Has anything left Durham yet following the arrival of the Optare Tempo's?

(13 Oct 2017, 2:56 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Has anything left Durham yet following the arrival of the Optare Tempo's?

Good question!

(13 Oct 2017, 2:56 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Has anything left Durham yet following the arrival of the Optare Tempo's?

(14 Oct 2017, 2:42 pm)Cock Robin wrote Good question!

No Solos have yet left Durham - I think there's only one or two Tempos in service at Durham (with most having been taken back out of service following entry into service).

I think there's a plan for the Tempos to undergo repaint and have a good once over by engineering before drip-feeding them into service and replacing the Solos one by one.

(14 Oct 2017, 3:06 pm)Dan wrote No Solos have yet left Durham - I think there's only one or two Tempos in service at Durham (with most having been taken back out of service following entry into service).

I think there's a plan for the Tempos to undergo repaint and have a good once over by engineering before drip-feeding them into service and replacing the Solos one by one.

I was wondering what was happening on that score, particularly as the Tempos don't seem to have made it onto this site's Fleetlist yet ....

(14 Oct 2017, 9:17 pm)Ianthegoon wrote I was wondering what was happening on that score, particularly as the Tempos don't seem to have made it onto this site's Fleetlist yet ....

They were there but you couldn't see them as they were over-written by the 'original' 1307 - 1312 (the X-GGO Darts, which Jimmi loves dearly and still mourns the loss of, to this day!)

I didn't realise that we'd already used these numbers in the fleet list database before - Arriva's use of the same fleet numbers time and time again doesn't help us! Sorted now...

I believe they're to undergo a refurbishment program before entering service again. I wonder if they're overhauling them mechanically too before doing this.

Has anyone spotted any Radio X 'car stickers' on the backs of Arriva buses? They seem to be cropping up in Yorkshire, Midlands and Kent & Surrey... Strange way of advertising...

It's being plugged by Arriva's social media too.

(16 Oct 2017, 12:32 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Has anyone spotted any Radio X 'car stickers' on the backs of Arriva buses? They seem to be cropping up in Yorkshire, Midlands and Kent & Surrey... Strange way of advertising...

It's being plugged by Arriva's social media too.

Specifically it's advertising the Chris Moyles Show On Radio X. Suppose it gives both Arriva and Radio X some publicity.

Some photos have just been posted on The Chris Moyles Show On Radio X, Facebook page including these two.



No photos of any on Arriva North East buses, can't say I've seen any in the North East mind.

(06 Oct 2017, 9:49 pm)mb134 wrote I imagine the reason 7413 has transferred to Jesmond is either to increase capacity on the X16, or for the 12:50 685, or a combination of both. The advantages of 7413 being at Jesmond probably outweigh any potential disadvantages of Ashington keeping 4664. 

Potential for some of the X15 E400s to move to Darlington next year perhaps to help with that?

Yes, 7413 has transferred to operate one running board on service 685.

Now that a more appropriate vehicle has been sourced to be allocated to this running board, I believe it is allocated to the board all day (rather than just for one round trip at 12:50pm - board 685B). This has in turn released a "Cross Pennine" branded Scania OmniCity to replace 7478 in the fleet at Jesmond, which has in turn returned to a reserve role in the fleet. Likely to be disposed of, along with the others in its batch, at the end of October following the end of all Metro Replacement and Rail Replacement contracts.

(17 Oct 2017, 6:48 am)Dan wrote Yes, 7413 has transferred to operate one running board on service 685.

Now that a more appropriate vehicle has been sourced to be allocated to this running board, I believe it is allocated to the board all day (rather than just for one round trip at 12:50pm - board 685B). This has in turn released a "Cross Pennine" branded Scania OmniCity to replace 7478 in the fleet at Jesmond, which has in turn returned to a reserve role in the fleet. Likely to be disposed of, along with the others in its batch, at the end of October following the end of all Metro Replacement and Rail Replacement contracts.

Can't help but think there are more suitable vehicles available than a 15 year old, clapped out, ex-London B7.

:

(17 Oct 2017, 6:59 am)mb134 wrote Can't help but think there are more suitable vehicles available than a 15 year old, clapped out, ex-London B7.

Wonder if it will get the green livery?

(10 Oct 2017, 12:48 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote 2834 has returned from Thorntons after repaint into new corporate livery. 1923 going through now.

2834 in the new corporate livery - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/37779882501

(18 Oct 2017, 8:34 pm)Malarkey wrote 2834 in the new corporate livery - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/37779882501

Looks boring, it'll look a lot better when the white stripe is applied.

Sapphire X21/X22 are diverting via Netherton Park and Stannington Services.

(18 Oct 2017, 8:36 pm)Michael wrote Looks boring, it'll look a lot better when the white stripe is applied.

Yes awful.

I think the problem is that it's such an awful, garish shade of blue. It doesn't tone with anything. I appreciate that the old Sapphire livery might be expensive and I think the max is a total made up as they go along shambles, but the old colours, with the splash of silver are quite stunning, particularly on the side of those enormous E400s.

I quite like the light shade of blue which Arriva have chosen to use for the new corporate livery, much nicer than the teal green and cream we used to seeing. I do however echo the thoughts of the livery being quite boring, even with the stripes added along with the Arriva web address on the side of the vehicle it looks pretty bare although does looks quite smart when in the sun.

Here is a photo of Yorkshire's 1977 (YX17 NLO) in Leeds in the new livery - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/36518369585

I'll honest here and say I am not a fan of the purple route branding as looks like it was put on as an after thought, as for the revised "Sapphire/Premium" branding I think the Sapphire Blue should've been where the Light Blue is, the stripes should've been Light Blue/White with a Silver front end, I think that would've looked a lot more eye catching.

