(10 Apr 2017, 7:46 am)jimmoc wrote I know this may even stupid thing to ask cause think I already the know the answer but whitby park and ride will it be same buses as last year

They currently have one branded gemini for park and ride duties.  This has been on other duties because the park and ride doesn't open till next weekend.  There's also a white solo being used but quite often there's pulsars and temsas on this.

(10 Apr 2017, 7:51 am)Tees lee wrote They currently have one branded gemini for park and ride duties.  This has been on other duties because the park and ride doesn't open till next weekend.  There's also a white solo being used but quite often there's pulsars and temsas on this.

Ah park and ride started today

(10 Apr 2017, 7:51 am)Tees lee wrote They currently have one branded gemini for park and ride duties.  This has been on other duties because the park and ride doesn't open till next weekend.  There's also a white solo being used but quite often there's pulsars and temsas on this.

They have a branded Solo as well.

Something I've noticed on the Arriva Live Map recently is the MAX routes sometimes not showing in blue and is instead showing up in the standard aquamarine colour. Here's a screenshot of two X12's in Durham Bus Station earlier showing up in both colours.

(10 Apr 2017, 3:39 pm)Jimmi wrote Something I've noticed on the Arriva Live Map recently is the MAX routes sometimes not showing in blue and is instead showing up in the standard aquamarine colour. Here's a screenshot of two X12's in Durham Bus Station earlier showing up in both colours.

Is it perhaps vehicle dependent?

I gave up trying to even find stand H on Tubwell row in the app, this afternoon. Resorted to seeking it from my location and it didn't even have a clue where I was.

(08 Apr 2017, 11:09 pm)Multi21 wrote Stocktons second repaint will be back from Blackburn on Monday Afternoon. Possibly 1455 as I haven't seen it all week.

He's right - 1455 is now back fresh in Frequenta livery, just passed it at Hardwick Road Ends heading into Middlesbrough on an X22.

(06 Apr 2017, 6:14 am)Pulsar wrote 7804 back from MAX refurbishment.

7805 now at Thorntons.

(11 Apr 2017, 7:11 am)Kuyoyo wrote He's right - 1455 is now back fresh in Frequenta livery, just passed it at Hardwick Road Ends heading into Middlesbrough on an X22.

Stockton lost another one this morning. I'll do some digging see if I can find out which one. 

Someone quite rightly pointed out its the first of the footballers names one to be repainted

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(10 Apr 2017, 3:39 pm)Jimmi wrote Something I've noticed on the Arriva Live Map recently is the MAX routes sometimes not showing in blue and is instead showing up in the standard aquamarine colour. Here's a screenshot of two X12's in Durham Bus Station earlier showing up in both colours.

I think this could be because it's a scheduled non max working.. Possibly the 1715 from Durham?

(11 Apr 2017, 7:04 pm)Multi21 wrote I think this could be because it's a scheduled non max working.. Possibly the 1715 from Durham?

Only Sapphire should have the blue, but a glitch in the app sees any service show as blue too.

Various Jesmond deckers have now gained school bus viynls, and also removal of the Arriva logo where it overlaps the advert holders.

Rumours going around that the next driver pay talks will involve a proposal that new drivers will be limited to a maximum wage of £9 an hour regardless of what type of bus they drive....

(12 Apr 2017, 12:21 pm)Driver9*** wrote Rumours going around that the next driver pay talks will involve a proposal that new drivers will be limited to a maximum wage of £9 an hour regardless of what type of bus they drive....

Is this at all depots? I work at Durham and get the same pay regardless of bus type I drive. There is however, a weekday rate and weekend rate. When I did my training at Ashington, there was a guy who was going to Blyth after his test and from what I gather, they only drive minibuses or littlebus (depending on who you ask as to what they call it) for a set period of time (MPD and Solo)whereas when I came to Durham, I was out in 'big buses' from day one (I do drive minibuses/littlebuses) . My pay, I passed my test in October, goes up with time:

During training there is one rate (minimum wage)
Pay change when you pass your test
then every 6 - 12 months
then every year for 5 years I think it is (top rate is more than £10 per hour).

I believe also that pay goes up each financial year (I've just had 10p per hour rise) and I think this is what is negotiated (all very confusing).

(12 Apr 2017, 3:23 pm)morritt89 wrote Is this at all depots? I work at Durham and get the same pay regardless of bus type I drive. There is however, a weekday rate and weekend rate. When I did my training at Ashington, there was a guy who was going to Blyth after his test and from what I gather, they only drive minibuses or littlebus (depending on who you ask as to what they call it) for a set period of time (MPD and Solo)whereas when I came to Durham, I was out in 'big buses' from day one (I do drive minibuses/littlebuses) . My pay, I passed my test in October, goes up with time:

During training there is one rate (minimum wage)
Pay change when you pass your test
then every 6 - 12 months
then every year for 5 years I think it is (top rate is more than £10 per hour).

