(28 Dec 2015, 2:42 pm)Malarkey I used Services 2/6/10A & X1 on Boxing Day.
I waited 30 Minutes (Between 10:30 & 11) at Lambton Village Centre for the 2 which was Half Full, and supposed to be operating Every 20 Minutes, this was followed up by the X1 which was bang on time but late in leaving, was absolutely rammed. After a few photos in Newcastle of the Q3/Q3A which were rammed, I got on the 6 over to the MetroCentre which carried fresh air, following more photos and shopping I got on the 10A to Newcastle which much like the X1 was rammed, I again the on the X1 which wasnt to busy upon leaving Eldon Square, but was rammed upon leaving Gateshead, finally I got the 2 back up home and that was rammed as well.
(28 Dec 2015, 2:42 pm)Malarkey I used Services 2/6/10A & X1 on Boxing Day.
I waited 30 Minutes (Between 10:30 & 11) at Lambton Village Centre for the 2 which was Half Full, and supposed to be operating Every 20 Minutes, this was followed up by the X1 which was bang on time but late in leaving, was absolutely rammed. After a few photos in Newcastle of the Q3/Q3A which were rammed, I got on the 6 over to the MetroCentre which carried fresh air, following more photos and shopping I got on the 10A to Newcastle which much like the X1 was rammed, I again the on the X1 which wasnt to busy upon leaving Eldon Square, but was rammed upon leaving Gateshead, finally I got the 2 back up home and that was rammed as well.
(28 Dec 2015, 2:27 pm)Michael Was all the boxing day services busy or were some quieter than normal?
(28 Dec 2015, 2:42 pm)Malarkey I used Services 2/6/10A & X1 on Boxing Day.
I waited 30 Minutes (Between 10:30 & 11) at Lambton Village Centre for the 2 which was Half Full, and supposed to be operating Every 20 Minutes, this was followed up by the X1 which was bang on time but late in leaving, was absolutely rammed. After a few photos in Newcastle of the Q3/Q3A which were rammed, I got on the 6 over to the MetroCentre which carried fresh air, following more photos and shopping I got on the 10A to Newcastle which much like the X1 was rammed, I again the on the X1 which wasnt to busy upon leaving Eldon Square, but was rammed upon leaving Gateshead, finally I got the 2 back up home and that was rammed as well.
(28 Dec 2015, 2:27 pm)Michael Was all the boxing day services busy or were some quieter than normal?
(28 Dec 2015, 2:42 pm)Malarkey I used Services 2/6/10A & X1 on Boxing Day.
I waited 30 Minutes (Between 10:30 & 11) at Lambton Village Centre for the 2 which was Half Full, and supposed to be operating Every 20 Minutes, this was followed up by the X1 which was bang on time but late in leaving, was absolutely rammed. After a few photos in Newcastle of the Q3/Q3A which were rammed, I got on the 6 over to the MetroCentre which carried fresh air, following more photos and shopping I got on the 10A to Newcastle which much like the X1 was rammed, I again the on the X1 which wasnt to busy upon leaving Eldon Square, but was rammed upon leaving Gateshead, finally I got the 2 back up home and that was rammed as well.
(28 Dec 2015, 2:46 pm)Michael So a bit of everything, wonder if Arriva will run buses next year, especially when the Q3/Q3A was busy on their part of the route, The 2 was running every 30 minutes between Sunderland and Washington.
(28 Dec 2015, 2:46 pm)Michael So a bit of everything, wonder if Arriva will run buses next year, especially when the Q3/Q3A was busy on their part of the route, The 2 was running every 30 minutes between Sunderland and Washington.
Pleased to see that they have given 6131 a new registration before the old one got any worse:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/23730055970/
If the section between Durham and Bishop Auckland just ran as service 21 on Boxing Day, would GNE not consider running a special hourly X21 service between Ashington and Newcastle following the X21 route to the Red Lion then the X22 through the Hartlands to Newcastle? The journey time would only be 52 mins each way and could even be 54 mins with 6 mins turnaround at Haymarket and Ashington with 2 mins recovery time at the Red Lion in both directions. Only 2x B9s would be needed from Riverside. Certainly a possibility given how well the Q3/Q3a and the 309 have performed.
(28 Dec 2015, 6:38 pm)DaveyBowyer If the section between Durham and Bishop Auckland just ran as service 21 on Boxing Day, would GNE not consider running a special hourly X21 service between Ashington and Newcastle following the X21 route to the Red Lion then the X22 through the Hartlands to Newcastle? The journey time would only be 52 mins each way and could even be 54 mins with 6 mins turnaround at Haymarket and Ashington with 2 mins recovery time at the Red Lion in both directions. Only 2x B9s would be needed from Riverside. Certainly a possibility given how well the Q3/Q3a and the 309 have performed.
(28 Dec 2015, 6:38 pm)DaveyBowyer If the section between Durham and Bishop Auckland just ran as service 21 on Boxing Day, would GNE not consider running a special hourly X21 service between Ashington and Newcastle following the X21 route to the Red Lion then the X22 through the Hartlands to Newcastle? The journey time would only be 52 mins each way and could even be 54 mins with 6 mins turnaround at Haymarket and Ashington with 2 mins recovery time at the Red Lion in both directions. Only 2x B9s would be needed from Riverside. Certainly a possibility given how well the Q3/Q3a and the 309 have performed.
