(01 Mar 2026, 4:10 pm)robisdave4554 wrote Service 5 must be a difficult route to timetable? Yesterday, Saturday we left Middlesbrough Bus Station some 8 minutes down on the scheduled 0910 departure, were back on time by Guisborough and then waited for time at the various timing points through to Loftus, where I left the service.

It has to difficult to accommodate all the various situations that drivers find themselves in? Coming down the Cargo Fleet car park at most times of the day is a classic example.

If anyone has any comments please share.

I drove the 5s solid for nearly two years, and overall for five years. I know that route inside out. It can be a nightmare at the best of times but it’s a good route as a driver, nice mix of everything - despite the inevitable car park on Cargo Fleet…!

(02 Mar 2026, 6:06 am)tyresmoke wrote I drove the 5s solid for nearly two years, and overall for five years. I know that route inside out. It can be a nightmare at the best of times but it’s a good route as a driver, nice mix of everything - despite the inevitable car park on Cargo Fleet…!

Hi there Tyresmoke, good to hear from you. 5's are what they are and there will never be an ideal scenario for them no matter what. Roadworks, aka Loftus, spring up all the while.
Then sometimes it can, to my mind, depend on the driver of a given service. Some, like yourself, enjoy them, seemingly and others are happier around town. It'll be interesting to see how the 28/81 combination works out? New territory for Stockton drivers?

1557 was traveling from Redcar towards Middlesbrough on the a66 with 2 fitters any ideas why it was in redcar

1383 been repainted into an all blue livery

Thought Arriva had given up on the concept of repainting their fleet??

(18 Mar 2026, 7:21 pm)Ryland wrote 1383 been repainted into an all blue livery

Gonna admit its an eyesore looks  bad from understanding  it  the mx59 Pulsar's will be replaced by Evoras  so why paint vechales that's gonna get removed from the fleet  ?


Ignore  the romers on other socal sites  saying 4501 to 10 will transfer to Stockton  its not true  there are staying at Redcar/Whitby  depot as there have successfully improved the x4s puncture and time  so I thought i would mentioned it here  if anyone came cross the incorrect romer

(18 Mar 2026, 7:21 pm)Ryland wrote 1383 been repainted into an all blue livery

Not sure I’d call it repainted. They’ve painted the front of it… the rest is still original!

(18 Mar 2026, 9:42 pm)Dan manger wrote Gonna admit its an eyesore looks  bad from understanding  it  the mx59 Pulsar's will be replaced by Evoras  so why paint vechales that's gonna get removed from the fleet  ?


Ignore  the romers on other socal sites  saying 4501 to 10 will transfer to Stockton  its not true  there are staying at Redcar/Whitby  depot as there have successfully improved the x4s puncture and time  so I thought i would mentioned it here  if anyone came cross the incorrect romer

First of no one mentioned anything about 4501-4510 moving to Stockton, second Stockton are getting brand new Evoras not the ones from Redcar and thirdly I don’t think the Evoras will be replacing the MX59 plate pulsars I got told they might be replacing 1451-1460 but who knows we will soon find out when the new Evoras will arrive at Stockton

(19 Mar 2026, 2:27 am)busesofthenortheast wrote First of no one mentioned anything about 4501-4510 moving to Stockton, second Stockton are getting brand new Evoras not the ones from Redcar and thirdly I don’t think the Evoras will be replacing the MX59 plate pulsars I got told they might be replacing 1451-1460 but who knows we will soon find out when the new Evoras will arrive at Stockton

It would make sense moving 4501-10 to Stockton and keeping all of the type together. Why should Redcar get another 24 new buses on top of the 10 they got last year and Stockton only 10 in total? And why remove the branding from 4505?
They won't replace a block like that. It will depend which are in worst condition or out of test. Eg 1396 from Darlington came off.

Pulsar 1410 must be the pride of your fleet? It was re-painted some while ago but always seems to stand out and be recognised from the rest. Not a bad engine on it either..

(19 Mar 2026, 8:10 am)Cock Robin wrote It would make sense moving 4501-10 to Stockton and keeping all of the type together. Why should Redcar get another 24 new buses on top of the 10 they got last year and Stockton only 10 in total? And why remove the branding from 4505?
They won't replace a block like that. It will depend which are in worst condition or out of test. Eg 1396 from Darlington came off.

4501-4510 isn’t moving to Stockton they are staying at Redcar for the X4, the reason why Stockton are getting 10 Evoras for is because there’s not enough Evoras for the PVR for the 63/64/65 when the service changes on 29th March so that’s why it was swapped so Redcar are now getting Stocktons order of 18x New E200MMCs to cover the PVR for the 63/64 & 65 and Stockton are getting Redcars order of 10x Evoras, the reason why they debranded 4505 is because Arriva wants them all plain not because they’re transferring elsewhere soon the rest will be getting done

I hope Stockton put an Evora on the X12, I've never been on one, really keen to try it.

(Yesterday, 4:21 pm)Arriva7446 wrote I hope Stockton put an Evora on the X12, I've never been on one, really keen to try it.

The Evora's are primarily for Service 5 I understand, but the 4 spares will likely end up on the X12, as its the most logical use.

---

(Yesterday, 4:07 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote 4501-4510 isn’t moving to Stockton they are staying at Redcar for the X4, the reason why Stockton are getting 10 Evoras for is because there’s not enough Evoras for the PVR for the 63/64/65 when the service changes on 29th March so that’s why it was swapped so Redcar are now getting Stocktons order of 18x New E200MMCs to cover the PVR for the 63/64 & 65 and Stockton are getting Redcars order of 10x Evoras, the reason why they debranded 4505 is because Arriva wants them all plain not because they’re transferring elsewhere soon the rest will be getting done

The Evora's were always planned to go to Stockton. It had nothing to do with what you are suggesting. Yes the E200's were suggested to go to Stockton initially, but people jumped the gun and assumed it was a done deal, depot staff included.

When the final locations were decided, it upset a few people in the depots who assumed they were getting the E200s. They were always planned to go to Redcar for the 63/64/65, as the interworking cycle was planned in late last year.

Going to miss the Pulsars when they enter service on the 5. An ideal vehicle given the nature of the route and the way they perform on the X4.

(Yesterday, 7:21 pm)robisdave4554 wrote Going to miss the Pulsars when they enter service on the 5. An ideal vehicle given the nature of the route and the way they perform on the X4.

There performance on the x4s is absolutely  brilliant There dont struggling on banks  and get up at a brilliant speed

1456 is on loan to Ashington currently tracking as SP AN on service 2