(23 Dec 2015, 3:01 pm)Jimmi wrote Hmm... I wonder if this will be to release Omnicitys 4652/4654/4658 to MAX refurbishment for the X75/X76? Are any of the Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renown's DDA compliant?

Not to my knowledge - only the Alexander ALX300 bodied examples are.

(23 Dec 2015, 3:03 pm)Dan wrote Not to my knowledge - only the Alexander ALX300 bodied examples are.

[Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaLxFIVX1s]

I don't know what he meant by saying this but i assume it has something to do with DDA conversions:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showth...#pid142551

It is to release the Scanias for refurb. It's currently on X27's

Christmas bus 1472 seen today.

(23 Dec 2015, 4:40 pm)Cock Robin wrote Christmas bus 1472 seen today.

They were lavish with the decorations, weren't they?

Actually, the best ones I've seen are the The Eden And SB Travel buses around Bishop Auckland, which are tinsel central.

(23 Dec 2015, 5:03 pm)BusLoverMum wrote They were lavish with the decorations, weren't they?

Actually, the best ones I've seen are the The Eden And SB Travel buses around Bishop Auckland, which are tinsel central.

The Eden: OS7 YG02FVU Optare Solo by Alex  Garwood, on Flickr

(23 Dec 2015, 5:03 pm)BusLoverMum wrote They were lavish with the decorations, weren't they?

Actually, the best ones I've seen are the The Eden And SB Travel buses around Bishop Auckland, which are tinsel central.

The SB Travel Solos certainly are tinsel central.
SB Travel: MP53ZTW by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

Having had a trip on 1472 this morning on its first trip, here are some interior photos plus photos of Father Christmas himself and his chauffeur for the day.

(23 Dec 2015, 7:45 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Having had a trip on 1472 this morning on its first trip, here are some interior photos plus photos of Father Christmas himself and his chauffeur for the day.

Santa's looking a bit lanky. Must be that lean reindeer meat.

I've just had a thought. Due to Arriva having so many services falling under the MAX / Sapphire scope and some MAX services having nearly the same feaures as Sapphire, could Arriva not just do this for branding:

Group 1 (Services which only have free Wi-Fi and NSA's at most):
- Interurban livery or Eco Green if a Hybrid. If buses are dedicated to a route, then enhanced route branding with just the service number and outline of key destinations.

Group 2 (Services which have free Wi-Fi and High Back Seats at a minimum):
- MAX livery but not branded MAX, enhanced route branding with just the service number and outline of key destinations as well as some cheeky but not cheesy taglines like 'to the heart of Newcastle upto every 10 minutes'. Each vehicle has an outline of the applicable features via symbols as part of the livery and elsewhere (similar to what GNE have on the Red Kite and Coast & Country vehicles).

I'll use Blyth Depot as an example:

Group 1: 1, 2, 308
Group 2: X7, X8, X9, X10, X11

If anyone sees 4514 on Darlington services tomorrow (well, today now) let me know so I can get a photo, if I can be bothered.

(24 Dec 2015, 12:59 am)Jimmi wrote If anyone sees 4514 on Darlington services tomorrow (well, today now) let me know so I can get a photo, if I can be bothered.

Should be found on X75/6 will keep my eye out for you as I'm out Barney castle way tomorrow

(23 Dec 2015, 11:38 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote I've just had a thought. Due to Arriva having so many services falling under the MAX / Sapphire scope and some MAX services having nearly the same feaures as Sapphire, could Arriva not just do this for branding:

Group 1 (Services which only have free Wi-Fi and NSA's at most):
- Interurban livery or Eco Green if a Hybrid. If buses are dedicated to a route, then enhanced route branding with just the service number and outline of key destinations.

Group 2 (Services which have free Wi-Fi and High Back Seats at a minimum):
- MAX livery but not branded MAX, enhanced route branding with just the service number and outline of key destinations as well as some cheeky but not cheesy taglines like 'to the heart of Newcastle upto every 10 minutes'. Each vehicle has an outline of the applicable features via symbols as part of the livery and elsewhere (similar to what GNE have on the Red Kite and Coast & Country vehicles).

I'll use Blyth Depot as an example:

Group 1: 1, 2, 308
Group 2: X7, X8, X9, X10, X11

Why not just have a restyled corporate livery for these upgraded services, if the bus has WiFi and leather seating at a minimum...

Any of Darlington's Sapphire vehicles got a MAX-spec seat base? 4656 seems to have a Sapphire trim one

How can Arriva get these next stop announcements so wrong!


Should be Tubwell Row not road and of course, no announcement.

7505 appears to have received a new front destination, looks noticeably brighter than the rest of the batch, and it's own rear destination for that matter.

7412 is on the 35, was passing through Ashington towards Newbiggin about 5 minutes ago.

(24 Dec 2015, 12:59 pm)mb134 wrote 7412 is on the 35, was passing through Ashington towards Newbiggin about 5 minutes ago.

i passed it too near pegswood and it looks and sound brilliant

(24 Dec 2015, 12:59 pm)mb134 wrote 7412 is on the 35, was passing through Ashington towards Newbiggin about 5 minutes ago.

1338 ex Ashington to Morpeth.

Thanks mb134 for the heads-up!

7413 (LJ03 MHU) entered service today, Christmas Eve, on service 35. It looked very smart when I saw it about 20 minutes ago.


Arriva Northumbria: 7412 | LJ03 MHU by Thomas Simms, on Flickr

(24 Dec 2015, 12:03 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Any of Darlington's Sapphire vehicles got a MAX-spec seat base? 4656 seems to have a Sapphire trim one

Its better than no seat. There would be a stash of seat bases in certain colours, but it looks like Darlington only had e-leather Sapphire seat bases.

(24 Dec 2015, 2:03 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Thanks mb134 for the heads-up!

7413 (LJ03 MHU) entered service today, Christmas Eve, on service 35. It looked very smart when I saw it about 20 minutes ago.


Arriva Northumbria: 7412 | LJ03 MHU by Thomas Simms, on Flickr

Good shot!

Judging by how dirty the wheels are, it looks like it may have been out previously? Or there are some pretty dirty roads between Morpeth and Newbiggin.

(24 Dec 2015, 2:27 pm)mb134 wrote Good shot!

Judging by how dirty the wheels are, it looks like it may have been out previously? Or there are some pretty dirty roads between Morpeth and Newbiggin.

Grit and muddy puddles everywhere. All buses get like that in winter.

4514 in service at Darlington on the X75/X76 today.
Arriva North East: 4514 / V514DFT by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

(24 Dec 2015, 2:33 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Grit and muddy puddles everywhere. All buses get like that in winter.

Just wouldn't expect it to get that bad,that quickly!

Edit: Think the shading on your picture makes the wheels look darker, just drove past it again and they look as I'd expect them to

Regarding Darlington and the B10BLE(s).

The Throntons-refurbished Wright-bodied examples are allegedly DDA compliant.
4652 departed for refurbishment this morning. In addition to the 3 Omnicitys, 1406 is also to be treated as an additional spare for the depot's MAX routes.
(Information all thanks to Neil Wise)

(24 Dec 2015, 12:20 pm)Jimmi wrote How can Arriva get these next stop announcements so wrong!


Should be Tubwell Row not road and of course, no announcement.

Heck, it's not even like it's some little heard of village with 3 houses and a closed down post office or "hostpital"

(24 Dec 2015, 12:20 pm)Jimmi wrote How can Arriva get these next stop announcements so wrong!


Should be Tubwell Row not road and of course, no announcement.

It's been like that since the 7 was upgraded. I'd expect it to be changed once the new-style is refined.