(15 Mar 2016, 2:07 pm)kieronmathews32 wrote Was thinking about going to this tomorrow but not sure how to get to Darlington from Newcastle apart from the train

21/X12/X21 from Newcastle to Durham then 7 to Darlington.

(15 Mar 2016, 2:19 pm)Jimmi wrote 21/X12/X21 from Newcastle to Durham then 7 to Darlington.

Or X9/10 to Middleborough then X66/7.

(15 Mar 2016, 4:17 pm)DanPicken wrote Or X9/10 to Middleborough then X66/7.

If you got the X10 it would be quicker to jump off at Stockton.

(15 Mar 2016, 12:20 pm)BusLoverMum wrote 1598 is back in service. Minus the horrible grating sound.

I had a ride on it on Monday. Vile bus...

(15 Mar 2016, 2:07 pm)kieronmathews32 wrote Was thinking about going to this tomorrow but not sure how to get to Darlington from Newcastle apart from the train

X21/21/X12 and 7

I might be mis-remembering but wasn't there some mention of the X10/X11's Geminis getting next stop announcements? I'm sure it was mentioned in a Service Update on the Arriva website and just wondered if there had been any update on this.

(15 Mar 2016, 7:25 pm)X8X9X10 wrote I might be mis-remembering but wasn't there some mention of the X10/X11's Geminis getting next stop announcements? I'm sure it was mentioned in a Service Update on the Arriva website and just wondered if there had been any update on this.

No updates

(15 Mar 2016, 5:03 pm)Davie wrote I had a ride on it on Monday. Vile bus...

It's not the best of the batch.

Sounds like Chewbacca.

(15 Mar 2016, 8:15 pm)BusLoverMum wrote It's not the best of the batch.

Sounds like Chewbacca.

It did seem to struggle and made sounded appalling.

(15 Mar 2016, 8:18 pm)Davie wrote It did seem to struggle and made sounded appalling.

Before you saw it disappearing off into the wilds of up North, it sounded like something was catching badly when it was cruising eg down silent bank. Compared with that, it sounded rather sweet, today. 1599 grates a little, sometimes, but it seems to be when a particular, rather lead footed, driver is on.

(15 Mar 2016, 1:06 pm)tyresmoke wrote 1906 was in Stockton's yard this morning but disappeared unsure where to...

Still in our yard this afternoon amongst the scrap Cadets. Notices on it not to take parts off it.

Intresting how 1498 has this under the side destination, I have noticed that it seems to be the regular bus on Moorsbus during the summer.

(15 Mar 2016, 9:03 pm)tyresmoke wrote Still in our yard this afternoon amongst the scrap Cadets. Notices on it not to take parts off it.

1906 back at Stockton to replace 1410 to Durham. 1102/4/5 all back from (officially) Reserve.

Was gonna go to Darlington this morning to see the new MAX service but slept in and share the car in my house which wasn't returned until after 1pm so i drove to Barnard Castle to catch it, not exactly new buses as Arriva said in their post about it, rather an 05 plate Scania Omnicity fleet number 4658

More photos

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrchanbong/

That's just what I said in an earlier post when the details for the X75/6 were published. This ran with the fact that there were going to be "new" buses used on this route when in fact all we get is older fleet 'dressed up' for the occassion. Wouldn't have been so bad if they'd 1406 but a Scania !

Today was indeed the MAX X75/X76 launch, as well as sitting in Darlington and Barnard Castle trying to attract some interest from passers by with goodie bags, Arriva also offered people the chance to sample the MAX X75/X76 buses with a free journey between Darlington Town Centre and Barnard Castle and a return journey to Darlington, 4658 seen departing Darlington Town Centre for Barnard Castle on it's free trip: https://flic.kr/p/FjKFuS

4652 and 4654 have also been branded and were out on the X75/X76 today, along with spare MAX Pulsar 1416.
1416: https://flic.kr/p/FdF1Xk
4652: https://flic.kr/p/Epk7iL
4654: https://flic.kr/p/EUtQNb

They didn't have a Frequenta Solo there then ? Just to show any potential passengers what things can be like on the X75/76. Indeed other "Max" services.

