They tweeted a link to a survey about services in Darlington earlier.
Imagine it is on their fb page too.

(26 Feb 2015, 7:32 pm)Andreos1 wrote They tweeted a link to a survey about services in Darlington earlier.
Imagine it is on their fb page too.

There was - I posted a link to the survey from there earlier, probably should have posted here instead of the latest thread - oh well!

Link to the survey: http://bit.ly/1zKpu3C

(26 Feb 2015, 7:36 pm)Jimmi wrote There was - I posted a link to the survey from there earlier, probably should have posted here instead of the latest thread - oh well!

Link to the survey: http://bit.ly/1zKpu3C

Just going through the unread posts and saw mention of it elsewhere.
Came to this one before the 'latest' thread.

Nevermind

(26 Feb 2015, 7:37 pm)Andreos1 wrote Just going through the unread posts and saw mention of it elsewhere.
Came to this one before the 'latest' thread.

Nevermind

Yeah I wasn't sure where to put it, I wasn't sure about putting it here because it is a survey and these changes may not happen (although they probably will), thought about the service suggestions thread but it wasn't really suggestions as such so I decided to put it in the latest thread.

Time for the OK1 to return to restore the link to the College!

(28 Feb 2015, 10:00 am)Cock Robin wrote Time for the OK1 to return to restore the link to the College!

Hardly anyone uses it to the Darlington College. Most students from the Bishop and Shildon areas will either go to QE or Bishop Auckland College

Just noticed that the additional peak summer journeys on service X93 will now start on Sunday 29th March and will run until Sunday 1st November. The registrations will be split at Guisborough and Whitby from the same date.

Wonder what they'll use alongside the MAX branded B9TL's.

(04 Mar 2015, 8:47 pm)Jimmi wrote Just noticed that the additional peak summer journeys on service X93 will now start on Sunday 29th March and will run until Sunday 1st November. The registrations will be split at Guisborough and Whitby from the same date.

Wonder what they'll use alongside the MAX branded B9TL's.

MAX-livered B7TLs - 7485/6 due to be painted up and WiFi'd ready for the start of the summer timetable.

(04 Mar 2015, 8:57 pm)Kuyoyo wrote MAX-livered B7TLs - 7485/6 due to be painted up and WiFi'd ready for the start of the summer timetable.

WTF?

That will be the most absurd thing that Arriva has done, ever!

Should use 2 of the best out of 7453 - 7456 for the X93. With a bit of TLC, they'd be good powerful workhorses.

(05 Mar 2015, 1:18 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Should use 2 of the best out of 7453 - 7456 for the X93. With a bit of TLC, they'd be good powerful workhorses.

Them Lowlander's are past their best now after being hammered over the years and shoving them on the X93 would probably kill them.

Saw one of these Lowlander's in Durham the other week and it was chucking out a load of smoke out the back and at least one of them sounds ropey.

The B7TLs did well for most of their time on the X93 last year although they often ended up on the 81/81A towards the end, presumably because they were having issues with them why this ended up happening I don't know.

I'd rather have the Lowlander's at Belmont as it gives them more modern double deckers and don't forget the B7TLs will likely to spend around four months doing not alot when the peak X93 timetable is over.

(05 Mar 2015, 1:10 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote WTF?

That will be the most absurd thing that Arriva has done, ever!

They couldn't cope with the route last summer but no doubt a new coat of paint and wifi fitted will help them get up the banks.

(05 Mar 2015, 3:22 pm)Cock Robin wrote They couldn't cope with the route last summer but no doubt a new coat of paint and wifi fitted will help them get up the banks.

Problem is there isn't much else they could probably use on there as using something more modern would be a bit of a waste because of the 4 or so months they won't really be used out of the peak season and most other modern double deckers are now branded for other services and some other more modern buses like the 57 reg Lowlander's are totally shot so would be likely to spend less time on the X93 and more time at the side of the road or in Redcar depot needing to be repaired.



Old B7TLs are probably not the most ideal allocation for the X93 but it's probably the best we're going to get for now.

