Expect an announcement on this one shortly.
Can't really say too much as the meetings had some NDA to them.
Personally very much against the idea myself.
Heard something about this earlier, and I'm a bit skeptical to be honest.
The location is a bit baffling as it's moving the problem from the western bypass to the Durham road corridor. That's if it gets used of course. I can't see it being massively popular unless folk are forced into it, either by congestion charging, increased rates on city centre parking, and so on.
It's also quite long distance for a park and ride service. It's a good 15-20 mins to the city centre if you take into account the bus is most likely going to have stopping and timing points. Are people really going to entertain that idea?
I'd have thought if anything, a site would have been identified with an easy link to Metro possible.
I've always been against this idea as well as the other proposed P&R site at Lobley Hill.
I just can't fathom how it will decrease congestion unless, as Aureolin notes, drivers are somehow forced into using the site. If anything, extra congestion will be created as motorists queue on the A1 in order to access the site.
I've always thought that Follingsby Park would make a good P&R site. It's conveniently located near to the Leamside Line and the Metro could be extended to accommodate motorists offering a quick service into either Gateshead or Newcastle.
Desperately trying to think of positives but cant.
The last mention of it on the forum, confirmed that the facility wouldn't have its own vehicles, but would rely on service buses such as the 21 calling in.
Hopefully that has changed.
The.location and distance from the town/city centre isn't too different to the sites in York and Doncaster.
The road infrastructure is totally different though.
Similarly, people using the A1 aren't all going to one destination or indeed heading in the same direction - Metrocentre, Team Valley, Great North Park, Newcastle City Centre, various areas across Gateshead - which would lead to a change in bus for many.
(14 Jul 2014, 10:08 pm)AdamY wrote [ -> ]I've always been against this idea as well as the other proposed P&R site at Lobley Hill.
I just can't fathom how it will decrease congestion unless, as Aureolin notes, drivers are somehow forced into using the site. If anything, extra congestion will be created as motorists queue on the A1 in order to access the site.
I've always thought that Follingsby Park would make a good P&R site. It's conveniently located near to the Leamside Line and the Metro could be extended to accommodate motorists offering a quick service into either Gateshead or Newcastle.
Completely agree about Follingsby, and it looks to be on the radar. I found this document which details those two and another site on Dunston Hill.
https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/DocumentLib...hedule.pdf
Slight change of Subject, Just been scrolling through the Document, Looking at Page 3
Ref: T20 - New Bus Facility - £7m - John Dobson Street/Durrant Road
Could this be for a New Bus Station in Newcastle City Centre.
(15 Jul 2014, 6:16 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]Desperately trying to think of positives but cant.
The last mention of it on the forum, confirmed that the facility wouldn't have its own vehicles, but would rely on service buses such as the 21 calling in.
Hopefully that has changed.
As of yesterday that position hasn't changed.
The logic to me is flawed and I apologise if I'm repeating others points.
The Bypass is already busy from when the A1(M) ends. The site is already in the mix. If you are heading to Newcastle, why bother beating congestion when its only another 6 miles to the City Centre? Newcastle is not like Durham, it has more than 1 route into the City.
Adding passenger numbers to a service like the 21 which already struggles to keep time and reliability and sending more buses along a choked Durham Road is not and never will be a good idea
(15 Jul 2014, 7:40 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]Completely agree about Follingsby, and it looks to be on the radar. I found this document which details those two and another site on Dunston Hill.
https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/DocumentLib...hedule.pdf
I believe I've read that document before as I asked to help formulate some sort of response on behalf of an interested party.
Follingsby Park is the only sensible option in my view. It lies just off the A194(M) and is close enough to the A19 for even more accessibility. If constructing a new Metro link is not an option, then perhaps a frequent heavy-rail service between Follingsby Park and Metrocentre (calling in at Heworth, Newcastle, Dunston and a new station at Gateshead Quays) might provide better value for money.
(15 Jul 2014, 8:40 pm)gtom wrote [ -> ]As of yesterday that position hasn't changed.
The logic to me is flawed and I apologise if I'm repeating others points.
The Bypass is already busy from when the A1(M) ends. The site is already in the mix. If you are heading to Newcastle, why bother beating congestion when its only another 6 miles to the City Centre? Newcastle is not like Durham, it has more than 1 route into the City.
Adding passenger numbers to a service like the 21 which already struggles to keep time and reliability and sending more buses along a choked Durham Road is not and never will be a good idea
Almost forgot about the upcoming works on the bypass, which is being carried out to aid congestion...
(15 Jul 2014, 8:55 pm)AdamY wrote [ -> ]I believe I've read that document before as I asked to help formulate some sort of response on behalf of an interested party.
