(26 Mar 2017, 5:20 pm)omnicity4659 wrote [ -> ]Nobody uses the late night services. The 2045 Ashington-Newcastle X22 was empty when I saw it arrive in Newcastle, and only picked up a few punters heading back, then one person for the Bedlington short. I can't see Blyth, with more services running at this time (which were dead too), getting services past midnight.
Got to bear in mind that the reason why the X22 runs at xx:45 is because it's the least popular service out of the 2x services. That was the whole reason why the X21 despite putting Sunday travellers heading into Newcastle at a slight disadvantage (i.e if starting work on the hour and having to wait around), was moved around. The same goes for the 35 from Morpeth.
I know that Ashington wouldn't suit any super late services but I think a night bus version of the 308 and perhaps the X10 or X11 (serving Wideopen, Seaton Burn and Dudley too) 'could' work.
When GNE tried the N58 when it used to serve Whitley Bay, one of the factors why it probably didn't work is that barring Battle Hill; High Farm; Hadrian Park etc, GNE didn't have too much of a presence between Willington Square and Whitley Bay due to it being Arriva territory.
As long as the fares were reasonable (single fares only, no passes, reduced fares or other such tickets allowed etc), I think it could stand a chance of working:
Day Fare less than or equal to £2 = Additional £0.50 on night bus
Day Fare more then £2 = Additional £1.00 on night bus
Although a Taxi would still work out better if travelling in groups of 4, in most cases the bus could still provide good value if travelling in groups of 2x or 3x people. Plus, at the busier times or nights of the year when you're waiting 1hr+ for a Blueline or LA etc and your only option is to jump in a Black Cab (which means £££££), it would be a no brainer to use the night bus.
Both services are as popular as each other!
Belmont appear to be installing the contactless technology, this week. 1596 has it, today. 1598 didn't yesterday.
Annoyingly, the tickets are now longer, so don't fit in my holder.
Spot the difference (other than the timestamp which demonstrates only that this run is consistently late, this week!)
(28 Mar 2017, 6:02 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]Spot the difference (other than the timestamp which demonstrates only that this run is consistently late, this week!)
I see Arriva have increased the fares
On the APP it still says £7.80 for the all zone ticket. This need to be sorted quickly
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Arriva are axing the 60p discount fare on the 555 Quorum shuttle.
It'll be a £1.10 single or a £1.90 return. A £5.50 Q Card Weekly Saver or £20 for a week iis being introduced (555 and 52 only between Quorum and Four Lane Ends)
Considering the roadworks coming up in July for 6 months and the traffic chaos that will follow, this can only drive numbers dow on the route.
(28 Mar 2017, 6:42 pm)2bagstew wrote [ -> ]I see Arriva have increased the fares
On the APP it still says £7.80 for the all zone ticket. This need to be sorted quickly
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That isn't an 'All Zone' ticket though, it's an Explorer.
(28 Mar 2017, 6:02 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]Spot the difference (other than the timestamp which demonstrates only that this run is consistently late, this week!)
(28 Mar 2017, 6:42 pm)2bagstew wrote [ -> ]I see Arriva have increased the fares
On the APP it still says £7.80 for the all zone ticket. This need to be sorted quickly
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
@Bus Lovers Mum - Fold over the bottom of the ticket that's what I've seen most people do as long as the ticket type and date are both showing you shouldn't have a problem
@2 bag stew - The ticket on the app is the Arriva All Zones Day Ticket which covers travel on any Arriva bus in the north east (excluding Whitby Park and ride I believe). The ticket you see in the screenshot is a Explorer North East which is valid on most services across the North East including the Tyne and Wear Metro and Shields ferry which for an extra 1.90 isn't bad going if you think about it.
(28 Mar 2017, 6:42 pm)2bagstew wrote [ -> ]I see Arriva have increased the fares
On the APP it still says £7.80 for the all zone ticket. This need to be sorted quickly
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That's the standard fare for an explorer, across all operators who issue them.
