(13 Jun 2015, 4:00 pm)Kuyoyo wrote New Sapphire vehicles are delivered with 128x17 screens. Refurbishments get the 144x19 (size used at the front) screen, so presumably linked up to the front screen. The EcoCitys are the same (apart from some are set up to show the 128x17 displays)

(13 Jun 2015, 2:25 pm)mb134 wrote Majority of the 57-reg batch have dim destinations, as does 7518, could barely read that the other day, had to squint...

Think the NSA's are still broken on the 57-reg ones as well, as I was on 7504 yesterday and they weren't on, however they were working on 7522 last night

(13 Jun 2015, 4:01 pm)aureolin wrote Still?? I'm sorry, but I don't see the point in investing in them if they're not going to be used. Technology isn't difficult to maintain if the time and resource is invested into it, but unfortunately a lot of organisations fail to see how vital IT is as a support function.

(13 Jun 2015, 4:04 pm)Dan wrote If what Kuyoyo said is correct, and they're using the same sign for both the front and the back, they ought to expect there to be problems galore. Avoiding setting up a separate sign is nothing less than pure laziness (or complete lack of knowledge from whoever does the destinations at Arriva).

The destinations flashing is linked to the Next Stop Announcement issue. GNE's Venture Solos had the same problem when new - difference being was that it was fixed within a week (not still ongoing about a year later!)

(13 Jun 2015, 4:04 pm)Dan wrote If what Kuyoyo said is correct, and they're using the same sign for both the front and the back, they ought to expect there to be problems galore. Avoiding setting up a separate sign is nothing less than pure laziness (or complete lack of knowledge from whoever does the destinations at Arriva).

The destinations flashing is linked to the Next Stop Announcement issue. GNE's Venture Solos had the same problem when new - difference being was that it was fixed within a week (not still ongoing about a year later!)

(13 Jun 2015, 4:18 pm)aureolin wrote Botch job then basically? It's pointless doing something if it's not done right. As you'll know better than most, if they're not going to invest the time and resource now, then it's only going to be a bigger issue for them as more and more vehicles get WiFi and NSAs!

I didn't see one working NSA screen yesterday on the X3/X4 Sapphires. The only one that came close was stuck on the next stop being Middlesbrough bus station, despite us heading in the opposite direction. A similar story for the 22's batch in Durham.

(13 Jun 2015, 4:18 pm)aureolin wrote Botch job then basically? It's pointless doing something if it's not done right. As you'll know better than most, if they're not going to invest the time and resource now, then it's only going to be a bigger issue for them as more and more vehicles get WiFi and NSAs!

I didn't see one working NSA screen yesterday on the X3/X4 Sapphires. The only one that came close was stuck on the next stop being Middlesbrough bus station, despite us heading in the opposite direction. A similar story for the 22's batch in Durham.

(13 Jun 2015, 7:25 pm)Davie wrote Is it just me that thinks Arriva North East shouldn't be aloud branded vehicles due to their recent history of them constantly going off route? I don't know know Stockton depot is like for allocations, but from what I've been reading, Belmont seem to get their Max and Sapphire services mixed up, Ashington and Blyth aren't the best and I think we all know what Jesmond are like...

(13 Jun 2015, 7:49 pm)Jimmi wrote I'm fed up with Belmont and them allocating MAX and Sapphire spares to whatever they please.

I have made some excuses for them appearing on other routes but I have had enough, this really angered me tonight...
Arriva North East: 1323 / YX10 EBN by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

Where was the two spares? 1595 was on the 61/62 and lord knows where 1417 was

This is the fifth recorded non Sapphire working on the 7 in the last fortnight on this forum, four of them seem to have been to Darlington being unable to allocate all the Sapphire buses to the 7 for whatever reason. Also why does every other depot get two Sapphire spares whilst Darlington have to make do with one spare and Darlington have a PVR of 8 on the 7.

Although this bus has charging points and e-leather seating (which is not very comfortable) I don't believe they have WiFi (unless they have been fitted since I last rode one) and there is no announcements either. Also looks pretty busy too due to this being a smaller bus.

Don't get me started on 1415... although I haven't seen any odd workings on the X12 in the last week or so, this may mean Belmont have had all 6 Gemini's on the X12 so 1415 hasn't been required on there.

(13 Jun 2015, 7:49 pm)Jimmi wrote I'm fed up with Belmont and them allocating MAX and Sapphire spares to whatever they please.

I have made some excuses for them appearing on other routes but I have had enough, this really angered me tonight...
Arriva North East: 1323 / YX10 EBN by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

Where was the two spares? 1595 was on the 61/62 and lord knows where 1417 was

This is the fifth recorded non Sapphire working on the 7 in the last fortnight on this forum, four of them seem to have been to Darlington being unable to allocate all the Sapphire buses to the 7 for whatever reason. Also why does every other depot get two Sapphire spares whilst Darlington have to make do with one spare and Darlington have a PVR of 8 on the 7.

Although this bus has charging points and e-leather seating (which is not very comfortable) I don't believe they have WiFi (unless they have been fitted since I last rode one) and there is no announcements either. Also looks pretty busy too due to this being a smaller bus.

