(17 Apr 2014, 9:19 pm)tyresmoke wrote The single fares outside of town/city areas are always more expensive, for example once we get into North Yorkshire or County Durham, the fares go up rapidly. Middlesbrough-Sedgefield if I remember right is £5.20 single for example, compared to Middlesbrough-Easington for just £3.60 - so £5 RGC-Morpeth wouldn't surprise me. At least you can still get step entrance haulage on long runs up there for a few more months with 7482/3 staying!

You want to see what they're like up here on the 85/685, Tom! £5.40 single Greenhead to Carlisle, or £5.00 single Haydon Bridge to Greenhead!
Both are approximately 45 minute journeys of around 20 miles.

(17 Apr 2014, 9:19 pm)tyresmoke wrote Interesting to hear GNE have a passenger count (on the main screen?) - I'm guessing it just counts hoardings though so part way through the route it could show 95 but say 50 people have alighted since the start of the trip, then only 45 would remain on board.

Yes, it is a passenger count for that trip, so if the driver radio's in for late operation due to heavy passenger loads and needs to be regulated, the Control Room should ask the number of passengers on that trip, so it is recorded on the lost mileage recording system.

(17 Apr 2014, 9:31 pm)Tom wrote I noticed when I asked for a £5 Arriva Day Ticket on the 306 a few months ago, when I was going up to Alnwick, it took ages for the driver to find it, whereas on Go North East buses I normally get my ticket instantly, so there is one good thing about ERG machines. However, I do like Arriva's Wayfarer 200 machines because they update the location automatically, and this will avoid people been wrongly charged, or tickets not being accepted on smartcards, like some members brought up a few weeks ago.

GNE's will do the same once AVL is pushed out, basically there is a SIM card in the ETM so it will work just like a smart phone for location(s)

I've just wondered but why don't Arriva order any buses with designated buggy bays? It'a not really a major issue but it's just something that I've always wondered. For instance, the Volvo B5LH's with GNE at CLS have a dedicated buggy bay but Arriva's at Blyth only have two forward facing seats. Is it something to do with the insurance?

From what I have read (on an Arriva bus running the Newcastle-Carlisle 85/685), provision of low-entry and a wheelchair space is a legal requirement (on new buses?).

Allowing the wheelchair space to be used for push-chairs and buggies is at the discretion of the driver and, should a wheelchair user wish to board the bus, the push-chair/buggy will have to be folded and stowed not obstructing the gangway.

I presume that wheelchair users can only travel singly on buses (as there is only one space)?

GNE Tens have spaces both sides but only one is designated for wheelchair use - so buggy users can travel in pairs (unless there is also a wheelchair user).

(17 Apr 2014, 11:23 am)Kuyoyo wrote Arriva Fleet Movements 18th April 2014

1309/1739: Redcar to Darlington (officially temporary move until H1/H2 finishes, in reality these will remain at Redcar and instead 1711 and the un-moved X-reg Dart are the replacements)
2827/8: Darlington to Whitby
7367: Ashington to disposal
7469: Jesmond to Reserve (due to move to Durham in May)
7484-9: Reserve to Whitby
7490/2/4: Reserve to Ashington
7501-4: Whitby to Under Repair (Sapphire Refurbishment)
7505-8: Ashington to Under Repair (Sapphire Refurbishment)
7512/3: Whitby to Ashington

MPD 1739 seen yesterday travelling up to Faverdale Darlington

(18 Apr 2014, 1:07 pm)Davey Bowyer wrote I've just wondered but why don't Arriva order any buses with designated buggy bays? It'a not really a major issue but it's just something that I've always wondered. For instance, the Volvo B5LH's with GNE at CLS have a dedicated buggy bay but Arriva's at Blyth only have two forward facing seats. Is it something to do with the insurance?

I think it's more to do with two buggy spaces = less seats, rather than insurance.

I know when the 21 was using the ex-London presidents, a lot of folk complained about the fact there's only one space for a buggy. GNE at the time responded to that by saying that the new B5LHs would include two spaces.

It's worth noting that most buses in London only have the one shared space.

(18 Apr 2014, 1:51 pm)upt50k wrote MPD 1739 seen yesterday travelling up to Faverdale Darlington

7490/2/4 are all on the X15/X18 today.

I remember the Almex A90 ticket machines that Northumbria used.

I remember the Setright machines used by United.

(18 Apr 2014, 9:45 pm)Davey Bowyer wrote I remember the Almex A90 ticket machines that Northumbria used.

OK were still using Almex machines not long before the takeover.

The conductors on a number of National operators used a 'mobile' version of them, wrapped around their necks too.

How long do you think the Cadets/Prestiges at Stockton have left?

(19 Apr 2014, 6:10 am)Tom wrote How long do you think the Cadets/Prestiges at Stockton have left?

Prestiges - until the autumn at the earliest
Cadet - some time next year

(18 Apr 2014, 11:16 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote OK were still using Almex machines not long before the takeover.

The conductors on a number of National operators used a 'mobile' version of them, wrapped around their necks too.

The Almex 90's were used until 2000 when Arriva changed to the Wayfarer. I remember the first time I seen one and it was on either 7370 to 7377 on the 308 and to top it off, the bus was still in the Northumbria livery with all the branding for the 602. I remember the ticket too and it first reminded me of what you'd get on the Shields Ferry until the Arriva logo was applied.

