(02 Aug 2026, 5:50 pm)Malarkey wrote We'll probably end up with some transfers from Stagecoach Merseyside once there new buses all enter service for Tranche 1 at St.Helens/Gilmoss on September 6th.

All vehicles leaving Gillmoss are accounted for - the E400MMCs painted in Metro colours are moving to St Helens and the remaining 66 plates are moving to the East Midlands fleet.

(02 Aug 2026, 5:32 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Are we expecting any additional vehicles into the fleet with these PVR increases?

I know it was mentioned that the 71/72/87 are to be operated by Yutongs soon so presumably that will mean the 75 plates from Sunderland will be transferring over but that will mean Sunderland will need something in return.

Probably end up with the 277s we gave them a few years ago!

(02 Aug 2026, 4:40 am)Kuyoyo wrote Plus the 31 will be operated by Hartlepool as well.
Stockton’s PVR still increases by 1 regardless of the moving of the three vehicles of work to Hartlepool plus the lose of the X86.

I don’t like this idea when Hartlepool are struggling to do their own services doing extra services in  Stockton and Middlesbrough won’t help, but next time am late because a bus is pulled off the 7 which they already have to do sometimes for the 59 then will remember it.  It would make more sense to just extend the 1 to Riverside Park then, although this is the 1 that can often run into Middlesbrough several late so again don’t see how it benefits stood at stand 20 in the bus station to then see it go onto a 14 or RP1.

(02 Aug 2026, 5:32 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Are we expecting any additional vehicles into the fleet with these PVR increases?

I know it was mentioned that the 71/72/87 are to be operated by Yutongs soon so presumably that will mean the 75 plates from Sunderland will be transferring over but that will mean Sunderland will need something in return.

So we’re expecting 7 more Yutongs, 18 total, 15 for the 30/31/36 and yes it is confirmed 3 are going on the 71/72/87. That means we will (or should) get the 4 back from Sunderland plus 3 more from god knows where. 

Rumour is they’re replacing the 61 plate E200’s (36468-36477) not sure how true that is but one can hope. If that is the case I wouldn’t put it against them to send them to Sunderland even just for a short time while other vehicles are found.

(04 Aug 2026, 7:42 am)TransitObserver wrote So we’re expecting 7 more Yutongs, 18 total, 15 for the 30/31/36 and yes it is confirmed 3 are going on the 71/72/87. That means we will (or should) get the 4 back from Sunderland plus 3 more from god knows where. 

Rumour is they’re replacing the 61 plate E200’s (36468-36477) not sure how true that is but one can hope. If that is the case I wouldn’t put it against them to send them to Sunderland even just for a short time while other vehicles are found.

36468&36477 have today transferred from Slatyford to South Shields to facilitate the withdrawal of 36478/9.

(04 Aug 2026, 12:44 pm)pbjd wrote 36468&36477 have today transferred from Slatyford to South Shields to facilitate the withdrawal of 36478/9.

Have they? Looks like 36478 and 36479 are out in service today according to bustimes. What’s the point in withdrawing 2 61 plates and replace them with 2 61 plates?

(04 Aug 2026, 5:57 pm)TransitObserver wrote Have they? Looks like 36478 and 36479 are out in service today according to bustimes. What’s the point in withdrawing 2 61 plates and replace them with 2 61 plates?

Unless it's because they have had Euro 6 conversations? 

36474/5 were both at Sunderland the other day with several new panels fitted so presumably are in for repaint. They must have some plans to keep them given the batch has nearly all been painted recently.

(04 Aug 2026, 6:10 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote 36474/5 were both at Sunderland the other day with several new panels fitted so presumably are in for repaint. They must have some plans to keep them given the batch has nearly all been painted recently.

Hartlepool will need extra vehicles with the additional work from the end of September - their PVR goes up by at least 4 meaning extra vehicles will be required, especially as it looks very unlikely 36968 will ever reappear.

