Oh dear! 4812 has broken down near the White Horse at Harrowgate Hill, Darlington - fleet support van in attendance.

These are the buses so far that I and other members have tested to see if the "special features" work. The list will be published weekly. Any contributions are welcome.

Red: No working WiFi or power sockets
Orange: No working next stop audio visual
Green: All clear, no problems to report
Black: Bus not tested

PLEASE NOTE: If the power sockets do not work, please contact the driver when it is safe to do so and ask him/her to switch them on. On refurbished buses: there are two switches for each deck. On new buses: one switch.

Ashington
Number - Features not working
1579: WiFi - camera did not pick up WiFi connection from this bus. 20/3/2015
1580:
1581:
1792:
1800:
1801:
4653:
4659:
7501: This bus was tested and cleared of faults on 20/3/2015.
7502:
7503:
7504:
7505: Power sockets
7506: Tested and cleared of faults 20/3/2015
7507:
7508: Power sockets and WiFi - WiFi tested 20/3/2015
7509:
7511:
7512:
7513:
7514:
7515:
7516:
7517:
7518:
7522: Tested on 20/3/2015. Bus cleared of faults.
7523:
7524:
7525:
7526:
7527: Power sockets
7528:
7529:
7530:
7531:
7532:
7533:

(19 Mar 2015, 1:53 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote These are the buses so far that I have tested to see if the "special features" work. The list will be published weekly. Any contributions are welcome.

Red: No working WiFi or power sockets
Orange: No working next stop audio visual
Green: All clear, no problems to report
Black: Bus not tested

Ashington
Number - Features not working
1579:
1580:
1581:
1792:
1800:
1801:
7501: WiFi and next stop AV
7502:
7503:
7504:
7505: Power sockets
7506:
7507:
7508: Power sockets
7509:
7511:
7512:
7513:
7514:
7515:
7516:
7517:
7518:
7522:
7523:
7524:
7525:
7526:
7527: Power sockets
7528:
7529:
7530:
7531:
7532:
7533:

You not liking 4653/9?

I'll check WiFi one some buses for you if you'd like, I'll get through 2 Sapphires per day (should I catch them/should Arriva not send the same bus twice, which is unlikely, they seem to like giving me 7504/6)

4653/4659 and 1800 work as I have had them recently.

Doing the X2 from Newcastle to Durham. It's 7L at present, and there's no real reason for it. Not a lot of passengers, and certainly not a lot of traffic, despite the time of day.

Edit: 10L into Durham.

(19 Mar 2015, 5:17 pm)aureolin wrote Doing the X2 from Newcastle to Durham. It's 7L at present, and there's no real reason for it. Not a lot of passengers, and certainly not a lot of traffic, despite the time of day.

Edit: 10L into Durham.

Looking at livemap, this has made it's time up, and is almost at Middlesbrough now. I have to say though, once we had a driver change over at Durham, the driver was hell bent on making up time. We were 14L out of Durham in the end, and he'd made 8 minutes of that up by the time I got off at Coxhoe.

(19 Mar 2015, 6:42 pm)aureolin wrote Looking at livemap, this has made it's time up, and is almost at Middlesbrough now. I have to say though, once we had a driver change over at Durham, the driver was hell bent on making up time. We were 14L out of Durham in the end, and he'd made 8 minutes of that up by the time I got off at Coxhoe.

I like it when drivers try, and actually care about being on time. I don't actually understand why drivers drive slowly and get late on purpose, it's of no benefit to them, at least if they drive fast they might have a little bit of fun. 

I got 7524 from Ashington to Bedlington as part of my outing on Saturday, he was 6 late three stops after the bus station because of traffic lights, but had more than halved that by Bedlington, even with stopping at most stops, by the time I got off downstairs was pretty much full.

(17 Mar 2015, 10:56 pm)tyresmoke wrote I wondered if that may be part of the reason! We had the same system fitted to the Pulsars at Stockton and it was turned off as it was regarded as unsafe by the driving staff and the union. Management listened to concerns and made the decision to turn the system off. The fact that several vehicles were excluded in the first place made a mockery of it to be honest. I'm not one to moan about an Eco system but Econospeed really was far too restrictive! Not only that but we had buses dropping from 50 to 10mph on high speed roads, which was totally unsafe.

X1 pulsars 1404 and 1407 have been reconnected after a mod but are still troublesome but to date nobody seems interested in dealing with this matter

Tommy- Currently on 7508, WiFi doesn't work, NSA's do.
7522 this morning had working NSA's, and WiFi, I'll try and remember my charger next week and try the plugs.

I wish somebody would tell Arriva on their facebook site that in order to activate the power sockets, you need to ask the driver to switch them on....they seem to be scratching their heads as to why none of Redcar's Sapphires ever have working power sockets !!

(20 Mar 2015, 7:06 pm)tvd wrote I wish somebody would tell Arriva on their facebook site that in order to activate the power sockets, you need to ask the driver to switch them on....they seem to be scratching their heads as to why none of Redcar's Sapphires ever have working power sockets !!

