(20 Jul 2024, 9:00 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Ah, okay. Thanks for that. So the NHS 553 branded Pulsar 1499 will be repainted into Journey Mark? Presumably the 553 route will continue to exist, possibly as the 653.
I thought Arriva had already sorted out the 43/44/45/47 interworking pattern for the new electric buses to go on those boards when they arrive. Been interworking for a while. Just merge the 44/47 routes so the 44 will run between Newcastle General Hospital and Dinnington? 43 and 45 will interwork with the 44 still? New BZLs for this group of services? Coming Spring next year?
I don't know anything for certain, but I'm certain the hospital contract for the 553 was up this year and it would make sense that either Arriva or the Hospital might have pulled out. If Arriva aren't running the 553, i would suspect that the hospital will find another company to run it as they need a service for staff getting between Regent Point and Freeman. It's not a great one for Arriva to run since Jesmond closed so it makes sense for them not to want to renew.
As for the 47, I'm just guessing. I doubt the H would cover it as that is for hospital staff only and as far as I'm aware is just between Freeman and RVI, so doesn't cover what the 47 is there for.
The buses for the 43/44/45/47 were from levelling up funding and not Zebra. A couple of Arriva drivers have said they're expected by January 2025 apparently. That is just word of mouth though and I haven't heard it said myself so I'm taking it as gossip for now.