(19 Apr 2014, 7:25 am)Davey Bowyer wrote The Almex 90's were used until 2000 when Arriva changed to the Wayfarer. I remember the first time I seen one and it was on either 7370 to 7377 on the 308 and to top it off, the bus was still in the Northumbria livery with all the branding for the 602. I remember the ticket too and it first reminded me of what you'd get on the Shields Ferry until the Arriva logo was applied.

http://www.ticketmachinewebsite.com/apps...=100070696

These were the ones I was on about.

(19 Apr 2014, 7:32 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote http://www.ticketmachinewebsite.com/apps...=100070696

These were the ones I was on about.

I know what you mean but do you not remember the full big red version that was used until 2000?

With United having it's own thread in the Bygone Area, is there no way thay one for Northumbria could be setup. It would be lovely to have a trip down memory lane again.

(19 Apr 2014, 7:35 am)Davey Bowyer wrote With United having it's own thread in the Bygone Area, is there no way thay one for Northumbria could be setup. It would be lovely to have a trip down memory lane again.

The Bygone Era is currently being re-vamped so that it can be hosted on a dedicated section of the site rather than being forum-based. This is currently on hold as I've not got the time to do it at present, but I intend to start it off again in June. Obviously I'm not looking to add or modify any content in the current Bygone Era section as the new one is well underway.

7806 working the 0900 308 to Blyth. Quite impressed with the vehicle actually, although it doesn't seem to go to Battery mode when stopped. It did when I boarded at St Mary's Place though.

(19 Apr 2014, 6:51 am)Kuyoyo wrote Prestiges - until the autumn at the earliest
Cadet - some time next year

I'd expect all of our Prestiges to be gone by September. Cadets will probably be replaced next year along with some of the B10BLEs.

7512 has transferred to Ashington with the entry into service of 7486 at Whitby.
7503 is still at Smiles engineering, along with Temsa 4720 and Solo 2811 which are both on their respective types' engineering program's which sees modifications to the cooling systems I believe.

(19 Apr 2014, 8:07 am)northern156 wrote 7806 working the 0900 308 to Blyth. Quite impressed with the vehicle actually, although it doesn't seem to go to Battery mode when stopped. It did when I boarded at St Mary's Place though.

I'd say that the B5LH's are good vehicles but they can be a bit underpowered at some junctions and roundabouts where a sharp pull off is needed such as Billy Mill, Formica, Station Road and Chilli Road. I wonder how long they will remain on the 308 for? I'd say that when they come to be replaced , if Arriva were willing to increase the PVR of the 43, 44 and 45 to allow them to work independently, then I'd say that the 43 would justify 6 of them with 1 more acting as a spare and three going off elsewhere or sold.

Do you know what would be a good trial? Swap one out of 7801 to 7810 with one out of 7514 to 7521 and allocate it to a full X21 running board for four weeks. It would be quite an interesting trial just to see whether or not hybrids could cope with an interurban express service with a wide variety of roads and conditions.

But surely they are more efficient and economical on start-stop services as the battery is only active in the first two gears?

1208 on the delayed 1233 X15 due to high passenger numbers.

4720 was on 22/64 this week

(17 Apr 2014, 8:25 pm)tyresmoke wrote Have to say I've sold tons of Explorers in this holiday period! More than I've ever known... Sold another one today, did 6 in one day last week! Didn't think that many people knew about them... lol

Seem to have increased in price sharply the last couple of years? Wasn't expecting £9.30 when I got one the other day!

(19 Apr 2014, 1:03 pm)Roland Pratt wrote Seem to have increased in price sharply the last couple of years? Wasn't expecting £9.30 when I got one the other day!

Not sure they've risen that quickly, it was £8 when I started going out for the day on the buses and that was at least 6 years ago!

(17 Apr 2014, 8:34 pm)Tom wrote Out of interest, how much do the companies get for the explorers. I've noticed loads of drivers not keying in the day tickets/weekly tickets onto the machines, so revenue could be lost from this?

What's to stop an operator telling drivers to key in extra Explorers to try to gain a pecuniary advantage?

Got on today and asked for a Tripper, driver said did I want a £4.20 one or a £4.30 one. I said what's the difference, and he said the £4.30 you can use on Stagecoach as well. The £4.20 wouldn't be a 'Tripper' then would it?!

(19 Apr 2014, 1:15 pm)Roland Pratt wrote Got on today and asked for a Tripper, driver said did I want a £4.20 one or a £4.30 one. I said what's the difference, and he said the £4.30 you can use on Stagecoach as well. The £4.20 wouldn't be a 'Tripper' then would it?!

It's amazing the amount of people who ask for a "£4.20 Tripper" - I usually ask which one they want... Such a strong brand recognition!

(17 Apr 2014, 11:23 am)Kuyoyo wrote Arriva Fleet Movements 18th April 2014

1309/1739: Redcar to Darlington (officially temporary move until H1/H2 finishes, in reality these will remain at Redcar and instead 1711 and the un-moved X-reg Dart are the replacements)
2827/8: Darlington to Whitby
7367: Ashington to disposal
7469: Jesmond to Reserve (due to move to Durham in May)
7484-9: Reserve to Whitby
7490/2/4: Reserve to Ashington
7501-4: Whitby to Under Repair (Sapphire Refurbishment)
7505-8: Ashington to Under Repair (Sapphire Refurbishment)
7512/3: Whitby to Ashington

Im guessing these 4 were branded for 'Sightseeker' services 93 and X93. At least 1 has not been taken out of service for refurbishment unless there is more than 4 buses branded as I saw one heading to Scarborough on a X93 earlier today.