(22 Jan 2021, 11:40 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]I strongly disagree with the Bedlington hub. All of Arriva's services are ran commercially 7 days a week, all day. Washington's services are run during the day only. There's a reason for that because no-one likes the hub and spoke network. There's nothing wrong with the network and imo it's the best network around in the North East as you can get from anywhere in SE. Northumberland to anywhere else in SE. Northumberland with a maximum of 1 change, trying doing that in Washington.
Attempt those changes and once the train comes along you can kiss goodbye to most people because they'll travel to the nearest train station and use that instead.
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A hub-spoke model would actually improve links whilst concentrating on the 'core' routes. More frequent services would run from Ashington & Bedlington to Cramlington which actually has a fairly decent offering in terms of shops, leisure etc. The current X22 is the "weak link" with the Bedlington - Newcastle section carrying the rest of the route.
A hub-spoke would look something like this
X31 every 15 mins: Newbiggin (hourly) - Ashington - Bedlington - Newcastle
Using letters for the rest as unsure of numbers
Route's A&B every 30 mins: Same route as 57 from Ashington to Cramlington then respective routes to Whitley Bay.
Route C every 30 mins: Same route as X22 between Ashington and Bedlington. Then via Nedderton & Nelson Ind Est to Cramlington.
Routes A/B/C would operate on a 10/20 frequency from Ashington and Cramlington with a 15 minute frequency from Bedlington.
And not forgetting the train, the X19 & X20 would provide strong competition too.
There's no demand for a bus from Bedlington to Cramlington though, there's no point forcing 15 minute bus services down there when no-one will use it. There's already a 30 minute service plus the 19 for people who want to use and none of them run in the evening and the other is subsidised all day.
You'll have some extremely pissed off customers curtailing the X22 and forcing them to change buses to get to Newcastle where they actually want to be.
Also the 57 isn't an Cramlington to Ashington bus service. The 57 is Cramlington to Whitley / North Shields it only goes up there for operational reasons, if GNE did (which won't happen) you'd be better merging the bottom half of the 57 onto the 11 which would please customers down here a lot more than 30 minute services upto Ashington where we don't want to be causing delays.
It's also a sneaky way for GNE to keep the subsidy for the 11 without it ever going out for tender.
MG announced during his Facebook Live today that the older E400s are getting their tables upgraded to the 'business class' style with the pull out out tables.
Shame there probably isn't a way of getting them on the StreetDecks/B5s with them being an ADL design
Does anyone know why E400 6336 appears to have been unused since 13th Jan (according to bustimes.org) It certainly seems to be rooted to the same spot at Hownsgill everytime I've passed by.
An interesting route 6 cylinder Streetdeck 6377 took today down to Whitby and Scarborough, not a clue of the reason but one to watch!
(04 Mar 2021, 7:37 pm)Solar50 wrote [ -> ]An interesting route 6 cylinder Streetdeck 6377 took today down to Whitby and Scarbrough, not a clue of the reason but one to watch!
Arriva did used to operate a Summer Sevice from Newcastle to Whitby and Scarborough so perhaps it is an inkling.
(04 Mar 2021, 8:05 pm)ifm001 wrote [ -> ]Arriva did used to operate a Summer Sevice from Newcastle to Whitby and Scarborough so perhaps it is an inkling.
Killed off by the concession passes iirc. If this is similar, I hope they've got a way around that.
(04 Mar 2021, 7:37 pm)Solar50 wrote [ -> ]An interesting route 6 cylinder Streetdeck 6377 took today down to Whitby and Scarbrough, not a clue of the reason but one to watch!
A bit of a strange one considering it got to scarbourgh turned around and came back, didnt even stop at a depot down there, maybe a summer service between newcastle and scarbourgh is being planned but who knows, in this climate would it be feasible? maybe someone just fancied a run out
(04 Mar 2021, 8:16 pm)N1cholas wrote [ -> ]A bit of a strange one considering it got to scarbourgh turned around and came back, didnt even stop at a depot down there, maybe a summer service between newcastle and scarbourgh is being planned but who knows, in this climate would it be feasible? maybe someone just fancied a run out
Could they not just be giving East Yorkshire a peek at the OM936 StreetDeck.
(04 Mar 2021, 9:46 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Could they not just be giving East Yorkshire a peek at the OM936 StreetDeck.
That is ofcourse possible though it is an interesting discussion point, from what you can see on bustimes (not 100% reliable), it didn’t go to EYMS depot in Scarborough and also went via Whitby which suggests it wasn’t going A-B as quick as possible. A use for the ex EYMS Plaxton Elite perhaps?
(04 Mar 2021, 8:05 pm)ifm001 wrote [ -> ]Arriva did used to operate a Summer Sevice from Newcastle to Whitby and Scarborough so perhaps it is an inkling.
Yes, I think it is to give future route X11 drivers practice at covering the routeing ready for April 17th.
Sorry to bring this up again, but what to people on here prefer the new Streetdecks or the E400MMCs? If anyone was able to detail a case for either that would be much appreciated.
