Looks like 1574 has broken down again on the 57A, replaced by 7532 which was took off the X22 and as a result the X22 12:39 didn't run.

A MAX E400 is parked up at Blyth depot next to Bridge Street and is missing a couple of windows on the nearside upper deck.

(07 Aug 2025, 8:30 pm)solsburian wrote A MAX E400 is parked up at Blyth depot next to Bridge Street and is missing a couple of windows on the nearside upper deck.

This will be 7557, believe it suffered engine failure.

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(07 Aug 2025, 12:30 pm)Arriva7446 wrote Looks like 1574 has broken down again on the 57A, replaced by 7532 which was took off the X22 and as a result the X22 12:39 didn't run.

It is relentless. They look to have finally given up with 7564 now. 

An X18/15 was missing this morning for the best part of 5 hours. 

An X20 also failed in Newcastle, and they dropped a full X30 and X20 back to Ashington before picking it up again 3 hours later for the trip to Alnwick. 

As much as the engineering department are bad, the people in charge of service regulation some days seem equally clueless - this is also clear to see in the allocations. Some days they make sense, other days it's like they've thrown darts to decide what goes where.

(07 Aug 2025, 8:57 pm)PH - BQA wrote This will be 7557, believe it suffered engine failure.

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It is relentless. They look to have finally given up with 7564 now. 

An X18/15 was missing this morning for the best part of 5 hours. 

An X20 also failed in Newcastle, and they dropped a full X30 and X20 back to Ashington before picking it up again 3 hours later for the trip to Alnwick. 

As much as the engineering department are bad, the people in charge of service regulation some days seem equally clueless - this is also clear to see in the allocations. Some days they make sense, other days it's like they've thrown darts to decide what goes where.

As they didn't cover up the window apertures, I wonder if 7557 is a goner now.
 
Regarding the Newcastle-Ashington corridor they need to tread carefully with the Northumberland Line opening the rest of the stations that heavily overlap the X2x area, not just for car users like with some other stations on the line.

Must admit, if Ashington can't sort out the issues asap, then it's probably time to be starting to look at dropping the frequency of something really.
The obvious one would be the X22, and do it's Saturday timetable from a selfish point of view so it sorts out the mess which is the 57/57A recently and do the Saturday interworking pattern which helps it out massively, since it gets a 11 minute layover at Ashington.

There's no real reason why the X21 and X22 need to be the same frequency really as they're effectively two different bus routes anyway bar a select few bus stops between Seaton Burn and Nelson Ind. Estate and they no longer interwork now either.

(09 Aug 2025, 5:06 pm)Storx wrote The obvious one would be the X22, and do it's Saturday timetable from a selfish point of view so it sorts out the mess which is the 57/57A recently and do the Saturday interworking pattern which helps it out massively, since it gets a 11 minute layover at Ashington.

There's no real reason why the X21 and X22 need to be the same frequency really as they're effectively two different bus routes anyway bar a select few bus stops between Seaton Burn and Nelson Ind. Estate and they no longer interwork now either.

Why would that be the obvious one? 

Again, as someone who sees these routes every day, at the start of the PM peak where there are 15 minute gaps between X21/22s they leave with a standing load if allocated a saloon. The 16:15 X22, which is a saloon daily because the commercial genius decided to put the 777 midnight on that board, leaves Haymarket every day with standees - even during the last couple of weeks during school holidays the loads have not dropped, if anything they're heavier. It's not as if I'm just seeing them double loaded either, I've checked each time I've seen this board and the prior X21/22 had both ran on each occasion (10+ at this point). 

You say that there are only a few stops shared, this not only isn't the case but also totally misses the point of how close the routes are. From Newcastle, Gosforth, and Regent Centre, passengers for much of Bedlington and Stakeford will use the services interchangeably. That's added to those from and for Cramlington Arcot Manor, Cramlington Industrial Estate, and Ashington.

The obvious option is to hire some competent engineering staff so you can actually meet PVR.

(09 Aug 2025, 6:38 pm)PH - BQA wrote Why would that be the obvious one? 

Again, as someone who sees these routes every day, at the start of the PM peak where there are 15 minute gaps between X21/22s they leave with a standing load if allocated a saloon. The 16:15 X22, which is a saloon daily because the commercial genius decided to put the 777 midnight on that board, leaves Haymarket every day with standees - even during the last couple of weeks during school holidays the loads have not dropped, if anything they're heavier. It's not as if I'm just seeing them double loaded either, I've checked each time I've seen this board and the prior X21/22 had both ran on each occasion (10+ at this point). 

