(01 Jan 2015, 8:40 pm)mb134 wrote I'd reckon, if the X21/22 has seen growth in line with what some of the other Sapphire routes have, they'll get new buses within a couple more years. Can't remember which route it is but I'm positive I've saw a comment or something somewhere stating that the older E400's used on said route are being replaced this year (think it might be the 280 route).

(01 Jan 2015, 9:04 pm)9920up wrote Interesting views. Certainly the likes of sapphire  shouldn't  be expected to be run with aged stock, not as a premier  service.  It does raise other policy questions though. For example the omni city's for the X66  These are nigh on 10 at the point of entry onto a high speed front line MAX service. Maybe their time should be limited as well
Also,  bear in mind that ANE ensure book values are always nil and some more before vehicles are withdrawn. Recent Darts and Prestige examples have all only gone after 17 or more years. 

(01 Jan 2015, 9:42 pm)tyresmoke wrote Sure is - the 280 Aylesbury - Oxford is getting a batch of new Enviro 400's this year. More to do with the fact that the current stock is too old for the Oxford LEZ. The current E400's are heading to Hemel Hempstead for use on service 320 to Rickmansworth, alongside new Streetlites on service 100/101 Luton - Stevenage.

(01 Jan 2015, 9:42 pm)tyresmoke wrote Sure is - the 280 Aylesbury - Oxford is getting a batch of new Enviro 400's this year. More to do with the fact that the current stock is too old for the Oxford LEZ. The current E400's are heading to Hemel Hempstead for use on service 320 to Rickmansworth, alongside new Streetlites on service 100/101 Luton - Stevenage.


MAX is a concept designed by North East & Yorkshire to improve inter-urban routes. It will soon become standard across longer distance routes I am sure, and it's already been adopted by Wales, Shires and I understand soon Midlands too. They're refurbishing existing stock but yes there will come a time when they're due to be replaced - certainly the Scanias on X26/X66 are 10 years old like you say and are well past their best.

The new engineering director is starting to get to make his mark on the fleet too, of course the state of the fleet has been improved drastically over the last year or so. I am hoping that we can start repainting existing stock that needs it - some of the S-reg Darts and Prestiges lasted their whole lives on their original coat of paint!

I think the purchase of the Volvo B9TL's is a good view into the future... purchasing vehicles specifically for routes rather than a "one size fits all" approach, as in the past. Using Darts on the 213/214 from new is an example of previous wrong purchases, they were never designed to do work like that so its no wonder they were absolutely knackered at the end.

(02 Jan 2015, 6:48 pm)Dan wrote Reports that Belmont's ADL Enviro200s are now beginning to enter service - it's thought that one or two were out today, and the other three could follow suit tomorrow?

May be worth a trip to Durham - one lucky photographer will get their photos included in the news update this Sunday!  

(02 Jan 2015, 8:52 pm)Jimmi wrote Does Durham service 64 still stop at the bus stop at Dragonville Tesco Extra or does it only stop at the stops on the main road on journeys to/from Sherburn Village.

(02 Jan 2015, 10:21 pm)aureolin wrote 7619 and 7620 still seem to be out and about judging from this past week. Seen both again today. I'd have thought they'd have both been sent away for their MAX refurbishment by now, but seems not.

(02 Jan 2015, 10:23 pm)Dan wrote Arriva's fleet allocation document is often ahead of time - Belmont's X1/X2 allocation cannot be refurbished until the Enviro200s enter service.

So in theory, they should depart imminently, with the Enviro200s now entering service!

(02 Jan 2015, 10:21 pm)aureolin wrote 7619 and 7620 still seem to be out and about judging from this past week. Seen both again today. I'd have thought they'd have both been sent away for their MAX refurbishment by now, but seems not.

(02 Jan 2015, 10:25 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 7618/9/20 are all still in service - so it looks like 7626/7 have gone away while Durham are still using the T-reg DAFs and 7435.

(03 Jan 2015, 2:35 pm)Jimmi wrote 7454 and 7455 have joined 7453/7456 at Belmont depot.

7453/54/56 are on the X1/X2 while 7455 was on the 49/49A this morning.

(03 Jan 2015, 2:44 pm)mb134 wrote Would it be possible to refurbish one of the Lowlanders for a MAX spare for the X1/X2? Perfectly good for the route?

(03 Jan 2015, 2:35 pm)Jimmi wrote 7454 and 7455 have joined 7453/7456 at Belmont depot.

7453/54/56 are on the X1/X2 while 7455 was on the 49/49A this morning.

(03 Jan 2015, 3:56 pm)Jimmi wrote Ex Arriva Southern Counties Enviro 200's in service today.

1320 on service 6
1323 on service 64
1327 on service 64

(03 Jan 2015, 5:26 pm)Dan wrote Having seen them in the flesh, I can't believe how dreadful the application of the Arriva livery is.

It's certainly not unknown for Thorntons to mess up repaints (it irritates me to this day that they painted over the black 'strip' below the windscreen on GNE's South Tyne Versas), but that's just awful. The fact that Arriva accepted them in that state is even more worrying.

(03 Jan 2015, 5:26 pm)Dan wrote Having seen them in the flesh, I can't believe how dreadful the application of the Arriva livery is.

It's certainly not unknown for Thorntons to mess up repaints (it irritates me to this day that they painted over the black 'strip' below the windscreen on GNE's South Tyne Versas), but that's just awful. The fact that Arriva accepted them in that state is even more worrying.

(03 Jan 2015, 5:42 pm)Jimmi wrote ANE will accept any livery application no matter what state it is in.

I can confirm that they do have charging points, Slightly surprised there is charging points but no WiFi? There was also a screen behind the drivers cab but was just displaying a white screen (next stop announcements maybe?). Not keen on the seats but anytime I use the 64 I won't be going far and the amount of legroom is a major improvement on the Darts. Passengers did seem to be impressed with 1327 with many thinking it was a new bus and they thought it was posh.

(03 Jan 2015, 5:42 pm)Jimmi wrote ANE will accept any livery application no matter what state it is in.

I can confirm that they do have charging points, Slightly surprised there is charging points but no WiFi? There was also a screen behind the drivers cab but was just displaying a white screen (next stop announcements maybe?). Not keen on the seats but anytime I use the 64 I won't be going far and the amount of legroom is a major improvement on the Darts. Passengers did seem to be impressed with 1327 with many thinking it was a new bus and they thought it was posh.

(03 Jan 2015, 5:48 pm)mb134 wrote Just out of curiosity, whats the 64 route like, is it mainly in town or rural? Only asking because, if rural, they may not think fitting Wi-Fi would be suitable, signal wise etc. Just a suggestion like

(03 Jan 2015, 5:44 pm)Dan wrote I didn't get to have a ride of one today, but had a little look in from the pavement and I was bewildered to see that the bus definitely did have power sockets and had e-leather seats, yet it was in normal Arriva livery...

May as well have gone to the next step to add the Wi-Fi, and you've practically got a Sapphire-spec bus...