30/09/03

 

Further Scania N113 / Alexander making the journey south to Stagecoach on Teesside are 28910/3/20/2/9. While Hartlepool gain B10Ms 20120/1/4. Sister 20126 is under repaint at Sunderland.

 

Not sure if this is old news, but Arriva Durham County Optare Delta 4022 (L422FHN) has returned to service at Richmond after a legthy period out of use.

 

29/09/03

Further new MAN 18.220HOCL-NL for Stagecoach in Newcastle noted are 22036-44 (NK53KEU,KFA/C-G/J/L). 22035 is also understood to be in service, but I have yet to see it. 22046 (registation obscured) was also on Slatyford depot.

 

Just to prove me wrong Stagecoach on Teesside Lynx 29607 (F607UVN) is back in service!

Arrive Teesside now have Optare Metrorider 876 (M876LBB) ex Ashington. Former Driver trainer 9997 (NTU11Y) appeared at Showbus yesterday, reregistered WBB532Y. Also there was Tiger E275KEF, now a high capacity school bus with Provence coaches.

 

27/09/03

Further Scania N113 / Alexander to arrive at Stagecoach on Teesside from Newcastle are 28907/9 (F907/9JRG) along with two others, as yet unidentified. Withdrawn are Lynxes 29607/14/5 (F607UVN, G614/5CEF). Also arrived at Stockton are Stagecoach in Lancaster Leyland Olympian / ECW 14179 (C179ECK) and Alexander bodied 14198 (J198HFR), both dual purpose.

Arrivals at Abbey Coaches, Margrove Park are Optare Metrorider K392KUA in allover purple, and Mercedes 811 / UVG M983CYS, the latter ex Compass Bus, Sussex. Duple Lazer AKG162A is now in School bus livery.

On a related note, A1 Coaches, owned by the same family as Abbey, have now sprung into life. Two vehicles noted are Mercedes Sprinter X924GAC and brand new LDV Sherpa NX53GWY.

 

21/09/03

 

Richardsons, Hartlepool have added all-over cream Scania K112 / Plaxton HHT934 to stock.

 

The new Go North East fleetlist on the company's website shows a couple of allocation changes that I had missed. MCW Metrobuses 3620/48 (A620/48BCN) move to Stanley ex Deptford and Gateshead respectively, while Volvo B6 / Alexander 8415/6 (L415/6KEF) move from Gateshead to Winlaton. Withdrawn are Leyland Nationals 4663/94 (UPT663V, FTN694W), MCW Metrobuses 3629/758 (A629BCN, C758OCN), Leyland Olympian / ECW 3662/739 (C662LJR, B739GCN) and Dennis Dart / Wright 8081 (K981SCU). Sold are Optare Metroriders 378/82 (L378/82YFT) Leyland Olympian / ECW 3520-2/612/68/71 (C520-2LJR, SJR612Y, C668/71LJR), MCW Metrobus 3762/7 (C762/7OCN), and Dennis Dart / Wright 8072/3 (L372/32WTY).

 

20/09/03

 

The former Arriva Northumbria depot in Morpeth has now been almost completely demolished. This will be a sorry sight for many. Also, Olympian 7215 is confirmed as D189FYM.

 

Stagecoach in Newcastle MAN 18.220 / Alexander 22034 is registered NK53KDZ. 22037 has arrived at Slatyford, though it's identity could not be confirmed.

 

19/09/03

 

Graeme Scarlett of The Eden provides the disappointing news that they have had to withdraw from operation of evening service 7A Shildon - Spennymoor due to missile attacks and vandalism.

The Company took on the route to help out fellow operator Go North East, however Graeme Scarlett confirmed to Jeffs Bus Lane that he had pulled off his bus early on Monday evening after youths in the Middlestone Moor area of Spennymoor, sprayed the vehicle with spray paint as it was going through the estate.

Mr Scarlett commented " The Eden have done this route for 16 nights and EVERY night we have had missiles thrown at a vehicle, on one occasion cracking a windscreen. In 16 nights the Police have had to be called on 2 occasions, and we are not prepared to put either our drivers, passengers and vehicles at risk any further."

Mr Scarlett continued, "We have an excellent reputation and are committed to providing a regular service for our passengers, however communities should start to take responsibility for the youths who cause this type of offence, they are someone's kids, I can see the day coming very soon when there will be no operator willing to provide night services."

 

D Taylor provides details of additional movements atGo North East. National 4704 is now at Gateshead, while Vovlo B6 8423 and Optare Detla 4759 are now at Winlaton.

 

Elliot Stuffins kindly infroms me that Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian / Alexander 7208 (F234YTJ) has been sold to the Stafford Bus Centre. Sisters 7201/2/4/9/10 are all now with Avon, Prenton.

 

Richard Smiles brings the interesting news that Stagecoach in Newcastle have taken delivery of an electric bus at Walkergate. It is understood to be some way off entering service. Peter Nardone informs me that deliveries of MANs have recommenced with 22034 being noted in service - sadly he was unable to provide details of it's registration number.

 

The latest edition of the notices and proceedings for the north east shows that Jayline have applied for a seperate three vehicle licence for their pop band tour work, while Boldon Executive, and Abbey Coaches are having public inquiries held against them.

 

14/09/03

 

It is now known that the operating sharing service 239 Sedgefield - Easington with Go Northern isJSB, Newton Aycliffe. Mercedes G80SKR was working alongside Go Northern Metrorider 406. Stuart Gray also tells me that JSB are operating some former Go NE workings on service 2 Bishop Auckland - Spennymoor.

 

A sighting, reproduced here by kind permission of Mark Westgarth is that Arriva Northumbria Leyland Olympian D178FYM is renumbered 7217 removing the clash with Peterlee's 7214.

