Does anybody happen to know what the evening service 6 journey to Barnard Castle works off? It doesn't track on bustimes so haven't had any luck in figuring it out! Thanks in advance

I think it comes from the depot for that journey.

I'm pretty sure a 6 board then ends up on the ED3/ED2 about half hour later.

I think it comes from the depot for that journey.

I'm pretty sure a 6 board then ends up on the ED3/ED2 about half hour later.

Amazing thank you!

Do you (or anyone else) happen to know the other services the ED1, ED2/3, ED4, 853 and 865 are attached to?

Thanks, Peter

Amazing thank you!

Do you (or anyone else) happen to know the other services the ED1, ED2/3, ED4, 853 and 865 are attached to?

Thanks, Peter

Don't know if it's still the cast or not but for the ED1, morning run dropped onto the 6and afternoon run I believe ran off 61/62.

May be wrong but think the 6 that runs to Barnard Castle on an evening does a scholars beforehand.

Think one of the evening ED2/ED4s runs off a 22/23/24 board.

Think 865 is on/off the 6 maybe?

This was pre lockdown so may no longer be the case for these and am open to corrections. Guessing off temp booklet for timetables as Arriva's new looks site is totally incompetent and BusTimes is still showing outdated timetables.

Don't know if it's still the cast or not but for the ED1, morning run dropped onto the 6and afternoon run I believe ran off 61/62.

May be wrong but think the 6 that runs to Barnard Castle on an evening does a scholars beforehand.

Think one of the evening ED2/ED4s runs off a 22/23/24 board.

Think 865 is on/off the 6 maybe?

This was pre lockdown so may no longer be the case for these and am open to corrections. Guessing off temp booklet for timetables as Arriva's new looks site is totally incompetent and BusTimes is still showing outdated timetables.

These are all great thank you! Will have a look through the timetables and see if these work out!

These are all great thank you! Will have a look through the timetables and see if these work out!

Correction: morning ED1 is now on 61/62 board as saw 1331 on there this morning

PB0002717/308 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Whitby to Loftus
Service number: 2X4 (X4, X4A)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 01 Oct 2020

PB0002717/314 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Middlesbrough to Overfields
Service number: 9 (9)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 01 Oct 2020

PB0002717/316 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Middlesbrough to Nunthorpe
Service number: 29 (29)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 01 Oct 2020

PB0002717/303 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Middlesbrough to Grangetown
Service number: 64 (64, 64A)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 01 Oct 2020

PB0002717/201 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Red Hall to Branksome
Service number: D2 (2, 2A)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 01 Oct 2020

PB0002717/423 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Middlesbrough to Marske
Service number: 62 (62)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 01 Oct 2020

PB0002717/200 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Middlesbrough to Darlington
Service number: X66 (X66, X67)
Service type: Limited Stop
Effective date: 01 Oct 2020

What changed 1st Oct then?

Following the reversion to normal pre-Covid (or pre-planned amendments) coupled with the closure of New Elvert Bridge means there's been changes to the Durham interworking patterns:

Pre-Covid, the 57/57a interworked with the 43
The 43 is now once again entirely stand-alone
The 3 57 boards which leave Durham as 57s and return from Hartlepool as 57a (currently leaving Durham 3 minutes earlier than previous at xx27 and arriving back at the same time) now work onto the xx35 49 to Brandon. In contrast, the 3 boards which work the 57a out of Durham and return from Hartlepool as 57s now work onto the xx05 49a to Brandon.
As part of the minor timing changes to the routes operating out to Coxhoe (the 56/57/57a are leaving Durham Bus Station 3 minutes earlier than the pre-Covid timetables, the X12 is leaving Middlesbrough Bus Station 3 minutes earlier and running 3 minutes earlier to the Science Site, likewise outbound they are leaving Durham at the normal time but running 3 minutes later from the Science Site to Middlesbrough), the 56 is also now interworking with the 49/49a - journeys which don't connect in Bishop Auckland onto the 86 work onto the 49As at xx45 and xx25, the ones that do work to Toft Hill as 86s work the xx15 and xx55 49s.

