27/09/04

Stuart Gray informs me that Arriva Durham County's Bishop Auckland depot have received Optare Metrorider 867 (M867KCU) from Durham to work service 52 Durham - Cornsay Colliery. He also tells me that sister 2611 (P611FHN) is again off the road with accident damage, while 2731 (M445HPF) is receiving repairs at Bishop Auckland, but retains Blyth blinds, suggesting a return. 

Peter Tuck has noted that former Arriva Teesside/Northumbria driver training Leyland National 9999 (ex 9990 ex 90) (GSU347) has been sold on Ebay for £650 and reunited with the registration GOL399N. 

Elliot Stuffins reports that former Stagecoach Transit Dennis Dominator / Northern Counties C221WAJ is now with Merseypride, Liverpool. Richard Smiles confirms that Scania L113 / Northern Counties 28951/2 (M951/2DRG) went to Stagecoach Western, while Scania N113 / Alexander 28920/2 (F920JRG, G922TCU) have gone to Houston Ramm and 28913/9 (F913/9JRG) to Stagecoach Devon. Olympians 13026, 14179/520 (A26ORJ, C179ECK, F41XCS) have gone to Stagecoach in Northampton at Biggleswade to replace vehicles lost to a fire. 

For sale on Ebay is Northumbria Coaches Leyland National Greenway SIB1278. 

24/09/04

Arriva Durham County are operating former Hexham MCW Metrobus 604 (KVY646X) at Peterlee. This was always hard to get a ride on at Hexham, working mainly on school service 985, so now's your chance!! 

23/09/04

Stagecoach in Hartlepool have received Dennis Dart SLF / Alexander 33829 (R829YUD) from Sunderland. It is in service complete with vandalised windows - otherwise rare in Hartlepool. Note also that Dart 34563 has returned to service after accident repairs and Olympian 14651 remainis in use. 

Skelton Coaches, Charltons have added Volvo B10M / Plaxton R188TKU to stock. 

Some time ago I reported that Atkinsons, Ingleby Arncliffe had a new Setra in stock, but at that stage it had not been registered. It is now registered BX04NAA. 

22/09/04

Added to stock at Metro Coaches, Stockton is Volvo B10M / Van Hool 543FLW which was previously with Continental Coaches. 

County Coaches, Chester-le-Street have added Volvo B10M / Plaxton F24XFS to stock. 

Anbry, Washington have injected some additional style into their fleet with Bova Futura A585GPE. 

21/09/04

Added to stock at Wildings, Blackhall are Leyland Tiger / Plaxton C868JAT and SIW1909. The former is ex EYMS and retains their livery, while the latter is in allover green. 

New Connexion Travel, Gateshead have updtated their fleet with Dennis Javelin / Neoplan Transliner R71GGR. It wears Frazer Eagle's blue green and white livery for rail replacement work. 

Something that I forgot to mention from the Go North East website is the acquisition of new Optare Solos 599/600/602 (NK54DEU/FA/D) to work a new Metrocentre shuttle linking the different entrances etc. A fourth is anticipated as 601. Gary Mitchelhill reports that Metroriders 386/402 (L386YFT, L472YVK) are now with Caladonia, Glasgow. 

It should be noted that while Arriva Durham County have lost Optare Metrorider 2729 (M443HPF) to Hexham on the official listing, it has yet to move remaining in service at Peterlee. Also note that 2738 (N801BKM) has replaced 2731 (M445HPF) at Blyth, the latter now listed for Disposal. 

19/09/04

Noted for sale on the Houston Ramm website is Arriva Tees & District Volvo B10M / East Lancs 2879 (H912XYT). The advert talks of a choice of vehilces - presumably that's where all five are headed. 2873/5 were both still in service yesterday, while 2872 was parked up in Redcar depot. 

