(15 Aug 2017, 11:51 pm)L469 YVK wrote With the X9/X10 being put under domestic rules, if extra drivers were needed, would experienced drivers who drive the Tens be called for due to experience veing needed to handle the deckers in challenging conditions?

Nah

(15 Aug 2017, 2:08 pm)S813 FVK wrote Couple more tagline updates:

6122 - 'Stay connected': https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/35...otostream/
6128 - '35 million miles': https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/35...otostream/

To date, the taglines added are:

35 Million Miles - 5215, 5333, 6128, 6137
It's our people - 4933, 5204, 5284, 6142, 6146
Never miss your stop - 709, 5334, 6123
No change? - 696, 5248, 5335, 6136
Recharge your batteries - 628, 5208, 5249, 5331
Stay connected - 3996, 5209, 5336, 6122

More were fitted last night - but unsure which ones yet. The gonortheast.co.uk should have been added to any fitted last night too, with the company returning to any others they missed.

(15 Aug 2017, 9:00 pm)a718abb wrote The A19 is a nightmare road for all vehicles that use it, no more so than the X9/X10.  On paper, the concept of running a service between Newcastle and Middlesbrough with just a few stops on the way is am good one.  Indeed, it is quicker than Northern Rail, which goes through Sunderland and Hartlepool, and in that respect, GNE have the advantage. But the practicalities of running the service at peak times, causes major problems for time keeping.  This situation is only going to get worse, owing to the forthcoming major roadworks upgrading Testos roundabout and Downhill Lane Interchange on the A19. There is really no workaround.

Without being flippant, there is.
Diversions.
The route is allowed to do it and as we all know, often does.

It may be that the works at Downhill cause too many issues.
A long-term diversion to the X9/10 is feasible and for those who use the service to/from Testo's, I am sure a workaround can be put in place to ensure they aren't disadvantaged too much. That could be a free connection at Heworth or whatever else.

(16 Aug 2017, 7:28 am)Dan wrote To date, the taglines added are:

35 Million Miles - 5215, 5333, 6128, 6137
It's our people - 4933, 5204, 5284, 6142, 6146
Never miss your stop - 709, 5334, 6123
No change? - 696, 5248, 5335, 6136
Recharge your batteries - 628, 5208, 5249, 5331
Stay connected - 3996, 5209, 5336, 6122

More were fitted last night - but unsure which ones yet. The gonortheast.co.uk should have been added to any fitted last night too, with the company returning to any others they missed.

Thanks - they are certainly keeping me occupied when out and about. Sped up quite a bit when I saw a Solar with a tagline (5215) at the bottom of the Front Street in Chester on the X25 the other day. It wasn't going to get away from me, that's for sure!

Moving on to a topic that probably most likely annoys the hell out of people, USB Sockets needs adding to 5452's collection of feature symbols (hopefully it has been/will be done whenever it receives the tagline):

Go North East 5452 NK66EWA Eldon Sq Bus Stn, Newcastle on Q3 (1280x960) by dbp dearingbuspix, on Flickr

I'm a fan of which window they have been stuck onto though!

http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/s...017-255115

Some good improvements and additional services being run by the sound of it

(16 Aug 2017, 12:09 pm)JP6004 wrote http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/s...017-255115

Some good improvements and additional services being run by the sound of it

Sorry i didn't read the thread before i post the changes in the upcoming changes thread.

(16 Aug 2017, 12:22 pm)Michael wrote Sorry i didn't read the thread before i post the changes in the upcoming changes thread.

Ill let u off since uve had a quiet few days on here 

(16 Aug 2017, 1:31 pm)JP6004 wrote Ill let u off since uve had a quiet few days on here 

 


When will 5292 return to service?, now its returned to SM.

Have anymore Citaro's returned to from Blackburn?

6148 has been re-registered as CU 7661, previously worn by 3891:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/36...otostream/

Anyone know what will operate the 1 from Gateshead at 16:57 when the changes happen and the X39 no longer goes to Gateshead? Will it just be the bus from the X39 as now but running light to Gateshead, or a different working?

(16 Aug 2017, 4:24 pm)Tom wrote Anyone know what will operate the 1 from Gateshead at 16:57 when the changes happen and the X39 no longer goes to Gateshead? Will it just be the bus from the X39 as now but running light to Gateshead, or a different working?

X39 that leaves Cobalt at 1605, arriving Newcastle at 1633.

(16 Aug 2017, 7:59 am)Andreos1 wrote Without being flippant, there is.
Diversions.
The route is allowed to do it and as we all know, often does.

It may be that the works at Downhill cause too many issues.
A long-term diversion to the X9/10 is feasible and for those who use the service to/from Testo's, I am sure a workaround can be put in place to ensure they aren't disadvantaged too much. That could be a free connection at Heworth or whatever else.

There is a perfectly reasonable workaround which I used to use, with permision from control, but it would mean missing out the Testos bus stop. We used to go from Heworth, along Lingey Lane, to Follingsby, through the outskirts of Washington to the A1231 Sunderland Highway, rejoicing the A19 at Wessington Way. But authority would need to be gained to miss out Testos bus stop.

(16 Aug 2017, 4:46 pm)citaro5284 wrote X39 that leaves Cobalt at 1605, arriving Newcastle at 1633.

Ah right so it's the same as now, thank you.

(16 Aug 2017, 4:51 pm)a718abb wrote There is a perfectly reasonable workaround which I used to use, with permision from control, but it would mean missing out the Testos bus stop. We used to go from Heworth, along Lingey Lane, to Follingsby, through the outskirts of Washington to the A1231 Sunderland Highway, rejoicing the A19 at Wessington Way. But authority would need to be gained to miss out Testos bus stop.

