(06 May 2014, 9:46 pm)robisdave15 wrote All that about tachos, drivers hours and what have you made for interesting reading? What is moreso interesting is the work of them that plan the rotas, allocate vehicles and what have you? It must be an absolute nightmare given now the economic times we live in, various rules and other constraints? Clearly in this techological surely there must be some software that helps in this process? Don't know as anyone wants to feedback on this?

All of the major operators use software to schedule their rotas these days.

Trapeze and Omnibus are the two biggest ones I think.

I know Arriva & Stagecoach also submit all of their service registrations electronically via a system called Transxchange, compared to GNE who still submit paper based to the traffic commissioner.

(07 May 2014, 6:30 am)Dan wrote Not sure if it's been noted already or not, but ex-Classic 2503 has been repainted into corporate livery.

Has been for over a month now

(07 May 2014, 6:36 am)Tom wrote Has been for over a month now

Looks like someone else (presumably Scott) updated the fleetlists accordingly too! I knew about the ALX400 but must have missed the post about the Solo completely.

(07 May 2014, 6:39 am)Dan wrote Looks like someone else (presumably Scott) updated the fleetlists accordingly too! I knew about the ALX400 but must have missed the post about the Solo completely.

It's easy done

(07 May 2014, 6:39 am)Dan wrote Looks like someone else (presumably Scott) updated the fleetlists accordingly too! I knew about the ALX400 but must have missed the post about the Solo completely.

Probably worth mentioning that 7445 is completed now too.

(06 May 2014, 8:35 pm)robisdave15 wrote Herein lies part of the problem? A) we suffer down this coast with such variable weather and B) on a weekend/Bank Holiday there isn't much in the way of 'management' regulating services; we live, sadly, in a world of limited resources and variable factors, for example if it had been raining yesterday 4655 would have coped and if we hadn't opted to try for Whitby I'd have been none the wiser!! I'm nit excusing them, just trying to see the bigger picture.

Sounds like you've been nobbled!!

On VOSA this morning:

PB0002717/239 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Middlesbrough given service number X1 effective from 29-Jun-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0002717/280 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham North Road and Ushaw College given service number U1 effective from 29-Jun-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

Wonder if there's been "words" at Redcar? Allocation on X93 looks right but looks all over the place on the 81/81a?

Nostalgia:- United Automobile Services

Love that, looking back at the good old days when buses were buses? We get on about some of the new stock but 11 hours / 4 round trips between M'bro and Loftus was the shift from hell with an LH!

I'm of an age where United buses were Bristol LG5s - all with HN registrations.

Don't think I go back that far but have vauge, as a young lad, memories of the old rear door Bristols, not sure of what they were but certainly better than the modern stuff!

4651 was in such good heart this morning that I got it back on the 1025 trip. A shame in some respects that we have this popularity thing on the X93 as these are, when in good heart, ideal vehicles for the route. Sadly though Redcar will be looking theirs to the Max upgrade programme later in the year so I'm guessing that will leave the route at the mercy of the Temsas when the B7's aren't available? As an aside to that is there any truth in the rumour that the B7's are being "rested" on easier duties - 81's - to prepare them for the summer?

The 1627 departure on Service 7 tonight had very limited standing room when it left Durham bus station then more boarded at Croxdale and DurhamGate and there are still standees now after leaving Ferryhill.

7501 on X21 today- are they ever actually going to send these for refurbishment with 7504?

(08 May 2014, 3:58 pm)mb134 wrote 7501 on X21 today- are they ever actually going to send these for refurbishment with 7504?

I'm sure there was a photograph of 7501 on Flickr last night with panels having been replaced... Hope it didn't go out in that state!

(08 May 2014, 4:23 pm)Dan wrote I'm sure there was a photograph of 7501 on Flickr last night with panels having been replaced... Hope it didn't go out in that state!

That was 7503 - 7501 has the 'Bottle of Notes' SightSeeker branding.

PB0002717/54 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Darlington and Barnard Castle given service number 75/76 effective from 12-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

(08 May 2014, 4:33 pm)Michael wrote PB0002717/54 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Darlington and Barnard Castle given service number 75/76 effective from 12-May-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

This is due to yet another closure of the A67 at Low Coniscliffe, which sees the 75/76 diverted. It was due to start next Monday (12th May) but has now been delayed until the 2nd June.

(08 May 2014, 4:46 pm)Kuyoyo wrote This is due to yet another closure of the A67 at Low Coniscliffe, which sees the 75/76 diverted. It was due to start next Monday (12th May) but has now been delayed until the 2nd June.

Thanks for the info =)

I really do wish that Redcar would sort their "issues " out. Here we are having to go the long way round to get to Redcar (for an appointment) because they cannot maintain a reliable service on the 81/81a; the journey I wanted is currently operating 20 mins late for some reason.
It's little use going through all the usual channels because we've been there, done that, had the public meetings and more and people are just sick of it!
Those that have the Arriva app can be thankful. Me? I feel sorry for them that haven't!

Going on from that it would seem as though the new fleet isn't going to come soon enough! Speaking to a couple of Redcar drivers just the X4's were rammed this morning and it's common to be carrying standing loads/leaving people. Might be a struggle for them (Redcar) to get a rota of drivers together to run the Sapphire service's from what was being said?

Apparently a Sapphire Pulsar has broken down on the roundabout on the Chilton By-pass.

(09 May 2014, 10:51 am)robisdave15 wrote Going on from that it would seem as though the new fleet isn't going to come soon enough! Speaking to a couple of Redcar drivers just the X4's were rammed this morning and it's common to be carrying standing loads/leaving people. Might be a struggle for them (Redcar) to get a rota of drivers together to run the Sapphire service's from what was being said?

I always thought it was ridiculous extending the X4 to Whitby as even before the changes many were chock a block. Even then had to wait at Redcar Swan or Clock rather than the bus station in order to be sure of getting on towards Middlesbrough.

It's quite right Roland and I'm not having a dig at Arriva here, well not on the loadings issue. When 1432 arrived at Redcar BS as a failure I thought they were going to change it for a decker there was that many on it! Reliability is going to be an issue until they get the Sapphire brand established.

Managed to get the Live Map working today... Will have to check tomorrow morning and Sunday too to see if it still works.

Lovely delay to the 32A in Newcastle too...

(09 May 2014, 8:48 pm)Dan wrote Managed to get the Live Map working today... Will have to check tomorrow morning and Sunday too to see if it still works.

Lovely delay to the 32A in Newcastle too...

I made a complaint to Nexus via email about the 18 by Arriva on Sunday being 15 minutes late when I used it from Byker to Heaton. No reply though lol. Arriva shouldn't even be running Nexus contracts, everytime I've used the 335 it's been delayed!

(09 May 2014, 8:49 pm)Tom wrote I made a complaint to Nexus via email about the 18 by Arriva on Sunday being 15 minutes late when I used it from Byker to Heaton. No reply though lol. Arriva shouldn't even be running Nexus contracts, everytime I've used the 335 it's been delayed!

Half tempted to watch that 32A all the way back to the City Centre. He's now 38 minutes late!
No idea how it can be so bad on a night, but something must have happened!

(09 May 2014, 8:50 pm)Dan wrote Half tempted to watch that 32A all the way back to the City Centre. He's now 38 minutes late!
No idea how it can be so bad on a night, but something must have happened!

Exactly it's shocking. 306/308's were also late on Sunday too, running approximately 20-25 minutes late on both services. Hence why I decided to use the 18 (bad decision) back into Byker which was 18 minutes late, then the 1 (also late lol) back home. Not on really.

Love the "live" app, just a shame it's like their buses and can't be relied on!!!