(02 Jul 2014, 4:32 pm)Tom Possibly an extension to Seaham via the 238 route, and allow the 38 to have a more consistent frequency between Tunstall Bank and City Centre?
(02 Jul 2014, 4:32 pm)Tom Possibly an extension to Seaham via the 238 route, and allow the 38 to have a more consistent frequency between Tunstall Bank and City Centre?
(02 Jul 2014, 4:10 pm)Dan I have a feeling it'll be related to the scholars given the nature of the other VOSA registrations - the 71 will just be registered alongside those scholar services, similar to the 20 and RM1/RM2 in Sunderland which we see each Christmas.
Though if GNE had any sense, they would change the 71... I travelled on service 71 the other day, at about 15:00, and across the entire route in one direction there was only the equivalent to 3 1/3 passengers - on the approximation that a Concessionary Bus Pass holder equates to 1/3 of a passenger and a Get Around Day Ticket holder equates to 1/2 of a passenger. The driver took no cash on that journey. I'd be amazed if GNE actually made a profit from the service in general, as it's always carried similar loadings each time I've used it.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:20 pm)Marcus I use the 71 regularly - it gets pretty decent loadings.
It seems like people get on in Houghton and get off in Fencehouses, then it runs empty to Lumley then a bunch of people get on and get off in Chester.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:10 pm)Dan I have a feeling it'll be related to the scholars given the nature of the other VOSA registrations - the 71 will just be registered alongside those scholar services, similar to the 20 and RM1/RM2 in Sunderland which we see each Christmas.
Though if GNE had any sense, they would change the 71... I travelled on service 71 the other day, at about 15:00, and across the entire route in one direction there was only the equivalent to 3 1/3 passengers - on the approximation that a Concessionary Bus Pass holder equates to 1/3 of a passenger and a Get Around Day Ticket holder equates to 1/2 of a passenger. The driver took no cash on that journey. I'd be amazed if GNE actually made a profit from the service in general, as it's always carried similar loadings each time I've used it.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:20 pm)Marcus I use the 71 regularly - it gets pretty decent loadings.
It seems like people get on in Houghton and get off in Fencehouses, then it runs empty to Lumley then a bunch of people get on and get off in Chester.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:35 pm)Dan Interesting you mention the 238.
Liam will be able to remind me if I've not got my figures right, but four pensioners departed Houghton on the same 71 which I referred to above (equating to roughly 1 1/3 passengers) - yet I believe the 238 which departed soon after left with about six passengers by the same approximation.
There's definitely potential there with the 238 if you ask me, and it'd be good to see a service change which could possibly involve that and the 71.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:35 pm)Dan Interesting you mention the 238.
Liam will be able to remind me if I've not got my figures right, but four pensioners departed Houghton on the same 71 which I referred to above (equating to roughly 1 1/3 passengers) - yet I believe the 238 which departed soon after left with about six passengers by the same approximation.
There's definitely potential there with the 238 if you ask me, and it'd be good to see a service change which could possibly involve that and the 71.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:37 pm)Marcus I agree - possibly amalgamate the two routes to create a bigger profit?
Possibly 2 operated by Chester as there is now and the rest by Peterlee?
(02 Jul 2014, 4:37 pm)Marcus I agree - possibly amalgamate the two routes to create a bigger profit?
Possibly 2 operated by Chester as there is now and the rest by Peterlee?
(02 Jul 2014, 4:37 pm)Marcus I agree - possibly amalgamate the two routes to create a bigger profit?
Possibly 2 operated by Chester as there is now and the rest by Peterlee?
(02 Jul 2014, 4:41 pm)Dan The 238 is currently Deptford-based. Either way, an MPD seems a more appropriate vehicle from what I've seen - and I think that operating it from Peterlee would mean they could do it cheaper too (from a driver's wages perspective). One of the GNE insiders may be able to confirm this or say it's complete rubbish though!
Perhaps Fozz will be able to provide a better insight in regards to what passenger numbers are like on that service and if there are any trends - as he lives closer to the route than me.
I never see too many passengers on it at the Sunderland end of the route, and the passengers that I do see could just be for the section which is shared with the 38 - so I'm not sure.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:41 pm)Dan The 238 is currently Deptford-based. Either way, an MPD seems a more appropriate vehicle from what I've seen - and I think that operating it from Peterlee would mean they could do it cheaper too (from a driver's wages perspective). One of the GNE insiders may be able to confirm this or say it's complete rubbish though!