Follingsby Park is the only sensible option in my view. It lies just off the A194(M) and is close enough to the A19 for even more accessibility. If constructing a new Metro link is not an option, then perhaps a frequent heavy-rail service between Follingsby Park and Metrocentre (calling in at Heworth, Newcastle, Dunston and a new station at Gateshead Quays) might provide better value for money.
A cheaper alternative could be to utilise the bus lanes on the approach to Heworth.
(15 Jul 2014, 9:13 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]A cheaper alternative could be to utilise the bus lanes on the approach to Heworth.
True.
But then bus-lanes would need to created after Heworth Metro in order to reach either Gateshead or Newcastle.
Personally, I don't see the point in going to a P&R facility at Follingsby in order to get a bus to Heworth and transfer onto either a train or Metro. I can't see it being a hit with other motorists either.
(15 Jul 2014, 9:21 pm)AdamY wrote [ -> ]True.
But then bus-lanes would need to created after Heworth Metro in order to reach either Gateshead or Newcastle.
Personally, I don't see the point in going to a P&R facility at Follingsby in order to get a bus to Heworth and transfer onto either a train or Metro. I can't see it being a hit with other motorists either.
Yeah, it would need extending beyond Heworth - but that shouldn't be beyond the wit of man or Gateshead Council.
They have stacks of white paint hidden away in the Shearlegs Road depot (enough to get the roads painted/segregated several times in just a few years), unless it all got used up on Durham Road?
As for the multiple changes - why not? GNE built their model on a similar system
(15 Jul 2014, 7:59 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote [ -> ]Slight change of Subject, Just been scrolling through the Document, Looking at Page 3
Ref: T20 - New Bus Facility - £7m - John Dobson Street/Durrant Road
Could this be for a New Bus Station in Newcastle City Centre.
In short, yes. The council have longer term plans to build a third bus station for use by 'via Gateshead town centre' services that currently terminate on street or at Eldon Square bus station. Two possible sites with the favoured being behind the Laing Art Gallery. Unfortunately the developers who own many of the buildings in that area are just sitting on the land doing sweet FA at the moment following the financial crash so little movement is expected before 2020 sadly.
(15 Jul 2014, 9:26 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]Yeah, it would need extending beyond Heworth - but that shouldn't be beyond the wit of man or Gateshead Council.
They have stacks of white paint hidden away in the Shearlegs Road depot (enough to get the roads painted/segregated several times in just a few years), unless it all got used up on Durham Road?
As for the multiple changes - why not? GNE built their model on a similar system
It'll take more than the stacks of white paint hidden away at the Shearlegs Road depot.
I'm vehemently against the approach of converting dual carriageways to one lane thoroughfares to accommodate bus lanes as it tends to cause congestion elsewhere through bottlenecking. If a bus-lane was created between Heworth and Gateshead, it really needs to be constructed alongside the existing road infrastructure.
So unless Gateshead Council have vast amounts of tarmac and paving stored at Shearlegs Road, then can take their white paint and....
(15 Jul 2014, 9:44 pm)AdamY wrote [ -> ]It'll take more than the stacks of white paint hidden away at the Shearlegs Road depot.
I'm vehemently against the approach of converting dual carriageways to one lane thoroughfares to accommodate bus lanes as it tends to cause congestion elsewhere through bottlenecking. If a bus-lane was created between Heworth and Gateshead, it really needs to be constructed alongside the existing road infrastructure.
So unless Gateshead Council have vast amounts of tarmac and paving stored at Shearlegs Road, then can take their white paint and....
Get away man, you know they only deal in white paint
Funding has now been secured for this wonderful idea.........
(23 Jan 2015, 12:53 pm)gtom wrote [ -> ]Funding has now been secured for this wonderful idea.........
"Yay" (stated in the most sardonically sarcastic way possible)
As I've said elsewhere in the thread, Follingsby Park is most sensible option in my view.
There's no reason why they can't have both if they can get the funding.
I just don't see where traffic will come from to populate this. If you've come from Durham you've better options (train) and if you are driving why would you stop when in sight of the City Centre and turn off to a car park to sit on a 21 which will take around half an hour at peak?!
I've been driving in and around the area lately and with Saltwell Rd, Old Durham etc there are plenty of alternatives available to avoid the A1 and make a decent journey time.
Has been any updates recently on the potential P&R Sites at Eighton Lodge & Follingsby Park?
(10 Aug 2015, 5:26 pm)Malarkey wrote [ -> ]Has been any updates recently on the potential P&R Sites at Eighton Lodge & Follingsby Park?
Just digging up an old thread.
This is the last I can find in the press. Not to say other things have happened or have been discussed behind closed doors since.
