(02 Apr 2015, 2:30 pm)tyresmoke wrote I think everything is taking a battering today both loadings and traffic wise... Some of the 5s in Middlesbrough have been 15-30 late thanks toCargo Fleet Lane being backed up...
So glad I am off lol! Been for a run out mind, more on that in the outings & reviews thread later

I'd probably say the same too, also there is roadworks in places, I don't know if there still is but on Monday there was roadworks outside the Odeon Cinema in Darlington. I imagine they are still there after seeing this.

Withdrawn 1636 was being towed away from Blyth depot this afternoon, 1637 & 1639 which were there a couple of weeks ago, have now gone, leaving MPD's 1733, 1742, 1750, 1796 & 1797 parked outside at the back of the depot awaiting disposal.

2825 has been branded for service 553:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/16390744423/

(02 Apr 2015, 2:17 pm)Tom wrote Seems to be issues with the 1/2 too.

Bus 1 14:48 Blyth Bus station to Wansbeck Hospital Main entrance + 22
Bus 1 14:28 Blyth Bus station to Widdrington Station Turning circle + 14
Bus 2 14:17 Kirkhill Abbey Meadows shops to Blyth Bus station + 16
Bus 2 14:57 Kirkhill Abbey Meadows shops to Blyth Bus station + 5

Roadworks somewhere?

Unusual for Blyth to have stuff leaving for there 22 late like! 

I'll write up my (small) review later on and that'll have more details in on what I found most odd.

(02 Apr 2015, 3:20 pm)forster wrote Withdrawn 1636 was being towed away from Blyth depot this afternoon, 1637 & 1639 which were there a couple of weeks ago, have now gone, leaving MPD's 1733, 1742, 1750, 1796 & 1797 parked outside at the back of the depot awaiting disposal.

Aye, I seen that.

It was a plain yellow Alpha truck heading to Weetslade.

(02 Apr 2015, 5:33 pm)mb134 wrote Unusual for Blyth to have stuff leaving for there 22 late like! 

I'll write up my (small) review later on and that'll have more details in on what I found most odd.

That is odd. Might have been an accident up my end or Cowpen Road is gridlocked due to an accident.

(02 Apr 2015, 5:38 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote That is odd. Might have been an accident up my end or Cowpen Road is gridlocked due to an accident.

I'm having a look at Blyth now, and the road from bus station to depot is congested so might have been an accident outside if the depot.

The 18:18 2 from Blyth is 23 minutes late too!

(02 Apr 2015, 5:42 pm)Tom wrote The 18:18 2 from Blyth is 23 minutes late too!

There'll be a problem in Bedlington, the 19 is running late. Two went past about an hour ago within 20 minutes of each other.

(02 Apr 2015, 6:55 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote There'll be a problem in Bedlington, the 19 is running late. Two went past about an hour ago within 20 minutes of each other.

Are they not the Cobalt extras?

(02 Apr 2015, 2:44 pm)Jimmi wrote I'm sure I read seized up engine or something like that on here which is why it hasn't been seen (or noted) as being back from MAX referb or back in service.

One 57 reg Lowlander has been on the X12/X2 each day I've seen it.

7619 is awaiting a new engine but is apparently getting refurbished at the same time (not sure about that though)

7626 was fitted with a new engine a few months back and was towed back to Durham today after its new engine ceased too.

(02 Apr 2015, 6:55 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote There'll be a problem in Bedlington, the 19 is running late. Two went past about an hour ago within 20 minutes of each other.

No problem at Bedlington, I went through earlier on the bus and in the car on my way home, it's all fine.

Jimmi
I'd probably say the same too, also there is roadworks in places, I don't know if there still is but on Monday there was roadworks outside the Odeon Cinema in Darlington. I imagine they are still there after seeing this.







Was this about half past 3? If so someone was sick on a previous journey so it had to be cleaned before going back out in service it was already 15 mins late anyway due to high volume traffic in bishop Auckland on a previous journey, if it was me I wouldn't have ran it 24 mins later but due ton passengers complaining it had to be ran

(02 Apr 2015, 9:17 pm)Stewy wrote Was this about half past 3? If so someone was sick on a previous journey so it had to be cleaned before going back out in service it was already 15 mins late anyway due to high volume traffic in bishop Auckland on a previous journey, if it was me I wouldn't have ran it 24 mins later but due ton passengers complaining it had to be ran

Think it was the 1530 5A from Darlington Town Centre.

