(12 Jan 2019, 11:50 pm)Jamie M wrote Seemed constructive to me, added a new angle of thought to taxis. Economics may well play into it but nobody else mentioned it prior that I can see, it being a fairly big point and seemingly a big part of how people travel in and around the city centre.

Perhaps you could have made that point in your original post, rather than fishing for the bite that you ended up receiving from the OP.

Is it a big part of how people travel in and around the city centre? How does it compare to bus journeys into or say walking around the city centre, for example?

(12 Jan 2019, 11:50 pm)Jamie M wrote Seemed constructive to me, added a new angle of thought to taxis. Economics may well play into it but nobody else mentioned it prior that I can see, it being a fairly big point and seemingly a big part of how people travel in and around the city centre.

Yes but not everybody on a bus would want to pay more for a Taxi when the vast majority of people have more important things to pay for. Why do you think Go North East put the extra buses on X21s for? I think it was to ensure passengers didn't get left behind and have to falk out over 25% of their money on unnecessary Taxi journeys. Taxis are good for having a direct and private service, although there are cheaper alternatives out there, for example Durham to Ferryhill after 19:00 could be done by the X21 to Spennymoor and changing to Scarlet Band service 35A.

(13 Jan 2019, 12:04 am)Adrian wrote Perhaps you could have made that point in your original post, rather than fishing for the bite that you ended up receiving from the OP.

Is it a big part of how people travel in and around the city centre? How does it compare to bus journeys into or say walking around the city centre, for example?

I have absolutely no idea what you're referring to with the first comment, so let's leave that as that.



I assume it's a big part cause there's always lots of taxis about regardless of time I go past, and I go past at least once a day trying to squeeze me bus between them all. Can't see them being there unless there was money to be made!

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(13 Jan 2019, 12:10 am)S830OFT wrote Yes but not everybody on a bus would want to pay more for a Taxi when the vast majority of people have more important things to pay for. Why do you think Go North East put the extra buses on X21s for? I think it was to ensure passengers didn't get left behind and have to falk out over 25% of their money on unnecessary Taxi journeys. Taxis are good for having a direct and private service, although there are cheaper alternatives out there, for example Durham to Ferryhill after 19:00 could be done by the X21 to Spennymoor and changing to Scarlet Band service 35A.

I mean I wouldn't pay for taxis but your comment alluded to there being people stranded in Durham. I'm sure there would be ways that everyone could get to their own bed on every night, and I'm sure we would have heard about it if this wasn't the case. We've had an abundance of slow news days, and this would definitely be something they would jump on!

(13 Jan 2019, 12:10 am)Jamie M wrote I have absolutely no idea what you're referring to with the first comment, so let's leave that as that.


 
I assume it's a big part cause there's always lots of taxis about regardless of time I go past, and I go past at least once a day trying to squeeze me bus between them all. Can't see them being there unless there was money to be made! 

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I mean I wouldn't pay for taxis but your comment alluded to there being people stranded in Durham. I'm sure there would be ways that everyone could get to their own bed on every night, and I'm sure we would have heard about it if this wasn't the case. We've had an abundance of slow news days, and this would definitely be something they would jump on!

So nowt to do with the de-regulation of taxi services in Durham or the merger of separate local councils within Co Durham, that enabled those previously on a Chester, Derwentside or Bishop Auckland etc plate, to now ply their trade anywhere within the county?

A glut of taxis perhaps, that led to huge queues on Claypath and the opening of a new rank just a few years ago outside the Prince Bishops car park?

1535 has entered service this morning on 8s - it’s working the xx50 trips until 1450.

Arriva North East 1535 (YJ58 FFB) by Tony Kuy, on Flickr

(13 Jan 2019, 11:32 am)Kuyoyo wrote 1535 has entered service this morning on 8s - it’s working the xx50 trips until 1450.

Typo with fleet number?

(13 Jan 2019, 11:32 am)Kuyoyo wrote 1535 has entered service this morning on 8s - it’s working the xx50 trips until 1450.

