Can't arriva introduce 1 or 2 and then can be used for driver training so all drivers are ready for the full roll out. They must have some chargers as they are charging their Enviro 400 EV so they could charge one BYD when the E400 is out in service.

(03 May 2026, 3:46 pm)Adrian wrote I really can't understand why they'd order the buses before they have a connection offer and agreed timescales from Northern Powergrid? Isn't it a bit like building a house before having the planning permission.

Issue is the powergrid will agree to a timeline and then push it back themselves due to constraints on their staffing. And it’s not too dissimilar from Delaine ordering vehicles and having them sit around for up to 11 months before putting them on the road.

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(03 May 2026, 10:43 am)tyresmoke wrote Same reason East Yorkshire’s are all in storage because they can’t get theirs connected yet either. It’s a nationwide issue!

East Yorkshire’s is also down to the fact that they don’t fit into stands at Paragon too. Stagecoach Hull facing similar issues

(03 May 2026, 3:46 pm)Adrian wrote I really can't understand why they'd order the buses before they have a connection offer and agreed timescales from Northern Powergrid? Isn't it a bit like building a house before having the planning permission.

Down to the way the funding worked, plus I believe the original plan was that the work at the depot would be completed well before now, but as others have posted there are issues nationally and that has pushed back the installation time.

(03 May 2026, 3:46 pm)Adrian wrote I really can't understand why they'd order the buses before they have a connection offer and agreed timescales from Northern Powergrid? Isn't it a bit like building a house before having the planning permission.

All (or almost all?) of the various new electric buses are part-funded by grant from the government, aren't they? I suspect that comes with conditions requiring that the funds are claimed by a specified date, which is why the buses get ordered to meet that deadline. Although optimistic things will have gone into the bids for funding, from the outset all the parties involved - operators, transport authorities, DfT - probably knew that sorting out the electricity supply was a risk and might well not be possible by the hoped-for date due to reasons outside anyone's control. 

But it does seem a bit surpising that Arriva's Belmont depot is not within scope of a heavyweight electricity supply, as in former times it was the site of a big manufacturing plant. Maybe in the intervening years the electricity network capacity has been taken up by new housing estates and new offices, etc.

Privatising the public utilties and running themfor profit maybe was not such a good idea ... (Northern Powergrid is owned by Berkshire Hathaway - a huge US conglomerate.)

(03 May 2026, 5:36 pm)220631612 wrote Issue is the powergrid will agree to a timeline and then push it back themselves due to constraints on their staffing. And it’s not too dissimilar from Delaine ordering vehicles and having them sit around for up to 11 months before putting them on the road.

I don't doubt that others are having issues, and I'm aware of the constraints on the grid, but I think my point remains. It's an asset that is sat there not generating any revenue, which I can't see any party involved in the financing being happy about.

My post wasn't with the intention of attacking anyone for the delays, but it's not an ideal situation for anyone.

(03 May 2026, 5:41 pm)Shrek wrote Down to the way the funding worked, plus I believe the original plan was that the work at the depot would be completed well before now, but as others have posted there are issues nationally and that has pushed back the installation time.

You're correct. Admittedly, I had to go back and review the info on the funding, but it did require orders to be submitted by 31 Jan 2025: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...ng-zebra-2

Given they needed to submit a comprehensive project plan, it seems a bit counter-intuitive to then insist on a bus order by a fixed date, when your funding is open to applications for buses only, buses + infra, infra only. It'd be more practical to have a date on project commencement, which would have (sensibly!) allowed for the project timescales to move in line with the infrastructure being in progress first.

(02 May 2026, 10:15 pm)220631612 wrote And yet Arriva are at no fault for this. Similar has happened all across the country due to National Grid constraints. Everyone’s at the whim of the national grid unfortunately. You’ve got to think, Stagecoach’s roll out was massively delayed for similar issues. So if you’re hell bent on blaming someone, try the national grid.

Stagecoach have theirs in service now (have done since 2025...) from funding awarded at a similar/the same time. 

Arriva NE management have a track record of shocking project management, so until they deliver literally anything to time and executed well I find it very hard to believe that they couldn't have done anything quicker with this. 

(03 May 2026, 6:13 pm)Adrian wrote I don't doubt that others are having issues, and I'm aware of the constraints on the grid, but I think my point remains. It's an asset that is sat there not generating any revenue, which I can't see any party involved in the financing being happy about.

My post wasn't with the intention of attacking anyone for the delays, but it's not an ideal situation for anyone.


You're correct. Admittedly, I had to go back and review the info on the funding, but it did require orders to be submitted by 31 Jan 2025: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...ng-zebra-2

Given they needed to submit a comprehensive project plan, it seems a bit counter-intuitive to then insist on a bus order by a fixed date, when your funding is open to applications for buses only, buses + infra, infra only. It'd be more practical to have a date on project commencement, which would have (sensibly!) allowed for the project timescales to move in line with the infrastructure being in progress first.

