Ashington Solo 2601 appears to be in Bus & Coach World for repaint and/or refurbishment. 

https://flic.kr/p/2p7io6Y. 

Assume it went down when 7549 returned.

Must be getting withdrawn soon then as anything Arriva NE seem to refurbish lately gets withdrawn after a year or so. Joking aside, seems a waste of money to be spending money on 12 year old, I don't need to say what I think of Solo's, when there's Pulsar's etc running around without a penny spent on them since new - even for a repaint especially considering this has had a repaint not too long ago.

(06 Oct 2023, 6:35 pm)Storx wrote Must be getting withdrawn soon then as anything Arriva NE seem to refurbish lately gets withdrawn after a year or so. Joking aside, seems a waste of money to be spending money on 12 year old, I don't need to say what I think of Solo's, when there's Pulsar's etc running around without a penny spent on them since new - even for a repaint especially considering this has had a repaint not too long ago.

Given they're the official allocation for the 434, I'd imagine this could well be an NCC thing.

(06 Oct 2023, 6:48 pm)mb134 wrote Given they're the official allocation for the 434, I'd imagine this could well be an NCC thing.

Yeah possibly, seems odd otherwise but then there's been some bizarre repaints in the past. Was wondering where it had gone as it hasn't been in service for a few days and they've been like a rock since they've turned unlike the other 4.

Perhaps they are going to add two extra seats where the luggage hold is to help with capacity when they inevitably end up on the 57/57a?

(06 Oct 2023, 7:37 pm)solsburian wrote Perhaps they are going to add two extra seats where the luggage hold is to help with capacity when they inevitably end up on the 57/57a?

I know this isn't the thread for it, but it'll be interesting to see what goes on the extra 57/57A board since they withdrew pretty much every other Solo in the fleet.

(06 Oct 2023, 8:07 pm)Storx wrote I know this isn't the thread for it, but it'll be interesting to see what goes on the extra 57/57A board since they withdrew pretty much every other Solo in the fleet.

Even now I've noticed more Puslars on the 57/57a recently and a Streetlite today as well. I will argue a Streetlite is an upgrade to a Solo, and at least they have more capacity to boot.

(06 Oct 2023, 8:19 pm)solsburian wrote Even now I've noticed more Puslars on the 57/57a recently and a Streetlite today as well. I will argue a Streetlite is an upgrade to a Solo, and at least they have more capacity to boot.

Aye, 2854 and 2859 both seem to be knackered again - nothing new. 

I really don't know why and this is just wild speculation but I really have a feeling we're going to end up with some London cast offs for it within the next year. I know there's a whole batch of Streetlite's without a route now and it's going to push stuff about, there's also a micro fleet of 5 single door 16 Plate 8.9m Enviro 200 MMC's (EN34 - EN38) coming up within the next year, which just happens to be the PVR.

The 57/57A does need a different allocations but I've on some occasions not seen it busy enough to warrant a service. Its possible with the 57A to Ashington making more passengers. Who knows they might get a new allocation in November but who knows

(06 Oct 2023, 8:39 pm)Busu284 wrote The 57/57A does need a different allocations but I've on some occasions not seen it busy enough to warrant a service. 

What do you mean?

(06 Oct 2023, 8:42 pm)mb134 wrote What do you mean?

Autocorrect as per

On some occasions the 57/57A when I've seen it (or been on it). The service sometimes warrant a longer bus then sometimes it warrant a solo

(06 Oct 2023, 8:39 pm)Busu284 wrote The 57/57A does need a different allocations but I've on some occasions not seen it busy enough to warrant a service. Its possible with the 57A to Ashington making more passengers. Who knows they might get a new allocation in November but who knows

I wouldn't even say it needs bigger buses, it just needs something that works.

It's almost like it's turned into a game of how many pieces of junk can we send from Darlington to attempt to run it because the same thing is happening over and over again.

2830 - Withdrawn
2837 - Withdrawn (Ignoring age, not sure why as it was better than the rest)
2852 - Working
2853 - Working but falling apart
2854 - VOR
2855 - Engine Blown (Withdrawn)
2856 - Overheating Problems (Withdrawn)
2859 - VOR and seriously unreliable, unless it changes fast no doubt be joining 2855 and 2856 soon as it's managed about 4 days on the 57/57A so far.

