(01 Aug 2014, 9:48 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 1720 X85 remains (with a new 1620) while the 1710 85 is getting the chop.

More passengers for GNE then!

(01 Aug 2014, 9:50 pm)Dan wrote More passengers for GNE then!

Or Arriva have realised their mistake of having a 85 ten minutes in-front of the 'original' X85 and drop it so their loyal passengers aren't split between the 2 service.

Also frees up the vehicle that presently does the 85 to work another peak time run

(01 Aug 2014, 9:55 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Or Arriva have realised their mistake of having a 85 ten minutes in-front of the 'original' X85 and drop it so their loyal passengers aren't split between the 2 service.

Also frees up the vehicle that presently does the 85 to work another peak time run

Hey, whatever floats their boat.

If I see a GNE X85 pulled in at Eldon Square with free Wi-Fi, comfier seats and the option to buy a cheaper ticket if I have onward connections in Hexham to other GNE buses... I'm not going to wait an extra five minutes to get on the Arriva service!

Will be interesting to see what happens to the passenger numbers on that 1720 service - anything's better than the loss-making 3 passengers I saw not so long ago...

(01 Aug 2014, 9:59 pm)Dan wrote Hey, whatever floats their boat.

If I see a GNE X85 pulled in at Eldon Square with free Wi-Fi, comfier seats and the option to buy a cheaper ticket if I have onward connections in Hexham to other GNE buses... I'm not going to wait an extra five minutes to get on the Arriva service!

Will be interesting to see what happens to the passenger numbers on that 1720 service - anything's better than the loss-making 3 passengers I saw not so long ago...

Do you guy's think Arriva will allow GNE to purchase their 85/X85 and 685 if GNE made a good offer?

(01 Aug 2014, 10:42 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Do you guy's think Arriva will allow GNE to purchase their 85/X85 and 685 if GNE made a good offer?

No, otherwise they would have not swapped the 604 and 685 round in 2010 as part of the Hexham/Ashington depot swap deal.

(01 Aug 2014, 10:42 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Do you guy's think Arriva will allow GNE to purchase their 85/X85 and 685 if GNE made a good offer?

Yes

(01 Aug 2014, 10:42 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Do you guy's think Arriva will allow GNE to purchase their 85/X85 and 685 if GNE made a good offer?

Like citaro5284, I also think they would.

Only awkward part would be due to Stagecoach having a share of the service.

(02 Aug 2014, 7:09 am)Dan wrote Like citaro5284, I also think they would.

Only awkward part would be due to Stagecoach having a share of the service.

I would suggest anything is for sale at the right price... Whether it's a price the buyer is willing to pay is another matter

Any reason why some of the new E400's have real time information but other's don't?

The problem with the 685 for GNE would be running beyond Hexham with no support (which, to be fair is also a problem for Arriva).

In some ways it would be easier for GNE having a depot at Hexham, but they would need space for the extra vehicles (though maybe they would reduce the frequency from 3 per hour between Hexham and Newcastle - including X84/X85 - back to two per hour with one per hour running to/from Carlisle) - ie just run the '685' between Hexham and Carlisle.

More likely that Stagecoach would operate 685 (only between Carlisle and Hexham)?

(02 Aug 2014, 8:17 am)G-CPTN wrote The problem with the 685 for GNE would be running beyond Hexham with no support (which, to be fair is also a problem for Arriva).

In some ways it would be easier for GNE having a depot at Hexham, but they would need space for the extra vehicles (though maybe they would reduce the frequency from 3 per hour between Hexham and Newcastle - including X84/X85 - back to two per hour with one per hour running to/from Carlisle) - ie just run the '685' between Hexham and Carlisle.

More likely that Stagecoach would operate 685 (only between Carlisle and Hexham)?

There is also the lack of connections within Carlisle.
Not an issue when singles are attractive, but when the entire network is built around day tickets, a passenger from the suburbs of Carlisle could end up with two day tickets for a trip to the bright lights of Tyneside.
Ditto, a visitor from Tyneside, heading west.

(02 Aug 2014, 8:17 am)G-CPTN wrote The problem with the 685 for GNE would be running beyond Hexham with no support (which, to be fair is also a problem for Arriva).

In some ways it would be easier for GNE having a depot at Hexham, but they would need space for the extra vehicles (though maybe they would reduce the frequency from 3 per hour between Hexham and Newcastle - including X84/X85 - back to two per hour with one per hour running to/from Carlisle) - ie just run the '685' between Hexham and Carlisle.

More likely that Stagecoach would operate 685 (only between Carlisle and Hexham)?

Go North East would face the same problems as Arriva North East does at the moment too, you're right.

The difference would be the fact that they have a depot in Hexham. I'm not sure how many more vehicles Hexham can facilitate, but I have no doubt that work (such as the TENs) could be moved to Riverside, with the 685 moving to Hexham quite easily.

I'd imagine they'd split it too - Newcastle to Hexham being one stretch, then allowing any through passengers to get on the Hexham to Carlisle bus. Hopefully there'd be a 10 minute connection or something to either the X84 or X85, so wouldn't end up being too bad.

(02 Aug 2014, 8:28 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote There is also the lack of connections within Carlisle.
Not an issue when singles are attractive, but when the entire network is built around day tickets, a passenger from the suburbs of Carlisle could end up with two day tickets for a trip to the bright lights of Tyneside.
Ditto, a visitor from Tyneside, heading west.

The singles on service 685 (at present) aren't particularly attractive either, and ANE doesn't have any connections within Carlisle.

