(23 Apr 2014, 7:56 pm)RGR756V wrote I caught 4080 a few years ago on the erstwhile X5. It had a full seated load and went up Lythe Bank like it wasn't there. Pains me to say it but it was a most enjoyable ride....on a Prestige!

Not like the Pulsar I was on on Friday! Thought it was never going to get up!
Apparently there is a list up in Redcar depot of buses not to be used on hills!

Isn't that just pathetic? A list of vehicles not to be used on hills! So that said, what are they going to use on X93, X3/4, 81/a ? The mind boggles.

On board the lovely 4653 working the 1507 685/85 ex Carlisle.

(23 Apr 2014, 9:30 pm)G-CPTN wrote The SB3000s on the 685 route were notoriously 'unreliable' - at least by the time they were withdrawn.

Agreed they were comfortable, but, when they don't turn up on time (and sometimes not at all) the passengers complained.

At the time, Stagecoach were running 'buses' (rather than coaches) and they didn't suit the passengers either.

Now Arriva are running low-floor 'buses' but with leather seats - which doesn't suit the passengers (as the seats are slippery and there are no seatbelts - which the coaches had).

The SB3000s were very reliable on the 685. It was only in the last couple of months of their operation on the 685 that they became unreliable, but I would put my money on the fact that their withdrawal was already on the cards.
Stagecoach were running coaches (Volvo B10M Jonckheere) which were also very reliable.

It was with the introduction of Pulsars by Arriva that Stagecoach followed suit and introduced their cascaded Enviro 300s from Workington. Arriva then introduced OmniCities as they're more suitable for longer routes.

The leather seats are horrible, although I hear they'll be getting removed soon! I'm currently on board 4653, the replacement, with fabric seats and they are much more comfortable.

But honestly, bring back the coaches. Out of interest, where did the original batch of DAFs (1201 - 1205) go after their withdrawal?

Bit of rain and the 23 is as good as non-existent. The last one to leave Park Lane departed 25m late (god knows how late it arrived) and the one which was due into Sunderland 15 mins ago still hasn't turned up.

They've been 10-15m late (or more) all week, mind... But so have the rest of the Stockton Rd services.

(25 Apr 2014, 3:16 pm)Dan wrote Bit of rain and the 23 is as good as non-existent. The last one to leave Park Lane departed 25m late (god knows how late it arrived) and the one which was due into Sunderland 15 mins ago still hasn't turned up.

They've been 10-15m late (or more) all week, mind... But so have the rest of the Stockton Rd services.

The 24 seems a lot more reliable than the 23. The 23 was 15 minutes late last Thursday, yet the 24 was spot on time, so they were running in twos along Stockton Road. The Hartlepool bound one that left just before the 24 was 7-8 minutes late too.

(25 Apr 2014, 3:21 pm)Tom wrote The 24 seems a lot more reliable than the 23. The 23 was 15 minutes late last Thursday, yet the 24 was spot on time, so they were running in twos along Stockton Road. The Hartlepool bound one that left just before the 24 was 7-8 minutes late too.

Agreed. Reliability on service 23 (in my opinion) is outrageous. Generally speaking; it's alright on a morning (runs no more than 1m early or 5m late) but after 2pm, it's pretty bad and is for several hours.

At 16:20 there was approximately 15 people waiting to board services 23/24. That's still not amazing given that service X7 tends to depart with a lot more than that (depending on the time of day). I'd suggest that the reason for mediocre passenger numbers could be linked to reliability, in places where there is competition.

(24 Apr 2014, 7:35 pm)robisdave wrote Isn't that just pathetic? A list of vehicles not to be used on hills! So that said, what are they going to use on X93, X3/4, 81/a ? The mind boggles.

Darlington used to operate a town only allocation of poor performing buses and it was no joke if you were allocated on of these for out of town work

Free North East All Zone day ticket - see details here.

(25 Apr 2014, 3:57 pm)upt50k wrote Darlington used to operate a town only allocation of poor performing buses and it was no joke if you were allocated on of these for out of town work

I remember years ago (the 1970s) United at Redcar used to keep certain vehicles on town services at various times.

(23 Apr 2014, 8:50 pm)Jimmi wrote I think low floor buses have to be used because I think one of the councils wanted the service to be operated by low floor buses. (or something along those lines)

Some of those coaches were previously used on the 93.

Could they allocate them so that every other working is a coach? Therefore everyone can still use the service as the other workings will be low floor, obviously if Arriva put this information on the timetable

(25 Apr 2014, 7:22 pm)mb134 wrote Could they allocate them so that every other working is a coach? Therefore everyone can still use the service as the other workings will be low floor, obviously if Arriva put this information on the timetable

On the X93? No, besides some loadings last summer were said to even exceed the capacity of one of the E400s requiring a second to work a duplicate.