You say that there are only a few stops shared, this not only isn't the case but also totally misses the point of how close the routes are. From Newcastle, Gosforth, and Regent Centre, passengers for much of Bedlington and Stakeford will use the services interchangeably. That's added to those from and for Cramlington Arcot Manor, Cramlington Industrial Estate, and Ashington.

The obvious option is to hire some competent engineering staff so you can actually meet PVR.

Quietest bus route at Ashington, which wouldn't reduce it down to hourly pretty much. Nothing more. 

The routes really aren't close to each other at all though. They're literally miles apart and the X21 really doesn't serve the main part Stakeford, at all. 

imo though the X21/X22 would be better being split into 3, 30 minute services anyway, there's just so many gaps around from 'new' housing developments popping up which probably deserve a service to Newcastle somehow but it's not really possibly without punishing the extreme of the route.

Alnwick Drive, Stead Lane in Bedlington
Wansbeck Road, Blackthorn Road, Newbiggin Road and the huge housing estate in Ashington
Beacon Lane (unopened loop) working with the X9 in Cramlington

Being the most noticeable ones and it's not like they're little estates with 10 people either and all but Stead Lane (2) have zero public transport at all right now and the alternatives aren't really reasonably close either.

(09 Aug 2025, 7:11 pm)Storx wrote Quietest bus route at Ashington, which wouldn't reduce it down to hourly pretty much. Nothing more. 

The routes really aren't close to each other at all though. They're literally miles apart and the X21 really doesn't serve the main part Stakeford, at all. 

It is nowhere near the quietest route. 

I mean, they are close enough for key places. Headed back from Newcastle, if an X22 comes first anyone living along Ridge Terrace in Bedlington for example will get that ahead of an X21. Similarly with anyone around the Half Moon at Stakeford. 

It's interesting how you continue to ignore what you are told about both the X21 and X22 from someone who is very well acquainted with them both, and has a healthy amount of experience with where (and how many) people use them.

(09 Aug 2025, 7:18 pm)PH - BQA wrote It is nowhere near the quietest route. 

I mean, they are close enough for key places. Headed back from Newcastle, if an X22 comes first anyone living along Ridge Terrace in Bedlington for example will get that ahead of an X21. Similarly with anyone around the Half Moon at Stakeford. 

It's interesting how you continue to ignore what you are told about both the X21 and X22 from someone who is very well acquainted with them both, and has a healthy amount of experience with where (and how many) people use them.

It's quieter than the 35 and X21 which are realistically the only other routes which could be cut though, unless you want to drop something to hourly which would be stupid.

I do though tbf, because Bedlington Station still isn't open which is the one which imo is going to impact the X21 badly and 6 BPH + 2 TPH from Bedlington Station to Ashington is just overkill, evening ignoring the different routes especially since the 1 has problems with Bebside / Bedlington Station to Ashington aswell.

Btw agreed on the engineering though.

IMHO Ashington could do with a few more busses, to see off the Solos and to offer some slack for the E400 MMCs, with both batches having issues.It is also quite telling that the MX10 Pulsars brought up seem in decent shape, inside and out.

I wouldn't mess with the X21 / X22 to be honest, they're a stable set of routes and work pretty well.

Does anyone know whether some of the ex Liverpool stock have a speed limiter on.

Currently on 1393 and this thing feels slow especially along Earsdon Road considering it's currently 10 minutes late.

(13 Aug 2025, 12:43 pm)Storx wrote Does anyone know whether some of the ex Liverpool stock have a speed limiter on.

Currently on 1393 and this thing feels slow especially along Earsdon Road considering it's currently 10 minutes late.

Could it not just be a toad driving? I heard years back there used to be a toad driving the 57/57A who'd constantly run late.

(13 Aug 2025, 3:03 pm)L469 YVK wrote Could it not just be a toad driving? I heard years back there used to be a toad driving the 57/57A who'd constantly run late.

I believe that the term in the industry is "Drag The Road" whereby the driver will drive at a slower pace & dawdle along getting later & later, inevitably resulting in lost mileage for the operator as the service will eventually need to be adjusted to get it back on time. It's more common than you'd expect, although sometimes there's patterns to it.

