Might be worth noting that Arriva were running Metro replacement services 900 and 901 today! Managed to get a few photos, I shall edit this post when they're up on Flickr.

Durham Solo 2812 made an unusual appearance on service X1/X2 today (on a Stockton board as well!) after 4042 broke down in Durham... they were due to be swapped back over later in the day.

Something I didn't actually get round to doing the other day...

Some of the vehicles which were on Metro replacement duties on February 3rd were:
7463 on the 901
7617 on the 900
7516 on the 901
7461 on the 901 - with two very happy young girls at the front window on the upper deck...
7612 on the 900
7515 on the 901
And finally, sisters 7517 and 7518 sitting as reserves.


Don't know if anyone else got any photos of the Metro replacement work or not..?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke...hotostream

I was busy looking for the New Deckers on the 10 as I was told they might be out Yesterday, but that wasn't the case.

And then out of the corner of my eye I seen the 308 pull in and all of a Sudden the 306 pulled up along side it and not on the Stand this caused the build of traffic in Haymarket Bus Station. This then led to the Station Manager Coming out of the Office after a few minutes of watching through the window.

The Station Manager then came out and yelled at the driver to move the Bus.

Hi I'm a new member from Leicester.

Could anyone tell me what ex Midlands Scanias in the M GRY batch are still with North East either withdrawn and at depots or still in service please ?

Cheers,

Andy

(17 Feb 2013, 8:31 pm)andyleic wrote Hi I'm a new member from Leicester.

Could anyone tell me what ex Midlands Scanias in the M GRY batch are still with North East either withdrawn and at depots or still in service please ?

Cheers,

Andy

Welcome to the group Andy!

If I am correct, I believe 7261 (M172 GRY) is the final East Lancs E-Type bodied Scania N113DRB in use with Arriva North East. It is in service with Belmont. The last photograph of it was taken in December last year, and can be seen below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markh737/8303909519/ (markh737)

Thank you for that mate appreciated.

Do you know what has happened to the others of the batch that were still with Arriva last year ? M176/7GRY and any others ? Were they transferred, stored or sent for scrap ?

Thanks in advance,

Andy

They were both listed for disposal for September 2012. Other than that, I have no information.
You're very welcome, and I'm glad to have been of help!

(17 Feb 2013, 8:31 pm)andyleic wrote Hi I'm a new member from Leicester.

Could anyone tell me what ex Midlands Scanias in the M GRY batch are still with North East either withdrawn and at depots or still in service please ?

Cheers,

Andy

Similar N-VVO one 7265 is still in service too at Ashington as seen here

And one odd working today, the last coach left in the old livery and in 'Coast and Castles Connections' brand 1212 was on the 306 as seen [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/spd17/8489803904/in/photostream/[/url]

(19 Feb 2013, 5:02 pm)W179SCU wrote And one odd working today, the last coach left in the old livery and in 'Coast and Castles Connections' brand 1212 was on the 306 as seen here

It is now doing the 1720 X85 to Hexham.

Arriva's service 7 (Darlington-Durham) is being upgraded with brand new Wright Pulsar 2's. They'll be placed in the new "Sapphire" brand(similar to Stagecoach Gold). The service will be of a high quality.

(21 Feb 2013, 4:36 pm)Adam wrote Arriva's service 7 (Darlington-Durham) is being upgraded with brand new Wright Pulsar 2's. They'll be placed in the new "Sapphire" brand(similar to Stagecoach Gold). The service will be of a high quality.

I think they're introducing the "Sapphire" brand somewhere like Chester as well, using E400's.

(21 Feb 2013, 5:24 pm)tom.robinson206 wrote

(21 Feb 2013, 4:36 pm)Adam wrote Arriva's service 7 (Darlington-Durham) is being upgraded with brand new Wright Pulsar 2's. They'll be placed in the new "Sapphire" brand(similar to Stagecoach Gold). The service will be of a high quality.

I think they're introducing the "Sapphire" brand somewhere like Chester as well, using E400's.

