Aside from buses, I've always had a bit of an interest in railways, particularly Heritage Lines and Model Railways. I've got a 'bucket list' of preserved railways I want to visit in the future - hopefully in the long summer between finishing Sixth Form and starting University, when I'll have my own flat etc, and do everything alone. These include;

• The Bluebell Railway
- I think it's one of the most beautiful railways around, got so much character, very large as well, I especially like their LB&SCR Terriers, P-Class', and 'Captain Baxter'
• The North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- Nice and close to the North East, very vast in quantity, fortunately they've got Class A4 'Sir Nigel Gresley' still within it's boiler certificate. I just love the sound of it on the whole!
• The Severn Valley Railway
- After I downloaded it in Train Simulator 2014, I just fell in love with the SVR. Got a lot of variety, nice and open in the country, and their facilities seem endless.....
• The West Somerset Railway
- Not 100% sure, but I think it's the longest preserved line in Britain, lovely and scenic, filled with the countryside, it's just a must for me!

As for model railways, if I got one of those 2 bed flats, I would without a second thought, strip one of them, place a massive table in there and just build and build until there's no more room! I can just picture an entire fleet - Class A3s, Class A4s, Black Fives, Standard Fours, Deltics, and little Pannier Tanks shunting all of their trains! - does anyone else have a passion for railways?

There was the time we went on strike at school because of the shit they served up in the dining hall, as the ringleader, I got in deep shit for that

There was the time me and my friends decided to phone another friends mother and tell her what we were going to do to her, let's just say she was not amused, neither was the school and what was funny about the whole thing, the lad whose mother we rang was stood with us laughing, I will have about 12 when we did that.

Lastly, I caused suicide note gate, in an attempt to get people talking about something, I wrote multiple suicide notes and slipped them in places I knew people would find them, I was caught out because of my distinctive handwriting

I once wanted to have a break from school, so I shaved all my hair off, proper Bic Job, was out of school for 10 days

I also once set fire to my school uniform and pissed on it in protest at the school not supporting me when I was being bullied...Luckily I have my PE kit to change into...

Over to you guys [SMILING FACE WITH OPEN MOUTH AND TIGHTLY-CLOSED EYES]

came across this on DCC website:


Pay as you go smartcard pilot launched


Bus passengers in Durham are the first in the North East to try out new ‘Pay As You Go’ travel using a smart card instead of cash.

The North East Smart Ticketing Initiative (NESTI), a partnership of local authorities and transport operators, is piloting the technology in the latest phase of a roll-out aimed at making it easier for people to travel.

The smart travel pilot is taking place with passenger volunteers on the 40B bus operated by Stanley Travel in partnership with the Durham County Council and Durham University, for travel between Durham rail station and the university.

Cllr Neil Foster, Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “We are delighted to be at the forefront in testing this new technology. It should make travel on public transport even more convenient and attract more passengers.”

Harvey Emms, Chair of the NESTI partnership board, said: “The Stanley Travel pilot is an important stepping stone in making a Pay As You Go smartcard a reality across the North East.

“NESTI is working together with other local bus operators and the Nexus Metro so in the future people will be able to use a Pay As You Go smartcard to pay for their public transport journeys across the North East.”

Andrew Scott, Director of Stanley Travel, said “We are thrilled to be the first bus operator in the North East to trial Pay As You Go travel. It is an important step in modernising bus travel for the future”.

The pilot involves staff from Durham University using a NESTI Pay As You Go smartcard to pay for their bus fare, instead of using cash.

Professor Tim Burt, Dean for Environmental Sustainability added: “Durham University welcomes the opportunity to support and engage in the smartcard trial which will enable staff and students easier access to public transport. The university is committed to sustainable travel and we feel this smartcard scheme will encourage more public transport users. We look forward to the roll-out of the scheme in the near future.”

The pilot is taking place alongside a similar pilot with passengers on the Tyne and Wear Metro system.

