Today's Sunderland rare working of the day goes to the Pointer 2 Dart on the X1! Unfortunately didn't get a photo.

(01 May 2013, 7:20 am)Daniel wrote Today's Sunderland rare working of the day goes to the Pointer 2 Dart on the X1! Unfortunately didn't get a photo.

Haha, as rare as it get's these day's!

(01 May 2013, 7:23 am)Michael wrote

(01 May 2013, 7:20 am)Daniel wrote Today's Sunderland rare working of the day goes to the Pointer 2 Dart on the X1! Unfortunately didn't get a photo.

Haha, as rare as it get's these day's!

Sunderland have had a few odd balls lately, with Reserve ALX200s being used on Sunday just gone and Reserve ALX200s also being used on services they're not so commonly associated with!

I eagerly await the day when a monumental cock-up is made, and something other than an Enviro gets on the 5/5A. Think it's owing to the contract that the services only ever see the Enviros though - can't imagine many staying spare in the depot though, so I anticipate a break down! Haha

Last time i seen an Enviro 200 get pulled off the 4s and replaced with a MAN and then that enviro 200 replaced one of on the 5s

(01 May 2013, 7:03 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote Last time i seen an Enviro 200 get pulled off the 4s and replaced with a MAN and then that enviro 200 replaced one of on the 5s

Somewhat gutting... I perhaps should give up hope now, haha!

For who are interested I have just found a Stagecoach in Sunderland Roller Blind on Ebay.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sunderland-Bus...ctables_SM&hash=item5af055c851

I thought might be useful those who own a preserved bus or were just looking in general as a collectors item etc. This item isn't owned by myself.

Cost of it is starting at £10, it's had zero bids thus far, postage it £15 postage with 3 days remaining.

The new 39 timetable is on line for 2nd June on the stagecoach site (Sorry wasn't sure if i should post here or the GNE page as its ran by the 2 companies)

This is what it says on the timetable for the changes...


Minor change to Service 39 from Sunday 2 June 2013
Due to commercial changes by another bus company, some Nexus supported trips operated by Stagecoach are withdrawn.
These changes affect the trips which previously operated from Fawcett Street towards Doxford International
at 1921 and 1951 during Monday to Fridays, and at 1851 on Saturdays.

Wonder if GNE will run these instead of stagecoach?

Several Sunderland vehicles have gained a new destination display, more commonly associated with the 22071-81 batch.
22675 is one of these. Not sure how long she's had it for, so this may not be noteworthy at all... Also looks as if she's had an internal refurb too, which does suggest the blind is fairly recent.

Edit: Photos suggest it's not-so-recent after all..! Still noteworthy in the sense older MANs are receiving such treatment - even in 2013!

How do you mean a new destination screen? 22072-22082 have always had the newer style blinds compared to the T/V reg MANs

(05 May 2013, 3:57 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote How do you mean a new destination screen? 22072-22082 have always had the newer style blinds compared to the T/V reg MANs

That's my point. We associate those blinds with that batch, rather than the older MANs which have started to gain them recently.
I can't see what was unclear in my post above about that - excluding the mistake of 71/81 rather than 72/82 of course!
22675 is an example of an older MAN which looks as if it has been refurbished internally and has also gained a new destination screen - though it has had it for a while now, contrary to what I had thought.

Just to avoid confusion: 22675 (though not recently, like I first thought) has gained a destination display like the 22072-82 batch have always had.

Sunderland rare working for today sees a Reserve ALX200 Dart being used on the 20 - a service which is primarily operated by older ALX300s.
1724 departure from Sunderland.

17027,17032 and 22050 are all currently at the back of Sunderland's depot presumably all for re-paints.

(10 May 2013, 5:40 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote 17027,17032 and 22050 are all currently at the back of Sunderland's depot presumably all for re-paints.

A photo of 17032 is displayed here. (danielgrahamm)

On another note, SAFC Match Day Park & Ride Shuttles were operated by Stagecoach in Sunderland vehicles only today. Had expected the usual three Volvo Olympians plus E400 to accompany the four Sunderland vehicles, but unfortunately not. Photos are displayed below:
22196 (danielgrahamm)
22214 (danielgrahamm)
22486 (danielgrahamm)
22489 (danielgrahamm)
22672 (danielgrahamm)
22735 (danielgrahamm)
Do correct me if I'm wrong and Sunday Match Day allocations are different to those allocations for fixtures hosted on Saturdays!

(12 May 2013, 6:21 pm)Daniel wrote

(10 May 2013, 5:40 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote 17027,17032 and 22050 are all currently at the back of Sunderland's depot presumably all for re-paints.

