1747 made a vary rare appearance on Service 21 this afternoon.
7478 on Service X1/X2.
1406 and 1636 on Service X66.
2869 on Services 3/19.

1747 made a vary rare appearance on Service 21 this afternoon.
7478 on Service X1/X2.
1406 and 1636 on Service X66.
2869 on Services 3/19.

7477 on X1 too.
I nearly managed 4718 on 27s but sadly wasn't to be. Ended up with 4007 instead...

7477 on X1 too.
I nearly managed 4718 on 27s but sadly wasn't to be. Ended up with 4007 instead...

What's 4718 doing at Stockton?

Why 4718 on 27's?

What's 4718 doing at Stockton?

It was spare in the bus station from Redcar. Our spare had already been used, so our inspector rang Redcar to see if we could use their spare. Sadly Redcar wanted it back at their depot, so I had to sit and wait for 4007 to turn up from the depot... and lost mileage ensued obviously.

1406 on X66 (for the fourth day running)

1427 also on X66 4654 on 29/29A 7485 on 81s

1458 on 21a, 1445 departure from Middlesbrough (so doing one round trip).

Cadet 1911 on service 5 this afternoon.

That'll been fun? Not been a bad day for me on Arriva today? E400 7502 ( I think) into Boro this morning, a packed Omni - 4644 - across to D'ton on the X66, first ride on an Ecocity and then back, just, on 1448 on the 2015 5. Not unusual workings but enjoyable and nice one Arriva.

That'll been fun? Not been a bad day for me on Arriva today? E400 7502 ( I think) into Boro this morning, a packed Omni - 4644 - across to D'ton on the X66, first ride on an Ecocity and then back, just, on 1448 on the 2015 5. Not unusual workings but enjoyable and nice one Arriva.

Cadet with the highest top speed (67mph) of anything in the entire Stockton fleet that one! Best one suited to the 5 really.

Now that takes a bit of believing! I like the Cadets mind, the good ones mind! On a different theme, any thoughts on why Arriva have never dropped in for any Merc Citaros? Not been on the X7 yet but they look impressive?

Now that takes a bit of believing! I like the Cadets mind, the good ones mind! On a different theme, any thoughts on why Arriva have never dropped in for any Merc Citaros? Not been on the X7 yet but they look impressive?

Big fan of Citaros, they had some at the Olympics (I got a few photos of them at Heathrow when I was down there) but they all went to Shires and Midlands ... No doubting they're expensive for what they are though. Would love to have a drive of one.

Totally agree about the citaros, they would have been a fitting replacement at redcar for the beloved prismas, they even had a demo citaro at some point in the past as can been seen in this photo by Garry Mitchell
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/gjm-photog...484900886/
One can only wonder why an order was never placed, although I am guessing pricing would have obviously had an influence on the decision. IMO they would certainly have been better than the temsas

So the cost of buying Citaros against Temsas was a factor then? Bit of a shame that really when 2 of the wretched things have gone up in smoke and been written off, the rest of them cost a fortune to keep running with parts difficult to source ( thus making them even more costly to run when they are VOR for days and are hated by most people!
We had the batch of Merc Prismas down here at Redcar - 3000 to 3028 - which were a wonderful, reliable and practical vehicle, but like anything Arriva get they were poorly maintained and run into the ground.

I'd say that the Mercs are lovely vehicles. The suspension and kneeling on them is a bit tempermental but they're good all rounders. Plenty of power and I don't know what they'll be like on endurance work but they've seemed to be OK so far on GNE's X7.

So the cost of buying Citaros against Temsas was a factor then? Bit of a shame that really when 2 of the wretched things have gone up in smoke and been written off, the rest of them cost a fortune to keep running with parts difficult to source ( thus making them even more costly to run when they are VOR for days and are hated by most people!
We had the batch of Merc Prismas down here at Redcar - 3000 to 3028 - which were a wonderful, reliable and practical vehicle, but like anything Arriva get they were poorly maintained and run into the ground.

