Pulsar 1407 has transferred to Stockton, entering service on the Friday-only extra turn on 7s.
Due to a delay in completion of the refurbishment of 1404/5, Stockton depot have borrowed 1502/4 from Blyth for the start of the X66/X67 changes. 1492/4 have gone the other way in exchange.
In addition, 1416/1502 (and possibly 1504 - 1415 being the other allocated bus on the first day of the X67) are now 'MAX' branded with large 'MAX' logos on the sides as per the OmniCitys.
(16/08/2015 13:01)kuyoyo Wrote: [ -> ]The future of 4663 is currently a topic for discussion - the latest fleetlist has it listed as 'Under Repair'.
Any update on 4663?
Travelled on VDL 1409 NK09BPX on the 685 today (Sat), 11.30 from Brampton eastwards. Much nicer than the Omnicities. No slippy seats, seats more comfortable, less bone shaking ride from the suspension and no exhaust type smell in the rear of the bus. However, the engine did sound a bit rough and it struggled with some of the hills and appears to have lower top speed (5mph or 10mph less) than the regular Omnicities or the Stagecoach Enviro300s - unless it was due to the driver.
VDL 1497 was also working the 685 today, at 1217 was heading west out of Haltwhistle.
(26/10/2015 08:44)kuyoyo Wrote: [ -> ]Due to a delay in completion of the refurbishment of 1404/5, Stockton depot have borrowed 1502/4 from Blyth for the start of the X66/X67 changes. 1492/4 have gone the other way in exchange.
In addition, 1416/1502 (and possibly 1504 - 1415 being the other allocated bus on the first day of the X67) are now 'MAX' branded with large 'MAX' logos on the sides as per the OmniCitys.
With 1404/5 now complete and in use at Stockton branded for X66/X67 (photo below), 1502/4 have returned to Blyth with 1492/4 returning to Stockton.
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attachment=323]
The situation regarding the latest Blyth refurbishments are as followed:
7601-6 are/will be branded for the former 'Quorum Express' services X7/X8, joined by 1493 and 1501
1502-5 are branded for the X9
7607 carries 'Quick Links into Newcastle' branding
B7TLs 7410/1 are, as yet, unbranded
Reserve B7TL 7486/7 arrived at Stockton depot last week, and are expected to enter service tomorrow. Expected them on any Stockton routes except the 5/5a/X5 (low bridges in Skelton and Brotton area), 29/29a (overhanging trees in Nunthorpe and parts of Great Ayton served by the 29a, the areas of Great Ayton aren't served by Redcar's 81) or MAX services X12/X66/X67 barring any unexpected issues with 1404/5/15/41-3 (depending on Sundays - they *may* get out on X12s if allocated to any 27 running boards on Sundays).
Joining the North East fleet in the next few months from London are:
Volvo B7TL/Alexander Dennis ALX400
VLA144 LJ55BTO 7416
VLA145 LJ55BTU 7417
VLA146 LJ55BTV 7418
VLA147 LJ55BTX 7419
VLA148 LJ55BTY 7420
VLA149 LJ55BTZ 7421
VLA150 LJ55BUA 7422
VLA151 LJ55BUE 7423
VLA152 LJ55BPZ 7424
VLA153 LJ55BRV 7425
VLA154 LJ55BRX 7426
VLA155 LJ55BRZ 7427
(06/01/2016 19:31)kuyoyo Wrote: [ -> ]Joining the North East fleet in the next few months from London are:
Volvo B7TL/Alexander Dennis ALX400
VLA144 LJ55BTO 7416
VLA145 LJ55BTU 7417
VLA146 LJ55BTV 7418
VLA147 LJ55BTX 7419
VLA148 LJ55BTY 7420
VLA149 LJ55BTZ 7421
VLA150 LJ55BUA 7422
VLA151 LJ55BUE 7423
VLA152 LJ55BPZ 7424
VLA153 LJ55BRV 7425
VLA154 LJ55BRX 7426
VLA155 LJ55BRZ 7427
Thank you for this news Kuyoyo. I may well want to ride one! I am glad that they are going to be numbered in the same order as in London, where they worked route 159.
I reckon they are for the Durham & Bishop Auckland area, where I seem to recall seeing some 51-reg E Lancs and some former W-reg London DLA types last September.
(16/01/2016 21:13)Metroline1511 Wrote: [ -> ]Thank you for this news Kuyoyo. I may well want to ride one! I am glad that they are going to be numbered in the same order as in London, where they worked route 159.
I reckon they are for the Durham & Bishop Auckland area, where I seem to recall seeing some 51-reg E Lancs and some former W-reg London DLA types last September.
3 are for Ashington, refurbished for the 35/35a alongside the Streetlites on there. The rest will be heading to Durham to replace the Y-reg Lowlander 7436-40/42/4 (7441/3 have already been withdrawn). The DLAs are all to be centred on Jesmond depot to upgrade the 43/44/45 group to total decker operation.
Thank you for your update Kuyoyo. So, some are indeed going to Durham to replace Lowlanders like I thought. It seems sensible to have Newcastle routes 43-45 all double-deck. It might have seemed strange for routes 35/a to be mixed VLA & Streetlite, but then last September I saw route 24 from Durham to Hartlepool as mixed Enviro400 & Streetlite, both types to Sapphire spec.
(06/01/2016 19:31)kuyoyo Wrote: [ -> ]Joining the North East fleet in the next few months from London are:
Volvo B7TL/Alexander Dennis ALX400
VLA144 LJ55BTO 7416
VLA145 LJ55BTU 7417
VLA146 LJ55BTV 7418
VLA147 LJ55BTX 7419
VLA148 LJ55BTY 7420
VLA149 LJ55BTZ 7421
VLA150 LJ55BUA 7422
VLA151 LJ55BUE 7423
VLA152 LJ55BPZ 7424
VLA153 LJ55BRV 7425
VLA154 LJ55BRX 7426
VLA155 LJ55BRZ 7427
(16/01/2016 22:21)kuyoyo Wrote: [ -> ]3 are for Ashington, refurbished for the 35/35a alongside the Streetlites on there. The rest will be heading to Durham to replace the Y-reg Lowlander 7436-40/42/4 (7441/3 have already been withdrawn). The DLAs are all to be centred on Jesmond depot to upgrade the 43/44/45 group to total decker operation.
In a major change of plans:
7423-6 have been completely refurbished to MAX standard prior to the start of the current Metro Replacement work. These will be allocated to Durham depot once the work is over
7416 has been partly refurbished - presently working for Jesmond on Metro replacement service 900 in MAX livery but retaining Urban90s internally, 7417-22/7's status currently unknown, however these will NOT be staying with Arriva North East. They are now reportedly due to transfer to Yorkshire's Castleford depot to convert the 189 to MAX
In their place comes Yorkshire's B9TL/Olympus 1808-15 from Selby depot. These are to be MAX'd for the X20 at Ashington (to replace B7TL 7412-5 which haven't proved well on the route) and for the X93 at Redcar.