30/04/04
More on the vehicle movements this week at Go North East. Between them, the Go North East website, Richard Kennedy, Stuart Gray and my own sightings give the following movements not already listed on this site. Optare Metrorider 401 (L471YVK) is now a staff Shuttle at Deptford, while sisters 411/2 (N411/2NTN) move from Percy Main to Deptford. Optare Solo 450 (S250KNL) joins 460/7-9 at Percy Main ex Chester-le-Street. Leyland Olympian / ECW 3649/54 (C649/54LJR) move from Percy Main to Bishop Auckland along with Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties 3915 (R355LGH). Optare Spectras 3843/5/7 (K311/3/5FYG) have replaced them at Percy Main after being displaced from Washington by Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties 3821-3 (S821-3OFT) which are ex South Shields. Stanley have lost a number of Optare Deltas, with 4741 (G741RTY) going to washington, 4742 (G742RTY) going to Deptford and 4747/50/1 (G747RTY, G755/1UCU) moving to Chester-le-Street. Sisters 4744/5 (G744/5RTY) have moved from Deptford to Washington, while 4756 (K756SBB) has moved from Deptford to Gateshead. Optare Sigma 4781 (L481CFT) has also left Deptford, moving to Percy Main. Deltas 4801/2 (J201/2VHN) have been replaced at Bishop Auckland by Volvo B10B / Alexander 4810/1 (L210/1KEF) and have moved to Deptford. Stanley gain Dennis Dart / Marshall 8100-3/20 (M810-3GFT, N120WBR) ex Chester-le-Street, while Dennis Dart / Plaxton 8116 (L315XBB) moves from South Shields to Chester-le-Street. Deptford lose MPDs 8199/200 (V199/820ERG) to Winlaton and SPDs 8214/5 (V214/5ERG) to Chester-le-Sreet. Deptford gain Volvo B6 / Alexander 8418/9 (M818/9PVN) from Bishop Auckland, their place taken somewhat suprisingly by Optare Excels 8242/4 (R242/4OCU) ex Percy Main! Percy Main also lose Excel 8145 (R245OCU) to South Shields. Withdrawals are of the LAST Leyland Nationals in service 4672/83/700/15/9/21 (UPT672/83V, FTN700W, TJR715/9/21Y), MCW Metrobus 3648 (A648BCN) and Leyland Olympian / ECW 3653/738/41/2 (C658LJR, B738/41/2GCN). PHEW!
Thanks to Mark Westgarth and Phil Logie, the vehicles conformed as acquired by Compass Royston from defunct Continental Coaches are Bristol VRT / ECW PAG513/4W and Dennis Dart / Plaxton K856LGN.
Pete Greensmith tells me that Abbey Coaches Optare Metrorider K392KUA is now repainted in a lighter shade of purple, while Leyland Leopard / ECW YEL98Y may be converted into a tow-bus.
24/04/04
Unfortunately, due to work commitments, updates will only be made at the weekend for the foreseeable future.
Pete Greensmith tells me that Arriva Tees & District now have Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2873 (H925XYT) in Loftus depot. Neither this nor Redcar's 2879 have been reported in service yet. Marty B reports that Optare Vecta 1553 (M502AJC) is now Cummins powered.
New Go North East VDL SB120 / Wright 8253-60 (NK04FOP/T/U/V/FPA/C/D/E) are now entering service at South Shields (8253-5) and Deptford (8256-60). Also in service are Dennis Dart SLF / Marshall 576/7/9/95/8 (T102/3/5KGP, T426/9AGP). 576/9 are at Chester-le-Street, 577/98 are at Deptford and 595 is at Stanley. Vehicles are starting to move about as a result, indeed Gary Mitchelhill reports Optare Solos 460/9 at Percy Main.
Awaiting the paintshop at Sunderland Wheatsheaf are Stagecoach on Teesside Dennis Dart SLF / Alexander 33828 (R828YUD) and Lynx Trainer 29107 (F107HVK). Also present, rubbed down for repaint is one of the Leyland Atlanteans, presumably 15810 (EJR110W) which has passed to preservationists in Sunderland.
What appears to be a new acquisition at Hunters of Tantobie is Volvo B10M / Plaxton JUI3329 in a blue and white livery.
Gavin Miller tells me that Abbey Coaches DAF SB2300 / Duple H225TCP has been reregistered FIW5699 - Note Corrected Number!. A1 liveried Metrorider K392KUA is to be repainted this weekend.
21/04/04
Pete Greensmith tells me that Arriva Tees & District Optare Vecta 1513 (K513BHN) is the latest example to go pop.
Pete Greensmith and Gavin Miller both advise that Abbey Coaches have added DAF SB2300 / Duple H225TCP to stock. It is expected to be reregistered.
More significantly Gavin Miller also tells me that Continental Coaches have ceased trading, with contracts passing to Compass Royston. However, John Atkin and Marty B have noted Continental vehicles on the road, so it is not clear whether some of these have passed to Compass Royston also. Of relevence may be the impending public enquiry that Continental were due to attend on 29/04/04
The latest Notices and Proceedings confirm the extension of Stagecoach on Teesside service 37 and Stagecoach Hartlepool service 1 to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough. Many other service changes are due on the same day.
18/04/04
Chris Carey provides a correction to the registration of the MCW Metrobus that Dunn Line (Durham) are using in Whitby, which is correctly GOG216W.
17/04/04
An interesting new delivery noted at Stagcoach on Teesside's depot (Cheers to Gary for the tip-off) is Transbus Dart / Transbus 34550 (NK04KZT). It is not clear whether this is one of the ones expected to upgrade Hartlepool's service 1, but eagle-eyed John Atkin noted that it carries an advert on it's cab door for Stockton Borough Council funded CCTV. .