Other things were causing other services to run late as I also saw 7 and X66 running around 15 minutes late on the Live Map at the same sort of time.

(02 Apr 2015, 9:20 pm)Jimmi wrote Think it was the 1530 5A from Darlington Town Centre.

Other things were causing other services to run late as I also saw 7 and X66 running around 15 minutes late on the Live Map at the same sort of time.

All in all I think it was just a bad day with traffic especially with people going away for the bank holiday, the previous journey on that 5A was a new driver so of course there's going to be a slight delay, but he said to me it was traffic and then it didn't help him when the young lad threw up all over the bus

(02 Apr 2015, 8:32 pm)palatine3833 wrote 7619 is awaiting a new engine but is apparently getting refurbished at the same time (not sure about that though)

7626 was fitted with a new engine a few months back and was towed back to Durham today after its new engine ceased too.

Lesson1, whatever the requirements, don't buy Cummins. If pi**ing around the doors, B5TL or Wright Streetdeck or if running down A19 or Tyne Valley, Scania N series.

(03 Apr 2015, 12:43 am)DaveyBowyer wrote Lesson1, whatever the requirements, don't buy Cummins. If pi**ing around the doors, B5TL or Wright Streetdeck or if running down A19 or Tyne Valley, Scania N series.

Lesson 2, buy a car and spit on every broken down Arriva bus that has a Cummins engine. Or buy the Key and get better service with Go North East.

(03 Apr 2015, 1:28 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote

OMFG!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

I bet if they don't take it off, it'll reach 1hr and 20min late by 1500!  

7516's left (right if you were on the bus) tree bar looks like it's been damaged, and is being held together by what looks like a handrail clamp rather than what is usually used:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/16803463387/

7514's as a comparison:
Arriva North East: 7514 / NK09FMZ by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

14 minutes late.

X21 1635 from The Elephant, arrived at 1649.

Wonder if that qualifies for my money back?

(03 Apr 2015, 4:40 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote 14 minutes late.

X21 1635 from The Elephant, arrived at 1649.

Wonder if that qualifies for my money back?

What bus was it out of interest?

I noticed that 7524 and 7525 seemed to be keeping the X22 pretty much "on time" when I saw them (although they had been 7/5 minutes late earlier)

(03 Apr 2015, 4:59 pm)mb134 wrote What bus was it out of interest?

I noticed that 7524 and 7525 seemed to be keeping the X22 pretty much "on time" when I saw them (although they had been 7/5 minutes late earlier)

Time that bank holiday timetables and service levels were looked at I think - heard stories from some drivers today that suggest it has been almost as busy as a weekday. Running a Sunday service no longer meets the demand unfortunately.

(03 Apr 2015, 5:22 pm)tyresmoke wrote Time that bank holiday timetables and service levels were looked at I think - heard stories from some drivers today that suggest it has been almost as busy as a weekday. Running a Sunday service no longer meets the demand unfortunately.

I'd agree, for the most part anyway, I noticed quite a few X21/22 services I saw (even those going to Ashington in the morning) were quite busy, as were the X15/18's I saw in Morpeth, however the 2 was very quiet...

For the X21/22 anyway, I'd suggest increasing the frequency of each to every 30 minutes, with a combined 15 minute frequency.

I think the Morpeth to Newcastle section of the X15/18 needs to be looked at as well, 7518 was packed. 

It was a refurb, although I left the ticket in my coat and I cba to get it. Was only about 7 people on my bus.

(03 Apr 2015, 4:40 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote 14 minutes late.

X21 1635 from The Elephant, arrived at 1649.

Wonder if that qualifies for my money back?

Try driving a bus to a Sunday timetable with FRIDAY  YES FRIDAY NOT SUNDAY loadings!  When you have and kept it on time then you have grounds to complain about bank holiday services being late till then can I suggest you stop slating arriva! If we had a list of how many Go North East or Stagecoach buses that were late today we would be here all day! 

(03 Apr 2015, 5:22 pm)tyresmoke wrote Time that bank holiday timetables and service levels were looked at I think - heard stories from some drivers today that suggest it has been almost as busy as a weekday. Running a Sunday service no longer meets the demand unfortunately.

