(17 Jan 2023, 6:10 pm)Dyllan7817 wrote 762 is now back on the road and has passed its MOT at Stockton

(23 Jan 2023, 5:36 pm)Ryland wrote 1430 now off the road following from an rtc today

(29 Jan 2023, 11:43 pm)Mark66t wrote Also 1439 on Wednesday

(30 Jan 2023, 8:26 am)mb134 wrote Even after all the transfers to ensure it doesn't happen, it's taken approximately 8 hours for a non-CAZ compliant bus to go into the CAZ. 2603 is on the 44.

7515 cut it close too last night, was on a board due to finish at Haymarket at 0000, but arrived about 5 early.

(30 Jan 2023, 9:52 am)Storx wrote I don't know but the Solos might have an exception if the new order of minibuses is coming soon which was planned?

Unless the changes are permenant which they say they aren't then they need buses from somewhere as they've gave everything away. (The buses currently on the 55 should be enough though if a new order came).

(30 Jan 2023, 10:00 am)Kuyoyo wrote The Solos at Walkergate shouldn't need replacing - the work they are meant to be used on (the 553 and 555) doesn't enter the CAZ area - hence why they weren't replaced alongside the older examples in the autumn (plus, they aren't much use anywhere else either - believe the Whitby examples will be needing replacing soon due to age restrictions on the Lealholmside contract, likewise the Park and Ride Geminis are approaching replacement for the same reason).

(16 Jan 2023, 6:55 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote think one or two of them are sat in Darlington yard in the scrap corner

(11 Jul 2023, 6:26 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Has anything been withdrawn after the service changes at the weekend?

(28 Jul 2023, 3:33 pm)9920up wrote 2868 now in the scrap corner keeping 2865 company at Darlington

(31 Jul 2023, 8:05 am)Ryland wrote According to bus times 2871 is now withdrawn.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/history?vehicle__operator=ANEA

Yet withdrawing 2011 plates buses when there still 2007/8/9 plates in worse states on the road?
Is 4723 withdrawn or still pending repair

(31 Jul 2023, 9:29 am)Storx wrote They're all as bad as each other, they just need to order another batch of Enviro 200 MMC's (or something else) - not sure how many is actually needed and get shot of them. The 08 plate is the most reliable at Ashington ironically, 2854 and 2856 and being much worse. 2856 seems to be banned from the 57/57A for some reason which considering it's the reason it's there for is a problem.

(31 Jul 2023, 9:33 am)Kuyoyo wrote Or maybe Ashington just need to get their engineering staff in order - ironic that the issues with the 59 plates only became major when Ashington got their hands on them. Especially considering those that ended up at Durham didn't appear to have any of the issues Ashington have apparently had.

(31 Jul 2023, 9:33 am)Kuyoyo wrote Or maybe Ashington just need to get their engineering staff in order - ironic that the issues with the 59 plates only became major when Ashington got their hands on them. Especially considering those that ended up at Durham didn't appear to have any of the issues Ashington have apparently had.

(31 Jul 2023, 10:09 am)Storx wrote In fairness, it's not just Ashington which is having problems Redcar / Whitby is just as bad. They've got a Streetlite on the 95/96 today, even known they've got 5 Solo's. Not sure what 2 are doing at Redcar atm though mind, assuming they've had issues and are being kept local.

It appears 2859 at Walkergate broke down the other day aswell.

(31 Jul 2023, 1:50 pm)Ryland wrote Streetlite swapped for a decker. 7404 is now on the 95
The solos might be 2862 which hasn't tracked since the 10th of July 
And 2863 which was out supposedly first thing this morning but broke down on the X3 
2860 is on the 62 
2866 has tracked since Saturday afternoon. 

Feel as though Arriva has been forgotten about within the north east. 
Only 2 sets of new buses and cascades of older examples from other depots. 
Could it get any worse

(31 Jul 2023, 9:29 am)Storx wrote They're all as bad as each other, they just need to order another batch of Enviro 200 MMC's (or something else) - not sure how many is actually needed and get shot of them. The 08 plate is the most reliable at Ashington ironically, 2854 and 2856 and being much worse. 2856 seems to be banned from the 57/57A for some reason which considering it's the reason it's there for is a problem.

(31 Jul 2023, 9:33 am)Kuyoyo wrote Or maybe Ashington just need to get their engineering staff in order - ironic that the issues with the 59 plates only became major when Ashington got their hands on them. Especially considering those that ended up at Durham didn't appear to have any of the issues Ashington have apparently had.

(31 Jul 2023, 9:33 am)Kuyoyo wrote Or maybe Ashington just need to get their engineering staff in order - ironic that the issues with the 59 plates only became major when Ashington got their hands on them. Especially considering those that ended up at Durham didn't appear to have any of the issues Ashington have apparently had.

(31 Jul 2023, 7:20 pm)mb134 wrote 2856 runs a tad warm. 


I mean, aren't issues more likely to become major when you're asking a 13 year old minibus to complete a relatively demanding interurban route compared to it trundling around Darlington? 

They're also being used on said route 7 days a week, from start until end of service, and being driven by the newest drivers (who I imagine are more likely to report potential issues, being fresh out of the training school, requiring the bus to be checked by engineering and taken out of service).

(31 Jul 2023, 9:01 pm)peter wrote While I don't want to comment on Ashington's engineering, I do find it noteworthy that of the solo's remaining with Arriva Durham County, the 11-plates are seemingly being withdrawn before the 59-plates which, as you say, seem to handle some pretty intensive services around Durham not just Darlington town.

(31 Jul 2023, 9:39 pm)Storx wrote Guess that's why it's not allowed on it.


To be fair, apart from the 57/57A/58. Durham's work isn't particular that hard, the 49/49A is pretty much just trundling along at 30 mph for most of it's route and that was mostly their allocation. It's no worse than any of the Darlington work compared to the 57/57A which has quite a few 60 mph sections and it's usually where they break. Earsdon Road, in particular, seems to be a hot spot for killing them off.

I was going to say they had a good day, the 3 working but I'd be lying and something has clearly gone wrong with 2852 with it leaving Whitley Bay 30 minutes late, then being pulled at Cramlington.

(01 Aug 2023, 6:20 pm)peter wrote The 49/49A is almost exclusively E200's now, 2834/57/61 seem to put in a good days shift on the 58.