(28 Dec 2015, 6:43 pm)GX03 SVC
Why can't it just run all year...?
(28 Dec 2015, 6:43 pm)GX03 SVC
Why can't it just run all year...?
(28 Dec 2015, 2:42 pm)Malarkey I used Services 2/6/10A & X1 on Boxing Day.
I waited 30 Minutes (Between 10:30 & 11) at Lambton Village Centre for the 2 which was Half Full, and supposed to be operating Every 20 Minutes, this was followed up by the X1 which was bang on time but late in leaving, was absolutely rammed. After a few photos in Newcastle of the Q3/Q3A which were rammed, I got on the 6 over to the MetroCentre which carried fresh air, following more photos and shopping I got on the 10A to Newcastle which much like the X1 was rammed, I again the on the X1 which wasnt to busy upon leaving Eldon Square, but was rammed upon leaving Gateshead, finally I got the 2 back up home and that was rammed as well.
(28 Dec 2015, 2:42 pm)Malarkey I used Services 2/6/10A & X1 on Boxing Day.
I waited 30 Minutes (Between 10:30 & 11) at Lambton Village Centre for the 2 which was Half Full, and supposed to be operating Every 20 Minutes, this was followed up by the X1 which was bang on time but late in leaving, was absolutely rammed. After a few photos in Newcastle of the Q3/Q3A which were rammed, I got on the 6 over to the MetroCentre which carried fresh air, following more photos and shopping I got on the 10A to Newcastle which much like the X1 was rammed, I again the on the X1 which wasnt to busy upon leaving Eldon Square, but was rammed upon leaving Gateshead, finally I got the 2 back up home and that was rammed as well.
(28 Dec 2015, 2:27 pm)Michael Was all the boxing day services busy or were some quieter than normal?
(28 Dec 2015, 2:27 pm)Michael Was all the boxing day services busy or were some quieter than normal?
(28 Dec 2015, 7:15 pm)DaveyBowyer From GNE or Arriva? Not going to go into detail on here as it's GNE's forum but basically the reason why the X21 has a detour via Ridge Terrace and Nedderton for is because if the X22 hadn't have been rerouted south of Bedlington through the Hartlands (another profitable area on the old X21 / X31 / X32 routes), then Arriva would've still been flogging a dead horse with run down (but very trustworthy) Palatines.
Although the 10 minute frequency at both Ashington and Newcastle / Gosforth ends of the X21 / X22 (and the 5/15 gaps at the Red Lion) also slightly help, the main reason for the change was to assist the less profitable section of the X22 between Ashington and Bedlington by adding a more profitable section south of Bedlington. The X21 and it's former guises have always between profitable thanks to the lucrative part of the route between Newbiggin and Bedlington particularly between Ashington and Bedlington and therefore, the X21 was rerouted through the less profitable Red House Farm / Nedderton areas to pave way allowing the X22 to become a more profitable service.
(28 Dec 2015, 7:15 pm)DaveyBowyer From GNE or Arriva? Not going to go into detail on here as it's GNE's forum but basically the reason why the X21 has a detour via Ridge Terrace and Nedderton for is because if the X22 hadn't have been rerouted south of Bedlington through the Hartlands (another profitable area on the old X21 / X31 / X32 routes), then Arriva would've still been flogging a dead horse with run down (but very trustworthy) Palatines.
Although the 10 minute frequency at both Ashington and Newcastle / Gosforth ends of the X21 / X22 (and the 5/15 gaps at the Red Lion) also slightly help, the main reason for the change was to assist the less profitable section of the X22 between Ashington and Bedlington by adding a more profitable section south of Bedlington. The X21 and it's former guises have always between profitable thanks to the lucrative part of the route between Newbiggin and Bedlington particularly between Ashington and Bedlington and therefore, the X21 was rerouted through the less profitable Red House Farm / Nedderton areas to pave way allowing the X22 to become a more profitable service.
(28 Dec 2015, 7:38 pm)Diamond One Was the most boring day photographing the buses it was like listening to opera nothing special just the same old everyday workings apart from a few services and the weather didn't help rain and drizzle I was tempted to see Sunderland away but then I thought na what's the point we will loose anyways
(28 Dec 2015, 7:38 pm)Diamond One Was the most boring day photographing the buses it was like listening to opera nothing special just the same old everyday workings apart from a few services and the weather didn't help rain and drizzle I was tempted to see Sunderland away but then I thought na what's the point we will loose anyways
(28 Dec 2015, 7:30 pm)DanPicken The TTX was packed because the bus 30 mins before never ran.
(28 Dec 2015, 7:30 pm)DanPicken The TTX was packed because the bus 30 mins before never ran.
(28 Dec 2015, 7:30 pm)DanPicken The TTX was packed because the bus 30 mins before never ran.
(28 Dec 2015, 7:30 pm)DanPicken The TTX was packed because the bus 30 mins before never ran.