(26 Oct 2026, 4:12 pm)Busesinnewcastle wrote When will they be going/coming?

73138 and 73140 in service at Slatyford. 73182 and 73190 are at Stockton. Not sure what else has been done.

(27 Oct 2026, 6:17 pm)TransitObserver wrote 73138 and 73140 in service at Slatyford. 73182 and 73190 are at Stockton. Not sure what else has been done.

73175 and 73139 is also at Slatyford with 73183 and 73189 gone down

(27 Oct 2026, 8:00 pm)Busesinnewcastle wrote 73175 and 73139 is also at Slatyford with 73183 and 73189 gone down

73175 isn’t, that’s at Stockton. They’ve just taken that back from Sunderland. I think they’ll take 73176 off Slatyford too.

(27 Oct 2026, 10:59 pm)TransitObserver wrote 73175 isn’t, that’s at Stockton. They’ve just taken that back from Sunderland. I think they’ll take 73176 off Slatyford too.

73170 is working off Slatyford this morning - saw it earlier. Not sure how that fits in the grand plan !

(28 Oct 2026, 7:51 am)N391OTY wrote 73170 is working off Slatyford this morning - saw it earlier. Not sure how that fits in the grand plan !

That’s weird, I’d have thought the higher numbers would stay at Stockton as they seem to want the newer ones.

73179 has just left Slatyford for Stockton as of 8:35 this morning.

So interestingly the reason the newer 75 plate Yutongs are going to Stockton is because Middlesbrough council bought them and are practically crying that they’re up in Newcastle! I’m not even joking. The first batch they got 73089-73106 were meant for Slatyford and they paid for the ones that are up in Newcastle now so they’re complaining and requesting them to be swapped over. I’m surprised they’re swapping them with the 25 plates not the 74 plates!

(28 Oct 2026, 1:07 pm)As TransitObserver wrote So interestingly the reason the newer 75 plate Yutongs are going to Stockton is because Middlesbrough council bought them and are practically crying that they’re up in Newcastle! I’m not even joking. The first batch they got 73089-73106 were meant for Slatyford and they paid for the ones that are up in Newcastle now so they’re complaining and requesting them to be swapped over. I’m surprised they’re swapping them with the 25 plates not the 74 plates!

Boro Council ? Is it not TVCA ?

(28 Oct 2026, 4:20 pm)Economic505 wrote Boro Council ? Is it not TVCA ?

It is TVCA, I’d put it down as wibble, it’s more likely being done for warranty work purposes

(28 Oct 2026, 4:20 pm)Economic505 wrote Boro Council ? Is it not TVCA ?

It’s both. They both invested as they wanted electric buses in Teesside. 

Also rumour has it, Slatyford didn’t get planning permission for the chargers and if they don’t get approval then they’ll have to dig them back up and send the Yutongs elsewhere. Just a rumour, I doubt that’ll happen but at this point anything can happen.

(28 Oct 2026, 6:28 pm)TransitObserver wrote It’s both. They both invested as they wanted electric buses in Teesside. 

Also rumour has it, Slatyford didn’t get planning permission for the chargers and if they don’t get approval then they’ll have to dig them back up and send the Yutongs elsewhere. Just a rumour, I doubt that’ll happen but at this point anything can happen.

No funds from Middlesbrough Council were used for the electric vehicles. Something which you can very easily find online. They helped build the business case for them but made no financial contribution. None of the councils made a financial contribution, all done through the TVCA, Zebra and operator self funding.

(28 Oct 2026, 7:31 pm)220631612 wrote No funds from Middlesbrough Council were used for the electric vehicles. Something which you can very easily find online. They helped build the business case for them but made no financial contribution. None of the councils made a financial contribution, all done through the TVCA, Zebra and operator self funding.

Okay well someone was complaining that the newer buses were in Newcastle and they wanted them down in Stockton

(28 Oct 2026, 6:28 pm)TransitObserver wrote It’s both. They both invested as they wanted electric buses in Teesside. 

Also rumour has it, Slatyford didn’t get planning permission for the chargers and if they don’t get approval then they’ll have to dig them back up and send the Yutongs elsewhere. Just a rumour, I doubt that’ll happen but at this point anything can happen

What about the chargers that are currently inside the depot and what buses will fill in for the yutongs?

(28 Oct 2026, 11:18 pm)Busesinnewcastle wrote What about the chargers that are currently inside the depot and what buses will fill in for the yutongs?

