(11 Mar 2017, 1:38 pm)Kuyoyo wrote As it has yet to be mentioned in the news, 638 is now in Corporate livery

(11 Mar 2017, 11:40 pm)EL1TE wrote 4961 is back and on its first day on driver training
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60503103@N02/33000713310/

(11 Mar 2017, 11:45 pm)Jamie M wrote Surprised they haven't cannibalised the display for another vehicle.

(11 Mar 2017, 11:57 pm)EL1TE wrote I was thinking that they would do the same thing they done to the Cadets.

(12 Mar 2017, 3:16 am)Dan wrote Likely to be removed whilst at Saltmeadows Road for repaints.

Lots of new recruits going through the school at the moment, so the bus was required to go straight back out on the road as soon as it was returned from Thorntons.

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(12 Mar 2017, 12:22 pm)dannygee wrote For anyone interested theres a few B7s, 6116,6117 and a few omnideckers on metro replacements

(12 Mar 2017, 12:12 pm)Michael wrote Does anyone know if any of the recently refurbished Citaro's are out today?

(13 Mar 2017, 3:34 pm)LivingOnGNE wrote Yes the X5s.
5284
5289

(13 Mar 2017, 3:38 pm)Michael wrote Day late

(13 Mar 2017, 3:52 pm)S813 FVK wrote Probably wouldn't have been any out anyway - the X5 is allocated Seeit Doit Mercs on Sundays. 5284 being on the 9 was the only real option alongside covering for a gold merc..

(13 Mar 2017, 8:12 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Since both 711 and 713 are now in Venture yellow/red base livery- am I right in assuming there is to be an extension to the Venture network? Id hazard a guess that the 15 might be joining the brand.

(13 Mar 2017, 8:12 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Since both 711 and 713 are now in Venture yellow/red base livery- am I right in assuming there is to be an extension to the Venture network? Id hazard a guess that the 15 might be joining the brand.

(13 Mar 2017, 8:18 pm)S813 FVK wrote Unlikely that the 15 will be joining. The deckers do seem to get quite full, even during the day.

(13 Mar 2017, 9:46 pm)Jamie M wrote I've heard it's some reworking on Stanley's side.
[Rumours incoming]
The morning V7s are packed, whilst the morning 6s are relatively quiet with the high amount of alternative express services covering most of the route. 6/X70/X71 remain dead during the day whilst X31s receive less than X30s on off peak. I'd imagine we'd see a shift towards single decker work on stanley's service work (15 is the only one that deserves deckers imo) and that new work to shuffle around with old minibus work in order to better connect the majority. I'd expect some like vehicles from other depots to cascade (back in some cases) to stanley in order to fulfil this, whilst the B7 plaxtons get turned into cans. Other deckers may come instead of deckers, but I'm thinking the former.

I also think Stanley will shaft the 47s back to riverside and take over the 78s again in order to reduce the service decker count at stanley. Although they're great vehicles, the B9s are neither common at Stanley, nor ever particularly full. Stanley is running the 47s really well, much better than riverside imo, but I don't see that lasting. The amount of lost milage on the 78 between both consett stanley and chester is high, so I don't see those staying at chester for long, either.

All in all, I see Stanley becoming much closer to a traditional low-cost unit, excluding the scholars work. Consett was a low-cost unit prior to it's closure and merging with Stanley and I see Stanley following on. Don't blame the ideology to be honest, the only concern I have is for peak runs which fill X31s and X70/1s to standing space every single working day.

(13 Mar 2017, 8:12 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Since both 711 and 713 are now in Venture yellow/red base livery- am I right in assuming there is to be an extension to the Venture network? Id hazard a guess that the 15 might be joining the brand.

(14 Mar 2017, 12:02 am)BusLoverMum wrote Well, it had 647 on today!

I've never seen it justify the default double deckers it gets.

(14 Mar 2017, 12:09 am)Jimmi wrote From my observations over the years, I would say that the double deckers on the 15/15A are only really required on the peak time runs on a morning and afternoon (in term time at least) that carries the school and college students in and out of Durham, I think at any other time of the day, you could get away with single deckers.

(14 Mar 2017, 12:24 am)BusLoverMum wrote I've never been on a full decker on the 15 or 15A and never seen one leave Durham with more than a handful of passengers - it departs from the stand next to ours, a few minutes before we do. most passengers probably get on at Lanchester.

(14 Mar 2017, 4:17 pm)Dan wrote Merc Citaro 5288 returned from refurbishment today, with 5280 taking its place at Bus & Coach World.

5287 branded up and available for collection from Saltmeadows Road by Deptford - probably next week before it enters service by the time it has an inspection etc.

(14 Mar 2017, 4:23 pm)Michael wrote Thanks for the update Dan, which ones are yet to return?

(14 Mar 2017, 4:25 pm)Dan wrote 5275 - 5280 inclusive, as well as 5290/91. So eight down there at the moment.

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(14 Mar 2017, 4:35 pm)Michael wrote Cool, cheers.

Can you confirm yet, where 5290/91 and the ex Blaydon Racer Citaro's are going?, if so where abouts?

(14 Mar 2017, 4:38 pm)S813 FVK wrote I think where 5290/1 will end up is already clear given that 5285-5289 only make 5 of the 7 PVR of service X5 (6 if 5284 is included).