Once these and other pilots are successfully completed, the plan is to make Pay As You Go Travel available across a wider range of local public transport operators in the North East, including bus companies Arriva, Go North East and Stagecoach.

The NESTI programme was established to deliver smart ticketing that can be used on public transport operators across the region, from the Tees Valley to north Northumberland.

It has already provided grant support to make sure that around 1,000 buses in the region, as well as Metro stations, have a single technology to read smart tickets.

Stanley Travel use Ticketer smart ticket machines which were purchased with the assistance of NESTI grant funding. The pilot is the result of a partnership approach between NESTI, Durham County Council, Durham University and bus operator Stanley Travel.

The pilot users are asked to record details of their bus journeys using a travel diary and provide feedback about their experience of using the NESTI pay as you go smartcard.

The pilot will provide valuable feedback and data as to how the NESTI pay as you go product is used by bus customers.

If you were in charge of your own TV channel for 24 hours and you could show anything then what would it be

Does anyone remember the badger bus what used to run evey summer during the school hollidays

Bit of a general question thread, but still sort of bus related. If you had to enter the bus industry - what would you do? Driver, Engineer, Management? Who would you want to drive for? Or your own company? The list goes on......

It's just I've heard a few people say previously that they would want to work on the buses some day, just interested in other people's thoughts.

Here's mine;

I would do University, keep my parents happy, get some degree in Business Management or whatever, and while I'm doing that do occasional service work with GNE.

After that, see how full time driving is, if I don't enjoy it, try and become a Depot Manager or something, maybe work for various companies (GNE, Arriva, East Yorkshire Motor Services, Lothian would be a few).

After I've got enough experience, I'd love to start my own company. Get a couple of scholars contracts, and do long distance coach work with about 10 coaches. Get a good income, and do that for a long time, hopefully pass it onto kids etc.

What about anyone else?

Frequent Odd Workings - Arriva North East

As part of a new feature, we've decided to set up a new thread for frequent odd workings - discussion can take place in the "Latest" thread, this thread is purely for information purposes.

Ashington Depot - to be added soon!
Blyth Depot - current workings
Darlington Depot - current workings
Durham Depot - to be added soon!
Jesmond Depot - valid from 30th August
Redcar Depot - valid from 8th September
Stockton Depot - new workings valid from 27th October
Whitby Depot - no current odd workings

A handy little helping hand for anybody heading to Glasgow during the duration of the Games - here is a list of vehicles presently there (it's not complete yet - no Stagecoach or National Express vehicles, nor any of the East Yorkshire or Go North East vehicles send up as these aren't know yet) - I will update and add to it as more details become available

Hi everyone,

During a PM conversation with Tom, he came up with the idea of the 'NEB Challenge'. Basically, everyone starts the challenge at a set time, and ends by a set time (eg 9:00 to 4:00), and gains points through the different liveries and vehicles types they use during their day.

The rules;
- you must provide proof of your journeys
- you can remain anonymous
- you can work in groups (up to 2)

Here is the scoring system;

Riverside
TEN B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini – 1 Point
ToonLinkVolvo B10BLE 3 Points and Volvo B7RLE 5 Points
Crusader Mercedes Citaro – 1 Point
NexusBus Solo (29) – 10 Points
Blaydon Racers Citaro – 1 Point
Orbit Optare Versa – 1 Point
Saltwell Park Wright Streetlite – 1 Point
Fab FiftySeven Volvo B10BLE – 4 Points
CityLink 58 Optare Versa – 1 Point
Loop 93/94 Scania L94UB Wright Solar – 3 Points
Highwayham Scania L94UB Wright Solar – 1 Point
MetroCente Shuttle VDL SB120 Wright Merit – 3 Points
TyneTees Xpress Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini – 5 Points, Spare 10 Points
Great Park & Ride Scania L94UA Wright Solar Fusion - 5 Points

