(14 Dec 2025, 2:33 pm)Mike_98 wrote Ahh ok. The MMC's look great in the JM livery along with the streetlites. I do think they need to start merging the Streetlites into one area though instead of having them dotted around places. Personally, I think Stockton would be a perfect fit for alot of the north east Streetlites. They have a lot of non hill climb demanding routes like the 7,8,9,15,16,17's,28's,29. Depending on what Redcar have ordered for the 63, some could be sent over that way too for the 63 if they don't get electrics. Pulsars ain't gonna last forever. Will be good to see some MMC's coming for Stockton. Assuming there for the 5/5A?

I'm not to sure if they will do the B9's into Journey Mark unless they plan on transferring them elsewhere. However, they're super unique to Arriva as they don't really operate many B9's. If they are changing anything on them, they may go for what they did on the Evoras and do the Yorkshire Coast Connection style Livery on them but Arriva sometimes change their plans.

Also, whats with Arriva removing some of the Journey Mark Stripes off some of the buses. Surely theres a reason behind it.

Good question. Was it 1397 that lost its JM stripes too?

(14 Dec 2025, 2:33 pm)Mike_98 wrote Ahh ok. The MMC's look great in the JM livery along with the streetlites. I do think they need to start merging the Streetlites into one area though instead of having them dotted around places. Personally, I think Stockton would be a perfect fit for alot of the north east Streetlites. They have a lot of non hill climb demanding routes like the 7,8,9,15,16,17's,28's,29. Depending on what Redcar have ordered for the 63, some could be sent over that way too for the 63 if they don't get electrics. Pulsars ain't gonna last forever. Will be good to see some MMC's coming for Stockton. Assuming there for the 5/5A?

I'm not to sure if they will do the B9's into Journey Mark unless they plan on transferring them elsewhere. However, they're super unique to Arriva as they don't really operate many B9's. If they are changing anything on them, they may go for what they did on the Evoras and do the Yorkshire Coast Connection style Livery on them but Arriva sometimes change their plans.

Also, whats with Arriva removing some of the Journey Mark Stripes off some of the buses. Surely theres a reason behind it.

If you want to consolidate the Streetlite's to somewhere moving Darlington's to Ashington in return for Pulsar's would be a useful move.

Not saying I particularly want them up here but they'd be fine for 1, 2, 57/57A and 553 which hopefully after investment will be the only saloon routes left. If the X9 stays saloon they could probably do it aswell

Something like

Ashington:
1574 - 1578/81/2/3 | 1/2
1602 - 1606 | 57/57A
1584 - 1587/1607 | Spares

Blyth: 
1588 | 553
1589 | Spare
1590 - 1594 | X9, if not upgraded to DD otherwise send to Durham to join their sisters.


It means Northumbria would be Pulsar free and those routes realistically aren't ever going to be top of any lists for investment

1602 - 12 would be useless at Stockton since their shorter in length, similar that they can be at Darlington currently. The shorter Saloons on the 57/57A would be handy as Tillmouth Avenue in Holywell isn't the easiest place to have full length singles trundling along. 

It all depends on whether there will be enough deckers for the Ashington expresses though.

I’ve said it before but it is a shame that the ex Whitby P&R DB300s could have not have retuned and be modded and reintegrated to the Blyth fleet – as while the 59 plate DB300s at Blyth are looking worn out (I doubt they were given northing more than the very bare minimum TLC), they continue to press on with their duties and have aged far more gracefully than their Pulsar counterparts and especially the E400s of the same era, and probably have a few years of life left in them, and prevented a few peak time Newcastle boards from being overcrowded. I guess the Euro 6 conversion is not worth their book value. Perhaps it is a cautionary tale if a couple of the 16 plate E400mmc’s take over their duties but remain out of sync with future mods on the rest of the fleet.

(14 Dec 2025, 11:09 pm)solsburian wrote I’ve said it before but it is a shame that the ex Whitby P&R DB300s could have not have retuned and be modded and reintegrated to the Blyth fleet – as while the 59 plate DB300s at Blyth are looking worn out (I doubt they were given northing more than the very bare minimum TLC), they continue to press on with their duties and have aged far more gracefully than their Pulsar counterparts and especially the E400s of the same era, and probably have a few years of life left in them, and prevented a few peak time Newcastle boards from being overcrowded. I guess the Euro 6 conversion is not worth their book value. Perhaps it is a cautionary tale if a couple of the 16 plate E400mmc’s take over their duties but remain out of sync with future mods on the rest of the fleet.

tbh I'm surprised they're getting scrapped, at all.

https://www.busandcoachcentre.co.uk/info...c-for-sale - There's ex London dual doors being sold for £24,000 still so they still have some value. I don't know how much the scrapper gives but be surprised if it's anywhere near that.

