Nice to see the attention to detail is still top notch at Arriva. Old livery (by about 9 years now) 1425 sent to a rally today, missing a vinyl on the first panel you can see, and two completely different shades of blue on the top and bottom half either side of the windscreen. 

A bus which attended in preservation was in a more up to date livery than something sent by the company. Embarrassing. 

Arriva North East: 1425 NK09EKA VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar by emdjt42, on Flickr

(31 Aug 2026, 6:50 pm)PH - BQA wrote Nice to see the attention to detail is still top notch at Arriva. Old livery (by about 9 years now) 1425 sent to a rally today, missing a vinyl on the first panel you can see, and two completely different shades of blue on the top and bottom half either side of the windscreen. 

A bus which attended in preservation was in a more up to date livery than something sent by the company. Embarrassing. 

Arriva North East: 1425 NK09EKA VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar by emdjt42, on Flickr

Have you considered this was chosen by a driver to visit Seaburn on the basis that this batch of pulsars will be withdrawn by the end of the year? It’s certainly not the worst vehicle I’ve seen brought by a major operator to a bus rally that’s for sure. (Stagecoach and Adventure Travel hold joint top prize for that)

(31 Aug 2026, 6:50 pm)PH - BQA wrote Nice to see the attention to detail is still top notch at Arriva. Old livery (by about 9 years now) 1425 sent to a rally today, missing a vinyl on the first panel you can see, and two completely different shades of blue on the top and bottom half either side of the windscreen. 

A bus which attended in preservation was in a more up to date livery than something sent by the company. Embarrassing. 

Arriva North East: 1425 NK09EKA VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar by emdjt42, on Flickr

Oh boo hoo cry cry cry. 

Why dont you get on your hands and kneess and clean it up. Its getting withdrawn in 3 weeks time. Lets smart up a bus thats due to be withdrawn. 

Never known someone like you to have a problem

(31 Aug 2026, 7:44 pm)220631612 wrote Have you considered this was chosen by a driver to visit Seaburn on the basis that this batch of pulsars will be withdrawn by the end of the year? It’s certainly not the worst vehicle I’ve seen brought by a major operator to a bus rally that’s for sure. (Stagecoach and Adventure Travel hold joint top prize for that)

It absolutely occurred to me that a driver probably chose this bag of nails to go and "represent" a multi-national company, yes, which is my entire point. Zero oversight in the NE which allows vehicles like this to be missing that same bit of vinyl for over 12 years: https://flic.kr/p/jeY2iv versus https://flic.kr/p/dYhWDX. Old style logos on either side of it too. 

Despite Arriva NEs refusal to paint half of the batch out of Cotswold Stone, ANW did manage to get a hefty number into Journey Mark which made their way up here - so surely one of those should have been taken.

---

(31 Aug 2026, 7:53 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Oh boo hoo cry cry cry. 

Why dont you get on your hands and kneess and clean it up. Its getting withdrawn in 3 weeks time. Lets smart up a bus thats due to be withdrawn. 

Never known someone like you to have a problem

Are you okay? 

Bus has been like that for over a decade as per my previous post.

(31 Aug 2026, 8:18 pm)PH - BQA wrote It absolutely occurred to me that a driver probably chose this bag of nails to go and "represent" a multi-national company, yes, which is my entire point. Zero oversight in the NE which allows vehicles like this to be missing that same bit of vinyl for over 12 years: https://flic.kr/p/jeY2iv versus https://flic.kr/p/dYhWDX. Old style logos on either side of it too. 

Despite Arriva NEs refusal to paint half of the batch out of Cotswold Stone, ANW did manage to get a hefty number into Journey Mark which made their way up here - so surely one of those should have been taken.

---

Are you okay? 

Bus has been like that for over a decade as per my previous post.

Can't believe the way your acting on. Its honestly a bit pathetic. You sit and winge and winge about Arriva. Didn't see you having a problem with the City Olympian that didn't have a proper front dest or look in a state. Yeah didn't think so. Never known someone like you to winge this much it's a bit annoying hearing it everyday from you

(31 Aug 2026, 7:44 pm)220631612 wrote Have you considered this was chosen by a driver to visit Seaburn on the basis that this batch of pulsars will be withdrawn by the end of the year? It’s certainly not the worst vehicle I’ve seen brought by a major operator to a bus rally that’s for sure. (Stagecoach and Adventure Travel hold joint top prize for that)

Surely you'd want to send your newest bus, cough electric bus, or at least something unique though?

I know Arriva's standards are next to zero but they're not exactly doing much to actually turn it round and stuff like this just doesn't help. 

