The new E400s are starting to arrive...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gne-bus-ph...548034744/

(01 Jul 2014, 10:45 am)Dan wrote The new E400s are starting to arrive...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gne-bus-ph...548034744/

NK14GFJ/GFO have arrived this morning... 2 more are due this week and then 3 next week. The registrations don't match the sheet I was sent though so I am not sure what fleet numbers these are, possibly 7527/8.

I suppose now might be a good time to reveal the fleet numbers for our new arrivals this year...

ADL Enviro 400
7522-7528 - Ashington X21/X22 (Sapphire)
7529-7533 - Ashington X18 (Max)

Wright Streetlite
1550-1552 - Ashington 35
1553-1557 - Durham 23
1558-1565 - Jesmond 306 (Green hybrid livery)
1566-1575 - Stockton 5/5A (Sapphire)
1576-1589 - Redcar X3/X4 (Sapphire)

(01 Jul 2014, 10:52 am)tyresmoke wrote NK14GFJ/GFO have arrived this morning... 2 more are due this week and then 3 next week. The registrations don't match the sheet I was sent though so I am not sure what fleet numbers these are, possibly 7527/8.

I suppose now might be a good time to reveal the fleet numbers for our new arrivals this year...

ADL Enviro 400
7522-7528 - Ashington X21/X22 (Sapphire)
7529-7533 - Ashington X18 (Max)

Wright Streetlite
1550-1552 - Ashington 35
1553-1557 - Durham 23
1558-1565 - Jesmond 306 (Green hybrid livery)
1566-1575 - Stockton 5/5A (Sapphire)
1576-1589 - Redcar X3/X4 (Sapphire)

Will 7529-33 be delivered immediately after 7522-8?

Is the new-style display to be used on all Arriva buses in the North East? I quite like it, although I'm not a fan of the Arial route numbers.

Photo by: C522LJR
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75698454@N...Bnz-nKm2YT

(01 Jul 2014, 10:52 am)tyresmoke wrote NK14GFJ/GFO have arrived this morning... 2 more are due this week and then 3 next week. The registrations don't match the sheet I was sent though so I am not sure what fleet numbers these are, possibly 7527/8.

Arriva North East: "Glitter and sparkle arrives into the North East!" by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: "Glitter and sparkle arrives into the North East!" by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

With one of "Sapphires" things being to do with the "well presented, customer focused drivers" does this mean that there is a special selection of drivers from each depot that operate a Sapphire route, chosen to drive on it? If so how do they choose?

(30 Jun 2014, 7:01 pm)Tom wrote It is if your not going outside of T&W. Arriva is 80p in T&W too.

Oh right, sorry about that!

(01 Jul 2014, 10:52 am)tyresmoke wrote NK14GFJ/GFO have arrived this morning... 2 more are due this week and then 3 next week. The registrations don't match the sheet I was sent though so I am not sure what fleet numbers these are, possibly 7527/8.

I suppose now might be a good time to reveal the fleet numbers for our new arrivals this year...

ADL Enviro 400
7522-7528 - Ashington X21/X22 (Sapphire)
7529-7533 - Ashington X18 (Max)

Wright Streetlite
1550-1552 - Ashington 35
1553-1557 - Durham 23
1558-1565 - Jesmond 306 (Green hybrid livery)
1566-1575 - Stockton 5/5A (Sapphire)
1576-1589 - Redcar X3/X4 (Sapphire)

The two E400's are 7522/7523 by the latest sheet. The 7522-7528 batch should be NK14 GFJ/O/U/V/X/DE/DF.
Additionally the Streetlites are now numbered as follows;

1550-1559 - Stockton
1560-1573 - Redcar
1574-1578 - Durham
1579-1581 - Ashington
1582-1589 - Jesmond
1590-1594 - Darlington

NK14 Gxx registrations have been allocated to 1550-1564, but could alter based on delivery dates.

(01 Jul 2014, 8:37 pm)Mark wrote The two E400's are 7522/7523 by the latest sheet. The 7522-7528 batch should be NK14 GFJ/O/U/V/X/DE/DF.
Additionally the Streetlites are now numbered as follows;

1550-1559 - Stockton
1560-1573 - Redcar
1574-1578 - Durham
1579-1581 - Ashington
1582-1589 - Jesmond
1590-1594 - Darlington

NK14 Gxx registrations have been allocated to 1550-1564, but could alter based on delivery dates.

