(22 Sep 2022, 1:16 pm)Phillippatt wrote Maybe a temp arrangement with 7484 at durham, whats up with 7508?

Accident damage.

Is 1543 still in and around redcar or has that disappeared now. Any updates on when redcars streetlites are getting repainted.

Also with Newcastle getting new buses will this be the same for further south od the region

(25 Sep 2022, 12:58 pm)Ryland wrote Is 1543 still in and around redcar or has that disappeared now. Any updates on when redcars streetlites are getting repainted.

Also with Newcastle getting new buses will this be the same for further south od the region

1543 has returned north - it's presently working for Blyth.
As for when Redcar's Streetlites are going for refurbishment - no idea, Stockton's last pair 1557/9 are still away.

As for new stock, nothing concrete at present but there's hope there might be investment in the stronger areas of the region next year (and for anyone disputing that - Durham County is the side which has constantly turned a profit for the last decade, unlike Northumbria, and the side which has depots who are now at 100% plus passenger loadings post-Covid).

(25 Sep 2022, 1:23 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 1543 has returned north - it's presently working for Blyth.
As for when Redcar's Streetlites are going for refurbishment - no idea, Stockton's last pair 1557/9 are still away.

As for new stock, nothing concrete at present but there's hope there might be investment in the stronger areas of the region next year (and for anyone disputing that - Durham County is the side which has constantly turned a profit for the last decade, unlike Northumbria, and the side which has depots who are now at 100% plus passenger loadings post-Covid).

Wonder what could be up for new stock at Durham, /X46/6/22/24/23/42 I would guess but I don't have a great idea of loadings

(25 Sep 2022, 2:58 pm)Unber43 wrote Wonder what could be up for new stock at Durham, /X46/6/22/24/23/42 I would guess but I don't have a great idea of loadings

I'm assuming that's more likely the 3 Southern depots not Durham. Whenever I've been down Darlington the town services seem to have very good loadings and the Solo's need to go asap as they're finished and I was down at Richmond the other week and the X26/X27 loadings were strong aswell, one was nearly 3/4 full and it wasn't peak either.

Stockton's also got some strong routes aswell. I don't know enough about Redcar to say much but the 63 has always been a flagship route and the Temsa's are getting on now.

Durham and Jesmond have always come across as the two weak depots in pretty much everything especially fleet presentation. Both have a lot of old cascaded stock at them and poor routes aswell really.

(25 Sep 2022, 9:59 pm)Storx wrote I'm assuming that's more likely the 3 Southern depots not Durham. Whenever I've been down Darlington the town services seem to have very good loadings and the Solo's need to go asap as they're finished and I was down at Richmond the other week and the X26/X27 loadings were strong aswell, one was nearly 3/4 full and it wasn't peak either.

Stockton's also got some strong routes aswell. I don't know enough about Redcar to say much but the 63 has always been a flagship route and the Temsa's are getting on now.

Durham and Jesmond have always come across as the two weak depots in pretty much everything especially fleet presentation. Both have a lot of old cascaded stock at them and poor routes aswell really.

The Darlington town services do really well. I suppose that's because it's a stable network with frequent services and reasonable fares. I think the maximum single fares on the town services is £2, and they've had a £1 evening fare for a long time.

Cross town links as well, including to Amazon.

Other operators should take note - but because it's Arriva, they get no credit for it.

(25 Sep 2022, 10:47 pm)Thomas12 wrote The Darlington town services do really well. I suppose that's because it's a stable network with frequent services and reasonable fares. I think the maximum single fares on the town services is £2, and they've had a £1 evening fare for a long time.

Cross town links as well, including to Amazon.

Other operators should take note - but because it's Arriva, they get no credit for it.

Yeah totally agreed if I had to be honest, it's just a shame they're riddled with Solo's as they really do deserve something better. They aren't nice buses and are really outdated, even being so when they were new never mind now.

(25 Sep 2022, 10:47 pm)Thomas12 wrote The Darlington town services do really well. I suppose that's because it's a stable network with frequent services and reasonable fares. I think the maximum single fares on the town services is £2, and they've had a £1 evening fare for a long time.

Cross town links as well, including to Amazon.

Other operators should take note - but because it's Arriva, they get no credit for it.