Personally I would do away with the Frequenta and MAX brands as they don't do much for me either.

One of the X15 E400s has broken down between Berwick and Belford.

(19 Oct 2017, 1:18 pm)Malarkey wrote I quite like the light shade of blue which Arriva have chosen to use for the new corporate livery, much nicer than the teal green and cream we used to seeing. I do however echo the thoughts of the livery being quite boring, even with the stripes added along with the Arriva web address on the side of the vehicle it looks pretty bare although does looks quite smart when in the sun.

Here is a photo of Yorkshire's 1977 (YX17 NLO) in Leeds in the new livery - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/36518369585

I'll honest here and say I am not a fan of the purple route branding as looks like it was put on as an after thought, as for the revised "Sapphire/Premium" branding I think the Sapphire Blue should've been where the Light Blue is, the stripes should've been Light Blue/White with a Silver front end, I think that would've looked a lot more eye catching.

Personally I would do away with the Frequenta and MAX brands as they don't do much for me either.

That purple looks awful but purple relief would look nice.

The finished result does look good on this concept, with a smarter typeface and less cluttered than the interim livery we're currently seeing.

Arriva have been behind in the "modernisation" department, but the livery does look modern in some ways.

Seen this an hour ago on Facebook:


Service Update. Darlington service 2. We regret that owing to operational difficulties the following journeys will not run this evening. 2004 Darlington Town Centre to Branksome, 2012, 2112, 2212 Branksome to Red Hall. 2312 Branksome to Darlington Town Centre. 2046, 2146 and 2246 Red Hall to Branksome. Apologies to those affected

(19 Oct 2017, 8:02 pm)Michael wrote Seen this an hour ago on Facebook:


Service Update. Darlington service 2. We regret that owing to operational difficulties the following journeys will not run this evening. 2004 Darlington Town Centre to Branksome, 2012, 2112, 2212  Branksome to Red Hall. 2312 Branksome to Darlington Town Centre. 2046, 2146 and 2246 Red Hall to Branksome. Apologies to those affected

"Regrettably there are occassions where we are unable to provide a driver despite our efforts. Not operating a journey is the last resort and we do apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."

I've copied and pasted this reply to the above post, much like the Facebook team seem to have done 

Another post:
Service update. Service X26 Darlington to Colburn. Due to operational difficulties the 1920 from Darlington to Colburn will operate 15 minutes late. The 2021 Colburn to Darlington will also be slightly delayed. Apologies to those affected

(19 Oct 2017, 8:02 pm)Michael wrote Seen this an hour ago on Facebook:


Service Update. Darlington service 2. We regret that owing to operational difficulties the following journeys will not run this evening. 2004 Darlington Town Centre to Branksome, 2012, 2112, 2212  Branksome to Red Hall. 2312 Branksome to Darlington Town Centre. 2046, 2146 and 2246 Red Hall to Branksome. Apologies to those affected

(19 Oct 2017, 8:27 pm)Jimmi wrote "Regrettably there are occassions where we are unable to provide a driver despite our efforts. Not operating a journey is the last resort and we do apologise for any inconvenience this may cause."

I've copied and pasted this reply to the above post, much like the Facebook team seem to have done 

Another post:
Service update. Service X26 Darlington to Colburn. Due to operational difficulties the 1920 from Darlington to Colburn will operate 15 minutes late. The 2021 Colburn to Darlington will also be slightly delayed. Apologies to those affected

Unless a couple of drivers are ill, that is pretty poor.

(19 Oct 2017, 10:12 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Unless a couple of drivers are ill, that is pretty poor.

Wasn't it mentioned on here that there were short of drivers for Darlington ?


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(20 Oct 2017, 7:27 am)cbma06 wrote Wasn't it mentioned on here that there were short of drivers for Darlington ?


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Yep. One of the drivers was having a good old rant about it, the other week. That was a Saturday lunchtime service with no driver.

(19 Oct 2017, 10:12 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Unless a couple of drivers are ill, that is pretty poor.

I know a few of the drivers in Darlington depot and I know the one that was supposed to be driving this one, and unfortunately he went home sick, the leading driver was already out on the road and the majority of other drivers had gone home with there only being a few buses out on a night, so this ultimately lead to the bus being withdrawn

(19 Oct 2017, 7:53 pm)omnicity4659 wrote
The finished result does look good on this concept, with a smarter typeface and less cluttered than the interim livery we're currently seeing.

Arriva have been behind in the "modernisation" department, but the livery does look modern in some ways.

Hate the typeface all in lower case.

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(19 Oct 2017, 7:53 pm)omnicity4659 wrote
The finished result does look good on this concept, with a smarter typeface and less cluttered than the interim livery we're currently seeing.

Arriva have been behind in the "modernisation" department, but the livery does look modern in some ways.

Would look better with a dark skirt.

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(19 Oct 2017, 10:12 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Unless a couple of drivers are ill, that is pretty poor.

So, had drivers not been ill, you think they'd just cancel evening services for a bit of a laugh? I'm sure every effort would have been made to get the services running.

(20 Oct 2017, 2:21 pm)mb134 wrote So, had drivers not been ill, you think they'd just cancel evening services for a bit of a laugh? I'm sure every effort would have been made to get the services running.

Arriva are short of Drivers at Both Durham & Darlington. They a doing a recruiting drive.
But it takes a while to do the driver training.



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1472 is off on its travels again this weekend - it is at Darlington this time to allow 2851 to be loaned to Stockton for the 17s in Yarm tomorrow.