(10 Dec 2016, 8:03 pm)Michael wrote Cool thanks Jimmi, was just wondering, i rarely use/see Arriva so i don't really know the passenger numbers on the services. 

I would imagine it's the same leaving Sunderland, passengers only go to Peterlee or a little bit further?

I would imagine majority of the traffic from Sunderland would be to the Peterlee area, maybe Wingate. There may be traditionally some travel from/to the Trimdon's too.

Thanks for the info, how well do the 22/23 routes do in Sunderland?

On facebook it has been said that one of jesmonds 306 streetlite has been involved in an accident

(10 Dec 2016, 8:17 pm)Jimmi wrote Some from Sunderland get off in Peterlee and some passengers continue through beyond Peterlee Bus Station. In my experiences, usually the furthest I see passengers travel to/from Sunderland is Fishburn, the only people I've seen go further than Fishburn to/from Sunderland are members of this forum.

I would like to point out these observations were from before the service changes commenced at the end of October which saw the full route become the X21 and the route was changed in Peterlee and diverted via Seaham. I have used the X21 to/from Sunderland once in each direction since the route was changed and sadly I feel that the decision to alter the route was a mistake as on my two journeys the numbers seemed to have gone down on the Peterlee - Sunderland stretch of the route, hopefully they may pick up but I ain't sure, especially with the changes GNE have introduced with the X6/X7 this week.

Speaking from experience I usually do the X21 at least 4 times a week that I do a full round trip on the X21, what with being friends with a driver and he's usually on that route, there's a few odd times that you take a handful of people from Darlington to Sunderland, not very often, the most popular bit of the route is between sedgefield and peterlee

By the looks of thing 4022 has been withdrawn and is due for scrap

(10 Dec 2016, 8:27 pm)Michael wrote Thanks for the info, how well do the 22/23 routes do in Sunderland?

Neither are consistently busy. The 22 does better for Dalton park passengers, but there's too much direct competition between there and Sunderland so doesn't attract many fare paying short hop passengers.

(12 Dec 2016, 10:21 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Neither are consistently busy. The 22 does better for Dalton park passengers, but there's too much direct competition between there and Sunderland so doesn't attract many fare paying short hop passengers.

Hmm not good, they must make some money because they would of been changed/cut by now, think the 22/24 have been half hourly for a while now.

(12 Dec 2016, 10:35 pm)Michael wrote Hmm not good, they must make some money because they would of been changed/cut by now, think the 22/24 have been half hourly for a while now.

Both are usually very busy either side of Peterlee and the 22 picks up a lot of college students. It's just that dp to Sunderland section that is often dead, apart from Sunday and bank holidays when it's almost always packed.

And talking of the 22 streetlites, 1596 is sounding rough, this week. Really grunty. It just stopped outside our house for a few minutes and the driver got out and walked around the back to look at something.

1458 has returned to Stockton in frequenta base colours

Anyone know what was going on with the coastliners last night,i waited an hour for a 306 last night in that time i saw 5 going towards Tynemouth but non going my way,308's were running in 2's even 3's,total nightmare

4664 is now MAX base and on 43. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/143632881@...582495531/

(17 Dec 2016, 12:16 pm)Pulsar wrote 4664 is now MAX base and on 43. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/143632881@...582495531/

What route is going on?

Seems like every route will be MAX,Sapphire or Frequenta.

(17 Dec 2016, 1:27 pm)Michael wrote What route is going on?

Seems like every route will be MAX,Sapphire or Frequenta.

not too sure really.
Thought it was staying at Jesmond as a spare but that seems strange as the only MAX route there is the X16 with a PVR of 2. Maybe it will also act as spare for cross pennine but as I say i don't really know.

(17 Dec 2016, 1:27 pm)Michael wrote What route is going on?

Seems like every route will be MAX,Sapphire or Frequenta.

Spare for the X16 and 685 I'd assume, then allocated elsewhere when it isn't needed on either of those two routes.

Thanks, i don't really follow Arriva as i don't use their services, maybe i should

(17 Dec 2016, 1:27 pm)Michael wrote What route is going on?

Seems like every route will be MAX,Sapphire or Frequenta.

More information here and here.

(17 Dec 2016, 3:16 pm)Dan wrote More information here and here.

Thanks, like i said, i don't take much notice of Arriva

thought I would warn everyone about a rumour that is going around on facebook and on several forums that arriv north east are going to upgrade all their routes to double deckers. don't know who started the rumour but I am trying to find out

(19 Dec 2016, 11:28 pm)Buses98 wrote thought I would warn everyone about a rumour that is going around on facebook and on several forums that arriv north east are going to upgrade all their routes to double deckers. don't know who started the rumour but I am trying to find out

Well if that's the case there'll be a lot of vehicles starting the day as a double decker and ending it as a single decker [FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY][FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY]

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

(19 Dec 2016, 11:28 pm)Buses98 wrote thought I would warn everyone about a rumour that is going around on facebook and on several forums that arriv north east are going to upgrade all their routes to double deckers. don't know who started the rumour but I am trying to find out

Wouldn't work in East Cleveland- a lot of old railway bridges!!

(19 Dec 2016, 11:46 pm)Mark P wrote Well if that's the case there'll be a lot of vehicles starting the day as a double decker and ending it as a single decker [FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY][FACE WITH TEARS OF JOY]

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

(19 Dec 2016, 11:28 pm)Buses98 wrote thought I would warn everyone about a rumour that is going around on facebook and on several forums that arriv north east are going to upgrade all their routes to double deckers. don't know who started the rumour but I am trying to find out

Sounds more like a misplaced April Fool.

(20 Dec 2016, 11:18 am)BusLoverMum wrote Sounds more like a misplaced April Fool.

I cannot see it happening at all but it is what people are saying on facebook but don't know if there is any truth in it

(20 Dec 2016, 1:24 pm)Buses98 wrote I cannot see it happening at all but it is what people are saying on facebook but don't know if there is any truth in it

There isn't, and never be, any truth in it. Take the various reasons given above, then throw in routes like the 472 which barely justify an MPD majority of the time...

I'd probably ignore these people on Facebook in the future if I were you, or at least take what they say with quite a large pinch of salt.

1484 at the Frequenta 15 launch today.

Included a snow globe and free mince pies!

(21 Dec 2016, 4:13 pm)Cock Robin wrote 1484 at the Frequenta 15 launch today.

Included a snow globe and free mince pies!

Nice touch of turquoise tinsel on the doors too

i was talking to a mechanic and he said that Y481 UGC is coming back into service and they are withdrawn W401 VGJ as it is apparently not healthy enough to do a variety of routes only the 35

(22 Dec 2016, 9:02 pm)Buses98 wrote i was talking to a mechanic and he said that Y481 UGC is coming back into service and they are withdrawn W401 VGJ as it is apparently not healthy enough to do a variety of routes only the 35

Shouldn't think they'll be getting rid of either if they're going 100% double deck!

1459 is the latest repaint into Frequenta base livery. One of the remaining pair of 'Director's Cut' branded example was heading down Portrack Lane towards the A19 about 8 this morning - possibly off for repaint (despite it being Christmas Week)

Arriva North East 1459 (NK10 CGO) by Tony Kuy, on Flickr

(23 Dec 2016, 11:50 am)Cock Robin wrote Shouldn't think they'll be getting rid of either if they're going 100% double deck!  

yeh I have decided to ignore that rumour as a lot of people have made good arguments about it but why switch another bus for the same type it is rediculous