Yeah they are. There's 4 routes nationwide that are having the Sapphire brand applied. I got the information about it from the link below.

http://www.route-one.net/issues/475/index.html#/4/

(21 Feb 2013, 5:30 pm)Adam wrote Yeah they are. There's 4 routes nationwide that are having the Sapphire brand applied. I got the information about it from the link below.

http://www.route-one.net/issues/475/index.html#/4/

Looks to be very nice. Thanks for sharing

Owing to a line closure between South Gosforth and Kingston Park to allow for modernisation work, until about 12:30pm on Sunday 24th February, Arriva North East operated a bus replacement service on behalf of Nexus to cover for the usual Metros that had been affected.

Photos can be seen below:

7459 (danielgrahamm)
7459 (danielgrahamm)
7462 (danielgrahamm)
7463 (danielgrahamm)
7607 (danielgrahamm)


Unusual workings:

7463 on X40 (danielgrahamm)
7364 on X40 (danielgrahamm)

Despite being an Arriva N.W. vehicle, this is an example of what we shall be expecting the new Gemini's on the 306/308 are to look like.

Photo by Bunny400: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunny400/85...42960@N07/

(25 Feb 2013, 5:51 pm)tom.robinson206 wrote Despite being an Arriva N.W. vehicle, this is an example of what we shall be expecting the new Gemini's on the 306/308 are to look like.

Photo by Bunny400: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunny400/85...42960@N07/

They are for the 308 only. They will be based at Blyth whereas the 306 is operated by Jesmond.

You guys might want to write this date in your diaries...

How smart!

(25 Feb 2013, 6:06 pm)Kuyoyo wrote They are for the 308 only. They will be based at Blyth whereas the 306 is operated by Jesmond.

Oh, right. Thanks.

I agree Daniel, Arriva really have been surprising us recently - their new Sapphire brand is stunning too!

Two of the new Caetano CityGold bodied MAN EcoCity's have arrived, wearing the new 13 reg plates (which come into effect tomorrow). They are: 4805 (NK13CFJ) and 4806 (NK13CFL).

Photo from TVT Photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61391443@N0...hotostream

(17 Feb 2013, 9:36 pm)andyleic wrote Thank you for that mate appreciated.

Do you know what has happened to the others of the batch that were still with Arriva last year ? M176/7GRY and any others ? Were they transferred, stored or sent for scrap ?

Thanks in advance,

Andy

Andy, I've just spotted another photo on Flickr of M172 in use today! Do have a look on the link below:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nerbp/85156...otostream/

More Arriva news has been given on Nexus' website - perhaps not as exciting as the four new EcoCities that have arrived at Darlington's Faverdale Road depot (4802, 4803, 4805, 4806), but something worth noting nevertheless.

Changes to Arriva's 23 and 24 services have been given, advertising a change of timetable and route.

23
via Sunderland Interchange, Stockton Road, Park Road, Burdon Road, Ryhope Road, The Village, Stockton Road, A1018, B1285, New Seaham, Stockton Road, Dalton-le-Dale, B1285, Church Street, Dalton Park, B1285, Cold Hesledon, Hawthorn, Sunderland Road, Village Green Low Row, B1432, Seaside Lane, Station Road, Sunderland Road , B1283, Thorpe Road, Stephenson Way, Essington Way, Bede Way, Peterlee Bus Station, Bede Way, St Cuthbert's Way, Manor Way, Fulwell Road, Yoden Way, Horden B1320, Blackhall, Blackhall Rocks, Crimdon Dene, Hart Station, A1086, Coast Road, King Oswy Drive, West View, Davison Drive, Warren Road, Winterbottom Avenue, Raby Road, York Road, Victoria Road, Hartlepool Marina.