Take note of what exactly. Did Arriva create these routes through asking the community what they want? Or are these busy because of reduced timetables/cancelled service? Or was it just demand which has been their and arriva haven't changed their work and have found a long standing plan which works and it did for years before the pandemic.

(27 Sep 2022, 8:55 am)Unber43 wrote Take note of what exactly. Did Arriva create these routes through asking the community what they want? Or are these busy because of reduced timetables/cancelled service? Or was it just demand which has been their and arriva haven't changed their work and have found a long standing plan which works and it did for years before the pandemic.

I do think Arriva deserve some credit for their response to covid. Over at GNE, the network has been chopped to pieces since March 2020. Meanwhile Stagecoach seem to withdraw all of their least profitable routes and hope the local authority steps in (which of course they did in Newcastle, with the Sunderland changes never coming to fruition). I'd say of the three Arriva have been the most consistent, with the network looking largely the same as it did in March 2020. 

A handful of high frequency services had their frequency reduced including the Darlo Town Services, the 7, 8 and 9 at Stockton, the 6 and 64 at Durham and the X10/11 at Blyth to name a few but on the whole the network has been pretty consistent. Admittedly, the X16 was withdrawn (but that was essentially a frequency decrease on the Morpeth corridor) and the X12 reduced to hourly Newcastle to Durham, but you're competing with the train on those flows tbf. The only real casualty has been the 86 from Bishop to Toft Hill and tbh it was only a matter of time before they gave that up to be DCC tendered as with every other local Bishop Auckland service. While they certainly struggle in other areas, fleet presentation for one, they do deserve some props because you can get on the same bus and same route you were getting on before Covid, many GNE passengers can't say the same.

(27 Sep 2022, 6:34 pm)peter wrote I do think Arriva deserve some credit for their response to covid. Over at GNE, the network has been chopped to pieces since March 2020. Meanwhile Stagecoach seem to withdraw all of their least profitable routes and hope the local authority steps in (which of course they did in Newcastle, with the Sunderland changes never coming to fruition). I'd say of the three Arriva have been the most consistent, with the network looking largely the same as it did in March 2020. 

A handful of high frequency services had their frequency reduced including the Darlo Town Services, the 7, 8 and 9 at Stockton, the 6 and 64 at Durham and the X10/11 at Blyth to name a few but on the whole the network has been pretty consistent. Admittedly, the X16 was withdrawn (but that was essentially a frequency decrease on the Morpeth corridor) and the X12 reduced to hourly Newcastle to Durham, but you're competing with the train on those flows tbf. The only real casualty has been the 86 from Bishop to Toft Hill and tbh it was only a matter of time before they gave that up to be DCC tendered as with every other local Bishop Auckland service. While they certainly struggle in other areas, fleet presentation for one, they do deserve some props because you can get on the same bus and same route you were getting on before Covid, many GNE passengers can't say the same.

I have to agree, as much as i don't like Arriva (mainly the price of their tickets) their network has remained pretty stable, even before covid was a thing,their services mainly got timing changes, GNE, can they really say they have much of a network left after all the cuts?, i'd also argue they're very much like GNE, always wanting handouts from Nexus

(27 Sep 2022, 7:44 pm)V514DFT wrote I have to agree, as much as i don't like Arriva (mainly the price of their tickets) their network has remained pretty stable, even before covid was a thing,their services mainly got timing changes, GNE, can they really say they have much of a network left after all the cuts?, i'd also argue they're very much like GNE, always wanting handouts from Nexus

Really?

They didn't propose to withdraw any full services in Newcastle and North Tyneside in March of this year, when Stagecoach and GNE did. So what handouts are they looking for? 

Nexus funded small sections of the 46A and 51A (to replace withdrawn GNE/Nexus services) and some evening journeys on the 52 (again to replace withdrawn GNE 42/42A). 

They also operate a very small number of Nexus contracts.

(27 Sep 2022, 6:34 pm)peter wrote I do think Arriva deserve some credit for their response to covid. Over at GNE, the network has been chopped to pieces since March 2020. Meanwhile Stagecoach seem to withdraw all of their least profitable routes and hope the local authority steps in (which of course they did in Newcastle, with the Sunderland changes never coming to fruition). I'd say of the three Arriva have been the most consistent, with the network looking largely the same as it did in March 2020. 

