(22 Mar 2016, 3:16 pm)Jimmi wrote Have to agree on EconoSpeed, had 1426 on the X66 the other Sunday and it felt pretty steady whereas that would have absolutely flown down the A66 in the past.

(22 Mar 2016, 3:02 pm)Jimmi wrote *shudders* Don't remind me of them!

This time 5 years ago the 7 used all sorts, so you never knew exactly what sort of bus was going to turn, it was great from an enthusiast's point of view but pretty poor from a normal passengers point of view, especially when I was waiting for buses to/from college which never turned up!

It's amazing how far the 7 has come since then, from clapped out old bangers to Sapphire. Hopefully more improvements are to come...

(19 Mar 2016, 8:51 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I thought grotty old buses were your thing

(19 Mar 2016, 9:10 pm)mb134 wrote Please explain how it is 'the worst thing ever'?

I'm sure passengers that boarded it today would have been far happier seeing that, than no bus at all.

(22 Mar 2016, 7:51 pm)Dan wrote On Friday, I was on the A1231 loop, to join the A1.

I was in the left hand lane, trying to merge into the middle lane, to carry on the A1. I was running alongside 7618, an Arriva MAX Gemini. It appeared to be running light from Belmont to pick up its usual duties on the X12 to Durham for Middlesbrough, with the destination set as such. I wasn't in a position to speed up, to get in front of the bus, as there was a car in front. Likewise it wouldn't have been particularly safe to slow down to allow the bus to go into the left hand lane, as I had a queue of traffic behind me.

As we were making no progress, given that the driver of the bus wouldn't slow down to give me a gap to get in front of him, the driver decided to merge left with me running parallel to him.

I was forced to slam my brakes on - as did the drivers behind me - and I felt quite lucky to come out of that situation without a single bump. The driver seemed to be of the mindset that he could do whatever he liked, because he was in a big bad bus.

I forgot to send an e-mail to Arriva, but find their Customer Services team is appalling anyway, so don't usually bother. Andreos1's complaint reminded me of the experience.

(22 Mar 2016, 12:16 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Ex London VLA LJ55BTO has entered service in MAX livery but still contains its Urburn 90s from London. Must've been rushed half way though refurb at Thorntons into service.
Photo of it on Emjdt42s Flickr

(22 Mar 2016, 3:02 pm)Jimmi wrote *shudders* Don't remind me of them!

This time 5 years ago the 7 used all sorts, so you never knew exactly what sort of bus was going to turn, it was great from an enthusiast's point of view but pretty poor from a normal passengers point of view, especially when I was waiting for buses to/from college which never turned up!

It's amazing how far the 7 has come since then, from clapped out old bangers to Sapphire. Hopefully more improvements are to come...

(22 Mar 2016, 3:02 pm)Jimmi wrote *shudders* Don't remind me of them!

This time 5 years ago the 7 used all sorts, so you never knew exactly what sort of bus was going to turn, it was great from an enthusiast's point of view but pretty poor from a normal passengers point of view, especially when I was waiting for buses to/from college which never turned up!

It's amazing how far the 7 has come since then, from clapped out old bangers to Sapphire. Hopefully more improvements are to come...

(22 Mar 2016, 11:02 pm)John_R wrote Remarkable improvements since the occasional use of Metrobuses & Olympians until 2008. This photo was taken in September 2007, when 614 was 27 years old.

(22 Mar 2016, 7:57 pm)Adrian wrote Aye, don't bother sending a complaint in. I can probably dig out the template that they'll send you anyway, if you're both that bothered for a "response".

(22 Mar 2016, 7:51 pm)Dan wrote On Friday, I was on the A1231 loop, to join the A1.

I was in the left hand lane, trying to merge into the middle lane, to carry on the A1. I was running alongside 7618, an Arriva MAX Gemini. It appeared to be running light from Belmont to pick up its usual duties on the X12 to Durham for Middlesbrough, with the destination set as such. I wasn't in a position to speed up, to get in front of the bus, as there was a car in front. Likewise it wouldn't have been particularly safe to slow down to allow the bus to go into the left hand lane, as I had a queue of traffic behind me.

As we were making no progress, given that the driver of the bus wouldn't slow down to give me a gap to get in front of him, the driver decided to merge left with me running parallel to him.