It has been a while since I last darkened the doors of a meeting there. So long ago Ian Mearns was a mere councillor!
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...ed-9415398
(09 Feb 2016, 12:42 pm)citaro5284 wrote [ -> ]Park and Ride is now approved
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...l-10860988
I wonder if the expected income would be enhanced by tendering an express bus service?
As it stands it is an out of town car park as opposed to a park & ride.
I have seen nothing that states those parking at the facility would be better off rather than utlising spaces in Low Fell, Gateshead or Newcastle.
At least facilities in Durham and York offer the incentive of dedicated buses and integrated fares.
(09 Feb 2016, 2:58 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]I wonder if the expected income would be enhanced by tendering an express bus service?
As it stands it is an out of town car park as opposed to a park & ride.
I have seen nothing that states those parking at the facility would be better off rather than utlising spaces in Low Fell, Gateshead or Newcastle.
At least facilities in Durham and York offer the incentive of dedicated buses and integrated fares.
This scheme is massively presumptuous of the council. Almost a 'Park and nee Ride'.
At this rate, there'd be nothing to stop the council blowing £8 million on the scheme, only for operators to stop serving the closest stops to the site. It'd then leave the council with a car park in the middle of nowhere.
They're half expecting an operator to take on the commercial risk, but I don't know how they could expect that, when they'll have no figures or forecast? The word I keep hearing is 'hope', which I'm sure you'll agree is a lot different to 'fact'. I honestly can't see many motorists taking up a car parking fee and then a return fare to the town. It's a 30 minute bus journey plus a maximum wait of 8 minutes (during the day) for the bus.
(09 Feb 2016, 2:58 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]I wonder if the expected income would be enhanced by tendering an express bus service?
As it stands it is an out of town car park as opposed to a park & ride.
I have seen nothing that states those parking at the facility would be better off rather than utlising spaces in Low Fell, Gateshead or Newcastle.
At least facilities in Durham and York offer the incentive of dedicated buses and integrated fares.
Having that there will do nothing to change our usual park and ride spot, which is Heworth Metro. If we're going to trundle up Durham road on the 21, we'd rather catch it at Durham!
And surely it'd be more useful if a service to the metrocentre was laid on?
My opinion hasn't changed. I still think Follingsby Park would make a better site for the same reasons I've listed in previous posts.
So will the 21 loop around the roundabout and enter the park and ride? (yay, more delay time to the Angel!)
Or will customers be expected to cross Long Bank then a dual carrigeway to get to the bus stop just off Eighton Lodge?
If this barmy idea works (which it won't) I've been on peak 21s through Low Fell where they've filled up at the Cannon and not been able to pick up, surely adding more passengers will only further inconvenience those further down the line?
Although already ruled out, a dedicated P&R would be more attractive to motorists.
I would imagine an express shuttle between metrocentre- Team Valley - P&R site - Quayside - Newcastle would carry enough passengers
Just read the additional bus stop will be on Newcastle Bank...surely not feasible for the amount of peak time tailbacks on there
(09 Feb 2016, 7:27 pm)Adrian wrote [ -> ]This scheme is massively presumptuous of the council. Almost a 'Park and nee Ride'.
At this rate, there'd be nothing to stop the council blowing £8 million on the scheme, only for operators to stop serving the closest stops to the site. It'd then leave the council with a car park in the middle of nowhere.
They're half expecting an operator to take on the commercial risk, but I don't know how they could expect that, when they'll have no figures or forecast? The word I keep hearing is 'hope', which I'm sure you'll agree is a lot different to 'fact'. I honestly can't see many motorists taking up a car parking fee and then a return fare to the town. It's a 30 minute bus journey plus a maximum wait of 8 minutes (during the day) for the bus.
(09 Feb 2016, 7:39 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]Having that there will do nothing to change our usual park and ride spot, which is Heworth Metro. If we're going to trundle up Durham road on the 21, we'd rather catch it at Durham!
And surely it'd be more useful if a service to the metrocentre was laid on?
I (and many others) often park in Low Fell and get the bus from there.
Up until a few years ago, the parking was free.
I often spend money in Low Fell either before I head in to the town or afterwards. I imagine others do too. This can be shopping, last minute bits for tea or snacks to keep me going during the day.
What incentive is there to encourage me (and others) to park at the angel?
I don't want to be hanging around waiting for a (inevitably delayed) 21 to then get stuck at the various sets of lights on Durham Road.
I can park on Lowreys Lane and have a greater choice of services whilst sipping a lukewarm Greggs coffee.
On the way home, I can jump off a bus, dive into Herons for a frozen pizza and be home before it defrosts!