(06 Sep 2025, 9:57 am)Rob44 wrote https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yq96qgdg6o

raising fares again.

They're on the ball I see, only 6 days late.

(06 Sep 2025, 11:19 am)Teessider2014 wrote Potentially not - due to the risk of vandalism they’re not too keen to send the decker out in normal service

So children on school buses don't cause vandalism?

(06 Sep 2025, 11:19 am)Teessider2014 wrote Potentially not - due to the risk of vandalism they’re not too keen to send the decker out in normal service

A very expensive school bus then. Absolutely not performing any return on investment, so I cannot see that being the case forever.

It's more likely the contract it is used on will end next year and the bus will move on to another location.

Otherwise, in order for it to actually pay for itself, then the price for a daily school bus in Sedgefield will go up faster than Angela Rayner's tax bill.

5197 is a 2 or 3 year contract, that's just been re-awarded.

80000 wasn't allowed on normal service mainly because only a few drivers were familiarised, and it was a short-term loan, so worry about crash damage (I have a feeling for some reason that Stagecoach don't even own it)

(06 Sep 2025, 6:04 pm)F114TML wrote 5197 is a 2 or 3 year contract, that's just been re-awarded.

80000 wasn't allowed on normal service mainly because only a few drivers were familiarised, and it was a short-term loan, so worry about crash damage (I have a feeling for some reason that Stagecoach don't even own it)

Demonstators aren't they with Arriva, GoAhead and Stagecoach each having one?

Arriva (AR74 ZEB) - Currently at Ashington
GoAhead (GA74 ZEB) - Currently at Brighton
Stagecoach (SC74 ZEB) - Not sure where it's at now

That's the 3 of them. There's AD24 ZEB around aswell, but unsure where that's at these days. Edit: at Harrogate.

(06 Sep 2025, 12:22 pm)stagecoachfan wrote So children on school buses don't cause vandalism?

Not on the Wynyard school run no!

2 x windows a day across Teesside being smashed with 1 X decker for the contract pretty much rules it out going on normal service apart from office staff covering late ops

(06 Sep 2025, 12:22 pm)stagecoachfan wrote So children on school buses don't cause vandalism?

Tbf whenever I did the sedgefield one they were little bother. Bit loud, maybe the odd bit of luggage, but that's it.

Only a couple of drivers do the 5197 (and even then one of them does it most of the week), and ours (5045, now with someone else) had one permanent driver and two relief drivers (the two relief drivers also cover the 5001 to Easington).

The drivers therefore build a rapport with the kids, the kids know how far the driver will let them go. They're much better behaved that way.

(06 Sep 2025, 7:44 pm)F114TML wrote Tbf whenever I did the sedgefield one they were little bother. Bit loud, maybe the odd bit of luggage, but that's it.

Only a couple of drivers do the 5197 (and even then one of them does it most of the week), and ours (5045, now with someone else) had one permanent driver and two relief drivers (the two relief drivers also cover the 5001 to Easington).

The drivers therefore build a rapport with the kids, the kids know how far the driver will let them go. They're much better behaved that way.

Would it not be DBS requirements that dictate a small pool or regular driver, rather than rapport building exercise?

(06 Sep 2025, 5:54 pm)Superman wrote A very expensive school bus then. Absolutely not performing any return on investment, so I cannot see that being the case forever.

It's more likely the contract it is used on will end next year and the bus will move on to another location.

Otherwise, in order for it to actually pay for itself, then the price for a daily school bus in Sedgefield will go up faster than Angela Rayner's tax bill.

Only £30k that Rayner didn’t pay. I m waiting to see what Frogface owes. Looking likes £millions .

Surely all drivers are DBS?

(06 Sep 2025, 8:41 pm)idiot wrote Surely all drivers are DBS?

The drivers on school work have to have an Advanced DBS check - likewise the driver on Flex at Stockton also had to have similar.

(06 Sep 2025, 6:30 pm)Storx wrote Demonstators aren't they with Arriva, GoAhead and Stagecoach each having one?

Arriva (AR74 ZEB) - Currently at Ashington
GoAhead (GA74 ZEB) - Currently at Brighton
Stagecoach (SC74 ZEB) - Not sure where it's at now

That's the 3 of them. There's AD24 ZEB around aswell, but unsure where that's at these days. Edit: at Harrogate.

First and National Express (West Midlands) got them too.
FB74ZEB and NX74ZEB

(06 Sep 2025, 8:41 pm)idiot wrote Surely all drivers are DBS?

No, a DBS check is generally not required to become a bus driver.

It is only necessary if you are regularly operating specific types of routes, primarily school services or some closed-door routes. Some contracts may also stipulate a DBS check, but in most cases, major operators do not conduct them for the majority of their workforce.

Legally, there is no requirement for a DBS check, despite the potential situations bus drivers might encounter when operating in BAU (such as driver and vulnerable passenger alone together, late at night or terminus etc). Arguably, they all should be - I absolutely agree.

(06 Sep 2025, 9:37 pm)stagecoachfan wrote First and National Express (West Midlands) got them too.
FB74ZEB and NX74ZEB

Thanks for that, missed those ones tbh.

(06 Sep 2025, 9:37 pm)stagecoachfan wrote First and National Express (West Midlands) got them too.
FB74ZEB and NX74ZEB

The National Express one doesn't appear to have been used since it was built - the only photographs of it anyway on the web are parked in the ADL storage area at Camelon (or recently on test round Falkirk).

Now that I'm surprised at. I thought the companies would have them trained in basic safeguarding too.

(04 Sep 2025, 8:27 am)Kuyoyo wrote  all the Lakes ones are still required this weekend after all.

Can you expand on this please.  Are some open toppers being borrowed from the Lakes for the Great North Run, and if so which ones are expected or turned up.

