Arriva North East

[YorkRailFan]

Temsa Avenue 4701 has been withdrawn and had its engine removed.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Temsa Avenue 4701 has been withdrawn and had its engine removed.

No Temsas left in service in North East. The end of an error (though I grudgingly quite liked them)

 

[317 forever]

They look like they’ve been styled by driving them into a wall

Enthusiasts being forced to ride them will be driven up the wall

 

[YorkRailFan]

Arriva Yorkshire's 1449 (Pulsar 2) has transferred to Darlington depot and will track as 1369.

 

[800001]

Arriva Yorkshire's 1449 (Pulsar 2) has transferred to Darlington depot and will track as 1369.

Apparently 2 'new' Pulsar have arrived, one for service and one for driver training.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Apparently 2 'new' Pulsar have arrived, one for service and one for driver training.

The other Pulsar is 1450, also from Yorkshire.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Dec 2025 ==

The withdrawal of 2841 brings about the end of classic Solo operations at Arriva North East, leaving only Solo SRs.

 

[Kuyoyo]

Apparently 2 'new' Pulsar have arrived, one for service and one for driver training.

Both intended for the training fleet - as part of the new Depot-level fleet, which sees each depot allocated a bus to be used by a trainee and their Mentor for route learning and ticket machine training before they move onto service. One of theirs two are intended for Stockton as their Depot Trainer, the other will be Darlington's - however, due to a high amount of VORs at Darlington at present, both will be used in service at Darlington for the foreseeable.

 

[800001]

The other Pulsar is 1450, also from Yorkshire.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Dec 2025 ==

The withdrawal of 2841 brings about the end of classic Solo operations at Arriva North East, leaving only Solo SRs.

Is that Darlington back down to just one Solo? As one is parked up with a sign on cab stating not to be used.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Is that Darlington back down to just one Solo? As one is parked up with a sign on cab stating not to be used.

Yes, 3053 as the last Solo SR.

 

[800001]

Yes, 3053 as the last Solo SR.

Thanks!

Sounds like 'new' busses for Darlington can't come soon enough of quite a few an off the road.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Pulsar 2 1448 has transferred from Selby depot.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Dec 2025 ==

Pulsar 2 1503 has been repainted to Arriva's "Journey Mark" livery.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2025 ==

Pulsar 2 1448 has transferred from Selby depot.

Now tracks as 1368.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jan 2026 ==

E400MMC 7579 has transferred from Northumberland to Durham.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Jan 2026 ==

ADL300 1357 has gone for disposal.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jan 2026 ==

E400MMC 7580 has returned from Arriva Northumbria to Arriva North East.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Streetlite 1560 has had its 'Merry Christmas' vinyls removed. Pulsar 2s 1385, 1388 and 1397 have all received Arriva branding to their light blue paint.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Jan 2026 ==

E400MMC 7582 has had its 'Merry Christmas' vinyls removed.

 

[800001]

Arriva Yorkshire's 1449 (Pulsar 2) has transferred to Darlington depot and will track as 1369.

1369 was a failure in Darlington today, and had to be recovered (towed) back to depot.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Pulsar 2 1394 has been withdrawn.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jan 2026 ==

Fare changes from 18 January:

From Sunday 18 January 2026, there will be some changes to our bus fares across the North East region.

New fares will apply to saver tickets – for full details, please click here.

There will also be updates to our single fares:

In Northumberland and Tyne & Wear, adult single fares will increase by 10p. Child fares won’t change.
In our Durham and Tees Valley zone we're updating our adult single fares to better align prices with the distance travelled. Fares will be grouped into three distance bands:
Short journeys (0–0.5 miles)
Adult single – £1.80

Medium journeys (0.5–2 miles)
Adult single – £2.40

Long journeys (over 2 miles)
Adult Durham single – £2.50
Adult Tees Valley single – £3

Child singles remain unchanged at £1

Latest News - Arriva UK Bus

www.arrivabus.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Jan 2026 ==

Gemini 2 7633 has had its 'Merry Christmas' vinyls removed.

