4916 Renown is also on the services today. Don't tell me the scanias are already gone?

As is purple Versa 8329!

(31 Jan 2015, 9:56 am)Tom wrote Don't think it's a ex-Citylink - it'll just be a plain red one, but for some reason the next stop announcements always display the Citylink.

5332 is on service X66 today.
5390 is the red Versa on the X40 (correct allocation from tomorrow).

(31 Jan 2015, 10:14 am)northern156 wrote As is purple Versa 8329!

4950 and 4951 still remain, but only the latter has seen use over the last month or so. I guess 4951 had its last day in service yesterday, though, if 4916 and another vehicle are covering for 4950/51.  

Thanks for the info, chaps - I realised I wouldn't be lucky so gave up. Now on 6066 21 to Chester. Nearly wasn't allowed to use an Explorer!! Driver said, after a long hard look, 'sorry we don't accept those' so I said 'it's an explorer mate?' to which he replied 'sorry, my mistake'. Unbelievable!

(31 Jan 2015, 10:45 am)northern156 wrote Thanks for the info, chaps - I realised I wouldn't be lucky so gave up. Now on 6066 21 to Chester. Nearly wasn't allowed to use an Explorer!! Driver said, after a long hard look, 'sorry we don't accept those' so I said 'it's an explorer mate?' to which he replied 'sorry, my mistake'. Unbelievable!

If you're through Durham, try and use your Explorer on the Park and Ride? I got refused, but I know people have been allowed to use them. 

Had a fantastic day with an Explorer. Just got back.

But Sean is right, some drivers needed a second look on most of my 12 journeys...when I got on 5308 on the 36 the driver didn't know what I was asking for!

(31 Jan 2015, 4:13 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Had a fantastic day with an Explorer. Just got back.

But Sean is right, some drivers needed a second look on most of my 12 journeys...when I got on 5308 on the 36 the driver didn't know what I was asking for!

Are we going to get one of your hugely long reviews? 
Gotta admit I love reading them

(31 Jan 2015, 5:18 pm)Tom wrote Are we going to get one of your hugely long reviews? 
Gotta admit I love reading them

It'll take me a while, but I'll have it up by the end of the night.

(31 Jan 2015, 5:18 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote It'll take me a while, but I'll have it up by the end of the night.

Aye a lot of effort goes into them. 

Today's North East Explorer ticket...

#36 - My House to Houghton-le-Spring Church - (09:56 --- 10:14) - GNE 5308 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
The scheduled journey is expected to get to my nearest stop for 09:50 - and this klutzy driver (as I later experienced) seemed to have gotten lost as a result of the diversion. Eventually turned up, and I handed over £10 for my Explorer. He didn't seem to know what an 'Explorer' was...I would have thought all drivers would be up to date with tickets and stuff - apparently not! Nonetheless, 5308 itself was a lot nicer than 5306, which I had on Monday. 

#20A - Houghton-le-Spring Church to Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - (10:15 --- 10:36) - GNE 4946 - Scania L94UA/Wright Solar
Hopped off 5308 and got on 4946 moments before it departed. I don't recall ever being on 4946 prior to today, so it was nice especially because of it's recent repaint. 

T&W Metro - Sunderland, Park Lane to Newcastle, Monument - (10:44 --- 11:20) - Metrocars 4047 & 4059
Hopped on and sat in 4047 for the whole of the journey. Things started to get really packed at about Heworth...and we also had to stop at a red signal between East Boldon and Brockley Whins - not very convenient...

#40 - Newcastle, Blackett Street to Wallsend, Interchange - (11:35 --- 12:03) - SNE 12081 - Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Enviro400 Hybrid 
First experience of a Walkergate based E400, and I was pretty impressed. Felt very nice and smooth - bit like an Angel B5 in my opinion. Upstairs was deserted for the whole of the journey, so I sat at the front with my headphones in taking in everything around me. Quite impressive for something that rarely escapes the streets of Newcastle.

#22 - Wallsend, Interchange to Newcastle, Market Street -  (12:06 --- 12:33) - SNE 22344 - MAN 18.220/Alexander ALX300
Yay! I am a fan of ALX300s, so I was quite happy when I saw this turning around having just gotten off 12081, which had just left for the return journey. I got on and sat at the rear, and we left with only me on lol. Overall, a really great journey as there were no more than a dozen people on at any one time.

#X22 - Newcastle, Haymarket to Regent Centre Metro - (12:45 --- 12:55) - ANE 7528 - Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Enviro400
I've never been a fan of these E400s, mainly because of the refurb. They just don't feel nice inside, bit too furistic for some reason I can't explain. At least it was only 10 minutes, if I'd had it all the way to Ashington I would have gone insane. Some people say the 21s are unbearable - spend 10 minutes on one of these and you'll lose the will to live!!

