2817 has now been repainted into interurban livery and is on Frequenta 9/10 today

(02 Aug 2018, 10:32 am)Stuartphin1639 wrote 2817 has now been repainted into interurban livery and is on Frequenta 9/10 today

Why not the new livery?!

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(31 Jul 2018, 5:24 pm)peter wrote 1563 was on the X4 today with a broken ticket machine - thanks Arriva for the free trip from Redcar to Saltburn! A pretty full bus too, and still all that way to go to Whitby - someone's not gonna be happy!

What happened to emergency tickets?!

(02 Aug 2018, 11:25 am)Cock Robin wrote Why not the new livery?!

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What happened to emergency tickets?!

Because that would be too simple, after looking properly it’s in Frequenta base livery

Arriva aren’t the most consistent with their liveries, I’m sure they have about 4 standard liveries (new one, Interurban, Eco Green and Arriva original). Then they have 2 Sapphire liveries as well. It would make more sense if they repainted their buses into one livery rather than different ones like GNE do with their non branded buses.


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(02 Aug 2018, 5:41 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Arriva aren’t the most consistent with their liveries, I’m sure they have about 4 standard liveries (new one, Interurban, Eco Green and Arriva original). Then they have 2 Sapphire liveries as well. It would make more sense if they repainted their buses into one livery rather than different ones like GNE do with their non branded buses.


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Still less liveries overall than GNE!

(02 Aug 2018, 5:41 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Arriva aren’t the most consistent with their liveries, I’m sure they have about 4 standard liveries (new one, Interurban, Eco Green and Arriva original). Then they have 2 Sapphire liveries as well. It would make more sense if they repainted their buses into one livery rather than different ones like GNE do with their non branded buses.


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I love having discussions on here.   

As much as I like their liveries, Arriva are terrible with them - in this region especially.

The "new" Sapphire livery was launched early last year, yet there are still only two brands in the North East which have been refurbished to the new specifications (1|5|5A and X21|X22). Even these brands still have vehicles in the old livery, which is odd. I don't see how the new Sapphire livery "adds more sparkle"... the interiors of the vehicles and the general experience of to the ride in the new livery are no different from that of the old. Perhaps if the flooring texture looked realistic to sapphires, WiFi had no data limit to passengers, USB and power sockets actually worked, and the seating could be cleaned more often and easily, then the new Sapphire brand would be a huge step-up for Arriva and be worth rebranding. Sadly, this isn't the case so a pointless rebrand has come out of it.

What is Interurban - is it another name for MAX?

With the info about 2817, it seems surprising that the new Arriva livery has not been applied. Therefore, do we conclude that there are no plans to re-livery any Solos. And if so, is this down to limited life expectancy? i.e cost isn't justified?

(02 Aug 2018, 8:33 pm)BeachBoy99 wrote I love having discussions on here.   

As much as I like their liveries, Arriva are terrible with them - in this region especially.

The "new" Sapphire livery was launched early last year, yet there are still only two brands in the North East which have been refurbished to the new specifications (1|5|5A and X21|X22). Even these brands still have vehicles in the old livery, which is odd. I don't see how the new Sapphire livery "adds more sparkle"... the interiors of the vehicles and the general experience of to the ride in the new livery are no different from that of the old. Perhaps if the flooring texture looked realistic to sapphires, WiFi had no data limit to passengers, USB and power sockets actually worked, and the seating could be cleaned more often and easily, then the new Sapphire brand would be a huge step-up for Arriva and be worth rebranding. Sadly, this isn't the case so a pointless rebrand has come out of it.

What is Interurban - is it another name for MAX?

Interurban is not another name for MAX, It is a slightly updated version of the previous Arriva livery. The difference being that with interurban there is not a cream front.

Photo 1 - Previous Version

Photo 2 - Interurban

Both of the liveries above should now be outdated and should be being phased out but with Arriva who knows. 2817 being painted into the frequenta base (which is interurban without the painted cream horn) suggests that maybe these buses will not receive the new standard livery before the end of their lives and 2817 was done to better match the rest. As always with Arriva I feel its just a guessing game as buses such as 1924 get the new livery but 7524 - 7528 remain in the old livery rather than matching to 7541 - 7552.

(02 Aug 2018, 8:51 pm)Pulsar wrote Interurban is not another name for MAX, It is a slightly updated version of the previous Arriva livery. The difference being that with interurban there is not a cream front.

Photo 1 - Previous Version

Photo 2 - Interurban

Both of the liveries above should now be outdated and should be being phased out but with Arriva who knows. 2817 being painted into the frequenta base (which is interurban without the painted cream horn) suggests that maybe these buses will not receive the new standard livery before the end of their lives and 2817 was done to better match the rest. As always with Arriva I feel its just a guessing game as buses such as 1924 get the new livery but 7524 - 7528 remain in the old livery rather than matching to 7541 - 7552.