One additional change is the last X4a from Middlesbrough to Easington at 2240 now works off the last 64a in from Grangetown, with the X4a arrival from Whitby at 2231 now working the 2240 63 to Redcar.

Durham's interworking patterns have changed again:
-The 43 remains standalone, excluding the 853 and the 06:06 57A to Hartlepool and 06:55 57 to Durham which run onto the 09:00 43 to Esh Winning. Two double-decks are allocated to the 853 boards and two Pulsars for the other two boards (including the peak 57 journeys).
-The 56 no longer interworks with the 49/49A, only interworking with the 86. There are 6 running boards, all of which do at least one turn on the 86 (with two boards doing two turns which include the journeys starting/finishing in Trimdon). These are completely Pulsar operated
-The 57/57A now interworks with all daytime journeys on the 49/49A. There are 10 running boards in total, five of which operate Hartlepool bound 57's, and Durham bound 57A's followed by :30, :10 then :50 49A journeys, the other five operate Hartlepool bound 57A's, and Durham bound 57's followed by :00, :40 then :20 49 journeys. These are generally allocated 8 Solo's and 2 E200's (one of which is on the board that also works peak time service 62).
-Overall PVR's have changed from 8 and 9, to 6 and 10, so an overall decrease of 1.

Not sure if it's been mentioned elsewhere but the split currently for the X12 is half and half with both Durham and Stockton operating five boards each

Following on from the reduction in service levels in Darlington last month due to Covid, Durham will now follow suit from Sunday

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...-in-durham

Following on from the reduction in service levels in Darlington last month due to Covid, Durham will now follow suit from Sunday

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...-in-durham

Northumbria will be no doubt next in the new year or when social distancing is no longer needed.

Northumbria will be no doubt next in the new year or when social distancing is no longer needed.

These reductions are to reduce the staffing requirements to avoid having shifts stood - Durham currently have a driver from Blyth on loan while Stockton, having already taken an additional X12 board, covered another Durham board on Friday and Saturday (one trip on Friday, the whole board until 1850-ish in Durham on Saturday).

Durham and Darlington depot timetable changes from Monday 15th February are now available: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/help/coronav...nformation (click the 'County Durham, Darlington and Richmond' drop down box for full details)

The 555 has been suspended again.

The 555 has been suspended again.

There's been loads of temporary changes in Northumbria, you can see them on the same link above but under Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle instead. The X6 is suspended aswell I believe, most other services are running at a reduced service bar the 51, 52, 53, 57/57A and the Morpeth Expresses (excluding X16).

Durham and Darlington depot timetable changes from Monday 15th February are now available: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/help/coronav...nformation (click the 'County Durham, Darlington and Richmond' drop down box for full details)

With the exception of Stockton's 15, the Teesside and East Cleveland changes are now also online at the same link as above

With the exception of Stockton's 15, the Teesside and East Cleveland changes are now also online at the same link as above

Thank you. I cant see anything different with one of the services I'd use, the X4.
5A and X5 withdrawn for now though.

Are ANE services returning to normal frequency on the 11th April

Northumbria and County Durham (Durham and Darlington depot) service increase from 11th April:
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/help/coronav...nformation

Northumbria and County Durham (Durham and Darlington depot) service increase from 11th April:
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/help/coronav...nformation

Strange that the 35/X21/X22 cycle is remaining. From what I've been told there are a few X21 trips in the morning running very close to capacity as it stands, and the 35 is getting good loads throughout the day. I can only imagine with retail opening, and shoppers/workers returning to public transport that they aren't going to cope on a half hourly frequency - the 35 in particular.

Noticed that the summer X18 is making a return, which is good to see.