(13 Aug 2025, 3:03 pm)L469 YVK wrote Could it not just be a toad driving? I heard years back there used to be a toad driving the 57/57A who'd constantly run late.

Possibly but didn't feel like it. Felt more like limp mode but was curious whether it was that or a limiter but the warning light on the dashboard probably answered that (noticed it after posting).

1392 appears to have similar issues aswell looking at BusTimes as it's losing time big time today and appeared to having issues yesterday aswell.

1393 also having big issues again today but on the 1 instead.

An Urban has transferred to Durham according to bustimes
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/arbb-3905

(21 Sep 2025, 5:19 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote An Urban has transferred to Durham according to bustimes
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/arbb-3905

May not see sevice i herd not in the best state

I heard AY Solo SR 3050 is off to to the North East at some point with it's replacement arriving at heckmondwike in the form of e200mini 1001.

3050 has been off the road for the last 12 months at least probably more.

(22 Sep 2025, 4:44 pm)davao123 wrote I heard AY Solo SR 3050 is off to to the North East at some point with it's replacement arriving at heckmondwike in the form of e200mini 1001.

3050 has been off the road for the last 12 months at least probably more.

Rumour on the mill is that Darlington is supposed to getting a optare solo sr, how true it is I'm not sure

Blyth have got 7557 back on the road after a 3 month spell VOR. Given the imminent arrival of their electrics, I wonder if they plan on keeping these 4? Otherwise I don’t see why you’d spend all that money on something you plan on scrapping in the near future.

(24 Sep 2025, 7:09 am)PH - BQA wrote Blyth have got 7557 back on the road after a 3 month spell VOR. Given the imminent arrival of their electrics, I wonder if they plan on keeping these 4? Otherwise I don’t see why you’d spend all that money on something you plan on scrapping in the near future.

Perhaps it will go to Derby like the rest of it's batch.  Derby even repainted some of the ones from, Yorkshire which is the same batch as 7557.

(24 Sep 2025, 7:09 am)PH - BQA wrote Blyth have got 7557 back on the road after a 3 month spell VOR. Given the imminent arrival of their electrics, I wonder if they plan on keeping these 4? Otherwise I don’t see why you’d spend all that money on something you plan on scrapping in the near future.

7556 appears to have the next stop announcements working now which I can't remember previously, so that could be the case.

(25 Sep 2025, 4:46 pm)Shrek wrote 7556 appears to have the next stop announcements working now which I can't remember previously, so that could be the case.

7556 is much younger than 7557, so to comply with regulations, needed to be fitted with NSAs.

7557 will go when the electrics arrive.

(24 Sep 2025, 7:09 am)PH - BQA wrote Blyth have got 7557 back on the road after a 3 month spell VOR. Given the imminent arrival of their electrics, I wonder if they plan on keeping these 4? Otherwise I don’t see why you’d spend all that money on something you plan on scrapping in the near future.

Wouldn't surprise me if they did, the Pulsar's need to go not any deckers.

If they do withdraw them then it's going to leave 5 spares Pulsar's and they should be nowhere near the X7/X8/X10/X11 or 306/308 which is the only place they can go.

imo 7501-7/9, 1443*/63/80/93/5/6 should be what goes leaving 1499-5 for the 553/X9 and everything else Decker operated.

If the trial goes well, they could easily upgrade the 306/8 or X7/8/10/11 which would see off the 58 Plate E400's and 59 Plate DB300's. I'm sure there's a case for both.

*If it hasn't gone by then.

(25 Sep 2025, 6:51 pm)Storx wrote Wouldn't surprise me if they did, the Pulsar's need to go not any deckers.

If they do withdraw them then it's going to leave 5 spares Pulsar's and they should be nowhere near the X7/X8/X10/X11 or 306/308 which is the only place they can go.

imo 7501-7/9, 1463/80/93/5/6 should be what goes leaving 1499-5 for the 553/X9 and everything else Decker operated.

If the trial goes well, they could easily upgrade the 306/8 or X7/8/10/11 which would see off the 58 Plate E400's and 59 Plate DB300's. I'm sure there's a case for both.

Agree 100% on that list of cascades, not sure what the official allocation ratio of deckers to singles is on the 43/44/45, or was when they were ordered but that would make the most sense. E400's for the scrap man and send those Pulsar's to Stockton/Redcar to start replacing the older examples. 

When it comes to the 58/09 E400's you'd argue if you're gonna have a 15+ year old bus you'd rather have a decker than a pulsar, so you'd hope they won't go until after the 09 Pulsars do.

