North East Buses

27698 is in the paint shop getting the new colours

(02 Jul 2025, 6:46 pm)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]Are we sure this isn't just standard Stagecoach scheduling incompetency? I've never used the 12, but if it is anything like the Stagecoach routes I use on a daily basis then it'll have a wildly optimistic timetable that can only be achieved with a rocket powered bus on the 32nd day of each month. 

As an example, not a single evening peak express bus from Eldon Square gets any additional time to get to Cowgate, despite the traffic along the A167 adding 5-10 mins of delays to each trip (even during school holidays). 99% of Stagecoach buses sit in this rather than utilising the empty bus lane to the left hand side - so I'm sceptical of how much they'd actually use these new bus priority measures that they're crying for.

Honestly couldn't tell you to be honest, don't know the route either if I had to be honest to comment on that.

The Cowgate bus lane isn't ideal mind, since they've got to get across multiple lanes in traffic, it's really something that needs looked at - unsure what though to be fair. I guess something like that they did along Killingworth Road would help, and just hold the traffic further back from the lights so the buses get front of the line. 

Edit: I wonder if it's company policy that, since none of the buses heading North from Cowgate stop at the bus stop Westbound. Anyone know?

(02 Jul 2025, 7:51 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]The Cowgate bus lane isn't ideal mind, since they've got to get across multiple lanes in traffic, it's really something that needs looked at - unsure what though to be fair. I guess something like that they did along Killingworth Road would help, and just hold the traffic further back from the lights so the buses get front of the line. 

Edit: I wonder if it's company policy that, since none of the buses heading North from Cowgate stop at the bus stop Westbound. Anyone know?

Some drivers do use it, which generally saves them a few minutes, and they always seem to find it easy enough to cut back across nearer the lights. Usually getting past at least one other bus in the process. 

I think only once has it backfired when I've been on board, when cars blocked the junction at the top of the slip road so the bus was stuck doing the up and over part. Rather than getting past, we just joined back behind the express we had previously been sat behind. 

To be honest the lanes which end up going right there massively free up once they split to two, it seems to be the single lane towards Slatyford which causes the issues as people sit in the right lane until the last minute and then try and move across into stationary traffic.

(02 Jul 2025, 6:46 pm)PH - BQA wrote [ -> ]Are we sure this isn't just standard Stagecoach scheduling incompetency? I've never used the 12, but if it is anything like the Stagecoach routes I use on a daily basis then it'll have a wildly optimistic timetable that can only be achieved with a rocket powered bus on the 32nd day of each month. 

As an example, not a single evening peak express bus from Eldon Square gets any additional time to get to Cowgate, despite the traffic along the A167 adding 5-10 mins of delays to each trip (even during school holidays). 99% of Stagecoach buses sit in this rather than utilising the empty bus lane to the left hand side - so I'm sceptical of how much they'd actually use these new bus priority measures that they're crying for.

I’ll just point out that the bus lane on the A167 to Cowgate is a solid white line you cannot cross the solid white line. When I drive the fastline services I will just sit in the traffic in the right lane. If you were to use the bus lane you technically have to stay in it until it ends which is after the bus stop for the 62/71/72/87 which by then it’s practically impossible to get over. So that’s why most of the buses don’t use it, they need to rethink it.

The issue with the 12 and The Lonnen in Shields is just the lack of passengers doesnt warrant the additional service of a bus every 30 mins as opposed to once an hour. The ares is an elderly persons area so I do sympathose with them, but if the custom isnt there, a commercial service wont be boosted.

If Kim and co want to spend funds, they need to look at existing funded services in the area, ie 516 operates to Nook and Marsden, funding should be directed more into this and revise the route to serve The Lonnen also, however, this now puts extra time into equation on 516, cannot do full return back to Shields within hour, so would now need to look at extra bus and extra driver, which for the number of passengers isnt worth it.

5 mins diversion into The Lonnen and 5 mins back from The Lonnen that 10 mins makes the difference to other services frequency and turn around times.

I think its a losing battle unless someone else puts hand in pocket.

(03 Jul 2025, 7:26 am)LVK 404L wrote [ -> ]The issue with the 12 and The Lonnen in Shields is just the lack of passengers doesnt warrant the additional service of a bus every 30 mins as opposed to once an hour.  The ares is an elderly persons area so I do sympathose with them, but if the custom isnt there, a commercial service wont be boosted.

If Kim and co want to spend funds, they need to look at existing funded services in the area, ie 516 operates to Nook and Marsden, funding should be directed more into this and revise the route to serve The Lonnen also, however, this now puts extra time into equation on 516,  cannot do full return back to Shields within hour, so would now need to look at extra bus and extra driver, which for the number of passengers isnt worth it.

5 mins diversion into The Lonnen and 5 mins back from The Lonnen that 10 mins makes the difference to other services frequency and turn around times.

I think its a losing battle unless someone else puts hand in pocket.

The entire South Tyneside operation needs a rethink
I think the only service that hasn't changed in my 32 years of existence is the 7 and 8 apart from when the new bus station at SS Interchange opened

(03 Jul 2025, 6:46 am)ReDemPTiion wrote [ -> ]I’ll just point out that the bus lane on the A167 to Cowgate is a solid white line you cannot cross the solid white line. When I drive the fastline services I will just sit in the traffic in the right lane. If you were to use the bus lane you technically have to stay in it until it ends which is after the bus stop for the 62/71/72/87 which by then it’s practically impossible to get over. So that’s why most of the buses don’t use it, they need to rethink it.

Not heard that name for years ‘Fastline’. The PTE had that on their destination boards right up till Deregulation.

