On 7599 at the moment. I always love how legal notices work in the UK. An A4 piece of paper in the window stating it's on loan to Arriva Northumbria. I bet they'd get away with a hand written note in how we legislate.

Has there been any talk on where the Sapphire E400MMC are going once the YX72 buses arrive at Ashington (if this is still the plan)

(02 Mar 2026, 12:18 am)Nerd4321 wrote Has there been any talk on where the Sapphire E400MMC are going once the YX72 buses arrive at Ashington (if this is still the plan)

There's no more E400s due from the Midlands - just the four we've already got (7596/7 at Blyth, 7598/9 at Whitby).

It sounds like the BYD electrics won't be in service until mid-April. Assume this is down to getting chargers installed and delays due to the high demand for companies to do this currently.

(02 Mar 2026, 12:41 pm)Shrek wrote It sounds like the BYD electrics won't be in service until mid-April. Assume this is down to getting chargers installed and delays due to the high demand for companies to do this currently.

That's annoying, as there has been a lot of shortages of buses lately, especially as loads of Blyth's seem to now be having emission problems. And it will be worse when 7578 and 7599 go back to Redcar

Ashington seem to be having problems again today as looks like there's been a few breakdowns according to Bustimes, and I was trying to get the 1 to Blyth which didn't show up which appears to be because 1578 was moved off the 1 onto the X18.

1594 is at Ashington now. Seems to have swapped places with 1588. Was tracking as Spare AN as I passed it earlier

I’ve notice in Alnwick recently that a lot of the X15, X18 and X20 that used to always be deckers on SK72 plates are now a right mixture of ages and single/doubles including (amusingly) the purple Pulsar with Airlink branding, seen on the X20. 

Is this due to breakdowns and loans to other depots?  It used to be a smart Arriva fleet in Alnwick but now not so much.

(02 Mar 2026, 2:41 pm)NorthEastern wrote I’ve notice in Alnwick recently that a lot of the X15, X18 and X20 that used to always be deckers on SK72 plates are now a right mixture of ages and single/doubles including (amusingly) the purple Pulsar with Airlink branding, seen on the X20. 

Is this due to breakdowns and loans to other depots?  It used to be a smart Arriva fleet in Alnwick but now not so much.

This has become a more regular thing since the X16 and 777 services were added into the mix with the Alnwick routes. X14/15/16/18 and 777 now all interwork. The X16 and 777 used to be seperate, and would usually use the Pulsars or Streetlite. Also since they made the X30 an all day route, X20 and X30 interwork so that ups the requirement again. 

There is not enough of the 72 plate deckers for all of this now, especially as Whitby have some that were originally at Ashington 7578 - 81 (78 just there on loan currently). Also the 17 plate reliability seems to have dropped lately for some unknown reason, maybe as they are leaving Ashington soon.

Hopefully new deckers this year will sort all this out so with 26 plate and 72 plate there will be enough to go round as single deckers won't cut it on those routes in Summer peak season.

7593 now tracking at Ashington, seems to be a swap for 7590.

(03 Mar 2026, 6:28 pm)Arriva7446 wrote 7593 now tracking at Ashington, seems to be a swap for 7590.

There was a Arriva E400mmc (72reg) going along Whinfield Road in Darlington this morning at roughly 11.45 been driving by a fitter unfortunately I couldn't get the ID heading towards Harrogate Hill

Ashington have got 1491 in now too, possibly in place of 1387, but I am not sure if 1491 will have to be a local one (non Newcastle) due to emissions.

1491 can go to Newcastle it turns out.

(10 Mar 2026, 12:49 am)Arriva7446 wrote 1491 can go to Newcastle it turns out.

It's not Euro 6 according to the checker. I'd imagine someone just thought it's better to spend £50 rather than cancelling buses. At the end of the day, the X21/X22/35 should easily make that up over the day.

Streetlite 1594 (NK15AAO) now back at Darlington,  courtesy of a lift from Alpha recovery this afternoon.

(10 Mar 2026, 11:33 am)Storx wrote It's not Euro 6 according to the checker. I'd imagine someone just thought it's better to spend £50 rather than cancelling buses. At the end of the day, the X21/X22/35 should easily make that up over the day.

Lots of new Euro 6 buses ordered which may mean this isn't taking a hit heading into the CAZ.

So how are Ashington doing for vehicles now that 7593 has gone back and 1594 has gone back and 7556 is also back at Blyth. Blyth also have 1393 and 1539, so I imagine things are not too good with Ashington then as it still looks like they have a lot off the road. 7552 is back, but 7563 and 64 been off a couple of days. Are they getting any more loan vehicles as it looks like lots have returned to their normal base, but not much of Ashington buses back.

1604 is now at Ashington, short streetlite, might be quite busy on Newcastle routes.

(6 hours ago)Arriva7446 wrote 1604 is now at Ashington, short streetlite, might be quite busy on Newcastle routes.

Loan or transfer? What Newcastle routes might it be on?

(6 hours ago)OrangeArrow49 wrote Loan or transfer? What Newcastle routes might it be on

Loan and it’s currently on X21/35’s. Realistically however it should only be being used on 57’s

(6 hours ago)220631612 wrote Loan and it’s currently on X21/35’s. Realistically however it should only be being used on 57’s

Thanks. What's it tracking as? Yeah, that makes sense actually.

Just checked Bustimes, and can see it's tracking correctly. I searched for Arriva 1604 before, and it brought up Arriva North East instead of Arriva Northumbria, and showed yesterday's workings on the 7.

Yeah it's the ideal size for the 57 services, but a bit small for Newcastle routes. Strange allocations as well with 7526 on the 57 services instead, and 1500, which are both bigger and would have been better for Newcastle. There are often deckers on the 57 though for some reason. (7509 the other decker on there I think has emissions issues).

(6 hours ago)Arriva7446 wrote Yeah it's the ideal size for the 57 services, but a bit small for Newcastle routes. Strange allocations as well with 7526 on the 57 services instead, and 1500, which are both bigger and would have been better for Newcastle. There are often deckers on the 57 though for some reason. (7509 the other decker on there I think has emissions issues).

The people doing the allocation at Ashington aren’t exactly rocket scientists. Frequently send stuff on long distance express work which has failed the previous day only for it to fail again. 

Any competent management structure would be on top of that, however we all know how poor management is there. 

Just look at how often the two route branded vehicles they have are on the boards they should be on.

(6 hours ago)PH - BQA wrote The people doing the allocation at Ashington aren’t exactly rocket scientists. Frequently send stuff on long distance express work which has failed the previous day only for it to fail again. 

Any competent management structure would be on top of that, however we all know how poor management is there. 

Just look at how often the two route branded vehicles they have are on the boards they should be on.

2 Pulsars were meant to be getting the Northumberland Airlink branding. Think 1513 was meant to be the other bus, it has never happened for some reason.