X315CBT was on the 16/16A again today, I don't think the people of Hummersknot and Mowden like this bus as it has removable seats on the lower part of the bus and because the seats are removable it also has almost no handrails and stopping bells. Some were even asking when the pink bus would be back, the driver is hoping for Wednesday.

MX10DXK is on Park and Ride duty today.

Had a quick look through the posts in October and can't find anything, but YJ55YGM has gained an LED destination screen:

020flik by crocscarlie, on Flickr

(01 Jan 2015, 3:07 pm)Dan wrote Had a quick look through the posts in October and can't find anything, but YJ55YGM has gained an LED destination screen:

020flik by crocscarlie, on Flickr

Former Nottingham Solo Y236LRR has gained a Hanover screen too! Hopefully they can program them properly...

(01 Jan 2015, 3:07 pm)Dan wrote Had a quick look through the posts in October and can't find anything, but YJ55YGM has gained an LED destination screen:

020flik by crocscarlie, on Flickr

All of the 55 reg Solos previously used on the Durham Park and Ride have LED screens and have done for a few months now.

The ex Nottingham Solo has had a screen for a few months now too.

Some of the older second hand Solos including the pink bus still retain roller destination equipment. Hopefully a sign some of these may be replaced in the near future or possibly just to save money which would be a shame 'cause I hate seeing their buses going round with SERVICE as the destination.

V931VUB is currently at Optare: https://flic.kr/p/qnYwTR

All week Scarlet Band have had someone on the 16/16A doing a survey relating to the service's future.

The questions were fairly standard and were something like:
How often do you use it.
What times do you use the service.
Where do you travel on the service.
What do you use the service for.
What would do if the service was reduced / withdrawn.

The funding the service was given from January 2013 is expected to run out in June.

Even though I am not a regular 16/16A passenger I filled in the survey.

(10 Jan 2015, 5:23 pm)Jimmi wrote All week Scarlet Band have had someone on the 16/16A doing a survey relating to the service's future.

The questions were fairly standard and were something like:
How often do you use it.
What times do you use the service.
Where do you travel on the service.
What do you use the service for.
What would do if the service was reduced / withdrawn.

The funding the service was given from January 2013 is expected to run out in June.

Even though I am not a regular 16/16A passenger I filled in the survey.

Perhaps an indication that Scarlet Band may look to fund at least part of it commercially? 

Whilst not knocking either Jimmi for completing a survey or Scarlet Band for getting them produced; the fact he doesn't use the service often, and his response will potentially help form the outcome, is one of the flaws of sampling - touched on elsewhere, but specifically in the Passenger Focus thread.

On a more positive note, hopefully the responses do assist in securing the future of the service.

(10 Jan 2015, 5:47 pm)aureolin wrote Perhaps an indication that Scarlet Band may look to fund at least part of it commercially? 

I just hope the 16/16A continue as it would be a massive loss to alot of people including the elderly residents in Mowden and Hummersknot plus the school kids who use the 16A to get to school without this service they'd be faced with a long walk to school.

(10 Jan 2015, 6:02 pm)Andreos1 wrote Whilst not knocking either Jimmi for completing a survey or Scarlet Band for getting them produced; the fact he doesn't use the service often, and his response will potentially help form the outcome, is one of the flaws of sampling - touched on elsewhere, but specifically in the Passenger Focus thread.

On a more positive note, hopefully the responses do assist in securing the future of the service.

Somehow missed this post.

I do actually sometimes use this service but I did put the least frequent option which was something like 2 or 3 times a year. Me doing the survey could mess with the outcome but should hopefully not affect it too badly.

As discussed in the passenger focus thread their is downsides but you need to do something like this for services 16/16A to get it's passengers views as many of it's passengers are elderly so it is probably best to get the passengers views who actually use the bus rather than standing in say Darlington Town Centre and get views from people who don't use the service and not the views of the people who actually use this service.

It was particularly interesting as one of the passengers was travelling to School Aycliffe on the 16A.

With any luck this service will continue to operate in some capacity, hopefully at the very worst it would maybe lose the last journey of the day or possibly become Monday to Friday only.

(10 Jan 2015, 6:02 pm)Jimmi wrote I just hope the 16/16A continue as it would be a massive loss to alot of people including the elderly residents in Mowden and Hummersknot plus the school kids who use the 16A to get to school without this service they'd be faced with a long walk to school.

if it gets popular they may extend it slightly

(11 Jan 2015, 12:09 pm)Racer_Experience wrote if it gets popular they may extend it slightly

Doubt it would get extended any further, the current timetable is tight enough.

I can maybe see the service being cut to weekdays only with the first journey starting at West Park Hospital at 0753 as service 16A to get the kids to school and people into Darlington and maybe the last journey leave Darlington at 1510 as a 16A to West Park as the return for the school kids as this is pretty much the only fare paying custom the service gets. You could maybe have another journey to Mowden and back to the town at 1610 then park the bus up then perform the 1730 84A Darlington - Bishop Auckland instead of sending a bus dead to Darlington from wherever.

The 1610 & 1710 to Mowden journeys often look dead so these maybe could get the chop.