(16 Mar 2016, 4:13 pm)scania driver wrote They didn't have a Frequenta Solo there then ? Just to show any potential passengers what things can be like on the X75/76. Indeed other "Max" services.

One of the X18 branded E400s has something wrong with it, there's an Alpha recovery truck beside one right now.

I see Darlington are to lose one of their Sapphire 7 Double Deckers (Temporarily) to Jesmond for use on the Metro Replacement Service 900. I understand this is likely to be 7534.

(17 Mar 2016, 7:49 am)Peppermint Pete wrote I see Darlington are to lose one of their Sapphire 7 Double Deckers (Temporarily) to Jesmond for use on the Metro Replacement Service 900. I understand this is likely to be 7534.[emoji14]

Matthew dislikes this! [emoji34]

If this is indeed the case, I wonder what we would get in return, knowing Arriva with Darlington depot - nothing! So no doubt we'll see frequent appearances of standard liveried Pulsars and Frequenta Solo's. [emoji34]

How long are the works on for?

(17 Mar 2016, 7:58 am)Jimmi wrote Matthew dislikes this! [emoji34]

If this is indeed the case, I wonder what we would get in return, knowing Arriva with Darlington depot - nothing! So no doubt we'll see frequent appearances of standard liveried Pulsars and Frequenta Solo's. [emoji34]

Correct a replacement vehicle will not be provided for 7534 as it is apparently an "Engineering Spare" according to information received, so will be borrowed for the duration of the Metro Replacement Service however long that lasts for.

2 weeks from this Saturday. Stockpiling a fleet of deckers from various depots it would seem, probably to free up some of the Volvo Geminis.

(17 Mar 2016, 7:49 am)Peppermint Pete wrote I see Darlington are to lose one of their Sapphire 7 Double Deckers (Temporarily) to Jesmond for use on the Metro Replacement Service 900. I understand this is likely to be 7534.

It's gone today it's on it's way up took off the 10:37 service 7 replaced by 1498

(17 Mar 2016, 7:58 am)Jimmi wrote Matthew dislikes this! [emoji34]

If this is indeed the case, I wonder what we would get in return, knowing Arriva with Darlington depot - nothing! So no doubt we'll see frequent appearances of standard liveried Pulsars and Frequenta Solo's. [emoji34]

How long are the works on for?

Couldn't Darlington send 1498 or another pulsar to Durham and in return send 1479 or 1517 both sapphire spare at least then it's the same sort of vehicle with next stop announcements, wifi and plug sockets

The logic behind removing a Sapphire branded vehicle (7534) from a supposedly dedicated "Sapphire" service beats me.

(17 Mar 2016, 3:37 pm)scania driver wrote The logic behind removing a Sapphire branded vehicle (7534) from a supposedly dedicated "Sapphire" service beats me.

Apart from the logic dictated by Darlington not having any other double deckers whatsoever.

(17 Mar 2016, 9:19 am)tyresmoke wrote 2 weeks from this Saturday. Stockpiling a fleet of deckers from various depots it would seem, probably to free up some of the Volvo Geminis.

What branded buses will be provided?

(17 Mar 2016, 3:37 pm)scania driver wrote The logic behind removing a Sapphire branded vehicle (7534) from a supposedly dedicated "Sapphire" service beats me.

Just like most of the drivers that are now on Sapphire rota, when it first started it was specially hand picked drivers on the route, now you have more new starters on the sapphire rota than original sapphire drivers, it's now more of if your face fits rota

(17 Mar 2016, 4:20 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote Just like most of the drivers that are now on Sapphire rota, when it first started it was specially hand picked drivers on the route, now you have more new starters on the sapphire rota than original sapphire drivers, it's now more of if your face fits rota

I noticed that, most of the original Sapphire drivers seemed to have disappeared and a few seem to be on services.

Belmont's Sapphire driver team seems to be ANY driver.