I believe also that pay goes up each financial year (I've just had 10p per hour rise) and I think this is what is negotiated (all very confusing).

Northumbria have different pay for minibus and conventional rotas.

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In other news, I wonder if anyone has noticed the new friendlier interior viynls on various buses, as part of the rebrand.

Has there been any further progress with Omnicity 4663?

(12 Apr 2017, 6:30 pm)Tees lee wrote Has there been any further progress with Omnicity 4663?

I haven't heard anything apart from the "it's under repair" thing from enthusiasts, but when 7525 was collected from Gardiner's this time last year, the driver said he couldn't see 4663.

(12 Apr 2017, 4:44 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Northumbria have different pay for minibus and conventional rotas.

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In other news, I wonder if anyone has noticed the new friendlier interior viynls on various buses, as part of the rebrand.

Friendlier vinyls?!!

(13 Apr 2017, 2:42 pm)Cock Robin wrote Friendlier vinyls?!!

Wording is less technical and phrases such as "Budge up please" and "Little tips for little people" are appearing.

Can't upload images so here's one of the new vinyls - https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=58F16DA0

(13 Apr 2017, 11:55 am)omnicity4659 wrote I haven't heard anything apart from the "it's under repair" thing from enthusiasts, but when 7525 was collected from Gardiner's this time last year, the driver said he couldn't see 4663.

Thanks for the info matey

(13 Apr 2017, 4:19 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Wording is less technical and phrases such as "Budge up please" and "Little tips for little people" are appearing.

Can't upload images so here's one of the new vinyls - https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=58F16DA0

Bloody hell. Dumbing down.

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(13 Apr 2017, 4:19 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Wording is less technical and phrases such as "Budge up please" and "Little tips for little people" are appearing.

Can't upload images so here's one of the new vinyls - https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t...e=58F16DA0

Link doesn't work for me. May be the library computers!

2835 broke down at Newton Aycliffe town centre. 1507 is its replacement.

My friend told me Stockton depot dose 62A on a night is this true

(22 Apr 2017, 7:15 am)jimmoc wrote My friend told me Stockton depot dose 62A on a night is this true

They did last night - apparently Stockton did a run because the normal Redcar-operated 62A was running late.

https://flic.kr/p/U2nFS7

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Stockton's backshift Leading Driver is now also Redcar's Backshift Leading Driver - which does make Sundays interesting as Stockton's Backshift LD has a driving stint on 15s (and it isn't technically a Leading Driver shift - covered instead by the Backshift Staff Drop-Off Driver)

As Kuyoyo said Late leading driver covers all three "south" depots on a night. They have a spare Stockton based vehicle in the bus station with a Redcar based ticket machine. Last week 1423 went out to cover a 63, this week 1458 covered a 62A. The leading driver is based in the bus station until 2100.

(18 Apr 2017, 5:12 pm)Cock Robin wrote Bloody hell. Dumbing down.

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Link doesn't work for me. May be the library computers!

Yeah, the link has seemed to have expired. 

The new stickers are popping up everywhere now so it'll not be long until you see one for yourself 

(22 Apr 2017, 9:53 am)Multi21 wrote As Kuyoyo said Late leading driver covers all three "south" depots on a night. They have a spare Stockton based vehicle in the bus station with a Redcar based ticket machine. Last week 1423 went out to cover a 63, this week 1458 covered a 62A. The leading driver is based in the bus station until 2100.

Ah right thanks you for the info

Same happened tonight - this time a 64a was covered instead, which was once a Stockton route on a night a few years ago (when it was the 64b - before the daytime 64a was re-routed via Bankfields)

Is there any latest news about the MAX Omnis moving from Newcastle to Darlo? 

There seems to be a few problems with the Omnis in Darlo, they're regularly on town work or not out at all. Engine problems? 

They're awful busses!

(22 Apr 2017, 10:48 pm)JoshP wrote Is there any latest news about the MAX Omnis moving from Newcastle to Darlo? 

There seems to be a few problems with the Omnis in Darlo, they're regularly on town work or not out at all. Engine problems? 

They're awful busses!

The only place they should be going is the scrap yard

(22 Apr 2017, 10:48 pm)JoshP wrote Is there any latest news about the MAX Omnis moving from Newcastle to Darlo? 

There seems to be a few problems with the Omnis in Darlo, they're regularly on town work or not out at all. Engine problems? 

They're awful busses!

(22 Apr 2017, 11:02 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote The only place they should be going is the scrap yard

That's been rumoured for quite a while and it still hasn't happened.

It's not just Darlington that seem to be having issues with Omnicities, the Cross Pennine branded examples seem to be frequently absent from the 685 and are often allocated to more local work instead, 1512 seems to be on the 685 virtually every day at the moment as a result.