Or they could buy 2 out of 7410-7420 back and put them into MAX spex as no DDA in force yet on double decks. Hills? No problem 

(05 Mar 2015, 4:44 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Or they could buy 2 out of 7410-7420 back and put them into MAX spex as no DDA in force yet on double decks. Hills? No problem 

Think some of them are still in service down in Cornwall? 

(05 Mar 2015, 4:24 pm)Jimmi wrote Problem is there isn't much else they could probably use on there as using something more modern would be a bit of a waste because of the 4 or so months they won't really be used out of the peak season and most other modern double deckers are now branded for other services and some other more modern buses like the 57 reg Lowlander's are totally shot so would be likely to spend less time on the X93 and more time at the side of the road or in Redcar depot needing to be repaired.



Old B7TLs are probably not the most ideal allocation for the X93 but it's probably the best we're going to get for now.

I really can't see how a 13 year old ex-London decker will be in better condition than a 7 year old Lowlander. I'm not saying that 7453-6 should go on there, I just think that for this summer at least they'd be far better than 7485/6 would be.

(05 Mar 2015, 4:52 pm)mb134 wrote I really can't see how a 13 year old ex-London decker will be in better condition than a 7 year old Lowlander. I'm not saying that 7453-6 should go on there, I just think that for this summer at least they'd be far better than 7485/6 would be.

7453 - 7456 are shot. The Coast and Castles 518 nearly killed them, one apparently drove over a field and then all the others started playing up. I assume 7485/6 will not have e-leather seats fitted as I believe the seats were re trimmed last year.

It would be better if Arriva could fit Wi-Fi and just stick "X93 along the glorious Yorkshire coast" stickers on the side. Instead of lying about new buses, then passengers turn up complaining that it isn't. 

So if only 7485/6 are going MAX, does that mean the entire peak season without a spare... or is there a PVR change this year?

(05 Mar 2015, 4:59 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote 7453 - 7456 are shot. The Coast and Castles 518 nearly killed them, one apparently drove over a field and then all the others started playing up. I assume 7485/6 will not have e-leather seats fitted as I believe the seats were re trimmed last year.



It would be better if Arriva could fit Wi-Fi and just stick "X93 along the glorious Yorkshire coast" stickers on the side. Instead of lying about new buses, then passengers turn up complaining that it isn't. 

7485/6 seem like they will be re trimmed with e-leather seating as they will be MAX standard.

It won't be the first time Arriva will have refurbished a bus after less than a year, 1512 arrived around autumn 2013 and around a year later it was refurbished to Sapphire spec for the 5/5A!

(05 Mar 2015, 5:03 pm)Mark P wrote So if only 7485/6 are going MAX, does that mean the entire peak season without a spare... or is there a PVR change this year?

From what I can see if only 7485/6 get done there is probably going to be no spare, so no doubt Tesma's will be on the X93 not making MAXimum Impact.

(05 Mar 2015, 5:06 pm)Jimmi wrote 7485/6 seem like they will be re trimmed with e-leather seating as they will be MAX standard.

It won't be the first time Arriva will have refurbished a bus after less than a year, 1512 arrived around autumn 2013 and around a year later it was refurbished to Sapphire spec for the 5/5A!

It is a stupid idea.

Whichever tit thought of that idea should be hung.

That's completely absurd, stupid, mental, wrong, silly.

That's as mental as refurbishing my room to Sapphire specification.

(05 Mar 2015, 5:06 pm)Jimmi wrote 7485/6 seem like they will be re trimmed with e-leather seating as they will be MAX standard.

It won't be the first time Arriva will have refurbished a bus after less than a year, 1512 arrived around autumn 2013 and around a year later it was refurbished to Sapphire spec for the 5/5A!

Don't think so. Believe I read / was told that the two Volvo B7TLs will merely be repainted and fitted with Wi-Fi, retaining their standard fabric moquette.

Begs the question: why have a brand if you're not going to standardise it? The exact same has happened with "Sapphire"; whilst the specification is similar, each and every single "Sapphire" branded vehicle is not the same up and down the country. Some have white destinations, others don't. Some have 2+1 seating to allow more leg-room, others don't. The list goes on - and now the same is happening with "MAX".

