(08 Jun 2026, 8:26 am)Kuyoyo wrote And it's not totally Arriva's fault with the rear destinations - it's down to how they've been set up in the factory. As the majority of Arriva's vehicles still only have number-only rear displays, this is very likely set as 'Sign 2' on the Hanover software. If these new MMCs have the rear screen set up as 'Sign 2', then they pick up the data for the number-only screen.
I'm sure GNE had similar issues with their new Streetdecks only showing numbers for a while (or not showing anything).
The bigger issue is that, from my trip up to Newcastle on Thursday, none of the new E400s had their new stop announcements programmed.

Yeah I know it’s not Arrivas fault but according to that Dan manger user they’re saying that I was on about the interior poles when I wasn’t I was talking about the destination display that someone mentioned on here and I told them what I know about the rear displays on the new buses

(08 Jun 2026, 8:26 am)Kuyoyo wrote And it's not totally Arriva's fault with the rear destinations - it's down to how they've been set up in the factory. As the majority of Arriva's vehicles still only have number-only rear displays, this is very likely set as 'Sign 2' on the Hanover software. If these new MMCs have the rear screen set up as 'Sign 2', then they pick up the data for the number-only screen.
I'm sure GNE had similar issues with their new Streetdecks only showing numbers for a while (or not showing anything).
The bigger issue is that, from my trip up to Newcastle on Thursday, none of the new E400s had their new stop announcements programmed.

Whilst I agree they will have been delivered like that as the default settings are sign 0 for front, sign 1 for side and sign 2 for rear (as per how they come from Hanover), it is not difficult to change and clearly they have a different setting in their Hanover dbs already for the rear as MMC's at Ashington display correctly - had plenty of time when they were waiting to go on the road to get them checked and amended if required

(08 Jun 2026, 6:52 pm)citaro5284 wrote Whilst I agree they will have been delivered like that as the default settings are sign 0 for front, sign 1 for side and sign 2 for rear (as per how they come from Hanover), it is not difficult to change and clearly they have a different setting in their Hanover dbs already for the rear as MMC's at Ashington display correctly - had plenty of time when they were waiting to go on the road to get them checked and amended if required

Don't be coming on here and talking sense man, the ANE management apologists can't handle it.

(31 May 2026, 6:31 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Ive seen worse Pulsars. 1537/38/39/40 are actually really decent and quick and work well. Rarely see them off the road. 41/42 can be hit and miss but work well

The less said about 1543 the better.

Just as an update on how these liabilities are doing this week...

1537 isn't correctly tracking, but it looks to have missed runout on Monday and Tuesday. 

1539 got pulled from a 35 board yesterday morning. 

1540 failed on an X22 on Monday, did an AM school board Tuesday, and hasn't appeared on Wednesday. 

1541 failed to appear on a Monday, came out for a PM school/X20 yesterday afternoon, failed to make runout today then managed about 20 mins of an X22 before failing again. 

1542 looks to have been punted to Blyth after missing the back half of last week. 

1543 has been pulled off a 2 board today. 

Only 1538 looks to be any good at the moment, and it's only a matter of time before that starts playing up too. The full batch need scrapping.

(10 Jun 2026, 3:08 pm)PH - BQA wrote Just as an update on how these liabilities are doing this week...

1537 isn't correctly tracking, but it looks to have missed runout on Monday and Tuesday. 

1539 got pulled from a 35 board yesterday morning. 

1540 failed on an X22 on Monday, did an AM school board Tuesday, and hasn't appeared on Wednesday. 

1541 failed to appear on a Monday, came out for a PM school/X20 yesterday afternoon, failed to make runout today then managed about 20 mins of an X22 before failing again. 

1542 looks to have been punted to Blyth after missing the back half of last week. 

1543 has been pulled off a 2 board today. 

Only 1538 looks to be any good at the moment, and it's only a matter of time before that starts playing up too. The full batch need scrapping.

You really sat and looked at every single batch of them Pulsar to see how there doing. Thats a bit strange but fair enough 

Buses break down. Not breaking news is it. Not really but you go to all this effort. You gonna check any other companies buses or just arrive hmmmmmmmm

Yeah didn't think so

(10 Jun 2026, 3:08 pm)PH - BQA wrote Just as an update on how these liabilities are doing this week...

1537 isn't correctly tracking, but it looks to have missed runout on Monday and Tuesday. 

1539 got pulled from a 35 board yesterday morning. 

1540 failed on an X22 on Monday, did an AM school board Tuesday, and hasn't appeared on Wednesday. 

