North East Buses

The registration of the Enviro 200 is KX10DVN

(23 Jul 2015, 3:45 pm)JHCoaches wrote [ -> ]haha Lee, you really don't like the primo do you?

I think Primos are okay buses I like riding on them I can't wait to try it out 23s

(23 Jul 2015, 3:45 pm)JHCoaches wrote [ -> ]haha Lee, you really don't like the primo do you?

Not really, but it does look very good.

JH Coaches 11 Mercedes Sprinter Optare Sorocco. by Guy Park-Royal, on Flickr

I notice a duplicate service is being offered on the Blackpool service already - I can only assume that this is due to high passenger numbers on the usual coach? Great stuff, if so.

(24 Jul 2015, 7:51 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]JH Coaches 11 Mercedes Sprinter Optare Sorocco. by Guy Park-Royal, on Flickr

I notice a duplicate service is being offered on the Blackpool service already - I can only assume that this is due to high passenger numbers on the usual coach? Great stuff, if so.

Would hate to imagine 4 hours on a Mercedes Sprinter all the way to Blackpool!!

(23 Jul 2015, 2:03 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote [ -> ]JH, Are you getting any new double decker's this year? Since you have withdrawn some DAFs.

so when the previous post says withdrawn does that mean now or does it mean they are going to be but not yet?

(24 Jul 2015, 9:31 pm)buss14 wrote [ -> ]so when the previous post says withdrawn does that mean now or does it mean they are going to be but not yet?

As the school year has finished I'd be inclined to say they're withdrawn now. Replacement vehicles will presumably be sourced over the summer season, dependent on requirements for the next school year. Majority of new contracts will require Euro4 vehicles which I am not sure these DLAs meet?

Enviro 200 KX10DVN on the 23 today.
JH Coaches: KX10 DVN by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

(27 Jul 2015, 6:46 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Enviro 200 KX10DVN on the 23 today.
JH Coaches: KX10 DVN by Jimmi's Bus Photos, on Flickr

They might want to sort this destination blind out as well because Vigo Bridge is not in Barley Mow Estate, where the bus actually terminates.

(27 Jul 2015, 8:31 pm)LeeCalder wrote [ -> ]They might want to sort this destination blind out as well because Vigo Bridge is not in Barley Mow Estate, where the bus actually terminates.

Is Vigo Bridge where the A1 bridge is (X25 turns left and 82 etc go straight on)?? Might be thinking of somewhere completely different like. My knowledge of Birtley isn't great.

(27 Jul 2015, 8:35 pm)S813 FVK wrote [ -> ]Is Vigo Bridge where the A1 bridge is (X25 turns left and 82 etc go straight on)?? Might be thinking of somewhere completely different like. My knowledge of Birtley isn't great.

Yes, that's correct. It is the bridge that the 82/82A goes under.

(27 Jul 2015, 8:36 pm)LeeCalder wrote [ -> ]Yes, that's correct. It is the bridge that the 82/82A goes under.

Yay!!! Whenever i go to the Galleries, that is the way we always go so i had some knowledge of the area.

LeeCalder - The destination blinds shown on the 23 have been approved by Nexus and the service does not terminate at Barley Mow Estate but Birtley Lansbury Driver - This is a through service.

(27 Jul 2015, 8:36 pm)LeeCalder wrote [ -> ]Yes, that's correct. It is the bridge that the 82/82A goes under.

Not quite.
It is the little stone bridge that goes over the lines, into the estate at the back of the BOC.
That was a continuation of Portobello Road and originally fed onto Picktree Lane.
Obviously the bypass changed the roads in the area.

(28 Jul 2015, 5:53 am)JHCoaches wrote [ -> ]LeeCalder - The destination blinds shown on the 23 have been approved by Nexus and the service does not terminate at Barley Mow Estate but Birtley Lansbury Driver - This is a through service.

I guessed it may have been.
It seems confusing. If a passenger is getting on a 23 at any point prior to Lansbury Drive, at say Washington, Wrekenton, the Coach & Horses etc., then what is there to say that it continues beyond Lansbury Drive to Barley Mow/Vigo Bridge, before doubling back and terminating at Lansbury Drive?
If I was stood at the Coach & Horses, I would look at a bus approaching from Wrekenton, see the blind and guess it is terminating at Lansbury Drive and not serving any areas beyond.

