12 Apr 2018, 7:20 pm
#155
(12 Apr 2018, 4:42 pm)L469 YVK I think the Cobalt Clipper brand serves its purpose fine BUT........
I do think the style of the revised branding will depend whether or not the 309 / 310(X39) continue to interwork or; barring the early mornings, some evenings and perhaps Sundays; they both get changed to run standalone.
And taking into account the following:
- New traffic lights / bridge at Norham Road (to be operational this summer)
- New developments in Whitley Bay = more passengers and more traffic around the area
- More passengers as a result of the above plus the slight 'downgrade' to service 308
- Extra time being added to competing service 308 (which runs a 'slightly' shorter route)
- Tight turnaround times with no extra time available to add to service 309 (if both the 309 and 310 continue to interwork, even with an extra bus added which would provide more layover and running time on service 310 but nothing for service 309).
I can see the PVR permanently remaining at 17 with both services going standalone during Mondays to Saturdays. In terms of branding and route info on the buses, maybe 2x slightly different liveries could be created for the 309 and 310 with a similar waypoint format (above and near the passenger door) akin to the Tyne Valley Ten and Red Arrows.
Service 309 waypoints (6101-6110)
Blyth
Whitley Bay
Cobalt Park
Newcastle
Service 309 taglines for engine flap (6101-6110)
"This bus has free Wi-Fi, surf from the heart of the Coast to Cobalt and Newcastle every 15 minutes"
"Catch this bus to Newcastle for our fast & frequent Tyne Valley Ten service to the Metrocentre"
"From the heart of Blyth and Whitley Bay to Cobalt and Newcastle every 15 minutes"
"Maximise your horizions with our many connections in Newcastle"
"Continue down the Coast on the Coaster for connections to Tynemouth & North Shields"
Service 310 waypoints (6111-6117)
North Shields
Cobalt South
High Farm
Newcastle
Service 310 taglines for engine flap (6111-6117)
"This bus has free Wi-Fi, surf from the heart of North Tyneside to Newcastle every 15 minutes"
"Catch this bus to Newcastle for our fast & frequent Tyne Valley Ten service to the Mertocentre"
"Maximise your horizons with our many connections in Newcastle"
Service 309 / Service 310 joint waypoints (located in the middle panel between lower and upper deck on both the sides and rear of the vehicle)
- "Battle Hill - Coast Road - Cradlewell - Newcastle"
- Then "Upto every 7-8 minutes" below it
- Similar style to Red Arrows and Tyne Valley Ten waypoints on the rear.
I would imagine that 6116/7 will be painted into corporate as its also interworking with the 1.