A handful of high frequency services had their frequency reduced including the Darlo Town Services, the 7, 8 and 9 at Stockton, the 6 and 64 at Durham and the X10/11 at Blyth to name a few but on the whole the network has been pretty consistent. Admittedly, the X16 was withdrawn (but that was essentially a frequency decrease on the Morpeth corridor) and the X12 reduced to hourly Newcastle to Durham, but you're competing with the train on those flows tbf. The only real casualty has been the 86 from Bishop to Toft Hill and tbh it was only a matter of time before they gave that up to be DCC tendered as with every other local Bishop Auckland service. While they certainly struggle in other areas, fleet presentation for one, they do deserve some props because you can get on the same bus and same route you were getting on before Covid, many GNE passengers can't say the same.

I do agree, however are Arriva turning a profit or are they just taken the financial hit.

However their fleet especially at Durham the state of them is just abysmal.

(27 Sep 2022, 8:20 pm)Unber43 wrote I do agree, however are Arriva turning a profit or are they just taken the financial hit.

However their fleet especially at Durham the state of them is just abysmal.

Arriva Durham County are yes. It was also mentioned that passenger numbers are at 100%+ of those pre covid at some of the Arriva Durham County depots.

I suppose this shows how much passengers care about fleet presentation, maybe?

(27 Sep 2022, 8:24 pm)Thomas12 wrote Arriva Durham County are yes. It was also mentioned that passenger numbers are at 100%+ of those pre covid at some of the Arriva Durham County depots.

What about Arriva Northumberland I think they might be loss making

(27 Sep 2022, 8:27 pm)Unber43 wrote What about Arriva Northumberland I think they might be loss making

Yeah, I don't think they perform as well as Arriva Durham County. Not sure if they are loss making or not, though.

(27 Sep 2022, 8:27 pm)Unber43 wrote What about Arriva Northumberland I think they might be loss making

What's the thinking behind that then?

(27 Sep 2022, 8:28 pm)Thomas12 wrote Yeah, I don't think they perform as well as Arriva Durham County. Not sure if they are loss making or not, though.

It's always hard to tell I think as there's some very very strong routes in Durham County especially the Stockton routes and 63 at Redcar. Not to mention the 1, 6 and 7, X26, X27 and Darlington Town Services being good little earners.

Is everything making a money or are these just covering the likes of the 5, 5A, 8 (All Darlington), 28, 29, 49/49A, 56 (Durham), 57/57A (Durham), 81 (Redcar) which always come across as very weak routes.

It's the same at Arriva Northumbria but the opposite way, Jesmond seems to be the problem depot lately and they've got a lot of the work. The 46, 46A, 51/51A, 52, 53, 54, 55 are all a bit iffy and they don't really have anything to drag them out. The 306/308 is still overserved, the 43/44/45 all seem to be really struggling. What's left there, not much really. It's not really a surprise they're trying to spread it out between Blyth and Ashington which no doubt do alright.

Stagecoach are by the far the worst for it though as the likes of the 38, 39, 40, 62, 63 anyone could run and they no doubt hide how bad other areas are ie. South Shields.

(27 Sep 2022, 8:24 pm)Thomas12 wrote Arriva Durham County are yes. It was also mentioned that passenger numbers are at 100%+ of those pre covid at some of the Arriva Durham County depots.

I suppose this shows how much passengers care about fleet presentation, maybe?

Overall passenger numbers or averages per journey?

(27 Sep 2022, 8:43 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Overall passenger numbers or averages per journey?

Averages per journey won't be hard if the driver shortages are still as bad as suggested!

(27 Sep 2022, 8:39 pm)Storx wrote It's always hard to tell I think as there's some very very strong routes in Durham County especially the Stockton routes and 63 at Redcar. Not to mention the 1, 6 and 7, X26, X27 and Darlington Town Services being good little earners.

Is everything making a money or are these just covering the likes of the 5, 5A, 8 (All Darlington), 28, 29, 49/49A, 56 (Durham), 57/57A (Durham), 81 (Redcar) which always come across as very weak routes.