 

[YorkRailFan]

B8RLE 4505 has had its 'Yorkshire Coast Connections' branding removed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2026 ==

Arriva will once again be running DalesBus services 830, 831, 832, 858 & 859 this summer from 5 April until 18 October. As usual, the 830, 858 & 859 will not operate on Bank Holidays, only on Sundays, the 831 & 832 will run on Sundays and Bank Holidays. There is a change to service 832, it will run to Kirkby Lonsdale via Sedbergh this year, instead of Ingleton via Settle like it did last year.

Link to the timetable: https://www.dalesbus.org/uploads/1/1/3/9/113919127/830.pdf

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Feb 2026 ==

E400 MMC 7590 & Optare Solo SR 3053 have transferred to Northumbria.

 

[800001]

B8RLE 4505 has had its 'Yorkshire Coast Connections' branding removed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Feb 2026 ==

Arriva will once again be running DalesBus services 830, 831, 832, 858 & 859 this summer from 5 April until 18 October. As usual, the 830, 858 & 859 will not operate on Bank Holidays, only on Sundays, the 831 & 832 will run on Sundays and Bank Holidays. There is a change to service 832, it will run to Kirkby Lonsdale via Sedbergh this year, instead of Ingleton via Settle like it did last year.

Link to the timetable: https://www.dalesbus.org/uploads/1/1/3/9/113919127/830.pdf

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 8 Feb 2026 ==

E400 MMC 7590 & Optare Solo SR 3053 have transferred to Northumbria.

Isn't the Solo move just tempory?

 

[Kuyoyo]

Isn't the Solo move just tempory?

Yes - both of Ashington's Solos were VOR and they require one for the Saturday-only 415/460 contract. It is supposedly due to return to Darlington today in exchange for Streetlite 1588 going on long-term loan to assist with vehicle issues there (despite Darlington itself having vehicle issues, hence the use of 1369 and 1450 prior to their re-allocation into the Training Fleet as Route Learning Vehicles).

 

[Kaliwax]

If North East are that short of buses, why can't Yorkshire send some of the withdrawn e200s as a temporary measure, in order to avoid runs being cancelled etc. Not ideal but better than nothing

 

[Kuyoyo]

If North East are that short of buses, why can't Yorkshire send some of the withdrawn e200s as a temporary measure, in order to avoid runs being cancelled etc. Not ideal but better than nothing

Would be no good given the main issue is vehicle reliability at Ashington - which requires Euro6 vehicles due to the Clean Air Zone in Newcastle.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Would be no good given the main issue is vehicle reliability at Ashington - which requires Euro6 vehicles due to the Clean Air Zone in Newcastle.

Unless they send them to Darlington to enable compliant vehicles to be sent north on loan?

 

[Kaliwax]

Surely it's better to get fined having a non compliant vehicle due to CAZ, than having cancelled runs

 

[800001]

Yes - both of Ashington's Solos were VOR and they require one for the Saturday-only 415/460 contract. It is supposedly due to return to Darlington today in exchange for Streetlite 1588 going on long-term loan to assist with vehicle issues there (despite Darlington itself having vehicle issues, hence the use of 1369 and 1450 prior to their re-allocation into the Training Fleet as Route Learning Vehicles).

Yes Darlington situation is not good. Nonspare busses some days and several been taken off the road each day with Faults.
Yet they have been given contact for the Number 10 extension around the villages. Yet it's in papers this week about people complaining that the current number 10 never turns up.

 

[Megafuss]

Surely it's better to get fined having a non compliant vehicle due to CAZ, than having cancelled runs

Exactly. Rather than than a knock on th door by the TC

 

[MB1]

Would be no good given the main issue is vehicle reliability at Ashington - which requires Euro6 vehicles due to the Clean Air Zone in Newcastle.

They have three routes (1/2/57/57A) with a PVR of 13 which go nowhere near Newcastle - they could easily be operated by non-Euro 6 vehicles (and arguably would be some of the only ANE routes which those E200s would suit).