A photo of 17032 is displayed here. (danielgrahamm)

On another note, SAFC Match Day Park & Ride Shuttles were operated by Stagecoach in Sunderland vehicles only today. Had expected the usual three Volvo Olympians plus E400 to accompany the four Sunderland vehicles, but unfortunately not. Photos are displayed below:
22196 (danielgrahamm)
22214 (danielgrahamm)
22486 (danielgrahamm)
22489 (danielgrahamm)
22672 (danielgrahamm)
22735 (danielgrahamm)
Do correct me if I'm wrong and Sunday Match Day allocations are different to those allocations for fixtures hosted on Saturdays!

Sunderland depot handle Sunday Match Day Park & Ride on their own due to the reduced PVR at the depot so more spare vehicles in the depot.

(13 May 2013, 2:41 pm)Liam wrote Stagecoach 22730 (T730 OEF) has had a little incident at John Street, Sunderland. https://twitter.com/janethejourno/status...3281811457

By comments on FB.. the driver took bad and tried to swive so he would aviod people at joblings.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=...6753606427&set=pb.155734271426.-2207520000.1368458147.&type=3&theater

Hope he's ok

Seeing/hearing about this, reminded me of the nasty incident in the old Central Bus station a few years ago.

Www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2000/mar/10/martinwainwright

(13 May 2013, 4:03 pm)Andreos1 wrote Seeing/hearing about this, reminded me of the nasty incident in the old Central Bus station a few years ago.

Www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2000/mar/10/martinwainwright

Terrible case that one

The initial report

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/225838.stm

was going to put this in it's own thread but since its technically Stagecoach I'll stick it here...

Why does Newcastle--Gateshead have such horrific City Sightseeing buses? Just about every town/city I've been too has a decent modern-ish bus yet come to Newcastle and we'll throw you on a H reg banger (and if your lucky Go Ahead will have put one of their luxurious yellow buses on if you got the bus from the ferry!)

They do seem to get decent usage but its a shame the quality of the stock is so bad

Well if you think theres soon going to be 10 withdrawn volvo olympians from Stockton, maybies they will convert some of them to open top and use them on the city sightseeing.

I agree, I think our Sightseeing Service needs a Facelift Bus Wise in Newcastle, I also think there should be a Sightseeing service in Sunderland aswell.

(14 May 2013, 7:22 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I agree, I think our Sightseeing Service needs a Facelift Bus Wise in Newcastle, I also think there should be a Sightseeing service in Sunderland aswell.

Can i ask, what's in Sunderland for the bus go to?, ive lived here all my life and there's not much here....Yeh.. We have the Stadium Of light, Winter Gardens,Monkwearmouth Museum but the likes of Penshaw Momument and Hytlon Castle are out of the way.

No disrespect but Sunderland won't get one, Half of the Newcastle one is in Gateshead.

Sunderland isn't really a tourist city by any stretch of the imagination

Sunderland is rubbish, We do have some sort of tour bus and that's the Sunderland Connect.

Which used quite well

We do have some sort of tour bus and that's the Sunderland Connect.

Which used quite well
[/quote]

By University Students

Didnt Sunderland have a city sightseeing bus about 5-8 years ago? Im sure it used to go along the sea front but not sure where else and im sure it was only there for 1 year.

I wonder what the Dutch think? At the other end, there are a fleet of modern coaches, each complete with a friendly mustachioed Dutchman ready to help get your cases under the bus - once you get into Amsterdam, you are greeted by a range of smells and sights, including the very easy to use tram, bus and canal system and the no hassle travel card you can buy for pennies.
At North Shields... They are welcomed by a knackered yellow decker or an off white branded bus, taken into Newcastle and greeted by an H reg tourist bus...

Dont get me wrong, Im proud of my roots, but we could do so much better

The Leyland Olympians are due to be replaced with Tridents, it was thought for this summer but it'll be for next summer now.

(14 May 2013, 8:27 pm)tyresmoke wrote The Leyland Olympians are due to be replaced with Tridents, it was thought for this summer but it'll be for next summer now.

Do you know how long the Stagecoach contract is for?

Tourist wise, I'd rather buy a guide book and Quaylink Day Ticket!

(14 May 2013, 7:57 pm)gtomlinson wrote No disrespect but Sunderland won't get one, Half of the Newcastle one is in Gateshead.

Sunderland isn't really a tourist city by any stretch of the imagination

It'd be like doing a tour of Beirut.

(14 May 2013, 8:12 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote Didnt Sunderland have a city sightseeing bus about 5-8 years ago? Im sure it used to go along the sea front but not sure where else and im sure it was only there for 1 year.

It didn't meet the United Nations regulations on armour plating and weapons so was withdrawn.