(02 Aug 2014, 8:40 am)Dan wrote Go North East would face the same problems as Arriva North East does at the moment too, you're right.

The difference would be the fact that they have a depot in Hexham. I'm not sure how many more vehicles Hexham can facilitate, but I have no doubt that work (such as the TENs) could be moved to Riverside, with the 685 moving to Hexham quite easily.

I'd imagine they'd split it too - Newcastle to Hexham being one stretch, then allowing any through passengers to get on the Hexham to Carlisle bus. Hopefully there'd be a 10 minute connection or something to either the X84 or X85, so wouldn't end up being too bad.



The singles on service 685 (at present) aren't particularly attractive either, and ANE doesn't have any connections within Carlisle.

Nor Hexham and look at the changes they are making to the service in an effort to make it work.

I have no doubt, part of the success of the x84/85 is down to the connections available at either end of the route.

Why buy it when they're more than capable of taking it off them anyway through direct competition? I'd be surprised if there was not some legal issues with purchasing a set of services in a deregulated market, because really, the payment is just for agreement that they won't run in competition to you...

(02 Aug 2014, 9:10 am)aureolin wrote Why buy it when they're more than capable of taking it off them anyway through direct competition?

I would think that the value would be little more than the cost of the vehicles.

Arriva could easily redeploy these within their network and GNE would want their own livery so the value of the vehicles is minimal I would have thought.

The original Arriva/GNE deal involved the transfer of depots at Ashington and Hexham (as well as some 602 service double deckers?).

Any 685 deal would have very little in the way of assets - maybe some drivers?

(02 Aug 2014, 9:36 am)G-CPTN wrote I would think that the value would be little more than the cost of the vehicles.

Arriva could easily redeploy these within their network and GNE would want their own livery so the value of the vehicles is minimal I would have thought.

The original Arriva/GNE deal involved the transfer of depots at Ashington and Hexham (as well as some 602 service double deckers?).

Any 685 deal would have very little in the way of assets - maybe some drivers?

Doubt drivers would even be involved, if Hexham had to lose work to bring the 685 in - would just be Riverside taking on extra work.

Has pheonix coaches took over the arri as 30 service

(02 Aug 2014, 11:46 am)Philly rf wrote Has pheonix coaches took over the arri as 30 service

Yes, they won the contract from Northumberland County Council from the 6th July.

(31 Jul 2014, 7:54 pm)tyresmoke wrote 3 extra buses to be allocated to Darlington will be former demonstrator MAN Ecocities which have been purchased. These would appear to be:
- WX61FXO (which we had on demonstration at Darlington previously!),
- WX61HSL (which was used at Go North East)
- WX13GHN, a newer one

I am told these should be allocated to service 21 Darlington - Peterlee, which would be an upgrade on the Solos currently used on there. They should take up fleet numbers 4812-14

this might be a stupid question but do we have any idea when these 3 ecocities arrive ay darlington

The Volvo B10BLEs are starting to arrive at Stockton, with 4508 being one of the first to be pictured.

Do Arriva Managers ever drive their buses? I ask as I know some GNE managers do and Stagecoach do (you can tell them by the white shirts).

Would be a great opportunity for them to get a feel for things. I bet alot have never driven a bus before.

(02 Aug 2014, 3:02 pm)VolvoMarkII wrote Do Arriva Managers ever drive their buses? I ask as I know some GNE managers do and Stagecoach do (you can tell them by the white shirts).

Would be a great opportunity for them to get a feel for things. I bet alot have never driven a bus before.

I know one that does...

As for the arrival of 4508, it appears to be the talk of the depot... One down 6 to go!

I am sure i saw a Solo this week at 17.50 coming into Crook with Stanhope via Lanchester on the blind can anyone confirm this.

(02 Aug 2014, 4:28 pm)BUSFAN wrote I am sure i saw a Solo this week at 17.50 coming into Crook with Stanhope via Lanchester on the blind can anyone confirm this.

not being funny but why start a new thread when it could of being posted the Arriva North East - Rare and Odd Workings.

(02 Aug 2014, 4:28 pm)BUSFAN wrote I am sure i saw a Solo this week at 17.50 coming into Crook with Stanhope via Lanchester on the blind can anyone confirm this.

Yes, there is one peak time only run from Framwellgate Moor - Stanhope via Crook run that operates on weekdays only. Stanhope - Fram on a morning and Fram - Stanhope on an afternoon.

(02 Aug 2014, 4:28 pm)BUSFAN wrote I am sure i saw a Solo this week at 17.50 coming into Crook with Stanhope via Lanchester on the blind can anyone confirm this.

Would have been Crook via Langley Moor, not Lanchester.

Cheers i thought it was strange but do Arriva still run up to Stanhope on Schooldays or did that service not last long.

(02 Aug 2014, 4:51 pm)BUSFAN wrote Cheers i thought it was strange but do Arriva still run up to Stanhope on Schooldays or did that service not last long.

It runs every weekday, 0656 Stanhope-Fram Moor (a0818) and 1704 Framwellgate Moor-Stanhope (a1830)

(02 Aug 2014, 4:51 pm)BUSFAN wrote Cheers i thought it was strange but do Arriva still run up to Stanhope on Schooldays or did that service not last long.

They used to have service 46A which went from Stanhope - Durham (extending to Framwellgate Moor at college times) and it operated I think it was four journeys a day on weekdays only, but that got withdrawn a while back, now they just have the peak time only runs on weekdays as service 46.

Quick note to say 221 departed Durham for Belle Isle yesterday