(28 Jul 2015, 5:53 am)JHCoaches wrote [ -> ]LeeCalder - The destination blinds shown on the 23 have been approved by Nexus and the service does not terminate at Barley Mow Estate but Birtley Lansbury Driver - This is a through service.

So when you come back from the Galleries you go through Lansbury Drive, Birtley, Barley Mow up to Vigo Bridge, then back through Barley Mow, Birtley and Lansbury Drive before terminating?

I'm sure there is an error there as the terminus point has always been Barley Mow Estate. Why would the bus go through the area and then go back on itself once more before terminating?

(28 Jul 2015, 7:05 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Not quite.
It is the little stone bridge that goes over the lines, into the estate at the back of the BOC.
That was a continuation of Portobello Road and originally fed onto Picktree Lane.
Obviously the bypass changed the roads in the area.

As far as I'm concerned and as far as most people are conceded they would probably class the by-pass bridge as Vigo Bridge. Most people I talk to, seniors also, always say they are going to get the bus at "Vigo bridge", meaning the by-pass bridge.

(28 Jul 2015, 5:53 am)JHCoaches wrote [ -> ]LeeCalder - The destination blinds shown on the 23 have been approved by Nexus and the service does not terminate at Barley Mow Estate but Birtley Lansbury Driver - This is a through service.

There certainly has to be an error there. Not on your part, but the NEXUS side of things. Can I just refer you to the passenger copy of the 23 timetable which states that the 23 terminates at Barley Mow Estate. Neither Lansbury Drive or Vigo Bridge. Although the shorter journey's do terminate at Lansbury Driver / Birtley Crematorium.

23 - Washington - Birtley - Barley Mow

I'm only trying to help, because over the last five years or so, the blind has always said "Washington Galleries", "Barley Mow Est" or "Birtley Crematorium" and these sudden changes might confuse a few, considering almost all of the passengers apart from me are nearly 90!

(28 Jul 2015, 7:50 am)LeeCalder wrote [ -> ]There certainly has to be an error there. Not on your part, but the NEXUS side of things. Can I just refer you to the passenger copy of the 23 timetable which states that the 23 terminates at Barley Mow Estate. Neither Lansbury Drive or Vigo Bridge. Although the shorter journey's do terminate at Lansbury Driver / Birtley Crematorium.

23 - Washington - Birtley - Barley Mow

I'm only trying to help, because over the last five years or so, the blind has always said "Washington Galleries", "Barley Mow Est" or "Birtley Crematorium" and these sudden changes might confuse a few, considering almost all of the passengers apart from me are nearly 90!

I am delighted that JH Coaches have brought back the Vigo Bridge destination to the 23 and I'm sure that the senior passengers that you refer to will remember the old Vigo Bridge destination and have no issue with it.
As JH Coaches have correctly said this route is a through service at the Barley Mow end not a terminating point hence the reason Dorset Avenue (North) appears twice on the Barley Mow section of the running board.
I don't subscribe to the view of not changing something because it has been like that for 5 years as that would prevent continuous improvement.
While supporting the JH Coaches destination display I do have concerns on passenger confusion if the two operators on the 23 have different destinations on display.  Perhaps Nexus could decide which of the two destinations is most appropriate and standardise accordingly.

(28 Jul 2015, 8:14 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote [ -> ]I am delighted that JH Coaches have brought back the Vigo Bridge destination to the 23 and I'm sure that the senior passengers that you refer to will remember the old Vigo Bridge destination and have no issue with it.
As JH Coaches have correctly said this route is a through service at the Barley Mow end not a terminating point hence the reason Dorset Avenue (North) appears twice on the Barley Mow section of the running board.
I don't subscribe to the view of not changing something because it has been like that for 5 years as that would prevent continuous improvement.
While supporting the JH Coaches destination display I do have concerns on passenger confusion if the two operators on the 23 have different destinations on display.  Perhaps Nexus could decide which of the two destinations is most appropriate and standardise accordingly.

That is my whole point. It is confusing.

(28 Jul 2015, 8:18 am)LeeCalder wrote [ -> ]That is my whole point. It is confusing.

Is it your point though? You were arguing that the service terminates at Barley Mow Estate rather than Vigo Bridge/Lansbury Drive rather than the destination shown by both operators being different.

(28 Jul 2015, 8:24 am)S813 FVK wrote [ -> ]Is it your point though? You were arguing that the service terminates at Barley Mow Estate rather than Vigo Bridge/Lansbury Drive rather than the destination shown by both operators being different.