The Lowlanders are great and have an abundance of power. Although the Volvo B7TLs performed well, better buses are required as the B7TLs fall down the hills when they have to come to a complete halt to get back into first gear. A 57-reg Lowlander should have at least been trialled - tachographs aren't required when the peak season timetable comes into fruition, so why not? The only logical explanation I can come up with is that it saves Arriva a job: drivers and engineers don't have to familiarise themselves with a Lowlander for a few months during the peak season operation of the X93.

(05 Mar 2015, 5:11 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote It is a stupid idea.

Whichever tit thought of that idea should be hung.

That's completely absurd, stupid, mental, wrong, silly.

That's as mental as refurbishing my room to Sapphire specification.

wow...that's a bit unnecessarily extreme.

(05 Mar 2015, 5:09 pm)Jimmi wrote From what I can see if only 7485/6 get done there is probably going to be no spare, so no doubt Tesma's will be on the X93 not making MAXimum Impact.

Don't get me started on Temsas...

The seats are basically a redesign of urban90s.

---

(05 Mar 2015, 5:12 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote wow...that's a bit unnecessarily extreme.

I'm sorry, I'm not the one refurbishing a 13-year old bus to Max spec, am I?

Yet im sure you'd complain if you got a Temsa or another corporate liveried vehicle...

(05 Mar 2015, 5:19 pm)Robert wrote Yet im sure you'd complain if you got a Temsa or another corporate liveried vehicle...

People learn to live with Ashington and Blyth's allocations...
... Especially according to the new X20/20 timetable, services X14/X15/X18 are Sapphire.

(05 Mar 2015, 5:12 pm)Dan wrote Don't think so. Believe I read / was told that the two Volvo B7TLs will merely be repainted and fitted with Wi-Fi, retaining their standard fabric moquette.



Begs the question: why have a brand if you're not going to standardise it? The exact same has happened with "Sapphire"; whilst the specification is similar, each and every single "Sapphire" branded vehicle is not the same up and down the country. Some have white destinations, others don't. Some have 2+1 seating to allow more leg-room, others don't. The list goes on - and now the same is happening with "MAX".



The Lowlanders are great and have an abundance of power. Although the Volvo B7TLs performed well, better buses are required as the B7TLs fall down the hills when they have to come to a complete halt to get back into first gear. A 57-reg Lowlander should have at least been trialled - tachographs aren't required when the peak season timetable comes into fruition, so why not? The only logical explanation I can come up with is that it saves Arriva a job: drivers and engineers don't have to familiarise themselves with a Lowlander for a few months during the peak season operation of the X93.

I automatically assumed they'd be re trimmed with e-leather with the X93 being a MAX service. Bit crap having some buses with e-leather and others with fabric mind.

Also bad having no spares as advertising a service with free WiFi then having a Tesma turn up without WiFi and the worst seats ever is pretty terrible and may put people off.

Just like to voice my views on these ALX400s being specified for MAX...I'm no regular user of any ALX400 (or Lowlander) routes, but my experience of having them on the X24 - is that they are absolute horses. They could go to London and back on their hands and knees!

My point is: they appear to be great buses, and I doubt they would encounter many life-threatening problems.

(05 Mar 2015, 5:32 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Just like to voice my views on these ALX400s being specified for MAX...I'm no regular user of any ALX400 (or Lowlander) routes, but my experience of having them on the X24 - is that they are absolute horses. They could go to London and back on their hands and knees!

My point is: they appear to be great buses, and I doubt they would encounter many life-threatening problems.

They're not ALX400s - they're the Volvo B7 Geminis.

So the equivalent of GNE's "Angel" branded 3962/65, which are five years younger.

(05 Mar 2015, 5:33 pm)Dan wrote They're not ALX400s - they're the Volvo B7 Geminis.

So the equivalent of GNE's "Angel" branded 3962/65, which are five years younger.

Oh right, that's embarrassing. 

I think those two are pretty good, manage to handle the route rather well.