Arriva North East

[Metroline1511]

RE: Arriva North East

(27/08/2014 20:55)kuyoyo Wrote:  Now, it's North East's turn for what remains of the new order to be delivered. MAX-spec Enviro400s NK64EER, NK64EES,NK64EET and NK64EFM have arrived in the last 2 days, these being 4 of the 5 for the X18 (Newcastle - Alnwick - Berwick). At present, the PVR is 6 however that is said to be decreasing to 5 in October with the Northumberland County Council Cuts.

Also delivered today is the first of the 10.8m Streetlite - Jesmond-bound 1588 in 'Hybrid' livery for 'Coastliner' 306 (Newcastle - Tynemouth or Whitley Bay) (livery to tie-in with 7801-10 on the 308). Note, these 18 10.8m examples weren't due until the end of September - making them 4 weeks early.

It is interesting that the Streetlite is in the same liveries as other Hybrid buses in the area, most notably the Volvo B5LHs and the EcoCities. Talking of which, I did stop off in Darlington on the August Bank Holiday on the way to my Richmond - Hawes - Lancaster bus ride. I saw Solos on route 8 but EcoCities on routes 2, 8, 11 and 21, where I rode 4805. My route 26a ride was still a Solo, and a few months ago you did prepare me Kuyoyo that it would not have been upgraded yet, having to wait until the Autumn. A change (which you may have mentioned earlier) was that the X66s I saw were both OmniCities, including appropriately 1511!

This was indeed the day I sampled my first Arriva Sapphire bus ride, namely Pulsar 2 1514 on route 7 as planned. It was really comfortable, and the 2-tone blue leather reminded me of Elite coaches on Stagecoach Fife Express routes!