(03 Jul 2025, 1:04 pm)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]The entire South Tyneside operation needs a rethink
I think the only service that hasn't changed in my 32 years of existence is the 7 and 8 apart from when the new bus station at SS Interchange opened

To be fair, I'd imagine South Tyneside is an absolute nightmare to work with as most people want to go to Sunderland which is covered by the E's or Newcastle which is covered by the Metro/X34

Beyond that it's just pensioners as no-one sane wants to go to South Shields nowadays and there's nothing else there. 

You have got to give credit to Stagecoach for how much of a commercial network in the area still really. GNE deserve none at all, which is nothing new.

It's very much the same as across the Tyne in North Tyneside bar Arriva and GoNorthEast have both packed their bags really and the tax payer is funding a chunk of it, ie. the 6/7 etc in South Shields isn't too dissimilar to the 315/316/325/326 which was still every 15 minutes doing the local bits (https://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/bygone/...er2006.pdf for those who forgot). Now 3/4 of the route doesn't exist at all.

Thing is, South Shields will need to be served by more buses in the future as the college is moving to the Town Centre on the site of where the Shields Gazette offices used to be.

(04 Jul 2025, 12:21 am)Rapidsnap wrote [ -> ]Thing is, South Shields will need to be served by more buses in the future as the college is moving to the Town Centre on the site of where the Shields Gazette offices used to be.

It wont need more, every service in Shields operates to the Town Centre.   College users will just need to walk from Interchange to college once built.

(03 Jul 2025, 9:45 pm)Economic505 wrote [ -> ]Not heard that name for years ‘Fastline’. The PTE had that on their destination boards right up till Deregulation.

We still call it fastline haha. The rota is called fastline for all the express routes.

Team Valley Bus Lane... 2 buses in the queue and no one in the bus lane

(04 Jul 2025, 7:59 am)DaveFromUpNorth wrote [ -> ]Team Valley Bus Lane... 2 buses in the queue and no one in the bus lane

Stagecoach buses?

Are new yutong buses getting branded for 36,37,38 like 73094 or just one.

(07 Jul 2025, 3:49 pm)Glen1974 wrote [ -> ]Are new yutong buses getting branded for 36,37,38 like 73094 or just one.

Just 73094

Thank mate

37311 - 37314 - 37315 are all at sunderland

Anyone know if Hartlepool will be getting some of Stockons E300's to see off the Darts. I would imagine South Shields will receive some too to see off their darts. Doesn't make much sense now to be running the old timers in service in 2025.

(07 Jul 2025, 7:57 pm)bob22222 wrote [ -> ]37311 - 37314 - 37315 are all at sunderland

37314 Slatyford bus but 37315 was a Stockton bus do we know where this is heading? I have a feeling Slatyford

Does anyone know which of the SNE fleet headed down to Silverstone this year?

(07 Jul 2025, 7:57 pm)bob22222 wrote [ -> ]37311 - 37314 - 37315 are all at sunderland

Oh also 37314 is not at Sunderland it’s currently in engineering at Walkergate

27157 - 27159, 27161, 
( South Shields)


27239, ( Sunderland)
27242 (SS)
27251 (SS)
27252 ( Sunderland)

(09 Jul 2025, 12:39 pm)Scottish city buses wrote [ -> ]27157 - 27159, 27161, 
( South Shields)


27239, ( Sunderland)
27242 (SS)
27251 (SS)
27252 ( Sunderland)

27161 is destined for Cumbria - it is one of three being repainted at Wheatsheaf before transfer west (the other two being 27160 and 27164)

(09 Jul 2025, 12:39 pm)Scottish city buses wrote [ -> ]27157 - 27159, 27161, 
( South Shields)


27239, ( Sunderland)
27242 (SS)
27251 (SS)
27252 ( Sunderland)

If you’re going off of the 2 trips 27239 tracked on on bustimes they were both mistracks. Bustimes had an error that night where 24117 24123 were tracking on Newcastle services. 27239 is not confirmed to be at Sunderland

(09 Jul 2025, 4:43 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote [ -> ]If you’re going off of the 2 trips 27239 tracked on on bustimes they were both mistracks. Bustimes had an error that night where 24117 24123 were tracking on Newcastle services. 27239 is not confirmed to be at Sunderland

And 27252 has been a Sunderland bus (ex Walkergate) since March

(07 Jul 2025, 7:57 pm)bob22222 wrote [ -> ]37311 - 37314 - 37315 are all at sunderland

37311 is currently being sanded down in the paint shop 
37315 is almost repainted 
36469 is also now parked at the back of Sunderland

Is 37311 transferring somewhere? Surely there's other buses in more need of repaint, even though we're out of the anniversary year.

Photos have been uploaded to Flickr of E300s 27805 and 27809 transferring to Stagecoach South West.

https://flickr.com/photos/86759450@N07/54648478606/

Sorry unrelated idk whether this is the wrong thread or not but will slatyford or walkergate depots be getting any new buses anytime soon(new deliveries or transfers but i mainly mean like new deliveries)

(13 Jul 2025, 3:37 pm)BusEnthusiast.com wrote [ -> ]Sorry unrelated idk whether this is the wrong thread or not but will slatyford or walkergate depots be getting any new buses anytime soon(new deliveries or transfers but i mainly mean like new deliveries)

Slatyford are due 18 brand new Yutongs but when I have no idea. They were supposed to get them in March this year but they went to Stockton instead 73089-73106 and then it was mentioned September this year now it’s looking like next year. They can’t get the charging infrastructure sorted. 

Walkergate I don’t believe are due anything new anytime soon. There are no plans for electric buses at Walkergate yet and if they get anything else it’ll probably be second hand from places. Maybe to replace the 20 single deckers they have, that’s way too many singles for Walkergate.