I'll be honest, it often seems like there is a Sapphire branded vehicle on the 46/48 or 43, often the latter.

(17 Oct 2015, 6:57 pm)Davie wrote Thanks both. Just I photographed a Sapphire Pulsar on there and was wondering if it was rare or not.

Wouldn't say it was rare, as Jimmi said, they do get allocated to the Durham 'local' services quite often just to keep them local when required. Better than having them stuck in the depot all day thats for sure.

(17 Oct 2015, 1:48 pm)mb134 wrote They've forgotten to change two numbers from '5' to '8'?

Can think of far bigger problems, like it's punctuality...

Agree

---

(17 Oct 2015, 5:34 pm)GX03 SVC wrote New Free WiFi stickers on the front of 7804.

That is because they just gained WiFi

(17 Oct 2015, 2:35 pm)S813 FVK wrote T313 FGN - its an ALX400.

The worst kept ALX400
The upstairs is awful, was on a Jesmond W-Reg one on Wednesday on my 52, much better

(17 Oct 2015, 7:33 pm)NK53 TKT wrote That is because they just gained WiFi

No they haven't. They gained WiFi in either 2013 or 2014. They had the free WiFi stickers on the window before the ticket advertisements came.

(17 Oct 2015, 7:36 pm)NK53 TKT wrote The worst kept ALX400
The upstairs is awful, was on a Jesmond W-Reg one on Wednesday on my 52, much better

I found it clean, tidy and rather powerful. More powerful and clleaner than 7626 I had earlier...

The upstairs has the same amount of comfort as a well known type of bus seat...

i know i have no photos but is there any reason for X447 FGP being on the x20 to alnwick. also to note it got to alnwick then it went out of service

(17 Oct 2015, 7:42 pm)buss14 wrote i know i have no photos but is there any reason for X447 FGP being on the x20 to alnwick. also to note it got to alnwick then it went out of service

On loan.

(17 Oct 2015, 7:43 pm)GX03 SVC wrote On loan.

thank you and seems more likely

Hate the Darlington 5/5A, takes far too long to get from Darlington to Newton Aycliffe these days, think it's totally silly that it's timetabled to take 34 minutes to get between these two points, it should take 31 minutes tops, you nearly always end up sat at timing points for what feels like forever. Got the 18:00 5 from Darlington Town Centre this evening and I couldn't help but think that I could have gotten the 7 which left 3 minutes before the 5 and despite having to walk home from the nearest bus stop for the 7 I could have gotten home nearly 10 minutes earlier rather than been shaken to death on 1426 at Newton Aycliffe Town Centre for around 5 minutes! [emoji34]

Not being anti Arriva here, but what is up with the reliability of Blyth's services? Already seen several instances of X7s and X8s running 20-30 minutes late and many passengers reporting such issues and not only during peak times, but also between Blyth and Quorum too before the services hit such traffic. Also seen a few complaints about the X10 / X11 too. It would be like GNE sending out a 10 from Hexham depot first thing in the morning and it ending up 15-20 minutes late in Corbridge and Prudhoe. Could it be the following issues:

- A few drivers going too slow (not including those who are sticking to the speed limits and keeping safe) and not anticipating the potential amount of passengers who board the services?

- Arriva not giving the services enough time? (X8 looks a bit tight between Bebside and Cramlington)

- Poor quality vehicles?

- Poor dispatch reliability? (vehicles leaving depot late with minor problem having been fixed but no alternative vehicles available at the time)

(17 Oct 2015, 10:44 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Not being anti Arriva here, but what is up with the reliability of Blyth's services? Already seen several instances of X7s and X8s running 20-30 minutes late and many passengers reporting such issues and not only during peak times, but also between Blyth and Quorum too before the services hit such traffic. Also seen a few complaints about the X10 / X11 too. It would be like GNE sending out a 10 from Hexham depot first thing in the morning and it ending up 15-20 minutes late in Corbridge and Prudhoe. Could it be the following issues:

- A few drivers going too slow (not including those who are sticking to the speed limits and keeping safe) and not anticipating the potential amount of passengers who board the services?

- Arriva not giving the services enough time? (X8 looks a bit tight between Bebside and Cramlington)

- Poor quality vehicles?

- Poor dispatch reliability? (vehicles leaving depot late with minor problem having been fixed but no alternative vehicles available at the time)

I've heard about similar complaints, especially with regards to the X5 (can't remember if that's the X7 or X8 now so I'll leave it as that), indeed the last time I was forced into using it it turned up well over 10 minutes late. 