That's the point I was getting at.
It's possible and feasible and with the long-term works at both Dpwnhill and Testo's, there's no reason why changes can't be made.
Obviously done properly.

(16 Aug 2017, 7:59 am)Andreos1 wrote Without being flippant, there is.
Diversions.
The route is allowed to do it and as we all know, often does.

It may be that the works at Downhill cause too many issues.
A long-term diversion to the X9/10 is feasible and for those who use the service to/from Testo's, I am sure a workaround can be put in place to ensure they aren't disadvantaged too much. That could be a free connection at Heworth or whatever else.

Perhaps extending service 35 to Heworth during the day, this would also benefit those needing services at Heworth for areas around Gateshead. For Free connection perhaps the 35 Could accept and issue X9 and X10 tickets between the Testos Roundabout and Heworth Interchange.

(15 Aug 2017, 9:00 pm)a718abb wrote The A19 is a nightmare road for all vehicles that use it, no more so than the X9/X10.  On paper, the concept of running a service between Newcastle and Middlesbrough with just a few stops on the way is am good one.  Indeed, it is quicker than Northern Rail, which goes through Sunderland and Hartlepool, and in that respect, GNE have the advantage. But the practicalities of running the service at peak times, causes major problems for time keeping.  This situation is only going to get worse, owing to the forthcoming major roadworks upgrading Testos roundabout and Downhill Lane Interchange on the A19. There is really no workaround.

(16 Aug 2017, 7:59 am)Andreos1 wrote Without being flippant, there is.
Diversions.
The route is allowed to do it and as we all know, often does.

It may be that the works at Downhill cause too many issues.
A long-term diversion to the X9/10 is feasible and for those who use the service to/from Testo's, I am sure a workaround can be put in place to ensure they aren't disadvantaged too much. That could be a free connection at Heworth or whatever else.

(16 Aug 2017, 4:51 pm)a718abb wrote There is a perfectly reasonable workaround which I used to use, with permision from control, but it would mean missing out the Testos bus stop. We used to go from Heworth, along Lingey Lane, to Follingsby, through the outskirts of Washington to the A1231 Sunderland Highway, rejoicing the A19 at Wessington Way. But authority would need to be gained to miss out Testos bus stop.

Taken from the X9/10 timetable page

"From 18 September 2017, major roadworks are planned on Felling bypass between Whitemare Pool and Heworth Interchange. This has the potential to cause significant delays to services. To ensure service X9/X10 continues to run reliably, they will not serve Testo's roundabout towards Newcastle from 18 September for the duration of the roadworks - which is expected to be around 6 months. Journeys towards Middlesbrough are unaffected. We apologise for any inconvenience caused because of this."

Now that we are (gradually) getting the Tyne Valley Ten, and are due to lose the orange Tynedale Express Scanias (in favour of Mercs?), what livery will they have?
And what will happen to the yellow and blue Tynedale Links livery?

In regards to the X9/10 how many people actually use the stops at Testos, it is a good 10-15 min walk to civilisation and ive never saw anyone waiting at those stops before either, ive always thought it would be good if one of them went to the stop at boldon cinema, it would open up the route to more people and only add 2-3 mins on the journey.

(16 Aug 2017, 12:09 pm)JP6004 wrote http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/s...017-255115

Some good improvements and additional services being run by the sound of it

A lot of the changes seem to be as a result of GNE losing various school contracts. The 64/95 running all afternoon with no gap being one.

The 64 is a joke of a service. Every driver says the same, nobody gets on and it is just driving in tight circles for hours. One would have thought the council would pay more for Scholars.

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(16 Aug 2017, 8:25 pm)Jamie M wrote The 64 is a joke of a service. Every driver says the same, nobody gets on and it is just driving in tight circles for hours. One would have thought the council would pay more for Scholars.

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Now it doesn't have the Scholar run wrapped into it, I doubt something like a Vyking will be allocated anymore

Can see that the X1 will just run every 12 minutes on Saturdays now as opposed to every 10 minutes.

(16 Aug 2017, 8:25 pm)Jamie M wrote The 64 is a joke of a service. Every driver says the same, nobody gets on and it is just driving in tight circles for hours. One would have thought the council would pay more for Scholars.

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Said it before, why not merge it with another service.

(16 Aug 2017, 7:54 pm)Nicholas Perry wrote In regards to  the X9/10 how many people actually use the stops at Testos, it is a good 10-15 min walk to civilisation and ive never saw anyone waiting at those stops before either, ive always thought it would be good if one of them went to the stop at boldon cinema, it would open up the route to more people and only add 2-3 mins on the journey.

When I was a driver, I used to hate the odd occasion we used to stop there.  It is situated on a dual carriageway with no bus lay by and I was always fearful that a vehicle would run up the back of the bus

X21 might improve the 21s reliability issues on a Sunday if it's only running through to Durham.

They've improved the 21 timetable now, you can read the whole bloody thing without cross referencing between durham and CLS runs

Will 21 hybrids still be allocated to X21s on sundays?

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(16 Aug 2017, 9:47 pm)Jamie M wrote Will 21 hybrids still be allocated to X21s on sundays?

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X21 will be operated by Streetdecks on a Sunday.

Crook on sundays? What?
I wonder what mr Pdiddy thinks of this foreign idea.

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I'm sure when the Pronto branding was first introduced, Crook used to run the X20 between Bishop Auckland and Durham on a Sunday.

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(16 Aug 2017, 9:47 pm)Jamie M wrote Will 21 hybrids still be allocated to X21s on sundays?

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 Come on Jamie...don't forget the pretendy Hybrids, the daily Omnishambles and the relic B7s...(sorry I haven't moaned for aaages)