 

[800001]

Yes - both of Ashington's Solos were VOR and they require one for the Saturday-only 415/460 contract. It is supposedly due to return to Darlington today in exchange for Streetlite 1588 going on long-term loan to assist with vehicle issues there (despite Darlington itself having vehicle issues, hence the use of 1369 and 1450 prior to their re-allocation into the Training Fleet as Route Learning Vehicles).

Solo back working on Darlington this morning on service 16.

 

[Kuyoyo]

They have three routes (1/2/57/57A) with a PVR of 13 which go nowhere near Newcastle - they could easily be operated by non-Euro 6 vehicles (and arguably would be some of the only ANE routes which those E200s would suit).

The vehicles working the 57/57A only don't go near Newcastle on weekdays and Sundays - on Saturdays, they work with the X22 at Ashington so require the use of Euro6 stock.

In any case, as of this morning Ashington presently have:
Pulsar 1387 on-loan from Stockton
Streetlite 1588 on-loan from Darlington (exchanged with 3053 yesterday)
E400MMC 7580 on-loan from Redcar
E400MMC 7590 on-loan from Durham
Gemini 7636 on-loan from Blyth

 

[MB1]

The vehicles working the 57/57A only don't go near Newcastle on weekdays and Sundays - on Saturdays, they work with the X22 at Ashington so require the use of Euro6 stock.

In any case, as of this morning Ashington presently have:
Pulsar 1387 on-loan from Stockton
Streetlite 1588 on-loan from Darlington (exchanged with 3053 yesterday)
E400MMC 7580 on-loan from Redcar
E400MMC 7590 on-loan from Durham
Gemini 7636 on-loan from Blyth

Yes, so even on a Saturday there would still be 8 boards for non Euro 6 stock to work - likely 9 as I imagine an E200 could do the 415 too. PVR is also lower on a Saturday, with the main Ashington services being every 30 minutes rather than every 20.

I’d note that of the 5 on loan, 1588 failed to complete its first trip (and hasn’t surfaced since) and 7636 wasn’t ready for runout.

The notorious 3051 has also failed - again.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Their issues have made the local press: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8r5zvgp58o

Passengers have described their frustration at waiting hours in freezing temperatures for "phantom buses" which never arrive.

Liz Hobson, 71, relies upon the Arriva bus service at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea to get to other areas of Northumberland and said she was regularly "waiting in vain" with fellow pensioners.

Meanwhile, the local MP has raised the issue of the bus company's app which shows vehicles approaching that then do not arrive.

An Arriva spokesperson said recent disruption was linked to congestion in Newcastle and vehicle availability, but said they have brought "spare vehicles into the area to help improve resilience". They did not respond to questions about the accuracy of the app.

Hobson, who has lived in the town for two years, said she let her car go when she retired as her pension did not cover the running expenses.

"Back in Lancashire, it was very rare for a bus to be cancelled or be late and I assumed it would be the same here," she said.

"I wait with shivering pensioners for buses that never come, despite showing on the Arriva app until the last minute."

She said schoolchildren were also affected with reports that some had faced detentions for being late because their buses do not arrive on time.

'No alternative'
Gwen Woodman, Mayor of Newbiggin, said the X21 service through the town is a "lifeline" but cancellations on the route are regular.

She said: "Residents rely on this service to reach essential services in Morpeth, particularly for work, college, school, medical appointments and onward travel once they reach Morpeth or Ashington.

"For those without access to a car – including older residents, people with disabilities and those on low incomes – there is no alternative way to travel in or out of Newbiggin."

The mayor said a reliable bus service was not a luxury but an "essential" for the town.

Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington Ian Lavery reported "varied complaints" from constituents about the bus service and said: "This unacceptable situation cannot continue.

"People arrange their daily lives around the scheduled timings of public transport.

"The fact that Arriva buses are not only not turning up on time but the app which people rely on is totally inaccurate quite frankly beggars belief."

An Arriva spokesperson said the firm was aware of concerns about the reliability of the X21 and understood the frustration it causes.