#X10 - Regent Centre Metro to Newcastle, Haymarket - (13:00 --- 13:09) - ANE 7616 - VDL DB300/Wright Gemini 2
Better than 7528, but I still can't get my head around these MAXs and Sapphires up in Newcastle - they just aren't what I'm used to and I don't like them. The seats are unbearably uncomfortable, and they just aren't nice imo.

#10B - Newcastle, Eldon Square to MetroCentre Interchange - (13:12 --- 13:32) - GNE 6074 - Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2 
Not bad, the bus was sounding fine but I could constantly hear two students at the front banging away about who they were banging last night!!

#X66 - MetroCentre Interchange to Gateshead Interchange - (13:34 --- 13:43) - GNE 4944 - Scania L94UA/Wright Solar
I'd been planning a ride on the X66 following the withdrawal of the Artics - and I was lucky too in the fact that I had a journey with hardly any people on!

#27 - Gateshead Interchange to Heworth Metro Interchange - (13:50 --- 14:02) - GNE 5328 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
Never been on 5328 before, and the journey was great apart from a guy who got on on Gateshead High Street who absolutely stank of urine...

T&W Metro - Heworth, Metro to Sunderland, Park Lane - (14:13 --- 14:36) - Metrocars 4070 & 4068
God, how cold is Heworth Metro station?! I was absolutely frozen, and to make everything better the Metro comes absolutely packed. I was standing up until about St. Peters and then got off at Park Lane!

#8 - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange to Chester-le-Street South Burns - (14:53 --- 15:44) - GNE 4901 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
Not a bad bus all in all, but a bunch of girls sitting together being harassed by some kid their age who didn't even know them asking for a sweet made me want to pour him in diesel and light him up...

My mam picked me up in Chester and I was in the house for 16:00. Definitely value for money!

Been waiting for this all night Marcus.....

Have to say I agree with you, Marcus.
Leather seats are passed off as 'luxurious' but I much prefer fabric seating. Not because leather seating is too "futuristic", but because the seats seem a lot harder and don't seem to warm up. The only upside is that they're easier to clean, so the interior of the bus looks a bit smarter.

(31 Jan 2015, 9:18 pm)citaro5284 wrote Been waiting for this all night Marcus.....

Eeee...citaro! You know where the PM button is, if you wanted a first hand account you just needed to do that! 

(31 Jan 2015, 9:22 pm)Dan wrote Have to say I agree with you, Marcus.
Leather seats are passed off as 'luxurious' but I much prefer fabric seating. The only upside is that they're easier to clean, so the interior of the bus looks a bit smarter.

Nice to have someone else in the same corner as me. They're not luxurious at all. If I could sink into one like a sofa with a personalised TV and footrest - that would be luxurious. 100% in agreement - they're nowt on the 21s.

(31 Jan 2015, 9:24 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Nice to have someone else in the same corner as me. They're not luxurious at all. If I could sink into one like a sofa with a personalised TV and footrest - that would be luxurious. 100% in agreement - they're nowt on the 21s.

I have to say I'd probably agree as well. Even though I find 7522-8 a lot more comfortable than the refurbished ones (the seats feel harder on these), I had a ride of 7491 today and it was a relief with it's warm fabric...

(31 Jan 2015, 9:24 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Nice to have someone else in the same corner as me. They're not luxurious at all. If I could sink into one like a sofa with a personalised TV and footrest - that would be luxurious. 100% in agreement - they're nowt on the 21s.

The only leather seats I've ever been completely fond of (as I've said before) are the ones on the former "Airlink" Scania double-decks at Lothian Buses:

Lothian's luxury interior by Stuart Montgomery's Lothian Buses, on Flickr

They don't warm up particularly well, either, but the leather seems more padded and the shape of the seat is much better.

Haha me too!
Great review as usual! Doing the same next weekend?

Anyone else care to join the revolution?

The Leather Seat Gang?

Current members: MarcTheA4 Dan mb134 Tom

(31 Jan 2015, 9:32 pm)Tom wrote Haha me too!
Great review as usual! Doing the same next weekend?

Yeah, absolutely. Thanks Tom!

(31 Jan 2015, 9:34 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Yeah, absolutely. Thanks Tom!

Should maybe try a 43/44/45 to Regent Centre instead, or maybe even Cramlington on the 43, as they tend to have B10BLE's/ALX400's. I like them both.
The 52 to Killingworth will have a B10BLE too.

