Can anyone remember when the Vosa registraion for changes to the 18 (Nexus Service) just i think it was meant to be yesterday but could be wrong.

(06 Apr 2015, 11:25 am)gne_4993 wrote Can anyone remember when the Vosa registraion for changes to the 18 (Nexus Service) just i think it was meant to be yesterday but could be wrong.

Is this the one you are referring to.

PB0002032/364 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Four Lane Ends and Walker given service number 18A/18 effective from 19-Apr-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

(06 Apr 2015, 11:34 am)Jimmi wrote Is this the one you are referring to.

PB0002032/364 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Four Lane Ends and Walker given service number 18A/18 effective from 19-Apr-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

Thanks for the quick reply.

What exactly are the changes?
Nothing has been posted on Nexus.

Where are all the "6 The Captains Tale" liveried Pulsars? Always go to Durham to find them but to no avail.

(06 Apr 2015, 1:48 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Where are all the "6 The Captains Tale" liveried Pulsars? Always go to Durham to find them but to no avail.

I think two runs on the 6 require double deckers for interworking with school services (which is likely to be why there is two Sapphire Enviro 400s ordered for this service) also "6 The Captains Tale" branding only appears on the drivers side of the bus because it has an advert board on the other side - no idea why this is the case!

(06 Apr 2015, 2:00 pm)Jimmi wrote I think two runs on the 6 require double deckers for interworking with school services (which is likely to be why there is two Sapphire Enviro 400s ordered for this service) also "6 The Captains Tale" branding only appears on the drivers side of the bus because it has an advert board on the other side - no idea why this is the case!

I've been taking photos of the near side.   

(06 Apr 2015, 2:00 pm)Jimmi wrote I think two runs on the 6 require double deckers for interworking with school services (which is likely to be why there is two Sapphire Enviro 400s ordered for this service) also "6 The Captains Tale" branding only appears on the drivers side of the bus because it has an advert board on the other side - no idea why this is the case!

As stated, the 2 E400s are now for the 24 with the 6 gaining refurbished deckers in the autumn. Additionally, the 6 is now booked for 3 deckers and 10 Pulsars.

Got a couple of services running late ATM.

1640: X21 Ashington-Newbiggin 20L
1645: X21 Ashington-Newcastle 30+L

The 1645 was originally 11L, on return from Newbiggin; 17L, departure from Ashington 22L and at The Elephant; 30L.

At Ashington, the 1645 was delayed due to;

• high passenger loadings
  
• driver having trouble with the Wayfarer
  

At Bolsover Terrace (two stops after Bus Station) the service was delayed due to a passenger falling over outside of the bus then fannying about trying to find his ENCTS card, after scanning he then decided to get off.

Do love thinking how you've got it easy having buses 20-30 minutes late where, back in the day, you were never overly confident if the DAF SB3000/Plaxton Prima working the 685 would ever show up, sometimes you'd be waiting 2 hours for the next one on a 1 hourly service.

(06 Apr 2015, 6:45 pm)northern156 wrote Do love thinking how you've got it easy having buses 20-30 minutes late where, back in the day, you were never overly confident if the DAF SB3000/Plaxton Prima working the 685 would ever show up, sometimes you'd be waiting 2 hours for the next one on a 1 hourly service.

Aye. Don't know why I would live in somewhere rural if I need to go places etc, the 685 is just a scenic route in my eyes, I could easily catch the train.

I always found them Primas brilliant, really kept the timetable together.

(06 Apr 2015, 6:50 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Aye. Don't know why I would live in somewhere rural if I need to go places etc, the 685 is just a scenic route in my eyes, I could easily catch the train.

Can't catch the train when you live in a village nowhere near a railway station, like mine!
You'd be surprised at the amount of people that catch the bus to go shopping, pay bills etc.

(06 Apr 2015, 6:50 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote I always found them Primas brilliant, really kept the timetable together.

When they actually ran yes! Didn't make up time very well sitting on the side of the road with their hazards on!

(06 Apr 2015, 6:57 pm)northern156 wrote Can't catch the train when you live in a village nowhere near a railway station, like mine!
You'd be surprised at the amount of people that catch the bus to go shopping, pay bills etc.


When they actually ran yes! Didn't make up time very well sitting on the side of the road with their hazards on!

Had one 'rescue' 7466 on the Spine Road, 1213 iirc

Longest express ever, 90 minutes.

(06 Apr 2015, 6:57 pm)northern156 wrote When they actually ran yes! Didn't make up time very well sitting on the side of the road with their hazards on!

Prima's were bad enough for reliability on the X66 at times never mind the 685, often seemed like there was one missing (although 1213 was off for a large period of time following the incident where a pedestrian was killed in Middlesbrough Bus Station).

(06 Apr 2015, 7:01 pm)Jimmi wrote Prima's were bad enough for reliability on the X66 at times never mind the 685, often seemed like there was one missing (although 1213 was off for a large period of time following the incident where a pedestrian was killed in Middlesbrough Bus Station).

Jesmond batch were 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204 and 1205 with Stagecoach operating two Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere coaches (52408 being the only one I remember) at first then using B10M/Jonckheere coaches (52626, 52627).

This was plenty of vehicles for the PVR of 4 (Arriva) and 2 (Stagecoach) so they were pretty self-contained. At some point though we also gained 1214 which was refurbished and newer. Then we somehow gradually lost some (1201 and 1203 were two of the first I recall).


How much I'd give to have another ride on 1204, R294KRG....

