Whilst driving past that way, I noticed Northstar had a decker stored at the former Hunters yard in Tantobie.

It must be some sort of rite-of-passage for a local independent to station a bus there at some point. I guess Northstar is part of that club now

(09 May 2025, 8:04 am)Retro Nero wrote YX11CRU,  , fleet number 103

Apparently there are  three of these ADL in Northstar fleet, possibly 101, 102, & obviously 103 , anyone know anything?

(09 May 2025, 3:16 pm)Retro Nero wrote Apparently there are  three of these ADL in Northstar fleet, possibly 101, 102, & obviously 103 , anyone know anything?

YX11AGZ/CRK are the other two - the fleet now comprising 25 buses.

Any chance of the latest fleetlist for Northstar please?

(09 May 2025, 10:50 pm)Dan wrote YX11AGZ/CRK are the other two - the fleet now comprising 25 buses.

I thought I recognised the registration!  They're former Newport E200s that went to The Big Lemon, but have obviously now been sold on following the loss by Big Lemon of ALL of its routes in Brighton.

(09 May 2025, 10:50 pm)Dan wrote YX11AGZ/CRK are the other two - the fleet now comprising 25 buses.

Thanks for the confirmation Dan, and well done with the fleet.

(09 May 2025, 10:50 pm)Dan wrote YX11AGZ/CRK are the other two - the fleet now comprising 25 buses.

Christ you're expanding quickly!

(09 May 2025, 10:50 pm)Dan wrote YX11AGZ/CRK are the other two - the fleet now comprising 25 buses.

Have u won more contracts other than the 79?

Fleets quite big now for the services, you have atm.

(09 May 2025, 10:50 pm)Dan wrote YX11AGZ/CRK are the other two - the fleet now comprising 25 buses.

So that means there is another 9 vehicles unaccounted for as going off of Bustimes.org there list is 14 plus the 2 E200's mentioned makes 16.

Very interested to see what other Contracts you've won and Buses you've brought into the fleet.

They have at least 2 ex Harrogate Volvo B7RLEs / Wright Eclipses (refurbed with Eclipse 2 fronts) in storage.

(10 May 2025, 10:12 pm)Rapidsnap wrote They have at least 2 ex Harrogate Volvo B7RLEs / Wright Eclipses (refurbed with Eclipse 2 fronts) in storage.

Going for a variety fleet, which is good, rarely see that these days.


Wonder if they'll replace the 2 Enviro's on the 599 at some point?

(11 May 2025, 9:43 am)Michael wrote Going for a variety fleet, which is good, rarely see that these days.


Wonder if they'll replace the 2 Enviro's on the 599 at some point?

Both two E200 are now up for sale

25 buses...be careful ya gonna give JH Hughes a run for the money to do metro replacements at this rate ... ???

(11 May 2025, 10:33 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote 25 buses...be careful  ya gonna give JH Hughes a run for the money to do metro replacements at this rate ... ???

I'm more hoping that they'll give Go North East a run for their money by taking over the former GNE network bit by bit!

(10 May 2025, 10:12 pm)Rapidsnap wrote They have at least 2 ex Harrogate Volvo B7RLEs / Wright Eclipses (refurbed with Eclipse 2 fronts) in storage.

Haven't these been old some time ago?

There are 14 vehicles in the fleet but only 10 authorised discs. How does that work?

(14 May 2025, 7:39 am)slp1976 wrote There are 14 vehicles in the fleet but only 10 authorised discs. How does that work?

They can own as many vehicles as they like, just move the discs between vehicles as necessary.

202 Hasn't been out for a while, is it up for sale?

(09 Jun 2025, 5:26 pm)Retro Nero wrote 202 Hasn't been out for a while, is it up for sale?

Both of the longer E200s are for sale at the minute - they’re being replaced with shorter 8.9m versions which can operate service 79. It makes perfect sense to have a common fleet. There are three in the fleet though one is seemingly yet to make an appearance on the road.

A recent arrival not noted is E400/Olympus LX09AXV numbered 431 still in London red. The fleet is rapidly assembling!