I wouldn't say the cost of citaros vs temsas was a factor as the trial with the citaro took place sometime back in 2003 with the temsas being purchased some time in, correct me if I'm wrong ....2009????
I dare say that the temsas purchase price vs a product such as the citaro was considerably lower to arriva as they are a dealer of temsa products in the UK much the same deal as with the pulsars and that would probably will have been the overriding factor in the decision to go with the temsas however as you say this has obviously now back fired with the poor reliability of the temsas and also the cost of parts and vehicles being VOR for long periods and so on

Darlington gas bus 4505 on service 5A in Bishop Auckland Apparently this is to make use of them on Sunday when not used in town

X10/11 branded 7617 at present heading to Berwick on the X18 - 1152 from Morpeth. Should be back about 1830!

This is true, the argument Citaros v Temsas? I'd not factored in the difference in dates It has backfired though, even though Arriva are the UK dealer for them; it backfires in pretty much the same as Arriva renewal / maintainance policy of keeping its elderly fleet in operation.

Darlington gas bus 4505 on service 5A in Bishop Auckland Apparently this is to make use of them on Sunday when not used in town

Just seen another one pass through Newton Aycliffe on a Bishop Auckland bound journey.

Was a little surprised they never put them on the 5A/7 on Sundays when they first entered service.

Have also just seen 4807 leaving Darlington on the 21 for Peterlee.

These are the EcoCitys I've seen this afternoon.

5A/X66: 4810, 4802, 4804, (2869 must of replaced 4805.)
21: 4805 & 4807

These are the EcoCitys I've seen this afternoon.

5A/X66: 4810, 4802, 4804, (2869 must of replaced 4805.)
21: 4805 & 4807

Not 100% certain yet, but it appears on Sundays, Darlington work in the same way as Stockton (on Middlesbrough runs) with the driver keeping the same bus for their entire shift (4807 was on 2s this morning and likely that 4805 did the 4 hours on 5a/X66 then after the driver's break, went onto the 21).

Not 100% certain yet, but it appears on Sundays, Darlington work in the same way as Stockton (on Middlesbrough runs) with the driver keeping the same bus for their entire shift (4807 was on 2s this morning and likely that 4805 did the 4 hours on 5a/X66 then after the driver's break, went onto the 21).

I saw 4807 arrive in Darlington on the 21, it then changed drivers, then left Darlington on the 21.

4802 arrived in Darlington out of service (not sure if this had finished the X66 or came straight from the depot) it then changed drivers and then departed for Bishop Auckland on the 5A.

Service 7 finishes in Darlington then goes back to the depot, usually with staff shuttle screened and usually arrives with staff shuttle screened before operating Service 7 to Durham.

I saw 4807 arrive in Darlington on the 21, it then changed drivers, then left Darlington on the 21.

4802 arrived in Darlington out of service (not sure if this had finished the X66 or came straight from the depot) it then changed drivers and then departed for Bishop Auckland on the 5A.

If this is the new Sunday running, surely it makes sense to keep the EcoCities where they belong, one each on the 2, 11 and 12... and maybe the rest used wisely on other routes or left in the depot?

If this is the new Sunday running, surely it makes sense to keep the EcoCities where they belong, one each on the 2, 11 and 12... and maybe the rest used wisely on other routes or left in the depot?

They're trying to increase the mileage on them a bit I think, as they're wasted just driving round town all day! Wouldn't mind a trip out on the 21 with one!

They're trying to increase the mileage on them a bit I think, as they're wasted just driving round town all day! Wouldn't mind a trip out on the 21 with one!

I bet that would be interesting, might see if I can do a journey to Peterlee on one.

They're trying to increase the mileage on them a bit I think, as they're wasted just driving round town all day! Wouldn't mind a trip out on the 21 with one!

That probably explains their frequent appearance on the X66 during weekdays now. It won't be long until they're put on other town services like the 9/10 and possibly 14/a/b to see how they handle them

7616 on X18 to Berwick leaving from Newcastle at approx 08:00.