(05 Feb 2015, 6:29 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Wonder what 7518 will say...

This is our Sapphire spare. Your usual 57 reg buses are off the road, broken, as usual.

(05 Feb 2015, 6:35 pm)mb134 wrote This is our Sapphire spare. Your usual 57 reg buses are off the road, broken, as usual.

When do you think that they'll get replaced?

(05 Feb 2015, 7:05 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote When do you think that they'll get replaced?

I reckon within 3 years, if the route is making more than what DB/ Arriva expect it to. Can't see them keeping them on there for too long, with the reliability problems they're causing if I'm honest. 

(05 Feb 2015, 6:13 pm)Dan wrote Services 43, 44 and 45: Newcastle – Cramlington, Dinnington and Morpeth

We are increasing our fleet of double-deck buses for these services to ensure there are enough seats for everyone, especially at Monday to Friday peak times. There are no changes to the routes or timetables.
- See more at: http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/north-east/up...IXJJl.dpuf

Would assume that the ALX400s will return to Jesmond and be allocated alongside the Volvo B7TLs to services 43, 44 and 45?

Wonder it they'll displace W-PPTs to replace V regs at Redcar/Stockton.

(05 Feb 2015, 6:10 pm)Cock Robin wrote Are the Redcar deckers transferred to Jesmond going to be used on a Nexus contract initially? So the Durham deckers won't be able to go for Max refurb til that finishes?

Believe that they're destined for Nexus school work at Jesmond and this should push the DLAs off to Durham to replace their Geminis to refurb. We also have the small matter of 3 weekends of Metro replacement to sort out a fleet for too!...

Any more information on when the next set of London deckers will start to arrive?

(05 Feb 2015, 9:27 pm)mb134 wrote Any more information on when the next set of London deckers will start to arrive?

Not at the moment, but I would imagine in the summer. I think it'll be more Volvo B7TLs though as they appear to be putting the DAFs back into service to replace (slightly) older Volvo's.

(05 Feb 2015, 9:56 pm)tyresmoke wrote Not at the moment, but I would imagine in the summer. I think it'll be more Volvo B7TLs though as they appear to be putting the DAFs back into service to replace (slightly) older Volvo's.

Sounds good  
Was just thinking, eventually E400's will start to be cascaded.....

(05 Feb 2015, 9:58 pm)mb134 wrote Sounds good  
Was just thinking, eventually E400's will start to be cascaded.....

You'll find that anything newer than 2006 won't be cascaded as most don't have separate emergency exits (due to a EU directive that states dual doored vehicles don't need a separate emergency exit).

(05 Feb 2015, 10:00 pm)Kuyoyo wrote You'll find that anything newer than 2006 won't be cascaded as most don't have separate emergency exits (due to a EU directive that states dual doored vehicles don't need a separate emergency exit).

Ahhh, shame because it would have meant that B9's may have came as well

Does that mean that, eventually, Arriva will have to buy more new buses in the long run across all divisions, as they will be unable to rely on cascades to keep age down?

Well they can be transfered just not modified to single door and retain their dual-door layout, or the fitting of an emergency exit dor anyway!

(05 Feb 2015, 11:24 pm)NK05 GWZ wrote Well they can be transfered just not modified to single door and retain their dual-door layout, or the fitting of an emergency exit dor anyway!

Well end up with three-door and two-staircase New Routemasters, if Boris wants rid of buses over 5 years old...

Anyway, weren't the E200s from SC dual door?

Ashington and Blyth today...

(06 Feb 2015, 6:10 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Ashington and Blyth today...

Blyth
- 1760 IN, ENTERED SERVICE ON #1

Ashington
- 7518 BRANDED 'SAPPHIRE', PARKED IN DEPOT

Was on the 2 this evening, replaced 1768. 
(I got 1768 from Morpeth to Bedlington, and on what would have been it's return journey 1760 turned up, around 7.40 from Bedlington- unless I've worked it out wrong) 

Edit: Think I have got it wrong, 1768 would have arrived at 23 minutes past 7, however the 2 back to Morpeth leaves Blyth at 7.18. So 1760 wouldn't have replaced it directly. Do the 1 and 2 interwork  on evenings, out of interest? 

I am told 2803 has arrived at Stockton too.

(05 Feb 2015, 11:40 am)tyresmoke wrote The cascades planned over the next few weeks are as follows.....

Redcar B9TL's
7401-7406 new for MAX X93
7485/7486/7489/7493/7494 to Jesmond > displace 7467/7471/7473/7474/7476 to Durham (Gemini refurb covers)
4512 to Stockton > 4039 disposal

E200's continue to arrive at Durham with 1324/1325/1326/1328 into fleet, replacing 1304/1310/1312/1314 to Darlington, which allows 2503 to disposal & 1302/1306/1307 to reserve (non DDA Darts). 1415/1416 back from refurb see's off 1303 to reserve.

