Nice shade of blue - seems different to current vehicles.

(24 Aug 2014, 10:35 pm)G-CPTN wrote Nice shade of blue - seems different to current vehicles.

That's because they are Sapphire vehicles. The only vehicles on order this year to come in standard livery are Durham's 1574-8 and Ashington's 1579-81.

Why did Arriva change the 306 from double to single decks? And do you think in 2018 the 306 will go back to being operated by double decks when the green bus fund period for the 308 comes to an end? I think that with the competition by GNE with the CC and Citylink, Arriva should upgrade both the 306 and 308 to Sapphire spec and have both services interworking to improve reliability. Jesmond could operate 8 and Blyth would operate the other 10 with spares at both Blyth and Jesmond.

At least 11 Streetlights lined up at Thorntons. Couldn't identify any through the gap in the hedge!

(24 Aug 2014, 10:35 pm)G-CPTN wrote Nice shade of blue - seems different to current vehicles.

I think it depends what angle you view them from. I also thought that the light blue section looked smaller than it is on the rest of the Sapphire buses.

When you view from the front, the darker colour doesn't seem to dominate as much.

(25 Aug 2014, 5:22 am)Dan wrote I think it depends what angle you view them from. I also thought that the light blue section looked smaller than it is on the rest of the Sapphire buses.

When you view from the front, the darker colour doesn't seem to dominate as much.

It will seem like there is less of the dark colour when the swirls are applied.

(24 Aug 2014, 9:58 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 1571-3 have been spotted at Heysham Docks today(1571/2 in the photo)

Information and photo @ Paul Jenkinson

Streetlite's are far more good looking vehicles than Pulsars. Good styling on the bodywork. I always wondered what a StreetLite decker would potentially look like.

I've come to a conclusion about the 308 and GNE's 21 after seeing three (2 x 308's and 1x 21) running late. Basically, as well as commuter buses, they're also in a sense tourist and one off buses where many people use them more than other routes for social and pleasure purposes rather than mostly domestic purposes particularly off peak and even more so on weekends and bank holidays. This in turn means that passenger numbers are higher and more cash fares have to be processed and to make it worse not to the fault of the customer not knowing the fares, drivers also have to spend time giving change. Here's what I suggest:

- No return fares and instead, replaced by clearly publicised and easy to understand fare zone stages a bit like the Metro with the option to purchase single or
day savers for either route according to how many zones are required.

- Exact fare only for Network One day tickets, Coorporate wide day tickets (tripple on Arriva and Buzzfare on GNE), Get Around (Go North East), Teen Card (Arriva), Nexus CAT and the single and daysaver options.

(25 Aug 2014, 1:39 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote I've come to a conclusion about the 308 and GNE's 21 after seeing three (2 x 308's and 1x 21) running late. Basically, as well as commuter buses, they're also in a sense tourist and one off buses where many people use them more than other routes for social and pleasure purposes rather than mostly domestic purposes particularly off peak and even more so on weekends and bank holidays. This in turn means that passenger numbers are higher and more cash fares have to be processed and to make it worse not to the fault of the customer not knowing the fares, drivers also have to spend time giving change. Here's what I suggest:

- No return fares and instead, replaced by clearly publicised and easy to understand fare zone stages a bit like the Metro with the option to purchase single or
day savers for either route according to how many zones are required.

- Exact fare only for Network One day tickets, Coorporate wide day tickets (tripple on Arriva and Buzzfare on GNE), Get Around (Go North East), Teen Card (Arriva), Nexus CAT and the single and daysaver options.

Would it not be easier for operators to print their single fares on their websites, therefore passengers will have change as close to what is needed as they can do when they board?

(25 Aug 2014, 2:22 pm)mb134 wrote Would it not be easier for operators to print their single fares on their websites, therefore passengers will have change as close to what is needed as they can do when they board?

Much better to develop automatic change dispensers.

(25 Aug 2014, 1:39 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote I've come to a conclusion about the 308 and GNE's 21 after seeing three (2 x 308's and 1x 21) running late. Basically, as well as commuter buses, they're also in a sense tourist and one off buses where many people use them more than other routes for social and pleasure purposes rather than mostly domestic purposes particularly off peak and even more so on weekends and bank holidays. This in turn means that passenger numbers are higher and more cash fares have to be processed and to make it worse not to the fault of the customer not knowing the fares, drivers also have to spend time giving change. Here's what I suggest:

- No return fares and instead, replaced by clearly publicised and easy to understand fare zone stages a bit like the Metro with the option to purchase single or
day savers for either route according to how many zones are required.

- Exact fare only for Network One day tickets, Coorporate wide day tickets (tripple on Arriva and Buzzfare on GNE), Get Around (Go North East), Teen Card (Arriva), Nexus CAT and the single and daysaver options.