Still think these are some of the most comfortable seats I've ever experienced (on a bus):
Arriva North East 7372, M372 FTY (2) by DoncasterDarts, on Flickr

(31 Jan 2015, 9:22 pm)Dan wrote Have to say I agree with you, Marcus.
Leather seats are passed off as 'luxurious' but I much prefer fabric seating. Not because leather seating is too "futuristic", but because the seats seem a lot harder and don't seem to warm up. The only upside is that they're easier to clean, so the interior of the bus looks a bit smarter.

I think our new vehicles which are due for delivery from March to May will  have e-leather seating.

(31 Jan 2015, 9:22 pm)Dan wrote Have to say I agree with you, Marcus.
Leather seats are passed off as 'luxurious' but I much prefer fabric seating. Not because leather seating is too "futuristic", but because the seats seem a lot harder and don't seem to warm up. The only upside is that they're easier to clean, so the interior of the bus looks a bit smarter.

As a regular passenger of Sapphire service 7 I have to say that I don't mind the e-leather seats and find them quite comfortable when I had them for an hour to college two mornings a week most weeks. When I went to Newcastle on Tuesday I had the 7 to Durham then I had a 57 reg Lowlander on the X2 and all my family thought the e-leather seats on the Sapphire Pulsar's were nicer than the fabric seats on the Lowlander.

Have to say though I think my favourite seats on modern buses in the NE have to be the GNE fabric seats in the B9TL's and also like the ones in the Tynedale Xpress Solar's.

Could you find the e-leather seats weird because you are not used to them because I wasn't too sure on them at first when the 7 first became Sapphire but I quite like them now, they aren't luxurious but still pretty nice.

(31 Jan 2015, 9:13 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Today's North East Explorer ticket...

#36 - My House to Houghton-le-Spring Church - (09:56 --- 10:14) - GNE 5308 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
The scheduled journey is expected to get to my nearest stop for 09:50 - and this klutzy driver (as I later experienced) seemed to have gotten lost as a result of the diversion. Eventually turned up, and I handed over £10 for my Explorer. He didn't seem to know what an 'Explorer' was...I would have thought all drivers would be up to date with tickets and stuff - apparently not! Nonetheless, 5308 itself was a lot nicer than 5306, which I had on Monday. 

#20A - Houghton-le-Spring Church to Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - (10:15 --- 10:36) - GNE 4946 - Scania L94UA/Wright Solar
Hopped off 5308 and got on 4946 moments before it departed. I don't recall ever being on 4946 prior to today, so it was nice especially because of it's recent repaint. 

T&W Metro - Sunderland, Park Lane to Newcastle, Monument - (10:44 --- 11:20) - Metrocars 4047 & 4059
Hopped on and sat in 4047 for the whole of the journey. Things started to get really packed at about Heworth...and we also had to stop at a red signal between East Boldon and Brockley Whins - not very convenient...

#40 - Newcastle, Blackett Street to Wallsend, Interchange - (11:35 --- 12:03) - SNE 12081 - Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Enviro400 Hybrid 
First experience of a Walkergate based E400, and I was pretty impressed. Felt very nice and smooth - bit like an Angel B5 in my opinion. Upstairs was deserted for the whole of the journey, so I sat at the front with my headphones in taking in everything around me. Quite impressive for something that rarely escapes the streets of Newcastle.

#22 - Wallsend, Interchange to Newcastle, Market Street -  (12:06 --- 12:33) - SNE 22344 - MAN 18.220/Alexander ALX300
Yay! I am a fan of ALX300s, so I was quite happy when I saw this turning around having just gotten off 12081, which had just left for the return journey. I got on and sat at the rear, and we left with only me on lol. Overall, a really great journey as there were no more than a dozen people on at any one time.

#X22 - Newcastle, Haymarket to Regent Centre Metro - (12:45 --- 12:55) - ANE 7528 - Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Enviro400
I've never been a fan of these E400s, mainly because of the refurb. They just don't feel nice inside, bit too furistic for some reason I can't explain. At least it was only 10 minutes, if I'd had it all the way to Ashington I would have gone insane. Some people say the 21s are unbearable - spend 10 minutes on one of these and you'll lose the will to live!!

#X10 - Regent Centre Metro to Newcastle, Haymarket - (13:00 --- 13:09) - ANE 7616 - VDL DB300/Wright Gemini 2
Better than 7528, but I still can't get my head around these MAXs and Sapphires up in Newcastle - they just aren't what I'm used to and I don't like them. The seats are unbearably uncomfortable, and they just aren't nice imo.

#10B - Newcastle, Eldon Square to MetroCentre Interchange - (13:12 --- 13:32) - GNE 6074 - Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini 2 
Not bad, the bus was sounding fine but I could constantly hear two students at the front banging away about who they were banging last night!!