Then there is this (not my photo)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/162237617@...80961@N05/ 

(02 Aug 2018, 9:58 pm)NewcastleOne wrote Then there is this (not my photo)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/162237617@...80961@N05/ 

Yep, fleet presentation at its best 

Fortunately that bus should soon be repainted into new livery. Plenty others could do with a branding tidy though.

(02 Aug 2018, 9:58 pm)NewcastleOne wrote Then there is this (not my photo)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/162237617@...80961@N05/ 

Oh wow. Now that IS awful! 

(02 Aug 2018, 8:51 pm)Pulsar wrote Interurban is not another name for MAX, It is a slightly updated version of the previous Arriva livery. The difference being that with interurban there is not a cream front.

Photo 1 - Previous Version

Photo 2 - Interurban

Both of the liveries above should now be outdated and should be being phased out but with Arriva who knows. 2817 being painted into the frequenta base (which is interurban without the painted cream horn) suggests that maybe these buses will not receive the new standard livery before the end of their lives and 2817 was done to better match the rest. As always with Arriva I feel its just a guessing game as buses such as 1924 get the new livery but 7524 - 7528 remain in the old livery rather than matching to 7541 - 7552.

Pulsars look so much better in the previous version than interurban, apparently Arriva have stopped putting vehicles into new livery as it costs too much, it’s like Darlington 1602-1614 are in sapphire new livery where as 1514/5/6/7534/35/36/37/38/40 are all in old style, as someone said I can’t remember if it was on here or Facebook, the repaint of 2817 looks like it’s a in house job rather than been sent away, as it’s a proper bodge job, if it was sent away then people think that it would have got new livery anyway

(03 Aug 2018, 11:26 am)Stuartphin1639 wrote Pulsars look so much better in the previous version than interurban, apparently Arriva have stopped putting vehicles into new livery as it costs too much, it’s like Darlington 1602-1614 are in sapphire new livery where as 1514/5/6/7534/35/36/37/38/40 are all in old style, as someone said I can’t remember if it was on here or Facebook, the repaint of 2817 looks like it’s a in house job rather than been sent away, as it’s a proper bodge job, if it was sent away then people think that it would have got new livery anyway

When the new[est] livery was revealed the official line was it would be ‘introduced on a low cost & evolutionary basis’, i.e. new deliveries and repaints when only already required - rather than repainting the fleet at once. 

I imagine many vehicle will see out their life in older liveries. Much like First - in the Potteries much of the fleet is in Barbie, which is almost a heritage livery by now!

(02 Aug 2018, 8:33 pm)9920up wrote With the info about 2817, it seems surprising that the new Arriva livery has not been applied. Therefore, do we conclude that there are no plans to re-livery any Solos. And if so, is this down to limited life expectancy? i.e cost isn't justified?

But some Solos have already been done.

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(02 Aug 2018, 5:41 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Arriva aren’t the most consistent with their liveries, I’m sure they have about 4 standard liveries (new one, Interurban, Eco Green and Arriva original). Then they have 2 Sapphire liveries as well. It would make more sense if they repainted their buses into one livery rather than different ones like GNE do with their non branded buses.


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Think part of the problem is the length of time between repaints. Stagecoach bring a new livery in and everything is repainted in a couple of years. Arriva seem to have no logical repaint plan. Look at some of the Prestiges, never got a repaint throughout their life, and some of the Pulsars and Solos are looking the same way.

Everything takes time. The Interurban repaint scheme wasn't a full rebrand, instead was just a "smarten up" project of the fleets.

Eventually, there'll be no more liveries than the Journey Mark "Standard", "Go Greener", "Sapphire" and any locally specified liveries (Cross Pennine, Whitby Park & Ride, TfL etc). Presently, the 308 Geminis are in for a repaint, then it'll move onto the next batch of buses.

Arriva don't have the budget to repaint buses in the North East like what Go North East or Stagecoach do. Even when they do a repaint, if it's on a major route (308 etc), extra money is spent on the interiors, whereas Stagecoach and GNE don't do that.

The new Arriva brand is very strict and is designed to be simple but consistent, however, it's down to cost whether or not vehicles get it...

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(03 Aug 2018, 11:26 am)Stuartphin1639 wrote Pulsars look so much better in the previous version than interurban, apparently Arriva have stopped putting vehicles into new livery as it costs too much, it’s like Darlington 1602-1614 are in sapphire new livery where as 1514/5/6/7534/35/36/37/38/40 are all in old style, as someone said I can’t remember if it was on here or Facebook, the repaint of 2817 looks like it’s a in house job rather than been sent away, as it’s a proper bodge job, if it was sent away then people think that it would have got new livery anyway

This isn't true. 