(10 Jun 2025, 11:43 am)tyresmoke wrote Both of the longer E200s are for sale at the minute - they’re being replaced with shorter 8.9m versions which can operate service 79. It makes perfect sense to have a common fleet. There are three in the fleet though one is seemingly yet to make an appearance on the road.

A recent arrival not noted is E400/Olympus LX09AXV numbered 431 still in London red. The fleet is rapidly assembling!

I think getting rid of both long E200s is abit daft and replacing them with two short 200s.Isn't the 79 PVR only one and the 599 is two? This means the 599 will have an irregular allocation, and also one less bus in the fleet. Why couldn't they just get the one mini 200?

(10 Jun 2025, 3:32 pm)lewisparker1509 wrote I think getting rid of both long E200s is abit daft and replacing them with two short 200s.Isn't the 79 PVR only one and the 599 is two? This means the 599 will have an irregular allocation, and also one less bus in the fleet. Why couldn't they just get the one mini 200?

If they're getting three 8.9m E200s, as Tyresmoke states, then how would that leave the 599 with an irregular allocation?

Have Northstar won anything else from July apart from the 939?

(10 Jun 2025, 11:43 am)tyresmoke wrote Both of the longer E200s are for sale at the minute - they’re being replaced with shorter 8.9m versions which can operate service 79. It makes perfect sense to have a common fleet. There are three in the fleet though one is seemingly yet to make an appearance on the road.

A recent arrival not noted is E400/Olympus LX09AXV numbered 431 still in London red. The fleet is rapidly assembling!

(10 Jun 2025, 3:32 pm)lewisparker1509 wrote I think getting rid of both long E200s is abit daft and replacing them with two short 200s.Isn't the 79 PVR only one and the 599 is two? This means the 599 will have an irregular allocation, and also one less bus in the fleet. Why couldn't they just get the one mini 200?

Obviously, I do not know the ins and outs of the company finances... but this could be a mistake. They should continue to use those buses for the 599, as I once was on one with 15 people! Which is snug on a short E200. 

Then, the 3 Short E200s could be used on 79 primarily (or as 599 spare) with a guaranteed bus available due to having 2 spares, leaving the E300 + Double Deckers for Scholars and service expansion. It's annoying as they also changed the stand in Park Lane due to the wheelchair ramp access issues...

(11 Jun 2025, 11:55 pm)logidoodah wrote Obviously, I do not know the ins and outs of the company finances... but this could be a mistake. They should continue to use those buses for the 599, as I once was on one with 15 people! Which is snug on a short E200. 

Then, the 3 Short E200s could be used on 79 primarily (or as 599 spare) with a guaranteed bus available due to having 2 spares, leaving the E300 + Double Deckers for Scholars and service expansion. It's annoying as they also changed the stand in Park Lane due to the wheelchair ramp access issues...

The seating capacity is roughly the same between the duel door E200s and the recently acquired single entrance E200s although duel doors obviously being longer and different layout, the change allows for a more appropriate length allocation for the 79 with the E300 typically deputising on the 599 when one is missing, doesn't really make much sense just having E200s sat around doing nothing.

https://northstarbus.co.uk/news/article.php?id=36

X22 making a return and a new X43

(18 Jun 2025, 2:31 pm)Aaron21 wrote https://northstarbus.co.uk/news/article.php?id=36

X22 making a return and a new X43

Commercial too? I don't think I've seen either up for tender.

Ooh, nice. If they can’t make a commercial success of it during the school holidays, when can they?

(18 Jun 2025, 3:20 pm)Adrian wrote Commercial too? I don't think I've seen either up for tender.

Yes, both operating commercially… Something of a rarity these days!

Is the X22 serving all stops from Chester to Birtley as the old one or just Barley Mow and Birtley Durham Road?

Very limiting if it's only the centre of Birtley - rules out quite a large catchment area

(18 Jun 2025, 4:38 pm)Ambassador wrote Is the X22 serving all stops from Chester to Birtley as the old one or just Barley Mow and Birtley Durham Road?

Very limiting if it's only the centre of Birtley - rules out quite a large catchment area

All stops to the A1.