The ones inside the depot are just diesel generators they’ll have to send them back eventually. No idea, that would be a bridge they’ll cross if that ever happens. My guess is wherever they send them to they’ll pick somewhere that has clean air zone compliant buses so they can take them.

73121 has been on the 685 tonight

(29 Oct 2026, 7:59 pm)Busesinnewcastle wrote 73121 has been on the 685 tonight

Yep and 73146 spent a little bit of time on the 63 this afternoon. What a weird day haha

(29 Oct 2026, 8:55 pm)TransitObserver wrote Yep and 73146 spent a little bit of time on the 63 this afternoon. What a weird day haha

Yeah I know I just seen that before very strange haha

73148 found itself on the X47 and X77 today

(30 Oct 2026, 7:04 pm)TransitObserver wrote 73148 found itself on the X47 and X77 today

Yes seen that before. Wonder why there putting them on nearly every route in depot?

(30 Oct 2026, 10:22 pm)Busesinnewcastle wrote Yes seen that before. Wonder why there putting them on nearly every route in depot?

I would have thought a sensible idea.  Once the electric buses have settled in on the intended routes and you know how they perform, then work round trying 1 or 2 on all other routes to see how they perform then you will know for the future when more electric buses are ordered.

I thought sending one on a Carlisle round trip was interesting.  Next step up is all day on 685, doing the 3 round trips.

It'll be a diesel bus broke down and all they had to replace it was a Yutong.

I've thought about this, but how come Stagecoach Newcastle have always had very 'conservative' last bus times out of Newcastle on high frequency / patronage urban services. Basically nothing at or after 23:30.

Whilst in comparison, Arriva & Go North East have quite a few trips after 23:30 (albeit some from Haymarket). And given the longer distances, Arriva have quite a few of these running after 23:15 including the X10/X11, X21, X18.

It's not a dig at anything, it's just something I've noticed. Is it a scheduling tradition back to the PTE/Busways days?

(01 Nov 2026, 8:39 pm)L469 YVK wrote I've thought about this, but how come Stagecoach Newcastle have always had very 'conservative' last bus times out of Newcastle on high frequency / patronage urban services. Basically nothing at or after 23:30.

Whilst in comparison, Arriva & Go North East have quite a few trips after 23:30 (albeit some from Haymarket). And given the longer distances, Arriva have quite a few of these running after 23:15 including the X10/X11, X21, X18.

It's not a dig at anything, it's just something I've noticed. Is it a scheduling tradition back to the PTE/Busways days?

There was a brief experiment with night buses round about 2004/2005, all were axed, then were resurrected (i wan't to say 2019), most terminate short for easiness getting back to the Depot, either the 39 or 40 divert to finish at the Depot (or they used to, been a while since i've been that way tbh)

Can I ask a question why 75 reg come to stockton depot? I

Is there something up with the NSA's fitted to older buses to comply with that law stating it needed doing by 2026, because both of my buses on the 37 today were old buses, and neither of the announcements had sound, also i see 11717 has returned to service

(02 Nov 2026, 1:40 pm)V514DFT wrote Is there something up with the NSA's fitted to older buses to comply with that law stating it needed doing by 2026, because both of my buses on the 37 today were old buses, and neither of the announcements had sound, also i see 11717 has returned to service

From what I’ve been told the company stagecoach hired to install the screens and speakers done a shocking job with the wiring now they need Hanover to come in and repair them all. Be a while before they’re all working.

(02 Nov 2026, 5:03 pm)TransitObserver wrote From what I’ve been told the company stagecoach hired to install the screens and speakers done a shocking job with the wiring now they need Hanover to come in and repair them all. Be a while before they’re all working.

Ahhhh that makes sense, it had been a while since i last used Stagecoach apart from the odd trip, but usual the route i'd use usually allocate later buses that have NSA's from new

11717 has been back since late July. Also it stands out a little bit as they used full size fleetnumbers on the front but had to trim them down to ensure they fitted. It is seen here on a Great North Run shuttle in September - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5526818408

Why is 73143,45 at stockton still and 73170 at Slatyford depot is though 73143 or 73145 would gone to Slatyford depot not 73170?

(03 Nov 2026, 2:49 pm)Rapidsnap wrote 11717 has been back since late July. Also it stands out a little bit as they used full size fleetnumbers on the front but had to trim them down to ensure they fitted. It is seen here on a Great North Run shuttle in September - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5526818408

I'm surprised nobody mentioned it sooner