Had a bus driver send me a snapchat with the number of 1535 on it. Always thought that the 15 xx series was Sapphire (with the exception of 1440 which is a sapphire Pulsar. )

Teesside Bus Spotter | Arriva fan all the way

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(13 Jan 2019, 11:34 am)Jamie M wrote Typo with fleet number?

1535 is a SB120 Plaxton Centro.

Teesside Bus Spotter | Arriva fan all the way

(13 Jan 2019, 11:34 am)Jamie M wrote Typo with fleet number?

1535 is one of the three Centros that came up from Yorkshire Tiger

(13 Jan 2019, 11:58 am)Kuyoyo wrote 1535 is one of the three Centros that came up from Yorkshire Tiger

Ah fleetlist isnt updated yet...!

(13 Jan 2019, 12:16 pm)Jamie M wrote Ah fleetlist isnt updated yet...!

Hasn't been updated for a while now .... still doesn't show the additional three E200s at Belmont, or the decker swap between Blyth and Leeds, or .....


Dan did mention he's been a little busy of late, and that he was hoping to get an update together sometime soon.

(12 Jan 2019, 9:26 pm)S830OFT wrote Not everyone is loaded with cash you know!
No Bus Service in Newton Aycliffe No Trains after 18:00, people from Durham getting there would falk out a fortune. I think it's outrageous that Arriva Durham chose to run 4 routes but they were the shortest of routes...
Examples of places cut off because of Arriva's decision:
Sedgefield: Only the hourly 113 Scarlet Band to Ferryhill and Bishop.
Ferryhill: Only the hourly 113 Scarlet Band to Sedgefield and Bishop.
Bishop Auckland: Only Weardale, Scarlet Band, Go North East and a very infrequent Northern Trains service.
Newton Aycliffe: Only Northern Trains operating until 18:00.
Darlington: Mainly Trains with Scarlet Band 16 running aswell as Dales/District 29/34/72.

Scarlet Band must have made a big profit this week from having to pick up the pieces, I seen the 52 leaving to Esh Winning with a full load, also seen the 58 coming into Coxhoe with standing room only.

Nothing whatsoever in East Cleveland either. Terrible state of affairs but what would you have done about it? You slag off one of the drivers who actually did come out to work. There was only so many drivers to go round and it takes time to train up anyone new.

(13 Jan 2019, 6:31 pm)Cock Robin wrote Nothing whatsoever in East Cleveland either. Terrible state of affairs but what would you have done about it? You slag off one of the drivers who actually did come out to work. There was only so many drivers to go round and it takes time to train up anyone new.

Yes but that one driver was extremely rude and unpleasant to all passengers and didn't have one nice thing about her. I've come across thousands of bus drivers and many I find are amazing, very helpful and courteous, but then you get the rude ones doing the exact same job and I question why can't you just be nice?

If there's a few people taxi prices can be competitive but wouldn't use one on my own. Thankfully I have a good pair of legs but not everyone does.

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(13 Jan 2019, 6:36 pm)Cock Robin wrote If there's a few people taxi prices can be competitive wouldn't use one on my own. Thankfully I have a good pair of legs but not everyone does.

I mean they work, not to look at!!

(13 Jan 2019, 11:32 am)Kuyoyo wrote 1535 has entered service this morning on 8s - it’s working the xx50 trips until 1450.

It lasted the day on that board (does 5 8s then a 17 and half a 29a) and is now out on Bassleton Court 15s
Arriva North East 1535 (YJ58 FFB) by Tony Kuy, on Flickr

(13 Jan 2019, 10:25 pm)Kuyoyo wrote It lasted the day on that board (does 4 8s then a 17 and half a 29a) and is now out on Bassleton Court 15s

Does it have free WiFi or is that sticker gonna be removed in the future?

