(21 Sep 2013, 2:37 pm)Daniel From a personal point of view, I think the Sunderland network, on the whole, is very good. Most services have a 10 minute frequency Monday to Saturday, and most services start early and finish late (which can't always be said about competition in certain areas). Since last year, we've had a 20 minute frequency on the core services in Sunderland's network also. Again, this can't always be said about competition in certain areas.
What I do dislike is that there are opportunities in the current network that Stagecoach could use to their benefit. I see competition between the likes of Go North East and Arriva North East, with services being timed ahead of others etc.
Stagecoach seemingly keep everyone sweet and keep to their own network, making very few changes.
A more recent change that springs to mind is the 23 to Seaburn on Sundays. Some would say that Seaburn really doesn't need a higher frequency on Sundays, but I think it provides excellent links. Passengers can have a through route all the way to Seaburn if travelling from the likes of Thorney Close, whereas before they would have had to get off in town and jump on an E service.
I think more changes like the above could really work well, but things need to be trialled. Go North East regularly have services on trial for six months before making their mind up whether a change to a service is commercially viable or not, and I wish Stagecoach would also do something similar.
(21 Sep 2013, 2:37 pm)Daniel From a personal point of view, I think the Sunderland network, on the whole, is very good. Most services have a 10 minute frequency Monday to Saturday, and most services start early and finish late (which can't always be said about competition in certain areas). Since last year, we've had a 20 minute frequency on the core services in Sunderland's network also. Again, this can't always be said about competition in certain areas.
What I do dislike is that there are opportunities in the current network that Stagecoach could use to their benefit. I see competition between the likes of Go North East and Arriva North East, with services being timed ahead of others etc.
Stagecoach seemingly keep everyone sweet and keep to their own network, making very few changes.
A more recent change that springs to mind is the 23 to Seaburn on Sundays. Some would say that Seaburn really doesn't need a higher frequency on Sundays, but I think it provides excellent links. Passengers can have a through route all the way to Seaburn if travelling from the likes of Thorney Close, whereas before they would have had to get off in town and jump on an E service.
I think more changes like the above could really work well, but things need to be trialled. Go North East regularly have services on trial for six months before making their mind up whether a change to a service is commercially viable or not, and I wish Stagecoach would also do something similar.
(21 Sep 2013, 3:37 pm)stagecoachbusdepot Of course it's not all that long ago that Sunderland did have a direct bus from Thorney Close to Seaburn every day of the week rather than just Sundays - until the 24 was axed in favour of an increased frequency on the 23... I know there's still the 18/19 Mon-Sat that do provide some links, but given the relative infrequency and magical mystery tour routing (and therefore journey time) of those services, they don't provide a viable link in my opinion.
Although GNE do it more often and more notably - Stagecoach are also guilty of cutting direct links in favour of increased frequency on a smaller number of routes, necessitating a change of buses. Stagecoach just tend to do it all in one go with a network reorganisation every 5-10 years, rather than the bimonthly tinkering approach GNE seem to prefer.
(21 Sep 2013, 3:37 pm)stagecoachbusdepot Of course it's not all that long ago that Sunderland did have a direct bus from Thorney Close to Seaburn every day of the week rather than just Sundays - until the 24 was axed in favour of an increased frequency on the 23... I know there's still the 18/19 Mon-Sat that do provide some links, but given the relative infrequency and magical mystery tour routing (and therefore journey time) of those services, they don't provide a viable link in my opinion.
Although GNE do it more often and more notably - Stagecoach are also guilty of cutting direct links in favour of increased frequency on a smaller number of routes, necessitating a change of buses. Stagecoach just tend to do it all in one go with a network reorganisation every 5-10 years, rather than the bimonthly tinkering approach GNE seem to prefer.
(21 Sep 2013, 3:59 pm)Michael Oh the fun world tour of the 18/19.. i think they should be changed, i think its long route is the reason why no one uses them.
(21 Sep 2013, 3:59 pm)Michael Oh the fun world tour of the 18/19.. i think they should be changed, i think its long route is the reason why no one uses them.