That's within a year and it was very much the same before the Enviro 200 MMC's came for a couple of month, bar 1800/1801 ancient Darts were still around which credit to them were little workhorses.

(06 Oct 2023, 8:34 pm)Storx wrote Aye, 2854 and 2859 both seem to be knackered again - nothing new. 

I really don't know why and this is just wild speculation but I really have a feeling we're going to end up with some London cast offs for it within the next year. I know there's a whole batch of Streetlite's without a route now and it's going to push stuff about, there's also a micro fleet of 5 single door 16 Plate 8.9m Enviro 200 MMC's (EN34 - EN38) coming up within the next year, which just happens to be the PVR.

Both of those options would be a welcomed improvement IMHO, as long as they are given a refurb and overhaul like imports from London in the '10s. The Streetlites would proably be a better fit IMHO as they could be used on other Ashington based services if needed.

(06 Oct 2023, 8:59 pm)solsburian wrote Both of those options would be a welcomed improvement IMHO, as long as they are given a refurb and overhaul like imports from London in the '10s. The Streetlites would proably be a better fit IMHO as they could be used on other Ashington based services if needed.

Aye agreed, mind I don't think they'll move the Streetlite's out as they're dual door and don't have an emergency door so would be expensive to convert. The London forums is all speculation atm but it's pretty certain that there's going to be some 12 Plate classic Enviro 200's going but let's hope they stay well clear for obvious reasons.

Another speculation is the 9.7m ENR's which are also single door Enviro 200 MMC's but they're too long for up here (33 seats). It's a bit of guess what right now but something is very likely going.

(06 Oct 2023, 9:05 pm)Storx wrote Aye agreed, mind I don't think they'll move the Streetlite's out as they're dual door and don't have an emergency door so would be expensive to convert. The London forums is all speculation atm but it's pretty certain that there's going to be some 12 Plate classic Enviro 200's going but let's hope they stay well clear for obvious reasons.

Another speculation is the 9.7m ENR's which are also single door Enviro 200 MMC's but they're too long for up here (33 seats). It's a bit of guess what right now but something is very likely going.

Regardless of what comes up here, new or old, the Solos are well past it regardless. I am sort of seeing any work on 2601-03 as an example of Arriva simply doing stuff based on the book value of the vehicle, which seems to have lead to the same insanity of refurbishing some of the V-DNL Darts, and not dumping the high-floor ALX100/Varios at Hexham when they swapped with GNE.

(06 Oct 2023, 9:20 pm)solsburian wrote Regardless of what comes up here, new or old, the Solos are well past it regardless. I am sort of seeing any work on 2601-03 as an example of Arriva simply doing stuff based on the book value of the vehicle, which seems to have lead to the same insanity of refurbishing some of the V-DNL Darts, and not dumping the high-floor ALX100/Varios at Hexham when they swapped with GNE.

Aye totally agreed, they should've never turned up here to be honest. Darlington needs new buses on easy town work because the buses are unreliable. That's fine then send them to a suburban route with multiple sections of 60 mph running.

It'll be interesting to see how they cope going flat out from Bedlington Station down the Three Horse Shoes.

Speaking of those awful Vario's - mind they did have some character, they came out of a field so it pretty much sums how much demand they had.

(06 Oct 2023, 9:26 pm)Storx wrote Aye totally agreed, they should've never turned up here to be honest. Darlington needs new buses on easy town work because the buses are unreliable. That's fine then send them to a suburban route with multiple sections of 60 mph running.

It'll be interesting to see how they cope going flat out from Bedlington Station down the Three Horse Shoes.

Speaking of those awful Vario's - mind they did have some character, they came out of a field so it pretty much sums how much demand they had.

Darlo definitely did need new busses, but robbing Peter to pay Paul is not the answer. 

I am hoping the service changes will force them to act tbh, they deserve it.

I imagine the van conversions were Cheap to run, but they cheap with a capital 'C", especially as they had MPDs on the same services etc.

(06 Oct 2023, 9:35 pm)solsburian wrote Darlo definitely did need new busses, but robbing Peter to pay Paul is not the answer. 

I am hoping the service changes will force them to act tbh, they deserve it.

I imagine the van conversions were Cheap to run, but they cheap with a capital 'C", especially as they had MPDs on the same services etc.

