North East Buses

New service 777 registered starting 28th January 2024, between Morpeth and Kingston Park via Newcastle Airport.

(15 Dec 2023, 1:41 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]New service 777 registered starting 28th January 2024, between Morpeth and Kingston Park via Newcastle Airport.

Seriously? Interesting. Temporary? Peak time only?

(15 Dec 2023, 2:26 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]Seriously? 

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...ls/618511/

Looks pretty serious to me.

(15 Dec 2023, 2:32 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...ls/618511/

Looks pretty serious to me.

I wonder if this will be a workers bus or something ?. Interesting new service.

(15 Dec 2023, 2:39 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]I wonder if this will be a workers bus or something ?. Interesting new service.

All day, every day at a regular frequency.

(15 Dec 2023, 3:28 pm)busmanT wrote [ -> ]All day, every day at a regular frequency.

Where did you find this info? 7 days a week? 

Surprised there is demand for it with the Metro (connect at Regent Centre for Morpeth).

(15 Dec 2023, 3:42 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]Where did you find this info? 7 days a week? 

Surprised there is demand for it with the Metro (connect at Regent Centre for Morpeth).

Supported by subsidies? Yes.

Suggests this is a Northumberland BSIP service (i.e not a commercial venture).

(15 Dec 2023, 4:56 pm)RobinHood wrote [ -> ]Supported by subsidies? Yes.

Suggests this is a Northumberland BSIP service (i.e not a commercial venture).

I'm aware it's supported by subsidies and not a commercial venture. Already knew that. Just don't see the point of the service.

(15 Dec 2023, 4:59 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ] Just don't see the point of the service.

You may not, but evidently the council do? 

This creates many direct links that didn't exist previously, and may even supply a new service to some places depending on the route it takes. 

The one thing I'd like to have seen would be an extension to Great Park from Kingston Park at that end.

The Airport have been pushing hard for better links as part of their growth plans (linked to employment) - I wonder if this one of the reasons BSIP are supporting it

Trying to think about this 777 and comparing it to the GAG 777.

Is this the only number to be re-used by two operators whilst the other has been long gone?

Is this the first Northumbria route to operate with a traditionally County Durham prefix?

(15 Dec 2023, 11:05 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Trying to think about this 777 and comparing it to the GAG 777.

Is this the only number to be re-used by two operators whilst the other has been long gone?

Is this the first Northumbria route to operate with a traditionally County Durham prefix?

Or......it's called 777 after the Boeing 777 aircraft. And the old shuttle before the Metro extension was called the M77.

More changes for January 2024: (also included the 777 in the list)

PB0002717/200 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Middlesbrough to Darlington
Service number: X66 (X67)
Service type: Limited Stop
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002717/14 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Darlington to Colburn
Service number: X26 (X27, X26)
Service type: Limited Stop
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002717/307 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Middlesbrough to Redcar
Service number: 63
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002717/321 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Middlesbrough to Ingleby Barwick/Stockton
Service number: 17 (17B, 17A)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002717/603 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Ingleby Barwick to Middlesbrough
Service number: 16
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002717/318 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Roseworth to Ingleby Barwick
Service number: 15
Service type: Normal Stopping

Effective date: 28 Jan 2024
PB0002717/239 Registered
ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD
Route: Middlesbrough to Durham
Service number: X12
Service type: Limited Stop
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002032/266 Registered
ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD
Route: Ashington to North Shields via via Cramlington
Service number: 57 (57, 57A)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002032/159 Registered
ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD
Route: Newcastle to Newbiggin via Ashington
Service number: X21 (X22)
Service type: Limited Stop
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002032/500 Registered
ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD
Route: Alnwick to Seahouses via via Morpeth, Alnwick, Seahouses
Service number: X18
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002032/523 Registered
ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD
Route: Seahouses to Berwick upon Tweed via via Morpeth, Alnwick, Seahouses
Service number: X18
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002032/346 Registered
ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD
Route: Blyth to Morpeth - Kirkhill via via Morpeth
Service number: 2
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002032/345 Registered
ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD
Route: Blyth to Widdrington Estate
Service number: 1
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002032/614 Registered
ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD
Route: Morpeth to Kingston Park via Newcastle Airport
Service number: 777
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

PB0002032/168 Registered
ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD
Route: Morpeth to Newbiggin via Ashington
Service number: 35 (35)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 28 Jan 2024

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(15 Dec 2023, 5:31 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]The Airport have been pushing hard for better links as part of their growth plans (linked to employment) - I wonder if this one of the reasons BSIP are supporting it

I hope we get more airport services although, most areas are covered by the metro.