18/09/04

Stagecoach on Teesside services 91/91A/92/92A finally bowed out today after nine years. The final departure from Middlesbrough was worked by Scania N113 / Alexander 28904 (F904JRG), with sister 28909 (F909JRG), Volvo B10M / Plaxton 20253 (R653RPY) and Leyland Lynx II 29628 (K628YVN) being the other vehicles on the service. New service 34 takes over from Monday. Note also that it is Lynx II 29629 (K629YVN) that has moved to Darlington, not 29628 - my eyes clearly need checking! 

17/09/04

The Go North East website shows that the fleet has been further re-arranged. Recent movements not already noted on this site are as follows:

Volvo B6 / Plaxton: 8407-9 (L407/8GDC, L409GPY) Winlaton - Gateshead, 8410 (L410GPY) Deptford - Gateshead.

Volvo B6 / Alexander: 8419 (M419PVN) Sunderland - Bishop Auckland.

Leyland Olympian / Alexander: 3677/8 (G677/8TCN) Gateshead - South Shields, 3675/9 (G675/9TCN) Percy Main - Withdrawn.

Optare Delta: 4757/8 (K757/8SBB) Gateshead - Winlaton, 4761 (K761SBB) Winlaton - Washington, 4746 (G746RTY) Washington - Chester, 4735 (G735RTY) Stanley - Withdrawn, 4741/4 (G741/4RTY) Washington - Stanley, 4743 (G743RTY) Sunderland - Stanley, 4760/802 (K760SBB, J202VHN) Sunderland - Washington, 4742/5 (G742/5RTY) Washington - Withdrawn.

Optare Sigma: 4785 (L485CFT) Percy Main - Gateshead, 4781/2 (L481/2CFT) Percy Main - Sunderland, 4777 (L477CFT) South Shields - Sunderland.

Volvo Olympian / Northern Counties: 3915 (R355LGH) Winlaton - Stanley, 3932/3 (R391/2LGH) Percy Main - Stanley, 3940 (R399LGH) Bishop Auckland - Chester, 3907 (R265LGH) Washington - Stanley, 3909 (R267LGH) South Shields - Stanley, 3811-6 (S811-6FVK) South Shields - Bishop Auckland, 3817 (S817FVK) South Shields - Washington.

Leyland Olympian / ECW: 3743 (B743GCN) Percy Main - Withdrawn, 3650 (C650LJR) Stanley - Withdrawn, 3655/740 (C655LJR, B740GCN) Bishop Auckland - Withdrawn.

Optare Spectra: 3838/9/44 (K306/7/12FYG) Chester - Percy Main.

Volvo B10M / Plaxton: 7058 (M58LBB) Chester - Driver Training.

Leyland National 2: 4675 (UPT675V) Driver Training - Withdrawn.

Dennis Dart / Marshall: 8099/102 (M809/12GFT) Stanley - Sunderland.

Dennis Dart SLF / Marshall: 582 (T112KGP) New - Stanley.

Sold are Optare Metrorider 397 (M937FTN), MCW Metrobus 3502/619/20/45/756 (UTN502Y, A619/20/45BCN, C756OCN), Leyland Olympian / ECW 3743/7/8 (B743/7/8GCN) and most suprisingly of all, Leyland Olympian / Alexander 3675/9 (G675/9TCN).

Ian S kindly advises that Arriva Durham County's Peterlee depot is taking over operation of service 65 Durham - South Hetton from Durham depot to ease driver shortages there. Similarly, Neil Wise has advised that Darlington are taking an extra diagram on the 723 Darlington - Newcastle from Durham for which they have received Lowlander 7438 (Y688EBR). 

Stagecoach on Teesside how additionally have MAN 18.220 / ALexander 22454/6 (S454/6OFT) in use ex Newcastle. Lynx 2 29629 (K629YVN) was noted in Darlington depot today with TRANSIT names removed. 

09/09/04

Go North East now have Volvo supplied VDL SB120 / Wright Merit 8261-6 (NK04ZNC/KY/Z/LE/ND/E) in service at Gateshead. 8261-4 are in livery, while 8265/6 are white. 8265 was the only one I noted with an electronic destination screen. A host of other movements have taken place, as indicated on the Go North East website. Sadly, I do not have time to summarise them here yet. Also, having now sampled Enviro 300 4977 for myself, I can say that it isn't too bad, the seat mountings being particularly clever, but is no match for the Scanias that Go North East have been buying! 