Teesside Bus Spotter | Arriva fan all the way

(12 Jan 2019, 8:01 pm)S830OFT wrote Well some Nighters won't get home tonight with Arriva and Northern on strike. This afternoon was chaos with no Arriva staff around and all the questions going to the Security Guard who knows quite a lot tbh.

If it's the sturdy guy, he's a canny feller. Not seen him for a bit, mind, but now my local bus is the 64, rather than the 22, and I live in walking distance, anyhow, I don't spend a lot of time in the bus station any more.

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(12 Jan 2019, 9:26 pm)S830OFT wrote Not everyone is loaded with cash you know!
No Bus Service in Newton Aycliffe No Trains after 18:00, people from Durham getting there would falk out a fortune. I think it's outrageous that Arriva Durham chose to run 4 routes but they were the shortest of routes...
Examples of places cut off because of Arriva's decision:
Sedgefield: Only the hourly 113 Scarlet Band to Ferryhill and Bishop.
Ferryhill: Only the hourly 113 Scarlet Band to Sedgefield and Bishop.
Bishop Auckland: Only Weardale, Scarlet Band, Go North East and a very infrequent Northern Trains service.
Newton Aycliffe: Only Northern Trains operating until 18:00.
Darlington: Mainly Trains with Scarlet Band 16 running aswell as Dales/District 29/34/72.

Scarlet Band must have made a big profit this week from having to pick up the pieces, I seen the 52 leaving to Esh Winning with a full load, also seen the 58 coming into Coxhoe with standing room only.

Back when the 22 was hourly, I had an afternoon hospital appointment. The 22 that would have got me home in time to pick the boys up was a no show, even after half an hour, so I had no choice but to run to the taxi rank. He rounded it down to £15 to Thornley and this would have been 6 or 7 years ago.

Though no one from Thornley would have been stranded on Saturday night, if they couldn't get in, in the first place. The 58 runs fairly late, anyhow.

(13 Jan 2019, 6:36 pm)S830OFT wrote Yes but that one driver was extremely rude and unpleasant to all passengers and didn't have one nice thing about her. I've come across thousands of bus drivers and many I find are amazing, very helpful and courteous, but then you get the rude ones doing the exact same job and I question why can't you just be nice?

The grumpy ones aren't unique to arriva.

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(13 Jan 2019, 6:36 pm)Cock Robin wrote If there's a few people taxi prices can be competitive  but wouldn't use one on my own. Thankfully I have a good pair of legs but not everyone does.

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I mean they work, not to look at!!

You'd walk back to teesside from Durham 

(13 Jan 2019, 11:42 pm)BusLoverMum wrote The grumpy ones aren't unique to arriva.

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You'd walk back to teesside from Durham 

No thats a bit much! I've walked Redcar to Middlesbrough and Middlesbrough to Stockton lots of times.
Once had been to Scarborough years ago when I lived at Redcar and when I got back to Lingdale on the 258 Redcar had gone on strike (as they often did at the time) and had to walk back to Redcar!

(13 Jan 2019, 10:25 pm)Kuyoyo wrote It lasted the day on that board (does 5 8s then a 17 and half a 29a) and is now out on Bassleton Court 15s

here it is on the 8

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(13 Jan 2019, 11:34 am)TezzaPaul wrote Had a bus driver send me a snapchat with the number of 1535 on it. Always thought that the 15 xx series was Sapphire (with the exception of 1440 which is a sapphire Pulsar. )

Teesside Bus Spotter | Arriva fan all the way

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1535 is a SB120 Plaxton Centro.

Teesside Bus Spotter | Arriva fan all the way

it's an SB200 rather than an SB120 hence being in the 14/1500's rather than the 1900's


1500's run straight on from 1400's and are SB200s: 1401-3 with Wright Commander bodies then 1404-1533 with Pulsar2 bodies, then the 3 ex Yorkshire Centros

Just seen the ED4, not surprised to see its empty

Posts I've seen on Social Media alluding to a plan for the 1/5/5A and X1 to interwork shortly resulting in a mixed MAX/Sapphire Streetlite allocation have jogged my memory about the 5/5A services at Stockton...