(16 Dec 2023, 9:29 am)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Or......it's called 777 after the Boeing 777 aircraft. And the old shuttle before the Metro extension was called the M77.

Well yeah, it's quite possibly a play on an aircraft type.

But I'm not sure it takes anything away from my initial question.

(15 Dec 2023, 5:09 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]You may not, but evidently the council do? 

This creates many direct links that didn't exist previously, and may even supply a new service to some places depending on the route it takes. 

The one thing I'd like to have seen would be an extension to Great Park from Kingston Park at that end.

Depends which way it's going though.

Could be Morpeth - Kirkley Hall - Ponteland - Airport - Kingston Park and supported by Nexus aswell for all we know.

Kirkley Hall is inaccessible pretty much, note the 35 is getting changed aswell. The old similar route used to be bolted onto the end of 35 boards - see: http://travelnortheast.co.uk/downloads/b...r-Kirk.pdf

(16 Dec 2023, 11:16 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Depends which way it's going though.

Could be Morpeth - Kirkley Hall - Ponteland - Airport - Kingston Park and supported by Nexus aswell for all we know.

Kirkley Hall is inaccessible pretty much, note the 35 is getting changed aswell. The old similar route used to be bolted onto the end of 35 boards - see: http://travelnortheast.co.uk/downloads/b...r-Kirk.pdf

It might go through prestwick and dinnington, i cant think of anymore possibilities. How busy was the GNE 42A when it ran on this section?

(16 Dec 2023, 12:38 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote [ -> ]It might go through prestwick and dinnington, i cant think of anymore possibilities. How busy was the GNE 42A when it ran on this section?

Not too sure on the 42A, tbh could be anything lets be honest. Might be just a two hourly service, or a shorter service ie Cramlington to there with an daily extension etc, similar the 44. Just have to see tbh.

(16 Dec 2023, 1:12 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Not too sure on the 42A, tbh could be anything lets be honest. Might be just a two hourly service, or a shorter service ie Cramlington to there with an daily extension etc, similar the 44. Just have to see tbh.

The 42A was always dead through Dinnington and Prestwick whenever I used it from Wallsend to Kingston Park, but that was largely (not exclusively though) on Sundays. Can't imagine passenger numbers were great though considering the section has been cut out. 

BusmanT said it's frequent and every day, but maybe that's not for the full route. It will be interesting to see the route and timetable.

(16 Dec 2023, 1:56 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]The 42A was always dead through Dinnington and Prestwick whenever I used it from Wallsend to Kingston Park, but that was largely (not exclusively though) on Sundays. Can't imagine passenger numbers were great though considering the section has been cut out. 

BusmanT said it's frequent and every day, but maybe that's not for the full route. It will be interesting to see the route and timetable.

Dinnington to Kingston Park on the 42a could often get quite busy. Mainly people shopping at Tesco, and with Aldi opening at Kingston Park, it would give the people of Dinnington additional reason to use the service.

(16 Dec 2023, 1:12 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Not too sure on the 42A, tbh could be anything lets be honest. Might be just a two hourly service, or a shorter service ie Cramlington to there with an daily extension etc, similar the 44. Just have to see tbh.

Realistically with the service number 777 it's clearly a service designed to serve the airport above anything else. To do that properly it's going to need to be more frequent than 2 hourly, and it definitely isn't just going to be a daily extension. 

For it to be useful I'd think you'd need something starting pretty early in the morning and finishing pretty late into the night, and operate at least hourly.