Same thrown at Stagecoach as they haven't half thrown some shite at times aswell.

(31 Aug 2026, 8:40 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Can't believe the way your acting on. Its honestly a bit pathetic. You sit and winge and winge about Arriva. Didn't see you having a problem with the City Olympian that didn't have a proper front dest or look in a state. Yeah didn't think so. Never known someone like you to winge this much it's a bit annoying hearing it everyday from you

You are aware you don't have to look at the forum if you don't want to see people point out basic failings in what is evidently your favourite company? 

This section of the forum is dedicated to the "Arriva State of the Fleet", which has been abysmal for some time. You're more than welcome to go and post about other companies in other sections, as myself and others have done frequently.

(31 Aug 2026, 9:03 pm)PH - BQA wrote You are aware you don't have to look at the forum if you don't want to see people point out basic failings in what is evidently your favourite company? 

This section of the forum is dedicated to the "Arriva State of the Fleet", which has been abysmal for some time. You're more than welcome to go and post about other companies in other sections, as myself and others have done frequently.

Shut up complaining man , Jesus Christ it was the drivers choice to take it to the show . Buses do 100s of miles if not 1000s  it's obviously not going to be in top condition but its done its job since 2009 so pipe down

(31 Aug 2026, 6:50 pm)PH - BQA wrote Nice to see the attention to detail is still top notch at Arriva. Old livery (by about 9 years now) 1425 sent to a rally today, missing a vinyl on the first panel you can see, and two completely different shades of blue on the top and bottom half either side of the windscreen. 

A bus which attended in preservation was in a more up to date livery than something sent by the company. Embarrassing. 

Arriva North East: 1425 NK09EKA VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar by emdjt42, on Flickr

I don’t see why you’re moaning for about why the driver took 1425 down to the rally there’s really nothing wrong with it at all it’s a pulsar yeah but I respect the drivers decision that they took 1425 down to the rally because the 09/59 plate pulsars are starting to get withdrawn so obviously you would want to get a photo of it at a bus rally with another bus (4718) which is now preserved which was based at the same depot as 1425 both of them together is a better choice and a better decision for arriva to say farewell to 2 good buses that have serve the North East so show some respect to the driver and have some decency that the driver took a bus to the bus to a rally instead of moaning about it

(31 Aug 2026, 8:40 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Can't believe the way your acting on. Its honestly a bit pathetic. You sit and winge and winge about Arriva. Didn't see you having a problem with the City Olympian that didn't have a proper front dest or look in a state. Yeah didn't think so. Never known someone like you to winge this much it's a bit annoying hearing it everyday from you

I agree completely. Somebody has gone without a rest day to bring a time-served vehicle which is synonymous with Arriva and which is expected to be withdrawn imminently, and somebody else who probably hasn't gone outside today decides to be needlessly nasty. It's completely inappropriate and he's treating it like a witchhunt.

Nice to see a workhorse in normal working condition. Yes vehicles look great when they are presented as concourse like many preserved vehicles are, but buses in general don't tend to look pristine day in day out, especially when it's part of a larger fleet, so they can't dedicate as much time to each vehicle to ensure it remains presentable.

I know Arriva North East don't help themselves considering vehicle presentation, it doesn't help that they don't have repainting facilities since the Jesmond paint shop closed long ago, hopefully they might solve this if they ever build a new depot to replace Stockton, but that may seem unlikely / pointless with the threat of franchising coming in.

(31 Aug 2026, 9:47 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote I don’t see why you’re moaning for about why the driver took 1425 down to the rally there’s really nothing wrong with it at all it’s a pulsar yeah but I respect the drivers decision that they took 1425 down to the rally because the 09/59 plate pulsars are starting to get withdrawn so obviously you would want to get a photo of it at a bus rally with another bus (4718) which is now preserved which was based at the same depot as 1425 both of them together is a better choice and a better decision for arriva to say farewell to 2 good buses that have serve the North East so show some respect to the driver and have some decency that the driver took a bus to the bus to a rally instead of moaning about it

I've been told that the above post has made it to a local Facebook group, so these sorts of posts were somewhat expected. It concerns me that people are taking a valid criticism of a company as a comment against an employee. 

1425, as with the remainder of that batch, is symbolic of an era of Arriva where the fleet was neglected, the network was repeatedly slashed, and standards were on the floor. Of course I understand that the 09-plate Pulsars, despite being ready for withdrawal now (if we're honest), are of interest to lots of enthusiasts and have served well in challenging circumstances. My point was that, as Arriva are looking to turn a corner and improve, you would think they'd be keen to send an example which is more reflective of this. If we are to go with the thought that it was nice as a send off to the 09-plates, then there are multiple examples across the NE in the current livery - 1410 springs to mind as well as many ex-NW transfers. 

