Arriva North East

[Metroline1511]

RE: Arriva North East

(02/11/2014 12:16)kuyoyo Wrote:  They were offered to North East - as the X-GGO Darts are a mix bag (some were upgraded to meet the DDA standard while some weren't hence the different in seating capacity) and Durham's 64 requires an upgrade.

Revised details sees the 'Older' X1 renumbered X12 in January prior to the upgrading of 'The Best One' X1 to MAX specification. The X2/X12 are also being upgraded later in the year hence the renumbering to avoid confusion.

Other confirmed upgrades planned next year include the upgrading of the 6 (Durham-West Auckland/Cockfield) to Sapphire using brand new Streetlites and Enviro400s along with so many of Darlington's Sapphire Pulsars displaced from 7s by new Enviro400s. There's also potential that the remaining Blyth-Newcastle Express ('Quorum Express' X4/X5 and the X13) will be upgraded to MAX specification.

I rode an X-GGO Dart in 2012 and it seemed a bit cramped sitting on the seat with my feet above the right wheel arch. The single-door conversion did not look altogether elegant really.

Will the Enviro400s for route 7 be Sapphire? When I rode the Sapphire Pulsar there in August it seemed really busy, so the Sapphire buses must have generated additional traffic.

I may have an exaggerated vision here, but it seems that more new or refurbished Arriva North East buses than not are to Max or Sapphire standard.