Don't get me started on 1415... although I haven't seen any odd workings on the X12 in the last week or so, this may mean Belmont have had all 6 Gemini's on the X12 so 1415 hasn't been required on there.

(13 Jun 2015, 7:49 pm)Jimmi wrote I'm fed up with Belmont and them allocating MAX and Sapphire spares to whatever they please.

I have made some excuses for them appearing on other routes but I have had enough, this really angered me tonight...
Arriva North East: 1323 / YX10 EBN by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

Where was the two spares? 1595 was on the 61/62 and lord knows where 1417 was

This is the fifth recorded non Sapphire working on the 7 in the last fortnight on this forum, four of them seem to have been to Darlington being unable to allocate all the Sapphire buses to the 7 for whatever reason. Also why does every other depot get two Sapphire spares whilst Darlington have to make do with one spare and Darlington have a PVR of 8 on the 7.

Although this bus has charging points and e-leather seating (which is not very comfortable) I don't believe they have WiFi (unless they have been fitted since I last rode one) and there is no announcements either. Also looks pretty busy too due to this being a smaller bus.

Don't get me started on 1415... although I haven't seen any odd workings on the X12 in the last week or so, this may mean Belmont have had all 6 Gemini's on the X12 so 1415 hasn't been required on there.

(13 Jun 2015, 8:04 pm)MrPottski wrote 1415 was on the 6 again today. One of Darlington's deckers has had "issues" recently, so the spare has being used on the 7. When one goes bang, no spare to cover. I do have to admit though, allocation is one of the worst jobs, Darlington do manage to get it done most of the time on run out, it's only when issues arise later that you have branded vehicles go walkies. For instance, if you have already allocated the spare Sapphire to, say, an X75/6 due to a breakdown, then another Sapphire also has issues, pulling the spare off the X75/6 to get it back on the 7 will be virtually impossible. In an ideal world, we would have a limitless engineering budget, so breakdowns wouldn't happen, and branded vehicles would always be where they should be.

(13 Jun 2015, 8:10 pm)Davie wrote Please correct me if I'm wrong Jimmi, but didn't you photograph a DAF ALX400 trident on the 7?

(13 Jun 2015, 7:49 pm)Jimmi wrote I'm fed up with Belmont and them allocating MAX and Sapphire spares to whatever they please.

I have made some excuses for them appearing on other routes but I have had enough, this really angered me tonight...
Arriva North East: 1323 / YX10 EBN by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

Where was the two spares? 1595 was on the 61/62 and lord knows where 1417 was

This is the fifth recorded non Sapphire working on the 7 in the last fortnight on this forum, four of them seem to have been to Darlington being unable to allocate all the Sapphire buses to the 7 for whatever reason. Also why does every other depot get two Sapphire spares whilst Darlington have to make do with one spare and Darlington have a PVR of 8 on the 7.

Although this bus has charging points and e-leather seating (which is not very comfortable) I don't believe they have WiFi (unless they have been fitted since I last rode one) and there is no announcements either. Also looks pretty busy too due to this being a smaller bus.

Don't get me started on 1415... although I haven't seen any odd workings on the X12 in the last week or so, this may mean Belmont have had all 6 Gemini's on the X12 so 1415 hasn't been required on there.

(13 Jun 2015, 8:24 pm)cbma06 wrote I always thought that the Eviros 200's at durham were for service 64 and be branded for service 64?.

(13 Jun 2015, 8:23 pm)Jimmi wrote Yes I did...
Arriva North East 7461 / T308 FGN by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

This seems to be one of the most popular photos I have uploaded as people have said about this photo when I have seen people out and about before, even though it's not my most viewed or has the largest favourites although this was taken back in December when I had less followers on Flickr.

(13 Jun 2015, 8:29 pm)Davie wrote It is a very good photo!

(13 Jun 2015, 7:49 pm)Jimmi wrote I'm fed up with Belmont and them allocating MAX and Sapphire spares to whatever they please.

I have made some excuses for them appearing on other routes but I have had enough, this really angered me tonight...
Arriva North East: 1323 / YX10 EBN by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

Where was the two spares? 1595 was on the 61/62 and lord knows where 1417 was

This is the fifth recorded non Sapphire working on the 7 in the last fortnight on this forum, four of them seem to have been to Darlington being unable to allocate all the Sapphire buses to the 7 for whatever reason. Also why does every other depot get two Sapphire spares whilst Darlington have to make do with one spare and Darlington have a PVR of 8 on the 7.

Although this bus has charging points and e-leather seating (which is not very comfortable) I don't believe they have WiFi (unless they have been fitted since I last rode one) and there is no announcements either. Also looks pretty busy too due to this being a smaller bus.

Don't get me started on 1415... although I haven't seen any odd workings on the X12 in the last week or so, this may mean Belmont have had all 6 Gemini's on the X12 so 1415 hasn't been required on there.

