Arriva North East

[YorkRailFan]

Pulsar 2 1419 has transferred to Northumbria.

 

[darloscott]

It’s finally been made public that Arriva plans to close its Redcar depot, with operations transferring to Stockton & Whitby. Likely to happen by August.

 

[stevieinselby]

It’s finally been made public that Arriva plans to close its Redcar depot, with operations transferring to Stockton & Whitby. Likely to happen by August.

Might this lead to any changes to the X4? I can imagine that there might be some journeys at the start and end of the day that are extended, curtailed or withdrawn if they're currently based on vehicles being based at Redcar.
And at the moment it looks like the Whitby depot is shared with Coastal & Country, unless I've got the wrong end of the stick, and is just used as an outstation for the X93/X94 – does this mean Arriva are taking it over completely?

 

[Simon75]

Looking at Google maps, the depot doesn’t look that old. Thought it was in in the town centre, not an industrial estate

 

[darloscott]

Might this lead to any changes to the X4? I can imagine that there might be some journeys at the start and end of the day that are extended, curtailed or withdrawn if they're currently based on vehicles being based at Redcar.
And at the moment it looks like the Whitby depot is shared with Coastal & Country, unless I've got the wrong end of the stick, and is just used as an outstation for the X93/X94 – does this mean Arriva are taking it over completely?

Not straight away but I am certain it will be remodelled to make more sense ran from Whitby.
Yeah they currently share with Coastal & Country however they have invested a fair bit in facilities down there and I believe have made him an offer to buy it. C&C downsized a few years ago and now just run the open toppers and a few school contracts.

 

[YorkRailFan]

New to Northumbria are E400 MMCs:
YY26 FSS - 7722
YY26 FSU - 7723
YY26 FSV - 7724
Transferred to Durham is E400 7525.

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

Another new E400 MMC for Northumbria: YY26 FSP - 7721

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

Two DAF SB200 Wright Commander Training Buses have transferred from Arriva North West to Arriva North East. They carry fleet numbers 9996 & 9998

 

[800001]

New to Northumbria are E400 MMCs:
YY26 FSS - 7722
YY26 FSU - 7723
YY26 FSV - 7724
Transferred to Durham is E400 7525.

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

Another new E400 MMC for Northumbria: YY26 FSP - 7721

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

Two DAF SB200 Wright Commander Training Buses have transferred from Arriva North West to Arriva North East. They carry fleet numbers 9996 & 9998

Don't Stockton already have a training bus numbered 9998?

 

[K219UHA]

Reports list Redcar Pulsars, 1433 NK10 CEJ and 1440 NK10 CFA as moving to Arriva North West and Wales this weekend, strange move,

 

[Kaliwax]

Won't they be heavily restricted on what work they can do in Merseyside with the age limit of 15 years old at their bus stations?

Wales or Runcorn, my guess.

 

[darloscott]

Reports list Redcar Pulsars, 1433 NK10 CEJ and 1440 NK10 CFA as moving to Arriva North West and Wales this weekend, strange move,

Displaced by Pulsars 1496 & 1502 moving south from Blyth along with E400s 7596/7, with 1503 to join at a later date as a replacement for withdrawn 1429.

 

[Ballyheigue]

Reports list Redcar Pulsars, 1433 NK10 CEJ and 1440 NK10 CFA as moving to Arriva North West and Wales this weekend, strange move,

Ah, makes sense now or rather not having read a comment few comments above. So I'm guessing the 2 training buses from Arriva North West moving to Arriva North East will need replacing..... by these 2? If so why didn't they just simply keep the 2 in the North West and place those 2 into trainers for the North East? Makes sense but no sense at the same time.

 

[darloscott]

Don't Stockton already have a training bus numbered 9998?

Ah, makes sense now or rather not having read a comment few comments above. So I'm guessing the 2 training buses from Arriva North West moving to Arriva North East will need replacing..... by these 2? If so why didn't they just simply keep the 2 in the North West and place those 2 into trainers for the North East? Makes sense but no sense at the same time.

Yes these two have always been with North East since they became trainers and (as far as I know) have never been to NW, unless it was a very short loan.

 

[K219UHA]

Yes these two have always been with North East since they became trainers and (as far as I know) have never been to NW, unless it was a very short loan.

Some late speculation from the North West the move may be getting cancelled, owing to the pair due MoT in the next month and reports of chassis concerns? I guess we shall find out shortly!

 

[YorkRailFan]

E400 MMC 7725 YY26 FSX is new to Northumbria.

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

E400 7525 has returned to Northumbria.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Jun 2026 ==

B9TL 7401 has been repainted to Journey Mark livery.

 

[K219UHA]

Some late speculation from the North West the move may be getting cancelled, owing to the pair due MoT in the next month and reports of chassis concerns? I guess we shall find out shortly!

And it became the case, both since turned up in service in Durham!!

 

[YorkRailFan]

New to Arriva is E400 MMC YY26 FSZ - 7726.

