(31 Mar 2018, 5:34 am)Coastliner700 wrote Sadly I believe Arriva didn’t want it they seemed to miss journeys out the last ones because they were late. Often missing parts of the journey. And the end was soon after.

That is a shame. Hopefully one day Arriva or Go North East will run a reasonably frequent service along Ponteland Road or Stamfordham Road around Kenton or Cowgate and compete with Stagecoach. The GNE 32A gets a fair number of passengers when it operates on a Sunday and on evenings. Stagecoach offers various express services, if Arriva or GNE did so they  would have a good chance of taking Stagecoach on, particularly running to Central Station which Stagecoach only does with the 8 on an early morning, other than getting a bus around the Haymarket area to Central Station. They could at least trial it.

(30 Mar 2018, 8:32 pm)Coastliner700 wrote The 9/9A ran from Central Station, through town, Claremont Road, Spiral Tongues, Stamfordham Road, Springfield Road, Ponteland Road, Harehills Avenue, Ponteland Road, Kenton Lane 9- clockwise around Kenton Bar, 9A anti clockwise. Then back again. Both ran hourly.

About 1990 Ok Travel took over in the evenings and on Sundays.

They were changed during the day by Northumbria during mid 90s operating via Bowfell Avenue to Harehills Avenue and also via North West Radial Road. Ok keeping the evening and Sunday 9/9A. During early 00s it became hourly as 9 Go Gateshead and then Low Fell Travel ran it.

It was withdrawn in 2008/9

The end of bus service over 20 years that went through steady decline hence becoming a minibus.

For a number of years OK ran its former South Yorkshire PTE Altlaneans on the 9/9A - the route suffered from a lot of vandalism at times, if memory is correct near Montague Estate.

Not sure if this has been posted yet but 2603 is back at Jesmond, on the 6 today.

7603 operating X9 has had a canny big bash 7413 on the 43 at hay market. 43 pulled back into a empty stand. Looks like they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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Back of the buses have clashed

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While 43 reversing out.

(03 Apr 2018, 2:57 pm)Pulsar wrote Not sure if this has been posted yet but 2603 is back at Jesmond, on the 6 today.

2602's also back; noted running Not In Service near Cradlewell earlier.

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(03 Apr 2018, 3:41 pm)JM03 wrote 7603 operating X9 has had a canny big bash 7413 on the 43 at hay market. 43 pulled back into a empty stand. Looks like they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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Back of the buses have clashed

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While 43 reversing out.

That would explain the general chaos around Haymarket an hour ago, with buses on random stands, and a queue waiting to get in.

Also an ambulance in attendance; hope nobody was seriously hurt.

Heard about that. Have no idea what happened then. More bad news from there as theres a solo broken down on the interchange entrance. About to get 51 home and not a solo in the stand, think I know what I’m gojng home on.

Are there collisions at Haymarket often? Hope nobody has been injured.

(03 Apr 2018, 8:07 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Are there collisions at Haymarket often? Hope nobody has been injured.

The incident caused chaos. I didn't hear about a ambulance at the time but all i saw was the buses crash.

(04 Apr 2018, 1:17 am)JM03 wrote The incident caused chaos. I didn't hear about a ambulance at the time but all i saw was the buses crash.

I arrived about 17.40, into the tail end of it all - the ambulance was parked on one of the stands in the middle of the bus station, but left a few minutes later.  It didn't use blue lights or sirens when it left, so no emergency case on board.  I guess, given the nature of Haymarket, it's likely that there were standing passengers who may have fallen over as a result of the collision, and who therefore needed a medical check-over to make sure they were OK.

(30 Mar 2018, 12:03 pm)omnicity4659 wrote It's been rumoured at Ashington depot, however the last I heard of it was that Enviro400s are being purchased for the route.

Apparently whatever they are aren't even in build yet. Or weren't last week.

(04 Apr 2018, 9:14 am)Cock Robin wrote Apparently whatever they are aren't even in build yet. Or weren't last week.

Will they be 18 plates or 68 plates

What is usually allocated to service 306 to Whitley Bay/Tynemouth? Does the 306 have Wi-Fi and next stop announcements? I'm hopefully getting the 306 to Silverlink on Monday having been advised it's better than Stagecoach's 22 and GNEs Cobalt Clipper services on here recently. At £2.50, it's cheaper one way than GNE. I'll be using a Day Rider other than a single on the 306, so it will be £6.50 rather than my usual £7.20 Day Rover.