Outside of scrapping, Selby probably would be the best bet rather than E6 mods for Blyth really - they're really struggling down there and they're all part of the same batch, might help them get along until something newer comes as I don't believe this E400MMC order coming now is replacing them (that's the Hybrids and remaining E400's).

Side note the hybrids of the early to mid 10's really were junk; with Stagecoach, Arriva and GoNorthEast now all getting shot of the things, well before they should be going.

(14 Dec 2025, 11:33 pm)Storx wrote tbh I'm surprised they're getting scrapped, at all.

https://www.busandcoachcentre.co.uk/info...c-for-sale - There's ex London dual doors being sold for £24,000 still so they still have some value. I don't know how much the scrapper gives but be surprised if it's anywhere near that.

Outside of scrapping, Selby probably would be the best bet rather than E6 mods for Blyth really - they're really struggling down there and they're all part of the same batch, might help them get along until something newer comes as I don't believe this E400MMC order coming now is replacing them (that's the Hybrids and remaining E400's).

Side note the hybrids of the early to mid 10's really were junk; with Stagecoach, Arriva and GoNorthEast now all getting shot of the things, well before they should be going.

The ex Northumbria Hybrids moveout resulted in Arriva doing a bit of PR gaslighting.

Ashington have had 7522 and 7509 on loan, both of these can do Newcastle CAZ so have been on X21 and X22, but still they have missed a few trips. The one before 7522 (15:25) didn't show up. 7522 is still well capable, has had an easier life than the other 14 plates. 7522 did only the 3 years at Ashington on X21 and X22 then a lot of years at Jesmond with the 57 plates for the 43/44/45.

But even with 2 vehicles on loan they have missed trips. Double decker on 434, even though 3052 was available (on 57) but 3051 is barely ever on the road.

(Yesterday, 7:10 pm)Arriva7446 wrote Double decker on 434, even though 3052 was available.

Does anyone know what the story behind this is? It's been like this for a week now - assume there's something technical why it can't be on there?

On face value it is absolutely insane having a decker on the 434 - unless it is faulty and they want to keep it close to the depot.

(Yesterday, 8:44 pm)Storx wrote Does anyone know what the story behind this is? It's been like this for a week now - assume there's something technical why it can't be on there?

3052 went out on the last 57 duty, so you'd assume it wasn't ready for the early 434 runout. Similarly every other day for the past week, it evidently hasn't been ready in time. It didn't make it out at all on Friday, and obviously is the only 'functioning' Solo so had to do the 415 on Saturday. 

It's an absolute shambles. The thought process behind sending these heaps (3051/2) to Ashington for secured, rural, work when they weren't even good enough for Yorkshire needs examining. 

Deckers, specifically MMCs, are used in place of a Solo when one isn't available as they are the only vehicles which can easily navigate the roundabout off Station Road. Pulsars are too inconsistent with their lock, as are the older E400s.

(Yesterday, 7:10 pm)Arriva7446 wrote Ashington have had 7522 and 7509 on loan, both of these can do Newcastle CAZ so have been on X21 and X22, but still they have missed a few trips. The one before 7522 (15:25) didn't show up. 7522 is still well capable, has had an easier life than the other 14 plates. 7522 did only the 3 years at Ashington on X21 and X22 then a lot of years at Jesmond with the 57 plates for the 43/44/45.

But even with 2 vehicles on loan they have missed trips. Double decker on 434, even though 3052 was available (on 57) but 3051 is barely ever on the road.

Despite claims from some on here that engineers have been brought in to improve the situation, the facts are that the situation at Ashington is dire and there is no sign of it improving soon. Even with these 2 vehicles from Blyth today, I believe there were around 3 boards missing all due to no vehicle. 

Both 7526 and 7528 failed on the X21/22 today, and having experienced them both recently I can see why. Truthfully none of the fleet has been looked after properly for years, particularly those 14/64/15-plates which were exceptionally good vehicles and have been left to rot since 2022. 7530 is a prime example, although that has been a dog since about 2021 and has literally never been properly put right since.