Solos 2852-2861 arriving into Darlington...
2803/2804/2805/2807/2808/2826/2829 to Stockton > 1753 disposal, 1769/1771/1772 to Blyth (1758/95/96 disposal), 1902/1903/1904 disposal
1760/1767/1791 to Blyth (1733/42/50 disposal)

Ashington should lose 1616/1646 and 7458 following return of buses from refurbishments... this should have already happened

Only other thing noted is the transfer of 7435 to Yorkshire Tiger

This should put disposal buses at
1003
1611 1616 1617 1626 1636 1637 1639 1646 1647 1649 1651 1653 1654 1655 1656
1712 1724 1736 1737 1738 1739 1743 1753 1756
1902 1903 1904
2503
4001 4007 4038 4039
7458 7459 7461 7462 7464

1646 has indeed now left the fleet - in storage at Thorntons.

(07 Feb 2015, 10:41 am)Dan wrote 1646 has indeed now left the fleet - in storage at Thorntons.

The other two Darts remain at Ashington - at the back of the depot.

Aren't the Stockton Solos getting repainted then?!

7518 is branded as Sapphire minus route branding.

If they haven't put route branding on, does this mean that there's a possible new route for Sapphire?

(07 Feb 2015, 4:55 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote 7518 is branded as Sapphire minus route branding.



If they haven't put route branding on, does this mean that there's a possible new route for Sapphire?

I don't think so, as the same was done with Stockton and Redcar's spare Pulsars which also carry no route branding.

1310 was towed into Faverdale this afternoon.

DAF SB220GS/Plaxton Prestige 4051 (S351 KHN), which is listed for disposal at Jesmond, has transferred to Ashington. It was not allocated to service today; instead, parked up with the training coaches and Darts which are for disposal at Ashington.

Any ideas?

(07 Feb 2015, 6:10 pm)Dan wrote DAF SB220GS/Plaxton Prestige 4051 (S351 KHN), which is listed for disposal at Jesmond, has transferred to Ashington. It was not allocated to service today; instead, parked up with the training coaches and Darts which are for disposal at Ashington.

Any ideas?

Been there for months, advanced driver training duties.

(06 Feb 2015, 6:10 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Ashington and Blyth today...

Blyth
- 1760 IN, ENTERED SERVICE ON #1

Ashington
- 7518 BRANDED 'SAPPHIRE', PARKED IN DEPOT

(07 Feb 2015, 10:41 am)Dan wrote 1646 has indeed now left the fleet - in storage at Thorntons.

(07 Feb 2015, 11:11 am)Dan wrote The other two Darts remain at Ashington - at the back of the depot.

(07 Feb 2015, 4:55 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote 7518 is branded as Sapphire minus route branding.

If they haven't put route branding on, does this mean that there's a possible new route for Sapphire?

Arriva North East: 1760 / NK05GVX by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 1646 / R421COO by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 7518 / NK09FNE by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 7518 / NK09FNE by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 1616 / S616KHN by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: Training Fleet by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

Arriva North East: 7458 / T313FGN by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

(07 Feb 2015, 1:00 pm)Cock Robin wrote Aren't the Stockton Solos getting repainted then?!

Yeah due to go to Thorntons for repaint, only one has arrived so far though.

(07 Feb 2015, 6:04 pm)John_R wrote 1310 was towed into Faverdale this afternoon.

Broke down in Stockton on the X66

(07 Feb 2015, 6:10 pm)Dan wrote DAF SB220GS/Plaxton Prestige 4051 (S351 KHN), which is listed for disposal at Jesmond, has transferred to Ashington. It was not allocated to service today; instead, parked up with the training coaches and Darts which are for disposal at Ashington.

Any ideas?

Was being used for the Advanced Driver Training program that is being rolled out across Arriva NE at present, at Jesmond and now Ashington. Stockton are just completing it, believe they will be working through Durham depot next.

Dan,

Are the images supposed to be shown in the post? Because I can't see them, just the link.

Also Tyresmoke's signature image has been replaced by the link.

(08 Feb 2015, 9:41 am)Tommy_1581 wrote Dan,

Are the images supposed to be shown in the post? Because I can't see them, just the link.

Also Tyresmoke's signature image has been replaced by the link.

I've amended your settings for you - this should no longer be an issue.

(08 Feb 2015, 9:45 am)Dan wrote I've amended your settings for you - this should no longer be an issue.

Thanks

Was thinking this morning about the 35/35A, does it really need double deckers for half it's allocation? 

I've never seen one anywhere near full, I think it would be better if Ashington swapped 3 of the deckers they use on there for 3 single deckers from elsewhere? (If there are any available, if not I'm sure this year's order will displace some) 

(08 Feb 2015, 10:45 am)mb134 wrote Was thinking this morning about the 35/35A, does it really need double deckers for half it's allocation? 

I've never seen one anywhere near full, I think it would be better if Ashington swapped 3 of the deckers they use on there for 3 single deckers from elsewhere? (If there are any available, if not I'm sure this year's order will displace some) 

The 35s do get very busy, the 9ish from Ashington has a loading of around 10, Pegswood there was around 20 people on board.

I'll do a bit of homework on the 35s in the holidays, and I'll get the numbers from Seacrest Road - Morpeth.