28/06/05
Andrew Tyldsley has spotted a couple of new Arriva Durham County AlexanderDennis Mini Pointer Darts on delivery. NK05GWF/G look destined for the re-lauch of services in Durham.
24/06/05
Garry Luck tels me that Weardale, Stanhope no longer have the Scania Omnidekka demonstrator (this may be the same one that is now with Arriva Yorkshire). He confirms that the Volvo B6BLE / Plaxton 2000 NK54PHV is still on loan, though DAF W666WMS is expected back imminently.
Former TMS Bristol LH / ECW 1948 (VDV106S) is currently for sale on ebay. Tempting?!
Further former Go North East Optare Metroriders with Click Travel (sister company of Sureway) are K363SCN, L382YFT and M934FTN.
The latest Notices and Proceedings for the North East show that Fraser Eagle, the rail replacement specialists, have registered some shuttle/Park and Ride services in Newcastle and Gateshead to run in late July only, presumably for the visit of the Tall Ships.
22/06/05
Neil Wise tells me that Arriva Durham County now have optare Metrorider 2738 (N801BKN) in service at Darlington after many months in stan>
A number of Stagecoach North East buses remain on loan to Carlisle, though some are expected to return soon as new Darts enter service there. North East vehicles noted in use on Monday were Dennis Dart / Alexander 32715/8 (K715/8PCN), Dennis Dart / Plaxton 32124 (K124SRH), Scania N113 / Alexander 28933/7 (H433/7EFT), Volvo B1buses remain on loan to Carlisle, though some are expected to return soon as new Darts enter service there. North East vehicles noted in use on Monday were Dennis Dart / Alexander 32715/8 (K715/8PCN), Dennis Dart / Plaxton 32124 (K124SRH), Scania N113 / Alexander 28933/7 (H433/7EFT), Volvo B10M / Northern Counties 20291 (M401SPY), Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties 13022 (A22HNC) and Volvo B10B / Alexander 21001 (M901DRG).
21/06/05
A number of familliar Optare Metroriders have turned up with an operator called Click Travel of Wigan. They are former Arriva Durham County 2602 (L602FHN) and former Go North East 374/6/8 (L974WTY, L376/8YFT).
David Turner tells me that Go North East Volvo B6 / Alexander 8414 (L414KEF), which had been at Bishop Auckland has popped up at Stanley. Johnathan Tweddle reports that Volvo Olympians 3828/9 (S828/9OFT) are now at Bishop Auckland. Sister 3830 (S830OFT) had already transferred to Washington.
17/06/05
Sam Edmondson tells me that Stagecoach in South Shields have Dennis Dart / Alexander 32733 (L733VNL) ex Sunderland, while Antony Charlton reports Volvo B10M / Alexander 20724 (K724DAO) doing the opposite move.
14/06/05
From my own sightings and reports from Sam Edmondson it would appear that Stagecoach in South Shields have gained Dennis Darts 32720/2/6/30/1/4/6/50 from Sunderland. Only two of the B10Ms sent to Sunderland in exchange have been noted, these being 20117/722. Further movements are likely.
Alex Kennedy tels me that Skelton Coaches, Charltons Volvo B10M / Plaxton 789GTO has in fact been in stock a while, but has only recently been reregistered from N217HWX.
A couple of coaches of Sherburn coaches, Sherburn Village that I had not noted previously are Volvo B10M / Berkhof L8CCH and Plaxton bodied TIL6584, the latter being ec First Choice Travel.
13/06/05
Go North East launched their new Volvo B7TL / Wright for the X10 today. 3941/3 were out in service, while 3942 was used for the official launches (Newcastle 12pm, Middlesbrough 4pm) with company managers present and releases of X10 colour-coordinated baloons. These vehicles feature their own moquette with local landmarks woven in and their names in mixed forward and reverse text.
New Stagecoach in Newcastle Designline Olymbus 61001 was out and about in Newcastle today on trade plates, wearing the yellow "Quaylink" livery.
11/06/05
Arriva Northumbria Optare Metrorider 874 (M874LBB), which had been written off stock some time ago, has been moved from Blyth, where cannibalisation had been occurring, to Ashington where further component recovery is taking place. It should be noted that driver training Lynx 9992 (H339UWT) currently remains in Arriva livery and, indeed, may not yet have seen use as a trainer.
A couple of previously unseen vehicles with Coastal and Country, Whitby are Volvo B10M / Van Hool P834CCK and P306VWR. I beleive that both of these are ex Shearings.
New for Keiths, Blucher is Iveco Eurorider / Beulas KE05THS.
Acquired by Skelton Coaches, Charltons is Volvo B10M / Plaxton 789GTO. This is in the cream based livery of it's former operator.
09/06/05
Sam Edmondson reports that Stagecoach in South Shields have received Dennis Dart / Alexander 32726/31/6 (K726PCN, L731/6VNL) from Sunderland. It is understood that Volvo B10Ms have gone in exchange and that further swaps are to occur.
Ross Sherwood reports that an additional Megabus Olympian has turned up at Stagecoach in Darlington's depot. He also reports that a further Leyland Lynx II has been repainted, Peter Tuck confirming this as 29622 (K622YVN), and that sister 29629 (K629YVN) and Leyland Olympian 14185 (G185JHG) have gone from the depot.
Peter Tuck tells me that Weardale, Stanhope have had Scania / East Lancs Omnidekka YN54OCJ on loan and in use on service 101.
07/06/05
It can be confirmed that the U-Call liveried Mercedes 709 / Alexander with Stagecoach in Darlington is 40497 (N497RVK).
Go North East exhibited new X10 Volvo B7TL / Wright 4941 (NK05GZO) at the Tyne-Tees Run on Sunday - it looks rather fine in the cold light of day!
06/06/05
Having now caught up with one of Arriva Durham County's refurbished DAF SB220s, it can be confirmed that the refurbishment work comprises LED destination screen, seats retrimmed in a new green moquette, new red lino on the entrance floor and a repaint. Members of the United Enthusiasts' Club are to be given the opportunity to preview some of the new buses for Durham prior to the official launch - seldom has there been such a good excuse to join the club!
Arriva Teesside driver training Iveco 59-12 9984 (M734AAO) is now withdrawn. Sister 9964 (N743AVW) continues as a crew ferry.
Arriva Tees and District's Redcar depot is due to receive Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2872 (H923XYT) from storage at Peterlee for the summer. However, Optare Prisma 3021 (N521XVN) is due to go to Loftus for the summer also, suggesting that (at least until some 48/98 workings return top Darlington) Redcar will only be working one of the extra 93 diagrams this summer, with Loftus doing the remainder.
Ross Sherwood and Mark Harrington both tell me that Stagecoach in Darlington have a former Stagecoach in Newcastle Mercedes 709 / Alexander in operation in Ucall livery, adding yet more colour to the bus scene in Darlington.
It can be confirmed that the former Stagecoach Mercedes 709 / Alexander with Jayline, Horden is NAP (N956NAP).
Noted today in the depot of Stagecoach on Teesside was Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties 14667 (H667BNL), converted to open top by Gardiners of Spennymoor and looking to be rubbed down ready for repaint. It will be interesting to see where in Stagecoach this ends up. It should also be noted that Stockton is close to being 100% in the new livery, with only Volvo Olympian 16832 (R832OVN) being noted in the old livery.