(25 Jun 2014, 8:13 pm)tyresmoke wrote Well a change of plan, rough details as follows...

The 9 Streetlites have been cancelled for Darlington as 6 Volvo B9TLs have been purchased for the X93 instead, as it was felt this service was a higher priority to sort out. Darlington will gain the 10 Park & Ride Solos which have been purchased as a replacement for them.

That should give Darlington a fleet of Solos/Darts for town work, plus the Ecocities, and then the Scanias and Pulsars for longer routes.

I only tend to skim over the stuff in this thread given that I don't have too great an interest in ANE, but are you able to summarise the order list for this year? Possibly the Max-conversion one too?

I can't be the only one that's a bit confused.

If I remember correctly, it was something like:

ADL 400:
5 to Ashington (MAX) for the X18
8 to Ashington (SAPPHIRE) for the X21/X22, plus refurbished examples.

Streetlites:
8 to Jesmond depot for the 306 (Streetlite Micro-Hybrid)
3 to Ashington depot for the 35 (Streetlite Micro-Hybrid)
5 to Durham depot for the 23 (Streetlite Micro-Hybrid)
10 to Stockton depot (SAPHIRE) for the 5/5A. (Streetlite MAX)
14 to Redcar depot (SAPPHIRE) for the X3/X4 (Streetlite MAX)

B9TLs:
6 to Redcar/Whitby for the X93.

Then the X14 (ADL400?), X15 (ADL400?) X26/X27 (Omnicities), X66 (Omnicities) for the MAX upgrade.

Think thats it?

(25 Jun 2014, 8:22 pm)Tom wrote If I remember correctly, it was something like:

ADL 400:
5 to Ashington (MAX) for the X18
8 to Ashington (SAPPHIRE) for the X21/X22, plus refurbished examples.

Streetlites:
8 to Jesmond depot for the 306 (Streetlite Micro-Hybrid)
3 to Ashington depot for the 35 (Streetlite Micro-Hybrid)
5 to Durham depot for the 23 (Streetlite Micro-Hybrid)
10 to Stockton depot (SAPHIRE) for the 5/5A. (Streetlite MAX)
14 to Redcar depot (SAPPHIRE) for the X3/X4 (Streetlite MAX)

B9TLs:
6 to Redcar/Whitby for the X93.

Then the X14 (ADL400?), X15 (ADL400?) X26/X27 (Omnicities), X66 (Omnicities) for the MAX upgrade.

Think thats it?

Pretty much spot on Tom. All of the Streetlites are micro-hybrid set up... Possibly a good time to release that the ones for the 306 will be in our "green hybrid" livery to match the B5s on the 308(/X10/X4/X13/etc)
As for Max, not sure what will happen with the 'short' X14 which interworks with the 33/57A on MPDs, but the long ones will be E400s 7511-3, and the X15 will be a mix of Omnicity and E400, exact fleet numbers aren't known yet.

(25 Jun 2014, 8:13 pm)tyresmoke wrote Well a change of plan, rough details as follows...

The 9 Streetlites have been cancelled for Darlington as 6 Volvo B9TLs have been purchased for the X93 instead, as it was felt this service was a higher priority to sort out. Darlington will gain the 10 Park & Ride Solos which have been purchased as a replacement for them.

That should give Darlington a fleet of Solos/Darts for town work, plus the Ecocities, and then the Scanias and Pulsars for longer routes.

Ahh fair play. This then begs the question about the Solos off the 23, are they now to stay in Durham? And I'm sorry to see the MPDs go I am a big fan of them. A town full of Solo's sounds very boring haha

B9TL's for the X93? Nice one if it's true. Same there won't be any for the X18 but the X83 is more demanding. Will they be full height like GNE's or low
height?

(25 Jun 2014, 8:44 pm)JoshP wrote Ahh fair play. This then begs the question about the Solos off the 23, are they now to stay in Durham? And I'm sorry to see the MPDs go I am a big fan of them. A town full of Solo's sounds very boring haha

They should be still going to Darlington as all of this years cascades have stayed largely the same and they'd be needed to make up the numbers at Darlington.

Wonder if the ex Classic Solos 2504/2505 will stay at Darlington.

(25 Jun 2014, 9:08 pm)Jimmi wrote Wonder if the ex Classic Solos 2504/2505 will stay at Darlington.

I would imagine so, they are of course getting 10 Solos in place of 9 Streetlites however that will likely just free up what was to be their sole MPD left, 1799.

(25 Jun 2014, 9:08 pm)Jimmi wrote Wonder if the ex Classic Solos 2504/2505 will stay at Darlington.

I hope not, they're so old and knackered and look so odd against all the 'normal' solos

Looks like Davey's B9TL persistence has paid off in part.

(25 Jun 2014, 8:13 pm)tyresmoke wrote Well a change of plan, rough details as follows...

The 9 Streetlites have been cancelled for Darlington as 6 Volvo B9TLs have been purchased for the X93 instead, as it was felt this service was a higher priority to sort out.

It would be brilliant if they were Max specification but I doubt that will happen because of the different in frequency at points in the year.

I imagine double deckers will be loaned from other depots over the summer months to keep the service fully double deck operated.

(25 Jun 2014, 10:39 pm)Jimmi wrote It would be brilliant if they were Max specification but I doubt that will happen because of the different in frequency at points in the year.

I imagine double deckers will be loaned from other depots over the summer months to keep the service fully double deck operated.

Good news but I was going to say, why 6 when they need 8 in summer. Hope whatever they loan is up to the job or it defeats the object!

