(02 Sep 2025, 3:17 pm)morritt89 wrote I used the 16 today (my local service). Boarded at Hastings Hill (got off X24 to get the 16). Bus arrived Not in Service  from Chester Road due to late running. Left first stop late (7 mins) and picked up every stop. Full standing load by the crew. Passengers got off at Park Lane then bus full at Fawcett Street (left around 20 mins late with the bus behind catching us up). Driver got a radio message at Southwick Green asking him not to pick up at Redhouse and travel light somewhere.

I think, the 16 needs a frequency increase or larger vehicles

It’s the same problem with the 36 and some other Teesside routes am glad people are starting the see the problems now with the new electric Yutongs now

(03 Sep 2025, 6:38 am)col87 wrote It’s the same problem with the 36 and some other Teesside routes am glad people are starting the see the problems now with the new electric Yutongs now

These problems are not pertanent to the Yutongs.

Pretty much any new bus, diesel or electric, built in the last 7 or 8 years would have the same issues regarding delays.

(03 Sep 2025, 6:38 am)col87 wrote It’s the same problem with the 36 and some other Teesside routes am glad people are starting the see the problems now with the new electric Yutongs now

The delays on the 36 are absolutely nothing to do with the yutongs - if anything the yutongs have improved reliability - much quicker pulling away from stops and junctions than the MAN’s and most E300’s previously in service.

The door opening/closing system is still slightly quicker than the E200MMC’s previously in use.

What you will actually find the route cause of delays on the 36 is the running time around Hartlepool, 95% of the time it is absolutely fine but that 5% of the time when you miss the lights at Greatham, struggle to get out of Owton Manor Lane, then hit the lights at Oxford Road, then struggle through the Town Centre before then hitting traffic at the Marina the buses funnily enough start to run late! The crazy amount of running time around Billingham heading back into Mbro plus the 5 minutes to go from one end of Stockton High Street to the other gets them back on time.

Strangely enough reliability on the 36 alone is around 96% on time so I don’t quite think the yutongs are causing the issues you claim they are??

(03 Sep 2025, 8:22 am)F114TML wrote These problems are not pertanent to the Yutongs.

Pretty much any new bus, diesel or electric, built in the last 7 or 8 years would have the same issues regarding delays.

(03 Sep 2025, 10:03 am)Teessider2014 wrote The delays on the 36 are absolutely nothing to do with the yutongs - if anything the yutongs have improved reliability - much quicker pulling away from stops and junctions than the MAN’s and most E300’s previously in service.

The door opening/closing system is still slightly quicker than the E200MMC’s previously in use.

What you will actually find the route cause of delays on the 36 is the running time around Hartlepool, 95% of the time it is absolutely fine but that 5% of the time when you miss the lights at Greatham, struggle to get out of Owton Manor Lane, then hit the lights at Oxford Road, then struggle through the Town Centre before then hitting traffic at the Marina the buses funnily enough start to run late! The crazy amount of running time around Billingham heading back into Mbro plus the 5 minutes to go from one end of Stockton High Street to the other gets them back on time.

Strangely enough reliability on the 36 alone is around 96% on time so I don’t quite think the yutongs are causing the issues you claim they are??

I think he was talking about capacity issues, rather than timing issues. I know he's mentioned it a few times now. Believe the Yutongs have slightly fewer seats, if I'm correct.

(I don't have a clue on the capacity side of the 36, never used it)

(03 Sep 2025, 10:16 am)Storx wrote I think he was talking about capacity issues, rather than timing issues. I know he's mentioned it a few times now. Believe the Yutongs have slightly fewer seats, if I'm correct.

(I don't have a clue on the capacity side of the 36, never used it)

36 seats is a whole drop of 3 from the previous vehicles used - although you can get 2 people on the front seats that are marked for 1 person….

36 seats is far more than enough to cover passenger usage for the vast majority of the day truth be told - some services used to struggle with the 48 seats that the 05 plate E300’s used to have ie morning 34’s towards Mbro but an additional journey has now been added to make up for that.

Peak times passengers have been known to stand on buses for quite a while sadly certain people within groups seem to think buses are full when there is 1 person standing!

(03 Sep 2025, 1:16 pm)Teessider2014 wrote 36 seats is a whole drop of 3 from the previous vehicles used - although you can get 2 people on the front seats that are marked for 1 person….

36 seats is far more than enough to cover passenger usage for the vast majority of the day truth be told - some services used to struggle with the 48 seats that the 05 plate E300’s used to have ie morning 34’s towards Mbro but an additional journey has now been added to make up for that.

Peak times passengers have been known to stand on buses for quite a while sadly certain people within groups seem to think buses are full when there is 1 person standing!

Aye knew there wasn't much different between the two.

