(11 Apr 2015, 7:46 pm)tyresmoke I agree with your suggestion that the X18 should have NSA's based on the heavy tourist usage of the route. The X93 is due to get them very soon so it would make sense to implement this on the X18 too.
(11 Apr 2015, 7:46 pm)tyresmoke I agree with your suggestion that the X18 should have NSA's based on the heavy tourist usage of the route. The X93 is due to get them very soon so it would make sense to implement this on the X18 too.
(11 Apr 2015, 7:54 pm)mb134 Do you know how the X18 has performed since it's MAX launch, to justify 5 brand new buses it must have been doing alright in the first place, but on my journeys down on a Sunday I seemed to notice an increase in passenger numbers. Would be interesting if it's grown more than a certain other Ashington route
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(11 Apr 2015, 7:54 pm)mb134 Do you know how the X18 has performed since it's MAX launch, to justify 5 brand new buses it must have been doing alright in the first place, but on my journeys down on a Sunday I seemed to notice an increase in passenger numbers. Would be interesting if it's grown more than a certain other Ashington route
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(11 Apr 2015, 8:47 pm)tyresmoke Unfortunately I don't but I think it will be interesting to see how the X15 and X18 do in the summer season, with a more visible brand and upgraded vehicles. X18 is likely to be more seasonal than the X15 though I would have thought? The X14 would be more commuter based than touristy, though I know Rothbury does pull in some tourists just not to the same numbers as the Northumberland coast.
Can't help but feel there needs to be more working with other operators to promote connections like Spirit Buses do at Alnwick & Rothbury... even with trains at Alnmouth...
(11 Apr 2015, 8:47 pm)tyresmoke Unfortunately I don't but I think it will be interesting to see how the X15 and X18 do in the summer season, with a more visible brand and upgraded vehicles. X18 is likely to be more seasonal than the X15 though I would have thought? The X14 would be more commuter based than touristy, though I know Rothbury does pull in some tourists just not to the same numbers as the Northumberland coast.
Can't help but feel there needs to be more working with other operators to promote connections like Spirit Buses do at Alnwick & Rothbury... even with trains at Alnmouth...
(11 Apr 2015, 8:57 pm)mb134 Aye, I think it'll be better if they get the NSA's sorted by then as well, you need to put a word in
I think even if they put timetables in each others vehicles it would be a start, and maybe a joint ANE/Spirit ticket?
From my journeys there was a small tourist presence however this was in the winter on a Sunday afternoon, so it's still pretty good. Craster and Seahouses seemed to get a good amount of passengers, then after Alnwick there was always a good load
I'd like to see B8RLE's replace the Omnicities in a couple of years time, or more new Enviro's if the X15 grows. All my journeys on the X18 down were handled very well by the various vehicles I had (7513/7/20/30(?)/31(?)/32) - oh and 4653
I must ask, however, are the headrests in 7529-33 the intended MAX colour, as they look a lot better in my opinion?
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(11 Apr 2015, 8:57 pm)mb134 Aye, I think it'll be better if they get the NSA's sorted by then as well, you need to put a word in
I think even if they put timetables in each others vehicles it would be a start, and maybe a joint ANE/Spirit ticket?
From my journeys there was a small tourist presence however this was in the winter on a Sunday afternoon, so it's still pretty good. Craster and Seahouses seemed to get a good amount of passengers, then after Alnwick there was always a good load
I'd like to see B8RLE's replace the Omnicities in a couple of years time, or more new Enviro's if the X15 grows. All my journeys on the X18 down were handled very well by the various vehicles I had (7513/7/20/30(?)/31(?)/32) - oh and 4653
I must ask, however, are the headrests in 7529-33 the intended MAX colour, as they look a lot better in my opinion?
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(11 Apr 2015, 9:03 pm)tyresmoke I must admit I've never been on this network of routes north of Morpeth so I'm limited in my knowledge, definitely on my "to-do" list this summer though! Such a long way to go in a day from my area - that's my excuse anyway
I'll get the train upto Berwick and come all the way down from there probably... Need to increase my knowledge of our network if I'm going to be the face of Arriva on here... lol!
(11 Apr 2015, 9:03 pm)tyresmoke I must admit I've never been on this network of routes north of Morpeth so I'm limited in my knowledge, definitely on my "to-do" list this summer though! Such a long way to go in a day from my area - that's my excuse anyway
I'll get the train upto Berwick and come all the way down from there probably... Need to increase my knowledge of our network if I'm going to be the face of Arriva on here... lol!
Just seen this on Flickr, the vinyls look poorly applied over the black window surrounds, think they should've painted them:
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/49804259@N03/17111015812/
(not strictly NE, but I couldn't think where else to put it, as it is still relevant, when you compare it to Sapphire vehicles in the North East)
(11 Apr 2015, 7:54 pm)mb134 Do you know how the X18 has performed since it's MAX launch, to justify 5 brand new buses it must have been doing alright in the first place, but on my journeys down on a Sunday I seemed to notice an increase in passenger numbers. Would be interesting if it's grown more than a certain other Ashington route   
(11 Apr 2015, 8:47 pm)tyresmoke Unfortunately I don't but I think it will be interesting to see how the X15 and X18 do in the summer season, with a more visible brand and upgraded vehicles. X18 is likely to be more seasonal than the X15 though I would have thought? The X14 would be more commuter based than touristy, though I know Rothbury does pull in some tourists just not to the same numbers as the Northumberland coast.
Can't help but feel there needs to be more working with other operators to promote connections like Spirit Buses do at Alnwick & Rothbury... even with trains at Alnmouth...
(11 Apr 2015, 7:54 pm)mb134 Do you know how the X18 has performed since it's MAX launch, to justify 5 brand new buses it must have been doing alright in the first place, but on my journeys down on a Sunday I seemed to notice an increase in passenger numbers. Would be interesting if it's grown more than a certain other Ashington route   
(11 Apr 2015, 8:47 pm)tyresmoke Unfortunately I don't but I think it will be interesting to see how the X15 and X18 do in the summer season, with a more visible brand and upgraded vehicles. X18 is likely to be more seasonal than the X15 though I would have thought? The X14 would be more commuter based than touristy, though I know Rothbury does pull in some tourists just not to the same numbers as the Northumberland coast.
Can't help but feel there needs to be more working with other operators to promote connections like Spirit Buses do at Alnwick & Rothbury... even with trains at Alnmouth...
Why did the 35/35a not get a full StreetLite allocation? Also why did it not have a launch like the 306?
(12 Apr 2015, 10:02 am)mb134 Has anyone else heard the new M-Ticket radio advert?
Must be the most dramatic bus advert ever
(12 Apr 2015, 10:02 am)mb134 Has anyone else heard the new M-Ticket radio advert?
Must be the most dramatic bus advert ever
Right - here is my suggestion for buses (for the 2016 order) in the Ashington and Blyth area. As StreetLites are the main choice for single deckers I'll make the suggestion around them;
Ashington
(12 Apr 2015, 11:36 am)John_R New Enivro 400 NK15ACF is being used as a staff shuttle between Faverdale and Town today.Any ideas what times the shuttle will be leaving Darlington Town Centre?
This is not the staff shuttle that interworks with the 7.
(12 Apr 2015, 11:36 am)John_R New Enivro 400 NK15ACF is being used as a staff shuttle between Faverdale and Town today.Any ideas what times the shuttle will be leaving Darlington Town Centre?
This is not the staff shuttle that interworks with the 7.
(12 Apr 2015, 12:01 pm)Tommy_1581 Right - here is my suggestion for buses (for the 2016 order) in the Ashington and Blyth area. As StreetLites are the main choice for single deckers I'll make the suggestion around them;
Ashington
Blyth
- 9 new ADL Enviro400s for Sapphire X21/X22, displacing the worst of 7501-7509 to disposal and the better ones to transfer to another subsidy of Arriva.
- 4 new ADL Enviro400s to MAX specification (whatever that is now, but to include same features as 1579-1581) for routes 35/35a/100
- 7 new Wright StreetLite WFs for MPD services, 5 MAX spec for X14/33/57A and 2 with 1579-1581 spec
- 5 new Wright StreetLite Micro-Hybrids, MAX spec for service 1 OR 1501-1505 refurbished to MAX spec for service 1
- 8 new Wright StreetLite WFs for MPD services, 2 MAX spec for X14/33/57A and 5 with 1579-1581 spec
(12 Apr 2015, 12:01 pm)Tommy_1581 Right - here is my suggestion for buses (for the 2016 order) in the Ashington and Blyth area. As StreetLites are the main choice for single deckers I'll make the suggestion around them;
Ashington
Blyth
- 9 new ADL Enviro400s for Sapphire X21/X22, displacing the worst of 7501-7509 to disposal and the better ones to transfer to another subsidy of Arriva.
- 4 new ADL Enviro400s to MAX specification (whatever that is now, but to include same features as 1579-1581) for routes 35/35a/100
- 7 new Wright StreetLite WFs for MPD services, 5 MAX spec for X14/33/57A and 2 with 1579-1581 spec
- 5 new Wright StreetLite Micro-Hybrids, MAX spec for service 1 OR 1501-1505 refurbished to MAX spec for service 1
- 8 new Wright StreetLite WFs for MPD services, 2 MAX spec for X14/33/57A and 5 with 1579-1581 spec
(12 Apr 2015, 12:24 pm)mb134 then the 2 also should, the passenger numbers are very similar.
(12 Apr 2015, 12:24 pm)mb134 then the 2 also should, the passenger numbers are very similar.
(12 Apr 2015, 12:38 pm)Tommy_1581 Cheers, would a full size bus be able to do Curly Kews? There are some rather tight bends on that hill which might have a couple of bumps with full size buses.
(12 Apr 2015, 12:38 pm)Tommy_1581 Cheers, would a full size bus be able to do Curly Kews? There are some rather tight bends on that hill which might have a couple of bumps with full size buses.
(12 Apr 2015, 12:39 pm)mb134 I see Commanders and Pulsars on there all the time, so I'd imagine do. I'm pretty sure the Ikarus' used to frequently do the 2 as well.
(12 Apr 2015, 12:39 pm)mb134 I see Commanders and Pulsars on there all the time, so I'd imagine do. I'm pretty sure the Ikarus' used to frequently do the 2 as well.
(12 Apr 2015, 12:54 pm)Tom MAX spec is only for Interurban express services.
(12 Apr 2015, 12:54 pm)Tom MAX spec is only for Interurban express services.