It's the same at Arriva Northumbria but the opposite way, Jesmond seems to be the problem depot lately and they've got a lot of the work. The 46, 46A, 51/51A, 52, 53, 54, 55 are all a bit iffy and they don't really have anything to drag them out. The 306/308 is still overserved, the 43/44/45 all seem to be really struggling. What's left there, not much really. It's not really a surprise they're trying to spread it out between Blyth and Ashington which no doubt do alright.

Stagecoach are by the far the worst for it though as the likes of the 38, 39, 40, 62, 63 anyone could run and they no doubt hide how bad other areas are ie. South Shields.

57/57A when I saw them earlier were standing tho that was in Peak. 

49/49A have really been hit quite hard I think with the 21 extension, I think if GNE ran the 21 all day/night to Brandon there would really be no use for the 49/49A except operate counter clockwise around brandon.

7554 is now at Jesmond, spent yesterday on the 43/44/45

With completion of the Stockton Streetlite refurbishment, 2824/34 have now transferred from Stockton to Redcar to allow work to begin on their Streetlites.

(30 Sep 2022, 8:22 am)Kuyoyo wrote With completion of the Stockton Streetlite refurbishment, 2824/34 have now transferred from Stockton to Redcar to allow work to begin on their Streetlites.

What is happening with these referbs? Are they just getting repainted?

(30 Sep 2022, 8:48 am)nova347 wrote What is happening with these referbs? Are they just getting repainted?

Repaints, internal retrim (Sapphire seats replaced with the standard Arriva E-leather) and replacement of the floor in the entrance.

(30 Sep 2022, 8:16 am)GNE6312 wrote 7554 is now at Jesmond, spent yesterday on the 43/44/45

7553/4 have both been there since the start of September, think they've been having work done before being put into service.

(30 Sep 2022, 9:31 am)Kuyoyo wrote Repaints, internal retrim (Sapphire seats replaced with the standard Arriva E-leather) and replacement of the floor in the entrance.

So they're not getting USBs or anything?

(30 Sep 2022, 8:35 pm)nova347 wrote So they're not getting USBs or anything?

The Sapphire buses already have plugs or USB's not sure what that batch have. Plugs I believe.

(01 Oct 2022, 6:36 am)Storx wrote The Sapphire buses already have plugs or USB's not sure what that batch have. Plugs I believe.

The Streetlites have Plugs with USBs fitted

(27 Sep 2022, 8:39 pm)Storx wrote It's the same at Arriva Northumbria but the opposite way, Jesmond seems to be the problem depot lately and they've got a lot of the work. The 46, 46A, 51/51A, 52, 53, 54, 55 are all a bit iffy and they don't really have anything to drag them out. The 306/308 is still overserved, the 43/44/45 all seem to be really struggling. What's left there, not much really. It's not really a surprise they're trying to spread it out between Blyth and Ashington which no doubt do alright.

306 & 308 given the move to Blyth, would be best dropped to every 20 minutes (every 10 on common sections) with the 306 kept on the Coast Road out of Battle Hill and both the 306/308 interworking.

That and some sort of coordinated timimg with GNE's 1 between North Shields and Whitley Bay with a 20 minute frequency on the 306 would work well.

(01 Oct 2022, 7:11 am)L469 YVK wrote 306 & 308 given the move to Blyth, would be best dropped to every 20 minutes (every 10 on common sections) with the 306 kept on the Coast Road out of Battle Hill and both the 306/308 interworking.

That and some sort of coordinated timimg with GNE's 1 between North Shields and Whitley Bay with a 20 minute frequency on the 306 would work well.

Guess it all depends on the interworking patterns, not sure there's enough time to do 52 -> 54 -> 53 and reverse without changing elsewhere maybe we might see some odd interworking patterns rather than just the 306/308.

Guess it all depends whether the 43/44/45, X7/X8/X9 and 52/53/54 are kept together.

Maybe we could see changes at Haymarket ie the X7/X9 interworking with the 44/45 instead for just a random example using deckers. Then the X8 interworking with something else, maybe the 54 with singles etc.

43 working from Morpeth with Ashington drivers.

52/53 also moving to Ashington working from Cramlington (there's already an early 52 that runs from Ashington and returns at night).

There's lots that could potentially happen now they've scrapped MAX / Sapphire.