2817 was an in-house job, and seemingly was done to make it more Frequenta-y...

Allocations on the X20 are not doing verry well recently as most days the 2 max X20 branded geminis (7414/5) allways wind up on the 35 and/or X15 and the most common buses found on the X20 are 7445 4659 4653 & 4664 non of which are X20 branded and 1 of witch are not even max whilst 7414/5 are always on the 35 and/or the X15. To fix allocations Arriva should brand 4653 4659 & 4664 for the X20 and 7414/5 should have X20 sub brandings removed and keep shop work play brandings  as on 7413 then tge x20 will have branded viechles and the 35 and X15 can have 7414/5.

(03 Aug 2018, 6:34 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Everything takes time. The Interurban repaint scheme wasn't a full rebrand, instead was just a "smarten up" project of the fleets.

Eventually, there'll be no more liveries than the Journey Mark "Standard", "Go Greener", "Sapphire" and any locally specified liveries (Cross Pennine, Whitby Park & Ride, TfL etc). Presently, the 308 Geminis are in for a repaint, then it'll move onto the next batch of buses.

Arriva don't have the budget to repaint buses in the North East like what Go North East or Stagecoach do. Even when they do a repaint, if it's on a major route (308 etc), extra money is spent on the interiors, whereas Stagecoach and GNE don't do that.

The new Arriva brand is very strict and is designed to be simple but consistent, however, it's down to cost whether or not vehicles get it...

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This isn't true. 

2817 was an in-house job, and seemingly was done to make it more Frequenta-y...

I'd like to think they'd rush 7524-28 through, to standardise the X21/22. In fact, I'd put 7527/8 into the generic livery as there seem to be always at least 2 14 plates on the X15/18 at the moment, and keep 7524-26 as dedicated X21/22. 

Jesmond's Sapphire's could also do with a bit of TLC...

(03 Aug 2018, 8:38 pm)GNE6312 wrote Allocations on the X20 are not doing verry well recently as most days the 2 max X20 branded geminis (7414/5) allways wind up on the 35 and/or X15 and the most common buses found on the X20 are 7445 4659 4653 & 4664 non of which are X20 branded and 1 of witch are not even max whilst 7414/5 are always on the 35 and/or the X15. To fix allocations Arriva should brand 4653 4659 & 4664 for the X20 and 7414/5 should have X20 sub brandings removed and keep shop work play brandings  as on 7413 then tge x20 will have branded viechles and the 35 and X15 can have 7414/5.

Geminis on the 35: these have had work done to them, so they're being kept local in the meantime. Unsure as to why there's been one on the X15 though.
4653/9/64: They were generically branded so they could be used on any Max route, it won't be logical to spend money branding these for the X20. It also gives flexibility in the fleet. 4664 isn't a Max vehicle, but is instead a 'high spec spare' hence the omission of branding inside and out. 

Really no point in removing the branding, as it just causes more effort for what is basically a temporary issue.

(03 Aug 2018, 8:40 pm)mb134 wrote I'd like to think they'd rush 7524-28 through, to standardise the X21/22. In fact, I'd put 7527/8 into the generic livery as there seem to be always at least 2 14 plates on the X15/18 at the moment, and keep 7524-26 as dedicated X21/22. 

Jesmond's Sapphire's could also do with a bit of TLC...

I wish they did too. However, I'd have all of them in Sapphire livery to enable them to be flexible and to match the interiors. Hopefully they'll replace the branding with the permanent design on 7541-52 to make everything up to standard.

Jesmond's Sapphires need work done both inside and out, they're embarrassing...

(03 Aug 2018, 9:10 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Geminis on the 35: these have had work done to them, so they're being kept local in the meantime. Unsure as to why there's been one on the X15 though.
4653/9/64: They were generically branded so they could be used on any Max route, it won't be logical to spend money branding these for the X20. It also gives flexibility in the fleet. 4664 isn't a Max vehicle, but is instead a 'high spec spare' hence the omission of branding inside and out. 


I wish they did too. However, I'd have all of them in Sapphire livery to enable them to be flexible and to match the interiors. Hopefully they'll replace the branding with the permanent design on 7541-52 to make everything up to standard.

Jesmond's Sapphires need work done both inside and out, they're embarrassing...

Regarding the 35, it's usually always the route that Ashington use to ease buses back into service in my experience. I've noticed one of the Geminis on the X15, I didn't catch the fleetnumber, but I assume it was deemed healthy enough to be sent out on it. 

