North East Buses

Here I will post my thoughts to be shared about certain bus routes

Do the 19 sat right at the back on the 1603 North Shields to Ashington run

Arriva X15 Newcastle to Alnwick/Berwick
Last segment travelled on Brunton Lane to Alnwick
Last Date Travelled on 1/9/2015
Last bus on the route travelled on 7515
Brand: MAX X15
Rating:8/10

Earlier today I travelled on the Arriva X15 service from Brunton Lane to Alnwick bus station (the terminus on this working) for a trip to Alnwick Gardens. The bus that turned up was 7515 in MAX quick links into Newcastle branding. The journey was quick down the A1. I was sat downstairs at the front on the 'bench' style seats. The bus left Brunton 5 mins late. It arrived on time in Alnwick.
I would recommend

Why 8/10 and not 8.35/10 or 7.98/10?

How does your sliding scale of review work?

(01 Sep 2015, 12:55 pm)MurdnunoC wrote [ -> ]Why 8/10 and not 8.35/10 or 7.98/10?

How does your sliding scale of review work?

The quality of the bus, the punctuality, stuff like that

(01 Sep 2015, 12:51 pm)GX03 SVC wrote [ -> ]Do the 19 sat right at the back on the 1603 North Shields to Ashington run

To be honest I would quite like to do one to Ashington since I much prefer the omnicities to the Nexus Solos just maybe not peak time

Go North East 17 Whitley Bay to Cramlington/Benton ASDA/Rosehill
Last segment travelled on Wallsend to Forest Hall
Last date travelled on:N/A
Last bus travelled on the route: 5154
Brand: None
Rating: 4/10
In August I travelled on this route and would NOT recommend it. 5154 was awful, hard seats, horrid sound and rattely, bus left early from Wallsend bit was late by the time it got to Benton ASDA, just caught the 55 in Forest Hall by the skin of my teeth.

(05 Sep 2015, 7:48 pm)NK53 TKT wrote [ -> ]Go North East 17 Whitley Bay to Cramlington/Benton ASDA/Rosehill
Last segment travelled on Wallsend to Forest Hall
Last date travelled on:N/A
Last bus travelled on the route: 5154
Brand: None
Rating: 4/10
In August I travelled on this route and would NOT recommend it. 5154 was awful, hard seats, horrid sound and rattely, bus left early from Wallsend bit was late by the time it got to Benton ASDA, just caught the 55 in Forest Hall by the skin of my teeth.

Unlucky!

I didn't see many dual door B10BLE's on the 17 today, saw one or two B7s and 4912 was on there.

Go North East S1 Metrocentre Circular
Last Segment: Full Route
Last bus used on route: 8266
Brand1
Rating 9/10
Yesterday I travelled on the route, 8266 is a great bus, one of GNE's finest buses. My only bad thing I noted was sitting at the back it is like having tunneled vision with all the vinyls along the side of the bus when at the back, the engine sounds better for the Euro 5 eminox fitted. The bus arrived late to pick up but dropped off early, a 9/10 rating from me

Stagecoach 7 Freeman Hospital-Metrocentre via Kenton
Last segment used: Salter's Lane-Metrocentre
Last bus used: 22675
Brand:None
Rating: 6/10
Yesterday used the route, bus was on time/ early, awful bus but best of the batch sounding healthy, not much more I can say other than it struggled on Hazeldene Avenue, 6/10 rating

NEXUS 32A Freeman Hospital-Newcastle via Kenton and Fenham
Last segment used: DSS Longbenton-Salter's Lane
Last bus used: 2603
Brand:Nexus, Arriva
Rating:10/10
Yesterday used the route, the bus itself; 2603, was amazing one of Arriva's finest buses and my favourite (excluding 1799) was on time and had the bus all to myself, goes like a rocket, forget you are on a bus apart from the URBAN 90 like seats which make it better

Go North East X66 Metrocentre-Gateshead
Last segment used: Full Route
Last bus used: 5392
Brand: X66 Metrocentre
Rating: 8/10
Used the route two days ago, good for a quick trip and a race along the south bank of the Tyne, bus was very much on time, I like the route but do not like the buses. Some buses used on the route though have sticky floors on them. Possibly Bodily fluids? The chairs aren't very comfy either.

Go North East 21 Durham/Chester-le-Street-Newcastle
Last Segment used: Gateshead-Newcastle
Last bus used: 6066
Brand: Angel
Rating 6/10
Used the route four days ago, good bus for short hops however I disagree about them being used to Durham, these buses annoy me also as they cut out each time they stop. The bus arrived late, in a way this was good though because my next ride was the next 21. The seats don't 'match' with the red headrests either. The bus also has quiet nearly in-audible NSAs. Did it's job meaning I could get home early, 6/10 from me

(22 Oct 2015, 7:45 pm)NK53 TKT wrote [ -> ]Go North East 21 Durham/Chester-le-Street-Newcastle
Last Segment used: Gateshead-Newcastle
Last bus used: 6066
Brand: Angel
Rating 6/10
Used the route four days ago, good bus for short hops however I disagree about them being used to Durham, these buses annoy me also as they cut out each time they stop. The bus arrived late, in a way this was good though because my next ride was the next 21. The seats don't 'match' with the red headrests either. The bus also has quiet nearly in-audible NSAs. Did it's job meaning I could get home early, 6/10 from me

Cutting out when the engine is idling is the whole point of hybrids - they don't burn fuel when they don't need to.

