Yesterday I had a bit of a interesting idea, To build bus stops in the grounds of both Northbound & Southbound Washington Services called the Washington MotoHub. It could be used as a sort bus parkway for washington or an interchange to other areas.

I would like peoples opinions on few questions:
Which routes or operators would serve this?
Would any new passenger flows appear as a result of the proposal?
Could any other service stations in the North East be transformed in a similar manner.

Arriva Darlington hit by criticism over drivers' hours and pay

"A NORTH EAST bus company has been hit with criticism as concerns have been raised over hours and pay conditions at its depot in Darlington.
Arriva North East has been accused of "upping" weekly hours and changing driver rest days with "little" notice in a bid to make up for staff shortages due to Covid."

Full story: https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1...hours-pay/

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/open-day


25th July

Join us this Sunday as we open the gates at our Gateshead Riverside depot to welcome you for an open day between 10am and 4pm.

Entry is free and there's plenty to see and do:

Bus displays, including Scania displaying the very latest generation 'Fencer' single-deck bus
Workshop viewing area
Electric bus demonstration
Merchandise stalls, including Masquette and other Go North East goodies
Family fun activities
Vintage bus rides

Metrocentre bus rally will also be taking place at Metrocentre Coach Park, and you can catch our free shuttle bus from there to the depot.

Find out more about the events

Please note that there is no parking available at Gateshead Riverside depot.

I see on bus times that 7157 has been re-registered to G10VOY. It has been sat in the naughty corner at Saltmeadows for the past few weeks. Its only on bus times as this was pretending to be 7157 a few weeks back https://flic.kr/p/2m97HkH

To paraphrase Bananarama, I heard a rumour that today that Transdev are planning to make an announcement in the next few days regarding expansion into the North East, specifically Durham.

It may be false, it may be true, yet nothing has been proved (to borrow a lyric from the Dusty Springfield/Pet Shop Boys song from the 1988 film 'Scandal'). In any case, when this rumour is proven to be false, I propose that the moderators move this thread into the off-topic section so we can humourously discuss some of tall tales mooted over the years by various enthusiastsor employees of bus companies.

If this rumour proves to be true, unlikely as it may sound, then I guess this can be he official thread for Transdev North East or Transdev County Durham or whatever name it will be known by.

Is the East Gateshead Orbit rebrand still happening. All I know is that the Q1/2 branded buses are being repainted into "Sunderlandand District Berries" livery, and that the Black Cats streetlites are being repainted for the new coaster livery, so what buses are going onto Q1/2? Maybe Durham Diamond streetlites as the Coaster volvos are going onto the 16? Or is QuayLink going corporate?

Looks like Omnidekka 6145 has had a few issues in the heat today: 

"INCIDENT
A1 Northbound just before the split for A194 at Washington is CLOSED due to a bus on fire.
All out safe and nobody injured."

Would be great to see this join 838 (and maybe 807 one day) preserved and restored to former glory.  The asking price seems a little steep (though I have no idea how much is typical) especially given the condition and appears significantly altered internally.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154468550494

Aycliffe are running vintage tours of Newcastle in August on the 11th and 12th with two buses entered 

These being 
AHN 451B & SCN 268S

Something strange seems to be going on, the emergency exit doors on the Streetlites seem to not be rattling anymore...

I'm on 5456 right now and it feels fairly refined.


I'm not sure what they've done, but at idle the engine also seems a lot more smooth, no more bone shaking.

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