(14 Jan 2017, 12:11 pm)Cobalt271 wrote Northumbria Police have acquired one of the old Lowlanders. Not sure which one it is yet, it's to be used for Firearms Training.

Driving it through Wallsend, then? (jk)

7522-8 should all have these viynls on the rear now, and despite the graphics company being called out to Ashington, 4659 still hasn't got X20 viynls...despite some other member saying it would...

(15 Jan 2017, 11:14 am)omnicity4659 wrote 7522-8 should all have these viynls on the rear now, and despite the graphics company being called out to Ashington, 4659 still hasn't got X20 viynls...despite some other member saying it would...

4653 and 4659 are being evaluated and a decision will be made to see if these  buses should stay at ashington or be moved elsewhere

(15 Jan 2017, 11:48 am)Buses98 wrote 4653 and 4659 are being evaluated and a decision will be made to see if these  buses should stay at ashington or be moved elsewhere

Source of information?

Cobalt271
Source of information?

I will find the disc which I recorded on the depot staff saying it in his own words

(15 Jan 2017, 1:44 pm)Buses98 wrote Cobalt271
Source of information?

I will find the disc which I recorded on the depot staff saying it in his own words

Bit weird recording people saying stuff without them knowing!

(15 Jan 2017, 1:45 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Bit weird recording people saying stuff without them knowing!  

I asked him if it was ok and he said yes. and don't know who would record someone without consent

(15 Jan 2017, 1:50 pm)Buses98 wrote I asked him if it was ok and he said yes. and don't know who would record someone without consent

What did he say then?? Link this recording that you said you would.....

(15 Jan 2017, 1:52 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote What did he say then??  Link this recording that you said you would.....

My thoughts would be there is no recording

(15 Jan 2017, 1:52 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote What did he say then??  Link this recording that you said you would.....

he said that ashington depot is evaluating the two omnicities to see if they are suitable to be used on services at ashington. he didn't say how long they will evaluate the buses for

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can somebody please tell me is 7416 only at ashington on loan?

(15 Jan 2017, 3:29 pm)Tom wrote My thoughts would be there is no recording

Exactly what I'm thinking too.

Bit weird to be evaluating vehicles for Ashington services when they've been there for 2 and a half years.

Personally, I think that the lack of branding changes to 4659 backs up that 4653/9 will be leaving Ashington this year, to join up with the rest of the batch somewhere south of the Tyne.

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(15 Jan 2017, 11:14 am)omnicity4659 wrote 7522-8 should all have these viynls on the rear now, and despite the graphics company being called out to Ashington, 4659 still hasn't got X20 viynls...despite some other member saying it would...

No application to 7501-9?

(15 Jan 2017, 6:17 pm)mb134 wrote Bit weird to be evaluating vehicles for Ashington services when they've been there for 2 and a half years.

Personally, I think that the lack of branding changes to 4659 backs up that 4653/9 will be leaving Ashington this year, to join up with the rest of the batch somewhere south of the Tyne.

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No application to 7501-9?

Wouldn't be surprised to see those ones replaced at some point in the near future!

(15 Jan 2017, 6:22 pm)tyresmoke wrote Wouldn't be surprised to see those ones replaced at some point in the near future!

what would replace them though?

(15 Jan 2017, 6:22 pm)tyresmoke wrote Wouldn't be surprised to see those ones replaced at some point in the near future!

Tyresmoke, is it the same as else where buses get replaced after they've spent 4 years here, if so 7501-9 will be replaced as it's been 4 years since they got them

7501-9 haven't received rear branding due to the shape of the rear upstairs window, as the vinyls only fit in the windows of 7522-8.

As for 4653/9, I have a feeling that they haven't received branding because they're moving in the near future. I haven't asked about them, so I do not know for certain, but I'm not going to spout out bulls**t about this topic.

As for 7416, I believe this is a long-term loan. However, as the changes on the 22nd displaces a vehicle from the 35, something is going to leave the Ashington fleet, whether this is 7416, I do not know.

(16 Jan 2017, 9:36 am)Stuartphin1639 wrote Tyresmoke, is it the same as else where buses get replaced after they've spent 4 years here, if so 7501-9 will be replaced as it's been 4 years since they got them

Some others of roughly the same age are being replaced in Wales on Sapphire service 1. I wouldn't bet against 7501-9 being shifted off the X21/X22 soon either.

(16 Jan 2017, 11:46 am)tyresmoke wrote Some others of roughly the same age are being replaced in Wales on Sapphire service 1. I wouldn't bet against 7501-9 being shifted off the X21/X22 soon either.

there has been a lot of complaints said about 7501-9 batch of buses for quite a while but I think the way Arriva will see these buses as if they can be used in service then they will say that way

(16 Jan 2017, 8:21 am)Buses98 wrote what would replace them though?

If they are to be replaced, they'll be replaced by brand new vehicles. Can't imagine Arriva would replace them with anything else, and potentially face the issues that 7501-9 gave them.

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(16 Jan 2017, 11:55 am)Buses98 wrote there has been a lot of complaints said about 7501-9 batch of buses for quite a while but I think the way Arriva will see these buses as if they can be used in service then they will say that way

They can be used in service, yes, however using them on the X21/22 is doing them no good at all. There are plenty of services within the North East that they are well suited for, just not the X21/22.

