North East Buses

(09 Jul 2015, 2:56 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote [ -> ].....or a compliemtary express to the 308? #backintheday

That would be brilliant if that was the case!

From what I can see:

The current X9 is renumbered X6
So it looks like the X4/X5 are becoming X8/X9 (any express version to supplement the 308 would be a new registration not an amended one)

(09 Jul 2015, 3:15 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]From what I can see:

The current X9 is renumbered X6
So it looks like the X4/X5 are becoming X8/X9 (any express version to supplement the 308 would be a new registration not an amended one)

Yeah I think the X8/X9 are just the X4/X5 renumbered.

Just noticed nothing for the 20/X20 that I can see!

(09 Jul 2015, 3:25 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Just noticed nothing for the 20/X20 that I can see!

Be patient   Wait for the consultation to close. 

(09 Jul 2015, 3:29 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote [ -> ]Be patient   Wait for the consultation to close. 

The consultation closed yesterday though, and the rest of the registrations seem to be related to it, unless they plan on registering that change at a later date...

(09 Jul 2015, 2:47 pm)Cock Robin wrote [ -> ]Well at least Durham publish it. Connect Tees Valley just sit on the information and don't tell anybody til after the changes have come in!!

Connect tees valley gone down hill since there reduced there man power from about 10 down to 2 I think now, so there not online what there used to be due to cut backs, yea the site used to be months in advance, "forthcoming changes" was changed to "recent and forthcoming changes" but its always out of date now.

(09 Jul 2015, 3:35 pm)mb134 wrote [ -> ]The consultation closed yesterday though, and the rest of the registrations seem to be related to it, unless they plan on registering that change at a later date...

I'd like to see the X20 go to Alnwick, but I want the X18 to call at Alnmouth Station, I'm not going to mention that old chestnut... 

Well, continuously changing the 308 isn't going to help the reliability of the service. Point is that it's far too overcrowded. Not only does it have to deal with people going between Newcastle and the Coast, it also has to deal with the stops along the way in very congested areas and with high volumes of passengers. Let the 308 take care of the people who want every stop along route and get an express sorted. Got to remember and I've said this before that bar all the Stagecoach town and city routes, the 308 only falling short of the Durham 21 and perhaps the Fab 56 and X1, would probably be in the top five most popular and profitable routes in the North East.

If GNE didn't have the Pronto assisting the Angel, the controllers at Bensham and Managers / Lead Drivers at Chester Le Street would be pulling their hairs out #runninginfivesalongolddurhamroad.

(09 Jul 2015, 5:27 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote [ -> ]If GNE didn't have the Pronto assisting the Angel, the controllers at Bensham and Managers / Lead Drivers at Chester Le Street would be pulling their hairs out #runninginfivesalongolddurhamroad.

Control Room is based at Riverside, but I get your drift. Don't forget about those radios the drivers have! 

I'd agree that the Pronto assists the Angel by taking some of the passengers who travel between the "key points" along the Angel route. The extra resources allocated to the Pronto at peak times provide assistance too, and help to minimise disruption to customers when late running is at its worst.

PB0002717/280 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Ushaw College given service number U1 effective from 10-Sep-2015.

(09 Jul 2015, 5:47 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]PB0002717/280 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Cancellation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Ushaw College given service number U1 effective from 10-Sep-2015.

Seasonal cancellation, or loss of work?

Mind you, it only ever seems to carry fresh air when I see it.

(09 Jul 2015, 6:25 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]Seasonal cancellation, or loss of work?

Mind you, it only ever seems to carry fresh air when I see it.

Not sure what the deal is here, but I think the U1 normally runs throughout the year. Think this service could be getting withdrawn then.

New Darlington 5/5A timetable from Sunday 30th August, seriously it's a mess and for some reason is displaying times for journeys to West Park and times from Skerne Park, seriously what the hell is this.
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/GetTimetable...830-151006

Looks like the online system that we use is getting rather confused! Lol
You'll notice that it extends to Bishop Auckland College, as does service 1. The 5/5A will also serve Hitachi as expected

(09 Jul 2015, 8:47 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]New Darlington 5/5A timetable from Sunday 30th August, seriously it's a mess and for some reason is displaying times for journeys to West Park and times from Skerne Park, seriously what the hell is this.
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/GetTimetable...830-151006

The 19 timetable only shows one weekday Town Centre - West Park journey.
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/GetTimetable...830-151006

(09 Jul 2015, 8:59 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Looks like the online system that we use is getting rather confused! Lol
You'll notice that it extends to Bishop Auckland College, as does service 1. The 5/5A will also serve Hitachi as expected

Or the person behind the scenes programming the system has cocked up 

(09 Jul 2015, 8:59 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Looks like the online system that we use is getting rather confused! Lol
You'll notice that it extends to Bishop Auckland College, as does service 1. The 5/5A will also serve Hitachi as expected

Still hate the online timetables, just wish they could be the same as the leaflets.

