I've heard a rumor (and just a rumor) that EE have leased / purchased a new building in Quorum Business Park.

If true, great news for the Quorum services but less so for the Cobalt routes if EE moves taking into account that even though Sage is due to move from Great Park soon, that's practically the shortfall made up from Utilitywise going.

Well, credit to the original uploader for this. A very rare photo of when some of ex Arriva 7370-7377 were based at Blyth depot. Still got childhood memories of these on the 308 in the exact same livery with parts of the '602' branding applied.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tcd481j/48907664838/

Seen the Routemaster on its PM journey today heading past the Angel towards Gateshead. 

It had quite a busy load from what I could see. Interesting to know how many passengers were
A - service 21 usual passengers
B - Bus enthusiasts making a predetermined journey specifically for this bus
C - Day to Day passengers with usually no interest in buses but making a predetermined journey specifically for this bus.

I shall be in Middlesbrough and east Yorkshire next week. I am hoping to ride a MAX Volvo B9TL on route X93 or X94 from Middlesbrough through to Scarborough. I am willing to catch route X4 to Whitby and connect with a Volvo B9TL there if it makes all the difference. Mind you, it might not as route X4 takes so much longer to reach Whitby.

Looking on Flickr, I have seen occasional other buses from Redcar garage on route X93. My most likely buses are the 8.50 X94, 9.20 X93 or 9.50 X94 from Middlesbrough.

As far as any of you know, is one of the above journeys definitely operated by Whitby garage and therefore (barring anything unforeseen) a Volvo B9TL?

I thank any of you who can let me know!

Pictured yesterday leaving Haymarket (presumably on staff shuttles) is Dawson Rentals' ADL Enviro200MMC YX18 KNM.

On hire to Arriva North East shown in the side window.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/50330957433

? OPEN-TOP AD122 ?

From tomorrow, we'll be running an open-top bus on our AD122 route. Why not sit back, relax and explore the sights and delights of Hadrian's Wall with us?

Find out more about AD122: www.gonortheast.co.uk/ad122

Have paper timetables made a come back as yet?

Or is there still none available due to timetables changing often and/or the risk of catching Covid from paper and/or Nexus travel shops being closed and the leaflet racks not being put out?

Is there any update on the removal of the hybrid system of 6064 and conversion? 
Seems like it's been away forever at this point!

5295 on 94 today replacing a defective 8298

We've been discussing it in the electric thread and it's been interesting so I thought why not ask the question see what people think.

What's your favourite brand(s) and why?
What's your most hated brand(s) and why?
If you could change a brand what would you change?

Curious if we all think the same or all have totally different ideas. I'll start:

Favourite Brands:
Red Kite: It's straight to the point and actually brought some awareness to something beyond buses local to that area.
Drifter: Another with a link to the local area in terms of fishing and Seaham Harbor
Route 19: Really simple and it stood it's time - wouldn't be outdated now and it followed the A19 at the time.

Hated Brands:
Magic Roundabout: I don't get the point of the branding and links to anything, is there a roundabout on the route...?
Pronto - Yet again do I need to say much unless Bishop Auckland is the new italian pizza centre.
The Pulse - Bizarre brand which doesn't really mean anything and doesn't sound good neither. 

For one I'd change - Coast and Country which will probably come to a surprise to some, this route is just crying for something about coal mines ie. resurrect The Waggonway brand. It pretty much connects ex pit villages and it would be nice to have something for them whereas Coast and Country is a bit corporate and I wouldn't count Stanley / Consett as the countryside whereas Sunderland City Centre is quite far from the coast (for a public transport user at least).