(16 Dec 2023, 2:30 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]Realistically with the service number 777 it's clearly a service designed to serve the airport above anything else. To do that properly it's going to need to be more frequent than 2 hourly, and it definitely isn't just going to be a daily extension. 

For it to be useful I'd think you'd need something starting pretty early in the morning and finishing pretty late into the night, and operate at least hourly.

Aye true, struggling to see a sensible route Morpeth -> Airport -> Kingston Park without really doubling back on itself, who knows tbh. Btw on the extension I meant it would be Cramlington to the Airport, or similar, with a daily extension through to Morpeth (old 101?) rather than it just being once a day.

Wonder with changes registered for the 1 & 2 could indicate the X21 / X22 routes changing back between Bedlington and Newcastle? With the 2 going back to serving Red House Farm to retain the Bedlington Station link.

(16 Dec 2023, 8:36 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Wonder with changes registered for the 1 & 2 could indicate the X21 / X22 routes changing back between Bedlington and Newcastle?  With the 2 going back to serving Red House Farm to retain the Bedlington Station link.

Why would they be?

(16 Dec 2023, 8:36 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Wonder with changes registered for the 1 & 2 could indicate the X21 / X22 routes changing back between Bedlington and Newcastle? With the 2 going back to serving Red House Farm to retain the Bedlington Station link.

No route change to the 1 & 2… only route changes to the 35, X18, X21/22


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(16 Dec 2023, 10:39 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]No route change to the 1 & 2… only route changes to the 35, X18, X21/22


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Assume the changes will be related to the consultation they had out a few weeks ago, with the 35/X21 interworking and a revised route in Newbiggin

Ashington / Morpeth to Airport (along with Kirkley Hall) was done in various forms around 2008 - 2015 with service 100. 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0580539916

People focusing on the Northumbria changes and have missed one very interesting one on the revised 17 registration

(16 Dec 2023, 11:21 pm)Thomas12 wrote [ -> ]Assume the changes will be related to the consultation they had out a few weeks ago, with the 35/X21 interworking and a revised route in Newbiggin

If Nedderton is kept on the X21, how will the timetables be robust enough to increase running time & layover?

Working it out based on the X21 getting ex Newbiggin (if re-routed via Hartford Road):

1hr Ash > NCL
58m NCL > Ash

That would only leave 7 minutes layover in Morpeth (35) and 9 minutes in Newcastle taking into account the extra 5 minutes each way via Nedderton. Whereas via Hartford Road, would leave 9 minutes in Newcastle and 17 minutes in Morpeth, which would come in very handy during the peaks.

Saturdays, PVR would need increased from 14x to 15x vehicles if X21 kept via Nedderton.

Also on Sundays, would leave no scope to increase running times without a long layover in Morpeth.

(17 Dec 2023, 9:06 am)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]If Nedderton is kept on the X21, how will the timetables be robust enough to increase running time & layover?

Working it out based on the X21 getting ex Newbiggin (if re-routed via Hartford Road):

1hr Ash > NCL
58m NCL > Ash

That would only leave 7 minutes layover in Morpeth (35) and 9 minutes in Newcastle taking into account the extra 5 minutes each way via Nedderton. Whereas via Hartford Road, would leave 9 minutes in Newcastle and 17 minutes in Morpeth, which would come in very handy during the peaks.

Saturdays, PVR would need increased from 14x to 15x vehicles if X21 kept via Nedderton.

Also on Sundays, would leave no scope to increase running times without a long layover in Morpeth.

The running time is shorter...?

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.18566...?entry=ttu

The X21/35 are combined effectively doing that loop now. Rather that the X21 doing:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.18566...?entry=ttu

(17 Dec 2023, 9:30 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]The running time is shorter...?

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.18566...?entry=ttu

The X21/35 are combined effectively doing that loop now. Rather that the X21 doing:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.18566...?entry=ttu

The whole reason why the loop will likely be in place (subject to consultation) is so that running times can be increased. Effectively, the time saved interworking the X21 & 35 via the loop will be re-invested elsewhere in both routes.