(03 Apr 2015, 7:41 pm)Multi21 wrote Try driving a bus to a Sunday timetable with FRIDAY  YES FRIDAY NOT SUNDAY loadings!  When you have and kept it on time then you have grounds to complain about bank holiday services being late till then can I suggest you stop slating arriva! If we had a list of how many Go North East or Stagecoach buses that were late today we would be here all day! 

Thankfully I got a lift to and from mine today, so haven't had to bother with any buses in Durham. The one X12 I seen was fairly packed, and it was only passing through Coxhoe at the time. 

The point about weekday loadings is a very good point, and it's not limited to Good Friday. I can understand not running a Mon-Fri timetable (because of work services etc), but it should be a Saturday timetable at a minimum. I was briefly at the Galleries bus station earlier today, and there were floods of people waiting for various buses. Nothing like your regular Sunday. The Galleries itself was packed too, and I noticed a few friends on Facebook commenting that they couldn't even get parked.

Tomorrow is going to tell a tale I feel. Easter Sunday, and neither Arriva or Go North East are putting extra services on for the derby. Yet look at all the extra services that were put on for the stadium concerts. 

(03 Apr 2015, 7:41 pm)Multi21 wrote Try driving a bus to a Sunday timetable with FRIDAY  YES FRIDAY NOT SUNDAY loadings!  When you have and kept it on time then you have grounds to complain about bank holiday services being late till then can I suggest you stop slating arriva! If we had a list of how many Go North East or Stagecoach buses that were late today we would be here all day! 

It wasn't Friday loadings, have you seen the average X21 loadings between Newcastle and Ashington?

Not even a single decker full. 

I counted around seven people on top and bottom decks.

I can slate Arriva all I want, I'm not the one running a 306, 46 minutes late. I'm not the one running Sapphire buses, of which Arriva staff don't give a toss about if the power sockets, wifi and NSAs don't work.

And no, I won't try driving an Enviro400 on the X21, probably because I'm 13. Thank you very much.

(03 Apr 2015, 7:57 pm)aureolin wrote Thankfully I got a lift to and from mine today, so haven't had to bother with any buses in Durham. The one X12 I seen was fairly packed, and it was only passing through Coxhoe at the time. 

The point about weekday loadings is a very good point, and it's not limited to Good Friday. I can understand not running a Mon-Fri timetable (because of work services etc), but it should be a Saturday timetable at a minimum. I was briefly at the Galleries bus station earlier today, and there were floods of people waiting for various buses. Nothing like your regular Sunday. The Galleries itself was packed too, and I noticed a few friends on Facebook commenting that they couldn't even get parked.

Tomorrow is going to tell a tale I feel. Easter Sunday, and neither Arriva or Go North East are putting extra services on for the derby. Yet look at all the extra services that were put on for the stadium concerts. 

Not just limited to Arriva, but there is Christmas to think about too.
Every year, the same posts are made on social media pages (I can't see it being limited to just that either) from workers of some kind, complaining they cannot get to major employment centres, due to the lack of public transport.

(04 Apr 2015, 8:08 am)Tommy_1581 wrote It wasn't Friday loadings, have you seen the average X21 loadings between Newcastle and Ashington?

Not even a single decker full. 

I counted around seven people on top and bottom decks.

I can slate Arriva all I want, I'm not the one running a 306, 46 minutes late. I'm not the one running Sapphire buses, of which Arriva staff don't give a toss about if the power sockets, wifi and NSAs don't work.

And no, I won't try driving an Enviro400 on the X21, probably because I'm 13. Thank you very much.

 Sapphire drivers aren't bus fitters they don't fix buses they drive them.  When the buses aren't working properly ie Wifi Plug Sockets do you think you are the only one to tell him?  The reason he "doesn't give a toss"  is because he probably already knows about it and has already tried to fix it numerous times.  

I highly doubt that the 306 would have been running 46 minutes late without a good reason or for very long 

Average loading is 7-8 people...  Where everytime I've been on it it's been half full at least when we reached Ashington!  

As for being 13 doesn't the Forum rules dictate you must be at least 16 to post? If not maybe we should think about Bringing it in