(26 Jun 2014, 11:46 am)Roland Pratt wrote Good news but I was going to say, why 6 when they need 8 in summer. Hope whatever they loan is up to the job or it defeats the object!

Probably because if they bought 8 they would be sat doing nothing in the winter when less buses are required.

(26 Jun 2014, 12:26 pm)Jimmi wrote Probably because if they bought 8 they would be sat doing nothing in the winter when less buses are required.

Not to mention there was only 6 available - and it represents an investment of over £1 million for the X93 so you can't have buses sat around all winter...

(26 Jun 2014, 12:54 pm)tyresmoke wrote Not to mention there was only 6 available - and it represents an investment of over £1 million for the X93 so you can't have buses sat around all winter...

Well they wouldn't be 'sat around'. They would be used on say 81s or else transferred out temporarily to another garage, either way allowing something else to be withdrawn.

(26 Jun 2014, 4:17 pm)Roland Pratt wrote Well they wouldn't be 'sat around'. They would be used on say 81s or else transferred out temporarily to another garage, either way allowing something else to be withdrawn.

The other 2 if they got 8 could even go to Ashington to conserve the Max E400's for the X18 during the winter.

(26 Jun 2014, 4:17 pm)Roland Pratt wrote Well they wouldn't be 'sat around'. They would be used on say 81s or else transferred out temporarily to another garage, either way allowing something else to be withdrawn.

They couldn't allow something to be withdrawn either though?

What happens come summer when those two B9TLs have to move to Redcar/Whitby again in the summer?

(25 Jun 2014, 8:13 pm)tyresmoke wrote Well a change of plan, rough details as follows...

The 9 Streetlites have been cancelled for Darlington as 6 Volvo B9TLs have been purchased for the X93 instead, as it was felt this service was a higher priority to sort out. Darlington will gain the 10 Park & Ride Solos which have been purchased as a replacement for them.

That should give Darlington a fleet of Solos/Darts for town work, plus the Ecocities, and then the Scanias and Pulsars for longer routes.

Wonder where 7484/94 will end up?Newcastle or Durham routes!

(26 Jun 2014, 5:17 pm)buznut wrote Wonder where 7484/94 will end up?Newcastle or Durham routes!

Likely that the 6 from Redcar will end up at Durham.

7624 now converted to MAX: https://flic.kr/p/o5xiK3

(26 Jun 2014, 8:20 pm)Dan wrote 7624 now converted to MAX: https://flic.kr/p/o5xiK3

And will soon be appearing on the streets of North Tyneside and the Coast Road!

(24 Jun 2014, 8:53 am)upt50k wrote I did not realise that the solos were rented as they have seats trimmed in Arriva colours When Scarlet Band lost the contract last time they bought some of the Solos off rent at a favourable rate.Would Arriva been able have been able to do the same if they had a use for them? They have not had a particularly hard life on park and ride duties

These will be welcome at Darlington as replacement for old Darts and when repainted will look the business.Also the fitters will be up to speed with servicing and repairing them.

(26 Jun 2014, 4:24 pm)Dan wrote They couldn't allow something to be withdrawn either though?

What happens come summer when those two B9TLs have to move to Redcar/Whitby again in the summer?

They would allow two to be withdrawn in the meantime as happens usually; by the next summer another couple will be spare.

Any idea on what series the B9TL'S will be numbered, will they continue in the 76XX series with the VDL Gemini's or will they put them in a new series?

(27 Jun 2014, 4:47 pm)mb134 wrote Any idea on what series the B9TL'S will be numbered, will they continue in the 76XX series with the VDL Gemini's or will they put them in a new series?

Either 7811 - 7816 or 7901 - 7906

(27 Jun 2014, 6:25 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Either 7811 - 7816 or 7901 - 7906

What will happen after 79xx will they go back to 71xx and keep deckers starting with 7 as they always have ot will they go to 81xx?

(27 Jun 2014, 6:25 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Either 7811 - 7816 or 7901 - 7906

Don't know the answer but I'm willing to bet they're kept in the 74xx series with the B7s.... Either 7495-7500 or 7401-6 possibly? My guess is as good as yours

(27 Jun 2014, 7:41 pm)tyresmoke wrote Don't know the answer but I'm willing to bet they're kept in the 74xx series with the B7s.... Either 7495-7500 or 7401-6 possibly? My guess is as good as yours

@tyresmoke, are they gan fir the full height version or low height like the Eclipse Gemini body's at Blyth?

What is the point of arriva having different shaded liveries?
Their interurban brand is very reconizable.I get the sapphire concept of having a luxury brand on some limited flagship routes.I dont really understand the creation of the Max livery.A waste of money in my opinion.I think the advert on gemini 7608 looks daft....are they going to be route branded in the future!Good to see the older buses gonna be withdrawn with the imminent new arrivals.

(27 Jun 2014, 8:08 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote @tyresmoke, are they gan fir the full height version or low height like the Eclipse Gemini body's at Blyth?

Believe they're dealer stock so will presumably be full height. East Yorkshire have just got some from Volvo dealer stock and they are full height ones.

(27 Jun 2014, 8:11 pm)buznut wrote What is the point of arriva having different shaded liveries?
Their interurban brand is very reconizable.I get the sapphire concept of having a luxury brand on some limited flagship routes.I dont really understand the creation of the Max livery.A waste of money in my opinion.I think the advert on gemini 7608 looks daft....are they going to be route branded in the future!Good to see the older buses gonna be withdrawn with the imminent new arrivals.

The Max livery should be completed with branding once all of them are completed in a few months time, they're just doing 3 at a time I understand. Yorkshire are having some done by Bus & Coach world at Blackburn at the same time