(19 Feb 2020, 2:41 pm)L469 YVK wrote This is the exact problem with Arriva, they're running on a shoestring. Yes the E400 may be 'Max' standard but these and the other bits of tat are keep popping up on Blyth's 'goldmine' services.

The 308 should've received new vehicles by now considering it's been nearly 7 year since new vehicles were purchased!

Not saying GNE are perfect but they have at least invested over the last few years. Arriva seriously need to step up their game otherwise they'll lose passengers big time. It's a good job GNE's Citaros aren't able to be upgraded to Euro 6 as the way Arriva are now, GNE (and Stagecoach) could quite comfortably walk into Arriva territory and Arriva wouldn't bat an eyelid.

tbf that piece of 'tat' is the same age as half of Stagecoach's deckers.



The Arriva double decker fleet at Blyth isn't bad imo and still has a few year left in them before they need to replaced. Just because their not brand new doesn't mean their not good. The minibus fleet on the other hand though is a different discussion together and are a much higher priority imo especially the solo's and MPD's based at Ashington which are just knackered.



I'm not sure if your not from the area but the Arriva fleet around here is a hell of an improvement from early last decade when you had the Cityzens around which literally had water pouring in down the side of the bus and if you sat in the wrong seat you got wet. Not to mention the smell of damp. Arriva has always invested in massive batches then done nothing for years it's nothing new.



1995 - 1999 - Loads

2000 - Few

2001 - 2004 - About 5 buses

2005 - 2006 - Operation Overdrive

2007 - Few

2008 - 2014 - Loads

2015 - 2017 - Few

2018 - Now - Nothing



If that pattern continues they it'll be 2021 to 2022 that investment starts again which is 16 year for the DD and Single fleet (2005/6 batch) and just over 13 year for the minibuses (2008/09) which is about right for investment.