(16 Mar 2021, 10:39 pm)Big O wrote [ -> ]Sorry to bring this up again, but what to people on here prefer the new Streetdecks or the E400MMCs? If anyone was able to detail a case for either that would be much appreciated.
If we're going as specified by GNE, then it has to be the new StreetDecks.
- I personally prefer the look of the StreetDeck over the E400, but I know that's subjective.
- Ride quality I think the new StreetDecks have the edge, although the E400 is slightly better than the older batches
- Seat wise, I prefer the Civic V3 over the Kiel seats, but once again that's subjective. I prefer a firmer seat, and I find the cushion on the Kiel seats lack support for longer journeys.
- As a person of height, I find the E400s low height a bit too low for my liking, so the StreetDeck definitely wins there.
- Engine wise, if we're talking the 4 cylinder OM934 engine, then the E400 wins, it's smoother and definitely feels more powerful, but the 6 cylinder OM936 StreetDeck is even better, it's so smooth you can barely tell it's running when you're upstairs, and sounds rather lovely.
- Build quality, I think at the moment Wright definitely have the better build quality, although I haven't really used either much recently, so can't say which ones are holding up better.
- Spec wise, I think once again the StreetDecks take it, I still find the 240v sockets at the table really useful (if they work), and I find the seat back phone holders actually fit my phone properly!
Had I not tried the new 6 cylinder StreetDeck, then my ideal bus probably would have been a full height E400MMC, with Civic V3 seats (or even the coach style seats of 6337) and 240v sockets, but my preference has definitely swung back to the StreetDeck!
So I've been back up north for a few days (purely to have a play in the buses [emoji6]) and I must say those new tables on the E400s are great!
They're really solid and don't feel hollow like the older design.
I wasn't sure about the cup holders as they seemed very shallow for a large coffee, but it barely even moved around.
The pull out section is a great idea, although as a 'person of depth' I find the centre section of the table is a bit too wide to fit a laptop and not have my wrists twisted using the keyboard, but it's a huge step up from the old one.
I really wish something similar could be fitted to the StreetDecks/B5s!
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Surely you mean can holders? I've be refused travel on numerous occasions when I used to get the bus to work and had nipped to Greggs for a sandwich and a coffee..... unless GNE condition of carriage have changed recently??
(26 Mar 2021, 9:33 am)Rob44 wrote [ -> ]Surely you mean can holders? I've be refused travel on numerous occasions when I used to get the bus to work and had nipped to Greggs for a sandwich and a coffee..... unless GNE condition of carriage have changed recently??
I'm fairly sure you're allowed a hot drink as long as it's got a lid.
Hot food isn't allowed though.
Maybe I'm wrong though
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I had a lid and my sandwich had gone by the time the bus arrived. Maybe the several drivers where just being jobsworths when i tried to board with it. BTW i have never had anything mentioned when i've got on an Arriva service with one?
(26 Mar 2021, 9:41 am)Rob44 wrote [ -> ]I had a lid and my sandwich had gone by the time the bus arrived. Maybe the several drivers where just being jobsworths when i tried to board with it. BTW i have never had anything mentioned when i've got on an Arriva service with one?
I basically always have a hot drink with me. When I travel up from Bishop in the morning I always pop into Cooplands for a bacon sandwich and a coffee and when I'm coming down from Newcastle/Gateshead on an afternoon I always pop into Gateshead for a pizza and coffee £2 deal, or basically every other time I go to Subway to get a coffee with my many subcard points.
No drivers have even mentioned it never mind refused me travel!
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I remember the shambles from a few years back where GNE were handing out free coffees at the bus stops.
If I remember right, there were issues with drivers then not letting passengers on with the very same coffee given to passengers moments earlier.
Drivers were following the instructions they had been given about cups. Yet less than 50yds away, passengers were being told it was OK.
Hopefully those issues have been ironed out and passengers can use the tables/replacement tables, without drivers or on-board stickers saying otherwise.
(26 Mar 2021, 10:33 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]I remember the shambles from a few years back where GNE were handing out free coffees at the bus stops.
If I remember right, there were issues with drivers then not letting passengers on with the very same coffee given to passengers moments earlier.
Drivers were following the instructions they had been given about cups. Yet less than 50yds away, passengers were being told it was OK.
Hopefully those issues have been ironed out and passengers can use the tables/replacement tables, without drivers or on-board stickers saying otherwise.
The GNE conditions of carriage say it's fine to drink a hot drink on board as long as it had a spill resistant lid, which coffee shops has to give you for health and safety reasons.
Hot food isn't allowed though
"Please don’t eat any form of hot food whilst travelling on board our buses and coaches if it
might make the environment unpleasant and unsafe for other customers: we cannot accept
any responsibility for any burns you suffer as a result of you bringing hot food on board.
• Please only drink hot drinks provided that the container is fitted with a spill-resistant safety
lid: we cannot accept any responsibility for any burns you suffer as a result of you bringing
hot drinks on board."
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(26 Mar 2021, 10:39 am)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]The GNE conditions of carriage say it's fine to drink a hot drink on board as long as it had a spill resistant lid, which coffee shops has to give you for health and safety reasons.
