Scania OmniLink's 761 and 762 are now at Darlington

Stockton Streetlite 1554 has moved to Redcar ‘on loan’ for the next week or so to work a 5A board which Redcar are covering.
The reason for this is to free Stockton drivers up to cover an X66/X67 board for Darlington - with 1473 moving to Stockton on loan to operate the board

1407 and 2810 should both now be at Ashington ready for the 35 PVR increase and the 58 route transfer which both come into play tomorrow. I'd expect to see 1407 used mainly on the X14/20, with the B7s and 7510 being the 35 allocation.

(31 Oct 2021, 10:34 pm)mb134 wrote 1407 and 2810 should both now be at Ashington ready for the 35 PVR increase and the 58 route transfer which both come into play tomorrow. I'd expect to see 1407 used mainly on the X14/20, with the B7s and 7510 being the 35 allocation.

1407 is the odd one out at Ashington. Does it not qualify to be allocated to the 58 instead of shoving it on the X14. Like I said its an odd bus at Ashington (it being the only single deck long bus there)

58 must be a solo/Dart I do believe

(01 Nov 2021, 12:24 am)ThomasBooth123 wrote 58 must be a solo/Dart I do believe

Not unless 1800 fancy going back to Ashington

58 runs down residential streets so will be a Solo

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(01 Nov 2021, 12:35 am)Train8261 wrote Not unless 1800 fancy going back to Ashington

Plenty of solos available at ashington to run it.

(31 Oct 2021, 10:44 pm)Train8261 wrote 1407 is the odd one out at Ashington. Does it not qualify to be allocated to the 58 instead of shoving it on the X14. Like I said its an odd bus at Ashington (it being the only single deck long bus there)

Eh? None of that makes sense. The 58 is a minibus route, hence 2810 transferring. Also, Ashington had 2 full size single decks anyway - 4653/64.

I don't think 1407 will be the odd one out for long either. The remaining Omnicities will likely be replaced soon too.

According to bustimes.org 7615 is on X21/22s so presuming that's a loan vehicle.

Arriva North East 7609 / NK59 DMO by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Arriva North East 7610 / NK59 DMU by kieron mathews, on Flickr

7609/10 have transferred to Durham from Whitby for the winter while Whitby Park & Ride is closed until Spring.


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One of those are on the 22/23/24 cycle this morning

Seen at Peterlee at about 08:30 on the 24 to Hartlepool

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(01 Nov 2021, 2:26 am)omnicity4659 wrote Plenty of solos available at ashington to run it.

That's debatable mind. They're shot the Solos at Ashington and they've just been put under more pressure now with only 1 spare for a PVR of 5, used to be 6 buses for a PVR for 4 at one point with the Darts which were more reliable (even known they were older).

Noticed Enviro's are on the 57/57A already today since 2810 from Blyth has broke after 2 days and 2813 has broke down this morning. The 08 plate Solo's in particular are a problem at Ashington, not sure what they're like at other depots. 2809 is usually the worst for being off the road aswell.

What buses would be a good replacement for the 57/57A

(05 Nov 2021, 12:34 pm)Train8261 wrote What buses would be a good replacement for the 57/57A

It doesn't really need any new buses just something more reliable, the 3 08 plates have been quite unreliable for awhile now and what I've heard in the past the Blyth ones were just as bad so you might aswell add 2810 aswell.

Admit 2812/2813 haven't been too bad either but they're getting on a bit now, it doesn't help that they keep getting rattled on the X14 either all day lately. They need retired to the stuff like the Darlington town work ideally where they just potter around estates all day.

The Arriva Durham 57/58 seems to have similar problems bar it's the Enviro 200's and also Solo's having problems down there.

(05 Nov 2021, 3:00 pm)Storx wrote It doesn't really need any new buses just something more reliable, the 3 08 plates have been quite unreliable for awhile now and what I've heard in the past the Blyth ones were just as bad so you might aswell add 2810 aswell.

Admit 2812/2813 haven't been too bad either but they're getting on a bit now, it doesn't help that they keep getting rattled on the X14 either all day lately. They need retired to the stuff like the Darlington town work ideally where they just potter around estates all day.

The Arriva Durham 57/58 seems to have similar problems bar it's the Enviro 200's and also Solo's having problems down there.

