Arriva North East: Latest News & Discussion - October 2017

7475 has been reinstated at Ashington.

I've just noticed that the 6s have gained stickers advertising the sapphire 6 routesaver.

(03 Oct 2017, 1:50 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I've just noticed that the 6s have gained stickers advertising the sapphire 6 routesaver.

Also East Durham saver stickers on the sides of the Peterlee services.

(03 Oct 2017, 1:50 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I've just noticed that the 6s have gained stickers advertising the sapphire 6 routesaver.

(03 Oct 2017, 2:06 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Also East Durham saver stickers on the sides of the Peterlee services.

Have you got any photos? Would be quite useful for a project I'm doing. 

(04 Oct 2017, 11:06 am)omnicity4659 wrote Have you got any photos? Would be quite useful for a project I'm doing. 

I'll see if I can snap a couple later. Will need to hang around at the bus station for a while, anyhow, as for the 3rd day running the 22 that's supposed to get there around 2:30 is ridiculously late. 17 minutes and counting. That one usually gets me to my destination with a good 15 minutes to spare but I ve been 20 minutes late, 2 days in a row as the 6 has been dire, too.

Re the journey on service 685 allocated a double-deck bus.

How does this work? I notice the bus is now a Sapphire ADL E400 - does it interwork with services 43/44/45, or is the bus left spare until 12:30pm to operate two journeys on the 685?

(04 Oct 2017, 5:38 pm)Dan wrote Re the journey on service 685 allocated a double-deck bus.

How does this work? I notice the bus is now a Sapphire ADL E400 - does it interwork with services 43/44/45, or is the bus left spare until 12:30pm to operate two journeys on the 685?

I believe it sits spare in the depot but don't quote me on that, it then does the 12:50ish 685 to Hexham through to onto Carlisle proving extra capacity for Schools along the route.

Should also be a Volvo B7TL Wright Gemini which is allocated rather than a Sapphire E400 unless this has changed recently.

It's whatever sat spare at Haymarket/Jesmond, which for some reason is a Sapphire E400 on most occasions...although all should be on 43/44/45.

(04 Oct 2017, 6:27 pm)omnicity4659 wrote It's whatever sat spare at Haymarket/Jesmond, which for some reason is a Sapphire E400 on most occasions...although all should be on 43/44/45.

How many Sapphires are spare out of the 43/44/45 allocation?
Seems to be quite frequent now, like their deliberately keeping one for the 1245, certainly a better allocation for CP spec.

(04 Oct 2017, 6:27 pm)omnicity4659 wrote It's whatever sat spare at Haymarket/Jesmond, which for some reason is a Sapphire E400 on most occasions...although all should be on 43/44/45.

Even on evening and weekend you regularly see Sapphire vehicles sat spare at Haymarket while Max or 52/54 branded buses are used on Sapphire services. It would be interesting if there is a reason for this or just laziness from the depot?

(05 Oct 2017, 11:49 am)Shrek wrote Even on evening and weekend you regularly see Sapphire vehicles sat spare at Haymarket while Max or 52/54 branded buses are used on Sapphire services. It would be interesting if there is a reason for this or just laziness from the depot?

I think 1 board on the 43/44/45 Is meant to be allocated a single deck bus but that normally ends up on the 685 as well

(05 Oct 2017, 11:49 am)Shrek wrote Even on evening and weekend you regularly see Sapphire vehicles sat spare at Haymarket while Max or 52/54 branded buses are used on Sapphire services. It would be interesting if there is a reason for this or just laziness from the depot?

I think you hit the nail there...

Grainy shot of the sticker on 1600

7413 is going for a crosspennine journey on the 685 today

(06 Oct 2017, 9:06 am)BusLoverMum wrote Grainy shot of the sticker on 1600

A shame it doesn't cover Wheatley hill, Thornley and Haswell.


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(06 Oct 2017, 1:56 pm)cbma06 wrote A shame it doesn't cover Wheatley hill, Thornley and Haswell.


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Is there much competition in those areas? 

There's plenty on the Hartlepool - Sunderland corridor these days.