1541 failed to appear on a Monday, came out for a PM school/X20 yesterday afternoon, failed to make runout today then managed about 20 mins of an X22 before failing again. 

1542 looks to have been punted to Blyth after missing the back half of last week. 

1543 has been pulled off a 2 board today. 

Only 1538 looks to be any good at the moment, and it's only a matter of time before that starts playing up too. The full batch need scrapping.

Sometimes  bustimes.org isn't always right  example tracking issues for one

(10 Jun 2026, 4:00 pm)Nerd4321 wrote You really sat and looked at every single batch of them Pulsar to see how there doing. Thats a bit strange but fair enough 

Buses break down. Not breaking news is it. Not really but you go to all this effort. You gonna check any other companies buses or just arrive hmmmmmmmm

Yeah didn't think so

I mean, it's a bus discussion forum. 

The point was that this particular batch of buses are increasingly unreliable - and it doesn't take any more than a couple of minutes to see that. 

Unsure on your angle here to be honest.

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(10 Jun 2026, 4:13 pm)Dan manger wrote Sometimes  bustimes.org isn't always right  example tracking issues for one

Which I stated in the point regarding 1537. The others have largely been verified.

(10 Jun 2026, 8:45 pm)PH - BQA wrote I mean, it's a bus discussion forum. 

The point was that this particular batch of buses are increasingly unreliable - and it doesn't take any more than a couple of minutes to see that. 

Unsure on your angle here to be honest.

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Which I stated in the point regarding 1537. The others have largely been verified.

tbf, everything at Ashington is unreliable though, probably doesn't help they're getting rattled to death as they actually move sometimes, which can't be said about other vehicles.

Side note talking of singles, noticed that the X21/X22 is still running around with a chunk of boards using singles. The same route which had more deckers bought 10 year or so because singles couldn't cope at peak times on a 10 minute service when it first went Sapphire, never mind at every 15 minutes.

Absolutely shocking the neglect that these 2 services have had the past 3 year from arguably to Northumbria's flagship route, to whatever you want to call it now. The 308 at Blyth, the other arguable flagship route, just as bad. 

It's a shame that it's not until 2030 that the new trains are due which are heavily rumoured to be coming to the North East now (Class 195's going to Leeds) since the train is having capacity problems - ironically, since Arriva have all but gave up - which should benefit a chunk of passengers. GNE and the Metro sorting out a better service for those suffering with the 306/308.

(10 Jun 2026, 10:35 pm)Storx wrote tbf, everything at Ashington is unreliable though, probably doesn't help they're getting rattled to death as they actually move sometimes, which can't be said about other vehicles.

Side note talking of singles, noticed that the X21/X22 is still running around with a chunk of boards using singles. The same route which had more deckers bought 10 year or so because singles couldn't cope at peak times on a 10 minute service when it first went Sapphire, never mind at every 15 minutes.

Absolutely shocking the neglect that these 2 services have had the past 3 year from arguably to Northumbria's flagship route, to whatever you want to call it now. The 308 at Blyth, the other arguable flagship route, just as bad. 

It's a shame that it's not until 2030 that the new trains are due which are heavily rumoured to be coming to the North East now (Class 195's going to Leeds) since the train is having capacity problems - ironically, since Arriva have all but gave up - which should benefit a chunk of passengers. GNE and the Metro sorting out a better service for those suffering with the 306/308.

Having been traveling the coast road routes a lot recently, I'd say the Arriva service is far better than the GNE services along it. More reliable for certain, better customer service from the drivers and if I'm honest, knowing that the Pulsars and Sapphire Enviros are being replaced very soon, I don't think there'll be much between the vehicles either. 

That said, being better than GNE really isn't setting a high bar and they do need to do a lot more to be getting any credit. I'm told the demonstrator is still at Blyth for a reason, hopefully that reason is that more investment will be coming next year.

(10 Jun 2026, 11:16 pm)Shrek wrote Having been traveling the coast road routes a lot recently, I'd say the Arriva service is far better than the GNE services along it. More reliable for certain, better customer service from the drivers and if I'm honest, knowing that the Pulsars and Sapphire Enviros are being replaced very soon, I don't think there'll be much between the vehicles either. 

That said, being better than GNE really isn't setting a high bar and they do need to do a lot more to be getting any credit. I'm told the demonstrator is still at Blyth for a reason, hopefully that reason is that more investment will be coming next year.

Aye no arguments there, btw I meant from a fleet investment point of view since there's electrics due for them.

Agreed though, but being comparable to GNE in recent times isn't exactly a high bar either really. It'd be interesting if there's another urban area in the UK which has such a low bar of operators than around here. Even First would improve the area, and that's saying something.