Just had a look on DVLA and 1201-1203 have SORNs at the moment, 1204 they have no record of ( ) and 1205 is taxed and MOT'd...

I've told this tale before, but here goes again:-

I was attending an event at Haltwhistle and had arrived there by bus (Arriva 685).

At the end of the event I was offered a lift back to Corbridge, but the driver discovered that they had neither cash nor cards and they were running low on fuel, so it was agreed to drop me in Haydon Bridge (the car owner lived north of HB).

On the A69 before HB we passed the 685 parked-up in a layby with the hazards flashing.

In HB I waited, and, of course the 685 didn't come.

What's more, the following 685 didn't come either.

When the (now very late) 685 eventually turned up, the passengers related their tale of woe.

The first bus had overheated with a warning lamp, so the driver stopped and called base (Carlisle) who sent out a mechanic (but no replacement bus as the following service was, by then, 'due'), however the following bus had crashed in Carlisle and couldn't continue, and the mechanic had decided that the original bus couldn't be fixed, so, eventually they decided that the 'third' bus would collect the passengers from outside Haydon Bridge.

Waiting with me in HB were several would-be passengers heading to Hexham.
I suggested the train, but, apparently, HB only gets a two-hourly train service.


I have also been on the Arriva 685 from Hexham towards Newcastle when it threw a rear inner tyre tread at Dilston.

We continued at slow speed to Corbridge where I confirmed to the driver what had happened. Fortunately I was able to commission (!) the GNE 684 as it emerged from Princes Street - though it was truly standing room only on the MPD - in fact passengers had to alight to let those at the rear to get off, having sailed past the stops between Corbridge and Newcastle due to being full up - they were several standing in the 'entrance' of the MPD.

And another time when the 685 overheated at Heddon causing 'loss of service' until the following 685 arrived an hour later.

Oh joy!

(06 Apr 2015, 7:12 pm)northern156 wrote Jesmond batch were 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204 and 1205 with Stagecoach operating two Volvo B10M/Plaxton Premiere coaches (52408 being the only one I remember) at first then using B10M/Jonckheere coaches (52626, 52627).

This was plenty of vehicles for the PVR of 4 (Arriva) and 2 (Stagecoach) so they were pretty self-contained. At some point though we also gained 1214 which was refurbished and newer. Then we somehow gradually lost some (1201 and 1203 were two of the first I recall).


How much I'd give to have another ride on 1204, R294KRG....

Can remember seeing one of the Carlisle Stagecoach coaches parked outside Nottingham Railway station circa 2006/07 on rail replacement duties.

(06 Apr 2015, 4:39 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Got a couple of services running late ATM.

1640: X21 Ashington-Newbiggin 20L
1645: X21 Ashington-Newcastle 30+L

The 1645 was originally 11L, on return from Newbiggin; 17L, departure from Ashington 22L and at The Elephant; 30L.

At Ashington, the 1645 was delayed due to;

• high passenger loadings
  
• driver having trouble with the Wayfarer
  

At Bolsover Terrace (two stops after Bus Station) the service was delayed due to a passenger falling over outside of the bus then fannying about trying to find his ENCTS card, after scanning he then decided to get off.

High passenger loadings and by the sound of it he's on Emergency Tickets. The guy doesn't deserve criticising he needs a medal!  

(06 Apr 2015, 8:15 pm)Multi21 wrote High passenger loadings and by the sound of it he's on Emergency Tickets. The guy doesn't deserve criticising he needs a medal!  

Have to say I can't recall the last time a driver issued hand-written tickets etc. Even more commendable if he is suffering a massive delay!

1590 on the X1 today

(07 Apr 2015, 6:49 am)MrPottski wrote 1590 on the X1 today

Have they been branded?? 

1590 is still in the MAX base livery - no vinyls. Its due to leave Darlington on X1 at 1100, but is currently running around 10 minutes late, as it is quite busy today.
The rest of the X1 workings seem to pulsars.

Does anyone know if there is roadworks or anything along the 1/5/5A routes at the moment as I have just had a look to see where my 5A is and saw this:


Been running late a few times in the last week or so.

Also what time is 1590 due back in Darlington?

1590 is currently heading into Darlington on X1
Possibly there is another Streetlite on X1

(07 Apr 2015, 1:02 pm)John_R wrote 1590 is currently heading into Darlington on X1
Possibly there is another Streetlite on X1

Not seen any others yet, currently on board 1590.

(07 Apr 2015, 1:02 pm)John_R wrote 1590 is currently heading into Darlington on X1
Possibly there is another Streetlite on X1

The rest are Pulsars I think on the X1.

(06 Apr 2015, 8:15 pm)Multi21 wrote High passenger loadings and by the sound of it he's on Emergency Tickets. The guy doesn't deserve criticising he needs a medal!  

Not on emergency tickets, the previous driver was having a tab so he came over, I'm not criticising I'm just saying that these were the reasons that the bus ran late.

(07 Apr 2015, 2:33 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Not on emergency tickets, the previous driver was having a tab so he came over, I'm not criticising I'm just saying that these were the reasons that the bus ran late.

Surely if they were that late because of the ticket machine, the bus would have been changed at Ashington, or at least they would have sent out an extra bus in front to leave on time and run the one behind to drop off only?

(07 Apr 2015, 2:34 pm)mb134 wrote Surely if they were that late because of the ticket machine, the bus would have been changed at Ashington, or at least they would have sent out an extra bus in front to leave on time and run the one behind to drop off only?

The supervisor left of 7513 to go to Morpeth, leaving just the driver at the bus station, it would have made the service more late if the driver collected another bus.