Am I right in thinking that 1552/56/59 are still 'banned' from being allocated to the 5/5A, being allocated daily to other, less strenuous, services such as the 15?

I'm sure it was around a year ago now that I heard this to be the case - with two buses of the weekday PVR being covered daily by lower specification buses such as Cadets?

(18 Jan 2019, 6:32 pm)Dan wrote Posts I've seen on Social Media alluding to a plan for the 1/5/5A and X1 to interwork shortly resulting in a mixed MAX/Sapphire Streetlite allocation have jogged my memory about the 5/5A services at Stockton...

Am I right in thinking that 1552/56/59 are still 'banned' from being allocated to the 5/5A, being allocated daily to other, less strenuous, services such as the 15?

I'm sure it was around a year ago now that I heard this to be the case - with two buses of the weekday PVR being covered daily by lower specification buses such as Cadets?

I don't think they are banned, but they have had major unit replacements, and engineers suggested they be kept local.

Does seem to have been for a while though..

1465 has been refurbished for Sapphire
https://www.flickr.com/photos/150225183@...54/in/feed

(18 Jan 2019, 7:41 pm)RobinHood wrote I don't think they are banned, but they have had major unit replacements, and engineers suggested they be kept local.

Does seem to have been for a while though..

If a major unit has been replaced, presumably at significant cost, then I'm at a loss as to why the bus wouldn't be able to be allocated to the route it's intended to be allocated to?

If the buses cannot be used on the 5/5A services any more - which is pants from a customer perspective if they're expecting the Sapphire standard features - then should the buses not be de-branded?

A report on an enthusiasts' Facebook page suggests that there have been some branding modifications at Belmont. See post below:

"Due to PVR changes several months ago and to ease allocation difficulties a few buses have had their branding changed at Durham depot:
1533 now generic Sapphire
7427 now generic MAX
7539 now generic Sapphire
A Frequenta 64 E200 should be debranded shortly too."

(18 Jan 2019, 6:32 pm)Dan wrote Am I right in thinking that 1552/56/59 are still 'banned' from being allocated to the 5/5A, being allocated daily to other, less strenuous, services such as the 15?

And 1558. 

They are allocated to Locals 7s 15s 8s as they are on the naughty list!

So yeah they are short term banned for the time being

(20 Jan 2019, 5:32 pm)Multi21 wrote And 1558. 

They are allocated to Locals 7s 15s 8s as they are on the naughty list!

So yeah they are short term banned for the time being

How long is "short term", though, if they've been allocated to local services for a year now already?

I'd prefer a Pulsar on the 5's instead of a Streetlite any day. Streetlites may be Sapphire spec but they have a cheap look and feel to them, and dont have the power or acceleration of a pulsar.

(20 Jan 2019, 6:03 pm)tvd wrote I'd prefer a Pulsar on the 5's instead of a Streetlite any day.  Streetlites may be Sapphire spec but they have a cheap look and feel to them, and dont have the power or acceleration of a pulsar.

Could those 3 bad Streetlites not swap with Jesmond for 1479, 1512, 1513?

(20 Jan 2019, 6:15 pm)S830OFT wrote Could those 3 bad Streetlites not swap with Jesmond for 1479, 1512, 1513?

And what makes you think Jesmond wants your knackered cast-offs??!!! ;-)

(20 Jan 2019, 6:15 pm)S830OFT wrote Could those 3 bad Streetlites not swap with Jesmond for 1479, 1512, 1513?

Appreciating it'd probably be the least of their worries at the moment given everything else going on, but I'm surprised management at Arriva aren't querying why buses they've invested £x million into, aren't fit to be allocated to the service the business case was written up for, for them to be allocated to. Swapping them for other buses at different depots shouldn't even be considered!

As full-size single decks, they'll still have a good 10 years left before disposal...