Stagecoach on Teesside now have MAN 18.220 / Alexander 22452 (S452OFT) from Slatyford. It's vandalised windows have been replaced for the move. Volvo B10M 20251 (M551SPY) is at Sunderland for a much needed repaint, while 21039/40 (M39/40PVN) were awaiting return to Stockton fully repainted. Scania N113 / Alexander 28919 (F919JRG) is now delicenced along with Lynx 29610 (F610UVN). 

Stagecoach in Newcastle are recieving their new MAN 18.220 / Alexander for servie 100. 22069/70 (NK54BFU/V) were in use today. 

Arriva Durham County now have Optare Metrorider 2742 (P472APJ) in service at Peterlee. Optare Delta 4092 (G253SRG) is listed for disposal. 

Arriva Teesside Mercedes O405 / Wright 3026 (L100SBS) is officially listed as transferred to the driver training school, but remains in service at present. 

A-Line have ex St George Mercedes 811 / Dormobile G34NBD. 

Low Fell Travel have added Dennis / Plaxton MPD S465LGN to stock. 

Redby, Sunderland are now competing on service 194 between Washington and Heworth. No timetables were up at Washington today, but it would seem likely that this service will keep buses busy between schools contracts. 

Arriva Durham County now have Optare Metrorider 2742 (P472APJ) in service at Peterlee. 

08/09/04

Stagecoach on Teesside now have all six of their new MANs in service. 22061/3-6 are branded for service 37, while 22062 is unbranded. Casualties include Scania L113 / Northern Counties 28951/2 (M951/2DRG). Their early withdrawal would suggest that they are for transfer elsewhere within the group, possibly to join their former shedmates now with Stagecoach Western. Also delicenced is Leyland Olympian / Alexander 14652 (C652LFT), presumably replaced by 16731. 

Arriva Northumbria now have Optare Metroriders 2729/33 (M443/7HPF) at Hexham ex Durham County. Hexham's final 'decker MCW Metrobus 604 is now in reserve. 

Richard Kennedy informs me that Go North East now have Enviro 300 demonstrator 4977 (SN04EGF) in service at Washington. Gary Mitchelhill, who has managed to travel on it, was somewhat underwhelmed by it! 

Malcolm Stitch has been in touch to tell me that Swans, Berwick have updated their fleet with Neoplan N316 K387VKN, ex Woods, Berwick. Bedford / Duple WUM256X and Ford / Plaxton UNK10W have been removed from the depot. 

Malcolm also reports that Dreadnought Coaches 833AFM remains engineless and in MAC Tours livery. 

05/09/04

Peter Barclay has brought some news about Redby. Former Stagecoach Titan A902SYE is now with the operator in use occasionally on service 14A, A607THV has also been sighted although it is unsure if it was in service at the time. Both of the titans where seen in the new very attractive Redby Livery.  

Pete Greensmith has provided the above picture of Abbey Coaches Leyland Titan (NUW648Y), formerly owned by Stagecoach.
Gavin Miller also adds that younger sister NUW643Y is in stock.
It is notable that these are the first Double Deck vehicles with the operator.

04/09/04

Gary Mitchelhill has provided the above picture of Go North East Scania L94UB / Wright Solar 4976 (NK53UOC) sporting a striking livery for new service R19 on the recently opened Silverlink Guided Busway. 

03/09/04

John Atkin has very kindly provided the above picture showing Stagecoach on Teesside MAN 18.220 / Alexander 22062 (NK54BFF) & 22063 (NK54BFJ). Four out of the batch of six were in service today, working service 37 North Tees Hospital - James Cook Hospital.

Lee Wells brings news that Stagecoach in Darlington Alexander Dash bodied Volvo B6B's 30249 (L249CCK) & 30250 (L250 CCK) are now with Northern Blue (Burnley).