Deptford
Silver Arrows 2A/2C Mercedes Citaro – 1 Point
Prince Bishops Scania L94UB Wright Solar – 1 Point
Laser Mercedes Citaro (2 Points) and Scania L94UB Wright Solar (4 Points)
East Durham 238 Transbus Mini Pointer Dart (MPD) – 8 Points
Purple Versa, Optare Versa – 3 Points
SimpliCity 42 Optare Versa - 1 Point
Fab56 Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini – 1 Point
Drifter Wright Streetlite – 3 Points
SimpliCity 61Optare Versa – 5 Points
Service 99, Yellow Transbus Mini Pointer Dart (MPD) – 8 Points
FastCats Scania L94UB Wright Solar – 3 Points
Sunderland Connect 700 – 5 Points

Percy Main
Coaster Scania Omnicity- 3 Points
Cobalt Connect 19: Scania Omnicity – 5 Points
North Tyne Transbus Mini Pointer Dart (MPD) – 5 Points (Bonus: Find the flip dot MPD, and get 10 points!)
Cobalt Clipper Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini – 1 Point
Dual Door Renowns 3 Points, if you can find the Retro seated one, then 12 bonus points.
DFDS Buses – 20 Points

Chester
Lime Volvo B10BLE – 8 points for branded ones, normal scoring for Northern B10BLE applies
angel 21 Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 1 Point and Volvo B7TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 Points
theWaggonway Scania L94UB Wright Solar – 3 Points
Whey Aye Five-0 Scania Omnicity – 3 Points)

Stanley
Lime Volvo B10BLE – 8 points for branded ones, normal scoring for Northern B10BLE applies
Diamond Mercedes Citaro – 1 Point
Red Kite/Northern Scania Omnicity – 1 Point
Beamish Branded Renown – 15 Points

Washington
Connections 4 Mercedes Citaro - 1 Point
South Tyne Optare Versa – 3 Points
Red Arrows Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 1 Point and Spare B7 5 Points
DAF SB120 Wright Cadet – 4 Points
603-606 Alexander Mini Pointer Dart (MPD) – 4 Points

Hexham:
3942 ‘’Metroradio’’ – 5 Points
TEN Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini – 1 Point

Saltmeadows:
Dual Door Renowns – 5 Points
QuayLink Optare Versa – 1 Point
NexusBus Optare Solo SR – 7 Points

Peterlee:
WearTees Xpress, PVR 3: Mercedes Citaro – 5 Points

Crook:
Pronto B7TL Plaxton President – 3 Points


Other liveries:
Northern Volvo B10BLE – 5 Points
Northern Solar – 1 Point
Northern Ex-London President/Lolyne/Vyking – 1 Point
Work eat play Lolyne – 5 Points
Northern Native President (NK-UC*) – 5 Points
MPD’s excluding 603-604 – 3 Points
Versa/B9TL – 3 Points
Cadet - 2 Points
Merit - 5 Points
Yellow Bus Olympian – 12 Points

All final details will be published later on, possibly tonight. We don't have a date set yet, but we're aiming for the 4th August 2014. The game can only be played within the Tyne & Wear region - any points calculated from out of that border will not be counted. As a lot of the vehicles and routes above can be rode on within Tyne & Wear, I'll leave them there and not change any.

The winner will be given an All Zone Buzzfare from me, or any other alternative along the same lines if they cannot, for whatever reason, use one.

Any questions about the challenge - drop them here

Cheers,
Marcus

I may be going away from home for up to 2 years sometime soon(not prison btw, as somebody recently thought I was about to goto Jail)...Basically wanting going into a residential rehab programme to help me with a few problems I have had for 10 years.

Anyway, does anybody know what the bus enthusiast scene is like, if there even is one, the place I may be going to is a place called Kilmacolm, quite close to Greenock and Glasgow nearby and also Clydebank and Paisley is not too far, I would like to keep my passion for buses when I can...

Any feedback will be appreciated