Perhaps Fozz will be able to provide a better insight in regards to what passenger numbers are like on that service and if there are any trends - as he lives closer to the route than me.
I never see too many passengers on it at the Sunderland end of the route, and the passengers that I do see could just be for the section which is shared with the 38 - so I'm not sure.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:42 pm)Tom They could even interwork with the 265 to provide bigger buses, but all operated by Chester I'd imagine.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:45 pm)Marcus Here's me thinking it was by Peterlee - am I right when I say it used to be?
(02 Jul 2014, 4:45 pm)Marcus Here's me thinking it was by Peterlee - am I right when I say it used to be?
Since service 71 is every 30 minutes.
Extend service 238 from Houghton to Chester still hourly, and then at peak times extend the 923 journeys from rainton bridge up the sliproad to Houghton church then down to chester via 71 route.
theres plenty of buses between fence houses and Houghton with service 4, theres plenty of buses between Lumley and chester with service 78.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:47 pm)Dan Think it's always been Deptford - it's still only a fairly recently implemented service really.
Brought about after the letter variation on the 38 services wasn't particularly successful, if I remember rightly?
I think an MPD was transferred across from Peterlee to Deptford when the service first came about - this might be what you're thinking of.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:47 pm)Dan Think it's always been Deptford - it's still only a fairly recently implemented service really.
Brought about after the letter variation on the 38 services wasn't particularly successful, if I remember rightly?
I think an MPD was transferred across from Peterlee to Deptford when the service first came about - this might be what you're thinking of.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:50 pm)Marcus Yeah - got confused. I assume all yellow MPDs in the Durham-Sunderland area are East Durham because there are so many different East Durham routes, and as I've never really had much of a chance to ride them, I sort of get confused
(02 Jul 2014, 4:50 pm)Marcus Yeah - got confused. I assume all yellow MPDs in the Durham-Sunderland area are East Durham because there are so many different East Durham routes, and as I've never really had much of a chance to ride them, I sort of get confused
Here is something that could work:
Service 71:
Chester-le-Street…. 15
Fence Houses………. 33
Houghton le Spring. 45
New Seaham………… 57
Seaham………………… 08
Service 265:
Seaham……………….. 15
Dalton Park…………. 30
Hetton le Hole…….. 48
Durham………………. 11
Durham………………. 15
Hetton le Hole…….. 39
Dalton Park…………. 57
Seaham………………. 11
Service 71:
Seham………………… 17
New Seaham………. 26
Houghton-le-Spring.. 40
Fence Houses………… 49
Chester-le-Street….. 07
Doesn't the 265 interwork with the 202 at present to allow all driver changeovers to occur in Peterlee?
What will come of that - would the 202 move to Deptford to cover for the loss of PVR provided by the 238, and the 202 fill the gap by following the same route as the 238 or what..?
Something like this possibly?
Service 202
Peterlee, Bus Station….. 07
Easington Village………… 17
Easington Lane Clock…. 28
Seaham Brydon Place… 55
Service 202
Seaham Brydon Place…. 00
Easington Lane Clock….. 27
Easington Village………… 38
Peterlee Bus Station…… 48
Service 208
Peterlee Bus Station….. 54
Easington Village……….. 21
South Hetton…………….. 29
Dragon Lane Tesco……. 56
Durham Bus Station….. 08
Service 204
Durham Bus Station….. 12
Belmont……………………. 28
Sherburn Village……….. 43
Belmont……………………. 02
Durham Bus Station…. 18
Service 208
Durham Bus Station….. 25
Dragon Lane Tesco……. 37
South Hetton……………..04
Easington Village………. 12
Peterlee Bus Station…. 40
(02 Jul 2014, 4:53 pm)Dan Of the ones based at Deptford (including the two out on loan to other depots for shuttle service work):
- 541/543 are "East Durham" branded.
- 542 is plain yellow.
- 544 retains the taglines from its days when "Venture" branded, but other than that is plain yellow.
541/543 should be allocated to service 238 and 542/544 should be allocated to service 99, but the allocation is pretty fluid really.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:53 pm)Dan Of the ones based at Deptford (including the two out on loan to other depots for shuttle service work):
- 541/543 are "East Durham" branded.
- 542 is plain yellow.
- 544 retains the taglines from its days when "Venture" branded, but other than that is plain yellow.
541/543 should be allocated to service 238 and 542/544 should be allocated to service 99, but the allocation is pretty fluid really.
