27/01/04
Some interesting service changes are inferred by the latest Notices and Proceedings for the North East traffic area are that Northumbria Coaches will take over the K1 and K2 Killingworth local services from 28/03/04, while from the same date it would appear that Stagecoach on Teesside Boroughbus service 630 (Middlesbrough - Stainton) will be replaced by Leven Valley commercial service 430.
Richard Kennedy confirms that Go North East Mini Pointer Dart 543 has indeed been branded for Simply Washington - expect it to move!
Peter Greensmith kindly advises that Abbey Coaches have acquired Mercedes 811D / Alexander F680XMS from Catch Me Bus (T/A Blackburn Transport Ltd). Leyland Tiger / Plaxton A317ONE has been fitted with CCTV.
Richard Smiles advises that former Stagecoach in Hartlepool Lynxes 29603/5 (F603/5UVN) have been noted on the premises of Redby, Sunderland.
25/01/04
Stagecoach in Hartlepool have cleared out some more withdrawn Lynxes. Now, only 29112/544/5/602 (F112HVK, C544RAO, E709MFV, F602UVN) remain. Indeed it is understood that 29542 (F252JRM) is now with Redby, Sunderland.
24/01/04
Richard Kennedy reports that Go North East withdrawn Leyland Olympians 3658/64 (C658/64LJR) are stored at South Shields, while Optare Delta 4805 (J205VHN) has moved to Chester-le-Street. I noted a Simply Washington branded MPD, on the 150 in Seaham this morning, however I took it down as NK52AXH which is Sunderland's 543 - perhaps this is due to move to Washington?
A couple more arrivals at Stagecoach on Teesside from Newcastle are Leyland Olympian / ECW 14179 (C179ECK) and Scania N113 / Alexander 28911 (F911JRG).
Stagecoach in South Shields now have ex Stagecoach South Dennis Dart / Alexander 32564 (K564NHC) in service at South Shields freshly repainted in the new livery. A similar vehicle was parked outside the paintshop at Wheatsheaf, but I was unable to identify it.
22/01/04
Marty B informs me that Arriva Tees & District Optare Vecta 1551 (L551GHN) now has a Cummins engine, and is back in use at Redcar.
21/01/04
Neil Wise and Stuart Gray have both been in touch to tell me that Arriva Durham County Optare Metrorider 933 (K723HUG) has been withdrawn after chassis failure. It has been replaced by 2611 (P611FHN) which was stored at Redcar. Neil also tells me that 2605 (L605FHN) is due to be withdrawn within the next two weeks, while Stuart tells me that 935 (K726HUG) is unlikely to last beyond the spring.
Former Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / Alexander 7307 (F307JTY) is now with Fairbrother of Warrington.
17/01/04
Stagecoach on Teesside now have all-Leyland Olympian 14520 (F41XCS) from Newcastle.
Arriva Tees & District now have a second bus in the revised livery for high profile services, in this case DAF SB3000 / Plaxton 1207 (V207DJR). It sports 93 branding as per 1208.
16/01/04
The movements continue at Go North East! The fleet allocation on the company website shows the following changes not previously noted:
Optare Sigmas 4782/3/5 (L482/3/5CFT) South Shields - Percy Main
Optare Sigmas 4778-80 (L478/9CFT, L470YVK) South Shields - Percy Main
Leyland Lynx 4818 (H51NDU) Deptford - Withdrawn
Volvo B10B / Alexander 4811 (L211KEF) Deptford - Washington
Leyland Nationals 4671/709 (UPT671V, FTN709W) Washington - Withdrawn
Optare Spectras 3834/52 (K301FYG, K160PGO) Washington - Chester-le-Street
Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties 3925/6 (R283/4LGH) Chester-le-Street - Winlaton
Leyland Olympian / Alexander 3675/6 (G675/6TCN) Winlaton - Percy Main
Leyland Olympian / ECW 3658/64 (C658/64LJR) Percy Main - Withdrawn
Dennis Dart / Plaxton 8111-5 (M811-5HCU) South Shields - Chester-le-Street
Optare Metrorider 362 (K362SCN) Deptford - Withdrawn
These changes would seem not to have fully taken effect yet, as Lynx 4818 was still in service today on the X2.
15/01/04
Mark Westgarth has kindly supplied a list vehicles stored at Go North East's Saltmeadows workshops in Gateshead. They comprise Optare Metroriders 340/58, 447 (J940JJR, K358SCN, F504ANY), MCW Metrobuses 3634/40 (A634/40BCN), the remains of Optare Spectra 3846 (K314FYG), and Leyland Nationals 4660/1/4/7/70/85/6/97/702/5/6/9/12/4 (UPT660/1/4/7/70/85V, BGR686W, FTN697/702/5/6/9/12/4W). Notably, the metrobuses have only just been withdrawn, so it would seem likely that Optare Spectras from Washington have replaced them at Chester-le-Street, and National 4706 (FTN706W) was from the driver training fleet. Mark, along with D Taylor, also reports that Volvo Olympian 3825 (S825OFT) is now also at Washington. Gary Mitchelhill reports that Optare Sigma 4783 (L483CFT) is now at Percy Main.
14/01/04
Richard Kennedy has kindly provided a list of registration for the ex London Dennis Dart SLFs that Go North East are receiveing. I will add these to the fleet list later today. D Taylor tells me that Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties 3824 (S824OFT) is now at Washington ex South Shields, repainted.