It seems like a daily occurrence that I see quite a few very late Blyth 'express' services (how they can class the 'X5' as an express is beyond me),and I keep thinking the same, 

I think you can pretty much rule out traffic, the 43 goes through Cramlington unharmed for example (the run I see on the morning is bang on every day), and if it were traffic in Blyth it would show on the 1 & 2 as well, I've only seen a massively delayed one of these once or twice. 

I'd put it down to vehicles, I've frequently been on an X21/22 that has pulled away from a Blyth Gemini with ease, especially on the A1 stretch,

Also, as an example of timings, an X22 arrives at Newcastle in the morning at 7:12, it leaves as an X21 at 7:24, the last time I checked an X13(X9?) leaves at the same time, but arrives initially far later than the X22, meaning far less time is available especially if the service arrives 5 minutes late, and still has to get passengers on and off, of what I assume to be a busy early morning service.

(18 Oct 2015, 8:38 am)mb134 wrote I've heard about similar complaints, especially with regards to the X5 (can't remember if that's the X7 or X8 now so I'll leave it as that), indeed the last time I was forced into using it it turned up well over 10 minutes late. 

It seems like a daily occurrence that I see quite a few very late Blyth 'express' services (how they can class the 'X5' as an express is beyond me),and I keep thinking the same, 

I think you can pretty much rule out traffic, the 43 goes through Cramlington unharmed for example (the run I see on the morning is bang on every day), and if it were traffic in Blyth it would show on the 1 & 2 as well, I've only seen a massively delayed one of these once or twice. 

I'd put it down to vehicles, I've frequently been on an X21/22 that has pulled away from a Blyth Gemini with ease, especially on the A1 stretch,

Also, as an example of timings, an X22 arrives at Newcastle in the morning at 7:12, it leaves as an X21 at 7:24, the last time I checked an X13(X9?) leaves at the same time, but arrives initially far later than the X22, meaning far less time is available especially if the service arrives 5 minutes late, and still has to get passengers on and off, of what I assume to be a busy early morning service.

the reason for ashington depot have buses leaving late is because there is always a lorry blocking the way out

(18 Oct 2015, 9:08 am)buss14 wrote the reason for ashington depot have buses leaving late is because there is always a lorry blocking the way out

At no point have either of us talked about late running Ashington services, 

In fact, in my recent experience, Ashington seem to have got their services sorted out punctuality wise, I can count on two fingers the amount of 5 minutes + late Ashington services I've used in the past week, and I've used a lot.

(18 Oct 2015, 9:12 am)mb134 wrote At no point have either of us talked about late running Ashington services, 

In fact, in my recent experience, Ashington seem to have got their services sorted out punctuality wise, I can count on two fingers the amount of 5 minutes + late Ashington services I've used in the past week, and I've used a lot.

sorry i should have explained what i was saying and it is not a criticism, i am saying usually if ashington depot are late in the morning at gettng buses out of the depot is because there are usually two lorries parked near the exit and i am not saying all the time just there is a few times where they are late

I too have noticed arriva buses going very slow on leaving Baras Bridge going onto Great North Road. Its a 50MPH and they struggle to do 40MPH. I don't wheather thats the way arriva management want them to drive or if its the bus. Not forgetting it could be the driver trying to be awkward and drop a run, or claim some overtime.

(18 Oct 2015, 10:09 am)B10man wrote I too have noticed arriva buses going very slow on leaving Baras Bridge going onto Great North Road. Its a 50MPH and they struggle to do 40MPH. I don't wheather thats the way arriva management want them to drive or if its the bus. Not forgetting it could be the driver trying to be awkward and drop a run, or claim some overtime.

Not seen Ashington depot do this mind bar once, always got up to 50mph and I've even been on one of the Daf coaches last year which overtook a Jesmomd B10BLE ALX300 under the Central Motorway. 

I think that Ashington are quite strict on driver discipline on the main routes due to the fact that if they're late, then passengers are more likely to claim under the Sapphire guarentee.

With Blyth, I think that they need to do the following:

- Crack down on the small minority of awkward drivers.

- Setup the vehicles to ensure that they run to time.

- Split the X8 with the section between Cramlington and Blyth being replaced by a service which would combine with the X10 / X11 from Blyth and between Cramlington and Newcastle roughly every 10 minutes. Also, extra time would be given to the X10 / X11 to improve reliability.

- X7 / X8 revised timetable to improve reliability.

- 308 PVR increased to 10 vehicles with a revised timetable to improve reliability. According adjustments also made to service 306.

(18 Oct 2015, 9:08 am)buss14 wrote the reason for ashington depot have buses leaving late is because there is always a lorry blocking the way out

I've been there at start of service, about 0800 and not one vehicle was blocking the road. Theres two entrances to AN, the emergency gates and the main entrance. Theres also two routes to the depot entrance, theres the Asda roundabout and the Lidl roundabout, meaning that if the road by McDonalds and the police station is congested the can go the other direction. If both routes are inaccessible, police assistance is required.

