(31 Aug 2026, 9:47 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote I don’t see why you’re moaning for about why the driver took 1425 down to the rally there’s really nothing wrong with it at all it’s a pulsar yeah but I respect the drivers decision that they took 1425 down to the rally because the 09/59 plate pulsars are starting to get withdrawn so obviously you would want to get a photo of it at a bus rally with another bus (4718) which is now preserved which was based at the same depot as 1425 both of them together is a better choice and a better decision for arriva to say farewell to 2 good buses that have serve the North East so show some respect to the driver and have some decency that the driver took a bus to the bus to a rally instead of moaning about it

I've been told that the above post has made it to a local Facebook group, so these sorts of posts were somewhat expected. It concerns me that people are taking a valid criticism of a company as a comment against an employee. 

1425, as with the remainder of that batch, is symbolic of an era of Arriva where the fleet was neglected, the network was repeatedly slashed, and standards were on the floor. Of course I understand that the 09-plate Pulsars, despite being ready for withdrawal now (if we're honest), are of interest to lots of enthusiasts and have served well in challenging circumstances. My point was that, as Arriva are looking to turn a corner and improve, you would think they'd be keen to send an example which is more reflective of this. If we are to go with the thought that it was nice as a send off to the 09-plates, then there are multiple examples across the NE in the current livery - 1410 springs to mind as well as many ex-NW transfers. 

Whilst I agree with Storx, above, that a better example of the progress Arriva are wanting to make would have been to take a BYD, new MMC, or Evora, you understand that these may not be local to the driver who went to the rally given most are concentrated in Northumberland and Teesside (and my assumption is that this driver is from Durham). Again though, this is a criticism of the company that the amount of readily "presentable" vehicles are concentrated in such small areas. Maybe more could have been done to make a Journey Mark Pulsar available, again though this would be on the company making an effort. 

It is sad that people resort to a black and white viewpoint on this rather than accepting that there can be nuance. It is possible to be both supportive of people giving up their time, while simultaneously being critical of something that they cannot impact. 

The same goes for other companies, while I am at it. You can be critical of individual decisions, strategies, announcements etc. without that being your opinion of the company on the whole - or vice versa. As an example, outside of this arena, people can be supportive of football clubs while being critical of the morality of the owners of said football clubs.