does anyone know if any of blyths geminis have been sent away for refubishments for the x4 /x5 yet?

(06 Jul 2015, 2:51 pm)buss14 wrote does anyone know if any of blyths geminis have been sent away for refubishments for the x4 /x5 yet?

Not that I have heard off..............But is there any point in refurbishing more DB300 Geminis? the best route for them is the TT1 ( Tow Truck ) Non stop to Alphas!

(06 Jul 2015, 3:31 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Not that I have heard off..............But is there any point in refurbishing more DB300 Geminis? the best route for them is the TT1 ( Tow Truck ) Non stop to Alphas!

Given their age, I'd assume they still have quite a long time left in the fleet!

(06 Jul 2015, 3:34 pm)Dan wrote Given their age, I'd assume they still have quite a long time left in the fleet!

Unfortunately!

(06 Jul 2015, 3:34 pm)Dan wrote Given their age, I'd assume they still have quite a long time left in the fleet!

Going to be a struggle to get 15 years out of them I suspect...

(06 Jul 2015, 4:20 pm)tyresmoke wrote Going to be a struggle to get 15 years out of them I suspect...

How many have had engine trouble, seems to be one constantly away for repair?

noticed this on Arriva facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/arrivanortheast...=1&theater

"Frequenta.........COMING SOON!"



perhaps darlington town brand?

(06 Jul 2015, 4:35 pm)cbma06 wrote noticed this on Arriva facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/arrivanortheast...=1&theater

"Frequenta.........COMING SOON!"



perhaps darlington town brand?

Frequenta? Sounds like something more for Arriva's Malta operations!

(06 Jul 2015, 4:35 pm)cbma06 wrote noticed this on Arriva facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/arrivanortheast...=1&theater

"Frequenta.........COMING SOON!"



perhaps darlington town brand?

it is and, as stated on Saturday, Solo 2843 has been branded but was taken off service 4 during the day.

(06 Jul 2015, 4:35 pm)cbma06 wrote noticed this on Arriva facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/arrivanortheast...=1&theater

"Frequenta.........COMING SOON!"

perhaps darlington town brand?

Think so.

Sure it was said this was the new brand for Darlington Town Services when one of the now branded Solos escaped into service on Saturday.

Be on the look out for branded Solos (and EcoCitys?) in Darlington and report their whereabouts so I can get a photo.

Well now Arriva have launched it I suppose I can tell you all a bit more about it 

Frequenta will be our new high frequency brand, to be launched initially in Darlington but will eventually be used at other depots around the North East. Services to be branded in Darlington are 2, 3/3a/3b, 4, 9/10, 13a/13b

You'll have noticed that all of the Solo's have been recently gaining repaints minus the cowhorn - all of these will be used for the new brand, along with the Ecocity gas vehicles have been losing their logos, they will be gaining branding for Frequenta service 2

2843 is the first to gain the brand, shown below (used on services 3/3a/3b today). 
It is generically branded for all routes, though I understand all of the branded buses will have the spider map on the rear, regardless of branded route. Route specific branding will be across the top of windows, using the colours shown on the spider map, though the cowhorn (in the same swoop-style as Sapphire) will remain in sandstone, whereas I think it would be better if it was to be in route colour.


Arriva North East 2843 YJ58CAE by Scott Cooper, on Flickr


Arriva North East 2843 YJ58CAE by Scott Cooper, on Flickr

Once rolled out at Darlington, the next routes to be included are Stockton's 7 and 15, along with Redcar's 63.

Wonder if they will continue to allocate EcoCitys on other services on Sundays?

Also wonder if Solos will continue to operate the 8/8A if all the Solos get Frequenta branding.

(06 Jul 2015, 5:35 pm)Jimmi wrote Wonder if they will continue to allocate EcoCitys on other services on Sundays?

Also wonder if Solos will continue to operate the 8/8A if all the Solos get Frequenta branding.

Where are we at with the repaints?
Frequenta gen - 2843
Frequenta base - 2830, 2832, 2833, 2835, 2849, 2866
Arriva minus cowhorn - 2854, 2855

Frequenta looks smart, but I can't get away with the grille being painted turquoise. I'm glad they've gone with generic branding too, given the challenges that some depots seem to face keeping the correct bus on the correct route.