The Sapphire X21/X22 have now achieved 90% punctuality... Certainly not due to lorries blocking the entrance.

Ashington depot earlier.
7446 is now here, no sign of the loaned DAF so I assume thats returned to Newcastle. No sign of any refurbished B7s from London either.

(18 Oct 2015, 11:15 am)DaveyBowyer wrote Not seen Ashington depot do this mind bar once, always got up to 50mph and I've even been on one of the Daf coaches last year which overtook a Jesmomd B10BLE ALX300 under the Central Motorway. 

I think that Ashington are quite strict on driver discipline on the main routes due to the fact that if they're late, then passengers are more likely to claim under the Sapphire guarentee.

With Blyth, I think that they need to do the following:

- Crack down on the small minority of awkward drivers.

- Setup the vehicles to ensure that they run to time.

- Split the X8 with the section between Cramlington and Blyth being replaced by a service which would combine with the X10 / X11 from Blyth and between Cramlington and Newcastle roughly every 10 minutes. Also, extra time would be given to the X10 / X11 to improve reliability.

- X7 / X8 revised timetable to improve reliability.

- 308 PVR increased to 10 vehicles with a revised timetable to improve reliability. According adjustments also made to service 306.

i actually agree but the hybrid deckers used on the 308 hae to take a little bit of time to get upto speed as it is the vehicle that is slow not the drivers

---

(18 Oct 2015, 12:15 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Ashington depot earlier.
7446 is now here, no sign of the loaned DAF so I assume thats returned to Newcastle. No sign of any refurbished B7s from London either.

did you only see 7446. was 7445 there aswell

(18 Oct 2015, 12:34 pm)buss14 wrote did you only see 7446. was 7445 there aswell

Both were there.

As a regular traveller on Blyth's X10/X11 services, is seems that some of the Gemini's are distinctly lacking in power, struggling to build up any speed-
Have been on 7608 regularly, the acceleration on this one is amazing compared to others- maybe it's had new engine?

(18 Oct 2015, 12:34 pm)buss14 wrote
i actually agree but the hybrid deckers used on the 308 hae to take a little bit of time to get upto speed as it is the vehicle that is slow not the drivers

---

Wasn't meaning the 308 BTW, but it needs a PVR increase with added time to improve reliability. The 10 minute service is also a bit of a joke in the mornings with only the arrivals at 0810 and 0820 running every 10 minutes with a 22 minute gap after that at 0842. It would be like GNE advertising a 10 minute service from Cobalt during the afternoons when truth beknown, the only examples would be between 1700 and 1720 and 1800 and 1820.

Arriva need to look at the changes GNE are making for their Stanley Depot services to improve reliability rather than trying to juggle things around to deceive passengers. Moving departures by a couple of minutes will not work in the long term. What is needed is increased recovery / layover time, more vehicles in the PVR and added journey time to cope with high loadings. That X8 route though needs to be split, too long of a route and too many blackspots where if any more time was added, it would turn people away from the route.

(17 Oct 2015, 10:44 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Not being anti Arriva here, but what is up with the reliability of Blyth's services? Already seen several instances of X7s and X8s running 20-30 minutes late and many passengers reporting such issues and not only during peak times, but also between Blyth and Quorum too before the services hit such traffic. Also seen a few complaints about the X10 / X11 too. It would be like GNE sending out a 10 from Hexham depot first thing in the morning and it ending up 15-20 minutes late in Corbridge and Prudhoe. Could it be the following issues:

- A few drivers going too slow (not including those who are sticking to the speed limits and keeping safe) and not anticipating the potential amount of passengers who board the services?

- Arriva not giving the services enough time? (X8 looks a bit tight between Bebside and Cramlington)

- Poor quality vehicles?

- Poor dispatch reliability? (vehicles leaving depot late with minor problem having been fixed but no alternative vehicles available at the time)

Over the past 6 Weeks since I started my New Job at Sitel on the Balliol Business Park I have become a daily user of the ANE X7/X8, and I have to say the reliability is up and down like a yo-yo, take last week for example, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the X7/X8s I got on were on time, on Thursday the one I got on was 8 Minutes Early into Haymarket, didnt even get a chance to tuck into my Bacon Sandwich from Greggs like I usually do, on Friday at the same time it was 10 Minutes Late, going back into Town from Work once I have finished 4 times out 5 I will end up getting on X63 as it is rare for it to be late and certainly a lot more reliable than the X7/X8, saying that I operate the rule of getting on whatever comes first, either way I have a 2 Minute walk into Eldon Square Bus Station from either Haymarket or Eldon Square Gardens.