(04 Apr 2018, 3:10 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote What is usually allocated to service 306 to Whitley Bay/Tynemouth? Does the 306 have Wi-Fi and next stop announcements? I'm hopefully getting the 306 to Silverlink on Monday having been advised it's better than Stagecoach's 22 and GNEs Cobalt Clipper services on here recently. At £2.50, it's cheaper one way than GNE. I'll be using a Day Rider other than a single on the 306, so it will be £6.50 rather than my usual £7.20 Day Rover.

Should be an allocation of MAX spec VDL Pulsars. 

WiFi and power, no NSAs.

(04 Apr 2018, 3:29 pm)mb134 wrote Should be an allocation of MAX spec VDL Pulsars. 

WiFi and power, no NSAs.

Sometimes Pulsars other times StreetLites. I don't know which is better. I like GNE's Streetlites and I don't remember being on a Pulsar. 

So the Pulsars are the correct allocation?

GNE having NSAs is one advantage.

(04 Apr 2018, 3:59 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Sometimes Pulsars other times StreetLites. I don't know which is better. I like GNE's Streetlites and I don't remember being on a Pulsar. 

So the Pulsars are the correct allocation?

GNE having NSAs is one advantage.

Pulsars are branded for the 306, so yes, are the correct allocation. The Streetlites that Jesmond have were bought new for the 306, but were replaced by the Pulsars when the service was upgraded.

I'm told 7413 broke down this morning on the 44, was then sent back out and broke down again this evening again on the 44. Are Jesmond short of buses if they're sending buses back out which clearly aren't ready for service?

(04 Apr 2018, 6:20 pm)Shrek wrote I'm told 7413 broke down this morning on the 44, was then sent back out and broke down again this evening again on the 44. Are Jesmond short of buses if they're sending buses back out which clearly aren't ready for service?

It's entirely possible that the issue this morning wasn't deemed major, and indeed if it was sent back out, it makes me think it was an easy fix. 

It wouldn't have been sent out if it "clearly wasn't ready for service", and the break down this evening is likely something completely unrelated to whatever caused the break down this morning.

They could be short of vehicles, but it's a MAX spec vehicle, so if they're down on Sapphires I assume they'd try and push that out onto their Sapphire routes, rather than a standard spec vehicle, when they deem it available for service.

(04 Apr 2018, 8:54 pm)mb134 wrote It's entirely possible that the issue this morning wasn't deemed major, and indeed if it was sent back out, it makes me think it was an easy fix. 

It wouldn't have been sent out if it "clearly wasn't ready for service", and the break down this evening is likely something completely unrelated to whatever caused the break down this morning.

They could be short of vehicles, but it's a MAX spec vehicle, so if they're down on Sapphires I assume they'd try and push that out onto their Sapphire routes, rather than a standard spec vehicle, when they deem it available for service.

Same warning tone both time and oil over the road behind the bus on both occasions from what I've been told.

Three Sapphires had been on the 52/54 most of the day.

What is different about MAX, Sapphire etc and when did Arriva introduce these separate identities?

(04 Apr 2018, 9:41 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote What is different about MAX, Sapphire etc and when did Arriva introduce these separate identities?

About 3 years ago!

Max is mostly just pleather seats. Almost always refurbished. Was originally long distance limited stop, but the limited stop thing fell by the wayside, even though the X numbers stuck (eg Durham X46, Darlo X services.

Sapphire is long distance with pleather seats and WiFi and occasionally working sockets or usb uharging points.

Frequents is frequent town services eg Durham 64, which is every 10 minutes through its core.

(04 Apr 2018, 9:41 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote What is different about MAX, Sapphire etc and when did Arriva introduce these separate identities?

Not sure when Sapphire was introduced but MAX was summer 2014 with the first MAX route being the X10 and X11 Blyth - Newcastle.

Originally, Sapphire was e leather seats, NSA, wifi and plugs. MAX was just e leather seats and wifi.

Since then Sapphire and MAX have become almost identical with MAX now including USB sockets and Sapphire only having USB rather than 3 pin plugs. Basically the only difference is NSA's although there are exceptions ( MAX X1 streetlites have both NSA and 3 pin plugs.)

Its also worth noting that MAX has now been scrapped and eventually buses will be repainted to the new livery. There will be no more MAX routes but the standard spec now includes USB ports, e leather seats and wifi.

(04 Apr 2018, 10:11 pm)Pulsar wrote Not sure when Sapphire was introduced but MAX was summer 2014 with the first MAX route being the X10 and X11 Blyth - Newcastle.

Originally, Sapphire was e leather seats, NSA, wifi and plugs. MAX was just e leather seats and wifi.

Since then Sapphire and MAX have become almost identical with MAX now including USB sockets and Sapphire only having USB rather than 3 pin plugs. Basically the only difference is NSA's although there are exceptions ( MAX X1 streetlites have both NSA and 3 pin plugs.)