Whilst I agree with Storx, above, that a better example of the progress Arriva are wanting to make would have been to take a BYD, new MMC, or Evora, you understand that these may not be local to the driver who went to the rally given most are concentrated in Northumberland and Teesside (and my assumption is that this driver is from Durham). Again though, this is a criticism of the company that the amount of readily "presentable" vehicles are concentrated in such small areas. Maybe more could have been done to make a Journey Mark Pulsar available, again though this would be on the company making an effort. 

It is sad that people resort to a black and white viewpoint on this rather than accepting that there can be nuance. It is possible to be both supportive of people giving up their time, while simultaneously being critical of something that they cannot impact. 

The same goes for other companies, while I am at it. You can be critical of individual decisions, strategies, announcements etc. without that being your opinion of the company on the whole - or vice versa. As an example, outside of this arena, people can be supportive of football clubs while being critical of the morality of the owners of said football clubs.

If you take the attendance of the vehicle at a rally out of the question, there is a valid comment to be made about Arriva's repainting of vehicles which has always fallen behind that of GNE and Stagecoach.

A number of vehicles in the fleet have never seen a lick of paint in their lives save a few panels, which I do think results in fleet presentation leaving a lot to be desired. I remember back in the day when the Prestiges kicked the bucket without ever getting a new paint job I thought well surely that won't happen with the Pulsars, yet here we are! Obviously we're now at a point where the 09/10 plate examples are being withdrawn, so fair enough a few off-coloured panels or vinyls isn't the end of the world. But plenty of those vehicles having been running around in frankenstein liveries for years.

The Pulsars have been good work horses but they are getting tired now and while as a passenger I'm ultimately more bothered about the interiors (those still with fabric seats aren't in a good way now), the outside being multi-coloured doesn't exactly help matters!

(31 Aug 2026, 9:03 pm)PH - BQA wrote You are aware you don't have to look at the forum if you don't want to see people point out basic failings in what is evidently your favourite company? 

This section of the forum is dedicated to the "Arriva State of the Fleet", which has been abysmal for some time. You're more than welcome to go and post about other companies in other sections, as myself and others have done frequently.

Your honestly acting like a 5 year old its a bit pathetic. Clearly not one person on here has stuck up for you as your nit picking at absolutely nothing. 

Your sitting here going and winge about 1 simple panel missing a stripe. Like how much do you have to nit pick. Your the reason bus rallys in the North East barely happen to showcase the fact everything has to be perfect. 

Lets take the case imagine you had been at Lathalmond. Would you do the same at these two vehicles 

http://flic.kr/p/2sxXWkJ
http://flic.kr/p/2sxXmNb

Or what about this one presentation by a local Scottish company 

http://flic.kr/p/2sxHr2C

No didn't think so. Cause you have a distaste to Arriva. Yeah we get it. Its a site to discuss stuff but when your doing it 24/7 and then you decide to put a simple complaint about one panel wrong. You go off it. Like I said your the reason North East rallys are going downhill. Nit pick everything. The driver who took it to the event couldn't have took anything and your response would be "surprised Arriva didn't bring anything to showcase there fleet". Its pathetic and you need to grow up if that 1 panel offends you.

(01 Sep 2026, 4:54 am)Nerd4321 wrote Your honestly acting like a 5 year old its a bit pathetic. Clearly not one person on here has stuck up for you as your nit picking at absolutely nothing. 

Your sitting here going and winge about 1 simple panel missing a stripe. Like how much do you have to nit pick. Your the reason bus rallys in the North East barely happen to showcase the fact everything has to be perfect. 

Lets take the case imagine you had been at Lathalmond. Would you do the same at these two vehicles 

http://flic.kr/p/2sxXWkJ
http://flic.kr/p/2sxXmNb

Or what about this one presentation by a local Scottish company 

http://flic.kr/p/2sxHr2C

No didn't think so. Cause you have a distaste to Arriva. Yeah we get it. Its a site to discuss stuff but when your doing it 24/7 and then you decide to put a simple complaint about one panel wrong. You go off it. Like I said your the reason North East rallys are going downhill. Nit pick everything. The driver who took it to the event couldn't have took anything and your response would be "surprised Arriva didn't bring anything to showcase there fleet". Its pathetic and you need to grow up if that 1 panel offends you.

