23 Aug 2016, 2:56 pm
#455
(23 Aug 2016, 2:24 pm)JP6004 Im sure the X1 that goes throught Rainton at 8:07 is classed as X1E?
(23 Aug 2016, 2:33 pm)Jamie M I didn't notice anything odd, nor did the timetable actually state anything was different. I would try and get it again to see if it was a once off something wrong with the machine, but I'm going to get the 5:20 97B.
Different codes are required for the ticket machine and destination for certain journeys - but these tend to show the normal daytime route number on the destination display itself.
The 'X1E' is indeed for an evening journey on service X1, running via Rainton Bridge Business Park.
The '6A' is a morning journey on service 6 which operates via Tanfield Lea - these journeys are highlighted on the normal customer timetable with a 'D'.
Others exist, such as the 47A. This is a Sunday morning journey which operates via Clasper Village, and is operated by Riverside.
'A' just tends to be a variation of the route, 'E' tends to be related to a variation of that service on an evening when 'A' cannot be used, and 'N' often tends to be related to Nexus (ie 33N for the Nexus-secured 33 service between Newcastle City Centre and Hollywood Avenue).
Having these variants allows different tickets to be sold, and ensures drivers select the correct destination for that particular journey. The destination display drives the Next Stop Announcement system, so if the driver was to select the wrong destination for that journey, the wrong stops would be announced.
