31/10/04

Keith Shum has again provided another photograph, this time of Stagecoach in Newcastle MAN 18.220 / Alexander 22070 now with service 100 branding. 

30/10/04

Richard Smiles has provided a wealth of information on recent movements at Stagecoach North East. The new MAN 18.220 / Alexander at Sunderland are 22072-82 (NK54BFY/Z/GE/F/O/U/V/X/Y/Z/HA) (Thanks also to Richard Kennedy for supplying some of these). Volvo B10M / Alexander 20101-6/15/837/8/44 (N201-6/15LTN, P837/8/44GND) have been dispalced to Stockton. Withdrawn as a result at Stockton are Scania N113 / Alexander 28909 and Leyland Lynx II 29628 "The Beast" (K628YVN). Lynx 29610 (F610UVN) is now a driver trainer at Stockton, while sister 29620 (G620CEF) has been removed from service at Darlington. I would expect 29611 (G611CEF) to follow soon. Sold to Ensign are Leyland Titan 10840 (A840SUL), Leyland Olympian / Alexander 14652 (C652LFT), Lynx 29113 (F113HVK) and Scania N113 / Alexander 28904/9/20/2/5 (F904/9/20JRG, G922/5TCU). To Stagecoach Western go Leyland Olympian / NCME 13020 (A585HDB) and Leyland Olympian / Alexander 14642 (C642LFT). Leyland Olympian / Alexander 14405 (SSA5X) has been sold to a private buyer. Lynxes 29101/607 (F101HVK, F607UVN) have gone to Cambridge.  

Richard Kennedy tells me that Classic, Annfield Plain now have Optare Solo V142VNH ex MK Metro. 

26/10/04

Keith Shum tells me that Stagecoach in Sunderland additionally have new MAN 18.220 / Alexander 22076/9 and kindly supplies the above photo of 22076 (NK54BGO). 

From a variety of sources (especially Elliot Stuffins - many thanks!) it would appear that Stagecoach in Newcastle officially have ex Hong Kong Leyland Olympian / Alexander 13630/1/46/52 (H493/2LNA, H463/2EJR) for Megabus duties. It should however be noted that Megabus allocations can be rather fluid and vehicles from other Stagecoach companies also see use on the Newcastle service. 

25/10/04

Arriva Tees & District only had Optare Metrorider 2630 (P630FHN) as a breif visitor at Redcar after Optare Prisma 3002 (M302SAJ) failed. 

24/10/04

The two Volvo B10M /Alexnader that were noted with Stagecoach on Teesside yesterday ex Sunderland are 20104/6 (N204/6LTN). 

Martin Brigham tells me that Arriva Tees & District now have Optare Metrorider 2630 (P630FHN) at Redcar. 

23/10/04

Stagecoach in Sunderland have several more new MAN 18.220 / Alexander in service. Noted today were 22072/4/5/7 (NK54BFY, BGE/F/?). Volvo B10M / Alexander 20838 (P838GND) and two other unidentified examples have moved to Stockton, while Richard Smiles telle me that Leyland Olympian / Alexander 14182 (G182GHG) has also moved from Sunderland to Stockton. Despite these moves, at least five Scanias remain in use at Stockton, namely 28903/11/6/29/37 (F903/11/6JRG, H429/37CFT). 

Sherburn Coaches have ex Go North East Optare Metrorider K366SCN in service. It wears a livery of red lower half and white upper half. 

21/10/04

There are currently a number of buses with North East connections for sale on ebay. First off we have Northumbria Coaches Leyland National Greenway SIB6706, which has also operated for Arriva North east as 3506. Also present is former United/Northumbria Bristol LH / ECW MGR659P and finally there are a pair of ex Busways Leyland Atlanteans.

19/10/04

Go North East have issues a press release staing that 22 of tne new Scania L94UB / Wright are to be operated from Deptford on various routes and will be delivered by the end of the year.

D Taylor kindly informs me that Stagecoach in Newcastle Mercedes 709 / Alexander 40493/7 (N493/7RVK) are now at Slatyford in UCall green.

18/10/04

Richard Smiles brings some Stagecoach on Teesside updates. MAN 18.220 / Alexander 22451 has arrived from Newcastle (rather than the expected 22453). Volvo B10B / Plaxton 21035 (L35HHN) and Volvo B10M / Plaxton 20253 (R653RPY) have both returned from the paintshop in the new livery, and sister B10M 20254 (R654RPY) is now at wheatsheaf being painted. This leaves 20250 as the last B10M at Stockton in the old stripes. Mercedes 709 / Alexander 40793 (N343KKH) is now in reserve. Scania N113 / Alexander 28904/25 (F904JRG, G922TCU) have been sold to ensign (much to the relief of many other 'neds' and also the public!)

16/10/04

It would appear that the first of Stagecoach in Sunderland's new MAN 18.220.HOCL-NL / Alexander is in service. I noted what appeared to be 22072 (NK54BFY) working service 4 today (exact identity subject to confirmation, but was either that on Newcastle's 22071!). This would appear to have displaced Volvo B10M / Alexander 20837 (P837GND) to Stockton. 

Go North East's Andrew Tyldsley has kindly confirmed that the new Volvo B7TL / Wright will indeed be used on the X10 and will have dual purpose seating. 

