North East Buses

(01 Sep 2023, 8:55 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Is it even that much of a money maker though? I'd be surprised if it's anywhere near the top of the list. Yes it gets good loads but it's the same passengers for over an hour, some two hours and outside the Summer isn't particularly busy at all.

Let's say each bus averaged 60 PAX per journey (which it probably roughly is) at £7 it's only £420 over 2 hours and the Diesel costs must be through the roof bombing across the Moors. It's the same with the X9/X10 with GNE (which had their frequency cut).

Compared to say the X21 at Ashington which might have 10 PAX from Newbiggin to Ashington, 10 to Bedlington, 30 through to Newcastle, 15 in between somewhere and can do 2 trips in the same time roughly. That's 130 PAX in the same at roughly lets say £4.50 it's £585 and the Diesel costs won't be anywhere near as high.

(01 Sep 2023, 1:35 pm)tvd wrote [ -> ]Slightly off topic but relevant to long distance journeys, I wonder how much more money Arriva in this instance make from the government by selling £2 fares from Middlesbrough to Scarborough to those only travelling to Guisborough or Whitby?
Lots of other examples too, I been issued a ticket to the end of the route lots of times when I'm not going that far.  It's the same £2 cost, and easy for the drivers to issue - but presumably the bus company charges the extra to the government?

Not sure how it works exactly, someone can probably enlighten me, but it does seem like its an easy way for the bus companies to make extra cash.

(01 Sep 2023, 5:57 pm)RobinHood wrote [ -> ]It doesn't work like that unfortunately, would be very simple if it was, but appreciating that it would clearly leave the door open for manipulation.

Arriva, along with other major operators, actually agree a fixed reimbursement value with the government for each 'period' of £2 fare scheme (each period is around 3-4 months long, which is why operators haven't committed to the £2.50 scheme yet even though the government is shouting about it, as they haven't agreed reimbursement for that new scheme period yet).

The calculation for reimbursement is based on usage from a chosen period of time weighted by the scheduled mileage within that period. Basically means that intentional issuing of longer distance journeys makes no difference to the reimbursement and any growth in that time cannot be considered in the calculation until the next scheme period.

(01 Sep 2023, 8:55 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Is it even that much of a money maker though? I'd be surprised if it's anywhere near the top of the list. Yes it gets good loads but it's the same passengers for over an hour, some two hours and outside the Summer isn't particularly busy at all.

Let's say each bus averaged 60 PAX per journey (which it probably roughly is) at £7 it's only £420 over 2 hours and the Diesel costs must be through the roof bombing across the Moors. It's the same with the X9/X10 with GNE (which had their frequency cut).

Compared to say the X21 at Ashington which might have 10 PAX from Newbiggin to Ashington, 10 to Bedlington, 30 through to Newcastle, 15 in between somewhere and can do 2 trips in the same time roughly. That's 130 PAX in the same at roughly lets say £4.50 it's £585 and the Diesel costs won't be anywhere near as high.

(01 Sep 2023, 12:43 pm)Ryland wrote [ -> ]Do we know which bus has Redcar spare ticket machine in

(01 Sep 2023, 9:24 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]This is only anecdotal evidence but I’ve got several ex Redcar/Whitby drivers and they tell me it’s not uncommon to do even Whitby-Scarborough & back in the summer and easily take over a grand just on that. Obviously that was before the £2 cap… but it does very well in the summer season!
I’d reckon it makes a small loss in the winter even with the PVR cut in half almost (5 v 9).

(02 Sep 2023, 6:46 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Aye must admit, had a feeling that the Whitby to Scarborough bit might have been the more profitable part as it's the only bus around there. I don't know if I'm making this up but wasn't that section every 20 minutes a few year back?

(02 Sep 2023, 9:13 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Yes I think it did, though I can’t remember it lasting more than one summer season?
The Middlesbrough to Whitby section is more peaky with a substantial flow in the morning towards the coast and back again in the evening of course. Otherwise it’s steady away all day without pulling up any trees.
I think the current timetable suits it well… if it was reliably provided it would be even better!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(18 Sep 2023, 8:07 pm)Ryland wrote [ -> ]Random question... well more of a theory
1534 is now working at Redcar.
Currently only being allocated to the X4 and done a few stints on the x93.
Is this the plan to try and get it off the road quicker by putting it into the more hilly routes

(18 Sep 2023, 8:07 pm)Ryland wrote [ -> ]Random question... well more of a theory
1534 is now working at Redcar.
Currently only being allocated to the X4 and done a few stints on the x93.
Is this the plan to try and get it off the road quicker by putting it into the more hilly routes

(26 Sep 2023, 9:18 pm)Ryland wrote [ -> ]All the axl 400 7424/5/6 were on the 62 today. I'm guessing this is going to be there home for the winter timetable? Surely these don't have long left at Redcar considering Durham has withdrawn majority of these.

4719 are we looking to see if this enters service again.

With the numbers dropping in the timetable change are we to see some avenues being withdrawn

(02 Oct 2023, 1:14 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]Why is there 5 63's in Redcar

4710 - 4 Mins Late
4726 - 44 Mins late
4713 - 19 Mins late
1560 - 26 Mins Late
4711 - 6 Mins Late

Is this due to lack of layover considering there are 12 buses tracking?

(02 Oct 2023, 9:30 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]If there is 12 tracking that means there is one missing which is about normal. Though 4720 hasn’t been tracking recently so that could have been on there! Once you get late on 63s it’s almost impossible to get it back so they end up dropping out which then knocks the one behind it, they get late and then it just snowballs across the whole day…

(14 Oct 2023, 12:04 pm)Ryland wrote [ -> ]7424 is tracking on the 63. Do we know if this is true or is it another vehicle

(15 Oct 2023, 6:33 pm)Rapidsnap wrote [ -> ]Didn't stop them in the past. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1831281625

(15 Oct 2023, 8:38 pm)RobinHood wrote [ -> ]In the current world of health, safety and risk, the simple option to not allocate double deckers even if they might fit, is the instruction nowadays.

(15 Oct 2023, 8:55 pm)Ryland wrote [ -> ]Feel as though 7609/10 might fit better

(15 Oct 2023, 8:55 pm)Ryland wrote [ -> ]Feel as though 7609/10 might fit better

(16 Oct 2023, 8:16 pm)Humbletravel wrote [ -> ]It is a shame. A dedicated decker fleet would be ideal for the 63!

4720 broken down at loftus 

(23 Oct 2023, 11:03 am)tvd wrote [ -> ]One of the Temsas out of action on the 81 this morning, with some faulty doors.  Waiting for a bus to be taken off the 63 to replace it.

Even with PVR reductions, it never seems to get any better at Redcar does it!


just seen Arriva Redcar maintaince team on the a171 moor road 

(23 Oct 2023, 5:55 pm)Ryland wrote [ -> ]Do we know of which buses are due to come off with the winter over reduction

(23 Oct 2023, 6:14 pm)RobinHood wrote [ -> ]7424, 7425, 7426, 7609, 7610 and a Pulsar (TBC).

Redcar also reduced by 2 this weekend, which should have seen two Pulsars go to Durham. I don't know what (if anything) has moved yet.

(23 Oct 2023, 5:55 pm)Ryland wrote [ -> ]Do we know of which buses are due to come off with the winter over reduction