Arriva North East

[kuyoyo]

RE: Arriva North East

(24/08/2015 12:53)kuyoyo Wrote:  Blyth-based Geminis 7601-7 and Pulsars 1493/1501-5 are in the process of being refurbished to MAX specification for the X7/X8/X9 (presently X4/X5/X13) which will all be upgraded in the near future. As part of the upgrading of these Blyth Express, X10/X11 branded Geminis 7608/11-7/21-5 are all to be rebranded to enable more flexibe allocations at Blyth. Blyth are also due to swap Commanders 1401-3 for 3 further Pulsars to be MAX'd as spares.

Presently Stockton-based OmniCitys 4652/4/8 are also to be MAX'd and transferred to Darlington for the X75/X76, allowing 3 Pulsars to transfer to Stockton for the 21a (these are likely to be 1404/5/7).

Further to the last point - 2 of 1404/5/7 will now certainly be getting MAX refurbishments. From 25th October, the Darlington-Middlesbrough corridor is being upgraded as followed:

[*]X66 revised to operate every 30 minutes Monday-Saturday (presently every 20), following the same route at these times between Darlington and Stockton. Between Stockton and Middlesbrough, it will operate the same route as the 21a via Thornaby Station.
[*]New service X67 will be introduced, at the same frequency Monday to Saturday. This will leaving Darlington Tubwell Row and operate via Darlington College and the Transport Corridor to the A66. It then leaves the A66 at Elton and serves Hartburn (replacing the 6 which is withdrawn). From Stockton, it follows the same route as the X66
[*]Sunday X66 journeys will also serve Hartburn, restoring a Sunday link to the village for the first time since Viva Tees Valley in 2006 (when the X14/X66 replaced the 98/99 as the Darlington-Teesside link)
[*]Journeys also extended to late - last journeys from both ends leaving about 2030 during the week

As part of this, Stockton depot are picking up 2 turns hence the refurbishment of 2 Pulsars. 1415 will be remaining at Stockton from this weekend (when the X12 reverts to normal timetable) as a spare for both routes.