27/02/03

 

News from Gary Mitchelhill is that Go Coastline have an Optare Excel 2 demonstrator on loan at Percy Main numbered 9181 (YA02YRP) and it is working the 310/9.

 

22/02/03

 

Today was the final day of full operation at Arriva Tees & District's Stokesley depot. Optare Vecta 1557 (L102MEH) worked the last ever service 30, and the last 21 to leave the depot was worked by MPD 1717 (V717DNL). MPDs 1708/16 (V708/16DNL) are to stay at Stokesley until the end of May to work the 80/89 until Procters can take over, and will be joined by Metrorider 2708 (R708MHN) as a spare. MPD 1717 (V717DNL) is to go to Richmond to work the 73 Northallerton - Bedale, Metroriders 868/70 (M868/70KCU) are expected to go to Stockton for the shortened 21, and the remainder of the fleet will go to Redcar.

 

21/02/03

 

Ian Kennedy has kindly informed me that Low Fell Travel also have former Go North East Metrorider L381YFT to match L380YFT.

 

Alex Betteny brings news from the auction at Delta Coaches. Former Cleveland Transit short Bedford CVN400T was sold seperate to the auction for £2500 (not cheap!) and RE IIL1839 was sold at the auction for £250.

 

Thanks to Phil Logie for informing me that Continental Coaches Bristol VR VVV952W is back in use, while LFJ878W is off the road with accident damage.

 

16/02/03

 

Arriva Durham County Dennis Dart SLF/Plaxton 1601-4/7/8 (R601-4/7/8MHN) left Darlington depot for the final time at 12.55pm today. They are now joining Arriva North West and Wales. Photos to the right of their departure.

 

15/02/03

 

Arriva Durham County are re-instating their Vectas now, with 1540/1/50 (L540/1FHN, L550GHN) noted in use at Bishop Auckland today. Dart 1620 is in use in Darlington, while several of the R6xxMHN Darts were noted prepared for their one-way trip to Rhyl via Liverpool in Darlington today. More on their leaving tomorrow.

 

In stock at Low Fell Travel is former Go North East Metrorider L380YFT.

 

Added to stock at Northumbria Coaches is Optare Metrorider H135TGO.

 

A smart addition to the Redby fleet is Volvo B12RT / Plaxton NL52MUO.

 

09/02/03

 

A recent posting by Neil Wise on the busesnortheast Yahoogroup confirms that Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympians 7303/6/9 (F303/6/9JTY) are now all officially out of use. Olympian 7201 (F248TYJ) has replaced 7303 at Alnwick (not ideal for the 505!) and 7202/3/5 (F250/41YTJ, E221WBG) are confirmed in use at Ashington - thoough they do occasionally get swapped about with Blyth's examples.

 

The same posting shows that Arriva North East are reinstating Opatre Vectas 1517/40/1/7/9/50 (K517BHN, L540/1FHN, L547/9/50GHN) at Bishop Auckland. These are to displace Dart SLFs 1619/20/2/3/7/8 (S619/20/2/3/7/8KHN) to Darlington, allowing similar 1601-4/7/8 (R601-4/7/8MHN) to cross the Pennines to Arriva North West.

 

The auction of redundant Delta Coaches vehicles and workshop equipment will be held at their depot on Wednesday 19/02/03. Working RE AHT212J is not to be included in the sale, as it is to continue in service until it's school contract is seen out.

 

07/02/03

 

Arriva Northumbria Scania N113 / Northern Counties 7251 is now single door, and in Arriva turquoise, and has been reupholstered. Sister 7255 has arrived from london, and is in Arriva turquoise INCLUDING it's centre doors! It is not yet, however, in service.

 

03/02/03

 

I am informed that Abbey Coaches now have a Scania K93 / Plaxton Premiere VIL6937