I think the 43 rarely ever gets any sapphires it is mostly just a volvo b7tlwright gemini  today i was on the 43 which was 7488 seen 7490 on the 43 & 7493 on the 43 and abit of a rarer appearance with 1575. Arriva probably should have thought before having the e400 sapphires branded for the 43 as well as the 44 & 45. And when the 43 is actually  a sapphire 7522 never shows up on the 43 and is constantly the 44 & 45.

(24 Mar 2018, 5:54 pm)GNE6312 wrote I think the 43 rarely ever gets any sapphires it is mostly just a volvo b7tlwright gemini  today i was on the 43 which was 7488 seen 7490 on the 43 & 7493 on the 43 and abit of a rarer appearance with 1575. Arriva probably should have thought before having the e400 sapphires branded for the 43 as well as the 44 & 45. And when the 43 is actually  a sapphire 7522 never shows up on the 43 and is constantly the 44 & 45.

The routes interwork, so 7522 will show up on the 43, if it's on the 44 and 45.

I can't remember if there's a Sapphire spec spare for the route, and if there isn't, one branded vehicle VOR is immediately noticeable.

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(23 Mar 2018, 9:42 pm)GNE6312 wrote The last of the new buses has arrived from yorkshire that being 1530 which has a full rear advert but since it is nothing to do with blyth or the north east it will probably be removed and the bus will get a wash to get the massive load of bird muck on the bottom window off as it is gross and will ruin the bus once the full rear advert is removed. Als 7632 another one of the new buses needs a new cab fleet number as it still says 1531. 1534 can hopefully keep the odd seat as it is funny and cozy as all the new buses are. And on the word of the new arrivals If anyone is interested the new buses ysualy pop up on the X7 X8 on Monday usualy the 8:00 X8 to newcastle

The full rear advert will likely be removed on repaint. 

I imagine, as they should be allocated to the 308, that they'll go under some sort of refurbishment into the new livery and internal specification sometime soon.

There should be an extra Sapphire bus to play with now that the PVR of the 43/44/45 has been reduced. However, allocations can depend on where the vehicle is parked in the depot, and if any delays occur during the day.

(24 Mar 2018, 11:04 pm)omnicity4659 wrote There should be an extra Sapphire bus to play with now that the PVR of the 43/44/45 has been reduced. However, allocations can depend on where the vehicle is parked in the depot, and if any delays occur during the day.

The morning 552 is always a Sapphire bus so straight away they'e one Sapphire down for the 43/44/45. In a morning you can quite often see two or three services being run with a non-sapphire bus.

2807/8/29 have this morning left Stockton bound for Yorkshire Tiger, with a repaint first.
Leaving Stockton with 2804/5 although 2804 needs MOT first.

1510 has also turned up at Stockton now.

(25 Mar 2018, 11:26 am)Smarty93 wrote 1510 has also turned up at Stockton now.

Just so people can keep up

The transfers from Darlington to Stockton are as follows. 1406,1425,1426,1428,1510 and 1511. As all but 1406 are normal spec and fitted with NSAs (Next Stop Announcement to those who don't know) I imagine the Stockton 7s will made up of the 5 transfered pulsars and 2805 for the foreseeable.

The two silver DAF Deckers for the park and ride in Whitby 7609&10 were parked up in Redcar last night without vinyls. I assume they will be transferred to Whitby today and be vinyled up by tomorrow as I believe the park and ride starts tomorrow?

(25 Mar 2018, 3:35 pm)Multi21 wrote Just so people can keep up

The transfers from Darlington to Stockton are as follows. 1406,1425,1426,1428,1510 and 1511. As all but 1406 are normal spec and fitted with NSAs (Next Stop Announcement to those who don't know) I imagine the Stockton 7s will made up of the 5 transfered pulsars and 2805 for the foreseeable.

The two silver DAF Deckers for the park and ride in Whitby 7609&10 were parked up in Redcar last night without vinyls. I assume they will be transferred to Whitby today and be vinyled up by tomorrow as I believe the park and ride starts tomorrow?

Starts Friday.

(25 Mar 2018, 3:35 pm)Multi21 wrote Just so people can keep up

The transfers from Darlington to Stockton are as follows. 1406,1425,1426,1428,1510 and 1511. As all but 1406 are normal spec and fitted with NSAs (Next Stop Announcement to those who don't know) I imagine the Stockton 7s will made up of the 5 transfered pulsars and 2805 for the foreseeable.