Aye, maybe one of the "after-hours" CS team could tell the passengers! Haha

(20 Mar 2015, 7:06 pm)tvd wrote I wish somebody would tell Arriva on their facebook site that in order to activate the power sockets, you need to ask the driver to switch them on....they seem to be scratching their heads as to why none of Redcar's Sapphires ever have working power sockets !!

The power sockets on the Streetlites work on the same button as the master switch for the interior lights, so if the lights are on then the sockets should work.... If they don't then either send them to CS or send me a PM and I'll pass it on.

On the Teen Cards - does expires 31st August "20" mean expires on the date in 2020?

Thanks.

(21 Mar 2015, 9:53 am)Tommy_1581 wrote On the Teen Cards - does expires 31st August "20" mean expires on the date in 2020?

Thanks.

Yeah  

Here is 7515 (NK09 FNA) carrying its revised livery.

(21 Mar 2015, 7:46 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Here is 7515 (NK09 FNA) carrying its revised livery.

Was your friend on Ashington's allocations today?

(21 Mar 2015, 7:56 pm)Dan wrote Was your friend on Ashington's allocations today?

Nah - this photo was earlier in the week. 

(21 Mar 2015, 7:58 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Nah - this photo was earlier in the week. 

Was he on the allocations earlier in the week, then? [emoji14]

I don't know why they don't just bother getting rid of all the branding just to make it a generic MAX (as per the Sapphire spares).

(21 Mar 2015, 7:46 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Here is 7515 (NK09 FNA) carrying its revised livery.

7515 is actually carrying another revised livery now:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/simplybuses/16698287420/

(21 Mar 2015, 8:00 pm)Dan wrote Was he on the allocations earlier in the week, then? [emoji14]

I don't know why they don't just bother getting rid of all the branding just to make it a generic MAX (as per the Sapphire spares).

I have to agree with you Dan, I think removing the Route Branding off the "Sapphire/MAX" Services would allow for greater flexibility in the Allocation to Services which they operate on, as long for example an E400 in "MAX" Livery shows up on the X14/X15 and X18 then everyone is happy, and then there are no complaints.

Prestige 4039 is now withdrawn at Stockton, marking the end of the types operation in public service in the North East!

1312 and 1314 have arrived at Darlington, with 1724 withdrawn as a result. 1711 should also come off imminently.

2828 has returned to Redcar in all over silver ready for Whitby P&R, as has 7485 in MAX livery, 7486 has transferred to Thorntons for repaint in turn.

Are there any S-KHN darts in service, as I'm not sure if the fleet list is up to date?

(21 Mar 2015, 9:42 pm)Tom wrote Are there any S-KHN darts in service, as I'm not sure if the fleet list is up to date?

No I don't think there is. Unless Blyth/Ashington are still using one?

(21 Mar 2015, 9:45 pm)tyresmoke wrote No I don't think there is. Unless Blyth/Ashington are still using one?

Cheers.
I've never saw one for a while.

(21 Mar 2015, 9:42 pm)Tom wrote Are there any S-KHN darts in service, as I'm not sure if the fleet list is up to date?

When does it say it was last updated? Think it should have been in line with last fortnight's news update, but should be getting done again tomorrow.

(21 Mar 2015, 9:46 pm)Dan wrote When does it say it was last updated? Think it should have been in line with last fortnight's news update, but should be getting done again tomorrow.

Never saw that - 15th March

(21 Mar 2015, 9:12 pm)tyresmoke wrote Prestige 4039 is now withdrawn at Stockton, marking the end of the types operation in public service in the North East!

1312 and 1314 have arrived at Darlington, with 1724 withdrawn as a result. 1711 should also come off imminently.

2828 has returned to Redcar in all over silver ready for Whitby P&R, as has 7485 in MAX livery, 7486 has transferred to Thorntons for repaint in turn.

Something has just died inside of me...

(21 Mar 2015, 9:42 pm)Tom wrote Are there any S-KHN darts in service, as I'm not sure if the fleet list is up to date?

No idea, don't think there is anymore.

Saw 1611 being towed out of Jesmond depot by Alpha Recovery on Wednesday afternoon.

(21 Mar 2015, 9:51 pm)Jimmi wrote No idea, don't think there is anymore.

Saw 1611 being towed out of Jesmond depot by Alpha Recovery on Wednesday afternoon.

I only got to ride one or two, and I thought the Allison gearbox sounds were great, and they were much nicer than the X reg ones.
Shame I couldn't go on a couple more.

(21 Mar 2015, 9:53 pm)Tom wrote I only got to ride one or two, and I thought the Allison gearbox sounds were great, and they were much nicer than the X reg ones.
Shame I couldn't go on a couple more.

I was actually quite sad to see these go as I've ridden them since they were new on services such as the 4/4A Bishop Auckland - Woodham, 15 Spennymoor - Darlington and 213 Darlington - Sunderland. Started seeing them less over the years though, got to ride a few before they left Darlington as the Pulsars on the 5/5A were temporarily allocated to the X66 when the Omnicitys were away for MAX refurbishment.

Last one I rode was 1616 on service 8 Spennymoor - Newton Aycliffe.

Can't bare the X reg Darts.