(Yesterday, 10:09 pm)PH - BQA wrote 3052 went out on the last 57 duty, so you'd assume it wasn't ready for the early 434 runout. Similarly every other day for the past week, it evidently hasn't been ready in time. It didn't make it out at all on Friday, and obviously is the only 'functioning' Solo so had to do the 415 on Saturday. 

It's an absolute shambles. The thought process behind sending these heaps (3051/2) to Ashington for secured, rural, work when they weren't even good enough for Yorkshire needs examining. 

Deckers, specifically MMCs, are used in place of a Solo when one isn't available as they are the only vehicles which can easily navigate the roundabout off Station Road. Pulsars are too inconsistent with their lock, as are the older E400s.

Yeah makes sense, knew about the Pulsar issues because of their length. 

Tbh I don't understand why they don't give up the 434 contract now it's been reduced by a bus, seems a complete headache to take a contract on for 1 bus, which requires another model which, at the same time, are seriously unreliable aswell.

Let someone like Phoenix run it instead imo who have appropiate vehicles. Surely Arriva aren't that desperate and it's not like it's a goldmine with passengers, in fact it's the polar opposite.

It must be a lose-lose situation having a microfleet of Solo SRs too - I can't imagine they could justify holding on to any meaningful large bank of spare parts for them, so when one does breakdown, they could be wating a while for a new part on order.

(Yesterday, 10:20 pm)PH - BQA wrote Despite claims from some on here that engineers have been brought in to improve the situation, the facts are that the situation at Ashington is dire and there is no sign of it improving soon. Even with these 2 vehicles from Blyth today, I believe there were around 3 boards missing all due to no vehicle. 

Both 7526 and 7528 failed on the X21/22 today, and having experienced them both recently I can see why. Truthfully none of the fleet has been looked after properly for years, particularly those 14/64/15-plates which were exceptionally good vehicles and have been left to rot since 2022. 7530 is a prime example, although that has been a dog since about 2021 and has literally never been properly put right since.

You state in your post that the fleet hasn't been looked after for years. Can anybody reasonably expect a new engineering manager and team to get up to speed in a couple of months? I expect they're fighting a losing battle until new buses arrive and moves give them something to work with.

(Yesterday, 11:29 pm)Shrek wrote You state in your post that the fleet hasn't been looked after for years. Can anybody reasonably expect a new engineering manager and team to get up to speed in a couple of months? I expect they're fighting a losing battle until new buses arrive and moves give them something to work with.

No, of course not, but you’d expect to see some progress and if anything things seem to be moving even further backwards.

(Yesterday, 10:58 pm)solsburian wrote It must be a lose-lose situation having a microfleet of Solo SRs too - I can't imagine they could justify holding on to any meaningful large bank of spare parts for them, so when one does breakdown, they could be wating a while for a new part on order.

Yeah agreed, it'll be interesting if when the next renewal for the 434 comes up if they just plan to give it up and whether 3051 ends up becoming a christmas tree as no doubt the thing will break again in the next few weeks as it's a complete shed.

(Yesterday, 11:29 pm)Shrek wrote You state in your post that the fleet hasn't been looked after for years. Can anybody reasonably expect a new engineering manager and team to get up to speed in a couple of months? I expect they're fighting a losing battle until new buses arrive and moves give them something to work with.

To be fair, it's not totally unreasonable to expect them to have enough buses to run a days service either. I haven't worked it out but Ashington seems to have a lot of spares vehicles.

Blyth have a much older fleet and they can run a days service and it's not like their routes are much easier considering the hardest work at Ashington has brand new E400MMC's give or take and Blyth's expresses are ran by 16 year old DB300's.

3051 looks to have broke down again. This must be the worst Solo Ashington have ever had. There has been some bad ones, but this is crazy.

Keep seeing stuff about Ashington and the new buses solving everything but I'm not convinced it will.

If the rumours of the 12 17 Plates are going out - which are not the problem and 6 buses rumoured to Whitby then unless Blyth are only getting 2 of the things there's not going to be any change at all.

Assuming Blyth get 10, at the bare minimum, which doesn't really make much sense considering the minimum PVR is 14 then it's basically absolutely no further forward...

Some knackered E400's, Pulsars or DB300's from Blyth aren't going to fix anything tbh and it's realistically all that Ashington will really gain from this and those will be likely replacing Pulsar's anyway which also aren't the issue in the main.