Hot food isn't allowed though
"Please don’t eat any form of hot food whilst travelling on board our buses and coaches if it
might make the environment unpleasant and unsafe for other customers: we cannot accept
any responsibility for any burns you suffer as a result of you bringing hot food on board.
• Please only drink hot drinks provided that the container is fitted with a spill-resistant safety
lid: we cannot accept any responsibility for any burns you suffer as a result of you bringing
hot drinks on board."
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So hot food is allowed then. As long as it doesn't make the environment unpleasant and unsafe
(26 Mar 2021, 10:55 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]So hot food is allowed then. As long as it doesn't make the environment unpleasant and unsafe
Hot food always makes the environment unpleasant and unsafe, would you be happy enough if a person boards the bus with a curry or takeaway and have the smell lingering throughout the bus for others, it goes with all hot food, a passenger might have reactions due to the smell etc....
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(26 Mar 2021, 11:11 am)cbma06 wrote [ -> ]Hot food always makes the environment unpleasant and unsafe, would you be happy enough if a person boards the bus with a curry or takeaway and have the smell lingering throughout the bus for others, it goes with all hot food, a passenger might have reactions due to the smell etc....
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I'd say a Greggs Pizza or a bacon sandwich is pretty inoffensive when it comes to the smell.
If it comes down to making the environment unpleasant, then I can think of plenty of cold foods that should be banned!
Bananas for instance, even just the smell makes me gag (and not in the good way either
), or tuna!
(26 Mar 2021, 11:59 am)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]I'd say a Greggs Pizza or a bacon sandwich is pretty inoffensive when it comes to the smell.
If it comes down to making the environment unpleasant, then I can think of plenty of cold foods that should be banned!
Bananas for instance, even just the smell makes me gag (and not in the good way either ), or tuna!
At long last I've discovered someone else who has the same reaction to bananas that I do!
(26 Mar 2021, 11:11 am)cbma06 wrote [ -> ]Hot food always makes the environment unpleasant and unsafe, would you be happy enough if a person boards the bus with a curry or takeaway and have the smell lingering throughout the bus for others, it goes with all hot food, a passenger might have reactions due to the smell etc....
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Those killer chips are lethal like. Need asbo's.
Being serious though, I'm in two minds about hot food on public transport. Never mind cold food (tuna sandwiches anyone?)
On long train journeys, some people complain when someone brings a Burger King on the train. But then proceed to buy something from the cafe bar themselves
(26 Mar 2021, 1:20 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Those killer chips are lethal like. Need asbo's.
Being serious though, I'm in two minds about hot food on public transport. Never mind cold food (tuna sandwiches anyone?)
On long train journeys, some people complain when someone brings a Burger King on the train. But then proceed to buy something from the cafe bar themselves
Those killer chips could cause an accident [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]
Doesn’t help when chips etc.... gets left on the floor and a passenger slips and falls and put a claim in, bananas are the worse to slip on [emoji38][emoji23][emoji38]
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(26 Mar 2021, 1:20 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Those killer chips are lethal like. Need asbo's.
Being serious though, I'm in two minds about hot food on public transport. Never mind cold food (tuna sandwiches anyone?)
On long train journeys, some people complain when someone brings a Burger King on the train. But then proceed to buy something from the cafe bar themselves
As with everything it comes down to common sense. If it stinks, just don't eat it on the bus, or even bring it on the bus.
Somebody got on with a chippy and I couldn't work out if I could smell their kebab, or their BO!
(26 Mar 2021, 3:07 pm)cbma06 wrote [ -> ]Those killer chips could cause an accident [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]
Doesn’t help when chips etc.... gets left on the floor and a passenger slips and falls and put a claim in, bananas are the worse to slip on [emoji38][emoji23][emoji38]
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If all buses had proper bins that would be less of an issue
(26 Mar 2021, 12:33 pm)Ianthegoon wrote [ -> ]At long last I've discovered someone else who has the same reaction to bananas that I do!
There is not one good thing about bananas, the texture is vile, the smell is horrific, and the taste is something else
Didn’t know where else to put this, but it seems Wright and Scania have collaborated to make a Gemini 3. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.
https://cbwmagazine.com/new-wrightbus-op...yNuMxMfKxV
Wright seem to be offering a few new products including an Electric Streetdeck for which I believe 60 have been ordered and a single deck Streetdeck. It’s good news to me as I can’t stand ADL vehicles and the constant lauding they get for very average buses.
Jesus it looks awful. In my opinion though
(19 Apr 2021, 8:53 am)Big O wrote [ -> ]Didn’t know where else to put this, but it seems Wright and Scania have collaborated to make a Gemini 3. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.
https://cbwmagazine.com/new-wrightbus-op...yNuMxMfKxV
Wright seem to be offering a few new products including an Electric Streetdeck for which I believe 60 have been ordered and a single deck Streetdeck. It’s good news to me as I can’t stand ADL vehicles and the constant lauding they get for very average buses.
As much as I love Scania's, I shudder (no pun intended) to think how rattly a Wright bodied one would be after a few years haha
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