(08 Sep 2025, 10:54 pm)Brampton Trev wrote Can you expand on this please.  Are some open toppers being borrowed from the Lakes for the Great North Run, and if so which ones are expected or turned up.

No, no Lakes Open Topper were loaned for the GNR. Mainly because there's none to spare to come on loan.

Slatyford now have 9 Yutongs delivered with temporary chargers being installed they will enter service on Monday 29th September on the service 30/31/36.

The other 9 from the batch of 18 will head to Sunderland and be used in service until Slatyford’s permanent charging infrastructure is complete. I have heard this should be in the coming months but unsure how true this is as apparently the managing director has said the roof is coming off of the shed in 6 months time. But until the chargers are done our other 9 Yutongs will be going to Sunderland temporarily.

(13 Sep 2025, 7:32 am)ReDemPTiion wrote Slatyford now have 9 Yutongs delivered with temporary chargers being installed they will enter service on Monday 29th September on the service 30/31/36.

The other 9 from the batch of 18 will head to Sunderland and be used in service until Slatyford’s permanent charging infrastructure is complete. I have heard this should be in the coming months but unsure how true this is as apparently the managing director has said the roof is coming off of the shed in 6 months time. But until the chargers are done our other 9 Yutongs will be going to Sunderland temporarily.

Wonder if this will get rid of the next batch of gas buses, allowing more 2nd hand shite to arrive once the Yutongs go back to Slatyford.


Edit:

What is the fleet numbers for the Slatyford Yutongs?


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Sunderland's Yutongs are allocated all over today, they're on the 3/4/13/16/23 and the E's.

(13 Sep 2025, 10:37 am)Michael wrote Wonder if this will get rid of the next batch of gas buses, allowing more 2nd hand shite to arrive once the Yutongs go back to Slatyford.


Edit:

What is the fleet numbers for the Slatyford Yutongs?


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Sunderland's Yutongs are allocated all over today, they're on the 3/4/13/16/23 and the E's.

Slatyford’s Yutongs are 73177-73194 dunno what’s going to Sunderland though but probably be replaced by more shite when they go back to Slatyford

(13 Sep 2025, 2:33 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote Slatyford’s Yutongs are 73177-73194 dunno what’s going to Sunderland though but probably be replaced by more shite when they go back to Slatyford

Cheers, when will they arrive at Sunderland?


No doubt, the NE is a dumping ground now, not just for Stagecoach but for Arriva and GNE.

(13 Sep 2025, 2:33 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote Slatyford’s Yutongs are 73177-73194 dunno what’s going to Sunderland though but probably be replaced by more shite when they go back to Slatyford

Wasn't 73176 supposed to one of Slatyford's 18?

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(13 Sep 2025, 4:19 pm)Michael wrote Cheers, when will they arrive at Sunderland?


No doubt, the NE is a dumping ground now, not just for Stagecoach but for Arriva and GNE.

A dumping ground? When Stagecoach North East have got or are due over 100 new electric buses?

(13 Sep 2025, 7:02 pm)stagecoachfan wrote Wasn't 73176 supposed to one of Slatyford's 18?

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A dumping ground? When Stagecoach North East have got or are due over 100 new electric buses?

Maybe but that's because of the government funding... when was the last time, we got new buses without government funding?


The NE will still be a dumping ground, what's going to replace the last of the gas buses at Sunderland - 2nd hand buses - they aren't going to buy new buses to replace them.


Its going to get to the point where the loads of buses at once will need to be replaced, no doubt we'll get younger buses from other depots.

(13 Sep 2025, 4:19 pm)Michael wrote Cheers, when will they arrive at Sunderland?

No idea they haven’t all been delivered yet

(13 Sep 2025, 8:25 pm)Michael wrote Maybe but that's because of the government funding... when was the last time, we got new buses without government funding?


The NE will still be a dumping ground, what's going to replace the last of the gas buses at Sunderland - 2nd hand buses - they aren't going to buy new buses to replace them.


Its going to get to the point where the loads of buses at once will need to be replaced, no doubt we'll get younger buses from other depots.

They're a business, you invest money where you'll make money. Due to contracts in areas like Manchester they have to buy a certain type of bus. It's good business logic they move assets north rather than buying new here.

(13 Sep 2025, 7:02 pm)stagecoachfan wrote Wasn't 73176 supposed to one of Slatyford's 18?

That’s what I heard but apparently not, it’s still got tees valley branding on it for the funding but has busways legal lettering just being used for training then heading back to Stockton. Slatyford’s are 73177-73194 with 9 being used by Sunderland until the chargers are sorted “in the coming months” but apparently the roof is coming off in 6 months time.

(13 Sep 2025, 8:25 pm)Michael wrote Maybe but that's because of the government funding... when was the last time, we got new buses without government funding?


The NE will still be a dumping ground, what's going to replace the last of the gas buses at Sunderland - 2nd hand buses - they aren't going to buy new buses to replace them.


Its going to get to the point where the loads of buses at once will need to be replaced, no doubt we'll get younger buses from other depots.

2023-24, E400s for Newcastle. Not that long ago.

(13 Sep 2025, 8:59 pm)stagecoachfan wrote 2023-24, E400s for Newcastle. Not that long ago.

Really?, I honestly thought it was ages ago, but then again, I can't remember I actually seen a updated fleet list for Stagecoach NE. (Bustimes is ok but no official)

11 of Slatyford’s MAN E300’s 24101-24115 will be leaving when the Yutongs start coming out in service. Unsure what 4 will remain at Slatyford but I’ve also heard the 11 are heading to Walkergate for a little while before heading South to another Stagecoach depot. Them 241** buses are horrible things feel sorry for whatever depot gets them.