(06 Oct 2017, 3:27 pm)Andreos1 wrote Is there much competition in those areas? 

There's plenty on the Hartlepool - Sunderland corridor these days.

Shotton is included in the East Durham Saver and they only has Arriva Services


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(06 Oct 2017, 1:56 pm)cbma06 wrote A shame it doesn't cover Wheatley hill, Thornley and Haswell.


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Aye, it's all full price here.

(06 Oct 2017, 4:05 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Aye, it's all full price here.

Arriva have said they plan too included Wheatley Hill & Thornley in the “East Durham Saver” Ticket.
But they wouldn’t say when.


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(06 Oct 2017, 11:53 am)Stuartphin1639 wrote 7413 is going for a crosspennine journey on the 685 today

Indeed, it is the vehicle to transfer to Jesmond as the summer X18 timetable ends. Presumably so that it can be used on the 12:50.

(06 Oct 2017, 9:05 pm)mb134 wrote Indeed, it is the vehicle to transfer to Jesmond as the summer X18 timetable ends. Presumably so that it can be used on the 12:50.

Wish they could find a double decker to send to Darlington for the morning Bishop Auckland College 5A run, allowing 7538 to go back onto the 7 as it leaves Darlington with no Sapphire spares and as such we've ended up with at least one Sapphire bus missing from the 7 each day, often two! Perhaps one of Redcar's B7s when the X93 reverts to off peak timetable, sadly won't happen though, wouldn't be surprised if one ends up at Blyth to withdraw 7439.

(06 Oct 2017, 9:22 pm)Jimmi wrote Wish they could find a double decker to send to Darlington for the morning Bishop Auckland College 5A run, allowing 7538 to go back onto the 7 as it leaves Darlington with no Sapphire spares and as such we've ended up with at least one Sapphire bus missing from the 7 each day, often two! Perhaps one of Redcar's B7s when the X93 reverts to off peak timetable, sadly won't happen though, wouldn't be surprised if one ends up at Blyth to withdraw 7439.

I imagine the reason 7413 has transferred to Jesmond is either to increase capacity on the X16, or for the 12:50 685, or a combination of both. The advantages of 7413 being at Jesmond probably outweigh any potential disadvantages of Ashington keeping 4664. 

Potential for some of the X15 E400s to move to Darlington next year perhaps to help with that?

(06 Oct 2017, 9:49 pm)mb134 wrote I imagine the reason 7413 has transferred to Jesmond is either to increase capacity on the X16, or for the 12:50 685, or a combination of both. The advantages of 7413 being at Jesmond probably outweigh any potential disadvantages of Ashington keeping 4664. 

Potential for some of the X15 E400s to move to Darlington next year perhaps to help with that?

No chance of that happening, unfortunately. Doesn't help the extra capacity is only required for one college run and as the year goes on, the numbers will drop to a point where Pulsar's will suffice for that trip. It's a pain having a E400 on the 5A as quite a lot of the custom is elderly and disabled, so you often end up with just about all the seats taken downstairs and have bags and tartan shopping trollies in the way whilst you are the only one sat upstairs.

(06 Oct 2017, 7:31 pm)2bagstew wrote Arriva have said they plan too included Wheatley Hill & Thornley in the “East Durham Saver” Ticket.
But they wouldn’t say when.


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It'll be after we move out!

Can anybody confirm if the Sedgefield to Middlesbrough section of the X22 is paid for by DCC


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(08 Oct 2017, 4:21 pm)2bagstew wrote Can anybody confirm if the Sedgefield to Middlesbrough section of the X22 is paid for by DCC


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I gather they get a de-minimis payment towards the whole service but is run commercially, much like the 57a

(08 Oct 2017, 6:38 pm)tyresmoke wrote I gather they get a de-minimis payment towards the whole service but is run commercially, much like the 57a

DCC have told me Arriva wanted too run two X21 with a link at Sedgefield too X12 for Middlesbrough.


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2834 has returned from Thorntons after repaint into new corporate livery. 1923 going through now.

Doxford Park have rebranded, so I assume we'll be applying the new logos straight away.