Gary Mitchelhill tels me that Arriva Tees & District's Redcar depot is now home to Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2879 (H912XYT). It has yet to see service.
Not previously noted, is Arriva Durham County Optare Vecta 1550 (L550GHN) is back in service at Bishop Auckland, but retains MAN power.
16/04/04
Richard Kennedy kindly advises that Go North East Dennis Dart / Marshall 586 (T407AGP) has entered service at Stanley, while 595 (T426AGP) is also at Stanley, but not yet in use. Withdrawn at Stanley and under cannibalisation is Leyland Olympian / ECW 3660 (C660LJR). D Taylor has noted that Dart 586 wasv in Gateshead depot with Go Northern fleetnames earlier this week. He also tells me that South Shields depot is indeed to be controlled as part of Wear Buses and Percy Main as part of Gateshead. The date this will take effect and what the ramifications of this will be are unclear.
Ian S tells me that Arriva Durham County Optare Delta 4013 (K413BHN) has returned to srrvice at Peterlee after it's lengthy lay-off. MPD 1708 (V708DNL) is also expected back in service soon following repairs to fire damage.
15/04/04
Richard Kennedy kindly advises that a third VDL SB120 / Wright has arrived for Go North East at South Shields. Notably is carries Wear Buses fleetnames - adding weight to the rumours that control of South Shields depot is to pass to Wear Buses. Optare Metrorider 395 (M935FTN) is at Deptford ex Stanley.
13/04/04
Peter Tuck kindly advises that Dunn-Line (Durham) have a new open topper at their depot in the form of MCW Metrobus POG216W. Presumably this will be the regular bus for the Whitby tour.
Ian S advises that Arriva Durham County now have a Volvo B10M / East Lancs at Peterlee. It is understood to be 2873 (H923XYT) - to be confirmed - and would appear to be replacing Optare Delta 4007 (J867UPY).
09/04/04
The latest Notices and proceedings show an interesting new service for Northumbria Coaches. Service 332 will link Four Lane Ends Metro to the Great Park development from 17/05/03, running Monday to Friday at 20min intervals in the peaks and half-hourly inbetween. It would also appear that Stagecoach in Sunderland will be changing many of their services from 09/05/04.
John Atkin tells me that Dunn-Line are again providing a Whitby tour this year, though today were using Scania L94IB / Irizar Y62HHE rather than an open topper!
07/04/04
A second ex London Dennis Dart SLF / Marshall has arrived, fully refurbished at Go North East. 579 (T105AGP) was noted today being moved around at Chester-le-Street depot by two fitters, but carries Go Wear Buses fleetnames, so is presumably destined for Deptford.
Astley, Saeton Delaval/Ashington have added a Wadham Stringer bodied Leyland Swift to stock, with a side-mounted wheelchair lift. It had had it's registration plates removed when seen and is under preparation for repaint.
A small new purchase by Classic, Stanley is Mercedes Vito YD04MFK, which is in full libery and looks like it is beeing used as a feeder.
Stuart Gray tells me that JSB Coaches, Newton Aycliffe now have Mercedes 711 / Plaxton L635VCV, sister to
Stuart Gray also tells me that The Eden have Mercedes 609D / Whittaker LIL2176 ex Moore, Stanley.
06/04/04
An interesting addition to stock at Gardiners of Spennymoor is Marshall Minibus P501HEG.
04/04/04
Go Coastline VDL SB120 / Wright 8253 and 8254 are under preparation for service at South Shields, where they will be joined by 8255. 8256-60 will follow for Deptford. Another flurry of fleet movements can be expected over the coming weeks.
Peter Nardone and John Atkin have both over recent days told me of Stagecoach on Teesside/in Hartlepool having used a new Transbus Dart, albeit not in service. It was used for a press photo-shoot to promte CCTV on buses in Stockton along with native 34401 and Arriva MPD 1759. Peter also saw it being used at the Hartlepool depot for apparent familiarisation.
02/04/04
The first of the ex Scotland West Volvo B10Ms 2871 (H922XYT) has entered service with Arriva Northumbria at Jesmond. It features somewhat tired seating, trimmed in good old NBC moquette, a ZF automatic gearbox and is freshly repainted.
Arriva Northumbria's Blyth based vehicles for service 441 are beginning to receive subtle route branding. The first noted is DAF SB200/Wright Commander 1801 (NK53HHX).
Good news for Lynx fans is that Stagecoach on Teesside's 29607/10 (F607/10UVN) remain in service. Also 29607 is again sounding healthy!
The Go North East website records some changes on it's fleetlist. New are VDL SB120 / Wright 8253/4 (NK04FOP/T). Leyland Olympian / ECW 3743 (B743GCN) moves from Bishop Auckland to Percy Main, displacing sister 3650 (C650LJR) to Stanley. Optare Metroriders 366/89 (K366SCN, L389YFT) are withdrawn, while MCW Metrobuses 3635/46 (A635/46BCN) and Leyland Olympian / ECW 3656/735/44 (C656LJR, B735/44GCN) have been sold.
Somewhat belated news from the Notices and proceedings for the North East Traffic area, is that Metro Coaches of Stockton, Wildings of Blackhall and James Cooper have all be subject to public inquiries in the last month. Also the N&Ps reveal a couple more of operators on Moorsbus this year. The diagram starting and finishing in Whitby will be operated by Coastal and Country, while the one to/from Northallerton will be operated by Moorsbus regular Perry's.