(22 Jun 2014, 5:55 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Scott will be able to provide more details, but it emerged last night that Scarlet Band have indeed regain the Durham Park & Ride contract from later this year after 5 years since the controversy surrounding of the awarding of the service to Arriva.

Yes I was told a couple of days ago that Scarlet Band have indeed (re)gained the contract for the Durham Park & Ride service.
It will be interesting to see what vehicles they buy or lease to operate it with... given the contractual requirement was for 10 Euro 6 vehicles, to cover a PVR of 9.
The contract starts on 27th October, and will run for 5 years, with extensions available for a further 2 or 3 years if awarded.

(22 Jun 2014, 6:35 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yes I was told a couple of days ago that Scarlet Band have indeed (re)gained the contract for the Durham Park & Ride service.
It will be interesting to see what vehicles they buy or lease to operate it with... given the contractual requirement was for 10 Euro 6 vehicles, to cover a PVR of 9.
The contract starts on 27th October, and will run for 5 years, with extensions available for a further 2 or 3 years if awarded.

I don't know a lot about leasing, but what's the chances of them being able to get a hold of 10 Euro 6 midibuses by that start date? If they opt to purchase them, then they're really going to have to put an order in imminently to have them in time?

I'm hunching a guess at Streetlites or a Euro 6 Optare (if they are to exist)

Saw a Scarlet Band Enviro200 operating the Chester local services - don't think this is the norm as it's usually a Solo.

(27 Jun 2014, 3:23 pm)Marcus wrote Saw a Scarlet Band Enviro200 operating the Chester local services - don't think this is the norm as it's usually a Solo.

As you say it is usually a Solo, the Enviro that they had out today was MX10DXK.

Solo YJ05JWO on the X49 in Durham today.

I see a former-GNE Chester based driver is now operating the Scarlet Band local services in and around CLS

Optare Solo YJ55YGG now has a front LED screen and it made a rare appearance on Service 58 today.

(05 Jul 2014, 4:01 pm)Jimmi wrote Optare Solo YJ55YGG now has a front LED screen and it made a rare appearance on Service 58 today.

Green Solo MX55WCZ was on the 33 today too.

(05 Jul 2014, 4:04 pm)tyresmoke wrote Green Solo MX55WCZ was on the 33 today too.

Forget about that, just seen it in Ferryhill again.

Its always on other routes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays when Service 20 doesn't operate (normally it works the 33 or Barnard Castle services, although I once saw it on the X49)

Passed the green solo at 5pm going through Buttonknowle

A Solo in what can only be described as a Heritage livery was on the Chester locals today.

The logo/badge had a historic look to it.

Never seen this vehicle before, but presumably it has been kicking about for a while.

(08 Jul 2014, 3:42 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote A Solo in what can only be described as a Heritage livery was on the Chester locals today.

The logo/badge had a historic look to it.

Never seen this vehicle before, but presumably it has been kicking about for a while.

This?

http://ronandton.files.wordpress.com/201...55-ygo.png

(08 Jul 2014, 3:53 pm)Marcus wrote This?

http://ronandton.files.wordpress.com/201...55-ygo.png

No idea if it was the same vehicle, but same livery

(08 Jul 2014, 4:13 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote No idea if it was the same vehicle, but same livery

Yes, it will have been Solo YJ55 YGO and its been in that livery for at least 3 years.

(08 Jul 2014, 4:31 pm)Jimmi wrote Yes, it will have been Solo YJ55 YGO and its been in that livery for at least 3 years.

90 years livery 1921-2011. Driven lately by an ex chester driver.

(08 Jul 2014, 9:12 pm)nk55 wrote 90 years livery 1921-2011. Driven lately by an ex chester driver.

I assume the Chester services have a team of two drivers where one driver does the service all day, every day for a week then the other driver does the same the following week. They also do this on services 16/16A, 42/252 and 113.

(08 Jul 2014, 9:12 pm)nk55 wrote 90 years livery 1921-2011. Driven lately by an ex chester driver.

