North East Buses

Do we know if the 306/308 will still interwork with this new patterns. If they do. Does this show Blyth running the evening 306s

(26 Feb 2023, 10:06 am)Aaron21 wrote [ -> ]Do we know if the 306/308 will still interwork with this new patterns. If they do. Does this show Blyth running the evening 306s

The 306/308 will be both moving to Blyth once the depot works are complete so they will eventually anyway. The inter working will definitely still exist otherwise it won't work.

It's the Saturday timetable currently with a minute added here or there if you want to work out the interworking pattern.

Any idea when the changes will appear on the Arriva/GNE site?

They haven't appeared on VOSA yet.

Its normally 2-3 weeks before the changes take place isn't it.

(26 Feb 2023, 10:21 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]Any idea when the changes will appear on the Arriva/GNE site?

They haven't appeared on VOSA yet.

Arriva's are already in, came through a few weeks ago.

See: https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showt...p?tid=4240

I'm assuming they'll be waiting for the tenders though so they can announce what they've won / lost in relationship to the 1, 19 and 51 at the same time or anything else they've gone for.

(26 Feb 2023, 10:35 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Arriva's are already in, came through a few weeks ago.

See: https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showt...p?tid=4240

I'm assuming they'll be waiting for the tenders though so they can announce what they've won / lost in relationship to the 1, 19 and 51 at the same time or anything else they've gone for.

I'm hearing rumours GNE have the 51 on evenings. Not sure about Sunday or if this is even true

(26 Feb 2023, 10:35 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Arriva's are already in, came through a few weeks ago.

See: https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showt...p?tid=4240

I'm assuming they'll be waiting for the tenders though so they can announce what they've won / lost in relationship to the 1, 19 and 51 at the same time or anything else they've gone for.

Just ignore me...... I actually post them................ hahaha

(26 Feb 2023, 10:35 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Arriva's are already in, came through a few weeks ago.

See: https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showt...p?tid=4240

I'm assuming they'll be waiting for the tenders though so they can announce what they've won / lost in relationship to the 1, 19 and 51 at the same time or anything else they've gone for.

Is that for the Coast Road Agreement tho? That 306/308 change was registered 10th of Feb before the NECA meeting which was held on the 21st. Arriva are making other changes on the march 26th so I think that was registration could have been for something as part of those changes not the Coast Road agreement.

(26 Feb 2023, 10:21 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]Any idea when the changes will appear on the Arriva/GNE site?

They haven't appeared on VOSA yet.

The Qualifying Agreement was due to be signed off at the Joint Transport Committee meeting on 21 February.

Arriva and Go North East were unable to proceed with the Qualifying Agreement until agreed by the Commitee.

Arriva registered their changes as they were proceeding with a frequency reduction regardless of whether the Qualifying Agreement took place or not, whereas Go North East were only reducing their service levels if it came as part of the Qualifying Agreement.

Go North East’s remaining changes in March will fall in line with contract changes - i.e on the 1, 19, 41 and 643 as already mentioned. Contracts were awarded to operators last week and operators are currently in the 10-day ‘cooling-off’ period, during which time they can choose to accept or reject contracts, or decide to take on tendered services commercially.

I would suggest all three operators are likely to announce service revisions by the end of next week once all the above matters are concluded.


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Whats happening with the 643/1

(26 Feb 2023, 10:50 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]The Qualifying Agreement was due to be signed off at the Joint Transport Committee meeting on 21 February.

Arriva and Go North East were unable to proceed with the Qualifying Agreement until agreed by the Commitee.

Arriva registered their changes as they were proceeding with a frequency reduction regardless of whether the Qualifying Agreement took place or not, whereas Go North East were only reducing their service levels if it came as part of the Qualifying Agreement.

Go North East’s remaining changes in March will fall in line with contract changes - i.e on the 1, 19, 41 and 643 as already mentioned. Contracts were awarded to operators last week and operators are currently in the 10-day ‘cooling-off’ period, during which time they can choose to accept or reject contracts, or decide to take on tendered services commercially.