I did spot the extension to Bishop Auckland College and did think it would be getting diverted to serve Hitachi as bus stops have appeared around there in the last few weeks.

(09 Jul 2015, 9:05 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Still hate the online timetables, just wish they could be the same as the leaflets.

I did spot the extension to Bishop Auckland College and did think it would be getting diverted to serve Hitachi as bus stops have appeared around there in the last few weeks.

The problem with PDFs though is that they're not optimised for mobile platforms.

Sure enough you can open them, but you're still having to faff about to read them, because it's print size.

(09 Jul 2015, 9:11 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]The problem with PDFs though is that they're not optimised for mobile platforms.

Sure enough you can open them, but you're still having to faff about to read them, because it's print size.

Exactly. Some devices also have troubles opening PDFs, so it means that Customer Services have to be relied on by more customers.

Go North East stated in a previous Passenger Panel survey that they were keen to offer both a HTML format (for the website) and a downloadable PDF format - catering to the needs of more customers.

(09 Jul 2015, 8:47 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]New Darlington 5/5A timetable from Sunday 30th August, seriously it's a mess and for some reason is displaying times for journeys to West Park and times from Skerne Park, seriously what the hell is this.
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/GetTimetable...830-151006

'page can't be found' now.

On the subject of the new X22 service, it will be a Darlington working, using EcoCitys. So, 21 to Peterlee, X22 to Sunderland, via current X21 route to the Seaham/Dalton Park junction of the A19, turning right and following the A1018 to Seaham Interchange. It will then serve the coast road between Seaham Harbour and Ryhope, picking up the X21 route again at Ryhope Hospital. Coast road should be fun!

(10 Jul 2015, 1:41 pm)Cock Robin wrote [ -> ]'page can't be found' now.

Thankfully they have fixed the Darlington 5/5A timetable.
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/GetTimetable...830-151008

Wonder how the evening workings on the 5A will now work as the journey time will now be 1hour, 1 minutes so obviously won't be able to operate it standalone with two buses anymore, so will probably have to find something for it to interwork with or have a bus sitting in Darlington for nearly an hour.

(11 Jul 2015, 8:18 pm)MrPottski wrote [ -> ]On the subject of the new X22 service, it will be a Darlington working, using EcoCitys. So, 21 to Peterlee, X22 to Sunderland, via current X21 route to the Seaham/Dalton Park junction of the A19, turning right and following the A1018 to Seaham Interchange. It will then serve the coast road between Seaham Harbour and Ryhope, picking up the X21 route again at Ryhope Hospital. Coast road should be fun!

So wait there, the new starters have the 21/X21 on there rota now, and then yet again they change it so that means more route learning for them, why can't they just keep things simple

(11 Jul 2015, 8:18 pm)MrPottski wrote [ -> ]On the subject of the new X22 service, it will be a Darlington working, using EcoCitys. So, 21 to Peterlee, X22 to Sunderland, via current X21 route to the Seaham/Dalton Park junction of the A19, turning right and following the A1018 to Seaham Interchange. It will then serve the coast road between Seaham Harbour and Ryhope, picking up the X21 route again at Ryhope Hospital. Coast road should be fun!

The route number complicates things quite a bit in my opinion. Why not keep it as the X21 but put on timetables that certain journeys will operate via Seaham and the coast road.

(11 Jul 2015, 8:36 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Thankfully they have fixed the Darlington 5/5A timetable.
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/GetTimetable...830-151008

Wonder how the evening workings on the 5A will now work as the journey time will now be 1hour, 1 minutes so obviously won't be able to operate it standalone with two buses anymore, so will probably have to find something for it to interwork with or have a bus sitting in Darlington for nearly an hour.

They will interwork with the 3s and the 66s on a night in a neat little circuit. Gives the 5A more running time.

(12 Jul 2015, 10:37 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]They will interwork with the 3s and the 66s on a night in a neat little circuit. Gives the 5A more running time.

It's good that will have slightly more running time as the 5A evening timetable is rather tight.

No doubt this could possibly mean Solos will run the service on a night again, probably sporting the Freqenta brand.

(12 Jul 2015, 10:41 am)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]It's good that will have slightly more running time as the 5A evening timetable is rather tight.

No doubt this could possibly mean Solos will run the service on a night again, probably sporting the Freqenta brand.

Resources do get used pretty intensively these days so buses do end up all over the place especially at peak times and onwards into the evening. The X12 is possibly a great example of this, with the interworking with the 6 on an evening, and also the extra peak trips that utilise buses off other services.

The new X21 timetable is now available for the 1st September changes - https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/north-east/s...ate=150901 (not sure if it'll go straight on to new one from new link, might have to open it yourselves)

No timetable for the X22 yet.

More Northumbria changes on VOSA today: