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One to start us off this month is 4511 has been withdrawn at Redcar following (relatively minor!) accident damage and replaced by 4501 from reserve (awaiting disposal at Stockton). 4509 appears to be withdrawn now at Stockton also.

Your taking the mick with the 5/5A now!

(30 Jul 2015, 2:28 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Well the 22/24 interworking clearly isn't failsafe. 22 just left Durham 15 minutes late. We'd have been standing around even longer ha the rookie driver on the x12 not missed the bus station and diverted us over the bridge and back.

It's only giving 15 minutes layover but that eliminates most of the delays.

X66 is experiencing delays. No doubt due to Stockton Riverside Festival and there was some issue just outside Great Burden which has affected my journey.

As discussed in the Ashington redevelopments thread, the stand changes in Ashington bus station are as follows;

Valid SUNDAY 2ND AUGUST BETWEEN 0800 AND 1300
1 to Cresswell and Blyth: Outside the Carpet Shop opposite Asda
X21 to Newbiggin: Outside the Carpet Shop opposite Asda
X21/X22 to Newcastle: Outside the Carpet Shop opposite Asda
35 to Newbiggin: Outside the Carpet Shop opposite Asda
35 to Morpeth: Outside Sports Direct as before

(01 Aug 2015, 11:41 am)Jimmi wrote Your taking the mick with the 5/5A now!

I just love how you think delays of under ten minutes is catastrophic... A lot of people have it so much worse, haha.

(01 Aug 2015, 1:33 pm)Dan wrote I just love how you think delays of under ten minutes is catastrophic... A lot of people have it so much worse, haha.

The thing is this is becoming far too common and it should not be happening, you'd be confused into this route is like the 685, X12 or X93 some days the timetable is so poor, even the 21/X21 can stick close to its timetable and is a far more demanding route than the 5/5A which mostly runs round council estates.

Hope I can reply in the same way next time you are complaining that your Metro is late [emoji14]

(01 Aug 2015, 1:38 pm)Jimmi wrote The thing is this is becoming far too common and it should not be happening, you'd be confused into this route is like the 685, X12 or X93 some days the timetable is so poor, even the 21/X21 can stick close to its timetable and is a far more demanding route than the 5/5A which mostly runs round council estates.

Hope I can reply in the same way next time you are complaining that your Metro is late [emoji14]

Haha - well I only tend to moan about the Metro now when it's over 12 minutes late!

Appreciate it's probably more irritating for you as you're the one who has to take into consideration the delays on services 5/5A prior to travelling, though.

(01 Aug 2015, 1:42 pm)Dan wrote Haha - well I only tend to moan about the Metro now when it's over 12 minutes late!

Appreciate it's probably more irritating for you as you're the one who has to take into consideration the delays on services 5/5A prior to travelling, though.

I am one of the only members who even sees the service in question with most of the only other people who experience the service is Darlington drivers. A fair few use the Metro so discussion can be struck on here about reliability whereas I am basically talking to myself.

They actually made timetable "improvements" recently but all these changes achieved was it made the service run even later.

Additionally from the end of the month the service will be diverted to serve Hitachi in Aycliffe which will add an additional 3 minutes onto the timetable meaning it will now take around 40 minutes to get to Darlington! This is so long that it would be faster to get the 7 and walk the extra distance home, could even get the 7 from Darlington - Aycliffe and catch the 5 from there it will take that long.

So my journey takes longer than it really needs to be and the reliability makes using it even worse.

(29 Jul 2015, 7:11 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 7474 if I recall. These moves are down to take place at the weekend.

7474 does carry a rear advert but it isn't for the national trust. More pinkish.

1435 decided to go shopping today in Whitby, ending up in the front of Boyes' window. Will be off for a while getting repaired, things tend to come in threes so who's next?

(01 Aug 2015, 2:14 pm)S813 FVK wrote 7474 does carry a rear advert but it isn't for the national trust. More pinkish.

It is 7480 that has the Yorkshire one Tommy was on about.
7478 has now arrived at Ashington and was on the X20 today along with 7521.

(01 Aug 2015, 6:19 pm)Kuyoyo wrote It is 7480 that has the Yorkshire one Tommy was on about.
7478 has now arrived at Ashington and was on the X20 today along with 7521.

is 7521 due to move soon as well?

(01 Aug 2015, 5:50 pm)tyresmoke wrote 1435 decided to go shopping today in Whitby, ending up in the front of Boyes' window. Will be off for a while getting repaired, things tend to come in threes so who's next?

