Signage has been changed at the Shields Depot. I wonder if the out of date phone numbers have been changed to on the lost property signs?!

What is the evening allocation for the X1 from Doxford International.

Apparently 16834 is also now based at Walkergate.

(20 May 2015, 8:28 am)AIG20 wrote Apparently 16834 is also now based at Walkergate.

Well, this can be killed - 16834 is out on route learning at Stockton today

All the X1 I've seen has been gas buses. Don't know if that is full allocation or not.

Stagecoach are looking for people do apprenticeships, the advert is on the SC Sunderland buses.

Does interworking help the customer? Reason I ask I find the 3 terminating in the city centre personally a big inconvience.

They cut the 36/37/38 at Middlesbrough bus station supposedly to improve reliability but then go and link the Park End to M'bro section with the 12, but without through fares etc. Totally cocked up the services. The people have lost their through buses to Stockton and reliability hasn't improved in the slightest, quite the opposite in fact.

(10 May 2015, 1:03 pm)AIG20 wrote Period 13 Vehicles For Disposal: (With Thanks to Michael Bonwick of the Stagecoach Enthusiasts Facebook Group)

Busways:
22494 T494 BNL MAN ALX300 SU

Transit:
33101 R101 KRG DENNIS DART SLF HA (obviously has not been sold yet)

Transit:
33101 R101 KRG DENNIS DART SLF HA (obviously has not been sold yet)

Probably, still waiting for the Alpha Recovery Scrap Wagon to collect it, which I believe is where the rest ended up.

(22 May 2015, 10:48 am)Martin Rogers wrote Transit:
33101 R101 KRG DENNIS DART SLF HA (obviously has not been sold yet)

Probably, still waiting for the Alpha Recovery Scrap Wagon to collect it, which I believe is where the rest ended up.

The difference with this one is that it was rumoured to be a candidate for preservation.

(22 May 2015, 10:54 am)Dan wrote The difference with this one is that it was rumoured to be a candidate for preservation.

The 33xxx ALX200s, have a clear history of Chassis Decay, so a Scrapyard somewhere, should be the best place for ALL such vehicles. Why on earth, would you wish to Preserve glorified rust ?.

(22 May 2015, 11:22 am)Martin Rogers wrote The 33xxx ALX200s, have a clear history of Chassis Decay, so a Scrapyard somewhere, should be the best place for ALL such vehicles. Why on earth, would you wish to Preserve glorified rust ?.

It cannot be denied that it would be an expensive and potentially very risky project, for the aforementioned reasons, but 1101 (R101 KRG) was the first of a batch of 26 of its kind to be introduced to Stagecoach in Sunderland in November 1997, which also saw the introduction of low-floor 'easy-access' status to the Sunderland fleet. This is why this vehicle is quite special to enthusiasts in the North East, and probably why there was an interest to preserve it.

Enthusiasts did seem to take quite a shine to 33101 in its later years. I think it was ultimately dependent on the price being right for a group of enthusiasts to preserve 33101, but as this hasn't been mentioned for quite some time, I'm not entirely sure if it's still on the horizon?

All I can say is - watch this space

(22 May 2015, 10:54 am)Dan wrote The difference with this one is that it was rumoured to be a candidate for preservation.

Yes it has been sold for preservation.

There is an article in the Shields Gazette newspaper showing the three winners of SNE's "Get your face on the back of a bus" competition. I assume their faces will be placed over the bigger holes on the side of the vehicles - where a face has not been applied yet.

(23 May 2015, 6:20 pm)AIG20 wrote There is an article in the Shields Gazette newspaper showing the three winners of SNE's "Get your face on the back of a bus" competition. I assume their faces will be placed over the bigger holes on the side of the vehicles - where a face has not been applied yet.

I was under the impression that the holes on the side of the buses were for general vision out of them as opposed to faces to be stuck there?

(23 May 2015, 7:03 pm)Robert wrote I was under the impression that the holes on the side of the buses were for general vision out of them as opposed to faces to be stuck there?

The 'holes' were from the competition stagecoach ran when the batch of 27725-27740 were rebranded and passengers faces were to be placed in. They have only just started to put photos in now so surprised they running competition again. Don't believe everything the gazette says.

(23 May 2015, 7:49 pm)ifm001 wrote The 'holes' were from the competition stagecoach ran when the batch of 27725-27740 were rebranded and passengers faces were to be placed in. They have only just started to put photos in now so surprised they running competition again. Don't believe everything the gazette says.

The holes on each side towards the backs of the bus are still empty. Only the ones on the back windows were added.

(23 May 2015, 7:49 pm)ifm001 wrote The 'holes' were from the competition stagecoach ran when the batch of 27725-27740 were rebranded and passengers faces were to be placed in. They have only just started to put photos in now so surprised they running competition again. Don't believe everything the gazette says.

I was on about the ones on the side of the vehicle rather than the ones at the back.

SC tweeting about delays at Seaburn. The traffic light timings need sorting there its stupid.

I also wish drivers would keep roundabouts clear!

Stagecoach NEast @StagecoachNE · 2m 2 minutes ago
Sun Ops: Major delays on some services throughout the City due to passenger demand. Sorry for the inconvenience.

When will they learn?

(25 May 2015, 8:19 pm)markydh wrote When will they learn?

Most of the Sunderland services run every 20 minutes on a Sunday.. only the 23 runs half hourly and the 5A hourly...

So its not all bad for the areas they serve.

(25 May 2015, 8:28 pm)Michael wrote Most of the Sunderland services run every 20 minutes on a Sunday.. only the 23 runs half hourly and the 5A hourly...

So its not all bad for the areas they serve.

Service 12 doesn't operate on Sundays, though, and this will inevitably put more strain on service 13 (City Centre - Sainsbury's).

Of course, anyone on Vicarage Farm Est relies on Go North East's service 2, unless they fancy a canny walk to catch the 13.

(25 May 2015, 8:32 pm)Dan wrote Service 12 doesn't operate on Sundays, though, and this will inevitably put more strain on service 13 (City Centre - Sainsbury's).

Of course, anyone on Vicarage Farm Est relies on Go North East's service 2, unless they fancy a canny walk to catch the 13.

That's true, not sure how SC would work around that one.

(25 May 2015, 8:59 pm)Michael wrote That's true, not sure how SC would work around that one.

I think it's something all operators need to start considering. It was like a normal Saturday today, in all but bus frequency.

(23 May 2015, 7:03 pm)Robert wrote I was under the impression that the holes on the side of the buses were for general vision out of them as opposed to faces to be stuck there?

Yes, shame the Invisible Man didn't win the competition!

Bit of info from a Stockton driver last night that 22733 has been withdrawn following a failure and replaced by 22466

(29 May 2015, 10:52 am)tyresmoke wrote Bit of info from a Stockton driver last night that 22733 has been withdrawn following a failure and replaced by 22466

Newport Bridge 2 weeks ago, bits everywhere looked like the engine went bang!

(29 May 2015, 11:29 am)Smarty93 wrote Newport Bridge 2 weeks ago, bits everywhere looked like the engine went bang!

Driveshaft apparently!