(07 Dec 2022, 7:50 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote I was a driver for Walkergate for 6 years moved over to slatyford at the start of 2022 and been here since just passed 7 years with the company. The hybrids were good when they were on 39/40 but when they got their new buses and they started using them all over they were very prone to break downs. You had them on the 22’s where they got a lot of punishment with constant high revs then on the 1/12/38 where they are constantly stop starting. It’s about time they were scrapped in my opinion. Drivers aren’t keen on them, engineers don’t like them. They have a top speed of 45mph but I wouldn’t dare take it over 40 or you risk breaking down (which I did once running back from throckley down the central motorway). Newcastle are desperate for new buses especially Slatyford depot.

(07 Dec 2022, 9:25 pm)Storx wrote Thanks for that, not too surprised they seem to work in London pottering around at 20mph in traffic but anywhere else they're just useless. Shame considering how new they are really, should have a few years left on paper.

The gas buses seem to be heading for the same direction by the sounds of things aswell.

(07 Dec 2022, 4:12 pm)Storx wrote There's 9 of the Hybrids off road today, affording to tracking, that's why pretty much. 

Not sure what's wrong with them but they seem as unreliable as the GNE ones.

(07 Dec 2022, 7:50 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote I was a driver for Walkergate for 6 years moved over to slatyford at the start of 2022 and been here since just passed 7 years with the company. The hybrids were good when they were on 39/40 but when they got their new buses and they started using them all over they were very prone to break downs. You had them on the 22’s where they got a lot of punishment with constant high revs then on the 1/12/38 where they are constantly stop starting. It’s about time they were scrapped in my opinion. Drivers aren’t keen on them, engineers don’t like them. They have a top speed of 45mph but I wouldn’t dare take it over 40 or you risk breaking down (which I did once running back from throckley down the central motorway). Newcastle are desperate for new buses especially Slatyford depot.

(08 Dec 2022, 11:02 am)Lollist wrote When are the MANviro 300s coming down to Stockton we are meant to have the Carslisle ones ages ago?

(07 Dec 2022, 9:28 pm)Unber43 wrote At Wheatshef today only 1 was off.

(08 Dec 2022, 12:22 pm)Chris 1 wrote I'm not sure if the hybrid systems are different between the ADL and the Volvos.  Series drive and parallel drive systems spring to mind, but it was years ago I was reading it.

(08 Dec 2022, 2:42 pm)V514DFT wrote I'd say the most punishment theyve got/continue to get is on the 22,especially on Church Bank in Howdon, used to use it alot when i lived in Howdon, and sometimes they really do make some weird sounds when combating it,to the point where an 18 year old ALX300 sounds healthier than an 11 year old E400H

(07 Dec 2022, 6:16 pm)Storx wrote tbh I think it's just Hybrid's in general, just had a look to see how the ex Arriva NE batch are doing down in Yorkshire and it's much of the same 8/22 are off the road down there. Everyone was moaning at the time but Blyth probably got the better deal in the end of it with the reliable DB300's (mind 7612 has just passed my window sounding ill 50 minutes late but that's irrelevant )

I know, according to the London Bus Forums, that no-one is interested in taking the London examples so suggests they're just not very good and are aging badly.

(08 Dec 2022, 5:54 pm)Malarkey wrote Arriva Tunbridge Wells have taken a hand full of 11 Plate examples.

(08 Dec 2022, 2:42 pm)V514DFT wrote I'd say the most punishment theyve got/continue to get is on the 22,especially on Church Bank in Howdon, used to use it alot when i lived in Howdon, and sometimes they really do make some weird sounds when combating it,to the point where an 18 year old ALX300 sounds healthier than an 11 year old E400H

(08 Dec 2022, 9:04 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote I done the 22’s quite a bit when I was at Walkergate, Church bank/rosehill bank was punishment for them but also Scotswood road. They used to be banned from the 22’s due to not being able to meet the speed limit on Scotswood road. They need scrapped but that probably won’t happen for a while.

(11 Dec 2022, 5:12 pm)toward6931 wrote According to a SNE fans facebook page SNE has done abit of a convoluted exchange,  E200 39713 has transferred from Sunderland to South Shields due to the gain of a nexus contract, however has been sent straight on loan to Slatyford to allow 19430 to come the other way to South Shields due to a shortage of E400s.

I believe this a bit of a short sighted decision as slatyford and newcastle as a whole is struggling, flagship services 62/63 are regularly operating single decks 300s and also with E200s a regular sight aswell massively impacting loadings.  Cumbria have just offloaded around 5 ALX400s to disposal, it's a shame that Sunderland can't grab them for the shortfall until the deliveries scheduled in 2023 (I believe)

(11 Dec 2022, 7:14 pm)54APhotography wrote The loan of the E400 is temporary, the required E200 addition at Shields is for the 516 starting tomorrow

Screenshot 2022-12-12 4.27.57 PM.png (Size 539.08 KB | Downloads 21)

(12 Dec 2022, 4:36 pm)logidoodah wrote Stagecoach are advertising Megabus as a contrast to the ongoing rail strikes. I think they could've worded it better.

(13 Dec 2022, 4:33 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Sunderland appear to be having more issues with their E400s- 28005/07 operated 2 of the school boards this afternoon and 10633/37 are now tracking at the Wheatsheaf while 27739 appears to have gone the other way and is out on the 63

(13 Dec 2022, 4:33 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Sunderland appear to be having more issues with their E400s- 28005/07 operated 2 of the school boards this afternoon and 10633/37 are now tracking at the Wheatsheaf while 27739 appears to have gone the other way and is out on the 63

(14 Dec 2022, 9:32 am)ifm001 wrote 27740 is also working out of Shields today and is on X34 this morning

(14 Dec 2022, 12:58 pm)F114TML wrote Yep. The MMCs are here onshort term loan. Doing 18 and 99 today.

Meanwhile there's a decker on the 10/11 for some reason.

(14 Dec 2022, 5:46 pm)nova347 wrote There was one on the 3 as well.

(14 Dec 2022, 11:56 pm)N391OTY wrote Also it is looking like the whole batch 36461-79 could end up in Newcastle. 68-77 have been here a while of course, but others now seem to be joining them.

(15 Dec 2022, 6:16 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote There's a MAN E200 parked at the back of Sunderland depot having been painted all over white. Unable to identify due to the rear bumper having been removed- although 39711 has been tracking around the paintshop since last week

(15 Dec 2022, 6:16 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote There's a MAN E200 parked at the back of Sunderland depot having been painted all over white. Unable to identify due to the rear bumper having been removed- although 39711 has been tracking around the paintshop since last week