26/01/03

 

Arriva Teesside Optare Vecta 1544 (L544GHN) is now at Mitchell Diesels in Stockton - I understand it is getting 1546's old engine.

 

The revised timetables that will operate on Arriva Tees & District services 29/90 and 81 from 23/02/03 when Stokesley closes are now online on the NYCC journey planner. Service 30 looks to have been ditched - I suspect that the Boroughbus 630 may end up requiring something bigger than minbuses as a result! The lack of a new 21 timetable suggests that it will no longer operate into North Yorkshire - I will try to confirm this.

 

25/01/03

 

New DAF SB120 / Wright Cadets noted in service with Go North East today were 8242/5 working the 528 for South Shields and 8246/7/52 on the 220/2 for Deptford.

 

Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / Alexander 7306/9 (F306/9JTY) are both out of use at Ashington, the former seeminly with a failed engine and the latter with front end accident damage. Further to my own sightings, Chris Strong informs me that 7309 has a twisted chassis, and will be scrapped, along with 7303 which is apparently in poor all-round condition, while 7306 will be refurbished for further service.

 

On hire to Jayline is Dennis / Plaxton MPD VA02NTK.

 

24/01/03

 

The latest edition of the Notices and Proceedings for the North East Traffic area show that Arriva Tees & District are deregistering services 80/9 (Stokesley - Northallerton) upon the closure of Stokesley depot on 22/02/03 I HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED THAT STOCKTON WILL OPERATE THIS SERVICE UNTIL JUNE WHEN PROCTORS WILL BE READY TO TAKE OVER WITH LOW FLOOR BUSES OF THEIR OWN. The remainder of Stokesley's services will also be ammended.

 

22/01/03

 

Appologies for the lack of updates recently, but this is down to a lack of news to report, and my ongoing exile in Cumbria!!! I am informed that Abbey Coaches have added body graphics to H176WWT to match G222VDX. G222VDX is off the road receiving a replacement engine dontaed by E840BTN.

 

12/01/03

 

It has been reported on UK-Bus-Fleetnews that Compass Royston have acquired the business of Delta Coaches. Bad news for RE lovers, I suspect. Compass Royston have added former Stagecoach Hartlepool Leyland Atlantean / Alexander EJR107W to their fleet, having overpainted the stagecoach stripes in red! Several ex Shearings Volvo B10M/Van Hool are also acquired, those noted being M647/54EVU.

 

Delicenced at Continental Coaches are Bristol VR / ECW VVV952W and Leyland Leopard / Plaxton SJI2585.

 

Recent acquisitions by M&D Travel, Stockton are Toyota Coaster / Caetano Optimo M310KRY and K594JHJ, and short Bedford / Plaxton CLZ6090.

 

11/01/03

 

Arriva Durham County Mini Pointer Darts 1746-8 (V746-8ECU) have moved on to Stockton to work the 20, while 1749 (V749ECU) has moved to Blyth. 1746-8 would seem to have displaced DAF SB220 / Plaxton 4033-5 (R433-5RPY) to Durham [cheers for the text message Graeme], while 1749 woyuld seem to have displaced Scania 286 to Ashington.

 

Saturday workings from Stagecoach on Teesside since their service revisions appear to be much the same as weekday, except that the 24, 37 an 38 additionally see double deck vehicles.

 

My anonymous informant tells me that Abbey Coaches have withdrawn MCW Metrorider E829BTN. Recent addition to stock, Bedford / Plaxton TJI4268 is now in fleet livery, while Duple bodied Bedford E904EAY is reregistered LCZ1713. He also confirms that the vehicles recently advertised for sale in Bus & Coach Preservation Monthly are Dennis Lancet YAY21Y, Bedford REA939W and Ford UGG918W.

 

06/01/03

 

Stagecoach Transit service changes have brought about the following revised workings:

Services 11 and 13 interwork using single decks

Service 12 stands alone, using mainly single decks

Services 14/24 use single decks

Service 630 uses a minibus

Service 52 journeys to Teesdale and Teesside Park use mainly Volvo Olympians

Service 525 uses a Dart SLF

Services 5/6/35 and 52 Stockton journeys interwork at Stockton High St using single decks as follows:

Service 5 journeys ex Elton Park turn and work back to Elton Park as the 5.

Short service 6 ex Middlesbrough turns and works 35 to Wolviston Court

Service 52 ex Low Grange arr at 50 past turns to work 6 short to Middlesbrough

Service 52 ex Low Grange arr at 20 past works through on to 6 to Elton Park

Service 35 ex Wolviston Court arr at 39 past works through on to 6 to Elton Park

Service 35 ex Wolviston Court arr at 09 past turns to work 52 to Low Grange

Service 6 ex Elton Park arr at 42 past works through on to 52 to Low Grange

Service 6 ex Elton Park arr at 02 past works through on to 35 to Wolviston Court

Others seem unchanged.

 

05/01/03

 

The withdrawal of Arriva Durham County services 53/153 Peterlee - Sunderland just yesterday would seem to have caused Peterlee to rid themselves of their MPDs already! Service 239 Easington - Sedgefield, previously MPD worked, was today being worked by Optare Metroriders.

 

Neil Wise reports that Arriva Durham County now have Optare Delta 4095 (G256UVK) ex Ashington at Darlington to replace 4107 (F702ECC). This has presumably been replaced at Ashington by one of the former Blyth depot ex MTL Olympians, given that 7202/4 have both been reported in recent days on Alnwick's 505 service (Ashington and Alnwick often exchange buses for maintenance purposes).

 

Neil Wise also reports that Arriva Northumbria Scania N113 / Northern Counties 7256 (N181OYH) is at Darlington for a retrim prior to having the centre door removed.

 

It has been reported on Busesnortheast that some of the new DAF SB120 / Wright Cadets have arrived for Go Coastline Check busesnortheast out for details.

 

04/01/03

 

Paul Fuller reports that Compass Travel have had to give up their service work due to problems in obtaining suitable insurance in the current "compensation culture".

 

Abbey Coaches ex Stagecoach Optare Metrorider H176WWT has been repainted yellow.

 

03/01/03

 

Hunters of Tantobie now have former Stagecoach Transit Mercedes 811D / Alexander F625XMS.

 

Go North East movements are of Volvo B10BLE/Wright 4837 to Gateshead swapping with Optare Delta 4756.

 

02/01/03

 

Northumbria Coaches Mercedes Mini E113FLP has been reregistered DHZ3248.