 

13/09/03

As promised, more detail on the movements at Go North East. Leyland Olympian 3651 (C651LJR) and MCW Metrobuses 3756/77 (C756/77OCN) move from Deptford to Stanley, with Optare Spectras 3848/55 (K316/23FYG) replacing them at Deptford ex Washington. Their replacements at Washington are Volvo Olympians 3898/9 (R256/7LGH), which have been freeed from South Shields by tender losses. Leyland National 4715 (TJR715Y) has moved from Winlaton to Chester-le-street, but was on old turf today working the 809 to the Metrocentre! Optare Delta 4807 (J207VHN) is now at Deptford ex Bishop Auckland, but deptford have lost sisters 4761/89-93 (K761SBB, M789-93HCU) to Winlaton. In turn Winlaton have lost Volvo B10Bs 4808-10 (L208-10KEF) to Washington and 4811/2/75 (L211/2KEF, N950TVK) to Deptford, those at Washington displacing 4813-6 (N813-6WGR) to Deptford. Optare Sigmas 4781-6 (L481-6CFT) cross the Tyne from Percy Main to South Shields, replacing Dennis Darts 8082-9 (K982-9SCU), which are all now stored in the yard at South Shields with vinyls removed. Optare Excels 8133-5 (R833-5NRG) move from Deptford to Percy Main, while Volvo B6s 8410-2 (L410-2GPY) move to Deptford from Gateshead. Percy Main gain reinstated Optare Metrorider 366 (K366SCN) and Optare Solos 467/8 (T467/8BCN) (468 in a special purple livery for service 333), with Optare Metroriders 361/5 (K361/5SCN) being reinstated at Winlaton to replace the Solos.

Stanley Taxis have a third Opatre Solo. This one is MX53FEF, which is operating in white with fleetnames to the front only. It is not clear if this is on loan or acquired.

Stagecoach in Sunderland are now operating ex Stockton MAN 22673 (V673DDC) in service, complete with out of place 36 branding!

Stagecoach in Hartlepool have a further two refurbished B10Ms in service, these being 20120/843 (P120XCN, P843GND). Unlike the others these have had new glass where necessarry to replace windows that had been scratched with grafitti.

 

07/09/03

 

Yet another Leyland Olympian / Alexander has moved to Stagecoach on Teesside from Darlington, this time it is 14652 (C652LFT).

 

Further info on Continental Coaches SYC106F is that it is a Plaxton Supreme V bodied DAF MB. Also of note is the re-acquisition of Leyland Leopard / Plaxton BPY403T from Jacks Coaches. This was new to Cleveland Transit, and now sports seats covered in Firstgroup moquette.

 

06/09/03

Stagecoach on Teesside have an additional Leyland Olympian / Alexander from Darlington, this being 14189 (G189JHG). It would seem that some Titans may have gone to Darlington, given the arrival of 14189/655 at Stockton, I hope to verify whether this is the case tomorrow.

 

Ian S informs me that Arriva Durham County have an additional MCW Metrobus at Peterlee, in the form of 601 (BYX210V).

Through a combination of my own sightings and reports kindly provided by Richard Smiles, I can list subtancial fleet movements at Stagecoach North East. Leyland Olympian / Northern Counties 14667/70 (H667/70BNL) are now in use at Stockton, allong with ex Darlington Leyland Olympian / Alexander 14655 (C655LFT). MANs 22664/72/3/5 (T664OEF, V672/3/5DDC) are transferred from Stockton to Sunderland, though at present 22672 is under repaint (along with 33122, 15302 and another unidentified Dart SLF) and the other three are over the pits. Refurbished B10M / Alexander 20124 (P124XCN) is in service in Hartlepool, while Darts 33827/9 (R827/9YUD) are at Sunderland, the former repainted. Lynxes 29608/9/12/3 (F608/9UVN, G612/3CEF) have been removed from Stocton, while 29617 (G617CEF) is also withdrawn. Scania L113 / Alexander 28953/4 (M953/4DRG) have been transferred to Stagecoach West Scotland.

Significant News for fans of the Leyland Atlantean is that Stagecoach on Teesside no longer use one on the 0714 service 91 Owington Farm - Middlesbrough. Today this was worked by Lynx 29624, which continued on the 91/92 group all day. However all was not lost today, as 15810 (EJR110W) managed a morning peak turn on the 60 as shown above!

Arriva Durham County have received MCW Metrobuses 611/23 (GYE396W, B112WUL) from Jesmond to work their Nexus contracts on South Tyneside. Thanks to Gary Mitchelhill for reporting these shortly before my own sighting!

Arriva Northumbria Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties 7370 (M370FTY) is now at Ashington for the increased X31 commitment. Further ex London Olympians noted on Jesmond are 7212/5 (D160/9FYM), still in dual door red form, and used on Schools/works contracts. It is understood that previously noted D178FYM is numbered 7214. Interestingly WDC214Y is still running as 7214 and was noted as such in Peterlee today! Scanias moved south from Blyth to Jesmond are 7252-4 (L161GYL, M178/9LYP).

 

Go North East have also been shuffling buses around. Optare Sigmas transferred from Percy Main to South Shields include 4783/5/6 (L483/5/6CFT), while the Volvo B10Bs are gravitating towards Sunderland. I can recommend the Goaheadbusfans yahoo group for those wishing to keep fully abreast of these movements.

 

The latest acquisition at Jayline is Mercedes 709 / Alexander G291TSL. This wears a lime green and purple livery, though it is not clear if this is as acquired for fresh for Jayline, as the paint looked quite fresh.