(08 Nov 2022, 9:37 pm)mb134 wrote It was wrapped for the Jubilee. When the wrap was removed Darlington resprayed the base of what it was in beforehand, assume the wrap may have left the paintwork in a bit of a state and a depot repaint into it's original base livery was deemed okay as a short term fix?

(08 Nov 2022, 10:37 pm)F114TML wrote In that case, seems odd they didn't just paint it plain turquoise for the standard livery.

(03 Feb 2023, 10:08 pm)Jimmi wrote Mr French & everyone's favourite consultant of Desire are not impressed with Arriva spreading Christmas cheer... in February?! https://twitter.com/creatingdesire/status/1621572334720090112?t=iO8k2NcxUcX0iaU8yxVdgg&s=19

French also still isn't impressed with the allocations around Newcastle: https://twitter.com/BusAndTrainUser/status/1621451237974491137?t=oLAK0I-_1Ts46VDSvAkpKw&s=19

(03 Feb 2023, 10:08 pm)Jimmi wrote Mr French & everyone's favourite consultant of Desire are not impressed with Arriva spreading Christmas cheer... in February?! https://twitter.com/creatingdesire/status/1621572334720090112?t=iO8k2NcxUcX0iaU8yxVdgg&s=19

French also still isn't impressed with the allocations around Newcastle: https://twitter.com/BusAndTrainUser/status/1621451237974491137?t=oLAK0I-_1Ts46VDSvAkpKw&s=19

(03 Feb 2023, 10:59 pm)mb134 wrote Notice French hasn't mentioned any of the rogue GNE allocations on his past few trips to the NE. The 6 today had a Durham Diamond and a couple of X-Lines vehicles if bustimes is to be believed. Not to mention the Quaycity Versas on everything but the Q3 for 5 months now, and the green X45/46 Streetdecks on the 'wrong' routes daily. Obviously the reasoning for this is that branding is not a priority now, similar to ANE - yet only one company gets slated on social media...

As for 7552, I imagine it's more likely due to a high VOR rate at Ashington. 7530/1 are off for refurb with nothing to cover, 7555 is still away with fire damage with a saloon covering, and 7524-6 are now gone (and will also be replaced with saloons). Even if they cover, pits are taken up with Blyth vehicles as their maintenance is also being done at Ashington while the depot works are completed. You're not going to lose service/stop routine maintenance so that some stickers can be taken off - that nobody bar spotters actually care about. Mr. Desire's decency seems to be on a similar level to some of his recent livery designs - would imagine his social media behaviour isn't the most appealing to potential clients.

(04 Feb 2023, 11:17 am)busmanT wrote Don't always believe bustimes.org!

The ex Quaycity Versa are clearly spare buses, as are the green X45 StreetDecks - GNE have made no secret of this. It's not possible to repaint them all immediately, and probably not wise to do so given that passenger numbers are still recovering for the COVID lockdowns and further service changes might be needed.

(03 Feb 2023, 10:59 pm)mb134 wrote Notice French hasn't mentioned any of the rogue GNE allocations on his past few trips to the NE. The 6 today had a Durham Diamond and a couple of X-Lines vehicles if bustimes is to be believed. Not to mention the Quaycity Versas on everything but the Q3 for 5 months now, and the green X45/46 Streetdecks on the 'wrong' routes daily. Obviously the reasoning for this is that branding is not a priority now, similar to ANE - yet only one company gets slated on social media...

As for 7552, I imagine it's more likely due to a high VOR rate at Ashington. 7530/1 are off for refurb with nothing to cover, 7555 is still away with fire damage with a saloon covering, and 7524-6 are now gone (and will also be replaced with saloons). Even if they cover, pits are taken up with Blyth vehicles as their maintenance is also being done at Ashington while the depot works are completed. You're not going to lose service/stop routine maintenance so that some stickers can be taken off - that nobody bar spotters actually care about. Mr. Desire's decency seems to be on a similar level to some of his recent livery designs - would imagine his social media behaviour isn't the most appealing to potential clients.

(04 Feb 2023, 8:24 pm)EastCoastMXZ1751 wrote Didn't know the X18 E400s were getting a refurb, when 7530/31 back will 7529/32/33 or atleast 2 of them be off for refurb

(12 Feb 2023, 9:41 pm)mb134 wrote 7530/1 are back, believe 7529/32 have gone down now.

(12 Feb 2023, 9:58 pm)L469 YVK wrote I take it if 7541-52 are replaced as rumoured, all the Classic E400s will be shipped out of Ashington too?

(28 Feb 2023, 3:59 pm)ross13 wrote Darlingtons 7534 has turned up in faverdale returned fresh from repaint and refurbishment

(28 Feb 2023, 11:14 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote 1516/1518/7540 have also been sent for refurbishment and repaint

(20 Mar 2023, 4:26 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote 7522 (NK14 GFJ) has arrived at Blackburn Bus & Coach World for repaint over the weekend

(26 Mar 2023, 5:50 pm)NewcastleOne wrote 7556 has been repainted alongside 4803 with a new paint scheme.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62607125@N08/52770735488/in/photolist-2opaPa3-2nYhdoD-2npPXuh-2mXAvrA-2mTx3u4-2mrSu9K-2miWsMC-2kXabHA-2md8Msa-2kHPj4C-2kEFLbu-2kBnNMf-2jS4jcf-2jEGBa5-2k3p7vH-2jr2Ykd-2jimD2m-2jimE6F-2jshrNp-2j6tr5J-2j6uWvS-2iEwu1Z-2iyMH35-2iyNZDR-2hWwjFU

Photo credit to Chris Hinds on Flickr
(https://www.flickr.com/photos/62607125@N08/)

(26 Mar 2023, 8:12 pm)EastCoastMXZ1751 wrote Looks smart, glad to see a Blyth bus being done

(26 Mar 2023, 5:50 pm)NewcastleOne wrote 7556 has been repainted alongside 4803 with a new paint scheme.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62607125@N08/52770735488/in/photolist-2opaPa3-2nYhdoD-2npPXuh-2mXAvrA-2mTx3u4-2mrSu9K-2miWsMC-2kXabHA-2md8Msa-2kHPj4C-2kEFLbu-2kBnNMf-2jS4jcf-2jEGBa5-2k3p7vH-2jr2Ykd-2jimD2m-2jimE6F-2jshrNp-2j6tr5J-2j6uWvS-2iEwu1Z-2iyMH35-2iyNZDR-2hWwjFU

Photo credit to Chris Hinds on Flickr
(https://www.flickr.com/photos/62607125@N08/)

20230411_162251.jpg (Size 917.84 KB | Downloads 24)

(11 Apr 2023, 3:31 pm)Aaron21 wrote 7556 has been journey marked. Didn't see any photos of it anywhere

https://flic.kr/p/2osDKA7

(11 Apr 2023, 8:45 pm)mb134 wrote Was sent down early March, returned around the 25th.

(11 Apr 2023, 11:58 pm)Aaron21 wrote Think the little photos of it is cause it kinda came out of nowhere. Like 7556 has been repainted but not the rest of the ex max. I think 7522 is in journey Mark but nothing on where it is as hasn't been seen on the road for a while & hasn't been seen at Walkergate