(31 Jul 2018, 11:53 am)ifm001 wrote Shields 37301, not in service at zmetrocentre.
any ideas?

37301 back in Shields today, on service 12 so not sure what it was doing laying over NIS at Metrocentre yesterday. Wasn't full of drivers so wouldn't say route learning.

2862 on 62

(31 Jul 2018, 5:18 pm)Dan wrote Think you may have mixed it up with 6104.

6103 has been VOR since the end of June - it's currently at Volvo (Crowther Industrial Estate, Washington) having some work done to its engine.

No way . Bit gutted to see that one go down as that was the first ever Volvo B9TL I rode on and even caught it on it's first day in actual service.

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(31 Jul 2018, 5:18 pm)Dan wrote Think you may have mixed it up with 6104.

6103 has been VOR since the end of June - it's currently at Volvo (Crowther Industrial Estate, Washington) having some work done to its engine.

No way . Bit gutted to see that one go down as that was the first ever Volvo B9TL I rode on and even caught it on it's first day in actual service.

Can we have it back please?

A Tyne Valley Ten B9, a Great Exhibition of the North Versa, and 6332 went along the Coast Road approximately 15 minutes ago.

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Just from the outset, I want to make this about contracted services for events, rather than tendered services for a LA or PTE.

Over the last 10 (is it less?) years we have seen the Tall Ships visit the region twice.
On those two occasions, the successful operator has had to source, loan or acquire vehicles from elsewhere so that contract obligations are fulfilled.
ANE got stock from the Midlands for the Hartlepool event and obviously we are seeing a number of vehicles arrive in to the region from elsewhere this time round.

Kyrnen is one event that sees buses used, cricket at Chester, DFDS/Port of Tyne, Mouth of the Tyne, Sunderland Airshow and the GNR. There will be others too.
Almost without exception (I can think of two - Close House and Kynren), each of these contracts see older vehicles allocated. Often past their prime internally and externally.

These events attract thousands and often there's a significant proportion from outside the region or even the UK.

Forgetting any operational justifications that may be used (rightly or wrongly), what on earth do these passengers think of these vehicles, the operators or the region?
These major events are contracting to huge organisations, but they're turning out the sort of tat some independents wouldn't operate.

Then, you see the likes of 5216 being put out on the 33T...

Just to provide some context or help with reasoning, I will use two examples from elsewhere.
In Belfast, we climbed off the ferry and boarded a knackered Translink Alx 400. Windows were shot (full of water) and it rattled more than a Deptford Solar.
On the way back, we were picked up by a Renown that had obviously come off a Scholars run. 

In Ijmuiden, you get off the ferry and a fleet of clean, modern coaches whisk you off to the centre of Amsterdam. 

My impressions and perception of the two contracted services are miles apart.

Any thoughts?

7636 is now Refurbished.

35189 - 11

(30 Jun 2018, 3:43 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 1441/3 both now on 5/5a - 1441 out all night
1559 ended up replacing 1415 on X12, and then replaced 1418 an hour later

2843 is on 62/64a

How did it replace 1418 an hour after replacing 1415 when the X12 wouldn't be back in an hour??

When is Hartlepool getting new buses. Im sick of these old ones.