Richard Smiles has kindly provided details of some Stagecoach on Teesside movements that I had missed. Scania N113 / Alexander 28920/2/5 (F920JRG, G922/5TCU) have been placed in reserve, with sister 28910 (F910JRG) going north to Stagecoach Western. Darlington Lynxes 29101/13 (F101/3HVK) are confired as for disposal, while 29610 (F610UVN) is to become a driver trainer and 29607 (F607UVN) has gone to Cambus. Mercedes minis 40496/791 (N496RVK, N341KKH) are in reserve. Former Hartlepool recovery truck A898OBV has been sold to a private buyer. 

John Atkin tells me that Northumbria Coaches have a further Optare Metrorifer in the shape of R91HUA.

James Ingram reports that Abbey Coaches Mercedes 811D / Alexander F680XMS is withdrawn and parked up at the Margrove Park depot. 

15/10/04

Go North East have announced their latest vehicle orders, to be delivered by May next year. It features rather more variety than previous years, and combined with the planned depot closures and service changes should ensure that we will all be working hard to keep track of what moves to where! So, we have:

- 28 Scnaia L94UB / Wright (inculdes the four for enhancement of services 93/94 in Gateshead under Urhan Bus Challenge)

- 7 VDL SB120CS / Wright

- 5 Volvo B7RLE / Wright

- 3 Volvo B7TL / Wright (widely expected to be used on the X10)

- 4 Alexander Dennis Mini Pointer Darts

- 2 Volvo B12M / Plaxton (National Express work).

Recent sales have claimed Leyland Olympian / ECW 3649/50/734/40/6 (C649/50LJR, B734/40/6GCN), MCW Metrobus 3641 (A641BCN), Leyland Nationals 3665/75/85 (UPT665/75/85V), DAF MB230 / Duple 5140 (G703AEF) and most notably Optare Excels 8132/3 (P932ACU, R833NRG). 

The latest Notices and Proceedings for the North East traffic area reveal that there will be some interesting service changes at Arriva Northumbria from 21/11/04. New service 342 will run from Ellington to the Freeman Hospital via Ashington, Bedlington and Cramlington hourly, presumably giving a half hourly combined frequency with the 442 over much of the route. Withdrawn as a result are services 33/36/37 and service 32 is altered. New service 103 will run from Blyth to Cramlington half-hourly, though presumably routed to replace service 446 which is deregistered. A number of other non-specific chanes to Ashington/Blyth services are also listed. 

12/10/04

not sure why I forgot to pass this on sooner, but Stagecoach in Newcastle have Mercedes Sprinter / Koch 49501 (BF52SZD) at Slatyford for much reduced service 102 Metrocentre - Newcastle Airport. 

09/10/04

Movements (on paper at least) for this month at Arriva North East/Northumbria see Optare Metrorider 2731 (M445HPF) return to Blyth (it has already, I caught it on the 365 today!) displacing 2739 (N802BKN) back to the disposal list. Optare Metrorider 2729 (M443HPF), having never arrived at Hexham is now also listed for disposal, though was recently still in use at Peterlee. Metrorider 888 (N192RVK) is allocated to Hexham ex Jesmond, where MPD 1701 (T701RCN) has replced it (though given Peterlee's recent shortages, this may have been delayed). Volvo B10M / ELCB 2873/5 (H925/17XYT) are also reallocated to Jesmond, but have apparently moved on again to Darlington. Optare Delta 4001 (G209HCP) has been reinstated at Durham, via a period with Peterlee, while sister 4090 (G251SRG) has moved from Durham to Peterlee to work service 65. MPD 1719 (V719DNL) has returned to Stockton after the end of daily Mo orsbus operations. Optare Delta 4014 (K414BHN) and Volvo Olympian / ELCB 7424 (M688HPF) are on loan to Arriva Yorkshire. 

Go North East have announced that South Shields depot is to close from 29/01/05. Proposals for service changes have been put out for comment, but see some cuts in routes. The four Optare Solos now in use on the new Metrocentre circular service are 599-602 (NK54DEU/FA/C/D). All appear to be ex stock vehicles with non-standard interiors. 599-601 are Mercedes engined, while 602 benefits from Cummins power. Richard Kenneddy informs me that Opter Metrorider 411 (N411NTN) is now a staff shuttle at Deptford. It should also be noted that the bus-only bus station link bridge is now open at the Metrocentre - a huge boon to those services heading in the direction of Dunston/Gateshead/Newcastle. 

Richard Kennedy also tells me that Low Fell Travel have ex Go North East Optare Delata 4742 (G742RTY) along with a number of Leyland Titans and a Dennis Dominator. 

'Anth' brings some news about the new Newcastle - London Megabus service which starts tomorrow (10th Oct))
This Sunday the 0615 from Newcastle will be ex-Hong Kong Tri-axle Leyland Olympian 13652 and the 1600 will be Sister 13646. (Click here for timetable).

Richard Smiles updates me that Stagecoach on Teesside now have Volvo B10M / Northern Counties 20268 (M708KRH) ex Hartlepool, repainted. 

04/10/04

Stagecoach in Darlington now additionally have Leyland Lynx II 29622 (K622YVN) joining 29621/9 (J901UKV, K629YVN). Thanks to Ross Sherwood for this.