(19 Feb 2015, 10:12 am)Andreos1 wrote @Jimmi

Where did you end up?


Heading south - under the viaduct, left at first junction after Tesco, left onto The Avenues, left at the mini roundabout and arrive at the top of Front Street/Ropery Lane.

(20 Feb 2015, 2:16 pm)Tom wrote Eventually I've got to ride on these X reg darts, and they are completely vile. It hasn't stopped rattling, and the legroom space is terrible! I'll be happy to get off.

(18 Feb 2015, 11:08 am)aureolin wrote 7618, 7619(?), and 7620 all appear to be out on the road still, without a max refurbishment. Does anyone know if plans have changed? Seems to be dragging out this refurb...

(20 Feb 2015, 2:40 pm)palatine3833 wrote 7619 was VOR last week, apparently with its engine ceased AGAIN!!  It's now been moved from inside the depot so presumably it's gone away to be fixed and maybe refurbed at the same time.  7610 has completed its transfer to Belmont and was undergoing prep yesterday.

(20 Feb 2015, 4:02 pm)aureolin wrote Thanks. Was unsure about 7619, but there's certainly a 3rd Gemini on the road.

• All of the latest transfers have been noted, as per all of the fleet news recorded this month.
  
• All "Coastliner" branded vehicles have received a note to reflect the new contravision branding added.
  
• All of Blyth's Volvo Hybrids have had their bodywork amended to show "Wright Eclipse Gemini 2" opposed to "Wright Eclipse Gemini".
  
• All of the Temsa Avenues have had their bodywork amended to show "Temsa" opposed to "Temsa Avenue", reflecting the fact they're an integral structure.
  
• Similarly, all of the Optare Solos have had their bodywork amended to show "Optare" opposed to "Optare Solo", allowing for continuity throughout the fleet lists, with the Optare Solos in the fleets of Go North East and local independents showing this.
  
• The notes section of the "MAX" branded ADL Enviro400s was cut off half way through - I've now fixed this.
  

(22 Feb 2015, 9:24 pm)tyresmoke wrote Nobody else has put a list on so here's this weekends Metro allocations

Saturday
7445, 7446, 7458, 7466, 7471, 7474(7467), 7475, 7476, 7485, 7494
On loan were T318FGN, T421GGO, LT02ZZJ/ZZL/ZZM/ZZO

Sunday
7445, 7446, 7467, 7471(7476), 7473, 7474, 7480, 7485, 7488, 7494, 7507, 7517, 7521, 7611, 7617, 7623

(22 Feb 2015, 9:51 pm)mb134 wrote Did you have anything interesting this weekend? Or was it more B7's? 

Interesting that Ashington sent both 7507 and 7517, surely they should have sent 7519/20 instead? 

(22 Feb 2015, 10:00 pm)tyresmoke wrote I had 7494 yesterday and then 7471/7476 today, nice to get a go of the DLAs again, propping the service up where the B7s fail... Apparently they've been "dropping like flies" - only 3 out yesterday (7488 was on 43/44/45) and today. 7521 also came from Ashington. 7519 was on X18 today so may have been at Alnwick.

(22 Feb 2015, 10:11 pm)JoshP wrote Three things... When are the E400 Sapphire 7's due, the MAX X1 Streetlites due (both Darlo) and when are the next stop announcements going to start on the X66/X26/X27?

(22 Feb 2015, 10:05 pm)mb134 wrote Which do you prefer to drive, if you dont mind me asking? 

Good to hear that the DLA's are still pretty reliable/can be relied on, haven't been on one for ages!

Aye I saw in your original post that 7521 went, so was just a bit confused as to why they decided to send MAX and Sapphire vehicles, although your second point probably answers that

(22 Feb 2015, 10:13 pm)Dan wrote A photograph of one of these was shared on the "Arriva 2015 Order" thread, so it shouldn't be too long before they start arriving... I'd imagine it was being tested around the yard, and this usually happens about a month in advance of the new buses arriving into the fleet.

(23 Feb 2015, 11:56 am)Tommy_1581 wrote If they've got next stop announcements they'll be tested on the full route first, I've got a photo of 7522 and a Max E400 being tested around Ashington depot with their destination blinds on.