(14 May 2013, 8:30 pm)gtomlinson wrote

(14 May 2013, 8:27 pm)tyresmoke wrote The Leyland Olympians are due to be replaced with Tridents, it was thought for this summer but it'll be for next summer now.

Do you know how long the Stagecoach contract is for?

Tourist wise, I'd rather buy a guide book and Quaylink Day Ticket!

No I don't know how long they've got left on their contract. It's worked as a franchise though rather than a straight out tender.

(14 May 2013, 8:11 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

We do have some sort of tour bus and that's the Sunderland Connect.

Which used quite well

By University Students

Not necessarily. I've used the 700 a few times, and it isn't just used by University students. I have known people to do a round trip and treat it like a tour bus, similar to the "QuayLink" services.
It's undeniable that the primary use of the 700/701 is from students at Uni, but it isn't just used by students nevertheless.

(13 May 2013, 2:41 pm)Liam wrote Stagecoach 22730 (T730 OEF) has had a little incident at John Street, Sunderland. https://twitter.com/janethejourno/status...3281811457

The driver of the vehicle behind 22730 told me, and he told me that nobody was hurt greatly - passengers and driver alike. Was unexpected, and the driver who told me got quite a shock also.
He made the joke that he bet I was gutted not to have managed a photo as I was away for 2 days, but obviously my utmost concern was the passenger's and driver's wellbeing!

Trident 17026 became the first Trident at Stockton to operate something other than Schools or the additional 36 working today - by appearing on the 38.

39729 is now back in service after its accident in Doxford Park a couple of months ago

Sunderland's 22727 has been involved in an accident this afternoon in Sunderland City Centre, its crashed into the former destination bar just down from the empire

(16 May 2013, 3:45 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote Sunderland's 22727 has been involved in an accident this afternoon in Sunderland City Centre, its crashed into the former destination bar just down from the empire

Rumour has it that the driver blacked out - similar to what I believe happened at the Job Centre on John Street in Sunderland the other day? Was speaking to the same driver I mentioned before about it.

Photo:



Source: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1...1835716427&set=a.272179131426.188052.155734271426&type=1&theater
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1...1833946427&set=a.272179131426.188052.155734271426&type=1&theater

Driver is a daily on the 20s. He's driven me up and down Hylton Road over a hundred times, and I'm always greeted with the same happy smile. Some of the comments on that Facebook page are hideous. His driving is impeccable, and I refuse to believe it was any fault of the driver's until sufficient evidence proves otherwise.

The first two Olympians withdrawn at Stockton are reported to be 16832 and 16837.

@Kuyoyo You sure about that? Would hate you to be a misinformed bystander...

The information has come direct from a Duty Manager, so it's 100% confirmed. The fact 16832 has not been seen for over a week and that 16837 is currently parked along the rear fence in what is termed 'dead row' only adds to that statement.

That was a quick bite mind Kuyoyo!

Ah I dont know if that means your still a misinformed bystander though.

After all, when other people (myself included) have stated fact, we are labled as being misinformed bystanders by yourself...

I may have stooped to your level, but if you dont like it, dont dish it out eh?

22729 sounds terrible this morning, loud and annoying creaking noices isnt good at 6:45am, it sounds worse than a SPD

12076 made it onto the 62/63 on Sunday. I believe it was quite a rare working?

Not sure if we've noted it yet, but 10000 has moved on from its demonstration on service 38, and onto services 62/63, as displayed in the photo linked.

Trident 17027 was spotted back at Stockton depot this lunchtime, screened for the 36 however it has yet to be used in service. The Park End-starting extra run on the 36 appears to be operated by the bus that works the morning 301 trip from Ingleby Barwick.

(01 May 2013, 7:20 am)Daniel wrote Today's Sunderland rare working of the day goes to the Pointer 2 Dart on the X1! Unfortunately didn't get a photo.

Perhaps happens a little more frequently now than it did before. Was another Pointer 2 Dart on again today.
I am eager to take note of the workings on morning X1s - I'm so used to seeing E300s and newer ALX300s, with the occasional older ALX300 slipping off onto the service... But it seems Pointer 2 Darts are becoming quite frequent lately!

Withdrawn Stockton Olympian 16832 has moved to South Shields for reasons unknown.

