(14 Aug 2022, 3:15 pm)You tcts24 wrote Hartlepool got 15 new B10M's, the 10 in '95 and a further 5 in '98. There were 5 new Dart's in '96 i think? The "Super6" one's were actually new to Stockton depot in November '97.Yeah that’s close enough the B10Ms where the first buses in Stagecoach stripes when they took over Hartlepool Transport. They where replacements for Bristol REs. Then in 96 a few second hand Lynx’s where brought in as well to get rid of some of the Dennis Falcons.The final REs where withdrawn in 97 due to the B10Ms. They was one or two darts I don’t think they were new though and they didn’t really last long only about a year. Then in 1999 the super six darts entered Service which seen off the Leyland Nationals and all but about 2 Falcons. Some more darts come in late 2000 which seen off the last Falcon. Then in 2003 some B10Bs came from Newcastle to replace the Lynx’s. In 2004 the next brand new buses entered service with the Dart SLF which replaced the Step Entrance darts. Then nothing until 2008 when 19 Manviro 200 entered service. This not only seen off the B10S but the few Volvo Olympians what where here ( although lasted till about 2009 doing school work ). 2 B10Bs survived till 2010 when service changes made them redundant. Then between 2010 - 2014 Hartlepool depot was just Manviro 200 Transbus Dart SLF and Alexander 200 darts. The Alexander 200 started getting withdrawn in 2013 with the last remaining one getting withdrawn on New Years Eve 2014. Then nothing apart from Sunderland Dart SLF replacing Hartlepool ones in 2015 and some manviros coming from Shields. The darts got withdrawn in 2017 with Enviros coming from shields. Then a year later some Manviros where swapped with Enviros from Sunderland. The Darts only came back in 2020 due to shortages with the ones coming from Yorkshire in late 2021.
Think I've twice saw comments on here about Hartlepool having 2 "Tees Flex" branded buses, theres 3.
I'm told engineering have major headaches with the MAN's but I personally prefer driving them to the ADL's as I find them less problematic in service. 39661, 39666 and a third one i forget the number of are up for imminent withdrawal and are being replaced by a trio of 36XXX buses from Newcastle.
Hartlepool also got 4 Yorkshire Dart's but 35236 has yet to enter service and 35263 was rotten and got scrapped
Personally, I've had no issues with seating space on school runs. Granted ther's very few empty seats, but there are often empty seat when I drive them. Or maybe the kids avoid my bus because of my driving?
RE: Stagecoach North East: Order Predictions