(29 May 2021, 7:25 am)tyresmoke wrote Ah [emoji23] Ok yeah - I think it may appear on the 0845 or 0945 though


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(29 May 2021, 7:46 am)tyresmoke wrote It’s on the 0845 out of Middlesbrough this morning, will be on X94s all day barring any swaps


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(29 May 2021, 9:03 am)omnicity4659 wrote It's a contender for the worst ever livery. Looks like it was designed by someone on a day trip to Barnard Castle.

(29 May 2021, 9:03 am)omnicity4659 wrote Isn't Sapphire livery either. Glad to see Arriva being consistent as ever.

(29 May 2021, 7:24 pm)mb134 wrote Seeing it from this angle:

Arriva North East: 7426 / LJ55BRX by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

I don't think it's as bad as the photo I'd saw this morning. Looking at the fonts they're clearly going for a retro theme, which fits in with the vehicles they're applying it to. Essentially for a summer peak vehicle, on a seasonal route, I think it's alright - it's a bit of fun, and avoids the awkwardness of branding some 55-plate B7TLs as "Sapphire" in 2021. Would be a very different story if they wrapped the B9s like that though...

(29 May 2021, 7:28 pm)tyresmoke wrote I’m told the B9s are definitely not getting this branding [emoji28]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(04 Jun 2021, 8:08 am)R852 PRG wrote I imagine this move is part of a wider strategy from Arriva whereby the X93/X94 will shortly be rescinded to either Go North East or Transdev and Arriva will initiate a service to Blackpool instead. Interesting that they decide to deploy 16-year-old B7s onto the Scarborough route during the one summer where they have a staycation market to capture. It's as if someone in the higher echelons of the company is just memeing. You'd think they'd just hold off for a few months and do the necessary repaints during the low season.

Certainly an interesting hill for them to choose to die on, if you'll excuse the pun.

(04 Jun 2021, 12:13 pm)Rob44 wrote I know that there is not much competition in the north east but i just don't get why anyone would want arriva to be split between GNE and Stagecoach meaning going from 3 big operators to 2???  If arrvia was to be sold surely it would be better for customers if someone like first ( i know) transdev or even lothian bought the north east ops ???

(04 Jun 2021, 1:00 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Don't think a Scottish state-owned company would be interested in an English company. 

(04 Jun 2021, 8:08 am)R852 PRG wrote I imagine this move is part of a wider strategy from Arriva whereby the X93/X94 will shortly be rescinded to either Go North East or Transdev and Arriva will initiate a service to Blackpool instead. Interesting that they decide to deploy 16-year-old B7s onto the Scarborough route during the one summer where they have a staycation market to capture. It's as if someone in the higher echelons of the company is just memeing. You'd think they'd just hold off for a few months and do the necessary repaints during the low season.

Certainly an interesting hill for them to choose to die on, if you'll excuse the pun.

(04 Jun 2021, 1:38 pm)Mark P wrote Please stop all this fantasy. Unless something significant has changed, the monopolies & mergers lot (or whatever they're called this week) simply wouldn't allow ANE to be sold as a whole (or cherry picked depot by depot) to the likes of GNE or Stagecoach. It would need to be someone without a conflict of interest to buy it which probably explains why it hasn't already been sold.

I can well imagine that GNE and Stagecoach would love to buy certain parts of Arrivaland but it just won't happen! (Like I say, unless something significant has changed).

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

(04 Jun 2021, 2:47 pm)Adrian wrote We're a discussion forum, where we discuss things.

You'll be referring to the Competition and Markets Authority, and I agree with you that they're very unlikely to allow it to be sold as a whole. Depot by depot is the most likely outcome, unless DB have a change of heart, but I reckon that'd still be subject to review and approval (depending on who bids for what, and how much of a monopoly it would give said operator)

(04 Jun 2021, 1:38 pm)Mark P wrote Please stop all this fantasy. Unless something significant has changed, the monopolies & mergers lot (or whatever they're called this week) simply wouldn't allow ANE to be sold as a whole (or cherry picked depot by depot) to the likes of GNE or Stagecoach. It would need to be someone without a conflict of interest to buy it which probably explains why it hasn't already been sold.

I can well imagine that GNE and Stagecoach would love to buy certain parts of Arrivaland but it just won't happen! (Like I say, unless something significant has changed).

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

(05 Jun 2021, 7:36 pm)Ianthegoon wrote There was an (major) operator in the south-west somewhere who attempted to sell operations to the big rival in the area.  Monopolies & Mergers got involved and refused the sale, so operator A just started cancelling routes while operator B added some routes very similar to those cancelled.  The transfer from one to the other was finished in less than a year.

(05 Jun 2021, 7:54 pm)Metroline1511 wrote I think you mean when First were about to sell their remaining Barnstaple operation to Stagecoach, before closing the network and enabling Stagecoach to expand there anyway.

(23 Jun 2021, 5:24 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Turns out that the X93/X94 isn't getting branded as Sapphire after all.

Quite a tacky looking livery on the B9TLs in my opinion.

(23 Jun 2021, 9:51 pm)NewcastleOne wrote https://www.flickr.com/photos/193021185@N04/51265831912/
Agreed but it’s branding Whitby and advertising the service which says more than Sapphire does although it’s still in Sapphire clothes. I wonder if there will be a split of vehicles with Middlesborough and Scarborough on in addition to the Whitby vehicle. (Photo credit arriva northeast)

Edit Just seen the other side has Scarborough on it

7401/7406 are both branded/being branded. Also good to see the last Max vinyl off them.

(24 Jun 2021, 7:45 am)streetdeckfan wrote Christ, that looks bloody horrendous!

It looks like someone has been let loose with WordArt!

Sent from my LM-G710 using Tapatalk

(23 Jun 2021, 9:51 pm)NewcastleOne wrote https://www.flickr.com/photos/193021185@N04/51265831912/
Agreed but it’s branding Whitby and advertising the service which says more than Sapphire does although it’s still in Sapphire clothes. I wonder if there will be a split of vehicles with Middlesborough and Scarborough on in addition to the Whitby vehicle. (Photo credit arriva northeast)

Edit Just seen the other side has Scarborough on it

7401/7406 are both branded/being branded. Also good to see the last Max vinyl off them.