They said: "Lately, disruption in the Ashington and Newbiggin area has been linked to congestion impact suffered by Service X21 within the Newcastle area and, more recently, vehicle availability with more buses than usual requiring repairs and parts taking longer to source.

"Revised timetables for the X21 are currently being developed to improve punctuality and we remain committed to delivering a more reliable service for customers."

The firm also said it is investing in new buses.

I can personally confirm both of the issues mentioned - I think they're largely talking about the 35 (not the X21) and on a recent Saturday there seemed to be a 90 minute gap (so two missing buses). And on a (separate) recent trip I noticed the app seemed to run its tracking based on the schedule not on tracking - so a phantom X22 showed as arriving in 3 mins but on bustimes didn't exist.

Even this morning, I got stung (albeit on the Durham side) - X12s running 45-60 minutes late. I normally find Arriva the better of the long distance North East operators but they seem to have really fell off recently.

 

[Kuyoyo]

Even this morning, I got stung (albeit on the Durham side) - X12s running 45-60 minutes late. I normally find Arriva the better of the long distance North East operators but they seem to have really fell off recently.

A19 closed between Norton and the Flyover due to a Fatality - knock-on effect caused the total collapse of the Teesside Bus Network, everything was effected. At one stage, all 3 of Stagecoach's Hardwick boards had effectively lapped themselves with major gaps (there was a 2 hour gap in departures on the 58 - and one board ran the 0836 57 out of the town at 1000 and didn't get back into the town until 1100 - a normal round trip during the day is timed for 32 minutes).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Feb 2026 ==

Yes, so even on a Saturday there would still be 8 boards for non Euro 6 stock to work - likely 9 as I imagine an E200 could do the 415 too. PVR is also lower on a Saturday, with the main Ashington services being every 30 minutes rather than every 20.

I’d note that of the 5 on loan, 1588 failed to complete its first trip (and hasn’t surfaced since) and 7636 wasn’t ready for runout.

The notorious 3051 has also failed - again.

Bar the two Solo SRs, the entire allocation at Ashington is Euro6 stock (either Euro6 from new or modified) for the very reason it gives greater flexible to allocating - a Pulsar could be allocated to a 57 on a Monday then onto one of the single decker-booked turns on X21s or X22s the day after. Hence the reason the loans have come from specific depots - 1387 is one of the ex-Merseyside examples which are modified to Euro6 standards (and already make fairly regular appearances in Newcastle on Stockton's X12 turns - given Stockton currently only have one MAX-spec example and that isn't the greatest in terms of reliability), 1588 is one of the ex-Jesmond Streetlites which were modified to Euro6 prior to Jesmond's closure but transferred south to replace the last of the Scanias at Darlington.
The 415 is 100% a minibus route - so has to be allocated a Solo. If you were to dump those E200s on the North East again (most of the recently stood-down ones in Yorkshire being the former ex-London examples used at Durham), you would be better sending maybe 3 or 4 to Darlington and releasing a similar number of their shorter Streetlites northwards temporarily - the E200s would be suitable to stand in on the town work in place of the E200MMCs if required (which will be required once the new funded extension of the 10 to serve the villages to the north east of Darlington starts - that increases the PVR of the interworked 9/10/13 cycle by 1 from 7 to 8, taking the E200MMC requirement from 13 to 14 (2 on 3/19, 1 on the 3 shuttle, 2 on 4s and 1 on the 18) meaning regular use on a Streetlite on town work).

 

[overthewater]

The route I have seen getting moaned at from Arriva North east is No35. She had a meeting two months ago was told more fitter and engineers are coming.

Pegswood councillor calls for improvements to a specific bus service

A county councillor says residents “deserve better” as she has called on a bus company to honour its commitments over a specific service.

www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk

A county councillor says residents “deserve better” as she has called on a bus company to honour its commitments over a specific service.
The number 35 bus is important for a number of people living in Pegswood – getting children to school, workers to their jobs and residents to vital hospital appointments.
Coun Vicky Oakley met with Arriva in November and she says the company promised her there would be improvements following an internal reorganisation.

However, she has issued a public update this month saying residents report that these improvements have simply not materialised.