(04 Aug 2026, 6:10 pm)IkDans_bus_photos wrote Unless it's because they have had Euro 6 conversations? 

36474/5 were both at Sunderland the other day with several new panels fitted so presumably are in for repaint. They must have some plans to keep them given the batch has nearly all been painted recently.

Last time I had 36475 it was on about 605,000 miles, it’s a good bus though so whoever gets that one will be lucky. The rest I wish I could say the same about but god they’re horrible things.

(04 Aug 2026, 7:42 am)TransitObserver wrote So we’re expecting 7 more Yutongs, 18 total, 15 for the 30/31/36 and yes it is confirmed 3 are going on the 71/72/87. That means we will (or should) get the 4 back from Sunderland plus 3 more from god knows where. 

Rumour is they’re replacing the 61 plate E200’s (36468-36477) not sure how true that is but one can hope. If that is the case I wouldn’t put it against them to send them to Sunderland even just for a short time while other vehicles are found.

"That means we will (or should) get the 4 back from Sunderland plus 3 more from god knows where."


73116-73119 are still available maybe? Joining 120 & 121 in the north east.

36477 now tracking at South Shields so is 37312. I’m surprised by 37312 I’d have thought the 65 plates would stay at slatyford for the 32/32A and the 61 plates would go

Edit: 37312 is still at slatyford so not sure what was tracking at South Shields under it

(04 Aug 2026, 7:17 pm)TransitObserver wrote Last time I had 36475 it was on about 605,000 miles, it’s a good bus though so whoever gets that one will be lucky. The rest I wish I could say the same about but god they’re horrible things.

They are it would be nice if Hartlepool got decent full size buses.

36478, 36479 and 36973 were today moved to Stockton to be prepped for service prior to being used at Hartlepool.

(06 Aug 2026, 4:58 pm)pbjd wrote 36478, 36479 and 36973 were today moved to Stockton to be prepped for service prior to being used at Hartlepool.

Don’t understand why 36478/479 have gone to Hartlepool and South Shields got 36468/477 in replacement from Slatyford. Surely it would have made more sense sending 36468/477 to Hartlepool and cut out the middle man…

(06 Aug 2026, 6:27 pm)TransitObserver wrote Don’t understand why 36478/479 have gone to Hartlepool and South Shields got 36468/477 in replacement from Slatyford. Surely it would have made more sense sending 36468/477 to Hartlepool and cut out the middle man…

More likely down to 36468/77 having Euro6 mods whereas I don’t believe 36478/9 do. South Shields require Euro6 vehicles for their Nexus Tenders, whereas Hartlepool don’t require Euro6.

Also of note is that those 3 E200 join 36974 in prep for Hartlepool - that has been down at Stockton for a week or so now.

As posted above 36478/9 and 36973 are at Stockton for minor work before moving onto Hartlepool 36974 has been prepped for service and expected to go to Hartlepool tomorrow.

80295 is departing Stockton for Hull tomorrow leaving Stockton - quite frankly dangerously low for available buses. 4 operational spares is quite frankly a baffling decision! Unknown whether additional resource will be sourced!

(06 Aug 2026, 7:06 pm)Teessider2014 wrote As posted above 36478/9 and 36973 are at Stockton for minor work before moving onto Hartlepool 36974 has been prepped for service and expected to go to Hartlepool tomorrow.

80295 is departing Stockton for Hull tomorrow leaving Stockton - quite frankly dangerously low for available buses. 4 operational spares is quite frankly a baffling decision! Unknown whether additional resource will be sourced!

I’d blame the TVCA for that mess. They wanted the depot fully electric but didn’t invest enough for extra buses. Be interesting if Stockton turn around and say they don’t have enough buses anymore. In my opinion it was a stupid decision to go fully electric all at once. Should have been done in stages, with the final stage being when the new depot was built rather than all at once.

