A number of vehicles have arrived from the North West apparently as cover for refurbishments.

Durham have Centros 2610 & 2612 while Commander 2579 has reportedly arrived at Ashington


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(16 Feb 2022, 6:31 am)tyresmoke wrote A number of vehicles have arrived from the North West apparently as cover for refurbishments.

Durham have Centros 2610 & 2612 while Commander 2579 has reportedly arrived at Ashington


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

2579 into service at Ashington this morning, tracking as SP AN on Bustimes.

(17 Feb 2022, 9:55 am)mb134 wrote 2579 into service at Ashington this morning, tracking as SP AN on Bustimes.

https://flic.kr/p/2n47pRP

In Service currently on the X22 to Ashington

Was tracking this evening as 2579 on the X21/X22. Had to take a double take when I saw a Wright "Classic Style" single decker in the darkness on the A1 this evening, I thought they had resurrected a Wright Renown.

(16 Feb 2022, 6:31 am)tyresmoke wrote A number of vehicles have arrived from the North West apparently as cover for refurbishments.

Durham have Centros 2610 & 2612 while Commander 2579 has reportedly arrived at Ashington


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do you know what vehicles are getting refurbed?

Probably either Pulsar 2s or Streetlites.

Or knowning Arriva, something completely random, then give up part way through.

(17 Feb 2022, 8:58 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Do you know what vehicles are getting refurbed?

One might assume buses that are mid-life i.e. around 7 or 8 years old. StreetLite's and E400 I would guess.

(18 Feb 2022, 10:12 pm)busmanT wrote One might assume buses that are mid-life i.e. around 7 or 8 years old. StreetLite's and E400 I would guess.

Have a feeling the Pulsars from Liverpool and the ones for the 1/2 which I assume are the assortment from Redcar, Durham and elsewhere might get done aswell. Some of them haven't been touched in 13 year and in poor state; 1407 and 1409 in particular which is in the hybrid Overdrive/Arriva Original interior. Believe it's mentioned before the Streetlite's are getting done though.

(18 Feb 2022, 10:57 pm)Storx wrote Have a feeling the Pulsars from Liverpool and the ones for the 1/2 which I assume are the assortment from Redcar, Durham and elsewhere might get done aswell. Some of them haven't been touched in 13 year and in poor state; 1407 and 1409 in particular which is in the hybrid Overdrive/Arriva Original interior. Believe it's mentioned before the Streetlite's are getting done though.

The Hybrid/eco livery (old) is being binned across the network, especially in Liverpool where G2s are in the process of repainted. Putting 2 &2 together may suggest 1574-89 will be in with a good chance of repaint.

(19 Feb 2022, 3:38 pm)NewcastleOne wrote The Hybrid/eco livery (old) is being binned across the network, especially in Liverpool where G2s are in the process of repainted. Putting 2 &2 together may suggest 1574-89 will be in with a good chance of repaint.

Aye agreed tbh. I believe someone said awhile back they're all getting done this year when I mentioned awhile back it didn't make sense to send two of the eco ones to Durham and Pulsars would've made more sense. Can't remember who it was though. 

The original 09 batch Pulsars which aren't into MAX urgently need done though especially the ones still in the Arriva original livery like 1407 and 1409. One of them in bad condition as inside with burnt seats and them all white where I assume they've washed grafitti off at some time.

(19 Feb 2022, 5:32 pm)Storx wrote Aye agreed tbh. I believe someone said awhile back they're all getting done this year when I mentioned awhile back it didn't make sense to send two of the eco ones to Durham and Pulsars would've made more sense. Can't remember who it was though. 

The original 09 batch Pulsars which aren't into MAX urgently need done though especially the ones still in the Arriva original livery like 1407 and 1409. One of them in bad condition as inside with burnt seats and them all white where I assume they've washed grafitti off at some time.

Agreed the Pulsar 2s in old old style should be done asap. Due to Arriva simplifying its brand since 2016/17 it may be worth doing vehicles by outside interior style. E.g getting rid of all eco then all pre 2009 then max/sapphire etc. Arriva NE has in my opinion a branding issue. It tried hard at first branding and advertising different schemes and did not maintain them, therefore losing the value gained. Going forward reducing brand by brand, simplifying what the customer sees, consolidating into 1 or maybe 2 brands removing the diluted brands with ‘refreshed’ vehicles.

(19 Feb 2022, 9:09 pm)NewcastleOne wrote Agreed the Pulsar 2s in old old style should be done asap. Due to Arriva simplifying its brand since 2016/17 it may be worth doing vehicles by outside interior style. E.g getting rid of all eco then all pre 2009 then max/sapphire etc. Arriva NE has in my opinion a branding issue. It tried hard at first branding and advertising different schemes and did not maintain them, therefore losing the value gained. Going forward reducing brand by brand, simplifying what the customer sees, consolidating into 1 or maybe 2 brands removing the diluted brands with ‘refreshed’ vehicles.

Yeah your probably right tbh. Then again Arriva being Arriva they'll probably do the newer buses and let the older buses go their full life without any form of refurb or repaint. I believe there's no sub brands now though bar Arriva and the new livery, everything else is scrapped supposedly. The new Arriva interior seems to be a mix of MAX (Seating), Wifi / USB's and NSA's now anyway so is pretty much Sapphire Spec in everything in name anyway.

2612 is now in service on the 56 between Bishop Auckland and Durham and is tracking as 1328

(22 Feb 2022, 1:42 pm)Dyllan7817 wrote 2612 is now in service on the 56 between Bishop Auckland and Durham and is tracking as 1328

Photo of it on the 56 this afternoon: https://flic.kr/p/2n53pxN

This might be a stupid thing to say but is there any reason why they've loaned/got Centro's from Liverpool which are 56 plate when there's already 58 plates in the North East not in service. Seems a bit of a strange move. Assuming there's something seriously wrong with the NE ones.

(22 Feb 2022, 9:31 pm)Storx wrote This might be a stupid thing to say but is there any reason why they've loaned/got Centro's from Liverpool which are 56 plate when there's already 58 plates in the North East not in service. Seems a bit of a strange move. Assuming there's something seriously wrong with the NE ones.

I maybe wrong but i think Durham maybe very short on buses that's why 1535 got sent there not sure about 1534/6 tho

(22 Feb 2022, 9:52 pm)busesofthenortheast wrote I maybe wrong but i think Durham maybe very short on buses that's why 1535 got sent there not sure about 1534/6 tho

Ah has it been back in service recently? I thought all 3 were just sitting around doing nothing with 1923 and 1924 aswell. Just seems strange not to use them but use second hand Commanders and Centros which are older from Liverpool especially when they got refurbished with USB's aswell.

(22 Feb 2022, 11:14 pm)Storx wrote Ah has it been back in service recently? I thought all 3 were just sitting around doing nothing with 1923 and 1924 aswell. Just seems strange not to use them but use second hand Commanders and Centros which are older from Liverpool especially when they got refurbished with USB's aswell.

1534/5/6 are all parked at Belmont currently, believe the plan was for them to be brought back into use there. 1923/4 were earmarked to go to Belmont on a previous allocation sheet but this didn't happen.

(22 Feb 2022, 11:14 pm)Storx wrote Ah has it been back in service recently? I thought all 3 were just sitting around doing nothing with 1923 and 1924 aswell. Just seems strange not to use them but use second hand Commanders and Centros which are older from Liverpool especially when they got refurbished with USB's aswell.

1534-36 and 1923-24 are untaxed and not MOT'd, which the offer of buses that are - probably was preferred.

(23 Feb 2022, 4:45 pm)Jimmi wrote 1534/5/6 are all parked at Belmont currently, believe the plan was for them to be brought back into use there. 1923/4 were earmarked to go to Belmont on a previous allocation sheet but this didn't happen.

(23 Feb 2022, 9:41 pm)RobinHood wrote 1534-36 and 1923-24 are untaxed and not MOT'd, which the offer of buses that are - probably was preferred.

Thanks, would make sense then if they're not MOT'd, didn't think of that. Guessing plans must have changed with Durham at some point.

So I'm thinking all transfers are done I think

Jesmond got the Pulsars (4 more to enter service)
Ashington got the Commander
Belmont got the Centros
Stockton got the Omnilinks

(23 Feb 2022, 10:54 pm)Train8261 wrote So I'm thinking all transfers are done I think

Jesmond got the Pulsars (4 more to enter service)
Ashington got the Commander
Belmont got the Centros
Stockton got the Omnilinks

It's been said many times the Omnilinks went to Darlington

(23 Feb 2022, 11:14 pm)peter wrote It's been said many times the Omnilinks went to Darlington

Sorry my mistake I'm not to informed on the depots down Stockton/Darlington

(23 Feb 2022, 4:45 pm)Jimmi wrote 1534/5/6 are all parked at Belmont currently, believe the plan was for them to be brought back into use there. 1923/4 were earmarked to go to Belmont on a previous allocation sheet but this didn't happen.

And the other plan was to use them for parts for the pulsars if they aren't going to come back into service

Another shot of 2579 (CX06 BHK), on service X20 yesterday:

Arriva North West: 2579 / CX06BHK by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

(26 Feb 2022, 8:22 pm)Dan wrote Another shot of 2579 (CX06 BHK), on service X20 yesterday:

Arriva North West: 2579 / CX06BHK by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Stunning picture like. Sounds really nice. Shame it's the only one

(26 Feb 2022, 10:02 pm)Train8261 wrote Stunning picture like. Sounds really nice. Shame it's the only one

Some of the best build recent Wright buses the Commander's imo, much better than the Pulsar 2 which replaced them which are just riddled with rattles including the fire exit door which amazingly is still a problem on Streetlite's. Just progressively gotten worse Wright buses.

(26 Feb 2022, 10:24 pm)Storx wrote Some of the best build recent Wright buses the Commander's imo, much better than the Pulsar 2 which replaced them which are just riddled with rattles including the fire exit door which amazingly is still a problem on Streetlite's. Just progressively gotten worse Wright buses.

Tbh the Pulsars are actually really decent. 1541 MX61 AVO though sounds terrible

(27 Feb 2022, 8:19 am)Train8261 wrote Tbh the Pulsars are actually really decent. 1541 MX61 AVO though sounds terrible

The Pulsars are awful imo. Rock hard suspension, rattles everywhere, feel extremely cheap and the engine is noisy (not in a nice way). Poorly built imo hate them when they're on the X7 over the Gemini's which are the total opposite.

They were awful when they were brand new in 2009 with rattles nevermind now.

(27 Feb 2022, 10:03 am)Storx wrote The Pulsars are awful imo. Rock hard suspension, rattles everywhere, feel extremely cheap and the engine is noisy (not in a nice way). Poorly built imo hate them when they're on the X7 over the Gemini's which are the total opposite.

They were awful when they were brand new in 2009 with rattles nevermind now.

Better than the StreetLite arriva currently have