They're mostly fine with the whole route to Durham. A little bland, but they make no alarming noises (once you get used to the engine cutting out) and don't appear to struggle. They're much nicer upstairs than down - that's a little claustrophobic and is lacking in poles and stable, comfortable seats, as most of the ones at the back, including the quadrant seats, lack bum moulding! (makes a difference when you're a middle aged woman with back problems and poor core strength, but you're not quite ready to claim the pensioner seats, yet)

(22 Oct 2015, 10:03 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]Cutting out when the engine is idling is the whole point of hybrids - they don't burn fuel when they don't need to.

They're mostly fine with the whole route to Durham. A little bland, but they make no alarming noises (once you get used to the engine cutting out) and don't appear to struggle. They're much nicer upstairs than down - that's a little claustrophobic and is lacking in poles and stable, comfortable seats, as most of the ones at the back, including the quadrant seats, lack bum moulding! (makes a difference when you're a middle aged woman with back problems and poor core strength, but you're not quite ready to claim the pensioner seats, yet)

I do agree, upstairs in nicer, especially on 3962

I have decided to restart the thread but I will not review services I often use which are
ANE: 46, 51, 52, 55, 306, 308, 32/32A
GNE: Q3, 74, 309, 310, 554
SNE: 32/32A, X63, 6/7/8

So my review is:
Phoenix Coaches K2 Four Lane Ends-Killingworth Greenhills
Last Segment Used: Four Lane Ends-Killingworth Bus Station
Last bus used SJ16 BGX Mellor Orion
Brand: None
Rating: 8/10
I thought the bus was good since it was about 3 weeks old when I travelled on it, the bus was quiet with no one other than me on until West Moor, the bus itself was modern and clean with a talking door ie. it said 'Side Door Opening' then 'Side Door Closing' and then 'Fasten Your Seatbelts' and it had a functioning radio. The driver appeared nice and friendly and appeared to know regular customers well. The bus operates hail and ride down some tight residential streets in West Moor then has a stint in the countryside between Simonside Way and Killingworth Village, by the time I reached Killingworth the bus was full. I exited there, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

(13 Aug 2016, 9:22 pm)NK53 TKT wrote [ -> ]I have decided to restart the thread but I will not review services I often use which are
ANE: 46, 51, 52, 55, 306, 308, 32/32A
GNE: Q3, 74, 309, 310, 554
SNE: 32/32A, X63, 6/7/8

So my review is:
Phoenix Coaches K2 Four Lane Ends-Killingworth Greenhills
Last Segment Used: Four Lane Ends-Killingworth Bus Station
Last bus used SJ16 BGX Mellor Orion
Brand: None
Rating: 8/10
I thought the bus was good since it was about 3 weeks old when I travelled on it, the bus was quiet with no one other than me on until West Moor, the bus itself was modern and clean with a talking door ie. it said 'Side Door Opening' then 'Side Door Closing' and then 'Fasten Your Seatbelts' and it had a functioning radio. The driver appeared nice and friendly and appeared to know regular customers well. The bus operates hail and ride down some tight residential streets in West Moor then has a stint in the countryside between Simonside Way and Killingworth Village, by the time I reached Killingworth the bus was full. I exited there, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

Wonder if phoenix have a licence to play music to passengers as i jnow your supposted to have a radio licence to play to the public. Plus pcv drivers arent suppost to listen to music when driving anyway.

Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancs 555 Lancaster-Keswick (via Central Lakes):
Last segment used: Grasmere Centre-Keswick Bus Station
Last bus used: Enviro 400MMC Stagecoach 10555 SN16 ONX
Brand: 555 Lakes Connection
Rating: 9/10
Photo: (credit South Tyne Lad): https://www.flickr.com/photos/140662069@...Dm-KJKyBN/
I had good first impressions upon boarding, the bus was clean and airey plus it was quiet for the summer season. The bus didn't really stop between Grasmere and Keswick and travelled fast with a smooth ride and comfortable large leather seats. The driver was nice and friendly and the route has amazing scenery. Thank you for reading!

Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancs 599 Bowness-Grasmere
Last segment used: Windermere Station-Grasmere Centre
Last bus used: Stagecoach 17277 X277 NNO (596 branded)
Brand: Lakes Connection 599
Rating: 9/10
Photo: (credit Matthew Jimmison) https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...9b7-nvcPFb
I though the bus was in reasonable condition for the age on the exterior but didn't look great on the inside and upstairs it had one major flaw; it had no roof. Having frozen to death sat at the rear upstairs I moved to the front at Ambleside to stay warm. The bus had good announcements similar to a tour bus giving a very basic but interesting insight into the history of the Central Lakes. After Ambleside the bus moved faster and didn't really stop until Grasmere. Thank you for reading!