(01 Sep 2015, 8:06 pm)AIG20 Monday 26th October is the School/College Half Term Holiday week. I assume this is when the X34 frequency will be increased to every 20 minutes; as it was usually mid-November when the pre-Christmas Sunday Service was introduced. If the X34 is permanently becoming a 20 minute frequency, I would assume a half-hourly Sunday service will permanently be introduced. I also think they should put more buses on an evening after 19:00 - as I think they run hourly past that time up until 21:30.

(14 Sep 2015, 7:41 pm)mrnut85 The service is going every 20 minutes from the 26th October with earlier services being introduced and an extra return journey to Newcastle in the afternoon. Sunday is still an Xmas thing and will be introduced the usual 6 - 8 weeks before hand.

(14 Sep 2015, 8:08 pm)Michael Cheers for the info, glad to see earlier journey's are being introduced along with an extra one from Newcastle.

Shame they aren't doing a full Sunday service during the year though.. think it would do well.

(09 Sep 2015, 7:14 am)Michael PB0002404/308 - BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD T/A STAGECOACH NORTHEAST, ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, NORTH BRIDGE STREET, SUNDERLAND, SR5 1AQ
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: City Centre
Finish Point: Seaburn
Via:
Service Number: 101
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 26-SEP-2015
Other Details: Special service for Sunderland illuminations 2015 event, as requested by Sunderland City Council.

(03 Sep 2015, 3:34 pm)Michael 0002404/4 - BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD T/A STAGECOACH NORTHEAST, ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, NORTH BRIDGE STREET, SUNDERLAND, SR5 1AQ
Variation Accepted: Operating between Wallsend and Throckley given service number 22/22X effective from 25-Oct-2015. To amend Route and Timetable.

(24 Sep 2015, 2:25 pm)tyresmoke Just been looking on Traveline at the new times for these.
Appears the 22 will be extended from Wallsend via Rosehill, Battle Hill and Silverlink to Cobalt Business Park all day, with evening services terminating at Silverlink Retail Park.
22X will be a peak time only from Throckley to City via normal route then express to Cobalt (am) and back (pm).
Interesting move by Stagecoach

(24 Sep 2015, 2:25 pm)tyresmoke Just been looking on Traveline at the new times for these.

Appears the 22 will be extended from Wallsend via Rosehill, Battle Hill and Silverlink to Cobalt Business Park all day, with evening services terminating at Silverlink Retail Park.

22X will be a peak time only from Throckley to City via normal route then express to Cobalt (am) and back (pm).

Interesting move by Stagecoach

(24 Sep 2015, 2:25 pm)tyresmoke Just been looking on Traveline at the new times for these.
Appears the 22 will be extended from Wallsend via Rosehill, Battle Hill and Silverlink to Cobalt Business Park all day, with evening services terminating at Silverlink Retail Park.
22X will be a peak time only from Throckley to City via normal route then express to Cobalt (am) and back (pm).
Interesting move by Stagecoach

(24 Sep 2015, 5:22 pm)Tom Do you have a link to the timetable?

(24 Sep 2015, 5:28 pm)Dan It's available on Traveline's Journey Planner:
http://jplanner.travelinenortheast.info/planner

When you type in the usual details, click 'All Stops' to see times.

The evening 22Xs are timed bizarrely - they're scheduled to depart around 8 minutes after Go North East's X39 service, and if I remember rightly, four minutes after Arriva's X6 service. Go North East's express route from Cobalt offers a better specification vehicle (apart from the 16:05 departure which is a red Volvo B7TL) for the same priced day ticket (£3.90), though assuming the ADL Enviro400s which have recently transferred to Walkergate are indeed allocated to the 22 service, Stagecoach will be offering a better service during the day from Wallsend (on paper).

Bit of competition every now and again keeps the operators on their toes - most unusual of Stagecoach though!

(24 Sep 2015, 5:04 pm)Andreos1 Curious!
Didn't want to say interesting like the other two ;

Whilst it opens up new links, I wonder if the 62/63 could have worked instead or even as well as?

(24 Sep 2015, 5:38 pm)MurdnunoC It is a bold move by Stagecoach. 

I don't think the 62/63 would work in terms of offering a link between Newcastle and Cobalt, but it could offer something for passengers travelling to Cobalt who reside in the Longbenton/Forest Hall/West Moor and Killingworth area. Likewise, by extending either the 12, 39 or 40 to Cobalt, a brand-new connection would be created from Walker and the East End for passengers.

(24 Sep 2015, 5:41 pm)Tom 22 is the best option because it will basically provide direct competition for the 1. Will be interesting if they can beat the £1.50 Wallsend/Byker area single fare though!

(24 Sep 2015, 5:45 pm)MurdnunoC Depends how badly they want the custom. As history shows, Stagecoach certainly aren't beyond undercutting their competitors.

(24 Sep 2015, 5:38 pm)MurdnunoC It is a bold move by Stagecoach. 

I don't think the 62/63 would work in terms of offering a link between Newcastle and Cobalt, but it could offer something for passengers travelling to Cobalt who reside in the Longbenton/Forest Hall/West Moor and Killingworth area. Likewise, by extending either the 12, 39 or 40 to Cobalt, a brand-new connection would be created from Walker and the East End for passengers.

(24 Sep 2015, 5:41 pm)Tom 22 is the best option because it will basically provide direct competition for the 1. Will be interesting if they can beat the £1.50 Wallsend/Byker area single fare though!

(24 Sep 2015, 5:58 pm)Andreos1 It also opens up potential for people to move onto the 100, rather than staying loyal to the incumbent around Rosehill etc., when travelling to the Metrocentre