(25 Sep 2025, 7:02 pm)peter wrote Agree 100% on that list of cascades, not sure what the official allocation ratio of deckers to singles is on the 43/44/45, or was when they were ordered but that would make the most sense. E400's for the scrap man and send those Pulsar's to Stockton/Redcar to start replacing the older examples. 

When it comes to the 58/09 E400's you'd argue if you're gonna have a 15+ year old bus you'd rather have a decker than a pulsar, so you'd hope they won't go until after the 09 Pulsars do.

Yeah agreed, to be honest, I'd be tempted to send them to Ashington and withdraw 1394-1399/1404 either as there's not much chance of the 1/2/57/57A getting anything new, I can't remember the 2/57/57A or their previous carnations ever getting anything new, ever, and I'm not counting the Vario's that were stored in a field. 

By all the rumours going around it seems like there's a lot of Pulsar's on the chopping block and putting 2+2 together, the fact the 09/10 Plates are 'paint floats' which need painting thereselves I'm going to put my neck on the line and say that most vehicles 09/59/10 Plate are on borrowed time but that is a big assumption. I'm sure we'll learn soon enough though when things aren't getting repainted.

Edit some quick maths if the 60 vehicles excluding electrics rumour is true.

60+ Mystery Buses
8/9 Electrics for the 2 (forgot which)
14 Electrics for Durham (7 E400's to go)
5 From Blyth

That's not a kick in teeth away from that either as a very quick count I get 83 Pulsars 10 Plate or older with/without Blyth's tbh.

I hope the Enviro400EV trial at Blyth is a sucess, epsically if it can hold it's own on the X boards.

(25 Sep 2025, 7:07 pm)Storx wrote Yeah agreed, to be honest, I'd be tempted to send them to Ashington and withdraw 1394-1399/1404 either as there's not much chance of the 1/2/57/57A getting anything new, I can't remember the 2/57/57A or their previous carnations ever getting anything new, ever, and I'm not counting the Vario's that were stored in a field. 

By all the rumours going around it seems like there's a lot of Pulsar's on the chopping block and putting 2+2 together, the fact the 09/10 Plates are 'paint floats' which need painting thereselves I'm going to put my neck on the line and say that most vehicles 09/59/10 Plate are on borrowed time but that is a big assumption. I'm sure we'll learn soon enough though when things aren't getting repainted.

Edit some quick maths if the 60 vehicles excluding electrics rumour is true.

60+ Mystery Buses
8/9 Electrics for the 2 (forgot which)
14 Electrics for Durham (7 E400's to go)
5 From Blyth

That's not a kick in teeth away from that either as a very quick count I get 83 Pulsars 10 Plate or older with/without Blyth's tbh.

 Auto correction 1399 is allocated to Redcar not Ashington

(25 Sep 2025, 6:51 pm)Storx wrote Wouldn't surprise me if they did, the Pulsar's need to go not any deckers.

If they do withdraw them then it's going to leave 5 spares Pulsar's and they should be nowhere near the X7/X8/X10/X11 or 306/308 which is the only place they can go.

imo 7501-7/9, 1443*/63/80/93/5/6 should be what goes leaving 1499-5 for the 553/X9 and everything else Decker operated.

If the trial goes well, they could easily upgrade the 306/8 or X7/8/10/11 which would see off the 58 Plate E400's and 59 Plate DB300's. I'm sure there's a case for both.

*If it hasn't gone 

 Bye all counts Durham will be doing all x12s so  i would of thought  1441 1443 15 would transfer straight to Durham for the x12s then Stockton sends the rest for the x12s

(25 Sep 2025, 8:13 pm)Bob5666 wrote  Auto correction 1399 is allocated to Redcar not Ashington

Yeah you're right sorry, got mixed up with 1499 at Blyth. Meant 1390-4.

(25 Sep 2025, 8:29 pm)Bob5666 wrote  Bye all counts Durham will be doing all x12s so  i would of thought  1441 1443 15 would transfer straight to Durham for the x12s then Stockton sends the rest for the x12s

I think they're supposed to be at Ashington right now for things being repainted there - assume it'll be the 17 Plate E400MMC's getting done, unsure what their future is though. I think all of the 1370-99 are Euro 6 though, so guess they could send anything really.

Ones at Blyth currently though, unsure why though when Ashington is the one struggling.