Seems like the sort of place that needs some peak boost, maybe a couple morning expresses to take off the load - if you can get it to work with something else. It's the sort of place a few quicker journeys no doubt would be appreciated by some.

Yutongs seat 39, or 34 and a wheelchair (not sure how they work that out but that's what the sign says)

(03 Sep 2025, 10:03 am)Teessider2014 wrote The delays on the 36 are absolutely nothing to do with the yutongs - if anything the yutongs have improved reliability - much quicker pulling away from stops and junctions than the MAN’s and most E300’s previously in service.

The door opening/closing system is still slightly quicker than the E200MMC’s previously in use.

What you will actually find the route cause of delays on the 36 is the running time around Hartlepool, 95% of the time it is absolutely fine but that 5% of the time when you miss the lights at Greatham, struggle to get out of Owton Manor Lane, then hit the lights at Oxford Road, then struggle through the Town Centre before then hitting traffic at the Marina the buses funnily enough start to run late! The crazy amount of running time around Billingham heading back into Mbro plus the 5 minutes to go from one end of Stockton High Street to the other gets them back on time.

Strangely enough reliability on the 36 alone is around 96% on time so I don’t quite think the yutongs are causing the issues you claim they are??

By all means disagree but when I travelled on it 2 weeks ago it left the Marina only 2 minutes late by the time it got to Stockton High Street it was 20 minutes late. The one behind was also running 10 minutes late.   A reason for this was due to capacity and people struggling to find somewhere to sit or stand.  My experience is it’s made the service more unreliable if anything.  That same day the 59 and 37 also running several minutes late as well.

Open top 18467 at Sunderland from Chesterfield

Just for storage or other plans?

Seems strange to transfer now in September when the usual 4 open toppers have barely seen service (unless for Great North Run use)

(03 Sep 2025, 9:37 pm)LVK 404L wrote Open top 18457 at Sunderland from Chesterfield

Just for storage or other plans?

Seems strange to transfer now in September when the usual 4 open toppers have barely seen service (unless for Great North Run use)

Would imagine it's up here for use during the Great North Run along with the NE based examples, plus open tops from the likes of Go North East and York Pullman also see use during the GNR.

(03 Sep 2025, 9:01 pm)col87 wrote By all means disagree but when I travelled on it 2 weeks ago it left the Marina only 2 minutes late by the time it got to Stockton High Street it was 20 minutes late. The one behind was also running 10 minutes late.   A reason for this was due to capacity and people struggling to find somewhere to sit or stand.  My experience is it’s made the service more unreliable if anything.  That same day the 59 and 37 also running several minutes late as well.

I came back from Hartlepool on the 36 on Monday. With standing passengers it was on time within a few minutes all the way.

(03 Sep 2025, 9:37 pm)LVK 404L wrote Open top 18457 at Sunderland from Chesterfield

Just for storage or other plans?

Seems strange to transfer now in September when the usual 4 open toppers have barely seen service (unless for Great North Run use)

I presume you mean 18467. That one is a full height ex-London example - which means it can only be used on one of the two Peak Sightseer Routes as the BLUE route passes under the bridge at Hope (the same bridge that has caused First to divert West of England full Height Streetdecks to Potteries for their ex-York Low Height examples) which means now that the high season has ended, it’s effectively a dud as the board that starts on the RED route ends up on BLUE late afternoon and it’s pointless it being used on the board that just does Chesterfield-Chatsworth House and return as that is effectively the spare bus in case of issues. Also technically the closest spare open topper - all the Lakes ones are still required this weekend after all.

(04 Sep 2025, 8:27 am)Kuyoyo wrote I presume you mean 18467. That one is a full height ex-London example - which means it can only be used on one of the two Peak Sightseer Routes as the BLUE route passes under the bridge at Hope (the same bridge that has caused First to divert West of England full Height Streetdecks to Potteries for their ex-York Low Height examples) which means now that the high season has ended, it’s effectively a dud as the board that starts on the RED route ends up on BLUE late afternoon and it’s pointless it being used on the board that just does Chesterfield-Chatsworth House and return as that is effectively the spare bus in case of issues. Also technically the closest spare open topper - all the Lakes ones are still required this weekend after all.

Finger slip, edited to 18467

Tbh, its gonna sound daft, but i always thought the 30/31/36 should be DD operated, at times ive saw it absolutely rammed

Has 80000 left Stockton depot has not been in service for a while? Is U11dd for Stockton depot dose mean it due soon for school service.

(04 Sep 2025, 4:44 pm)V514DFT wrote Tbh, its gonna sound daft, but i always thought the 30/31/36 should be DD operated, at times ive saw it absolutely rammed

Very rarely mate, mainly just rush hour. During the day they are quite empty, the 260** E200MMC’s manage quite well, I think the Yutong E12’s will be fine on them routes.