Yes it is my point. If you are used to seeing a bus which says "23 Barley Mow Est" and then all of a sudden it says "23 Birtley Lansbury Drive" then it is pretty confusing, especially when it is heading towards Barley Mow.

I can't provide much of an argument into this debate as to what should be shown as the terminus point as I don't know the route but I will say that I imagine much of the custom on the 23 route will be elderly connecsion pass holders and I imagine many of them will use the route a fair bit so they will likely to know the route or at least know the section of the route they will use. They may be used to the display of Barley Mow Estate but I imagine if they see a 23 with these new displays I imagine they would stop the bus and ask the driver if they are going to wherever and from what I can see the timetable hasn't changed so I imagine they would still get to their stops at the times they did before the change of operators so I think many will still think it is going to the same locations as it did before at the same times. The new displays may possibly cause confusion to some at first but they should get used to these displays after a week or so I imagine.

I kinda agree on the two operators having two different terminus points on their destinations when they both terminate at the same place and I feel both should be the same.

At least the JH Coaches display is easier to read than the display on the GCT Fiat Bluebird which is in a thin text and would be difficult to read from a distance.

If we think the 23 passengers are confused about the destinations how are they going to react to a gold bus (Primo) turning up on their route.

I've arranged with the bus supervisor to add scrolling 'via' text to the bottom of the destination screen to clear up any confusion with passengers waiting. This was updated on the screens just before it went out on service this morning.

(28 Jul 2015, 9:18 am)JHCoaches wrote [ -> ]I've arranged with the bus supervisor to add scrolling 'via' text to the bottom of the destination screen to clear up any confusion with passengers waiting.  This was updated on the screens just before it went out on service this morning.

Brilliant. It's nice to hear that a company is actually listening to its customers.

Thank you JH.

(28 Jul 2015, 7:29 am)LeeCalder wrote [ -> ]As far as I'm concerned and as far as most people are conceded they would probably class the by-pass bridge as Vigo Bridge. Most people I talk to, seniors also, always say they are going to get the bus at "Vigo bridge", meaning the by-pass bridge.

What you have to remember, is that Vigo Lane, went over the old bridge and into what is now Rickleton, well before that by-pass bridge was even built.
That stretch of Birtley Lane under the motorway, didn't exist until the 60's. Vigo Lane (and the stone bridge) was there well before it.

Not doubting the name of the stop, but it is referring to the little stone bridge.

(28 Jul 2015, 9:18 am)JHCoaches wrote [ -> ]I've arranged with the bus supervisor to add scrolling 'via' text to the bottom of the destination screen to clear up any confusion with passengers waiting.  This was updated on the screens just before it went out on service this morning.

Excellent. As Lee said, nice to see an operator listen to concerns.
Mentioned before about operators coming on here and kudos for doing that.

Hi guys,
Thank you for bringing the destination blinds to our attention.
We have spoken with Nexus and it has been decided to return the 'Vigo Bridge' destination back to 'Barley Mow Estate' still with scrolling text to remove any confusion that passengers may face.
The change back to Barley Mow Estate brings the destination blinds back to what the old operators showed.
This will be done once the bus returns to the depot tonight and will be shown on the services tomorrow.
Once again thank you for bringing this up and allowing us to look in to it.

I think it was fine the way it was. Nexus wouldn't have said yes to it in the first place if it wasn't. I also think that more confusion will be caused by changing the destination again, even if it is what the previous operators showed.

Suppose the people of Birtley just need to get GCT to change their destination now...

(28 Jul 2015, 1:29 pm)S813 FVK wrote [ -> ]I think it was fine the way it was. Nexus wouldn't have said yes to it in the first place if it wasn't. I also think that more confusion will be caused by changing the destination again, even if it is what the previous operators showed.

Suppose the people of Birtley just need to get GCT to change their destination now...

Good to see a good company listen to customers GCT they don't I think that 23 is great route for the company nd I like riding it today on E200

(28 Jul 2015, 1:29 pm)S813 FVK wrote [ -> ]I think it was fine the way it was. Nexus wouldn't have said yes to it in the first place if it wasn't. I also think that more confusion will be caused by changing the destination again, even if it is what the previous operators showed.

Suppose the people of Birtley just need to get GCT to change their destination now...

You may think it was fine, but you haven't seen some of the people that use the 23

Fleet Update: 29/07/2015

29/07/2015 - PIL2166 Volvo Premiere - WFU.