(06 Aug 2026, 7:45 pm)TransitObserver wrote I’d blame the TVCA for that mess. They wanted the depot fully electric but didn’t invest enough for extra buses. Be interesting if Stockton turn around and say they don’t have enough buses anymore. In my opinion it was a stupid decision to go fully electric all at once. Should have been done in stages, with the final stage being when the new depot was built rather than all at once.

73175/6 where ordered and delivered as Stockton stock - they have been shipped out to other depots purely based on very low amount of vehicles of the road.

Fully electric is working very well - but like everything when you squeeze too hard you cause damage! There are still the same amount of buses needing 28 day inspections, MOT prep - albeit reduced to 2 days.

Any vandalism will now potentially lead to mileage being lost for no bus purely because buses keep being moved to alternative depots!

73175,6 sould be at stockton depot there were delivery to stockton depot.

I just saying that 73175,6 sould be at stockton depot there delivered to stockton in frist place.

What I don’t understand is why when some of these depots around the country are getting EV’s and they send buses to places like Carlisle and just overlook the north east where we have some of the oldest buses in the fleet. My guess is franchising they don’t want to send the buses somewhere else again so we’re just stuck with the crap. 73175/176 could have still been at Stockton if Slatyford and Sunderland had received some decent buses from around the country

(07 Aug 2026, 9:42 am)TransitObserver wrote What I don’t understand is why when some of these depots around the country are getting EV’s and they send buses to places like Carlisle and just overlook the north east where we have some of the oldest buses in the fleet. My guess is franchising they don’t want to send the buses somewhere else again so we’re just stuck with the crap. 73175/176 could have still been at Stockton if Slatyford and Sunderland had received some decent buses from around the country

Carlisle and most of the nearby depots are in a shambolic position for vehicles - regularly missing service by double figure - they desperately need the assistance first!

Mainly because vehicles being replaced aren't suitable for the Newcastle LEZ without being modified.

(06 Aug 2026, 7:06 pm)Teessider2014 wrote As posted above 36478/9 and 36973 are at Stockton for minor work before moving onto Hartlepool 36974 has been prepped for service and expected to go to Hartlepool tomorrow.

Are Sunderland getting anything for 36973 & 36974 or is there a PVR reduction?  Or just losing spares?

73172 to 73176 where broad for stagecoach stockton depot from stagecoach them self to help stockton depot if I am right but 73175,6 went Sunderland and Slatyford depot in stead when sould for stockton?

Does anyone know whether 26068 ever actually returned to service at Slatyford after its engineering work at Stockton? Bustimes has it in service in May/June and a few days in July but not sure if this was real or mistracking?

Has 80295 gone to hull now is stockton getting another decker someone say yes I think?

(08 Aug 2026, 9:33 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Does anyone know whether 26068 ever actually returned to service at Slatyford after its engineering work at Stockton?  Bustimes has it in service in May/June and a few days in July but not sure if this was real or mistracking?

It did. Saw it a few times on the 62/63. It broke again, not sure the issue this time but it’s now currently inside engineering having work done again. I genuinely wonder when it gets to a point that they just say screw it and scrap it. 

10650 was wheeled into engineering using a forklift the other day. It’s got no engine in it and massively stripped for parts. Must be due a new engine if they’ve brought it inside now.

(Yesterday, 7:43 am)TransitObserver wrote It did. Saw it a few times on the 62/63. It broke again, not sure the issue this time but it’s now currently inside engineering having work done again. I genuinely wonder when it gets to a point that they just say screw it and scrap it. 

10650 was wheeled into engineering using a forklift the other day. It’s got no engine in it and massively stripped for parts. Must be due a new engine if they’ve brought it inside now.

Thanks, thought I could remember trying to hunt it out in the spring but couldn't remember if it was mistracking or just elusive!

Both that and 10650 must be a headache as not quite depreciated enough to throw in the towel but the amount of time 26068 has been off in particular it must be an absolute money pit.