The first of the BYD 'Northumberland Electrics' have arrived with NL26 EUY - 8007 already tracking in service today and having been photographed at Blyth depot.

 

[dmncf]

The first of the BYD 'Northumberland Electrics' have arrived with NL26 EUY - 8007 already tracking in service today and having been photographed at Blyth depot.

Do these Arriva North East BYD BD11 double decks have sunroofs, like the ones in London?

 

[YorkRailFan]

BYD 'Northumberland Electrics' NL26 EVD - 8014 is now in service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jun 2026 ==

New E400 MMCs have entered service on the X93/94:
YY26 FTA - 7727
YY26 FTC - 7728
YY26 FTE - 7730
YY26 FTF - 7731

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jun 2026 ==

BYD 'Northumberland Electrics' NL26 EVP - 8010 is now in service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

E400 MMC YY26 FTD - 7729 has entered service on the X93.

BYD 'Northumbria Electrics' NL26 EVM - 8004 is now in servics.

 

[317 forever]

As I shall be in Newcastle for a day towards the end of July, I hope it will be easy to track down a BYD there then.

Allowing for my use of a Transport North East daysaver, I hope to ride one on a route serving Cramlington.

 

[NorthOxonian]

As I shall be in Newcastle for a day towards the end of July, I hope it will be easy to track down a BYD there then.

Allowing for my use of a Transport North East daysaver, I hope to ride one on a route serving Cramlington.

I believe they are largely due to serve the 43/44/45 corridor. So anything going from Haymarket towards Seaton Burn/Wideopen nominally should have an electric bus on - roughly every 7-8 mins up the Great North Road to Gosforth and beyond. Cramlington gets four an hour and two continue to Morpeth (which, if you have time, is a very pleasant town to look around).

When Arriva were testing the electric buses, they seemed to get put on just about everything - including stuff like the Blyth expresses.

 

[317 forever]

I believe they are largely due to serve the 43/44/45 corridor. So anything going from Haymarket towards Seaton Burn/Wideopen nominally should have an electric bus on - roughly every 7-8 mins up the Great North Road to Gosforth and beyond. Cramlington gets four an hour and two continue to Morpeth (which, if you have time, is a very pleasant town to look around).

When Arriva were testing the electric buses, they seemed to get put on just about everything - including stuff like the Blyth expresses.

Thank you for your detailed heads-up. Haymarket bus station is certainly the place to start from at least. I may not find it convenient to go through to Blyth due to other rides planned for the same day, such as Go North East Electroliner/E200EV and Metro class 555s.

 

[Snex]

Thank you for your detailed heads-up. Haymarket bus station is certainly the place to start from at least. I may not find it convenient to go through to Blyth due to other rides planned for the same day, such as Go North East Electroliner/E200EV and Metro class 555s.

Not sure if you have an itinerary for that but if you don't mind paying an extra £1.70 for the Northumberland Line, if you can catch one of the BYD's on the Blyth expresses you could do something like

Newcastle Haymarket - Either X7 to Seaton Delaval Station, X8/X10 to Newsham Station or X9 to Bebside Station - Don't catch the X11
Northumberland Line: Whatever Station Above to Northumberland Park
Metro: Northumberland Park to Heworth (Class 555)
58: Heworth to Gateshead (Electroliner)
X66: Gateshead to Metrocentre (E200EV)
Northern Rail: Metrocentre to Central Station (Included in Transport North East Ticket)

Means you'd get a decent run on everything which you listed there.

 

[800001]

The first three of Darlington's new electric fleet arrived at Faverdale depot today.

 

[kez19]

Has Arriva changed the X21 route into/out of Newbiggin by the sea? I thought the original route went as far as the church to turn round to go back out again by North Seaton Road (not local here), last time I used this route was at least a year or 2 ago (happy to be corrected)

 

[David 90825]

Has Arriva changed the X21 route into/out of Newbiggin by the sea? I thought the original route went as far as the church to turn round to go back out again by North Seaton Road (not local here), last time I used this route was at least a year or 2 ago (happy to be corrected)

Yes, it ceased operating via North Seaton Road in both directions on 28 January 2024 following a public consultation which saw interworking introduced with the Morpeth to Woodhorn via Newbiggin-by-the-Sea service 35. According to Arriva's consultation this was an attempt to solve reliability problems by increasing running times. Journeys from Newcastle on X21 were revised to operate from Ashington's Wansbeck Hospital direct to Woodhorn crossroads, from where they would continue as a 35 to Seacrest Road turning circle, Cresswell Arms, North Seaton Road, then via the 35 route to Ashington and Morpeth. Service 35 journeys from Morpeth operated via the previous route as far as North Seaton roundabout then direct to Sandy Bay Caravan Park where it changed over to X21 which then operated via North Seaton Road, Cresswell Arms, Seacrest Road turning circle, Woodhorn crossroads and Woodhorn roundabout before operating via the previous route to Wansbeck Hospital, Ashington and Newcastle.
This operation was revised again on 10 May 2026 following much publicised reliability problems on 35 in the Pegswood area. The services no longer interwork and 35 now operates from North Seaton roundabout via the A189 to Woodhorn crossroads before returning via Seacrest Road, Cresswell Arms and North Seaton Road. X21 now operates from Wansbeck Hospital via the A189 and North Seaton roundabout to Sandy Bay Caravan Park. It then returns to Wansbeck Hospital via the 28 January 2024 route via North Seaton Road, Cresswell Arms, Seacrest Road and Woodhorn.
If the church you are referring to is St. Bartholomew's then X21 still turns round at the Cresswell Arms turning circle which is a short walk from the church. Thus, as of today, X21 operates into Newbiggin-by-the-Sea via North Seaton Road and from Newbiggin-by-the-Sea via Woodhorn.

 

[NorthOxonian]

I believe they are largely due to serve the 43/44/45 corridor. So anything going from Haymarket towards Seaton Burn/Wideopen nominally should have an electric bus on - roughly every 7-8 mins up the Great North Road to Gosforth and beyond. Cramlington gets four an hour and two continue to Morpeth (which, if you have time, is a very pleasant town to look around).

When Arriva were testing the electric buses, they seemed to get put on just about everything - including stuff like the Blyth expresses.

I actually managed to get one yesterday on the 43 - making a relatively short journey between Bedlington and Cramlington. They look quite boxy from the outside, but the interiors are pretty plush. With temperatures in the mid 20s even here, the air conditioning worked a treat!

Also, a minor observation but not something I'd noticed before. To get to Bedlington, I took an X22 from Haymarket and everything (including an X15 that was in front of us) seemed to be stopping at the Town Moor stop for the Hoppings (normally that just gets served by the 43/44/45 as well as the Stagecoach routes to Gosforth and I think one or two others). Is that the usual approach taken during the Hoppings or just something they're trying this year (or even an ad hoc arrangement)?

 

[MB1]

Also, a minor observation but not something I'd noticed before. To get to Bedlington, I took an X22 from Haymarket and everything (including an X15 that was in front of us) seemed to be stopping at the Town Moor stop for the Hoppings (normally that just gets served by the 43/44/45 as well as the Stagecoach routes to Gosforth and I think one or two others). Is that the usual approach taken during the Hoppings or just something they're trying this year (or even an ad hoc arrangement)?

It’s an annual arrangement - in years gone by orange stickers used to be placed in the windows of the buses but it’s about a decade since I last remember that happening.

 

[kez19]

Yes, it ceased operating via North Seaton Road in both directions on 28 January 2024 following a public consultation which saw interworking introduced with the Morpeth to Woodhorn via Newbiggin-by-the-Sea service 35. According to Arriva's consultation this was an attempt to solve reliability problems by increasing running times. Journeys from Newcastle on X21 were revised to operate from Ashington's Wansbeck Hospital direct to Woodhorn crossroads, from where they would continue as a 35 to Seacrest Road turning circle, Cresswell Arms, North Seaton Road, then via the 35 route to Ashington and Morpeth. Service 35 journeys from Morpeth operated via the previous route as far as North Seaton roundabout then direct to Sandy Bay Caravan Park where it changed over to X21 which then operated via North Seaton Road, Cresswell Arms, Seacrest Road turning circle, Woodhorn crossroads and Woodhorn roundabout before operating via the previous route to Wansbeck Hospital, Ashington and Newcastle.
This operation was revised again on 10 May 2026 following much publicised reliability problems on 35 in the Pegswood area. The services no longer interwork and 35 now operates from North Seaton roundabout via the A189 to Woodhorn crossroads before returning via Seacrest Road, Cresswell Arms and North Seaton Road. X21 now operates from Wansbeck Hospital via the A189 and North Seaton roundabout to Sandy Bay Caravan Park. It then returns to Wansbeck Hospital via the 28 January 2024 route via North Seaton Road, Cresswell Arms, Seacrest Road and Woodhorn.
If the church you are referring to is St. Bartholomew's then X21 still turns round at the Cresswell Arms turning circle which is a short walk from the church. Thus, as of today, X21 operates into Newbiggin-by-the-Sea via North Seaton Road and from Newbiggin-by-the-Sea via Woodhorn.

Thank you for the explanation and yes I was meaning that church (St Bartholomews), I asked as when I boarded back yesterday I went on whimsical tour that I never done before on that bus before lol), I noticed as well back a bit at the start of North Seaton Road driver changed destination and the next stop announcements started saying X21 to Newcastle (announcements weren’t on/working up to Newbiggin but I knew where I was).

I did spot a Morpeth 35? Doing a similar run round at same time as I noticed both drivers waved to each other lol (guessing they seen each other possibly prior)

 

[Kaliwax]

I believe once the new e400mmcs arrive at Ashington. E400MMCs 7541-7552 will be cascaded to Yorkshire to replace their 58 plate e400s

 

[7522]

Are Ashington getting 7701 -20 now. I thought 7720 was for Blyth originally? What vehicles will be leaving Blyth when all new buses in use?