Perhaps the poor reliability is down to the fact that half of the X7/X8 Allocation is away for Refurbishment, with older ALX400s being used in the place of the Geminis, which to be honest are not much better in my opinion, much prefer the B9TL Geminis that GNE have, perhaps ANE are just tight fisted and go for "Quantity over Quality" when it comes to buying Buses and in turn over charge there Customers for such a poor service, I was considering writing a complaint to Arriva regarding the X7/X8, but I know from other members making complaints that I wont even get a constructive response from them, so what is the point.

I find all services passing Quorum and Four Lane Ends are struggling to keep time since the road changes in that area. The x63 is often late and you regularly see them following each other, even the 353 which only has to get into Four Lane Ends station and out again missing the worst points is regularly running late. It's not just Arriva struggling around this area.

(18 Oct 2015, 5:29 pm)Shrek wrote I find all services passing Quorum and Four Lane Ends are struggling to keep time since the road changes in that area. The x63 is often late and you regularly see them following each other, even the 353 which only has to get into Four Lane Ends station and out again missing the worst points is regularly running late. It's not just Arriva struggling around this area.

The 52 can never keep a timetable, 54 isn't much better

(18 Oct 2015, 11:35 am)GX03 SVC wrote The Sapphire X21/X22 have now achieved 90% punctuality... Certainly not due to lorries blocking the entrance.

Crikey, even with the improvement I've noticed, I wouldn't have expected it to be that high! 

I think one thing that helps the punctuality of it is that Ashington seem to have a cracking set of drivers, only a couple I can bank on being late, and quite a few who were always late last year, are now pretty much bang on.

(18 Oct 2015, 5:29 pm)Shrek wrote I find all services passing Quorum and Four Lane Ends are struggling to keep time since the road changes in that area. The x63 is often late and you regularly see them following each other, even the 353 which only has to get into Four Lane Ends station and out again missing the worst points is regularly running late. It's not just Arriva struggling around this area.

It's not that they're running late because of Quorum. On the Blyth to Quorum sections of both routes, they're not getting enough time to complete the journey comfortably. And I know that high loads can cause small delays particularly on the Quorum and Cobalt routes and I've often seen the 309 run 5 minutes late on Mondays and Tuesdays (where the NT week savers are purchased etc) but only twice have I saw or experienced a morning 309 running 10-15 minutes late and never running at them extremes on a regular basis like the X7 / X8. 

Well put it this way, if Arriva don't monitor the reliability of their Blyth services properly, then they could be heading for a stern warning from the TC or fine of £500? per vehicle not only for Blyth depot but if the TC wanted to impose the maximum penalty, all the vehicles that Jesmond and Ashington have too for the whole 'Northumbria' license.

(18 Oct 2015, 5:25 pm)Malarkey wrote Over the past 6 Weeks since I started my New Job at Sitel on the Balliol Business Park I have become a daily user of the ANE X7/X8, and I have to say the reliability is up and down like a yo-yo, take last week for example, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday the X7/X8s I got on were on time, on Thursday the one I got on was 8 Minutes Early into Haymarket, didnt even get a chance to tuck into my Bacon Sandwich from Greggs like I usually do, on Friday at the same time it was 10 Minutes Late, going back into Town from Work once I have finished 4 times out 5 I will end up getting on X63 as it is rare for it to be late and certainly a lot more reliable than the X7/X8, saying that I operate the rule of getting on whatever comes first, either way I have a 2 Minute walk into Eldon Square Bus Station from either Haymarket or Eldon Square Gardens.

Perhaps the poor reliability is down to the fact that half of the X7/X8 Allocation is away for Refurbishment, with older ALX400s being used in the place of the Geminis, which to be honest are not much better in my opinion, much prefer the B9TL Geminis that GNE have, perhaps ANE are
just tight fisted and go for "Quantity over Quality" when it comes to buying Buses and in turn over charge there Customers for such a poor service, I was considering writing a complaint to Arriva regarding the X7/X8, but I know from other members making complaints that I wont even get a constructive response from them, so what is the point.

Personally, if I were you coming from Washington, I would get the X1 to Blackett Street and the X63 from there to Balliol, meaning less distance to walk, and no waiting at the notorious Eldon Square traffic lights on Percy Street

(18 Oct 2015, 6:25 pm)NK53 TKT wrote Personally, if I were you coming from Washington, I would get the X1 to Blackett Street and the X63 from there to Balliol, meaning less distance to walk, and no waiting at the notorious Eldon Square traffic lights on Percy Street

Timings of buses? He already said that he has something to eat before he goes to work.