Blyth's 7607 and 7611 were on loan to Jesmond today for use on Metro Replacement work.

(14 Feb 2015, 2:51 pm)Dan wrote Blyth's 7607 and 7611 were on loan to Jesmond today for use on Metro Replacement work.

Arriva North East: 7607 / NK59DME by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 7611 / NK59DMV by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Following the above post...

(14 Feb 2015, 6:43 am)tyresmoke wrote Well today see's Jesmond operating Metro Replacement service 900 between Haymarket & Regent Centre. Should be operated by a mix of DAF DB250s and Volvo B7TLs plus a few loaned deckers from Jim Hughes

See photographs below of Jesmond's offerings:

Arriva North East: 7494 / LF02PLJ by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 7474 / W403VGJ by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 7484 / LJ51DHP by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 7476 / W398VGJ by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 7493 / LF02PRZ by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 7473 / W402VGJ by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

See this post for links to photographs of some of Jim Hughes' fleet which were loaned to Arriva today.

Others used were 7467, 7485 and 7490

(14 Feb 2015, 6:48 pm)tyresmoke wrote Others used were 7467, 7485 and 7490

Was treat to a nice trip on 7485.

As a kind of follow on from the conversation the other day, about newer vehicles in London not having an emergency exit, as they have the second door, does anyone think that there is potential for the New Bus For London to be transferred to other regions once they reach a certain age? The rear staircase and door could provide an excellent emergency exit solution?

(14 Feb 2015, 6:48 pm)tyresmoke wrote Others used were 7467, 7485 and 7490

Saw you driving 7485 at South Gosforth at about 14:30?
Was on T421GGO.

(14 Feb 2015, 8:06 pm)Tom wrote Saw you driving 7485 at South Gosforth at about 14:30?
Was on T421GGO.

Yeah that was me. Had it from 1413 til 1733 after 7493 failed!
FAO Citaro5284 - the JH buses were all Jesmond/Blyth drivers who have been trained on the Ticketer machines, S236JUA came out later on in the day too

Arriva bus services in Darlington are improving, depot manager tells councillors.
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11...uncillors/

could make 685 a max or sapphire route would be nice i suggest sapphire as the power sockets would be handy en route to carlisle

(14 Feb 2015, 11:08 pm)Racer_Experience wrote could make 685 a max or sapphire route would be nice i suggest sapphire as the power sockets would be handy en route to carlisle

From what i understand, it will be going MAX - just a rumour though, wouldnt trust anything at this stage

Just my opinion here, but would long distance routes not benefit from power sockets as part of their MAX refurbishment? 

The X18 for example, 4 hours from Newcastle to Berwick, surely it would be sensible to include power, so that people can use the WiFi for their whole journeys?

On the topic of MAX... Is there any particular reason for 1416 being loaned to Blyth?

(15 Feb 2015, 7:09 am)Dan wrote On the topic of MAX... Is there any particular reason for 1416 being loaned to Blyth?

Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong but isn't 1416 there to stay as Durham have got a extra Gemini for the X12/X2 so that one will act as a spare 

(14 Feb 2015, 11:14 pm)Robert wrote From what i understand, it will be going MAX - just a rumour though, wouldnt trust anything at this stage

The 685 IS becoming Max - confirmed by Arriva.

EDIT: Arriva Max website

(14 Feb 2015, 11:17 pm)mb134 wrote Just my opinion here, but would long distance routes not benefit from power sockets as part of their MAX refurbishment? 

The X18 for example, 4 hours from Newcastle to Berwick, surely it would be sensible to include power, so that people can use the WiFi for their whole journeys?

Yeah, I would suggest that the Coast and Castles brand is reintroduced. Of course we need buses with more power than 64-reg E400s (to appease Davey)    .

Possibly refurb 7511-7517 and 7529-33 to include power sockets, and replace the hard leather with the seats like some of Wales' Sapphire buses.

If there's a Pulsar free anywhere, possibly transfer that to Ashington, and displace 4653 & 4659 to Darlington. Refurbish the Pulsar to Max, brand it for all routes including 418.

If problems occur with 7511-13, they get transferred to X20/20 then 7519-21 to X15. 

Is this just a typo, or is there a new service we don't know about? 
X4/5 Newcastle - Loftus/Whitby

Taken from the MAX section of Arriva's website.
http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/about-us/max-...om-arriva/

I assume it's meant to be Newcastle to Blyth? And they've copy and pasted badly from a Sapphire section? 