Two things. 

First: opinions are like backsides. Everyone has one, and here, everyone is entitled to one. 

You might vehemently disagree with the original comments, but I'm sure you're capable of making your representations without descending into name calling.

Second, and bit in bold: If you genuinely believe that's the case, I'd suggest the real issue with North East rallies is staring at you in the mirror.

I don't want this to descend into a deviation off topic, but this kind of deflection has been seen many a time before.

There's over a decade worth of discussion on this forum about rallies and events in the North East, and with notable exception of the much-missed 500 Group running day, it's because they've for years been plagued with poor organisation and support, when compared with most events outside of the region. The successful Whitehaven event on May Bank Holiday weekends managed to put the final nail into the Metrocentre (an event that ran for how long?) within it's first couple of years. 

Yes, there's also reference of young kids going into buses and playing with destinations, but there's been just as much reference over the years to the attitudes and cliquey behaviour demonstrated by grown adults, and I've seen it myself. Clearly nobody has the right to upset anyone else's day, but the adults need to be better here.

I personally hope the rallies up here are reinvigorated and allowed to become an enjoyable day out that showcases the best of the North East again, but trying to pin the failings on someone on a forum is nonsensical.

(01 Sep 2026, 7:03 am)Adrian wrote Two things. 

First: opinions are like backsides. Everyone has one, and here, everyone is entitled to one. 

You might vehemently disagree with the original comments, but I'm sure you're capable of making your representations without descending into name calling.

Second, and bit in bold: If you genuinely believe that's the case, I'd suggest the real issue with North East rallies is staring at you in the mirror.

I don't want this to descend into a deviation off topic, but this kind of deflection has been seen many a time before.

There's over a decade worth of discussion on this forum about rallies and events in the North East, and with notable exception of the much-missed 500 Group running day, it's because they've for years been plagued with poor organisation and support, when compared with most events outside of the region. The successful Whitehaven event on May Bank Holiday weekends managed to put the final nail into the Metrocentre (an event that ran for how long?) within it's first couple of years. 

Yes, there's also reference of young kids going into buses and playing with destinations, but there's been just as much reference over the years to the attitudes and cliquey behaviour demonstrated by grown adults, and I've seen it myself. Clearly nobody has the right to upset anyone else's day, but the adults need to be better here.

I personally hope the rallies up here are reinvigorated and allowed to become an enjoyable day out that showcases the best of the North East again, but trying to pin the failings on someone on a forum is nonsensical.

Please point out where im name calling. Its beyond pathetic that hes nit picking one panel. Multiple people I spoke today understand the reason why they dont attend. Hell the lads who own the Temsa got someone saying "its the wrong font on the front" like come on. No wonder North East rallys are going down the pan. 

He cant sit there and complain one panel is wrong. And still i cant see where i name called someone. If he cant take the slightest bit of criticism then he needs to re look again. Read through this entire thing and not one person has clearly stuck up

(01 Sep 2026, 7:37 am)Nerd4321 wrote Please point out where im name calling. Its beyond pathetic that hes nit picking one panel. Multiple people I spoke today understand the reason why they dont attend. Hell the lads who own the Temsa got someone saying "its the wrong font on the front" like come on. No wonder North East rallys are going down the pan. 

He cant sit there and complain one panel is wrong. And still i cant see where i name called someone. If he cant take the slightest bit of criticism then he needs to re look again. Read through this entire thing and not one person has clearly stuck up

You've suggested he's being pathetic twice and a 5 year old once. I really don't see how this benefits anyone nor adds any emphasis on your point. As I said, I'm sure you're capable of making your representations without descending into this.

Also, I hate to be that guy, but you yourself have just pointed out the three vehicles at SVBM. Nobody had mentioned them until you referenced them?

(31 Aug 2026, 8:18 pm)PH - BQA wrote It absolutely occurred to me that a driver probably chose this bag of nails to go and "represent" a multi-national company, yes, which is my entire point. Zero oversight in the NE which allows vehicles like this to be missing that same bit of vinyl for over 12 years: https://flic.kr/p/jeY2iv versus https://flic.kr/p/dYhWDX. Old style logos on either side of it too. 

Despite Arriva NEs refusal to paint half of the batch out of Cotswold Stone, ANW did manage to get a hefty number into Journey Mark which made their way up here - so surely one of those should have been taken.

---

Are you okay? 

Bus has been like that for over a decade as per my previous post.