I would suggest all three operators are likely to announce service revisions by the end of next week once all the above matters are concluded.


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Thanks Dan!

(26 Feb 2023, 10:53 am)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]Whats happening with the 643/1

The contract for the evening journeys on service 1 and all journeys on service 643 expires at the end of March.

Either Go North East will continue to run these journeys, or another operator would have provided the cheapest bid and Nexus will issue the contract to them instead.

Stagecoach’s 18, 32, 35 and 317 services are similarly up for grabs in this tender round. Either they will continue to be the cheapest bidder or another operator will run those services instead.


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(26 Feb 2023, 10:57 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]The contract for the evening journeys on service 1 and all journeys on service 643 expires at the end of March.

Either Go North East will continue to run these journeys, or another operator would have provided the cheapest bid and Nexus will issue the contract to them instead.

Stagecoach’s 18, 32, 35 and 317 services are similarly up for grabs in this tender round. Either they will continue to be the cheapest bidder or another operator will run those services instead.


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Ah thanks Dan

(26 Feb 2023, 11:00 am)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]Ah thanks Dan

Btw the services up for contract (I did have a sneaky look through work again but was behaving and not releasing stuff) are:

1 (Evenings)
18
19
32/32A
35
41A (Evenings + Sunday)
51 (Evenings)
54 (Evenings + Sunday)
84/84A
317
335
342
552 (Few Runs)
643
K1/K2/K3
M6
W1
W2
X46

I know you and others asked awhile back. Whether these actually get awarded who knows but they were out before the consultation ever came out. Sunderland is similar.

(26 Feb 2023, 11:26 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Btw the services up for contract (I did have a sneaky look through work again but was behaving and not releasing stuff) are:

1 (Evenings)
18
19
32/32A
35
41A (Evenings + Sunday)
51 (Evenings)
54 (Evenings + Sunday)
84/84A
317
335
342
552 (Few Runs)
643
K1/K2/K3
M6
W1
W2
X46

I know you and others asked awhile back. Whether these actually get awarded who knows but they were out before the consultation ever came out. Sunderland is similar.

Don't think the K1 and K3 exist anymore do they unless they're being brought back? Either way the K2 along with the 84/84A, and M6/552 were proposed for withdrawal so I wonder if they've been saved if they were up for contract?

(26 Feb 2023, 12:13 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]Don't think the K1 and K3 exist anymore do they unless they're being brought back? Either way the K2 along with the 84/84A, and M6/552 were proposed for withdrawal so I wonder if they've been saved if they were up for contract?

Well the contracts came out before the consultation so if they are these are identical then the consultation is a hoax.

Was thinking this just there. Yes would create ironically a 'de-tour' although a more sensible one with multiple ways in / out. Running time same if not slightly less than via Hadrian Park.

- SNE 22 - Split every 20 mins each after Churchill Street to Cobalt & Silverlink or Hadrian Park.

- ANE 306 - Omits Battle Hill Drive and stays on Coast Road like 308. Terminates in Whitley Bay Town Centre rather than seafront. PVR reduction (saves Arriva money).

- GNE 307 - Via Wiltshire Drive and doesn't serve Hadrian Park.

- GNE 309 - re-routed via High Farm & Station Road.

- ANE 51 - Omits Wiltshire Drive. PVR reduction as a result with time saved and can go standalone if needed (saving both Arriva & Nexus money). No evening service required with 307 covering Wiltshire Drive and demand between Station Road North & Holystone likely low enough during the evenings to not justify an evening service. Again saving Nexus money.

New timeables for 306, 307, 308, 309 on GNE now (change date).

Very raw deal for users of current late evening 306 & 310 journeys although High Farm will be covered with 309 now serving High Farm too.

(06 Mar 2023, 3:38 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]New timeables for 306, 307, 308, 309 on GNE now (change date).

Very raw deal for users of current late evening 306 & 310 journeys although High Farm will be covered with 309 now serving High Farm too.

