(02 Feb 2026, 6:48 pm)Shrek wrote Is that going by bus times. Someone i work with was in on time and normally gets the 7.11 X21, and they weren't complaining so I'm guessing it turned up. Could some be tracking issues?

Can't confirm how many, but I had a little look at the app earlier today, around 11am, and there was definitely, at least

2x 306/308
3x X21/X22/35
1x 1
1x 2
1x 57/57A
1x 43/44/45

Cancelled boards today. 

Might have improved, might have got worse and that was the ones actually reported in the Arriva app but it was bleak either way in Northumbria - again.

(The 7.11 started short at Ashington according to BusTimes btw, seems to be a lot of shorts today).

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Btw does anyone know if the Ashington issues are all vehicle problems or whether there's driver related issues now aswell? Seen there's cancelled X22's tonight and there's absolutely zero rationale why there's cancellations at night due to vehicles.

(02 Feb 2026, 6:48 pm)Shrek wrote Is that going by bus times. Someone i work with was in on time and normally gets the 7.11 X21, and they weren't complaining so I'm guessing it turned up. Could some be tracking issues?

It started from Ashington Bus Station - with a Streetlite, so that'll have been pleasant. That was confirmed, and isn't going off bustimes. 

So they missed 2 consecutive X21s from Newbiggin, and 2 consecutive X22s from Ashington (picked the 07:29 up from the A1) on runout. 

There were periods today where there were only 3/7 X22s out (7566 was pulled for schools).

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(02 Feb 2026, 7:33 pm)Storx wrote Can't confirm how many, but I had a little look at the app earlier today, around 11am, and there was definitely, at least

2x 306/308
3x X21/X22/35
1x 1
1x 2
1x 57/57A
1x 43/44/45

Cancelled boards today. 

Might have improved, might have got worse and that was the ones actually reported in the Arriva app but it was bleak either way in Northumbria - again.

(The 7.11 started short at Ashington according to BusTimes btw, seems to be a lot of shorts today).

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Btw does anyone know if the Ashington issues are all vehicle problems or whether there's driver related issues now aswell? Seen there's cancelled X22's tonight and there's absolutely zero rationale why there's cancellations at night due to vehicles.

It's actually a disgrace. Even when GNE reached a similar state last year they drafted in loan vehicles, ANE management are doing nothing. It's wild to me that Arriva have just watched Liverpool gift some of their most lucrative work to GAG and aren't making any effort to improve operations in the NE where franchising is imminent. 

In addition to the ones you listed, they also missed an X18 (08:13 ex Amble started at Pegswood). 

If there are driver issues at Ashington I'd assume they're on the day sickness, as far as I know all issues there are vehicle related currently. Certainly the drivers I spoke to last week on a couple of X21/22s (after asking where the previous one was) indicated that the issues were 100% bus related.

They even missed the 57 this morning 7:41, and then the next 57A 8:16 was 20 minutes late by Whitley Bay. 1404 came on this working in time for the 57A back (so they won't receive any fine for missing the contracted part), but was still in Morpeth on the 777 earlier.

Arriva should hire in some buses as GNE did last year, ADL dealer stock. Or bring in older Arriva stuff from elsewhere (but ADL dealer stock would be easier as when those are hired in isn't all maintenance the responsibility of ADL so then it would not take engineers away from fixing up the normal fleet, even if that is not the case, newer stuff would be more reliable).

Not acceptable how Arriva are totally ok with this until new buses arrive.

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They even missed the 57 this morning 7:41, and then the next 57A 8:16 was 20 minutes late by Whitley Bay. 1404 came on this working in time for the 57A back (so they won't receive any fine for missing the contracted part), but was still in Morpeth on the 777 earlier.

Arriva should hire in some buses as GNE did last year, ADL dealer stock. Or bring in older Arriva stuff from elsewhere (but ADL dealer stock would be easier as when those are hired in isn't all maintenance the responsibility of ADL so then it would not take engineers away from fixing up the normal fleet, even if that is not the case, newer stuff would be more reliable).

Not acceptable how Arriva are totally ok with this until new buses arrive.

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They even missed the 57 this morning 7:41, and then the next 57A 8:16 was 20 minutes late by Whitley Bay. 1404 came on this working in time for the 57A back (so they won't receive any fine for missing the contracted part), but was still in Morpeth on the 777 earlier.

Arriva should hire in some buses as GNE did last year, ADL dealer stock. Or bring in older Arriva stuff from elsewhere (but ADL dealer stock would be easier as when those are hired in isn't all maintenance the responsibility of ADL so then it would not take engineers away from fixing up the normal fleet, even if that is not the case, newer stuff would be more reliable).

Not acceptable how Arriva are totally ok with this until new buses arrive.

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They even missed the 57 this morning 7:41, and then the next 57A 8:16 was 20 minutes late by Whitley Bay. 1404 came on this working in time for the 57A back (so they won't receive any fine for missing the contracted part), but was still in Morpeth on the 777 earlier.

Arriva should hire in some buses as GNE did last year, ADL dealer stock. Or bring in older Arriva stuff from elsewhere (but ADL dealer stock would be easier as when those are hired in isn't all maintenance the responsibility of ADL so then it would not take engineers away from fixing up the normal fleet, even if that is not the case, newer stuff would be more reliable).

Not acceptable how Arriva are totally ok with this until new buses arrive.

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I don't know why a lot of my posts seem to post multiple times sorry.

Also, is there any hope with some buses like 3051 or 7530 ever being up to standard? Very unreliable.

7590 & 7522 & 7617 are all on loan to Ashington 7590 & 7522 are tracking under spare an while 7617 is noe tracking under its own machine

Looks like 7542 is on the 415. I thought this would be inevitable given how poor the current Solo SR's are reliability wise. 3051 is so bad it may as well not exist and 3052 is ok, but you can't rely on just 1. Looks like neither is available today though.

(2 hours ago)Arriva7446 wrote Looks like 7542 is on the 415. I thought this would be inevitable given how poor the current Solo SR's are reliability wise. 3051 is so bad it may as well not exist and 3052 is ok, but you can't rely on just 1. Looks like neither is available today though.

Given E400MMCs can’t go on the 415, maybe it’s just a Darlington minibus incorrectly tracking?

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(3 hours ago)Nerd4321 wrote 7590 & 7522 & 7617 are all on loan to Ashington  7590 & 7522 are tracking under spare an while 7617 is noe tracking under its own machine

7590 is on an X20. 

More movements planned from what I’ve been told.

(2 hours ago)PH - BQA wrote Given E400MMCs can’t go on the 415, maybe it’s just a Darlington minibus incorrectly tracking?

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7590 is on an X20. 

More movements planned from what I’ve been told.

Yeah I am sure I read the 415 had to be minibus, so I am confused. Sadly I don't think I will see it myself today. Hopefully someone else does.

Personally think it's mad that Blyth are loaning buses to Ashington.

It's just resulting up in this:


I respect there's serious issues at Ashington, but surely anyone with brains would see it's better to really piss off one group of passengers rather than pissing everyone off. 

Damage limitation etc.

Hopefully the electric vehicles will be in use very soon, but Arriva won't withdraw anything at all until the new diesel vehicles arrive, which will hopefully prevent these issues.