I was forced to slam my brakes on - as did the drivers behind me - and I felt quite lucky to come out of that situation without a single bump. The driver seemed to be of the mindset that he could do whatever he liked, because he was in a big bad bus.

I forgot to send an e-mail to Arriva, but find their Customer Services team is appalling anyway, so don't usually bother. Andreos1's complaint reminded me of the experience.

(23 Mar 2016, 9:38 am)Andreos1 wrote Saw a 35 branded Streetlights heading south on the A1 at the angel earlier.

Another loan vehicle?

(22 Mar 2016, 7:57 pm)Adrian wrote Aye, don't bother sending a complaint in. I can probably dig out the template that they'll send you anyway, if you're both that bothered for a "response".

(22 Mar 2016, 9:40 pm)tyresmoke wrote I had that yesterday, it's 7416 and has been refurbished internally but retains urban90 seating. More on these to follow when I get a confirmation on what's happening  

(23 Mar 2016, 12:05 pm)Cock Robin wrote Yes, same when I complained about that Whitby driver last summer. Who, unfortunately, contrary to reports otherwise, has not retired - she was on the Park and Ride on Monday!

(23 Mar 2016, 11:31 am)palatine3833 wrote If you weren't in a situation to slow down, therefore the cars behind you wouldn't have been either, therefore the bus wouldn't have been able to pull over at any point.  Had I been the X12 driver in said situation, despite wondering why am I on the A1231, I would have stopped in the outside lane, applied my handbrake, put my hazards on and read a book until the rush hour traffic had ceased and then continued on my journey when the road was clearer.

EDIT: I've just realised you meant that you were on the A1 at the time - on the Birtley exit slip road, trying to merge onto the A1.  Therefore, since you were trying to merge onto the A1, technically you should have backed off to allow traffic on the existing carriageway to pass and merge safely .

EDIT 2: I'm not condoning the actions of the X12 driver as he shouldn't have cut across, but I'm saying the situation could've been avoided.  Also, I'm not saying all Arriva drivers are perfect, because trust me I know they're not .

(23 Mar 2016, 12:06 pm)Cock Robin wrote That beggar's belief!

(23 Mar 2016, 12:01 pm)GX03 SVC wrote I have absolutely no idea... I'll ask whats happening.

(23 Mar 2016, 12:48 pm)Dan wrote Yes - the situation could have been avoided.

The driver could have gone into the left hand lane AFTER I had passed him, instead of attempting to merge into my lane while I was running parallel to him. Not a kick in the arse off being in line with the doors.

(23 Mar 2016, 1:21 pm)palatine3833 wrote Although technically, that would've been classified as undertaking.

(22 Mar 2016, 7:21 am)jaimzm wrote dose anyone know what at jesmond for the metro

(23 Mar 2016, 7:24 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Arriva: 7416, 7423, 7424, 7425, 7426, 7455, 7458, 7468, 7470, 7477, 7479, 7485, 7534. On Hire: JH LT02 ZZM, Stanley Travel S4 STX

(23 Mar 2016, 2:23 pm)scania driver wrote Here we go again with "issues" on the X93, and issues that all seem to eminate around Dormanstown / Redcar. The route, as I've said before, is a success story and Arriva management should be proud and recognise it as so. We got the BTL9's for the service that can just about cope with the none peak PVR but here we just a week into the 2016 'peak' and there are reports of 1102 (!) being used and Pulsar operation from the Redcar boards; vehicles that, incidentally, are not "Max" branded. The PVR for the route, as I understand is 8 vehicles and those 8 should be BTL9's, equivalant, or better; and approriately branded (and marketed). Ideally there should be spare capacity on the route to cover for breakdowns and other emergencies (road closures) but we know that isn't going to happen, don't we. 7485/6/7 will be cobbled together and plod (being the operative word) along and all the good work and reputation undone. It wouldn't happen on Yorkshire Coastliner would it?

(23 Mar 2016, 12:18 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Aye. The miserable git I'd complained about was on the 6 to bishop, supervising a younger driver, when I went with Big'un to check out the Castles Express in the market place. Clearly I've not destroyed his livelihood by trying to tell his employer that he was unprofessional and abusive.

(23 Mar 2016, 8:35 pm)tyresmoke wrote 7488 was out today too.