1448 is the latest Stockton pulsar to return from Repaint into frequenta base colours.

From Arriva's Facebook:

TAKING TRAVEL TO NEW HEIGHTS

We are excited to announce the official launch of MAX 306 / 308! Join us at Blue Reef Aquarium ,Tynemouth, NE30 4JF for a free family event on Wednesday 31st May. Competitions to follow!

(26 May 2017, 4:37 pm)Jimmi wrote From Arriva's Facebook:

TAKING TRAVEL TO NEW HEIGHTS

We are excited to announce the official launch of MAX 306 / 308! Join us at Blue Reef Aquarium ,Tynemouth, NE30 4JF for a free family event on Wednesday 31st May. Competitions to follow!

Thought they would have waited until all the buses are MAXed as I know 4 of the hybrids are not ready yet. Not sure about the Pulsars for the 306.

(26 May 2017, 5:37 pm)Pulsar wrote Thought they would have waited until all the buses are MAXed as I know 4 of the hybrids are not ready yet. Not sure about the Pulsars for the 306.

I saw at least one Volvo B5LH out in service on Wednesday, possibly even two. Wouldn't be the first time they've launched buses before they are all repainted/refurbished.

Are there any members on this forum who works for Arriva at Durham depot?.


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(26 May 2017, 5:54 pm)cbma06 wrote Are there any members on this forum who works for Arriva at Durham depot?.


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One that I am aware of.

(26 May 2017, 5:54 pm)cbma06 wrote Are there any members on this forum who works for Arriva at Durham depot?.


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Palatine3833 on here, But he's not active much on here.
If you have Facebook it will be a lot easier, I can PM you his Facebook if you want too.

(26 May 2017, 6:12 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Palatine3833 on here, But he's not active much on here.
If you have Facebook it will be a lot easier, I can PM you his Facebook if you want too.

Ok, cheers


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(26 May 2017, 5:37 pm)Pulsar wrote Thought they would have waited until all the buses are MAXed as I know 4 of the hybrids are not ready yet. Not sure about the Pulsars for the 306.

So much for Max services being Xs then! May as well have not renumbered the 21A, 75.

(27 May 2017, 12:29 pm)Cock Robin wrote So much for Max services being Xs then! May as well have not renumbered the 21A, 75.

MAX is kind of for Interurban services now, as opposed to expresses. 

MAX upgrades should have really ceased, as MAX has now been succeeded by Arriva Express.

(28 May 2017, 9:06 pm)omnicity4659 wrote MAX is kind of for Interurban services now, as opposed to expresses. 

MAX upgrades should have really ceased, as MAX has now been succeeded by Arriva Express.

But the 'X' has formed part of the identity for each service regardless of whether they are expresses. It seems daft to not do it in this case, sort of dilutes the brand even more.

(28 May 2017, 9:24 pm)S813 FVK wrote But the 'X' has formed part of the identity for each service regardless of whether they are expresses. It seems daft to not do it in this case, sort of dilutes the brand even more.

I think our Division are pushing forward the MAXing of various routes currently as Head Office are not interested in the New Livery, So are delaying it as much as they can before the phasing in of the New Livery becomes compulsory.

Once the launch of the 306/308 is complete, Id expect the 52/53/54 to go ahead before the New Livery becomes compulsory.

Has been posted on a comment on a friend's Facebook - nothing will be repainted into the new livery until the new vehicles start arriving

(28 May 2017, 9:40 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Has been posted on a comment on a friend's Facebook - nothing will be repainted into the new livery until the new vehicles start arriving

That would fit the speculation that the E400's displaced off the X21/22 will go into New Sapphire/Premium livery after the New MMC's arrive

(28 May 2017, 9:24 pm)S813 FVK wrote But the 'X' has formed part of the identity for each service regardless of whether they are expresses. It seems daft to not do it in this case, sort of dilutes the brand even more.

The 306/308 retained their 3xx so they remain easily identifiable as the coastal routes, and not the limited stop X routes. The 306/308 were MAXed to standardise the Blyth to Newcastle corridor.

(28 May 2017, 10:45 pm)omnicity4659 wrote The 306/308 retained their 3xx so they remain easily identifiable as the coastal routes, and not the limited stop X routes. The 306/308 were MAXed to standardise the Blyth to Newcastle corridor.

I think these are the two main reasons why they got MAXed:

* Competition
* More flexibility within Blyth Depot including allowing the B5LHs to be used on other service including on evenings and Sundays.

The only problem I see with it is where would the 306/308 fall under the new scheme? Arriva Premium wouldn't really cover them (unless they got upgraded with new buses or NSAs fitted) and Arriva Express would defeat the whole purpose of 'Express'.

(28 May 2017, 10:48 pm)L469 YVK wrote I think these are the two main reasons why they got MAXed:

* Competition
* More flexibility within Blyth Depot including allowing the B5LHs to be used on other service including on evenings and Sundays.

The only problem I see with it is where would the 306/308 fall under the new scheme? Arriva Premium wouldn't really cover them (unless they got upgraded with new buses or NSAs fitted) and Arriva Express would defeat the whole purpose of 'Express'.

306/8 could fall under Arriva Frequent in the future, going off the combined frequency along the Coast Road.

(29 May 2017, 9:05 am)omnicity4659 wrote 306/8 could fall under Arriva Frequent in the future, going off the combined frequency along the Coast Road.

As far as I am aware they've dropped the different brands from the new livery so there will just be standard, eco green and Sapphire only.

As has been mentioned the new livery will only be worn by the new stock coming in, no plans to repaint any of the current fleet until they are forced to do so as NE (& Yorkshire) don't like it to put it mildly.