PB1111930/21 - SCARLET BAND BUS & COACH LTD T/A SCARLET BAND, WELFARE GARAGE, STATION ROAD, WEST CORNFORTH, FERRYHILL, DL17 9LA

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between CHESTER-LE-STREET, POST OFFICE FRONT STREET and CHESTER-LE-STREET/POST OFFICE FRONT STREET given service number 700/701/702/703/876 effective from 07-Jan-2015. To amend Route and Timetable. - Late for roadworks in Chester le street!


PB1111930/30 - SCARLET BAND BUS & COACH LTD T/A SCARLET BAND, WELFARE GARAGE, STATION ROAD, WEST CORNFORTH, FERRYHILL, DL17 9LA
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Hamsterley
Finish Point: Teessdale School, Barnard Castle
Via:
Service Number: 892
Service Type: School or Works
Effective Date: 04-MAR-2015
Other Details: School days only One journey am & one journey pm

Apart from the following:
YJ64 DYH
YJ64 DYF
YJ64 DXU
YJ64 DXM
YJ64 DYG

Does anybody know which other SRs Scarlet Band have for the P&R?

(14 Jan 2015, 4:52 pm)Robert wrote Apart from the following:

YJ64 DYH

YJ64 DYF

YJ64 DXU

YJ64 DXM

YJ64 DYG



Does anybody know which other SRs Scarlet Band have for the P&R?

After a quick look on Flickr (sorry they aren't in order)


YJ64 DXO
YJ64 DXS
YJ64 DXV
YJ64 DXP
YJ64 DXR

Also they were still doing the surveys on the 16/16A today.

VOSA today:

PB1111930/25 - SCARLET BAND BUS & COACH LTD T/A SCARLET BAND, WELFARE GARAGE, STATION ROAD, WEST CORNFORTH, FERRYHILL, DL17 9LA

Cancellation Accepted by SN: Operating between Durham Rail/Coach Station and Durham Cathedral given service number 40 effective from 22-Feb-2015.

(19 Jan 2015, 2:01 pm)cbma06 wrote VOSA today:

PB1111930/25 - SCARLET BAND BUS & COACH LTD T/A SCARLET BAND, WELFARE GARAGE, STATION ROAD, WEST CORNFORTH, FERRYHILL, DL17 9LA

Cancellation Accepted by SN: Operating between Durham Rail/Coach Station and Durham Cathedral given service number 40 effective from 22-Feb-2015.

They havent even had this Contract for that long have they, I would quite like to see Go North East operate it in the future.

(19 Jan 2015, 2:46 pm)Malarkey wrote They havent even had this Contract for that long have they, I would quite like to see Go North East operate it in the future.

Scarlet don't operate it now - this is likely a redundant one from a few years ago when they ran the Sunday service.

(15 Jan 2015, 10:04 pm)Jimmi wrote After a quick look on Flickr (sorry they aren't in order)


YJ64 DXO
YJ64 DXS
YJ64 DXV
YJ64 DXP
YJ64 DXR

Also they were still doing the surveys on the 16/16A today.

Hadnt even seen this post! Thanks. I just needed to make sure i hadnt missed any out.

Where does T469BCN usually appear?

(21 Jan 2015, 6:26 pm)Tom wrote Where does T469BCN usually appear?

It can appear on pretty much anything.

Usually it can be found on either the 88/104 or 110/111/112 when I see it.

(21 Jan 2015, 6:48 pm)Jimmi wrote It can appear on pretty much anything.

Usually it can be found on either the 88/104 or 110/111/112 when I see it.

Cheers

Might ride the 88 to Hamsterley this weekend then. 

Mercedes Sprinter FB53GVD now for sale on eBay
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-mercedes-...es_Coaches&hash=item339d004b36

Was hoping to add a bit more variety to my trip this morning by having a ride on the 16A but the driver flew straight past me. Not impressed.

(21 Jan 2015, 6:48 pm)Jimmi wrote It can appear on pretty much anything.

Usually it can be found on either the 88/104 or 110/111/112 when I see it.

It often appears on everything 2 of my friends who work for Scarlet Band have driven them last time I spoke to one of my friends was yesterday via phone 

I've been on that bus before loads of times with one of my close friends at the wheel

Saw Our Bus branded Solo MX55WCZ on the 16A tonight, heading past Newton Aycliffe Rail Station with all interior lighting off and destination already changed to "Sorry Not In Service" despite the fact it terminates at St. Clare's Church.

Think its SB... YX10 Link minibus on Chester town service.

(04 Mar 2015, 3:51 pm)Dan wrote Think its SB... YX10 Link minibus on Chester town service.

Oh dear! Scarlet Band must be stupidly short, wonder if that will actually be big enough to operate them services including the school service.

First time I've heard of one of them being used on public service although the Hospital Link Merc's have popped up on the 33, 88/104 before.

(04 Mar 2015, 3:51 pm)Dan wrote Think its SB... YX10 Link minibus on Chester town service.

They have had a Scarlet Band Optare Solo on the Chester Town service today. I have passed him a few times the last at 14:25 when he was passing the Lambton Worm on a 702. 
If the minibus is now on I assume there must have been a breakdown. I hope the minibus was not sent on to the afternoon school run.