Northumbria and County Durham (Durham and Darlington depot) service increase from 11th April:
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/help/coronav...nformation

And Teesside and East Cleveland's increase are now up - apart from the X12 is still showing the current timetable (understand it reverts back to normal on Monday - with Stockton temporarily operating the major of the PVR due to staffing issues at Durham).

Strange that the 35/X21/X22 cycle is remaining. From what I've been told there are a few X21 trips in the morning running very close to capacity as it stands, and the 35 is getting good loads throughout the day. I can only imagine with retail opening, and shoppers/workers returning to public transport that they aren't going to cope on a half hourly frequency - the 35 in particular.

Noticed that the summer X18 is making a return, which is good to see.

Probably lack of buses, we both know what the state of Ashington is like lately. Especially that the summer timetables are starting on the X18 etc aswell.

Speaking of buses does anyone know what is going on with Blyth, we've got increased timetables coming in 4 days with everything ran by full size buses with the extra scholar services on top. There's by no means enough buses to run the services.

Speaking of buses does anyone know what is going on with Blyth, we've got increased timetables coming in 4 days with everything ran by full size buses with the extra scholar services on top. There's by no means enough buses to run the services. Noticed the 2 Streetlites aren't in service at Ashington though, possible these are part of swaps?

6 Pulsars from Durham to Blyth, and 1579/80 to Durham is rumoured.

I don't get why the 306 journeys that are usually docked for the X6 haven't remained docked taking into account extra capacity potentially being needed elsewhere. For instance, extra duplicates (sorry Dan) could be used for short 308's rather than being resourced externally.

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Strange that the 35/X21/X22 cycle is remaining. From what I've been told there are a few X21 trips in the morning running very close to capacity as it stands, and the 35 is getting good loads throughout the day. I can only imagine with retail opening, and shoppers/workers returning to public transport that they aren't going to cope on a half hourly frequency - the 35 in particular.

Noticed that the summer X18 is making a return, which is good to see.

At the moment, it'll obviously be hit and miss particularly where social distancing is concerned. Arriva fingers crossed will be agile enough to realise and put dupes on where needed. During the day a 30 minute service makes sense though.

Going forward is the big one though and no doubt Arriva will need to streamline. GNE already have over the years and no doubt Arriva will need to. Gone are the days of Cityzens with water leaks or 'Smartie' seat Palatines.

There is of course the threat of the BTR link but even then, the patronage shouldn't be hit too greatly as different commuters / passengers will have different requirements. For some, rail will work better but the bus for others will suit their needs better. 

I'd strongly suggest curtailing the top end of the X21 to hourly (Ashington - Newbiggin) and introduce a sister X19 service to the X20 though. Would interwork perfectly with the X21 and solve a missing piece of the puzzle with a lower PVR.

I'd strongly suggest curtailing the top end of the X21 to hourly (Ashington - Newbiggin) and introduce a sister X19 service to the X20 though. Would interwork perfectly with the X21 and solve a missing piece of the puzzle with a lower PVR.

That will never work. During the day, the main bulk of X21/22 passengers use it for local trips rather than to town. Similarly, the one bus per hour on the X20 is generally more than enough. You'd then be leaving Newbiggin with the 35 as the only regular service, which gets busy enough as it is. 

Peaks are busier for the X20, yes, but then they've already got two extra trips per day to allow for that.

That will never work. During the day, the main bulk of X21/22 passengers use it for local trips rather than to town. Similarly, the one bus per hour on the X20 is generally more than enough. You'd then be leaving Newbiggin with the 35 as the only regular service, which gets busy enough as it is. 

Peaks are busier for the X20, yes, but then they've already got two extra trips per day to allow for that.

With some investment and subsequent cascades, the 35 and X19 (with X19 covering Woodhorn) as well as hourly X21 would be more than fine. 35 really should be allocated deckers.

The X19 would offer much quicker links from Newbiggin to Newcastle (just over 1 hour) as well as give some serious competition to BRT with a half hourly X19/X20 from Ashington to Newcastle.

