(27 Jul 2014, 8:38 am)mb134 wrote Could some of them be refurbished for the X14?

I thought that 7453 7454 7455 7456 would be refurbished for that route

They are going to Durham at later date Phil

(27 Jul 2014, 7:59 pm)David McGloin wrote They are going to Durham at later date Phil

That's for informing me I was thinking that they would transfer somewhere else

(26 Jul 2014, 9:55 pm)mb134 wrote Any information on when the B9TL'S for the X93 will be delivered?

They are getting headrests fitted, which is good news.

(26 Jul 2014, 4:37 pm)tyresmoke wrote Cascades due to happen (as far as I know) this week when the Sapphires enter service

5 out of 4501/2/5/6/8/9 to Stockton, with 4513/5 likely to move to Redcar
7466 to Blyth to replace 4045 (ie 1712)
7511/2/3 come off to go for refurb
7480/1 to Durham replacing 2 T-FGNs to disposal
7482/3 to disposal (though 7483 will stay to cover a B7 Gemini going to Redcar for the summer)
1208 to disposal

Further new deliveries will set off even more cascades...

Don't Ashington need 4513/5 as spare tacho buses? No doubt they will end up on the X93 if they go to Redcar!

Redcar will put anything on an X93... These transfers actually sound quite good... Won't last long though I reckon....

Just passed a broken 7512 (I think) on the A1, will these need to be like looked at mechanically with their X15 refurbishment?

(28 Jul 2014, 9:31 am)mb134 wrote Just passed a broken 7512 (I think) on the A1, will these need to be like looked at mechanically with their X15 refurbishment?

I would've chosen out of 7514 to 7521 for the X15 (3) and X14 (4).

I still don't see why Arriva didn't put an order in for B9TL's before the deadline for Euro 6 for the X15 and X18. I rate Enviros well for mid distance work like the X21 and X22 but for long distances, the B9TL is far better. I know 6071 and the B7 spares have been making several appearences on the TTX but if they had've bought 10, they could've used them in rotation with one day on the X15 / X18 then swapping the following day. They are only unreliable when constantly thrashed like what they are on the A19 and that would cause problems for the X15 but if rotated properly, they'd be quite reliable particularly on the X18.

(28 Jul 2014, 9:51 am)DaveyBowyer wrote I would've chosen out of 7514 to 7521 for the X15 (3) and X14 (4).

I still don't see why Arriva didn't put an order in for B9TL's before the deadline for Euro 6 for the X15 and X18. I rate Enviros well for mid distance work like the X21 and X22 but for long distances, the B9TL is far better. I know 6071 and the B7 spares have been making several appearences on the TTX but if they had've bought 10, they could've used them in rotation with one day on the X15 / X18 then swapping the following day. They are only unreliable when constantly thrashed like what they are on the A19 and that would cause problems for the X15 but if rotated properly, they'd be quite reliable particularly on the X18.

Simply put, I think it'll be down to the cost.
Go North East's Volvo B9TLs cost near enough £200k each, to the Arriva equivalent of Sapphire specification. ADL E400s on the other hand, will cost £10k-£20k or so less.

I don't think it's a coincidence that GNE purchased so many (34) last year, given that the vehicle would no longer be manufactured, after those orders.

(28 Jul 2014, 9:51 am)DaveyBowyer wrote I would've chosen out of 7514 to 7521 for the X15 (3) and X14 (4).

Praying that some of these are the ones refurbished for the X14 like, and that Ashington keep the others in good shape, they seem much better than the older E400's, I know they have the same engine but they just seem more powerful

(28 Jul 2014, 9:55 am)Dan wrote Simply put, I think it'll be down to the cost.
Go North East's Volvo B9TLs cost near enough £200k each, to the Arriva equivalent of Sapphire specification. ADL E400s on the other hand, will cost £10k-£20k or so less.

I don't think it's a coincidence that GNE purchased so many (34) last year, given that the vehicle would no longer be manufactured, after those orders.

But what about the long term costs though? With the exception of the 6 on the TTX and 6049 that got a warranty job done by Volvo, the rest have been fine.

Saying that the enviros that where mainly allocated to the x18 did the job just as good as any bus. Also thinking it mustn't be to much strain if they can put either v513 dft or v515 dft on the x18 or a 13/14 yr old volvo b7tl ex london bus then surely almost any bus can go one in the other hand the x18 has had v207 djr and v214 djr coach on it aswell so that must show some concerns aswell

Anyway.......

With thanks to Richard Smiles, we now have full registration details for the Stockton-bound StreetLites

1550 NK14 GFY
1551 NK14 GFZ
1552 NK14 GGA
1553 NK14 GGE
1554 NK14 GGF
1555 NK14 GGJ
1556 NK14 GGO
1557 NK14 GGP
1558 NK14 GGU
1559 NK14 GGV

Does anyone know if the 35/35a streetlites are due. Well I know that they are 1579 to 1581 because when I went upto hey sham docks the kind man said the three that are in the corner are for ane ashington.
I'll just have to wait and see

Also thinking what will happen with jesmond a 4510 and 4511 as they are looking really tatty now since they have missed out the whole refurbishments especially 4510

(28 Jul 2014, 10:50 am)Philly rf wrote Saying that the enviros that where mainly allocated to the x18 did the job just as good as any bus. Also thinking it mustn't be to much strain if they can put either v513 dft or v515 dft on the x18 or a 13/14 yr old volvo b7tl ex london bus then surely almost any bus can go one in the other hand the x18 has had v207 djr and v214 djr coach on it aswell so that must show some concerns aswell

All old Volvos were and still are bullet proof! The B7's are on borrowed time and coaches well, they're made for that purpose! I remember one driver on a B10BLE from Jesmond telling me that some of the 09 reg Pulsars were in worse shape than some of the B10BLE's. They certainly don't build 'em like what they used to!