(06 Jul 2015, 5:54 pm)aureolin wrote Frequenta looks smart, but I can't get away with the grille being painted turquoise. I'm glad they've gone with generic branding too, given the challenges that some depots seem to face keeping the correct bus on the correct route.

There will still be route-specific branded Solos - I'm not sure which ones will be where yet - 2852-61 are meant to be heading for the 13a/13b but other than that, I'm not sure?

(06 Jul 2015, 5:58 pm)tyresmoke wrote There will still be route-specific branded Solos - I'm not sure which ones will be where yet - 2852-61 are meant to be heading for the 13a/13b but other than that, I'm not sure?

That's a shame! I thought they'd have been done similar to the 'Simply Washington' sub-branding that GNE used to apply to the Washington based MPDs, running over several 'town services'

I'd imagine 4801-4808 would be branded for the 2.

I imagine 4809-4811 will remain unbranded as these have not lost any vinyls and the 12/12A looks to not be part of the Frequenta brand and at least doing this should decrease the changes of Frequenta branded buses working the 21/X21 and 4811 is usually allocated to the 21/X21 as it has WiFi.

Ahhh, this would be the brand the 63 will gain. I've noticed less pulsars recently, either on other routes or starting to get painted?

(06 Jul 2015, 6:25 pm)Sparkle wrote Ahhh, this would be the brand the 63 will gain. I've noticed less pulsars recently, either on other routes or starting to get painted?

Probably down to them being mis-allocated on 81s or even having a day out to Scarborough 

(06 Jul 2015, 6:32 pm)tyresmoke wrote Probably down to them being mis-allocated on 81s or even having a day out to Scarborough 

Yep - was two on X93s on Saturday.

Suppose it's better than a Temsa in terms of comfort - wouldn't mind having a ride of one to see what they perform like!

(06 Jul 2015, 6:37 pm)Dan wrote Yep - was two on X93s on Saturday.

Suppose it's better than a Temsa in terms of comfort - wouldn't mind having a ride of one to see what they perform like!

Tesma's aren't too bad on the X93 in terms of performance (probably not as good as the B9TLs). The seats don't perform well in terms of comfort and I say this speaking as someone who had one for the full route on one journey last year [emoji30]

I'd quite like to see how Pulsars perform on the X93.

(06 Jul 2015, 6:42 pm)Jimmi wrote Tesma's aren't too bad on the X93 in terms of performance (probably not as good as the B9TLs). The seats don't perform well in terms of comfort and I say this speaking as someone who had one for the full route on one journey last year [emoji30]

I'd quite like to see how Pulsars perform on the X93.

Imagine a Prestige on the X93... I can't see that working very well...

(06 Jul 2015, 6:44 pm)Davie wrote Imagine a Prestige on the X93... I can't see that working very well...

Thankfully that can't happen anymore.

(06 Jul 2015, 6:47 pm)Jimmi wrote Thankfully that can't happen anymore.

Although I liked Go North East's prestiges, I can't imagine that journey being very fun...!

(06 Jul 2015, 6:47 pm)Jimmi wrote Thankfully that can't happen anymore.

But we can still have an ALX200 on the X93 though.

(06 Jul 2015, 6:51 pm)danpick wrote But we can still have an ALX200 on the X93 though.

Now that's what you call torture!

(06 Jul 2015, 6:51 pm)danpick wrote But we can still have an ALX200 on the X93 though.

What a frightening prospect!

(06 Jul 2015, 6:54 pm)Sparkle wrote What a frightening prospect!

I wish I'd have known 4511 would have a day on the X93, bet that was a breeze!

(06 Jul 2015, 6:44 pm)Davie wrote Imagine a Prestige on the X93... I can't see that working very well...

It has happened before..............Bet only a few people knew this, But there was a service years ago operated by Redcar which went to Leeds stopping at York on the way.
operated by DAF SB220s

(06 Jul 2015, 6:57 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote It has happened before..............Bet only a few people knew this, But there was a service years ago operated by Redcar which went to Leeds stopping at York on the way.
operated by DAF SB220s

They were on the X93 every day years ago... amazing variety we've seen since then though - E400, VDL Gemini, B7TL, B9TL