(11 Sep 2022, 4:19 am)omnicity4659 wrote I agree, the greys didn't suit the interior at all.

As for the the spec, there's only been the following changes to the standard spec since 1999:

• 1999: "bridges" moquette, black flooring, yellow handrails, blue/turquoise panels, green walls
  
• 2009: "Overdrive" moquette, black flooring, mustard handrails, blue/turquoise panels, green walls
  
• 2009: "windows" moquette, grey patterned flooring, cream handrails, blue/turquoise panels, green walls
  
• 2014: blue pleather, grey patterned flooring, cream handrails, blue/turquoise panels, green walls
  
• 2015: as above with 3-pin plugs
  
• 2016: 3-pin plugs swapped for USB charging
  

2005 was when their premium spec (part of the national Operation Overdrive, locally named Viva) was launched with green interiors, teal flooring, tinted windows etc. Many MPDs, 7445/6 and the 57 plate E400s were delivered in that spec.

(11 Sep 2022, 7:47 pm)wibblejunior wrote The shade of bleen that the 57-rego Lowlanders had looks particularly awful. Makes me want to throw up just looking at pictures of them on Flickr.

Looks like 7501-13 also used that same shade when they were new, but 7514-21 used a much less eye-straining shade of blue when they were delivered (which 7511-3 also received when they were refurbished to MAX spec).

(11 Sep 2022, 8:21 pm)Storx wrote Aye horrid the Overdrive interior like.

1763 - 1773
Omnicity's (not sure on numbers)
7445 - 7446
7501 - 7513

All had it aswell, it was all part of a fleet investment in 2005 then for some strange reason the Enviro's and the Lowlanders you mentioned there came with it aswell. Not sure why it was resurrected up here in 2017 as it was dead elsewhere as far as I'm aware.

The Cadet at Ashington which seems to be still in service is in it aswell bar it's had it's seats reupholstered at some point.

(11 Sep 2022, 8:21 pm)Storx wrote Aye horrid the Overdrive interior like.

1763 - 1773
Omnicity's (not sure on numbers)
7445 - 7446
7501 - 7513

All had it aswell, it was all part of a fleet investment in 2005 then for some strange reason the Enviro's and the Lowlanders you mentioned there came with it aswell. Not sure why it was resurrected up here in 2017 as it was dead elsewhere as far as I'm aware.

The Cadet at Ashington which seems to be still in service is in it aswell bar it's had it's seats reupholstered at some point.

(12 Sep 2022, 9:14 pm)V514DFT wrote I know the 08 plate Solo's have a pretty miserable interior

(12 Sep 2022, 12:03 pm)wibblejunior wrote Looks like the entire batch of DK55 cadets had that interior when they were new. https://flic.kr/p/g4rowi

More vehicles with that interior include:

Arriva the Shires KE55 Solars: https://www.flickr.com/photos/faversham-gallery/50033989407/in/photolist-283rdKQ-2jekgTM-2mvdSWf-2mEuaNV-9p4fE2-2dvvV3U-6KzcCi-2mJebyo-2aFj7pc-a9vykt-qCzDgH-icXRaV-9pt75Y-2majHgF
Arriva Southern Counties Darts
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gbbuspics/30849008856/in/photolist-2mNNdGA-2mYMH4D-2mYHW5C-P12ez3-2ihdYNw-7MyGid-CMZXHf-8xzaGM-snMheb-2nsSour-2mYJv2S-2mHDm1z-2n2CMLV-25fFYBc-ND1NhH-9XUyCX-pftddf-YKse2V-JhmtRs-2iLDQru-2doTTnE-xxiWVL-iwjqs9-c7Ey4E-iKSxmP https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesexcellbusandcoachphotos/49879934547/in/photolist-2nqKEtK-2iZHGKv-dxfGKG-dfKLp2-2jknuNu-q4pPCx-qHBVrQ-BJTVnk-2mK2Jkf-YtQgnU-GeUdSD-YqCa3s-2kVpE6e-233Ab3a-2jAGGWd-2kNkBVe-2kZvXM8-23kEgrL-xmB6rm-24pSzmK-2j9rjot-2k92zmQ-k9xhGR-oNTpne-PX8sfT-XfUWbt-WeBEVZ-7Bcko8-JcjWx5-aEhSgc-JcjWnf-JcjWdC-aEmmc1-6DmgHo-AQ8Nzk-aEhqiV-24AMu7K-7f84Dn-2n8pFYm
Arriva Southern Counties B7TL/ALX400s
https://www.flickr.com/photos/47745602@N06/51983972698/in/photolist-2nztQp2-2ncDrZm-2kpkvhG-2knuJaQ-2ncEyYW-2mZV7Yz-UzixJY-2n9t8ii-2kMBggs-2nF8Drk-2jRn9Hk-2kd1i1w-2kQhp5N-2jVBzqJ-231dLEc-29ahE5i-sjBmgv-2nfyccg-SXFQdB-2kS7sM8-2kZcEjw-itfQj2-2kgua8p-UUWUjY-2kaUiMY-JfWY74-JvDVK4-rnGzP9-V3Sfp8-r176gL-eGVRbD-KksNPH-rHveAQ-Wy7FMF-DE59d6-GWX9JV-YQC32U-gA9aFj-2njY3YV-JcwSC6-2hr9QnA-dHSGYK-2dB8bVf-dEWstk-2n9snzs-ocWChr-dYRBEf-Qt8tcd-dRg7kh-eFSJ7T
Arriva Midlands Commanders and Geminis
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135481234@N06/41998247575/in/photolist-2n6g6tG-2nJvGEf-2mNd7jy-2nyUxdJ-2mMAhcB-2mK4s1Q-27BdF4q-26ZeZNP-2ahWDqy-9wuKRy-2aneqGi-2nJHeoE-Ymazrg-2fKWmjC-2kUsYQW-2kFbB6s-2kUKgnw-2mYTVWx-2mNUi9k-2kHTY4B-2hT9thZ-2hT5SM3-25T1TVJ-2mNwtYZ-aMmpiV-btE1Xz-2mQCLqa-crxSCd-23QyMax-9tDqJH-He3nhR-tFjiD1-b5A1Qv-2m5ysmP-e3T2h9-iUW8Fj-iUW455-6ouWyv-ac6ncd-9u5w7M-hEgvvk-b5zSxR-fVphfV-fjEWwf-StnwKM-ac44iz-b5zV2n-fVqocT-hQyqoL-e5tBtM
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ksu461/12676217784/in/photolist-H3ZNJj-GAgmjr-kj9VV3-Z7e9vS-2gYu9b4-2kh1u6U-2k4uwbx-BRkSyM-VohCcs-2n7vjJG-2mjZJ4K-DCQYmP-D85XnX-cry2Uf-aZHoxH-GWMdyR-2k5F4we-rvA3oJ-2ekg65m-27CBbW6-rKSsvy-xLzhvJ-KzKPnt-2hZDfRh-Vr7s3Z-YDV1gk-2hXZ8G9-8YAMb7-YmR4uS-2hgqJ5H-aK79uB-2haYq9V-AA1r5t-EgLScC-DKBpFc-2k5KsNF-249zTAq-doSBDH-T5SWAm-2hPe7Fb-e3bgxX-2g9NRp8-29ZM4K9-KgzxEN-2hdwgYT-wTmmUR-v6SpwF-9ppBJB-ThoMBM-29vHNxf
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bigdan14025/8378502114/in/photolist-MdtqwN-27YfY8v-2nwXwXn-JuKo9M-JpnnQW-HjxxiY-dLo1M1-2gLiaX4-crxWdw-eGWgs6-crxVEu-dLhwMV-btE1J8-9W7wGw-8UhL7X-iUXSX9-bsFvqg-ctqhu7-aZHsqa-2hPf5FJ-21Ker5G-9VRg72-bYCGTE-e3heSd-Gbqi2D-HecRdF-r52uA1-f8LbUC-27bM4SH-nCPc6o-aK76bi-iaQWJM-21PuepA-XRW3oi-VKqxpL-9psBPd-aKDwCM-6BkPaT-qJ1bR8-rCv73J-QTsfQb-rtxfFF-uRiAEd-bN6ad8-wfWkkm-yxr8Zd-skJTR5-TWcbLE-rmqzbt-zM28ZQ
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bens_transport_photos/7160962060/in/photolist-bUMNx7-oW5Ags-2fGNxip-2hEak4V-dbEAxJ-dbkgCi-dcae71-p8QRrg-dQ4UsE-bG5JfT-Rjx5cc-dB3mzj-2brqZ8j-bG4Kpc-2kwBSDb-dN8sBZ-dfGAU7-npaAt7-bX6o9p-brTmCd-npaBjK-btaVFh-dPJDa6-dff52H-PRzmrW-dd3mpJ-dDtoaM-bXnVj7-bFW3Lx-2hSANKB-krr5rN-dU94i7-2icAFD7-fDGY6o-rDEt9m-2kCk4C3-23BtE9d-dcc33r-cSdxej-fDqiyp-22i8rwy-dbWA6k-dEGrER-dbBG1p-cm2mYA-AS5Shp-eaJtzZ-U7yEF7-nCQ2Es

(12 Sep 2022, 12:23 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Indeed - Runcorn was the next area after Durham to go 'Operation Overdrive' with 42 VDL SB120/Wright Cadets (along with a few refurbished Scania N113CRL/Wright Pathfinders), the majority of the Cadets carrying 'Strider' branding for the Runcorn network. North West, unlike North East, retrimmed their vehicle during repaints so their entire batch of Cadets gained the 2009 'Blue Block' moquette when they were repainted into interurban livery.

(12 Sep 2022, 9:14 pm)V514DFT wrote I know the 08 plate Solo's have a pretty miserable interior

(18 Sep 2022, 8:16 am)Rob44 wrote Have arriva north east received some new small single decker's as well as those double decker's that are oin the x21 route. I was sitting in the hotspur drinking away and cant decide if i dreamt all these new buses or they were actually there as we've been told numerous times on here that arriva NE are being run into the ground and will get zero new equipment?