Were the 43/44/45 vehicles not funded by the Levelling Up fund, with funding awarded in 2023? (https://northeastbuses.co.uk/showthread....#pid317459) 

Either way, vehicles funded around a similar time are very much in service now. There's a post in the old thread indicating plans were only submitted for depot work at the end of March last year - after the buses were reportedly ordered.

Just to highlight how well Arriva NE management are doing at the moment (given the weird, constant, defence of them):

There are multiple vehicles failing to meet E6 emissions standards again, and have all been pushed to Ashington. They can therefore only be used on the 1, 2, or 57 - with deckers being sent to Blyth to work there (7529 and 7551 at present). This is leading to crush loaded Streetlites and Pulsars appearing on infrequent rural services.

Additionally, there are still near constant breakdowns (particularly with the 64/15-plate batches of E400s). They're back to sending things out constantly to break each day - 7554 a prime example. I'm told that the 'new' engineering manager that recently started at Ashington has already left.

Presentation is slipping again too, after a brief period of things being 'looked at'. I see a few Blyth buses every day on my way to work and I can't remember the last bus I saw that was even remotely well presented. There was a 'MAX X10' branded DB300 I saw the other day, when all MAX branding should have been removed a year ago, if not more. A decent number of E400s have pretty visible fuel spills down the offside, which has caused vinyls to come off - examples: https://flic.kr/p/2sa6Rmx, https://flic.kr/p/2s58XUn.

(05 May 2026, 5:11 pm)PH - BQA wrote Stagecoach have theirs in service now (have done since 2025...) from funding awarded at a similar/the same time. 

Arriva NE management have a track record of shocking project management, so until they deliver literally anything to time and executed well I find it very hard to believe that they couldn't have done anything quicker with this. 


Were the 43/44/45 vehicles not funded by the Levelling Up fund, with funding awarded in 2023? (https://northeastbuses.co.uk/showthread....#pid317459) 

Either way, vehicles funded around a similar time are very much in service now. There's a post in the old thread indicating plans were only submitted for depot work at the end of March last year - after the buses were reportedly ordered.

It was levelling up fund money that Arriva got for the 43/44/45. If you look through when the funding was released, it was later for Arriva than it was for Stagecoach. It also took longer for Northumberland County Council to deal with planning approval. I know people like to find ways to take digs at Arriva, and quite often they are valid criticisms. But on this issue, when you look through the processes I think it would have been hard to do anything different unless they'd started the work before funding was approved, which would have been stupid.

Apparently the Blyth electrics are due in service in mid June and "hopefully that won't change now".

First look at Arriva North East's Wrightbus Electroliner Single Deckers.

If you are on LinkedIn, give Richard Yoxall a follow, he is Procurement Category Manager at Arriva and he normally posts about new deliveries.

He put a post on earlier today about the new Kites for Darlington.

(08 May 2026, 10:24 pm)citaro5284 wrote If you are on LinkedIn, give Richard Yoxall a follow, he is Procurement Category Manager at Arriva and he normally posts about new deliveries.

He put a post on earlier today about the new Kites for Darlington.

When are the Kites replacing the E200 MMCs at Darlington? I believe it's this year?

(09 May 2026, 3:53 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote When are the Kites replacing the E200 MMCs at Darlington? I believe it's this year?

The Kite in that photo won't be replacing the mini E200s - that's one of the 7 full-sized Kites for the 2, which will be replacing Pulsars.

(09 May 2026, 4:06 pm)Kuyoyo wrote The Kite in that photo won't be replacing the mini E200s - that's one of the 7 full-sized Kites for the 2, which will be replacing Pulsars.

Of course, yes. Looking forward to seeing the full size Kites on the 2, replacing some Pulsars. Can't remember how soon the mini E200 MMCs are moving on. Presumably the Kites will be entering service on the 2 fairly soon?

(09 May 2026, 11:53 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Of course, yes. Looking forward to seeing the full size Kites on the 2, replacing some Pulsars. Can't remember how soon the mini E200 MMCs are moving on. Presumably the Kites will be entering service on the 2 fairly soon?

Very unlikely - while work has started to get a connection to the nearest substation to Faverdale, no work has commenced within the depot itself yet as I understand. As the Kites are still only under construction and testing with Wrightbus, it will be a while before they start to be shipped over.
More likely the 10 full-length E200MMCs for Darlington will be in service before the Kites - delivery of the AD vehicles is apparently due to commence soon.

(10 May 2026, 7:59 am)Kuyoyo wrote Very unlikely - while work has started to get a connection to the nearest substation to Faverdale, no work has commenced within the depot itself yet as I understand. As the Kites are still only under construction and testing with Wrightbus, it will be a while before they start to be shipped over.
More likely the 10 full-length E200MMCs for Darlington will be in service before the Kites - delivery of the AD vehicles is apparently due to commence soon.