It might not be the smartest bus in the fleet but even someone like me who would be regarded as somewhat of a "casual" in this hobby knows that this batch of Pulsars have been absolute workhorses. I bang on about 1409 hut for several months, it was on a route local to me almost every single day, sometimes from sparrow fart to midnight and I ended up catching it often. It never skipped a beat, even on the steeper hills in Durham. The X12 has been run almost exclusively with pulsars until recently and that's one of the most reliable long distance routes to serve Durham.

(01 Sep 2026, 7:59 am)Adrian wrote You've suggested he's being pathetic twice and a 5 year old once. I really don't see how this benefits anyone nor adds any emphasis on your point. As I said, I'm sure you're capable of making your representations without descending into this.

Also, I hate to be that guy, but you yourself have just pointed out the three vehicles at SVBM. Nobody had mentioned them until you referenced them?

Yea but I dont see him complaining about them. Nor am I in anyway saying they look a state. A bus turns up a bus turns up cause they want to show it off regardless of the state of it. 

In what way would I say they look awful. Never im saying im surprised he had nothing to say about them so maybe re check it again.

Also while im at it. He litral cant sit there and say "its stupid they send it out looking like that" its one panel yet hes decided to turn it into yet another one of his ways to winge about Arriva

(31 Aug 2026, 6:50 pm)PH - BQA wrote Nice to see the attention to detail is still top notch at Arriva. Old livery (by about 9 years now) 1425 sent to a rally today, missing a vinyl on the first panel you can see, and two completely different shades of blue on the top and bottom half either side of the windscreen. 

A bus which attended in preservation was in a more up to date livery than something sent by the company. Embarrassing. Arriva North East: 1425 NK09EKA VDL SB200/Wright Pulsar by emdjt42, on Flickr

I don’t think Arriva sent anything “specifically” to this rally. The driver will have chosen the bus they wanted to take and then got permission from the depot to use it. So I don’t think Arriva as a business are using this particular bus to showcase the fleet.

If you look at the media photos and other promotional events that Arriva actually organise themselves, they’ll usually put something newer, cleaner and tidier in the spotlight. This is more likely just a case of a driver wanting to take a particular bus along and the depot agreeing to it.

Ultimately, they could just say no to any attendance going forward, and avoid this issue altogether.

Anyone know how long the E400EV demonstrator will be at Blyth for?

(02 Sep 2026, 8:17 pm)TransitObserver wrote Anyone know how long the E400EV demonstrator will be at Blyth for?

Its due to go back to ADL soon. Kinda gutted to see it go. Be nice if Arriva bought some or this one comes back in Journey Mark

7598 whitby park and ride having a leg stretch today operating on the x12

(03 Sep 2026, 4:53 pm)Ryland wrote 7598 whitby park and ride having a leg stretch today operating on the x12

It wasn’t - it was 7585. Durham are now covering both of Stockton’s X12 boards with 1415 and 1495 ‘on loan’.

Anyone know how many Pulsar 2’s Blyth are keeping since majority have gone to Stockton? They’ve still got 1390, 1499, 1500, 1501, 1504 and 1505

Must say the Northumberland operators all deserve a pat on their backs for the state of allocations today.

Currently we have for the football buses/trains

X7/X8/X10/X20/308/685 - Single decker on the board which gets in just before 12pm (12:30pm kick off)
306 - 11:25 cancelled
X22 - full single decker operation
Northern Trains - 2 car trains on the Tyne Valley and Northumberland Line.

It's almost like we're trying to promote people to use the car.

(05 Sep 2026, 10:11 am)Storx wrote Must say the Northumberland operators all deserve a pat on their backs for the state of allocations today.

Currently we have for the football buses/trains

X7/X8/X10/X20/308/685 - Single decker on the board which gets in just before 12pm (12:30pm kick off)
306 - 11:25 cancelled
X22 - full single decker operation
Northern Trains - 2 car trains on the Tyne Valley and Northumberland Line.

It's almost like we're trying to promote people to use the car.

Can't be possible, you must be imagining things. I've been told that there's nothing wrong with the way certain companies are ran...


4 deckers on the 57 though, for all the capacity required there.

(05 Sep 2026, 10:11 am)Storx wrote Must say the Northumberland operators all deserve a pat on their backs for the state of allocations today.

Currently we have for the football buses/trains

X7/X8/X10/X20/308/685 - Single decker on the board which gets in just before 12pm (12:30pm kick off)
306 - 11:25 cancelled
X22 - full single decker operation
Northern Trains - 2 car trains on the Tyne Valley and Northumberland Line.

It's almost like we're trying to promote people to use the car.

"Pack 'em in and run 'em late"! That'll get people out their cars won't it Kim?