The two silver DAF Deckers for the park and ride in Whitby 7609&10 were parked up in Redcar last night without vinyls. I assume they will be transferred to Whitby today and be vinyled up by tomorrow as I believe the park and ride starts tomorrow?

I thought 1406 was a temporary transfer with an X66 board

(25 Mar 2018, 9:26 pm)ross13 wrote I thought 1406 was a temporary transfer with an X66 board

The X66 boards appear to be more than a temporary transfer - the change registered on Friday from the 20th May sees the 2130 66 to Whinfield replaced by an X66 at the same time to Middlesbrough to cut the dead mileage incurred by Stockton at present.
1416 was returned due to a number of issues.

Got a ride on 1330, this afternoon. So much more comfortable than the 10 reg E200s, but no less deafening.

(25 Mar 2018, 9:28 pm)Kuyoyo wrote The X66 boards appear to be more than a temporary transfer - the change registered on Friday from the 20th May sees the 2130 66 to Whinfield replaced by an X66 at the same time to Middlesbrough to cut the dead mileage incurred by Stockton at present.
1416 was returned due to a number of issues.

In regards to the X66. This is just speculation and rumors at the moment. Nothing is confirmed yet.

As for 1416 if the issues get fixed it may appear at Stockton again soon.

Speaking to a high up member of Darlington depot and also a member on here, Optare solo 2856 is the next casualtyleaving Darlington depot, with 2815 coming in the opposite direction

(24 Mar 2018, 11:04 pm)omnicity4659 wrote There should be an extra Sapphire bus to play with now that the PVR of the 43/44/45 has been reduced. However, allocations can depend on where the vehicle is parked in the depot, and if any delays occur during the day.

You'd think the depot was big enough to move buses round to get the correct branding on the correct routes.

(26 Mar 2018, 9:18 am)Cock Robin wrote You'd think the depot was big enough to move buses round to get the correct branding on the correct routes.

Yes, but who exactly will stay behind in the early hours moving all the buses around?

Depots such as Ashington, where 'lines' are the practice, sees buses allocated to be parked in a certain bay, depending on their departure time the next morning. However, if the service is late running, then that's where the problems start. 

Depots like Jesmond and Blyth are tight fits, and weren't designed for specific vehicle allocations.

I heard today arriva Whitby is taking on route 99 is this true

(26 Mar 2018, 10:33 am)jimmoc wrote I heard today arriva Whitby is taking on route 99 is this true

Yes, although it will be as an extension to the existing service 95. The new timetable is effective from Sunday 15 April.

(26 Mar 2018, 10:51 am)Mark P wrote Yes, although it will be as an extension to the existing service 95. The new timetable is effective from Sunday 15 April.

Thankyou

(26 Mar 2018, 9:23 am)omnicity4659 wrote Yes, but who exactly will stay behind in the early hours moving all the buses around?

Depots such as Ashington, where 'lines' are the practice, sees buses allocated to be parked in a certain bay, depending on their departure time the next morning. However, if the service is late running, then that's where the problems start. 

Depots like Jesmond and Blyth are tight fits, and weren't designed for specific vehicle allocations.

It's not just leaving the depot when they can't get the correct bus on though. I was waiting once for an evening service when two Sapphire buses were sitting empty at Haymarket and the driver asked if he should swap the bus but was told no and a Streetlite remained on the evening service. I understand at rush hour it's a battle to keep the right brand on route, but surely by the time the evening service starts they should be able to get everything right again?

(26 Mar 2018, 3:39 pm)Shrek wrote It's not just leaving the depot when they can't get the correct bus on though. I was waiting once for an evening service when two Sapphire buses were sitting empty at Haymarket and the driver asked if he should swap the bus but was told no and a Streetlite remained on the evening service. I understand at rush hour it's a battle to keep the right brand on route, but surely by the time the evening service starts they should be able to get everything right again?

There may have been reasons for them sitting there though. Mechanical defects picked up during the day, not enough fuel or AdBlue to see them through however many journeys were left, or they could have been scheduled to work other duties.