Its also worth noting that MAX has now been scrapped and eventually buses will be repainted to the new livery. There will be no more MAX routes but the standard spec now includes USB ports, e leather seats and wifi.

Thank you.

Why has MAX been scrapped? 

What about Sapphire, is that staying?

What do you think of the new blue livery and the new Arriva logo?

(04 Apr 2018, 10:29 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Thank you.

Why has MAX been scrapped? 

What about Sapphire, is that staying?

What do you think of the new blue livery and the new Arriva logo?

I think the new livery looks great in print, but cheap in the flesh, particularly on double deckers.

(04 Apr 2018, 10:29 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Thank you.

Why has MAX been scrapped? 

What about Sapphire, is that staying?

What do you think of the new blue livery and the new Arriva logo?

MAX was scrapped at the same time that the new livery and logo were announced, im not entierly sure why but its possibly because MAX was only really used in the north east and yorkshire, It could be to ensure consistant branding across all Arriva divisions.

Sapphire is staying though.

As for the new livery, I do like the blue colour used and I think it looks more up to date and modern. Not a huge fan of the new Sapphire livery though as it looks less premium than the old one and the route branding looks thrown on.

(04 Apr 2018, 10:33 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I think the new livery looks great in print, but cheap in the flesh, particularly on double deckers.

Arriva having a new livery is a good thing. I don't think I have seen the new blue livery in the flesh yet. I like the new logo. What even was the old logo meant to be? The lowercase 'arriva' looks more smart and friendly than 'ARRIVA'.

(04 Apr 2018, 6:20 pm)Shrek wrote I'm told 7413 broke down this morning on the 44, was then sent back out and broke down again this evening again on the 44. Are Jesmond short of buses if they're sending buses back out which clearly aren't ready for service?

Funnily enough, I'm sure that was one of the buses involved in the incident at Haymarket the other day operating the 43.

(04 Apr 2018, 9:14 pm)Shrek wrote Same warning tone both time and oil over the road behind the bus on both occasions from what I've been told.

Three Sapphires had been on the 52/54 most of the day.

Then it could have been a worse issue than initially thought, or the fix may not have addressed the whole issue, with the engineer unaware.  But it would not have been sent out in service if the engineers didn't think it was fit.

(04 Apr 2018, 6:20 pm)Shrek wrote I'm told 7413 broke down this morning on the 44, was then sent back out and broke down again this evening again on the 44. Are Jesmond short of buses if they're sending buses back out which clearly aren't ready for service?

My guess would be trial and error from Jesmond fitters. They thought it was one thing repaired it but clearly the fix wasn't strong enough. Doesn't mean the fitters have just left it. Because you have been told it's the same warning buzzer and oil leaking from it. I can safely assume you haven't driven a bus before as you would know 90% of the warning lights/buzzers make the same noise and the fluid could have literally been anything. 

As for sending buses out that "Aren't ready", ask yourself this. Would Arriva a major operator in these parts, in fact in most of Europe risk thier O License by sending defective and dangerous buses back on the road because they are need one for a run. You don't half hear some crazy notions on this forum sometimes.

(05 Apr 2018, 2:44 am)Multi21 wrote My guess would be trial and error from Jesmond fitters. They thought it was one thing repaired it but clearly the fix wasn't strong enough. Doesn't mean the fitters have just left it. Because you have been told it's the same warning buzzer and oil leaking from it. I can safely assume you haven't driven a bus before as you would know 90% of the warning lights/buzzers make the same noise and the fluid could have literally been anything. 

As for sending buses out that "Aren't ready", ask yourself this. Would Arriva a major operator in these parts, in fact in most of Europe risk thier O License by sending defective and dangerous buses back on the road because they are need one for a run. You don't half hear some crazy notions on this forum sometimes.

Where's that like button gone? 

There's not a chance in hell they'd allow a bus to be sent out if they didn't think it was fit for service. Indeed, I'd argue whatever was the issue in the morning had been properly fixed, otherwise the vehicle surely wouldn't have been able to run any journeys in the afternoon/evening, as it would have been stuck in the depot with alarms going off...

(05 Apr 2018, 2:51 am)mb134 wrote Where's that like button gone? 

There's not a chance in hell they'd allow a bus to be sent out if they didn't think it was fit for service. Indeed, I'd argue whatever was the issue in the morning had been properly fixed, otherwise the vehicle surely wouldn't have been able to run any journeys in the afternoon/evening, as it would have been stuck in the depot with alarms going off...

You see I'd normally agree with you, but having been on a 54 not so long ago where the driver was saying he didn't think the bus was fit for the road but he'd been told to ignore the warnings and "just give it a go" it got me wondering last night.