Still think those 5 E400s are some of the best vehicles Ashington have, 7524 flew past me on the X18 when I saw it the other day, and they always seem to be bang on time. 

Still think that the Jesmond Sapphires should have had a full rebrand when they were sent. Arriva could have done the whole thing far better if they used a bit of common sense.

(03 Aug 2018, 9:25 pm)mb134 wrote Still think that the Jesmond Sapphires should have had a full rebrand when they were sent. Arriva could have done the whole thing far better if they used a bit of common sense.

That would have been the logical thing to do, but the marketing team (of whom I despise, as many may know) decided to go cheap on upgrading the 43/44/45. Not something you want to do when conveying your premium brand to another set of customers...

If I had my own way, I'd have had everything under the single Arriva brand, have consistency and standard high spec interiors on every bus and market the service for it's quality. The mish-mash of service offered, the marketing and the falling standards in fleet presentation are a recipe for disaster...

(03 Aug 2018, 9:51 pm)omnicity4659 wrote That would have been the logical thing to do, but the marketing team (of whom I despise, as many may know) decided to go cheap on upgrading the 43/44/45. Not something you want to do when conveying your premium brand to another set of customers...

If I had my own way, I'd have had everything under the single Arriva brand, have consistency and standard high spec interiors on every bus and market the service for it's quality. The mish-mash of service offered, the marketing and the falling standards in fleet presentation are a recipe for disaster...

Completely agree with all of this.

If you's think Jesmond's Sapphires look very bad, then you would lose your snack if you see Belmont's Sapphire fleet, vast majority have various bits of logos and branding missing and a fair few have incorrect coloured panels, one of which has dark blue panels around the bonnet and saw one the other day with standard coloured panels down the side.

Some enthusiasts slag off the presentations of independents but some of Arriva's instances like the above can make them look like a cowboy outfit IMO, especially poor on what they are considering to be somewhat of a upmarket service.

(03 Aug 2018, 10:26 pm)Jimmi wrote If you's think Jesmond's Sapphires look very bad, then you would lose your snack if you see Belmont's Sapphire fleet, vast majority have various bits of logos and branding missing and a fair few have incorrect coloured panels, one of which has dark blue panels around the bonnet and saw one the other day with standard coloured panels down the side.

Some enthusiasts slag off the presentations of independents but some of Arriva's instances like the above can make them look like a cowboy outfit IMO, especially poor on what they are considering to be somewhat of a upmarket service.

I close my eyes when I go anywhere near the Belmont fleet... 

Has anybody done the X18 sightseeing tour and is it any good? I have been trying but have failed on 4 attempts as 7529 (with both screen and speakers) as well as 7530 (with speakers only) were not working and 7532 does not have either the screen or speakers installed. I was also on 7517 which does not have the equipment.

Does anyone know what is happening in terms of repaints? Seems to have been very few buses done up here, since the new corporate image was brought in?

(04 Aug 2018, 7:37 pm)Adrian wrote Does anyone know what is happening in terms of repaints? Seems to have been very few buses done up here, since the new corporate image was brought in?

They'll be started when another new livery is bought in.

(04 Aug 2018, 7:37 pm)Adrian wrote Does anyone know what is happening in terms of repaints? Seems to have been very few buses done up here, since the new corporate image was brought in?

They're being done in small batches, at present the 308 Geminis are being turned over.

(04 Aug 2018, 7:37 pm)Adrian wrote Does anyone know what is happening in terms of repaints? Seems to have been very few buses done up here, since the new corporate image was brought in?

Apart from a few Solo's, the only ones that have been treated to the new livery so far are buses which have been (or will soon to be) treated to refurbs such as the 308 Gemini's, some Redcar Temsa's and the two Centro's at Stockton. There is also the two ex Yorkshire E200s at Belmont but they got treated before transferring to the North East.

(04 Aug 2018, 8:00 pm)Jimmi wrote Apart from a few Solo's, the only ones that have been treated to the new livery so far are buses which have been (or will soon to be) treated to refurbs such as the 308 Gemini's, some Redcar Temsa's and the two Centro's at Stockton. There is also the two ex Yorkshire E200s at Belmont but they got treated before transferring to the North East.

...which is pretty shocking, given this was launched at least 6 months ago?

I take it they're not even bothering to remove the legacy logos?

(04 Aug 2018, 8:43 pm)Adrian wrote ...which is pretty shocking, given this was launched at least 6 months ago?

I take it they're not even bothering to remove the legacy logos?

I dont think that was ever the plan. As far as I know, the brand was refreshed, but there was never a mass repaint/relogo plan. It was all proposed to be done as and when - which could take decades!