24
via Durham Bus Station, North Road, Milburngate Bridge, Leazes Road, Gilesgate, Sherburn Road, Front Street, A181, B1283, Sherburn Village, Front Street, B1283, Sherburn Hill, Crime Rig Bank, Shadforth, Ludworth, Haswell Plough, Haswell Village, B1280, Shotton Colliery Fleming Field, Salters Lane, Bruce Glasier Terrace, Friar Street, Potto Street, Front Street, Shotton Road, Burnhope Way, Pennine Way, Passfield Way, Burnhope Way, Bede Way, Peterlee Bus Station, Bede Way, Burnope Way, Essington Way, A1086 Thorpe Road, B1432 Thorpe Road, Village Green, Low Row, Sunderland Road, (Evenings and Sundays Colliery Station Road, Easington Village Seaside Lane, Thope Road, Easington Village Green, B1432 Sunderland Road, Hawthorn, Cold Hesledon, B1285 Church Street, Dalton Park, B1285 Church Street, B1285 ,Dalton-le-Dale, Stockton Road, New Seaham, B1285, A1018, B1522, Stockton Road, B1222 The Village Ryhope, Ryhope Road B1222, Grangetown, Ryhope Road, Stockton Road, Sunderland Interchange


You can view the timetables - effective from 10th March 2013 - below:
23
24


Service X2 sees a revised timetable in the upcoming changes. The new timetable can be viewed by clicking the link below:
X2

(28 Feb 2013, 9:47 pm)Daniel wrote More Arriva news has been given on Nexus' website - perhaps not as exciting as the four new EcoCities that have arrived at Darlington's Faverdale Road depot (4802, 4803, 4805, 4806), but something worth noting nevertheless.

Changes to Arriva's 23 and 24 services have been given, advertising a change of timetable and route.

23
via Sunderland Interchange, Stockton Road, Park Road, Burdon Road, Ryhope Road, The Village, Stockton Road, A1018, B1285, New Seaham, Stockton Road, Dalton-le-Dale, B1285, Church Street, Dalton Park, B1285, Cold Hesledon, Hawthorn, Sunderland Road, Village Green Low Row, B1432, Seaside Lane, Station Road, Sunderland Road , B1283, Thorpe Road, Stephenson Way, Essington Way, Bede Way, Peterlee Bus Station, Bede Way, St Cuthbert's Way, Manor Way, Fulwell Road, Yoden Way, Horden B1320, Blackhall, Blackhall Rocks, Crimdon Dene, Hart Station, A1086, Coast Road, King Oswy Drive, West View, Davison Drive, Warren Road, Winterbottom Avenue, Raby Road, York Road, Victoria Road, Hartlepool Marina.

24
via Durham Bus Station, North Road, Milburngate Bridge, Leazes Road, Gilesgate, Sherburn Road, Front Street, A181, B1283, Sherburn Village, Front Street, B1283, Sherburn Hill, Crime Rig Bank, Shadforth, Ludworth, Haswell Plough, Haswell Village, B1280, Shotton Colliery Fleming Field, Salters Lane, Bruce Glasier Terrace, Friar Street, Potto Street, Front Street, Shotton Road, Burnhope Way, Pennine Way, Passfield Way, Burnhope Way, Bede Way, Peterlee Bus Station, Bede Way, Burnope Way, Essington Way, A1086 Thorpe Road, B1432 Thorpe Road, Village Green, Low Row, Sunderland Road, (Evenings and Sundays Colliery Station Road, Easington Village Seaside Lane, Thope Road, Easington Village Green, B1432 Sunderland Road, Hawthorn, Cold Hesledon, B1285 Church Street, Dalton Park, B1285 Church Street, B1285 ,Dalton-le-Dale, Stockton Road, New Seaham, B1285, A1018, B1522, Stockton Road, B1222 The Village Ryhope, Ryhope Road B1222, Grangetown, Ryhope Road, Stockton Road, Sunderland Interchange


You can view the timetables - effective from 10th March 2013 - below:
23
24


Service X2 sees a revised timetable in the upcoming changes. The new timetable can be viewed by clicking the link below:
X2

Wow Nexus are way behind Connect Tees Valley have had new timetables up for weeks!
The only change to the X2 is withdrawing the schoolday journey around 1445 from Durham to CLS presumably to improve reliability on schools.

(28 Feb 2013, 9:54 pm)tyresmoke wrote Wow Nexus are way behind Connect Tees Valley have had new timetables up for weeks!
The only change to the X2 is withdrawing the schoolday journey around 1445 from Durham to CLS presumably to improve reliability on schools.

No change there then... Nexus clearly didn't give up having a vacuous presence for Lent!