PS bee nice if i've just missed the post saying they were coming, i have a terrible hangover!!

(18 Sep 2022, 8:23 am)Andreos1 wrote Aye, they've branded them as the 'Pink Elephant'

(18 Sep 2022, 8:16 am)Rob44 wrote Have arriva north east received some new small single decker's as well as those double decker's that are oin the x21 route. I was sitting in the hotspur drinking away and cant decide if i dreamt all these new buses or they were actually there as we've been told numerous times on here that arriva NE are being run into the ground and will get zero new equipment?

PS bee nice if i've just missed the post saying they were coming, i have a terrible hangover!!

(18 Sep 2022, 9:48 am)omnicity4659 wrote Yes, loads of new E200MMCs to replace the Solos... unless I've spent too much time in The Five Swans and The Job Bulman and have also dreamt them...

(18 Sep 2022, 8:16 am)Rob44 wrote Have arriva north east received some new small single decker's as well as those double decker's that are oin the x21 route. I was sitting in the hotspur drinking away and cant decide if i dreamt all these new buses or they were actually there as we've been told numerous times on here that arriva NE are being run into the ground and will get zero new equipment?

PS bee nice if i've just missed the post saying they were coming, i have a terrible hangover!!

(18 Sep 2022, 11:59 am)L469 YVK wrote Maybe they had plans before covid? But got put on hold for obvious reasons.

Arriva's Northumbria network looks to have recovered mostly well bar a few rotten eggs that should hopefully be sorted in time.

Hopefully Blyth's turn next year......I'd say if anything for the 308 (and 306 if interworking), send 12x of whatever is due to Blyth to Ashington then let 7541-52 see out their time at Blyth on the 308. I doubt GNE will allocate anything newer than 67 reg StreetDecks on the 309/310/311 (cascaded presumably off the 21) unless they won some sort of Green Bus fund bid or GAG's new investors had a change of heart.

(18 Sep 2022, 12:11 pm)Unber43 wrote How profitable is the coast road honestly

(18 Sep 2022, 4:33 pm)L469 YVK wrote Well other than Saturdays to help with the driver situation and evenings, Arriva haven't reduced any frequencies and are still charging the 'going fare'.

(18 Sep 2022, 11:59 am)L469 YVK wrote Maybe they had plans before covid? But got put on hold for obvious reasons.

Arriva's Northumbria network looks to have recovered mostly well bar a few rotten eggs that should hopefully be sorted in time.

Hopefully Blyth's turn next year......I'd say if anything for the 308 (and 306 if interworking), send 12x of whatever is due to Blyth to Ashington then let 7541-52 see out their time at Blyth on the 308. I doubt GNE will allocate anything newer than 67 reg StreetDecks on the 309/310/311 (cascaded presumably off the 21) unless they won some sort of Green Bus fund bid or GAG's new investors had a change of heart.

(18 Sep 2022, 4:45 pm)Unber43 wrote That didn't answer my questions.

ANE, GNE are pushing the coast road GNE every 7 mins, so it must be profitable.

(18 Sep 2022, 11:59 am)L469 YVK wrote Maybe they had plans before covid? But got put on hold for obvious reasons.

Arriva's Northumbria network looks to have recovered mostly well bar a few rotten eggs that should hopefully be sorted in time.

Hopefully Blyth's turn next year......I'd say if anything for the 308 (and 306 if interworking), send 12x of whatever is due to Blyth to Ashington then let 7541-52 see out their time at Blyth on the 308. I doubt GNE will allocate anything newer than 67 reg StreetDecks on the 309/310/311 (cascaded presumably off the 21) unless they won some sort of Green Bus fund bid or GAG's new investors had a change of heart.

(18 Sep 2022, 4:58 pm)Storx wrote Don't see the point in moving those to Blyth.

imo a sensible investment for Blyth would be

The X7, X8, X9 are going to be affected by the Blyth and Tyne line the most so you might want to improve the service before it turns it up otherwise they could be in big trouble.

(18 Sep 2022, 10:07 pm)Shrek wrote Regarding the 44/45, they had generally been getting good passenger numbers, but it's noticeable that there's been a drop recently since the emergency timetable was put in place and the regular cancellations on top of that. With hundreds of new houses under construction, if they can get some reliability back to the services they will likely see good use again.

(24 Sep 2022, 3:26 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Have all the new single decks arrived yet? I noticed one or two solos still knocking about today. When are they due to be withdrawn/sent elsewhere?

(24 Sep 2022, 5:30 pm)mb134 wrote Think the only one I've seen left is the Quorum branded one? Possible they're keeping it to cover for teething issues (given they're new, it'll be a case of waiting for ADL to fix any issues under warranty so might not be as quick as a depot could do it), or for the entry into service of their deckers (I've not seen any of 7515/6/53/54 in service there, and 7556 is/was dead at Ashington last week).

(24 Sep 2022, 5:44 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 2837 is the only one of Northumbria’s M950s being retained - the 555 doesn’t enter the CAZ zone so does not need to be operated by a Euro6 vehicle. Likewise, 2601-3 are being retained for the 553 for the same reason.