What are you going to achieve from the first point? Customers don't know the fares because operators don't publish them. Both ANE and GNE have their own fare zone based products, and the Angel saver in GNE's case. Why complicate matters by bringing out yet another day saver?

On your second point. How many people are going to have exact fare for a £6.90 day rover or £9.50 explorer? I'd say it's perfectly acceptable to expect the operator to provide you change out of £10 for either ticket, as it's more than 60% of both fares. Same with CAT tickets. Most people wanting a 90p ticket are going to pay with a £1 coin.. Why should the customers be punished if the timetables aren't fit for demand?

I think perhaps you're basing your opinion here on a bank holiday solely. On Sunday, I know from experience that the 21s tend to run without issue. Monday-Friday they do suffer, but it's not because it's a 'tourist one off bus'. Very few people probably get off/on at the Angel of the North from what I see?? It tends to be the Low Fell section of the route, which has been a nightmare for at least the last 20 years!

(25 Aug 2014, 2:22 pm)mb134 wrote Would it not be easier for operators to print their single fares on their websites, therefore passengers will have change as close to what is needed as they can do when they board?

It would certainly be easier for those who'd check the information, but the majority of people probably aren't going to. It works both ways though because if someone was counting a £6.90 fare out of change for a day rover, then it'd probably cause more of a delay! QCS state that they would display fares on bus stop timetables, which is quite an interesting approach, and one I'd like to see.

(25 Aug 2014, 4:25 pm)aureolin wrote It would certainly be easier for those who'd check the information, but the majority of people probably aren't going to. It works both ways though because if someone was counting a £6.90 fare out of change for a day rover, then it'd probably cause more of a delay! QCS state that they would display fares on bus stop timetables, which is quite an interesting approach, and one I'd like to see.

Yeah I guess, and the people who don't check the information will probably be those that complain about it!! About QCS, as I know virtually nothing about it, what is it all about?

(25 Aug 2014, 4:43 pm)mb134 wrote Yeah I guess, and the people who don't check the information will probably be those that complain about it!! About QCS, as I know virtually nothing about it, what is it all about?

Bed time read for you... 900 and odd posts?
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=7

(25 Aug 2014, 4:48 pm)Dan wrote Bed time read for you... 900 and odd posts?
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=7

Jesus, thank you

(25 Aug 2014, 4:48 pm)Dan wrote Bed time read for you... 900 and odd posts?
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=7

What'd he do to deserve that?!

4508 in an accident in M'bro centre on Saturday. Front end damage. Appears to have gone into the back of Stagecoach 22202. (Yes 22202 again!)

Anyone planning to head to Whitby for 211 is out of time - it was replaced by 1103 at half 11 and taken to Redcar depot to be prepared to head back to Yorkshire.

(26 Aug 2014, 11:55 am)Kuyoyo wrote Anyone planning to head to Whitby for 211 is out of time - it was replaced by 1103 at half 11 and taken to Redcar depot to be prepared to head back to Yorkshire.

But it's now on 22/64/64a - it's working the 1345 64 from Middlesbrough.

7482 was on the X20 earlier, thought only 7483 was still in service?

(26 Aug 2014, 2:07 pm)mb134 wrote 7482 was on the X20 earlier, thought only 7483 was still in service?

It'll be on temporary retention in the fleet to assist Ashington whilst they have three vehicles on loan to Blyth to cover for MAX refurbishments.

(26 Aug 2014, 2:16 pm)Dan wrote It'll be on temporary retention in the fleet to assist Ashington whilst they have three vehicles on loan to Blyth to cover for MAX refurbishments.

Ah ok was just a bit surprised when that came round the corner as numerous things had led me to believe it wouldn't return to service ,such as this one:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/58727891@N...bf7-cD9Mzo

Are Arriva storing buses for disposal at Thorntons? Just when passing there today I could see 2 olympians, I presume 7361 and 7367 and I could just see a couple of single deckers as well in the original livery
(Didn't know whether to put this here or in the Thorntons thread, so move it if you want )

New E400 NK64FEM and at least one other have arrived today, in Max livery for service X18

(26 Aug 2014, 9:12 pm)tyresmoke wrote New E400 NK64FEM and at least one other have arrived today, in Max livery for service X18

Will these go straight into service or will they wait until the rest arrive?

(26 Aug 2014, 9:19 pm)mb134 wrote Will these go straight into service or will they wait until the rest arrive?

There's only 5 so I would expect the rest will arrive by the end of the week. Either way I'm told they're going straight out.

(26 Aug 2014, 9:58 pm)tyresmoke wrote There's only 5 so I would expect the rest will arrive by the end of the week. Either way I'm told they're going straight out.

Good good

64 registrations not road-legal until Monday.

(26 Aug 2014, 11:33 pm)G-CPTN wrote 64 registrations not road-legal until Monday.

Ah forgot about that, hopefully come Monday morning all X18 passengers will be happy bunnies then

Which Monday is that then(hopping its this Monday comin