Honestly, can't disagree with it. We all know that 2857 and the rest of the Solo's limping around will end up coming first though. Might aswell go through the pack, they've has 13 Solo's to run it in the past (18 months) ignoring 2601 - 2603 and the 2 MPD's and the 5 Enviro 200 MMC's, might aswell get a few more.

This must be up there for the most buses officially allocated for a a PVR 4 in such a short time. Crazy 20 buses.

I wouldn't want to know what it is over the last 15 years with all sorts on, I couldn't even attempt to work it out.

(06 Oct 2023, 9:56 pm)Storx wrote Honestly, can't disagree with it. We all know that 2857 and the rest of the Solo's limping around will end up coming first though. Might aswell go through the pack, they've has 13 Solo's to run it in the past (18 months) ignoring 2601 - 2603 and the 2 MPD's and the 5 Enviro 200 MMC's, might aswell get a few more.

This must be up there for the most buses officially allocated for a a PVR 4 in such a short time. Crazy 20 buses.

I wouldn't want to know what it is over the last 15 years with all sorts on, I couldn't even attempt to work it out.

Since the E200 MMCs have gone, I guess Ashington is becoming the dumping ground for the Solos to die/extract every last drop asset value. Northumbrias's last remaining minibus operations certainly have been a wild ride recently.

2601 has been repainted into a dark blue colour


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2837 had a relitively easy life on the 555 thats why it was better than the others, also that dark blue is smart

(28 Oct 2023, 4:17 pm)V514DFT wrote 2837 had a relitively easy life on the 555 thats why it was better than the others, also that dark blue is smart

To be fair the Darlington town runs aren't exactly much harder, just pottering around all day doing less than 20 mph half the time.

I hope this is paid for by Northumberland Council otherwise, it's a complete waste of money. I do believe it's 'Northumberland Blue' though - ie. https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Northu...header.png

(28 Oct 2023, 6:18 pm)Storx wrote To be fair the Darlington town runs aren't exactly much harder, just pottering around all day doing less than 20 mph half the time.

I hope this is paid for by Northumberland Council otherwise, it's a complete waste of money. I do believe it's 'Northumberland Blue' though - ie. https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Northu...header.png

Thing with Darlington is, whilst mostly for towns, they did often go out of town, including evenings and Sundays, meaning most ended up out all day, every day with certain examples frequently being allocated to DalesBus and the college time 59/X59 from Askrigg to Darlo, the 11 plates quickly became common fixtures on the 21/31 to Sunderland.

(28 Oct 2023, 7:55 pm)Jimmi wrote Thing with Darlington is, whilst mostly for towns, they did often go out of town, including evenings and Sundays, meaning most ended up out all day, every day with certain examples frequently being allocated to DalesBus and the college time 59/X59 from Askrigg to Darlo, the 11 plates quickly became common fixtures on the 21/31 to Sunderland.

Aye that's fair mind. Mind probably doesn't explain how bad some are them though. Darlington does seem to have issues with keeping things on the road similar to Redcar. Obviously it could be just being unlucky with the vehicles they have but the Streetlite's and Enviro 400's based there always seem to be VOR. Who knows though, could be anything.

(28 Oct 2023, 8:04 pm)Storx wrote Aye that's fair mind. Mind probably doesn't explain how bad some are them though. Darlington does seem to have issues with keeping things on the road similar to Redcar. Obviously it could be just being unlucky with the vehicles they have but the Streetlite's and Enviro 400's based there always seem to be VOR. Who knows though, could be anything.

Darlington has a lot of 67 plate Streetlites, and GNE has a lot of 17 plates which are unreliable, could be the bus....yet they still buy them

2601 now according to bustimes.org is branded for

Northumberland Rail Link

(30 Oct 2023, 5:54 pm)Aaron21 wrote 2601 now according to bustimes.org is branded for

Northumberland Rail Link

"Replacing this bus soon!"

(30 Oct 2023, 6:16 pm)deanmachine wrote "Replacing this bus soon!"

Is the train line going to Cambois and Linton like? Must have missed that update.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/62607125@N...XfW-KFjV3B

Here's the link of 2601

(28 Oct 2023, 8:20 pm)Unber43 wrote Darlington has a lot of 67 plate Streetlites, and GNE has a lot of 17 plates which are unreliable, could be the bus....yet they still buy them

I must say that the Cummins engined examples (Arriva's 64/15 plates and GNE's 63/15/16 plates) are a way nicer ride than the Daimler examples.