(19 Sep 2013, 7:39 pm)citaro5284 wrote Can you give me some examples and I will get them checked. Thanks

(19 Sep 2013, 5:01 pm)Daniel wrote We did, but it messed with other elements of the forum (one example being the Q+ button).
If you'd like to code one..?

(19 Sep 2013, 6:34 pm)Andreos1 wrote Not sure about others, but the only points I have made relating to those services (as far as I can remember) re the above services are as follows:

* x3 - GNE have never been able to make a bus work along the Newcastle Road corridor between Newcastle and Sunderland. I am not sure what was going to be different with this attempt. Lo and behold, after a short while the modern vehicles are shifted off, the branding is dropped and after a brief respite, the service is reduced.

* x7 - I am still convinced this should have called at Dalton Park and missed out Seaham.
There are any amount of buses between Sunderland and Seaham. Dalton Park has excellent bus connections - if you live in Seaham.
Sending it via Doxford Park and Dalton Park prior to picking up the current route around Peterlee would have made some excellent links even better.

* x84/85 - Surely sending one of these via the Metrocentre would have worked? Another missed opportunity I feel.

Obviously the team who came up with the ideas for these services felt they would work in their current format.
As a member of this forum, all I (and others) can do is voice our opinions.

As for the Durham Uni and Arriva comment - I certainly didn't see anything specifying it was a dig at Arriva.
I commented on the fact they were going to a building which was well away from the GNE network.

I am not too sure it is being cynical either.

(19 Sep 2013, 8:50 pm)busman101 wrote It is funny that express routes between Sunderland and Newcastle just don't seem to get the numbers that they should. Lots of people make the journey and whilst the Metro has the frequency, it isn't exactly quick from city to city, so in theory you'd think a fast bus should do well, but.....

(19 Sep 2013, 8:57 pm)Andreos1 wrote Maybe the frequency is what wins the day?
Or, the route isn't quick enough?

There have been endless services along Newcastle Road under on guise or another and it obviously isn't the answer.

Has the x36 fared any better?

There have been suggestions of a service going up the A19 from Sunderland or fast into Washington.
Anything has got to be better than sticking with the tried, tested and failed method.

(19 Sep 2013, 9:17 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote The flaw in the GNE approach seems obvious to me. Look at the X3 route from Sunderland city centre (on Metro line) to Monkwearmouth (on Metro line) to Newcastle Road (on Metro line) to the Boldons (on Metro line). Metro every 15 mins (on a good day), X3 twice an hour with no evening or Sunday service.

Sorry to repeat previous rambles, but an Express bus to Newcastle from Sunderland would likely be more successful if it addressed unmet need rather than duplicating routes. There are clear alternative corridors they could use out of Sunderland: Chester Road being the obvious example. The X95 was successful for years and the X2 likewise was a well used commuter & shopper link – but they wanted the Citaros for the X1 expansion, so severed the (direct) link. Even something along the lines of whichever X it was that years ago went from Ryhope – Silksworth – Herrington – Shiney – Washington – Newcastle would be more innovative than 'how else can we run a bus parallel to the Metro'.

(19 Sep 2013, 9:26 pm)Daniel wrote We've had confirmation that an order has been placed for Wright Eclipse Geminis of the Volvo B9TL variety to be used on "Fab Fifty Six" service 56, and these will presumably be fitted with free Wi-Fi and plug sockets (like "TEN" and "Tyne Tees Xpress")...
Do we not think Go North East would use this to their advantage? Many people would prefer those benefits compared to a more frequent Metro that can take a shorter time.

I foresee service changes...

(19 Sep 2013, 9:30 pm)Andreos1 wrote Can you forsee the lottery numbers on Saturday?

Speaking of plug sockets, can anyone explain why the X1 doesn't have them?

(19 Sep 2013, 9:23 pm)Andreos1 wrote You have hit the nail on the head and it is something I have mentioned previously.
The only place there isn't competition from the metro with the x3 is Boldon.
Which is also where the x34 and x36 pick up/drop off passengers...
GNE even said as much in the feedback they gave following the consultation

(19 Sep 2013, 9:26 pm)Daniel wrote We've had confirmation that an order has been placed for Wright Eclipse Geminis of the Volvo B9TL variety to be used on "Fab Fifty Six" service 56, and these will presumably be fitted with free Wi-Fi and plug sockets (like "TEN" and "Tyne Tees Xpress")...
Do we not think Go North East would use this to their advantage? Many people would prefer those benefits compared to a more frequent Metro that can take a shorter time.

I foresee service changes...

(19 Sep 2013, 9:40 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Really? The Metro from somewhere like Millfield (nearest to Chester Road used in the example) to Monument (nearest to 56 stop) takes 35 minutes. The 56 takes precisely double that. Apart from an enthusiast who enjoys traveling on buses, would someone who needs to get from A to B really opt for doubling their journey time just for the opportunity to charge their phone and send a tweet? And of course their journey time will be considerably longer than 70 mins to use the 56 because they have to get to the Interchange, or another point along the route (which incidentally largely duplicates or runs close to the route of X36 for much of its length in Sunderland - and indeed all 3 Newcastle to Sunderland services follow pretty similar routes within Sunderland while GNE chose to entirely ignore corridors south of the river).

(19 Sep 2013, 9:26 pm)Daniel wrote We've had confirmation that an order has been placed for Wright Eclipse Geminis of the Volvo B9TL variety to be used on "Fab Fifty Six" service 56, and these will presumably be fitted with free Wi-Fi and plug sockets (like "TEN" and "Tyne Tees Xpress")...
Do we not think Go North East would use this to their advantage? Many people would prefer those benefits compared to a more frequent Metro that can take a shorter time.

I foresee service changes...

(19 Sep 2013, 9:38 pm)AdamY wrote One of reasons why the X3 was retained was because the East Boldon Residents Association and Councillors representing the area kicked up a fuss. I don't know how well the service is used between Boldon and Newcastle (or Gateshead) but presumably it was enough to make GNE cave to political pressure. So why not curtail the service at East Boldon and scupper the Sunderland link as that part of the route is already duplicated by the 9?

(19 Sep 2013, 9:42 pm)Daniel wrote "I foresee service changes".

(19 Sep 2013, 9:47 pm)Andreos1 wrote There were quite a few meetings held in Herrington when the 194 was axed.

(19 Sep 2013, 9:49 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote I think it's been highlighted by others that the 56 does need sorting out - so service changes may well be afoot. But will they improve the situation by providing a fast, direct, reliable service between the two cities, or just sever another direct link by curtailing the existing service and promote connections? I know what my money would be on.

(19 Sep 2013, 9:55 pm)Michael wrote Yeh they seem to run in 2's most of the time, hopefully this is sorted

Could we see a frequancy drop? I cant see it, its one of their busiest route

(19 Sep 2013, 9:55 pm)Michael wrote Yeh they seem to run in 2's most of the time, hopefully this is sorted

Could we see a frequancy drop? I cant see it, its one of their busiest route

(19 Sep 2013, 9:55 pm)Michael wrote Yeh they seem to run in 2's most of the time, hopefully this is sorted

Could we see a frequancy drop? I cant see it, its one of their busiest route