(28 Jul 2014, 11:07 am)DaveyBowyer wrote All old Volvos were and still are bullet proof! The B7's are on borrowed time and coaches well, they're made for that purpose! I remember one driver on a B10BLE from Jesmond telling me that some of the 09 reg Pulsars were in worse shape than some of the B10BLE's. They certainly don't build 'em like what they used to!

Yes you cannot beat old beasts they should scrap the modern lot and bring back the leylands and the rest of them

SERVICE UPDATE: X66 will be diverted along Thompson street east in both directions from 12:30 today.

This is due to road works at the top of north road in Darlington causing long delays

Also I think Riverside in Stockton is still closed too which means Middlesbrough journeys are going down Stockton high street in both directions.

More roadworks making all my buses late

(28 Jul 2014, 11:00 am)Philly rf wrote Does anyone know if the 35/35a streetlites are due. Well I know that they are 1579 to 1581 because when I went upto hey sham docks the kind man said the three that are in the corner are for ane ashington.
I'll just have to wait and see

Given we've just had 1560 and 1561 delivered, I would suggest another couple of weeks yet.

(28 Jul 2014, 9:55 am)Dan wrote Simply put, I think it'll be down to the cost.
Go North East's Volvo B9TLs cost near enough £200k each, to the Arriva equivalent of Sapphire specification. ADL E400s on the other hand, will cost £10k-£20k or so less.

I don't think it's a coincidence that GNE purchased so many (34) last year, given that the vehicle would no longer be manufactured, after those orders.

Aye, I do think it was down to cost. I do know that despite the Volvo's being quite good mechanically, the electrics can be a bit tempermental and access for maintenance is also a bit of a pain compared to ADL. I think however for longer routes that cost needs to be balanced with quality. The B9TL feels more solid and stable at speed compared to the Enviro. Even the D9B engine quite often sets car alarms off where I live.

(28 Jul 2014, 12:13 pm)tyresmoke wrote Given we've just had 1560 and 1561 delivered, I would suggest another couple of weeks yet.

Hopefully

4653 has been replaced by 4663 on the X16 today and as such, has departed for Blackburn for refurbishment. This suggests 4659 will also have departed Stockton for Blackburn too.

The temporary lights at Harrowgate Hill Roundabout are resulting in massive delays to services that run down North Road, especially the ones from Newton Aycliffe and beyond. On the 5A to Darlington this afternoon it took is about 50 minutes to get from Newton Aycliffe to Darlington Town Centre.

There not as bad coming out of Darlington though.

Don't think I'll be getting on many buses over the next fortnight whilst these works are being carried out!

This is why I miss the old Scarlet Band 16 as it didn't go down North Road so if there was roadworks or an accident you could avoid it.

(28 Jul 2014, 9:51 am)DaveyBowyer wrote I would've chosen out of 7514 to 7521 for the X15 (3) and X14 (4).

I still don't see why Arriva didn't put an order in for B9TL's before the deadline for Euro 6 for the X15 and X18. I rate Enviros well for mid distance work like the X21 and X22 but for long distances, the B9TL is far better. I know 6071 and the B7 spares have been making several appearences on the TTX but if they had've bought 10, they could've used them in rotation with one day on the X15 / X18 then swapping the following day. They are only unreliable when constantly thrashed like what they are on the A19 and that would cause problems for the X15 but if rotated properly, they'd be quite reliable particularly on the X18.

I was thinking of you yesterday afternoon as I was tucking into my Steakhouse Whopper at Wetherby Services Burger King.
An Enviro400 was parked up (didn't note the name of the operator), and it was full of kids and their parents, presumably returning from a day out somewhere.

Given that is was parked at the services, I am guessing it was on a tacho and the driver was having his rest break.
Even if it wasn't on a tacho, the trip was obviously long enough to force the need for a rest break.

#envrio400onthemotorway
#hashtagsonNEB

(28 Jul 2014, 4:15 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote I was thinking of you yesterday afternoon as I was tucking into my Steakhouse Whopper at Wetherby Services Burger King.
An Enviro400 was parked up (didn't note the name of the operator), and it was full of kids and their parents, presumably returning from a day out somewhere.

Given that is was parked at the services, I am guessing it was on a tacho and the driver was having his rest break.
Even if it wasn't on a tacho, the trip was obviously long enough to force the need for a rest break.

#envrio400onthemotorway
#hashtagsonNEB

Was it Acklams of Beverley? They send their E400 all over without any problems, indeed it's been to Wembley a few times.

(28 Jul 2014, 4:16 pm)tyresmoke wrote Was it Acklams of Beverley? They send their E400 all over without any problems, indeed it's been to Wembley a few times.

That was them!

Any idea when EcoCity 4809 will re enter service? Been off the road quite a while now

Hi just wondering what the tech specs for the new sapphire streetlites are eg engines and gearboxes, I can't help but think for service X4 they will be a little unsuited surely Volvo b7rle's with wright bodywork would have been a better choice as they would have the "grunt" to deal with the geography of the route,personally I can see problems arising with the streetlites on this route, which would be a shame as the buses themselves and the sapphire spec are quite impressive bits of kit.

New E400s 7522-26 and 7528 launched at Newbiggin today.

Was quite entertaining to watch a news interview being conducted.

I'll be getting off 7513 with a headache... How bloody rattley, is it?!
Having to use my knees to apply pressure to the destination screen box thing, with the intention of it preventing rattles...