bus is required between X1 and X2 northbound).

These routes that are becoming Sapphire 'spec' this year, will they be actual Sapphire branded vehicles/the full sapphire deal with next stop technology, or just Pulsars/Enviro 400s with plug sockets and comfy seats in normal Arriva branding?
And do you reckon any Temsa's will end up in Darlington or is this very unlikely?

All services down to get 'Sapphire' upgrade are getting vehicles in Sapphire livery and full internal spec (although I understand the Pulsars for Stockton/Redcar/Whitby has been ordered as 44 seaters rather than 40 seats as per 1513-23).
As for Temsas, it's believed all 12 may end up at Durham rather than 6 to Durham and 6 elsewhere.

Registration on Monday as part of the upcoming cutting of all Boroughbus funding by Stockton Borough Council

PB0002717/301 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Middlesbrough and Stillington given service number 6 effective from 30-Mar-2014. To amend Timetable.

I believe there's something missing from the amend section actually (considering the revised route plus the, I understand, am peak time extension from Stockton to Middlesbrough and the PM return trip)

I think it looks likely that they will end up operating on service 23 between Hartlepool and Sunderland. Lets not forget they've been pushing this one with the East Durham student tickets recently too.

The Temsas cascaded out of Redcar look likely to go to Durham but there are possibilities for them ending up at Stockton too, although other depots too could be in with a shout.

Cascaded Volvo B7 Geminis are due from London to replace the remaining high floor double decks in the fleet, these being Olympian 7367 and Spectras 7482/3 all based at Ashington. I believe the figure quoted is 11 and this would allow the 6 T-FGN DAF DB250s based at Durham to be retired too, while also potentially replacing the 2 similar vehicles due to join from the TGM fleet, though this is purely speculation on my part

Surely they'll get rid of more Darts/DAFs rather than start withdrawing the low floor 'deckers?

Surely they'll get rid of more Darts/DAFs rather than start withdrawing the low floor 'deckers?

Prestiges replacements have already been arranged. 7459-64 and what in theory will become 7484/5 from Classic (T420FGN and T421GGO) do not comply with the DDA, added to the fact they are 15 years old this year and the nail is in the coffin when newer vehicles are being released from London operations.

Prestiges replacements have already been arranged. 7459-64 and what in theory will become 7484/5 from Classic (T420FGN and T421GGO) do not comply with the DDA, added to the fact they are 15 years old this year and the nail is in the coffin when newer vehicles are being released from London operations.

That is indeed if Classic do transfer 2 deckers. Nobody has said which two so don't make it look so definite, nothing is confirmed yet.

The latest debranded Pulsar at Stockton is 1444.

Arriva 685 towards Newcastle was 27 minutes late arriving at Hexham today (due in 16:22) such that the GNE X85 had left (due out 16:48) taking the passengers.

Arriva 685 towards Newcastle was 27 minutes late arriving at Hexham today (due in 16:22) such that the GNE X85 had left (due out 16:48) taking the passengers.

Have you noticed an increase in unreliability since Arriva cut the approximate hour-long layover in Carlisle?

Have you noticed an increase in unreliability since Arriva cut the approximate hour-long layover in Carlisle?

When I used to travel on 685 between Hexham & Newcastle (before advent of GNE X84/85) it was always unreliable.

PB0002032/376 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Whitley Bay and Brierdane given service number W2 effective from 23-Mar-2014. To amend Timetable.

PB0002032/410 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Whitley Bay and Backworth given service number 59 effective from 23-Mar-2014. To amend Timetable.

PB0002032/471 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: Marden Estate
Finish Point: Backworth Castle Park
Via:
Service Number: 359
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 23-MAR-2014
Other Details: hourly Monday to Saturday daytime

PB0002032/376 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Whitley Bay and Brierdane given service number W2 effective from 23-Mar-2014. To amend Timetable.

PB0002032/410 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Whitley Bay and Backworth given service number 59 effective from 23-Mar-2014. To amend Timetable.

PB0002032/471 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: Marden Estate
Finish Point: Backworth Castle Park
Via:
Service Number: 359
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 23-MAR-2014
Other Details: hourly Monday to Saturday daytime

I think the 359 is a revised 59 route, a survey was done by Nexus a while a go, and the proposed route was Backworth to Marden Estate, serving West Allotment, Murton Village and Preston Grange.

I think the 359 is a revised 59 route, a survey was done by Nexus a while a go, and the proposed route was Backworth to Marden Estate, serving West Allotment, Murton Village and Preston Grange.

It is, a piece in the top notch local paper....

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...nk-6682708

It is, a piece in the top notch local paper....

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...nk-6682708

I haven't got a direct bus to my local hospital. Best get a petition in to Durham Council... The link won't last 12 months unless Nexus are going to continue to plow money into it. Like the 27X, the link would have been there if it was used.