1435, 4511 and 4663?!

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(01 Aug 2015, 2:14 pm)S813 FVK wrote 7474 does carry a rear advert but it isn't for the national trust. More pinkish.

Appropriate for Mr K!

(01 Aug 2015, 6:23 pm)buss14 wrote is 7521 due to move soon as well?

Yes, once we get cover for it.

(04 Aug 2015, 1:11 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Yes, once we get cover for it.

well i could be wrong but maybe thats why the red ex london bus is at ashington

(04 Aug 2015, 2:00 pm)buss14 wrote well i could be wrong but maybe thats why the red ex london bus is at ashington

No, that's there for refurbishment at Thornton's, I assume. Can't have red Arriva buses with London blinds on the 35 now, can we? 

(04 Aug 2015, 2:18 pm)GX03 SVC wrote No, that's there for refurbishment at Thornton's, I assume. Can't have red Arriva buses with London blinds on the 35 now, can we? 

well if arriva ashington become really desperate then urgent measure will have to happen when the red DLP bus will probably have to go into service or arriva may find them selves slightly short of a bus

Looks like Solo 2503 has moved to Belmont depot.
Arriva North East: 2503 / YJ51 JWW by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

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Ex Arriva Yorkshire Volvo B7TL 659 was parked in Durham Bus Station today.
Arriva North East: 659 / W659 CWX by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

(04 Aug 2015, 3:54 pm)buss14 wrote well if arriva ashington become really desperate then urgent measure will have to happen when the red DLP bus will probably have to go into service or arriva may find them selves slightly short of a bus

It may not be fit, mechanically, for service though? 

Also, not 100% on this, but wouldn't drivers need type trained?

(04 Aug 2015, 3:55 pm)Jimmi wrote Looks like Solo 2503 has moved to Belmont depot.
Arriva North East: 2503 / YJ51 JWW by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

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Ex Arriva Yorkshire Volvo B7TL 659 was parked in Durham Bus Station today.
Arriva North East: 659 / W659 CWX by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

Yes, 2503 moved last week (apparently)

And about time one of them was spotted out and about.

(04 Aug 2015, 4:03 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Yes, 2503 moved last week (apparently)

And about time one of them was spotted out and about.

659 was sat here when I first arrived in Durham at 1030 and stayed here until about 2pm. Not sure where it went after that.

(04 Aug 2015, 3:54 pm)buss14 wrote well if arriva ashington become really desperate then urgent measure will have to happen when the red DLP bus will probably have to go into service or arriva may find them selves slightly short of a bus

They can't use it, it's not in their fleet. Ashington can easily loan a bus from Blyth or Jesmond if need be, even if it is a single decker.

(04 Aug 2015, 3:55 pm)Jimmi wrote Looks like Solo 2503 has moved to Belmont depot.
Arriva North East: 2503 / YJ51 JWW by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

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Ex Arriva Yorkshire Volvo B7TL 659 was parked in Durham Bus Station today.
Arriva North East: 659 / W659 CWX by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

I saw that when I was there earlier. Was so easy to get a photograph as well because of the way it was parked. If only I'd realised it was one of the recently transferred ALX400s I would have grabbed a photo.

(04 Aug 2015, 1:08 pm)Cock Robin wrote 1435, 4511 and 4663?!

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Appropriate for Mr K!

True I forgot about 4511. Replaced by 4501 at Redcar

News from today is that 1920 has returned to Stockton and sent to Redcar in its place is 1917, seen on 63s today

(04 Aug 2015, 7:02 pm)tyresmoke wrote True I forgot about 4511. Replaced by 4501 at Redcar

News from today is that 1920 has returned to Stockton and sent to Redcar in its place is 1917, seen on 63s today

Are Redcar short again?

(04 Aug 2015, 4:50 pm)GX03 SVC wrote They can't use it, it's not in their fleet. Ashington can easily loan a bus from Blyth or Jesmond if need be, even if it is a single decker.

Redcar used those Caetano Darts when they weren't " in their fleet".

(05 Aug 2015, 9:01 am)Mark P wrote Are Redcar short again?

Suppose they need something to cover for 1435. Always seem to be down to the bone, unlike Stockton who always seem to have a few lined up spare.

Can't help but think the 57 needs larger vehicles, I used the service twice today, having never used it beforehand, and both journeys were pretty full, no standees on either, but only one or two seats free.