(21 Sep 2013, 4:05 pm)Daniel Would you not say that they provide lots of local links, similar to Go North East's "Coaster" 1 service? I doubt anyone uses the service from Grindon all the way to Seaburn, but I imagine it will be used quite heavily for short stints throughout the full route.
When I lived on the route a few years ago (when the Alexander Dash Darts operated the service, prior to ALX200 and now Pointer 2 Darts), I used to use the service for short stints all of the time. Quite a few others used it similarly back then too.
I don't have a great deal of spare time to travel on buses for fun now so don't really get much time for the 18/19, and I rarely see it because it is so infrequent... Have the passenger numbers really dropped across the entirety of the route, or is it just at certain parts?
(21 Sep 2013, 4:05 pm)Daniel Would you not say that they provide lots of local links, similar to Go North East's "Coaster" 1 service? I doubt anyone uses the service from Grindon all the way to Seaburn, but I imagine it will be used quite heavily for short stints throughout the full route.
When I lived on the route a few years ago (when the Alexander Dash Darts operated the service, prior to ALX200 and now Pointer 2 Darts), I used to use the service for short stints all of the time. Quite a few others used it similarly back then too.
I don't have a great deal of spare time to travel on buses for fun now so don't really get much time for the 18/19, and I rarely see it because it is so infrequent... Have the passenger numbers really dropped across the entirety of the route, or is it just at certain parts?
(21 Sep 2013, 4:09 pm)stagecoachbusdepot Whenever I've seen them they certainly don't look full (apart from the Saturday of airshow weekend of course - always bemused me why they still only used midis that day!) They do provide some useful local links I think. I was just making the point that they don't provide a viable Thorney Close - Seaburn alternative for weekdays.
(21 Sep 2013, 4:09 pm)stagecoachbusdepot Whenever I've seen them they certainly don't look full (apart from the Saturday of airshow weekend of course - always bemused me why they still only used midis that day!) They do provide some useful local links I think. I was just making the point that they don't provide a viable Thorney Close - Seaburn alternative for weekdays.
(24 Sep 2013, 6:45 am)Daniel Nice to see an ALX200 out on 8s... One is on xx30s from town today.
Not rare as such, but worth a mention nevertheless.
(24 Sep 2013, 6:58 am)Michael New MAN's on the 8 when the new buses arrive maybe?
The gas buses need to hurry up like... haha
(24 Sep 2013, 6:58 am)Michael New MAN's on the 8 when the new buses arrive maybe?
The gas buses need to hurry up like... haha
Dart on the 16 today, heading towards chester road from hastings hill
The 16's seem to be running in 2's
Only 6 of us on the 19 currently..only in thorney close atm... this is heading towards seaburn... highest so far on it is.. 9!
All OAP and people with passes... no one has paid so far
To many roadworks in Sunderland atm like... here's 2 more uploaded today...
http://www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupda...px?Id=8511 - Service 4
http://www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupda...px?Id=8515 - Service 23
(24 Sep 2013, 7:36 am)Daniel hopefully strike some interest in SNE!
(24 Sep 2013, 7:36 am)Daniel hopefully strike some interest in SNE!
(25 Sep 2013, 11:54 pm)mattdw92 There is plenty interest with SCN. This forum is just heavily GNE centred due to the somewhat "chaotic" changeable nature of the company. Surprised some even know who Stagecoach are as all they seem to do is breathe GNE! Stable SC that needs little change tells you something....... SC are also rightly more confidential in divulging information to the public. Suppose the reduced enthusiast following does help things come to light for some, as stuff is less likely to be spread easily by a vast following similar to the sole GNE knackers....
(25 Sep 2013, 11:54 pm)mattdw92 There is plenty interest with SCN. This forum is just heavily GNE centred due to the somewhat "chaotic" changeable nature of the company. Surprised some even know who Stagecoach are as all they seem to do is breathe GNE! Stable SC that needs little change tells you something....... SC are also rightly more confidential in divulging information to the public. Suppose the reduced enthusiast following does help things come to light for some, as stuff is less likely to be spread easily by a vast following similar to the sole GNE knackers....