(13 Jun 2015, 8:03 pm)MrPottski wrote 1415 was on the 6 again today. One of Darlington's deckers has had "issues" recently, so the spare has being used on the 7. When one goes bang, no spare to cover. I do have to admit though, allocation is one of the worst jobs, Darlington do manage to get it done most of the time on run out, it's only when issues arise later that you have branded vehicles go walkies. For instance, if you have already allocated the spare Sapphire to, say, an X75/6 due to a breakdown, then another Sapphire also has issues, pulling the spare off the X75/6 to get it back on the 7 will be virtually impossible. In an ideal world, we would have a limitless engineering budget, so breakdowns wouldn't happen, and branded vehicles would always be where they should be.

(13 Jun 2015, 8:37 pm)aureolin wrote An E200 is clearly unsuitable for the 7, given that it's recently been upgraded to deckers to match the demand.

(13 Jun 2015, 7:25 pm)Davie wrote Is it just me that thinks Arriva North East shouldn't be aloud branded vehicles due to their recent history of them constantly going off route? I don't know know Stockton depot is like for allocations, but from what I've been reading, Belmont seem to get their Max and Sapphire services mixed up, Ashington and Blyth aren't the best and I think we all know what Jesmond are like...

(13 Jun 2015, 7:25 pm)Davie wrote Is it just me that thinks Arriva North East shouldn't be aloud branded vehicles due to their recent history of them constantly going off route? I don't know know Stockton depot is like for allocations, but from what I've been reading, Belmont seem to get their Max and Sapphire services mixed up, Ashington and Blyth aren't the best and I think we all know what Jesmond are like...

(13 Jun 2015, 10:50 pm)Multi21 wrote Stockton are pretty good with allocations 

1484 - 1490 15 Branded very rarely venture anywhere else apart from a single 17A on a morning

1441 -  1443 X12 Branded rarely seen elsewhere unless broken or a Sunday 

1550 - 1559 Sapphire 5 Branded never seen anywhere else unless it's an extreme emergency 

1512 - Spare Sapphire bus usually seen on a board that works from or too an X5 

(13 Jun 2015, 10:50 pm)Multi21 wrote Stockton are pretty good with allocations 

1484 - 1490 15 Branded very rarely venture anywhere else apart from a single 17A on a morning

1441 -  1443 X12 Branded rarely seen elsewhere unless broken or a Sunday 

1550 - 1559 Sapphire 5 Branded never seen anywhere else unless it's an extreme emergency 

1512 - Spare Sapphire bus usually seen on a board that works from or too an X5 

(13 Jun 2015, 10:52 pm)aureolin wrote Aye I'd agree with the X12 - can't really comment on the rest as I don't see them daily! It's rare I have anything other than 1441-43 on my morning X12.

(13 Jun 2015, 10:52 pm)aureolin wrote Aye I'd agree with the X12 - can't really comment on the rest as I don't see them daily! It's rare I have anything other than 1441-43 on my morning X12.

(13 Jun 2015, 11:02 pm)Davie wrote Isn't service X12 shared between Belmont and Stockton depots?

(13 Jun 2015, 11:22 pm)Jimmi wrote Yes the X12 is shared between Belmont and Stockton depots.

(13 Jun 2015, 10:00 pm)mb134 wrote I'd like to see how well GNE do actually, although I don't really pay attention, I gather some of their depots are/were notorious for allocating incorrectly.

(14 Jun 2015, 6:24 am)Dan wrote Some Go North East depots were quite bad for wrong allocations in the past, but senior management have been clamping down on it by producing daily reports which details all non-compliant workings. The depots have to provide a reason for every non-compliant allocation, meaning that they can't just throw buses here, there and everywhere.

There's hardly any instances of a branded vehicle being allocated to a service it shouldn't be from run out now; when there has been instances of this occurring, it's been to keep a bus local to the depot after it has just undergone repairs. It's more or less always later in the day that problems occur - a bus breaks down and the only bus available is a branded bus (which had been allocated as a check car), it's better to allocate that than lose mileage. It's finding a chance to swap both buses over later in the day that poses a challenge, more often than not.

To outsiders looking in, allocations have most definitely not improved at Arriva. Unlike Go North East and other Arriva North East depots, I'm fairly sure Blyth have (several times in the past) allocated branded vehicles to the wrong routes from early doors. I understand that every service leaves Blyth more or less on-time during the day, as they use the spare vehicle in the bus station regardless of the vehicle type, to make this so, but it's the wrong run out allocations Arriva's senior management ought to be working on before they get to the wrong allocations during the day. The depots should be in a position to provide reasoning to Arriva's senior management as to why x, y and z allocations have happened, and then leave it to senior management to increase their spare vehicle allocation or improve reliability of the existing fleet by expanding engineering's budget or providing the depot with a more reliable fleet.

The allocation of "MAX X12" branded VDL Pulsar 1415 to every other route at Belmont besides the X12 on a daily basis is clearly a decision at depot management level (or even higher up) given the amount of times it has happened. Why senior management haven't decided to remove the sub-branding for service X12 and leave it as a generic "MAX" spare (which wouldn't be quite as bad as the situation at present), is beyond me. If Belmont requires an extra double decker to "MAX" specification to release 1415 to another depot, it's up to senior management to find it, whether it's an internal asset or an external asset that has to be bought in.