Originally there were going to be 9 not 5 streelites for Darlington but these have been cancelled in favour of Gemini 2's for the X93. I'm only going off what others have stated before on this thread unless that's now changed again of course?

(01 Jul 2014, 8:55 pm)JoshP wrote Originally there were going to be 9 not 5 streelites for Darlington but these have been cancelled in favour of Gemini 2's for the X93. I'm only going off what others have stated before on this thread unless that's now changed again of course?

I think it's likely these are the ones for the X1 brought forward from next year...

(01 Jul 2014, 6:51 pm)mb134 wrote With one of "Sapphires" things being to do with the "well presented, customer focused drivers" does this mean that there is a special selection of drivers from each depot that operate a Sapphire route, chosen to drive on it? If so how do they choose?

Yes there is a specialist rota at each depot who will be getting a Sapphire route. The number chosen depends on the route itself - for example at Stockton ours is PVR 10 so we have 28 drivers chosen after going through a selection process. All Sapphire drivers get additional customer training too.

(01 Jul 2014, 8:58 pm)tyresmoke wrote I think it's likely these are the ones for the X1 brought forward from next year...

Christ, this order list has changed more times than the FPF have complained about their bus services!

(01 Jul 2014, 8:59 pm)Dan wrote Christ, this order list has changed more times than the FPF have complained about their bus services!

I know! Can someone please sum up the NEW order/transfer list for Darlington, Durham and Teeside? Will these new Streetlite's be MAX for the X1?

(01 Jul 2014, 8:59 pm)Dan wrote Christ, this order list has changed more times than the FPF have complained about their bus services!

If only you had the backing of the FPF in your crusade against the mobile phone company eh?

(01 Jul 2014, 9:02 pm)JoshP wrote I know! Can someone please sum up the NEW order/transfer list for Darlington, Durham and Teeside? Will these new Streetlite's be MAX for the X1?

I'll have a shot (sorry if this is wrong just going off other posts):
Streetlites:
Stockton (Max ): 10 to Sapphire spec
Redcar (Max ): 14 to Sapphire spec
Durham (Micro-Hybrid) :5, standard spec
Darlington (Micro-Hybrid??) :5 (?? Spec)

B9TL'S
Redcar /Whitby: 6 (I'm assuming standard spec)

(01 Jul 2014, 9:02 pm)JoshP wrote I know! Can someone please sum up the NEW order/transfer list for Darlington, Durham and Teeside? Will these new Streetlite's be MAX for the X1?

10 Streetlite Max 11.5m for Stockton (Sapphire 5/5A)
14 Streetlite Max 11.5m for Redcar (Sapphire X3/X4)
5 Streetlite 10.8m for Durham (standard 23)
5 Streetlite (unknown length) for Darlington (Max X1)
6 Volvo B9TL for Whitby (standard X93)

(01 Jul 2014, 8:58 pm)tyresmoke wrote there is a specialist rota at each depot who will be getting a Sapphire route. All Sapphire drivers get additional customer training too.

Back in my working past I was responsible for vehicle testing - meaning drivers driving set routes (and tests) to see how the vehicles performed and survived.

One such test was a flat-out high-speed test on a banked track to ascertain engine durability on continental roads (Britain having a 70mph speed limit whereas places like Germany didn't).

Some drivers relished the work and saw it as 'sport' whilst some drivers wouldn't push the vehicles as they considered it to be dangerous should a tyre burst.

I wanted to 'grade' the drivers to avoid having sessions where the vehicle wasn't being run to its limit, (and, even, reward the fast ones with a financial bonus) but the foreman (who allocated the drivers) wouldn't hear of it and insisted that each driver be given a turn.

(01 Jul 2014, 9:19 pm)tyresmoke wrote 10 Streetlite Max 11.5m for Stockton (Sapphire 5/5A)
14 Streetlite Max 11.5m for Redcar (Sapphire X3/X4)
5 Streetlite 10.8m for Durham (standard 23)
5 Streetlite (unknown length) for (Max X1
6 Volvo B9TL for Whitby (standard X93)

might be a stupud question but with new streetlites arriving for the x1 at darlington are the current x1 pulsars goin to be displaced onto services 75/6

(02 Jul 2014, 8:44 am)ross13 wrote might be a stupud question but with new streetlites arriving for the x1 at darlington are the current x1 pulsars goin to be displaced onto services 75/6

I believe that's the plan yes, certainly according to the Tees Valley LSTF bid anyway!!

