Belmont are running a Darlington Sapphire 7 board today using 1479, owing to shortages at Darlington depot.

1766 has had its seats replaced I think (its been a while since I have driven it but I'm sure the pattern on the seats is different from the last time I had it) - the same pattern as the 61 plate Pulsars with the squares on (unsure how to describe it). Also the scrap MPD at Durham (1762?) has been in the workshops the past few days - it appears to be having engine parts removed.

2852 has returned to service at Darlington after having a new engine fitted. That being said, it currently has a broken side and rear destination screen.

Investigation launched over claim Arriva North East bus driver drove while using phone

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...a-12957758

(29 Apr 2017, 5:18 pm)citaro5284 wrote Investigation launched over claim Arriva North East bus driver drove while using phone

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...a-12957758

I think Arriva need to sort this out. When Arriva drivers get heavily delayed, they need to use their phones to contact tthe depot. I've seen 2 variations of this - a driver on the 7 delayed by troublesome kids getting off the bus to make a call, a couple of times, to alert them to progress. Another time, on the 22, in Durham, made over half an hour late by roadworks and heavy traffic through Gilesgate, driver using his phone handsfree, via speaker phone, on a stand.

I noticed that Belmont had a few phones on stand, in the position shown in the picture, for a while, but haven't seen any for a while - maybe that's at the discretion of the driver. It's 2017, though, and Husband's 6 year old car can connect with his phone via bluetooth and he can make a voice activated call to me, or anyone else he's programmed in, if he's going to be late, so doesn't even have to touch his phone.

(29 Apr 2017, 10:33 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I think Arriva need to sort this out. When Arriva drivers get heavily delayed, they need to use their phones to contact tthe depot. I've seen 2 variations of this - a driver on the 7 delayed by troublesome kids getting off the bus to make a call, a couple of times, to alert them to progress. Another time, on the 22, in Durham, made over half an hour late by roadworks and heavy traffic through Gilesgate, driver using his phone handsfree, via speaker phone, on a stand.

I noticed that Belmont had a few phones on stand, in the position shown in the picture, for a while, but haven't seen any for a while - maybe that's at the discretion of the driver. It's 2017, though, and Husband's 6 year old car can connect with his phone via bluetooth and he can make a voice activated call to me, or anyone else he's programmed in, if he's going to be late, so doesn't even have to touch his phone.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.expre...alties/amp

(29 Apr 2017, 10:43 pm)Multi21 wrote https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.expre...alties/amp

I'm aware of this. The bluetooth conection in Husband's car allows him to talk to me like I'm sat next to him, without even touching his phone. He can say "Call BLM" and it will dial me and he can converse over loudspeaker with me. Similarly, if someone calls him, he can "answer" and talk to them or he can press a button on the same screen used for his inbuilt satnav (it pops up when a call comes through, so he doesn't have to navigate to it), whilst sat at a junction or in a jam, and listen to a voice message, never taking his eyes off the road.

(29 Apr 2017, 10:33 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I think Arriva need to sort this out. When Arriva drivers get heavily delayed, they need to use their phones to contact tthe depot. I've seen 2 variations of this - a driver on the 7 delayed by troublesome kids getting off the bus to make a call, a couple of times, to alert them to progress. Another time, on the 22, in Durham, made over half an hour late by roadworks and heavy traffic through Gilesgate, driver using his phone handsfree, via speaker phone, on a stand.

I noticed that Belmont had a few phones on stand, in the position shown in the picture, for a while, but haven't seen any for a while - maybe that's at the discretion of the driver. It's 2017, though, and Husband's 6 year old car can connect with his phone via bluetooth and he can make a voice activated call to me, or anyone else he's programmed in, if he's going to be late, so doesn't even have to touch his phone.

Spookily enough, I saw a Pulsar operated X21 pulled over at a stop earlier on - with the driver on his phone.

Surely it would now be time for Arriva to follow suit like GNE / Stagecoach and install GPS radios. Would be far better and allow many services to get regulated when in trouble and get back on time.