She used to take me to school a lot (before the rota changes, on that 4 day rota) on the 21. I think she was called Claire.

Didn't see her today - was a bloke driving.

Any news on what busses will be used on the Durham park and ride? I'm thinking shortest version Euro 6 Streetlite's?

(09 Jul 2014, 9:47 pm)JoshP wrote Any news on what busses will be used on the Durham park and ride? I'm thinking shortest version Euro 6 Streetlite's?

None yet. I did notice that Daimler Euro 6 engined options are now available for the Streetlite though, which may prove to be a bit more reliable than the luck GNE have had with theirs.

Aside from this, I think they'd have to look at something like the 9.0m version of the Optare Solo SR. At 9.7m a Versa may be a bit big for what they need.

(05 Jul 2014, 4:01 pm)Jimmi wrote Optare Solo YJ55YGG now has a front LED screen

Solo NX55FFS now also has a front LED screen. Hopefully all the Solos will gain front LED screens.

Also lets hope they repaint some of their second hand Solos.

(16 Jul 2014, 4:03 pm)Jimmi wrote Solo NX55FFS now also has a front LED screen. Hopefully all the Solos will gain front LED screens.

Also lets hope they repaint some of their second hand Solos.

The ones in Hartlepool nearly always seem to be plain white.

(16 Jul 2014, 4:12 pm)Roland Pratt wrote The ones in Hartlepool nearly always seem to be plain white.

Noticed the e200's seem to be all white.
Haven't spotted one that isn't
.

(16 Jul 2014, 4:51 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Noticed the e200's seem to be all white.
Haven't spotted one that isn't

Yep, all 5 Enviro200s are white.

(16 Jul 2014, 5:59 pm)Jimmi wrote Yep, all 5 Enviro200s are white.

Wonder if they are just on loan?

From this Saturday gas improvement works will be carried out at Thinford roundabout with a stretch of the A688 closed at Thinford Lane.

Scarlet Band will run a shuttle bus service from Spennymoor to West Cornforth and Ferryhill throughout the duration of the project.

http://m.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1134...ment_work/

(16 Jul 2014, 6:05 pm)Roland Pratt wrote Wonder if they are just on loan?

As far as I know they've bought them but were looking to offload them at some point as they would prefer Solos. Obviously with the expansion of work they needed buses quickly so had to buy whatever was available.

(16 Jul 2014, 6:06 pm)Jimmi wrote From this Saturday gas improvement works will be carried out at Thinford roundabout with a stretch of the A688 closed at Thinford Lane.

Scarlet Band will run a shuttle bus service from Spennymoor to West Cornforth and Ferryhill throughout the duration of the project.

http://m.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1134...ment_work/

looks like the shuttle bus is just a diverted Service 112 as I saw it around 0955 in Ferryhill Market Place operated by an Enviro200 displaying Service 112 on the screen.

I've got a route suggestion, I think it would be a great idea if Scarlet Band could merge services 33 and 113 together so people living on the 33 route would have a link to Spennymoor and Bishop Auckland once again.

The 113 timetable could look something like this.

Sedgefield Cricket Club........07
Sedgefield Green................09
Fisburn Moorside Crescent...16
Bishop Middleham..............24
Ferryhill Station.................30
Wood Lane Shops...............35
Ferryhill Market Place..........39
Spennymoor High Street.....50
Bishop Auckland Bus Stn.....03
Bishop Auckland Asda.........07

Bishop Auckland Asda..........08
Bishop Auckland Bus Stn......12
Spennymoor High Street......26
Ferryhill Market Place...........36
Wood Lane Shops................39
Ferryhill Station...................44
Bishop Middleham................50
Fishburn Moorside Crescent...58
Sedgefield Green.................04
Sedgefield Cricket Club.........06

The only issue is that the 33 is secured by Durham County Council.

I already suggested merging 33 and 113 together with service extending to Peterlee bus station to scarlet band and DCC 2 weeks after scarlet band took on service 33. it's a non starter.