Not that many years ago when there was such a thing as spare vehicles, some of the fleet was out - sourced to outfits like Thorntons for cosmetic overhauls and re - fits? These days with such demands placed on our fleet its mostly get though whatever tests, get them fit enough for service and keep the show going.
Cleaners seem to be a rarity as well but then, as above the only time they get anything like access is when the vehicles come off the road at night or are laid up.  A whole load of shiny new vehicles are coming on stream across the region, potentially and hopefully, replacing some of the older stock. Equally hopefully I hope the drivers take care of them.

(10 Mar 2026, 12:49 am)Arriva7446 wrote 1491 can go to Newcastle it turns out.

Isn't euro 6 so they could of be fined same as 1456  Stockton should know better  there should be sending the mx59s up to Ashington  which are Euro 6

(26 Mar 2026, 7:11 am)Dan manger wrote Isn't euro 6 so they could of be fined same as 1456  Stockton should know better  there should be sending the mx59s up to Ashington  which are Euro 6

If it's one of the buses that will be replaced soon by a Euro6, doesn't that make it eligible to go into Newcastle?

Currently Parked up in a very sorry state at Darlington Depot is ex Northumbria (Blyth) E400 7507

Anyone know why an X46 to Durham got stopped by police earlier today? With the state of some of the buses I assume it's probably the police don't think it's roadworthy? ?

(16 Apr 2026, 2:56 pm)Shrek wrote Anyone know why an X46 to Durham got stopped by police earlier today? With the state of some of the buses I assume it's probably the police don't think it's roadworthy? ?

We met that coming the other way. I suspected that someone the police were after might have been seen boarding the bus but it doesn’t explain why the police car was parked diagonally in front of it at the lights. Nothing went out of service that I can see.

They boarded a couple of angels in CLS and pulled someone off for a talking to, yesterday.

1368 parked up in Fram with the destination "vehicle breakdown". Thankfully just past the bus gate rather than in it.

What has been tracking as 1409 at Ashington the last few days? I don't think it is 1409, as that has still been tracking in Durham as well.

(21 Apr 2026, 4:55 pm)Arriva7446 wrote What has been tracking as 1409 at Ashington the last few days? I don't think it is 1409, as that has still been tracking in Durham as well.

I believe 1404. It was at Blyth for a few days and now 1409 starts tracking

4509 being towed today. Guessing its broken down in whitby depot. Today had 3 pulsar on the x4 today

Seems to be more issues with the deckers in whitby 7599 hasn't been out in over a week.
And some of mmcs are not out as much.

(22 Apr 2026, 9:20 pm)Ryland wrote 4509 being towed today. Guessing it’s broken down in whitby depot. Today had 3 pulsar on the x4 today

Seems to be more issues with the deckers in whitby 7599 hasn't been out in over a week.
And some of mmcs are not out as much.

4509 towed to Volvo with issues for them to fix. 7599 been off for MOT, landed back at Whitby in the afternoon I understand.

(23 Apr 2026, 12:21 am)tyresmoke wrote 4509 towed to Volvo with issues for them to fix. 7599 been off for MOT, landed back at Whitby in the afternoon I understand.

7578 as become an issues to since it's been at Ashington  it's been struggling with the x93s used to be the best one before sent on winter loan to