Jesmond's Sapphire stock often gets utilised on other more demanding routes when required (particularly the Pulsar's), sure enough today 1513 was out on the 685, it was then swapped for a Sapphire E400 to perform the double decker booked 12:45 685 off Newcastle (chances are it spent half the morning parked in Eldon Square), in addition to those two being missing, 1479 was out on the X16.

The advertising for M cards & passes are now being removed from the former arriva yorkshire gemini 2s, it has been removed from 7634 former 1533. And 1530 was transferred without it. Wonder what will have it removed next?

Does Arriva serve the Metrocentre? Has Arriva ever served the Metrocentre?

Just a random question as I can't think of any of Arriva's services ever serving the Metrocentre. Stagecoach, GNE and Stanley Travel go there and I am sure other bus operators do too. Phoenix did until recently with the 84, not sure what they operate currently.

(26 Mar 2018, 8:25 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Does Arriva serve the Metrocentre? Has Arriva ever served the Metrocentre?

Just a random question as I can't think of any of Arriva's services ever serving the Metrocentre. Stagecoach, GNE and Stanley Travel go there and I am sure other bus operators do too. Phoenix did until recently with the 84, not sure what they operate currently.

The X24 To Durham but that got took off and extended to Peterlee.

(26 Mar 2018, 8:35 pm)S830OFT wrote The X24 To Durham but that got took off and extended to Peterlee.

Thank you. So they don't serve the Metrocentre anymore? Any idea why they don't? Stagecoach has 3 services (6/7 and the 100 shuttle) and GNE has a lot. Arriva is missing out. A possible discussion for the Stagecoach discussion, why does the 6 not run late evening but the 7 continues much later? 6 and 7 is the same route I think but the  goes off.

I believe Arriva used to serve Kenton too? Northumbria Motor Services used to operate the 9 or 32 apparently many years ago with old buses.

(26 Mar 2018, 8:42 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Thank you. So they don't serve the Metrocentre anymore? Any idea why they don't? Stagecoach has 3 services (6/7 and the 100 shuttle) and GNE has a lot. Arriva is missing out. A possible discussion for the Stagecoach discussion, why does the 6 not run late evening but the 7 continues much later? 6 and 7 is the same route I think but the  goes off.

I believe Arriva used to serve Kenton too? Northumbria Motor Services used to operate the 9 or 32 apparently many years ago with old buses.

I remember that around 2006/7 Arriva had run a Blyth - Cramlington - MetroCentre service (it was either a Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday) service. It didn't last too long (much like my and fellow commuters beloved X36 ).

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Oh dear:

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...r-14456535

As a Labour councillor I can see both sides of the argument (ducks and covers).

Arriva used to operate the 602 and 604 ro metro centre prior to the swap over with GNE and also the X24 and X27 Before that in Northumbria days they also operated the 357 and 605

(26 Mar 2018, 9:27 pm)ifm001 wrote Arriva used to operate the 602 and 604 ro metro centre prior to the swap over with GNE and also the X24 and X27 Before that in Northumbria days they also operated the 357 and 605

And the X64

(26 Mar 2018, 9:16 pm)solsburian wrote Oh dear:

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...r-14456535

As a Labour councillor I can see both sides of the argument (ducks and covers).

To be fair though, it's barely going to impact on pollution. With the 308 vehicles listed for E6 conversion, they'll probably be cleaner than the B5LHs.

(27 Mar 2018, 3:45 am)omnicity4659 wrote To be fair though, it's barely going to impact on pollution. With the 308 vehicles listed for E6 conversion, they'll probably be cleaner than the B5LHs.

Not quite Euro 6 conversion.

Believe they (and others in the region) have received funding to fit a SCRT system of sorts to a number of their buses operating in key areas across the region (South Tyneside, Newcastle, and somewhere else), which, on paper, means that the buses meet the emission standards of a Euro 6 bus.

Depending on the terms and conditions of the contract, this could see them attached to a set of routes for the foreseeable future.

Can see the frustration, and I wonder if this move would have happened regardless of whether they had received this grant?

I would hope that Arriva are strongly considering upgrading the customer specification to MAX again on these vehicles. It feels like a lot of what's going on with Yorkshire stripping newer vehicles from the North East at the moment is coming at the expense of the customers. After all, why should customers on the 17 have W-reg Cadets reinstated, when the alternative was planned to be a much newer bus?