(27 Nov 2019, 1:58 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Steven Knight Media reporting that WN69FYO (and presumably the other new examples reportedly due for Tees Valley DRT) is a Sprinter 516 CDi, rather than the Sprinter City 45 model Stagecoach currently own as 44001-30. He also reports the start date for the DRT as January (rather than the originally expected December).

Further examples so far include WN69FYP and WR69ORS. FYO/P were used for a photoshoot as part of their delivery - https://cbwmagazine.com/stagecoach-north...eHSN_gSAp0
As in the photo, the new examples are EVM Cityline examples as per the Go North East examples.

Having used this numerous times I can't help but think it's time for new buses for it. Uncomfortable bendy buses on route 2 is the norm and an occasional l94.

Does the council purchase the buses or does First?

The E1/E2/E6 is being ran by Gas Buses today.

Fleet Numbers 28007/13/14/24/27/33/38/39/40 according to Bus Times.

From BBC website

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50573438

Voters quizzed on x10 about buses and how they rate them

(30 Nov 2019, 1:25 am)S830OFT wrote 1515 has had its Plug Sockets removed and replaced with USBs.

Hopefully this has been done following numerous complaints about how most of the Plugs weren't working, especially on the Redcar StreetLites where I never had a single journey where the plugs worked.

I think the drivers have to switch on the plug sockets in the older streetlites, every single time the engine starts. Never had a working one on the 22 unless someone requested it.

2x Optare Solos have been on X66/X67 today.

It seems a regular occurrence for Solos on the Darlington MAX services, although with 4645/4648/4655 being kept local and 4651 on long term VOR it's quite clear why those services have the rare allocations.

It would make sense to allocate either the Gas Buses or the Wright StreetLites as suitable spares, rather than use the Optare Solos which end up overcrowded when I've seen them...

(29 Nov 2019, 6:30 pm)streetdeckfan wrote That's the reason I could never be a bus driver. I have no patience. I guarantee I would get sacked in the first week for shouting at passengers.

I had to get off the X21 early because of a bunch of youths shouting and being generally disruptive

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Despite the apparent low skill, it does take some good people skills for drivers to deal with some extremely difficult passengers. Just look at the shit that arriva drivers in Darlo have had to deal with, recently. I've witnessed a driver deal quite expertly with some foul mouthed guys bragging about their jail time in very colourful terms on an arriva 56 but had to talk down a young man who took umbrage at a driver's rather aggressive demand for ID (with rapid escalation while the young guy was clearly a bit confuddled by all the aggro) when the confrontation was clearly stressing out big'un and leaving a guy in front of me, reliant on 2 sticks, standing for far longer than necessary. No amount of training can give someone the people skills of the first driver but I do appreciate that the driver who mucked it up  had had to deal with several dozen genuine chancers over the preceding week and was probably at the end of his rope.

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(30 Nov 2019, 5:06 pm)cbma06 wrote WTX citarios need repainting into corporate livery


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I'm surprised they've taken so long, tbh.

I have heard that PCL has folded and that L&B has taken over his service work.
Does anybody know if this is true ?

For some reason I can't post any attachments. When click add attachment, it gets to 100%, the page refreshes and nothing is there.

I think it might be since the update a few days ago but can't say for certain

‘Dots’ 27252 out on 39/14/37 today
24112 replaced a MMC on 38/36 this evening and is out until the last departure from Hartlepool at 2321.