Link to timetable there: https://passenger-line-assets.s3.eu-west...d2dba9.pdf

I must admit I’m not overly familiar with the coast road services but that timetable PDF is confusing me a bit.

309 going back to blyth on evenings. That will probably please a few people

(06 Mar 2023, 3:59 pm)Aaron21 wrote [ -> ]309 going back to blyth on evenings. That will probably please a few people

It would if departed at xx:45 and better coordinated with 308 throughout. Still a good move.

Slight nostalgia with the 309 departing at 23:45 ex Newcastle. Does fill a hole since Arriva withdrawing the 23:40 308 ex Newcastle back in 2017, High Farm will pick up a few passengers too not forgetting that the dead mileage impact will be lower too.

It is now available to read in full on the GNE website

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/improvemen...y-26-march

So pretty good. But given the withdrawal of the 23:45 306 ex Newcastle, I'd suggest re-timings of the following.....

ex- Newcastle
22:30 309 >> changed to 22:35
22:45 306 >> changed to 22:50
23:00 310 >> changed to 23:05
23:15 308 >> changed to 23:25

ex- North Shields
23:45 310 >> changed to 23:50

The above would mean:
- No more than a 20 minute wait along the Coast Road at any given time.

- Hadrian Park benefits from a service 'after' 11pm...although only slightly.

- Reasonably late service retained for customers travelling to Billy Mill.

- Still an even(ish) gap between the last 3 308 & 309 journeys with services at either side of the hour ex Newcastle between 22:30 and 23:30.

I still don't see the point in withdrawing 310 and renaming it the 307

(06 Mar 2023, 8:00 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]I still don't see the point in withdrawing 310 and renaming it the 307

Easy number for people I'm guessing 

306 A
307 G
308 A
309 G

Seems easier then having 
306 A
308 A

309 G
310 G 
311 G

(06 Mar 2023, 8:07 pm)Aaron21 wrote [ -> ]Easy number for people I'm guessing 

306 A
307 G
308 A
309 G

Seems easier then having 
306 A
308 A

309 G
310 G 
311 G

What difference does it make though, for all intents and purposes they're operated by one operator

(06 Mar 2023, 8:07 pm)Aaron21 wrote [ -> ]Easy number for people I'm guessing 

306 A
307 G
308 A
309 G

Seems easier then having 
306 A
308 A

309 G
310 G 
311 G

Plus, the 306/307 go towards North Shields. If you want head towards Whitley Bay, then it's the 308/309. Easier to have numbers in sequence I guess.

I'm very surprised the 23:45 ex Newcastle is running as a 309 and not a 307 terminating at Norham Road.

Has there been data to support the following from both operators?

- Fewer customers travelling to Billy Mill on the 23:45 306 journey ex Newcastle

- Low drop offs from the current 23:30 310 to Hadrian Park and Norham Road

- Still demand in High Farm & Battle Hill for later journeys as well as housing developments around Rake Lane

Must say can't disagree with most of it but wish they'd adjust the 306 and make it a faster bus and serve more areas at the Eastern side.

Something like - https://www.google.com/maps/dir/54.97752...08!1m0!3e0

The buses from the Verne Road area are too slow. 41 minutes to Newcastle from Verne Road for example is completely unacceptable for the distance travelled on the 307 and there's no need for 9 buses through Battle Hill either. The rest of the 307 doesn't matter too much as they have the Metro and it also removes the dangerous 306 crossing lanes towards North Shields at Billy Mill with them already having a bus service in the 53/308 anyway depending on where they going.

X6- Haymarket- Blyth
St Marys Place- Corner House- Silverlink Shopping Park- Norham Road- Beach Road- Preston Grange Morrisons- Whitley Bay Ice Rink- Whitley Bay Town Centre- Whitley Bay for St Marys Lighthouse- Hartley- Seaton Sluice- Blyth Beach- Blyth Bus Station
Thats just a skeletal structure