(23 May 2013, 2:59 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Withdrawn Stockton Olympian 16832 has moved to South Shields for reasons unknown.

hmm, I'm thinking an extra spare on the X34 or usage on the E1/E2/E6 or more than likely Driver Training due to how old the Bus is. Just merely guessing, but they are the obvious possibilities.

(23 May 2013, 3:06 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(23 May 2013, 2:59 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Withdrawn Stockton Olympian 16832 has moved to South Shields for reasons unknown.

hmm, I'm thinking an extra spare on the X34 or usage on the E1/E2/E6 or more than likely Driver Training due to how old the Bus is. Just merely guessing, but they are the obvious possibilities.

Certainly won't be for any of those reasons - given South Shields is a fully low floor depot it would be a backwards step. Same with driver training, any future Driver Trainers will be low floor vehicles. Only likely solution is possiable storage - although Stockton has a prefectly good storage shed that's now empty bar the vehicles owned by the 500 Group and I believe one remaining B10BLE (21152).

Airshow? Great North Run? Festival of the North? Mouth of the Tyne Festival? Some sort of Summer Service?
Id assume any contracts for events would specify low floor vehicles, so this could be covering commercial work on those weekends... Just a guess.

(23 May 2013, 3:24 pm)Andreos1 wrote Airshow? Great North Run? Festival of the North? Mouth of the Tyne Festival? Some sort of Summer Service?
Id assume any contracts for events would specify low floor vehicles, so this could be covering commercial work on those weekends... Just a guess.

Airshow buses are normally pooled from Sunderland's spare fleet and the Teesside school fleet, hence in previous years the Olympians were used on the 510 (presumably depending how many have arrived by then, this year's Teesside vehicles will be Tridents). The Great North Run only happens on a Sunday so there's enough spare buses to cover the speical workings. Stagecoach don't get involved with the Mouth of The Tyne Festival as far as I'm aware.

Who knows then? Guess someone is going to have to spend a lot of time at Chi to find out...

22666 has the most annoying buzzing noise ever, its currently on the 3 heading towards Plains farm and is now all on 1 side.

Update... It was Replaced at the Sunderland cinema by an Enviro.

Sunderland Reserve ALX200 Dart 33101 is seeing use on 20s today.

(23 May 2013, 2:59 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Withdrawn Stockton Olympian 16832 has moved to South Shields for reasons unknown.

Appears to be for engineering purposes and nothing else.

Changes to Sunday daytime Service 23 journeys from Sunday 16 June 2013
-------------

Between approximately 1100 and 1700, these Sunday daytime buses will be extended from Dene Estate, and will additionally serve Seaburn Morrisons.

In Dene Estate, these Sunday daytime trips will operate from the Blue Bell junction via Station Road, Alston Crescent, Dovedale Road, Dykelands Road and Whitburn Road. Buses will return via this route reversed. As a result, these Sunday daytime journeys will not observe the bus stops along Dene Lane.

Although there will be some minor timing changes, basic frequencies will continue unchanged, with buses during Sunday daytimes running up to every 30 minutes.

The timetable for Service 23 during Monday to Saturday daytimes, as well as all evening journeys on this route, will continue to operate unchanged.

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/PdfUploads/...533_23.pdf

----------------------
Also..

Minor change to Services 10 and 11 from mid-June 2013 With the opening of Borough Road to 2-way bus movements, customers for Services 10 and 11 towards Grangetown should board their bus on Borough Road, rather than Fawcett Street or Athenaeum Street.
Times continue unchanged.

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/PdfUploads/..._10-11.pdf - No changes but here's the timetable

Sunderland 22727 has now returned to active service, following her recent crash.

Never seen it myself personally, but there were deckers working the X34 tonight.

(25 May 2013, 6:39 pm)Andreos1 wrote Never seen it myself personally, but there were deckers working the X34 tonight.

I believe all three Enviro 400s were out on the X34 today... Shock, I know - all three!

(23 May 2013, 7:12 pm)tyresmoke wrote

(23 May 2013, 2:59 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Withdrawn Stockton Olympian 16832 has moved to South Shields for reasons unknown.

Appears to be for engineering purposes and nothing else.

And she's at such a place in the depot so we enthusiasts can't photo her!

(25 May 2013, 4:41 am)Daniel wrote Sunderland 22727 has now returned to active service, following her recent crash.

A photo is displayed here.

Also, Stagecoach on Teesside's 20841 has possibly been transferred to Sunderland. Could just be at Sunderland for maintenance though. A photo is displayed here.