31/03/05
Mark Gibbon tells me that Arriva Teesside now have Leyland Lynx II H755WWW in service as a driver trainer, currently still in Arriva livery. Optare Metrorider 2606 (P606FHN) is being prepared for a comeback. Several people have also noted Volvo B10M / ELCB 2875 (H917XYT) back in use with Arriva Tees & District at Redcar.
The Go North East website shows that Leyland Olympian / ECW 3660 (C660LJR) has come off service from Bishop Auckland and Volvo B10M / Plaxton 7074 (YSU874) is passing to the driver trainong school (it was still in service yesterday, abeit in allover white). Volvo B6s 8406/9/15/23 (L406GDC, L409GPY, L415KEF, M423PVN) and Optare Metroriders 405/9/12 (M505HNL, N409/12NTN) have been sold, the B6s at least to Ensign.
30/03/05
The first dispalys for the realtime system being introduced by Arriva North East and others are now being erected. The one above is in Bishop Auckland bus station.
The refurbishment of Durham Bus Station is progressing. Buses are stopping in nearby streets.
29/03/05
A new operator on Teesside is Alrite Travel, Middlesbrough who appear to have taken over operation of services 588/9 Stockton - Transporter from Compass Royston. Vehicles in use are Dennis Dart / Carlyle H91/101MOB, plus it is understood that a third vehicle is owned.
28/03/05
Firstly a blatant plug!! The 500 Group will be holding their annual running day on Sunday 24th April 2005 between 11am and 5pm. As usual, a good variety of vehicles is expected to participate, with free rides between the Transporter (South Side), Middlesbrough and Stockton. Come along and enjoy the buses!
Wayne Picknett, Marty B and Pete Greensmith tell me that Arriva Tees & District Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2875 (H917XYT), while officially allocated to Redcar has been working from Loftus, though may now have moved on to a different depot (location to be confirmed).
A report in Coach and Bus Week Magazine states that Arriva Durham County's new buses for Durham will be 14 Scania Omnicities, 11 AlexanderDennis Mini Pointer Darts and two Volvo B7TL / Alexander.
26/03/05
Arriva Northumbria Leyland Tiger / Plaxton BAZ7384 has now vanished from Ashington, while similar 215 (YSU870) is in Ashington depot with front grille and lights removed - hopefully this will return!
23/03/05
Neil Wise kindly supplies the lastest movements at Arriva North East. With Darts 1601/2 (N701/3GUM) now at Redcar, DAF SB120 / Wright 1918/9 (W78/9PRG) have gone to Arriva Scotland West (presumably on loan), with MPDs 1732/49 (V732DNL, V749ECU) returning from Scotland to convert the Hexham town services to low floor. As a result of this Metroriders 885/99 (N885RTN, P58XTN) go to reserve, while sister 866 (M866KCU) goes to Peterlee, who lose Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2873 (H925XYT) now under repair. Peterlee lose Leyland Olmypian / ECW 7215-7 (D155/60/5FYM) to Jesmond (Ian S informs me that the Nexus school contracts are moving to Jesmond too). DAF SB220 / Plaxton 4028/30 (R428/30RPY) swap places, now at Durham and Bishop Auckland respectively, while Durham gain Optare Deltas 4012/20 (K412BHN, L420FHN), but lose Optare Metrorider 2625 (P625FHN) to Richmond - replacing DAF SB220 / Ikarus 4088 (J929CYL) which is now in reserve. Loftus also have DAF SB3000 / Plaxton 1206 (V206DJR) back on the allocation following repairs to minor fire damage.
22/03/05
Marty B reports that Arriva Tees and District Dennis Dart / Plaxton N703GUM has entered service at Redcar as 1602, joining sister 1601 (N701GUM). He also reports that Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2875 (H917XYT), after breifly returning to Redcar, is now at Loftus.
One time OK Travel Leyland Atlantean / Alexander TSD611S is currently for sale on eBay, converted to a mobile exhibition unit.