Will that be the same for the ones due at redcar aswell

(10 May 2026, 8:12 am)Ryland wrote Will that be the same for the ones due at redcar aswell

The Redcar-bound vehicles are supposedly first for delivery - although the E400s are apparently due to be used on the shuttles at Sliverstone for the Grand Prix before arriving here.

I believe that will be weekend of 4th and 5th july

Wasn't sure where to put this as although we have about 50 threads for Redcar doesn't look like we have one for Darlington - I do wonder what the future of Darlington depot might be in a world where NECA progresses with franchising. This making the depot electric thing is all well and good but Arriva Darlington could be in line to lose the 1, 5, 7, 8/8A and X75/76 as these operate largely in County Durham. I wonder what the profitability of the depot would be in a scenario with just the town services, X26/27 and X66/67? One positive I do think that could come from franchising is that there would probs need to be a new depot somewhere near Bishop Auckland to run the routes mentioned above plus some of those currently ran by independents in southern County Durham.

(11 May 2026, 8:07 pm)peter wrote Wasn't sure where to put this as although we have about 50 threads for Redcar doesn't look like we have one for Darlington - I do wonder what the future of Darlington depot might be in a world where NECA progresses with franchising. This making the depot electric thing is all well and good but Arriva Darlington could be in line to lose the 1, 5, 7, 8/8A and X75/76 as these operate largely in County Durham. I wonder what the profitability of the depot would be in a scenario with just the town services, X26/27 and X66/67? One positive I do think that could come from franchising is that there would probs need to be a new depot somewhere near Bishop Auckland to run the routes mentioned above plus some of those currently ran by independents in southern County Durham.

I been hearing also  Durhams  e400mmcs  will be going to Darlington  to replace the order e400 Nk09s in this case

If Arriva won the contract, is there any reason why these services could not remain operating out of Faverdale? While franchising as done elsewhere seems to come with services packaged with depot premises, it doesn't have to be like that.
Arriva X1 and X22 are a similar situation of "County Durham services" being done from a depot outside NECA (though a smaller proportion of Stockton depot's work.)
The boundary of NECA with Tees Valley is the main one with these issues, although 685 is also an example. I suspect it could operate out of a depot at Hexham under franchising.

(11 May 2026, 10:31 pm)Dan manger wrote I been hearing also  Durhams  e400mmcs  will be going to Darlington  to replace the order e400 Nk09s in this case

Yes, 5x E400MMCs will be transferring to Darlington Depot from Durham Depot to replace 7516/7518-7521 but they won’t be transferring until Durhams BYDs electric buses are in service

The 4 BYD deckers stored at Darlington for Northumbria have all now gained registrations in the NL 26 E-- series. Two have fleet numbers, 8003 and 8007. Both also have Northumbria Electrics branding. 
No branding or lettering on the other 2, so far.

Thanks to internal sources, we now have fleet numbers for the E400MMCs

Ashington's are 7701 to 7719
Blyth's are 7720 to 7725
Whitby's are 7726 to 7731

Blyth's and Whitby's are due for delivery very soon.

(17 May 2026, 11:01 am)Kuyoyo wrote Thanks to internal sources, we now have fleet numbers for the E400MMCs

Ashington's are 7701 to 7719
Blyth's are 7720 to 7725
Whitby's are 7726 to 7731

Blyth's and Whitby's are due for delivery very soon.

Any information about what Redcars 18x E200MMCs will be or not, I already know Stocktons 10x Evoras will be 4511-4520

(17 May 2026, 5:54 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote Any information about what Redcars 18x E200MMCs will be or not, I already know Stocktons 10x Evoras will be 4511-4520

Presumably they’ll be 1615 onwards given they’re full length rather than minis.

(17 May 2026, 5:54 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote Any information about what Redcars 18x E200MMCs will be or not, I already know Stocktons 10x Evoras will be 4511-4520

Redcar will be 3501 to 3518
Darlington will be 3519 to 3528

(17 May 2026, 8:30 pm)220631612 wrote Presumably they’ll be 1615 onwards given they’re full length rather than minis.

Why would they follow on from Streetlites?

The better one to query right now is the Wright Kites for Darlington and what they'll be numbered.

The E200's I'd imagine will continue the 45** series.

The Electroliners I would say may potentially be 1*** or 9*** series.

(18 May 2026, 8:15 pm)Malarkey wrote The E200's I'd imagine will continue the 45** series.

The Electroliners I would say may potentially be 1*** or 9*** series.

The E200's won't/should never be in the 4xxx series. They're not larger wheels

1xxx/2xxx - Legacy
3xxx - Small Wheels Diesel
4xxx - Large Wheels Diesel
5xxx - Small Wheels Electric
6xxx - Large Wheels Electric
7xxx - Decker Diesel
8xxx - Decker Electric
9xxx - Loans

Would make the most sense imo but wouldn't be surprised if they go for something else.

*there's a name for the wheels but it's bolted atm.