If only the Darlington Solos were used only to potter around estates all day. They're regular performers on services to which they are wholly unsuited including the X1, X26, X27, X66, X67, Sapphire 1, 5, 5A and Sapphire 7. It would of course help if the large squadron of  Omnicities were to be retired and replaced with something more modern and hence reliable. Then vehicle allocation nay have a chance of stabilising, but current policy won't allow that any time soon.

(05 Nov 2021, 5:31 pm)9920up wrote If only the Darlington Solos were used only to potter around estates all day. They're regular performers on services to which they are wholly unsuited including the X1, X26, X27, X66, X67, Sapphire 1, 5, 5A and Sapphire 7. It would of course help if the large squadron of  Omnicities were to be retired and replaced with something more modern and hence reliable. Then vehicle allocation nay have a chance of stabilising, but current policy won't allow that any time soon.

Ah, never realised there's a big problem down there with them venturing off route. Not going to lie, they badly need to send the Solo's elsewhere and get some bigger buses from somewhere, not sure there's any spare big buses around though.

Arriva Southern Counties would probably appreciate them though since they've still got roughly 30 darts in service and some even more elderly Solo's in use.

The omilinks that Darlington have gained, are they going to put into service or are just going to be used for spares and repairs till some newer buses become avaible

(07 Nov 2021, 11:18 am)Ryland wrote The omilinks that Darlington have gained, are they going to put into service or are just going to be used for spares and repairs till some newer buses become avaible

Can't see them being scrapped. They're much newer buses than the current lot so wouldn't make sense (60 plate). Wouldn't be surprised if they end up on the X75/X76 since there's only 3 of them and they'd be ideal for the route.

(07 Nov 2021, 12:13 pm)Storx wrote Can't see them being scrapped. They're much newer buses than the current lot so wouldn't make sense (60 plate). Wouldn't be surprised if they end up on the X75/X76 since there's only 3 of them and they'd be ideal for the route.

Ideal? They have horrendous seats inside, no good for anything other than a short distance journey.


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(07 Nov 2021, 12:58 pm)Dan wrote Ideal? They have horrendous seats inside, no good for anything other than a short distance journey.


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Could the seats not be replaced with some taken from the withdrawn Omnicities?

(07 Nov 2021, 12:13 pm)Storx wrote Can't see them being scrapped. They're much newer buses than the current lot so wouldn't make sense (60 plate). Wouldn't be surprised if they end up on the X75/X76 since there's only 3 of them and they'd be ideal for the route.

They're currently awaiting test before entering service, X75/X76 is the rumoured route for them although knowing the way things work they'll end up on most routes in reality.

(07 Nov 2021, 12:58 pm)Dan wrote Ideal? They have horrendous seats inside, no good for anything other than a short distance journey.

I was hoping for them to get the seats out of the Omnicities but instead it's just the existing seats being retrimmed in e-leather, hopefully that improves things but I doubt it.

The seats certainly ain't comfortable, 721 which usually does the 689 has the same seats and wasn't nice for a 55 min trip.

(07 Nov 2021, 3:31 pm)peter wrote Could the seats not be replaced with some taken from the withdrawn Omnicities?

You’d hope so, but this hasn’t been done.


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(07 Nov 2021, 3:34 pm)Jimmi wrote They're currently awaiting test before entering service, X75/X76 is the rumoured route for them although knowing the way things work they'll end up on most routes in reality.


I was hoping for them to get the seats out of the Omnicities but instead it's just the existing seats being retrimmed in e-leather, hopefully that improves things but I doubt it.

The seats certainly ain't comfortable, 721 which usually does the 689 has the same seats and wasn't nice for a 55 min trip.

Yeah your probably right there mind. Didn't realise they had non standard seats though. They look pretty grim and should be replaced imo.

(07 Nov 2021, 12:58 pm)Dan wrote Ideal? They have horrendous seats inside, no good for anything other than a short distance journey.


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They're not Urban 90s are they?

What's happened to the centros not seen them in a long while

Omilink was at the back of redcar depot yesterday in new arriva livery

1610 at Blyth. Sat at the front bay of the depot atm anyone know what it's doing there.

(15 Nov 2021, 8:29 am)GNE6312 wrote 1610 at Blyth. Sat at the front bay of the depot atm anyone know what it's doing there.

I believe that Blyth does MOTs when there's no capacity elsewhere.

(15 Nov 2021, 9:01 am)omnicity4659 wrote I believe that Blyth does MOTs when there's no capacity elsewhere.

Indeed - I had exactly the same question when I noted a bus from the Deep South (Stockton?) at Blyth a few years ago, and was told it was because Blyth do the MOTs.