20/03/05
Neil Wise reports that Arriva Durham County's Darlington depot has received Optare Delta 4002 (G210HCP) from Durham, while Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2875 (H917XYT) is expected to move to Redcar. A posting on the Arriva North West and Wales Yahoo Group reports that DAF SB220GS / Plaxton 4061 (S703KFT) is at Arriva North West's Bootle depot for refurbishment as part of the upgrade of Durham services. Notably, following the extended loan of Scania Omnicity demonstrator YN54OBA at Durham, BUSES magazine has reported that Arriva has ordered 17 along with 19 Scania L94UB / Wright, though it is not known if any of these will be among the new buses announced for Durham or whether they are all bound for other areas of the country.
Alex Kennedy and James Ingram tell me that Arriva Tees and District now have Dennis Dart / Plaxton 1601 (N701GUM) in service at Redcar, freshly repainted.
15/03/05
Stuart Gray reports that Arriva Durham County's Bishop Auckland depot is expected to lose Metrorider 2727 (M441HPF) and gain an MPD as a result of the forthcoming service changes, while Neil Wise reports that an additional Optare Delta is expected at Darlington. Stuart also reports that Optare Delta 4020 (L420FHN) has gone away for a trial re-build.
13/03/05
Neil Wise has spotted former Cleveland Transit Leyland (Daimler) Fleetline 145 (JAJ145W) for sale on ebay. The bidding is running at just £1 at the time of writing - surely a tempting purchase?
Neil Wise also reorts that Arriva North East are again to operate two vehicles on Moorsbus this year.
Gary Mitchelhill has provided some news on Redby, Sunderland. Added to stock are Leyland Titan NUW668Y ex Low Fell Travel and Optare Solo R13DBY ex Wilfreda Beehive..
10/03/05
The latest allocation sheets show that Arriva North East Optare Metrorider 867 (M867KCU) has returned to Durham ex Bishop Auckland, while a Dennis Dart added to stock is 1601 - beleived to be N701GUM. Arriva Northumbria Leyland Tiger / Duple 218 (F189HKK) is for disposal, while Optare Metroriders 880/8 (N880RTN, N192RVK) are reinstated to cover for MPDs 1732/49 (V732DNL, V749ECU) being on loan to other group fleets (Scotland I beleive).
08/03/05
Press reports state that Arriva Durham County are to get 27 new buses at Durham depot in July, and that 27 more are to be refurbished. There is no official word on what type these will be, though the extended loan of the Scania Omnicity demonstrator at Durham may be relevent. Thanks to "H2O 55" for the tip-off
Colin Davidson tells me that Arriva Northumbria DAF SB220 / Ikarus 4084 (J927CYL) has now turned up at Alnwick. This will be an interesting movement if permenant.
The Go North East website shows that Volvo B6 8413 (L413KEF) is another reinstated at Bishop Auckland, though Winlaton have lost 8406 (L406GHN). Vehicles which have left the fleet are MCW Metrobus 3628/30 (A628/30BCN), Leyland Olympian / ECW 3651/7 (C651/7LJR) and Optare Excel 8143/4/6/76-8/82 (R243/4/6OCU, T876-8/82RBR) - the last of the Excels. Further to this, David Turner noted Volvo B6s 8405/25 (L405GHN, M425PVN) and Optare Metrorider 414 (P414VRG) being removed by Ensign from Saltmeadows last week.
04/03/05
Peter Nadone tells me that Arriva Northumbria have a second DAF SB220 / Ikarus at Ashington. It is 4084 (J927CYL).
01/03/05
Arriva Durham County Optare Delta 4095 (G256UVK) working the final through Newcastle - Darlington journey on the 723.
Added to Stock at Abbey Coaches, South Bank are Volvo B10M / Plaxton K20CCL and DAF MB230 / Plaxton RAZ5172. Leyland Titan NUW634Y has been repainted smartly in all-over blue.
An interesting vehicle in use on the car park shuttle at Locomotion, the new branch of the National Railway Museum in Shildon, is Iveco Daily / Unvi NX54JXY .