Not forgetting a PVR reduction of 3x vehicles and less reliance on misc workings (scholars etc) to run on to the peak X20's.

With some investment and subsequent cascades, the 35 and X19 (with X19 covering Woodhorn) as well as hourly X21 would be more than fine. 35 really should be allocated deckers.

The X19 would offer much quicker links from Newbiggin to Newcastle (just over 1 hour) as well as give some serious competition to BRT with a half hourly X19/X20 from Ashington to Newcastle.

Not forgetting a PVR reduction of 3x vehicles and less reliance on misc workings (scholars etc) to run on to the peak X20's.

The X20, at one point (2011ish if memory serves), served Newbiggin then Ashington then Newcastle via North Seaton. It was scrapped because there was no demand and subsequently terminated at Ashington (before the Alnwick extension)

The 'current' AM peak X20 is tied to the front of a Sapphire board, so isn't reliant on any miscellaneous boards. Indeed, from memory, none of Ashington's peak services are standalone. The AM X30/Gosforth school board also runs onto a X21/22 board, while the PM peak 116/X30 comes off an X14. Boards are slightly different now obviously and the AM scholars and PM scholars/X30 is currently one board.

The X20, at one point (2011ish if memory serves), served Newbiggin then Ashington then Newcastle via North Seaton. It was scrapped because there was no demand and subsequently terminated at Ashington (before the Alnwick extension)

That was because the X21 was also running every 20 minutes and back then, it ran a quicker route missing Nedderton. So that (although it was still a good 10-15 mins more than the X20) plus the fact that the X20 was likely unreliable due to tight timings would've made the X21 a no brainer.

GNE had the same issue in Derwentside so to boost passenger numbers on the X70/X71 and also the X30/X31, journeys were cut from the frequent 43/44 right through to what the 6/6A are now over the years.

That was because the X21 was also running every 20 minutes and back then, it ran a quicker route missing Nedderton. So that (although it was still a good 10-15 mins more than the X20) plus the fact that the X20 was likely unreliable due to tight timings would've made the X21 a no brainer.

The X21 Nedderton section really doesn't have as much of an impact on people from Newbiggin using it as you seem to think. It adds literally 5 minutes onto the journey. 

If reliability was an issue, which I'm not sure it was, surely the X19 would have the same problem? You'd still have to do Newcastle and back in less than 2 hours unless there was an interworking somewhere. Remember the allocation then was generally a couple of NCP2 Olympians or a B10BLE thrown in - both more capable than an E400.

6 Pulsars from Durham to Blyth, and 1579/80 to Durham is rumoured.

Yeah that's fair had a feeling they might've been part of it.

If reliability was an issue, which I'm not sure it was, surely the X19 would have the same problem? You'd still have to do Newcastle and back in less than 2 hours unless there was an interworking somewhere. Remember the allocation then was generally a couple of NCP2 Olympians or a B10BLE thrown in - both more capable than an E400.

And that is why the X19 would interwork with the full X21's. This is what the interworking pattern would look like

Full X21s
- X22 Ashington 0025 > Newcastle 0123
- X21 Newcastle 0130 > N'Biggin Cresswell Arms 0245
- X19 N'Biggin Cresswell Arms 0259 > Newcastle 0401
- X19 Newcastle 0408 > N'Biggin Cresswell Arms 0510
- X21 N'Biggin Cresswell Arms 0521 > Newcastle 0638
- X22 Newcastle 0645 > Ashington 0742

then...........

Short X21s
- X22 Ashington 0755 > Newcastle 0853
- X21 Newcastle 0900 > Ashington 0957
- X21 Ashington 1010 > Newcastle 1108
- X22 Newcastle 1115 > Ashington 1212

Arriva have a small number of bus timetable changes happening from Sunday 23rd May. These include 43/44/45/46 and 55