#X66 - MetroCentre Interchange to Gateshead Interchange - (13:34 --- 13:43) - GNE 4944 - Scania L94UA/Wright Solar
I'd been planning a ride on the X66 following the withdrawal of the Artics - and I was lucky too in the fact that I had a journey with hardly any people on!

#27 - Gateshead Interchange to Heworth Metro Interchange - (13:50 --- 14:02) - GNE 5328 - Mercedes 0530N/Mercedes Citaro
Never been on 5328 before, and the journey was great apart from a guy who got on on Gateshead High Street who absolutely stank of urine...

T&W Metro - Heworth, Metro to Sunderland, Park Lane - (14:13 --- 14:36) - Metrocars 4070 & 4068
God, how cold is Heworth Metro station?! I was absolutely frozen, and to make everything better the Metro comes absolutely packed. I was standing up until about St. Peters and then got off at Park Lane!

#8 - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange to Chester-le-Street South Burns - (14:53 --- 15:44) - GNE 4901 - Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown
Not a bad bus all in all, but a bunch of girls sitting together being harassed by some kid their age who didn't even know them asking for a sweet made me want to pour him in diesel and light him up...

My mam picked me up in Chester and I was in the house for 16:00. Definitely value for money!

Probably due to a freight train.

(31 Jan 2015, 9:41 pm)danpick wrote Probably due to a freight train.

Nice and random. 

(31 Jan 2015, 9:43 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Nice and random. 

He's actually got a point you know!

(31 Jan 2015, 9:44 pm)Tom wrote He's actually got a point you know!

Oh. I didn't see Dan P's bit in bold lol. I think it was because the crossing gate wasn't working or something, the driver said something over the mic. 

I thought he was just randomly saying 'probably because of a freight train'.

(31 Jan 2015, 9:39 pm)Jimmi wrote As a regular passenger of Sapphire service 7 I have to say that I don't mind the e-leather seats and find them quite comfortable when I had them for an hour to college two mornings a week most weeks. When I went to Newcastle on Tuesday I had the 7 to Durham then I had a 57 reg Lowlander on the X2 and all my family thought the e-leather seats on the Sapphire Pulsar's were nicer than the fabric seats on the Lowlander.

Have to say though I think my favourite seats on modern buses in the NE have to be the GNE fabric seats in the B9TL's and also like the ones in the Tynedale Xpress Solar's.

Could you find the e-leather seats weird because you are not used to them because I wasn't too sure on them at first when the 7 first became Sapphire but I quite like them now, they aren't luxurious but still pretty nice.

On top of my regular trips out which allows for opportunities to ride on Arriva's fleet with e-leather seating, I use the 23 service on an almost daily basis. Other than the fact they look smart, I think that fabric seating is far more comfortable and as such is superior.

Durham - Darlington on e-leather seating is just dreadful. Only upside is that they have high backed seating, I guess.

(31 Jan 2015, 9:38 pm)mb134 wrote Still think these are some of the most comfortable seats I've ever experienced (on a bus):
Arriva North East 7372, M372 FTY (2) by DoncasterDarts, on Flickr

Never had the pleasure of these but I think I once had a Optare Delta with these seats on the 213 from Sunderland - Newton Aycliffe once for about two hours and they were really comfortable.

Bet those seats were better on the X60 Newcastle - Scarborough than the Urban90's in the Lowlander's on the X61 Durham - Scarborough in the summer.

Sorry I'm wrong, my favourite seats on buses in the North East are the seats in the ex demonstrator EcoCity's on the 21/X21, always hope for an ex demonstrator as the ones in the ones delivered new to Darlington seem a bit hard and they have less POWER!
4812 https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...datetaken/
4814 https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...374062192/

(31 Jan 2015, 9:47 pm)Dan wrote On top of my regular trips out which allows for opportunities to ride on Arriva's fleet with e-leather seating, I use the 23 service on an almost daily basis. Other than the fact they look smart, I think that fabric seating is far more comfortable and as such is superior.

Durham - Darlington on e-leather seating is just dreadful. Only upside is that they have high backed seating, I guess.

I'd hate to do the full 7 route, thankfully living on the route I almost never have to.

I still like the e-leather seats on the Sapphire Pulsar's and could bare an hour on them each morning but I also prefer fabric seating which we used to have on a morning in the form of Darlington's 09 reg Pulsar's.

If you think the e-leather seats on the 7 are bad you should have tried spending an hour on them ****ing **** Dart's which killed my kness on almost every journey were I couldn't get a seat at the front (the seats were okay, it was the lack of space between them that I hated hence why I was going absolutely mental when 1304 turned up on the X24 last Saturday and had to ride that heap all the way to Durham!)