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(04 Sep 2025, 6:16 pm)Glen1974 wrote Has 80000 left Stockton depot has not been in service for a while? Is U11dd for Stockton depot dose mean it due soon for school service.

Give it a rest Glen. I don’t see why they need a double decker Yutong anyway. What school service is there anyway? The 13B? Schools have been back a few days now and seems to be just single deck Yutongs on it so what’s the purpose of the double decker. Can anyone answer?

(04 Sep 2025, 7:22 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote Very rarely mate, mainly just rush hour. During the day they are quite empty, the 260** E200MMC’s manage quite well, I think the Yutong E12’s will be fine on them routes.

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Give it a rest Glen. I don’t see why they need a double decker Yutong anyway. What school service is there anyway? The 13B? Schools have been back a few days now and seems to be just single deck Yutongs on it so what’s the purpose of the double decker. Can anyone answer?

If I'm not mistaken, I'm sure it's to do with a UTC contract, which won't show up on bus times.

Ok mate

(04 Sep 2025, 7:22 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote Very rarely mate, mainly just rush hour. During the day they are quite empty, the 260** E200MMC’s manage quite well, I think the Yutong E12’s will be fine on them routes.

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Give it a rest Glen. I don’t see why they need a double decker Yutong anyway. What school service is there anyway? The 13B? Schools have been back a few days now and seems to be just single deck Yutongs on it so what’s the purpose of the double decker. Can anyone answer?

5197, Wynyard - Sedgefield School, doesn't track on Bustimes though as it's not a public service.

(04 Sep 2025, 7:34 pm)F114TML wrote 5197, Wynyard - Sedgefield School, doesn't track on Bustimes though as it's not a public service.

So will the Yutong Double Decker see normal service as well or will it be exclusively for the school service(s)?

(05 Sep 2025, 6:08 am)ReDemPTiion wrote So will the Yutong Double Decker see normal service as well or will it be exclusively for the school service(s)?

Depends if they've changed tge running board.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yq96qgdg6o

raising fares again.

(05 Sep 2025, 6:08 am)ReDemPTiion wrote So will the Yutong Double Decker see normal service as well or will it be exclusively for the school service(s)?

Potentially not - due to the risk of vandalism they’re not too keen to send the decker out in normal service

(06 Sep 2025, 9:57 am)Rob44 wrote https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yq96qgdg6o

raising fares again.

They're on the ball I see, only 6 days late.

(06 Sep 2025, 11:19 am)Teessider2014 wrote Potentially not - due to the risk of vandalism they’re not too keen to send the decker out in normal service

So children on school buses don't cause vandalism?

(06 Sep 2025, 11:19 am)Teessider2014 wrote Potentially not - due to the risk of vandalism they’re not too keen to send the decker out in normal service

A very expensive school bus then. Absolutely not performing any return on investment, so I cannot see that being the case forever.

It's more likely the contract it is used on will end next year and the bus will move on to another location.

Otherwise, in order for it to actually pay for itself, then the price for a daily school bus in Sedgefield will go up faster than Angela Rayner's tax bill.

5197 is a 2 or 3 year contract, that's just been re-awarded.

80000 wasn't allowed on normal service mainly because only a few drivers were familiarised, and it was a short-term loan, so worry about crash damage (I have a feeling for some reason that Stagecoach don't even own it)

(06 Sep 2025, 6:04 pm)F114TML wrote 5197 is a 2 or 3 year contract, that's just been re-awarded.

80000 wasn't allowed on normal service mainly because only a few drivers were familiarised, and it was a short-term loan, so worry about crash damage (I have a feeling for some reason that Stagecoach don't even own it)

Demonstators aren't they with Arriva, GoAhead and Stagecoach each having one?

Arriva (AR74 ZEB) - Currently at Ashington
GoAhead (GA74 ZEB) - Currently at Brighton
Stagecoach (SC74 ZEB) - Not sure where it's at now

That's the 3 of them. There's AD24 ZEB around aswell, but unsure where that's at these days. Edit: at Harrogate.

(06 Sep 2025, 12:22 pm)stagecoachfan wrote So children on school buses don't cause vandalism?

Not on the Wynyard school run no!

2 x windows a day across Teesside being smashed with 1 X decker for the contract pretty much rules it out going on normal service apart from office staff covering late ops

(06 Sep 2025, 12:22 pm)stagecoachfan wrote So children on school buses don't cause vandalism?

Tbf whenever I did the sedgefield one they were little bother. Bit loud, maybe the odd bit of luggage, but that's it.

Only a couple of drivers do the 5197 (and even then one of them does it most of the week), and ours (5045, now with someone else) had one permanent driver and two relief drivers (the two relief drivers also cover the 5001 to Easington).

The drivers therefore build a rapport with the kids, the kids know how far the driver will let them go. They're much better behaved that way.