(28 Mar 2017, 9:23 pm)Multi21 wrote [ -> ]@Bus Lovers Mum - Fold over the bottom of the ticket that's what I've seen most people do as long as the ticket type and date are both showing you shouldn't have a problem
@2 bag stew - The ticket on the app is the Arriva All Zones Day Ticket which covers travel on any Arriva bus in the north east (excluding Whitby Park and ride I believe). The ticket you see in the screenshot is a Explorer North East which is valid on most services across the North East including the Tyne and Wear Metro and Shields ferry which for an extra 1.90 isn't bad going if you think about it.
It's fine when it's just me, but when I'm carrying a ticket for Big'un, I can no longer fit both in, together, without tearing them.
And yeah, the extra £1.90 is well worth it when I'm travelling to Newcastle - with the £7.80 ticket, I only have the option of the X12. With the explorer, you can add in the GNE services, X21, 21 and even the X30/X31 followed by the 16/16, or if I'm feeling really radical, I can get the metro or Stagecoach X24 to Sunderland and get a bus straight home from there. i could in theory get the X9 to Peterlee, but the connection is a duff one - much like the X12 when it gets back to DBS, in fact - I hopped on that at CLS, after an aborted trip to Newcastle, yesterday morning, and had time to run up to M&S on Silver Street to grab some of the shopping I couldn't get at Waitrose, after the morning's agenda was complete, before catching my 22, because I'd missed the previous one by 5 minutes.
(28 Mar 2017, 10:06 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]And yeah, the extra £1.90 is well worth it when I'm travelling to Newcastle - with the £7.80 ticket, I only have the option of the X12. With the explorer, you can add in the GNE services, X21, 21 and even the X30/X31 followed by the 16/16, or if I'm feeling really radical, I can get the metro or Stagecoach X24 to Sunderland and get a bus straight home from there. i could in theory get the X9 to Peterlee, but the connection is a duff one - much like the X12 when it gets back to DBS, in fact - I hopped on that at CLS, after an aborted trip to Newcastle, yesterday morning, and had time to run up to M&S on Silver Street to grab some of the shopping I couldn't get at Waitrose, after the morning's agenda was complete, before catching my 22, because I'd missed the previous one by 5 minutes.
By mind BLM, you certainly know all your options
Didn't realise Ashington bus station shut last weekend til read in UEC newsletter!
(29 Mar 2017, 4:54 am)citaro5284 wrote [ -> ]By mind BLM, you certainly know all your options
Those are just all the sub 2hour ones
(28 Mar 2017, 6:56 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]Arriva are axing the 60p discount fare on the 555 Quorum shuttle.
It'll be a £1.10 single or a £1.90 return. A £5.50 Q Card Weekly Saver or £20 for a week iis being introduced (555 and 52 only between Quorum and Four Lane Ends)
Considering the roadworks coming up in July for 6 months and the traffic chaos that will follow, this can only drive numbers dow on the route.
The upcoming roadworks in July are 6 weeks not 6 months
When did the 52 start going to Ashington I've just seen it in Killingworth Bus Station with Ashington on the front.
(20 Mar 2017, 11:59 pm)Multi21 wrote [ -> ]Stocktons 1452 is away for repaint. Could this be the start of the new livery in the north east?
(21 Mar 2017, 6:19 am)RobinHood wrote [ -> ]Maybe starting on Frequenta 27. Will be interesting to see which Frequenta livery is used though.
Well, having just seen a photo of 1452 from the driver who collected it earlier, it is in the proper Frequenta base livery as per all other Frequenta vehicles.
(29 Mar 2017, 3:37 pm)NK53 TKT wrote [ -> ]The upcoming roadworks in July are 6 weeks not 6 months
Killingworth Rd is going to be shut up until December/January due to the remodelling of Haddricks Mill. The decision has been made to not reopen the road after the summer roadworks.
(29 Mar 2017, 5:05 pm)neilwatson wrote [ -> ]When did the 52 start going to Ashington I've just seen it in Killingworth Bus Station with Ashington on the front.
Twice daily since January.
Double Decker on 685 through Corbridge towards Newcastle @16:50 (left Carlisle @ 15:15).
This has been discussed in the Rare and Odd thread.