(29 May 2017, 9:32 am)tyresmoke wrote As far as I am aware they've dropped the different brands from the new livery so there will just be standard, eco green and Sapphire only.

As has been mentioned the new livery will only be worn by the new stock coming in, no plans to repaint any of the current fleet until they are forced to do so as NE (& Yorkshire) don't like it to put it mildly.

I did hear a rumour that they had dropped the brands, but keeping Sapphire just doesn't make sense as the old Sapphire was designed to use a sapphire-like colour... and the interiors of the new E400MMCs are still in the original Sapphire spec, with old logos on the seats and floors. 

It just seems like a massive mess tbh

(29 May 2017, 10:07 am)omnicity4659 wrote I did hear a rumour that they had dropped the brands, but keeping Sapphire just doesn't make sense as the old Sapphire was designed to use a sapphire-like colour... and the interiors of the new E400MMCs are still in the original Sapphire spec, with old logos on the seats and floors. 

It just seems like a massive mess tbh

Nothing has been mentioned as to refreshing the interior specs yet so that's another reason why they're holding off doing anything.

(25 Apr 2017, 2:53 pm)Dan wrote Anyone who has five minutes might want to check the fleet lists/news over. I think I'm up to date now, but a lot has gone on that hasn't been noted on this forum, so there may be things that I've missed.

1431 and 1437 updated to reflect them both receiving branding for service 63 in September/October 2016 - previously having been shown as carrying the Frequenta base livery.

I have also updated the fleet lists with the latest fleet allocation amendments (from 21st May). Listed below for reference.

Ashington
In - 1801 ex reserve fleet
Out - 7412 for repair, having sustained fire damage

Blyth
In - 7804 and 7805 ex refurb
Out - 7806 for MAX refurb, 7623 for engine repairs

Jesmond
In - 1495 and 1496 ex refurb, 2806 and 2815 ex repaint
Out - 1482 for MAX refurb, 1765 for disposal, 2842 and 2848 for repaint

Belmont
Out - 7456 to reserve fleet, due to a PVR reduction.

(26 Apr 2017, 9:10 am)omnicity4659 wrote 7475 is currently at Ashington, and has been for a few weeks now, part of PVR of 35.

Doesn't look like the fleet lists have updated, still showing the old allox.

Thanks - I've just seen your post from March regarding its transfer.

Why did it transfer to Ashington in March? I don't recall this being noted on the allocation sheets, that's all.

(24 May 2017, 12:09 pm)Smarty93 wrote 1448 is the latest Stockton pulsar to return from Repaint into frequenta base colours.

Thanks - do you know which Pulsar went for repaint, once 1448 returned?

Not sure that 7477 is still with the fleet - a little light Googling of the registration turns up photos of the vehicle in white livery with Yorkshire Tiger.

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And wasn't 1763 the Dart that was donated to some kind of technical training college somewhere like Gateshead?

(30 May 2017, 11:51 am)Ianthegoon wrote Not sure that 7477 is still with the fleet - a little light Googling of the registration turns up photos of the vehicle in white livery with Yorkshire Tiger.

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And wasn't 1763 the Dart that was donated to some kind of technical training college somewhere like Gateshead?

Thanks for that. The news was updated for 7477 but not the fleet list. This has now been corrected:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/item.p...etnoF=7477

1763 was indeed the Dart donated to Gateshead College. Discussion here and updated on fleet lists/news accordingly:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/item.p...etnoF=1763

One other area for clarification is the fate of Darts 1651/53/54/55, shown in the Fleet List as being for disposal at Redcar, but discussed recently on this very forum without a conclusion; not there (as far as I could see, and confirmed by another observer) at the start of May, but no other information as yet proffered by this forum.

(30 May 2017, 1:02 pm)Ianthegoon wrote One other area for clarification is the fate of Darts 1651/53/54/55, shown in the Fleet List as being for disposal at Redcar, but discussed recently on this very forum without a conclusion; not there (as far as I could see, and confirmed by another observer) at the start of May, but no other information as yet proffered by this forum.

The following Darts are all shown as 'Awaiting Disposal' within the Southern division of Arriva North East (Durham, Darlington, Redcar, Whitby and Stockton) on the company's internal allocation document:
- 1626
- 1647
- 1651
- 1653
- 1654
- 1655
- 1656

Where they are presently in storage, I do not know, but they do not appear to have been sold.

(30 May 2017, 9:01 am)Dan wrote Thanks - do you know which Pulsar went for repaint, once 1448 returned?

1450

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(30 May 2017, 1:43 pm)Cock Robin wrote 1450

Then 1453 (1451 still to go).

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(30 May 2017, 1:05 pm)Dan wrote The following Darts are all shown as 'Awaiting Disposal' within the Southern division of Arriva North East (Durham, Darlington, Redcar, Whitby and Stockton) on the company's internal allocation document:
- 1626
- 1647
- 1651
- 1653
- 1654
- 1655
- 1656

Where they are presently in storage, I do not know, but they do not appear to have been sold.

None of them are at Redcar.

(30 May 2017, 1:05 pm)Dan wrote The following Darts are all shown as 'Awaiting Disposal' within the Southern division of Arriva North East (Durham, Darlington, Redcar, Whitby and Stockton) on the company's internal allocation document:
- 1626
- 1647
- 1651
- 1653
- 1654
- 1655
- 1656

Where they are presently in storage, I do not know, but they do not appear to have been sold.

I believe they're at Faverdale (Darlington)

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(30 May 2017, 3:49 pm)Stephen James Peter Johns wrote I believe they're at Faverdale (Darlington)

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I'm told 1626/47/56 are at Darlington.

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So where are 1651/3/4/5?!

Sapphire 6 branded 1526 has a broken rear destination screen.