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(16 Jan 2017, 10:47 am)omnicity4659 wrote As for 7416, I believe this is a long-term loan. However, as the changes on the 22nd displaces a vehicle from the 35, something is going to leave the Ashington fleet, whether this is 7416, I do not know.

Probably more likely to be 7472 than 7416?

(16 Jan 2017, 12:44 pm)mb134 wrote If they are to be replaced, they'll be replaced by brand new vehicles. Can't imagine Arriva would replace them with anything else, and potentially face the issues that 7501-9 gave them.

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They can be used in service, yes, however using them on the X21/22 is doing them no good at all. There are plenty of services within the North East that they are well suited for, just not the X21/22.

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Probably more likely to be 7472 than 7416?

7416 is more likely to move elsewhere because 7472 is likely to stay at ashington or be withdrawn

(16 Jan 2017, 1:25 pm)Buses98 wrote 7416 is more likely to move elsewhere because 7472 is likely to stay at ashington or be withdrawn

Why is 7472 more likely to stay at Ashington? Also, if it's withdrawn, then why would 7416 be more likely to move elsewhere?

(16 Jan 2017, 6:07 pm)mb134 wrote Why is 7472 more likely to stay at Ashington? Also, if it's withdrawn, then why would 7416 be more likely to move elsewhere?

i didn't say both will happen. I meant to say if 7416 stays at ashington then 7472 with be withdrawn as one of the mechanics said it is almost unfit for service. but if 7416 goes then they may have to make an exception to stay in service as ashington depot will be a bus short

(16 Jan 2017, 12:44 pm)mb134 wrote If they are to be replaced, they'll be replaced by brand new vehicles. Can't imagine Arriva would replace them with anything else, and potentially face the issues that 7501-9 gave them.

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If they replace them, I think the most logical solution would be to replace 7534-40 at Darlington / Belmont with new Enviro 400 MMC's then  use 7534-40 plus 7518 to replace 7501-09, therefore keeping all  vehicles the same type.

2x best performers of 7501-09 get kept back as spares with the rest being dispersed nationally to other Arriva divisions with double deck Sapphire services.

(17 Jan 2017, 7:55 pm)L469 YVK wrote If they replace them, I think the most logical solution would be to replace 7534-40 at Darlington / Belmont with new Enviro 400 MMC's then  use 7534-40 plus 7518 to replace 7501-09, therefore keeping all  vehicles the same type.

2x best performers of 7501-09 get kept back as spares with the rest being dispersed nationally to other Arriva divisions with double deck Sapphire services.

That would leave 2 vehicles that aren't famed for their reliability being relied upon as spares? 

The whole point of getting 7501-9 away from the X21/22 would be to improve reliability. To maximise the probability of this, you'd give it a new allocation of vehicles, in addition to 7522-8.

(17 Jan 2017, 8:16 pm)mb134 wrote That would leave 2 vehicles that aren't famed for their reliability being relied upon as spares? 

The whole point of getting 7501-9 away from the X21/22 would be to improve reliability. To maximise the probability of this, you'd give it a new allocation of vehicles, in addition to 7522-8.

But a new allocation would totally cock the image of the service with a mix of classic Enviro 400s and MMCs. Mixed fleet allocations don't look good on premium services and that applies to any operator.

What if another suitable vehicle type could be brought in as a spare?

(17 Jan 2017, 8:53 pm)L469 YVK wrote But a new allocation would totally cock the image of the service with a mix of classic Enviro 400s and MMCs. Mixed fleet allocations don't look good on premium services and that applies to any operator.

What if another suitable vehicle type could be brought in as a spare?

I'd argue that there isn't a great deal of difference between the E400 and E400 MMC cosmetically, at least the average passenger will barely notice. Let's not forget that the batches currently on there are hardly identical either.

What would you propose as a suitable spare?

(17 Jan 2017, 9:08 pm)mb134 wrote I'd argue that there isn't a great deal of difference between the E400 and E400 MMC cosmetically, at least the average passenger will barely notice. Let's not forget that the batches currently on there are hardly identical either.

What would you propose as a suitable spare?

You can still buy the E400, you dont "have to" go for the MMC variation.

(17 Jan 2017, 9:13 pm)RobinHood wrote You can still buy the E400, you dont "have to" go for the MMC variation.

Can you????

Not just dealer stock surely??

Personally, I dont really see the problem with a mixed allocation on a Sapphire route. It already occurs on routes including the 6, 7 and 24 and thats a bigger difference with Pulsar and E400 compared to E400 and E400 MMC which is possible at Ashington. As long as the vehicles all have the same spec then the majority of passengers wont notice the difference. Either way though those 57 reg E400 need replacing soon.

I see that Yorkshire are getting 37 new E400s over the next few months, replacing their 24 Spectra's and 13 Optare Tempos. The Tempo's were rumoured to be heading north last year, and the same seems to have surfaced this time. I'll leave you all to speculate on where they could go. There's 13 but could be getting split between NE & Tiger....