(15 Feb 2015, 10:18 am)mb134 wrote Is this just a typo, or is there a new service we don't know about? 
X4/5 Newcastle - Loftus/Whitby

Taken from the MAX section of Arriva's website.
http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/about-us/max-...om-arriva/

I assume it's meant to be Newcastle to Blyth? And they've copy and pasted badly from a Sapphire section? 

Likewise service X1 apparently goes between Darlington and  Middlesbrough. Obviously copied and pasted from the X66.

(15 Feb 2015, 10:49 am)Robert wrote Likewise service X1 apparently goes between Darlington and  Middlesbrough. Obviously copied and pasted from the X66.

The Arriva website isn't that good then.

Here's another mistake - we can go there, but it never opens   

I don't think MAX on the 85 / 685 will make a difference as GNE's 55 reg Solars already have high back seating and free WiFi and they'd probably end up with Mercs on the TDExpress over the coming years.

(15 Feb 2015, 1:25 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote I don't think MAX on the 85 / 685 will make a difference as GNE's 55 reg Solars already have high back seating and free WiFi and they'd probably end up with Mercs on the TDExpress over the coming years.

Leather seats? 

Look at what Sapphire did for the 7. 

(15 Feb 2015, 1:33 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Leather seats? 

Look at what Sapphire did for the 7. 

Look at what Sapphire is doing for the 5/5a and X3/X3a/X4/4 - growth is already apparently quite steady despite only being Sapphire for only 5 months (shame the same cannot be said for Ashington but then at least they aren't the worse in terms of growth).

(15 Feb 2015, 1:37 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Look at what Sapphire is doing for the 5/5a and X3/X3a/X4/4 - growth is already apparently quite steady despite only being Sapphire for only 5 months (shame the same cannot be said for Ashington but then at least they aren't the worse in terms of growth).

Has Sapphire seen those routes (X21/22) grow at all? 

Also, has Sapphire been introduced on any routes that have suffered passenger loss?

(15 Feb 2015, 1:37 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Look at what Sapphire is doing for the 5/5a and X3/X3a/X4/4 - growth is already apparently quite steady despite only being Sapphire for only 5 months (shame the same cannot be said for Ashington but then at least they aren't the worse in terms of growth).

That's good, i hope it happens when the 22 (Sunderland - Durham) is upgraded to it or is it going to MAX?

(15 Feb 2015, 1:39 pm)mb134 wrote Has Sapphire seen those routes grow at all? 

Also, has Sapphire been introduced on any routes that have suffered passenger loss?

Every service has had growth - just some haven't seen the growth others have. The Shires' 280 service has the best growth, while Wrexham's 1 has very little growth. The X21/X22 is said to sit just above the 1 I understand but not sure by how much it has grown.

(15 Feb 2015, 1:42 pm)Michael wrote That's good, i hope it happens when the 22 (Sunderland - Durham) is upgraded to it or is it going to MAX?

22/24 are going Sapphire - should be around April-May time once the NW Pulsars are refurbished along with once a decision is made regarding the deckers for the services.

(15 Feb 2015, 1:46 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 22/24 are going Sapphire - should be around April-May time once the NW Pulsars are refurbished along with once a decision is made regarding the deckers for the services.

Is it worth risking decker's on the 22, i'm not sure on current numbers for the service (same as the X21 and 23), as i know its route from Sunderland to Peterlee is GNE dominated.

Of course it might change once the 22 goes Sapphire. 

(15 Feb 2015, 1:52 pm)Michael wrote Is it worth risking decker's on the 22, i'm not sure on current numbers for the service (same as the X21 and 23), as i know its route from Sunderland to Peterlee is GNE dominated.

Of course it might change once the 22 goes Sapphire. 

Some journeys require deckers (more so on the 24 - which is where the decker boards are mainly) hence needing some. There's then also the 24X to consider.

(15 Feb 2015, 1:45 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Every service has had growth - just some haven't seen the growth others have. The Shires' 280 service has the best growth, while Wrexham's 1 has very little growth. The X21/X22 is said to sit just above the 1 I understand but not sure by how much it has grown.

Judging by various posts on ANE's Facebook page, posts on here and my experiences, it seems that the services still aren't all that reliable, do you think the lack of growth could be down to this?

(15 Feb 2015, 1:57 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Some journeys require deckers (more so on the 24 - which is where the decker boards are mainly) hence needing some. There's then also the 24X to consider.

Cheers for the info.

Do you know how the X21 is doing between Sunderland and Peterlee?