(01 Jul 2014, 9:50 pm)G-CPTN wrote Back in my working past I was responsible for vehicle testing - meaning drivers driving set routes (and tests) to see how the vehicles performed and survived.

One such test was a flat-out high-speed test on a banked track to ascertain engine durability on continental roads (Britain having a 70mph speed limit whereas places like Germany didn't).

Some drivers relished the work and saw it as 'sport' whilst some drivers wouldn't push the vehicles as they considered it to be dangerous should a tyre burst.

I wanted to 'grade' the drivers to avoid having sessions where the vehicle wasn't being run to its limit, (and, even, reward the fast ones with a financial bonus) but the foreman (who allocated the drivers) wouldn't hear of it and insisted that each driver be given a turn.

I heard they hadn't got enough Sapphire volunteers at Redcar.

(01 Jul 2014, 8:37 pm)Mark wrote The two E400's are 7522/7523 by the latest sheet. The 7522-7528 batch should be NK14 GFJ/O/U/V/X/DE/DF.
Additionally the Streetlites are now numbered as follows;

1550-1559 - Stockton
1560-1573 - Redcar
1574-1578 - Durham
1579-1581 - Ashington
1582-1589 - Jesmond
1590-1594 - Darlington

NK14 Gxx registrations have been allocated to 1550-1564, but could alter based on delivery dates.

Nice to see 1569 at Redcar again!

Will the E400's for the X15 be out of 7514/6/9/21 as these already have tachographs?

(02 Jul 2014, 8:44 pm)mb134 wrote Will the E400's for the X15 be out of 7514/6/9/21 as these already have tachographs?

Not sure which ones have been chosen but it'll be 3 from the 7514-21 batch.

(02 Jul 2014, 8:57 pm)tyresmoke wrote Not sure which ones have been chosen but it'll be 3 from the 7514-21 batch.

Any ideas on which Omnicities will accompany them?

(02 Jul 2014, 9:00 pm)mb134 wrote Any ideas on which Omnicities will accompany them?

Not sure, last I heard it hadn't been decided yet. It would make sense to refurbish the whole 05 plate batch 4643-4659 in one go though...

(02 Jul 2014, 8:44 pm)mb134 wrote Will the E400's for the X15 be out of 7514/6/9/21 as these already have tachographs?

Don't all of this batch 7414-21 have tachographs?

(02 Jul 2014, 9:13 pm)tyresmoke wrote Not sure, last I heard it hadn't been decided yet. It would make sense to refurbish the whole 05 plate batch 4643-4659 in one go though...

Not 4643-5?

Have any more of the E400's arrived yet?

(03 Jul 2014, 5:59 pm)Coppercap40 wrote 7493 was replaced by 4713 on the 1120 X93 sevice due to brake problems, it later took up its scheduled 1620 dep from Middlesbrough.
Belmont Pulsars have a schools working off the 42 which ends up at Washington

Which school does that pulsar serve?
Arriva seem to leave school work to other operators.I know they do the 865 to St Johns school with a DAF decker.Is it the Council or school who negotiate a contract and are their any special conditions?

(03 Jul 2014, 6:33 pm)buznut wrote Which school does that pulsar serve?
Arriva seem to leave school work to other operators.I know they do the 865 to St Johns school with a DAF decker.Is it the Council or school who negotiate a contract and are their any special conditions?

I think its Service 469: St Bedes RC Primary School and Barmston, John F Kennedy School?

(03 Jul 2014, 6:50 pm)Jimmi wrote I think its Service 469: St Bedes RC Primary School and Barmston, John F Kennedy School?

There was a discussion on here a while back about that.
A Pulsar often gets spotted (myself and possibly Malarkey) at times and places well away from the 469 route you mention (morning and afternoon), so there may be at least 1 more ANE scholars in Washington.

I have seen a 6 branded Pulsar as well as ones in standard livery.