(25 Apr 2014, 7:35 pm)Kuyoyo wrote On the X93? No, besides some loadings last summer were said to even exceed the capacity of one of the E400s requiring a second to work a duplicate.

Okay so will the coaches from Green Line see the end of 1207-9/13+14? Or will they be converted to trainers like 1206/10-12?

Just out of interest how much does it cost roughly to refurbish each bus? I know obviously it will depend on size and spec but on average?

(25 Apr 2014, 7:22 pm)mb134 wrote Could they allocate them so that every other working is a coach? Therefore everyone can still use the service as the other workings will be low floor, obviously if Arriva put this information on the timetable

It's not as simple as that, with short workings etc.

(25 Apr 2014, 7:58 pm)mb134 wrote Just out of interest how much does it cost roughly to refurbish each bus? I know obviously it will depend on size and spec but on average?

Thats it, there's so many variables! Anywhere between £5000 and £50000 depends what you want doing I guess...

(25 Apr 2014, 8:38 pm)tyresmoke wrote Thats it, there's so many variables! Anywhere between £5000 and £50000 depends what you want doing I guess...

What about the B7's and the Sapphire E400's

(25 Apr 2014, 9:02 pm)mb134 wrote What about the B7's and the Sapphire E400's

The B7's have had the central door converted, with the ramp being moved to the front door, albeit a manual one (I believe?) - so I'd reckon around £10000 on each one... These are paid for by Arriva UK though and then given out around the country to each region according to what needs replacing.

I believe the Sapphire conversions are higher up towards £25k but obviously there's a lot more involved in that than a quick re-cover of the seats and a clean...

Just tried the Live App, and not a single bus showing this morning.

(26 Apr 2014, 7:42 am)citaro5284 wrote Just tried the Live App, and not a single bus showing this morning.

I'm having the same problem on two different Galaxy S4s.

(26 Apr 2014, 8:14 am)Dan wrote I'm having the same problem on two different Galaxy S4s.

Not working for me either

(26 Apr 2014, 7:42 am)citaro5284 wrote Just tried the Live App, and not a single bus showing this morning.

I know that on Sunday's and Bank Holidays they are never live, but on Saturday's... That's odd they should be live.

1743 on 63 thought seen last of this dart?!

(26 Apr 2014, 9:59 am)JoshP wrote I know that on Sunday's and Bank Holidays they are never live, but on Saturday's... That's odd they should be live.

Seems daft that they have a live app, but it only works on certain days of the week

(26 Apr 2014, 9:59 am)JoshP wrote I know that on Sunday's and Bank Holidays they are never live, but on Saturday's... That's odd they should be live.

Even on Bank Holidays and Sunday's there are normally grey circles, can't even see those today

Had my first ride on one of Arriva's new Volvo B7s from London (7486). Minus the squeaks you can hear from downstairs, I'm quite impressed and it feels like the vehicle has had an engine overhaul. The vehicle is being pushed to its limits, and I feel the allocation of these vehicles will only work as a temporary measure which has been suggested previously. Fancy Bank near Guisborough was painful to endure and just about every person on the top deck commented on the fact they didn't think it was going to get up the bank. I wonder how well the vehicle will perform at Robin Hoods Bay!

The X93 timetable currently used is less than impressive, though. After ten minutes of loading in Middlesbrough, the vehicle did depart on-time, but it had to stop in the middle of the bus station for a few minutes for reasons unknown. The one I'm on now arrived into Guisborough 5 minutes late, and into Whitby about 7 minutes late. It has departed Whitby now, but was 13 minutes late.


EDIT: Christ, that hill at Robin Hood's Bay... There are no words for how slow he went up, and he even had to stop the bus for a break in the middle!

(26 Apr 2014, 10:03 am)citaro5284 wrote Seems daft that they have a live app, but it only works on certain days of the week

I can view live data 7 days a week...

(26 Apr 2014, 11:18 am)VolvoMarkII wrote I can view live data 7 days a week...

Even today when a lot of us can't?

I was on a Darlington Pulsar earlier on the 1 from Bishop Auckland to Darlington and that struggled to get up a hill near Heighington. Kicked down three times, sounded painful!

7486 arrived into Scarborough 15m late and departed at 13:00 (20 minutes late).

7484 arrived into Scarborough 17m late and departed at 13:58 (18 minutes late). In addition, 7484 smells absolutely disgusting because there's a large amount of sick at the back of the vehicle on the upper saloon. Watch out Customer Services, you've got an e-mail coming from me tonight - especially if I miss my 15m connection at Middlesbrough.

See attachment. Fair to say I moved seat.