13/01/04
The Go North East website gives details of the new MPDs and subsequent fleet movements. The can be summarised as follows:
New are Mini Pointer Darts 549-74 (NK53TKD/E/F/J/N/O/T/U/V/X/Y/Z, TLF/J/N/O/U/V/X/Y, TMO/U/V/X/Y/Z). 549-53 are at Deptford, 573/4 at Cherter-le-Street and the remainder at South Shields. The first of twenty Dennis Dart SLF / Marshall from London is 586 (T407AGP).
Leyland Nationals 4660/1/4/70 (UPT660/1/4/70V) withdrawn ex Percy Main, Leyland Olympian / ECW 3736 (B736GCN) withdrawn ex Bishop Auckland, Leyland Nationals 4668/9/91 (UPT668/9V, WPT691V) withdrawn ex South Shields, Dennis Lance / Optare 4781 (L481CFT) Deptford ex South Shields, Dennis Lance / Plaxton 4774 (L141YTY) Percy Main ex South Shields, Dennis Lance / Optare 4784/6 (L484/6CFT) Percy Main ex South Shields, Leyland National 4705 (FTN705W) withdrawn ex Chester-le-Street Volvo B10M / Plaxton 7060/1 (CU7660/1) Driver Training Fleet ex Chester-le-Street, Optare Metrorider 406 (M506HNL) Deptford ex Bishop Auckland Leyland Nationals 4686/97/712-4 (BGR686W, FTN697/712-4W) withdrawn ex Deptford, Leyland Lynx II 4819 (J43JGB) withdrawn ex Deptford. Gary Mitchelhill has provided details of the fleetnumbers of the ex London Dart SLFs, I will display these when I have established their registration numbers. Thanks also to Richard Kennedy.
11/01/04
New at Compass Royston is Mercedes Touro BU53AXK. Mercedes Citaro demonstrator BX02CMK was also noted on the premises, reason unknown. This operator is shortly to appear before the traffic commissioner at a public enquiry.
Added to stock at Continental Coaches & UK Holidays, Stockton is Volvo B10M / Van Hool BUI2652. The previous Continental Coaches licence used when still resident at Eston has now been terminated.
Gary Mitchelhill and Brian Robertson both kindly infrom me that Go North East Dennis Lance / Optare Sigma 4784/6 (L484/6CFT) have crossed the Tyne from South Shields to Percy Main. Gary has kindly provided the above picture of fellow transferee Dennis Lance / Plaxton 4774 (L141YTY).
10/01/04
The Eden was today reborn! Mercedes / Plaxton L634VCV took to the road looking resplendent in Eden livery. As can be seen above Graeme Scarlett (standing to the left of the bus) and his traffic manager were justifiably proud!
The delivery and entry into service of Go North East's latest batch of Mini Pointer Darts continues. Noted working for South Shileds today were 554/8/61/5/8/9 (NK53TKO/X/LF/U/Y/MO) and working for Chester-le-Street 573/4 (NK53TMY/Z). Withdrawn Nationals 4668/9/91 have been removed from South Shields, ex Percy Main 4660/70 (UPT660/70V) now stored in their place. Gary Mitchelhill informs me that Dennis Lance / Plaxton 4774 (L141YTY) is now at Percy Main.
08/01/04
Martin Brigham tells me that Abbots of Leeming now have their third Optare Solo. WL53AOL joins WL03AOL and XL03AOL.
Proprietor Graeme Scarlett provides the following press release about his The Eden fleet:
Following Exterior Refurb The Eden's M3 Plaxton Beaver L634VCV is hopefully being shown for the first time on Saturday 10th Jan, in Bishop Auckland Bus Station between 1pm-2pm, subject to weather and lettering being finished.
Eden Bus Services Managing Managing Director Graeme Scarlett is very excited at The Eden having their 1st vehicle back in the traditional livery, and any enthusiasts are invited to come and take photo's for their collection. Mr Scarlett asks all enthusiasts to check before hand as he doesnt want anyone to have a wasted journey, though of course there will be many other vehicles there for Arriva, Northern, Weardale etc. The Telephone number for Eden Bus Services is 07017 832240.
03/01/04
Brian Robertson kindly informs me that Go Coastline South Shields depot has withdrawn Leyland Nationals 4668/9/91 (UPT668/9V, WPT691V). Dennis Lance / Optare Sigma 4781 (L481CFT) has moved to Deptford, with more expected to follow to both Deptford and Percy Main upon entry to service on the MPDs. It is also understood that Dennis Dart / Plaxton 8111-5 (M811-5HCU) will move to Chester-le-Street. All of these will replace Leyland Nationals.
Martin Brigham tells me that Stagecoach on Teesside now have Dennis Dart / Alexander 32717 (K717PCN) in service. This vehicle worked for Darlington not so long back.
02/01/04
Arriva Durham County's Durham depot now has a replacement for failed Metrobus 619 (A930SUL) in the form of sister 611 (GYE396W) which had itself recently suffered engine failure.
Arriva Northumbria continue to swap buses around between Ashington and Alnwick. Metrobus 615 (KVY671X) is currently working for Alnwick, along with Scania 284 (N284NCN) and Volvo Olympian 7371 (M371FTY). Olympian 7316 (C614ANW) and Tiger 216 (YSU871) are both parked at Ashington, the latter with accident damage to the rear end, and the former looking to have been towed in after some sort of mechanical failure. Also at Ashington is freshly repainted Olympian 7220 (D178FYM).