1055 - 1100 #30 (Ashington Fifth Ave -- North Seaton Colliery B&Q) - Phoenix Coaches 909 (A12 PNX) Mercedes Vario / Plaxton Cheetah
A short ride on this rather comfortable Mercedes Vario, I'd certainly choose this over the usual Solo, sadly come the 1st January these vehicles will no longer be able to operate the route under DDA guidelines. The driver was very friendly and helped some older passengers off the bus, as the steps were proving difficult. The driver dropped me off at the lay-by opposite B&Q, so I could continue my journey on foot.
Unfortunately, the bus went past while I was walking towards the postal office, and a few words were uttered under my breath. This meant that the bus wasn't going to be in the lay by at B&Q for my return to Ashington.
As the planned journey didn't go to plan the following had to occur.
1110 - 1115 #000 (North Seaton Ind Est Postal Office -- North Seaton Alexandra Road/College Road) - On Foot
A short-ish run/sprint to the bus stop here.
1117 - 1123 #35a (North Seaton Alexandra Road/College Road -- Ashington Bus Station Sports Direct Stand) - Arriva Northumbria 1579 (NK64 EEA) Wright StreetLite Micro-Hybrid
Yet another short journey, this time to the bus station, so I could get some lunch. The bus was about 3/4 full, but I managed to get a seat further up the bus.
1142 - 1144 #X21 (Ashington Laburnum Terrace -- Ashington Fifth Ave) - Arriva Northumbria 750? (NK57 ???) ADL Enviro400 / Dennis Trident 2
I managed to get the seat behind the driver, after some old person couldn't decide between priority seats or the very front seats
. Some pillock in a pick up truck nearly crashed into the bus after they did a dangerous overtake when the bus had just set off, causing the driver to slam the brakes and do a rather aggressive sound of the horn. When we managed to get to Fifth Ave without anymore idiots, some pensioner who clearly can't ride a bike was straddling in the road to close to the bus stop to overtake. This all occurred because some pillock couldn't afford 10-15 minutes sat where he should be.