VOLTRA
VOLTRA
(07 Jun 2021, 8:29 pm)mb134 Not sure on the specifics, but I know First here use B7RLEs on all day boards on services which are generally Streetlite/E200MMC operated very frequently. I'd suggest that points to the fuel economy not being significantly worse, as there's not a chance in hell First (of all companies) are throwing away that much money if they can help it.
Capacity wise I'm not sure on the exact numbers of the X66 Streetlites, but the B7s would be a small increase regardless - especially in terms of forward facing seating.
All that said, it would be a strange one to go from branded Streetlites to older, second hand B7RLEs (unless it's part of a bigger plan). Personally any move which sees B7s replace Streetlites would be a smart one, they're absolutely fantastic.
(07 Jun 2021, 8:29 pm)mb134 Not sure on the specifics, but I know First here use B7RLEs on all day boards on services which are generally Streetlite/E200MMC operated very frequently. I'd suggest that points to the fuel economy not being significantly worse, as there's not a chance in hell First (of all companies) are throwing away that much money if they can help it.
Capacity wise I'm not sure on the exact numbers of the X66 Streetlites, but the B7s would be a small increase regardless - especially in terms of forward facing seating.
All that said, it would be a strange one to go from branded Streetlites to older, second hand B7RLEs (unless it's part of a bigger plan). Personally any move which sees B7s replace Streetlites would be a smart one, they're absolutely fantastic.
(08 Jun 2021, 3:46 pm)big mac The £1 fare will help although I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make to the taxis even if the bus services were better around that area. I think it's more of a case of people simply don't use buses to go drinking like they used to. I remember people absolutely piling on services like the 27 and the 639 on Low Fell in the 90s which just simply doesn't happen any more.
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(08 Jun 2021, 3:46 pm)big mac The £1 fare will help although I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make to the taxis even if the bus services were better around that area. I think it's more of a case of people simply don't use buses to go drinking like they used to. I remember people absolutely piling on services like the 27 and the 639 on Low Fell in the 90s which just simply doesn't happen any more.
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(09 Jun 2021, 9:14 am)Andreos1 I think that's part of the bigger problem and something operators need to address.
I've mentioned the 194 missing out a section of route in Fatfield at chucking out time and I'm sure the 27 was the same along Kells Lane/Dryden Road at one point.
It was as though operators didn't want to have to deal with passengers and discouraged people using them back from the pub.
Surely counterproductive?
As it stood until very recently, we all know it was often cheaper getting a taxi back from the pub. Especially if there's a group of friends out.
The evening deal last year and now the £1 fare are both cracking initiatives and along with a flexible, attractive network it may go a long way in repairing some legacies of decisions made in the past.
The Quayside seems to be having a bit of a renaissance (from what I've witnessed anyway) and even if it doesn't get back to 90s levels of popularity, I do still think there's enough people down there to sustain some sort of network.
Taxi drivers are like bees to a honeypot. They go where the demand is.
If there's taxis, there's potential bus passengers.
We've seen soft improvements (fares and on-board features).
Let's see some hard improvements to the network.
(09 Jun 2021, 9:14 am)Andreos1 I think that's part of the bigger problem and something operators need to address.
I've mentioned the 194 missing out a section of route in Fatfield at chucking out time and I'm sure the 27 was the same along Kells Lane/Dryden Road at one point.
It was as though operators didn't want to have to deal with passengers and discouraged people using them back from the pub.
Surely counterproductive?
As it stood until very recently, we all know it was often cheaper getting a taxi back from the pub. Especially if there's a group of friends out.
The evening deal last year and now the £1 fare are both cracking initiatives and along with a flexible, attractive network it may go a long way in repairing some legacies of decisions made in the past.
The Quayside seems to be having a bit of a renaissance (from what I've witnessed anyway) and even if it doesn't get back to 90s levels of popularity, I do still think there's enough people down there to sustain some sort of network.
Taxi drivers are like bees to a honeypot. They go where the demand is.
If there's taxis, there's potential bus passengers.
We've seen soft improvements (fares and on-board features).
Let's see some hard improvements to the network.
(09 Jun 2021, 9:14 am)Andreos1 I think that's part of the bigger problem and something operators need to address.Bloody hell, it's been a long time since the 194!
I've mentioned the 194 missing out a section of route in Fatfield at chucking out time and I'm sure the 27 was the same along Kells Lane/Dryden Road at one point.
It was as though operators didn't want to have to deal with passengers and discouraged people using them back from the pub.
(09 Jun 2021, 9:14 am)Andreos1 I think that's part of the bigger problem and something operators need to address.Bloody hell, it's been a long time since the 194!
I've mentioned the 194 missing out a section of route in Fatfield at chucking out time and I'm sure the 27 was the same along Kells Lane/Dryden Road at one point.
It was as though operators didn't want to have to deal with passengers and discouraged people using them back from the pub.
Going back to when i was a lad it used to be 45p adult from where i lived to Newcastle. Its now £3.20. that a increase if my maths is correct of around 890%. Around the same period we once got a taxi to town to get to hospital urgently and i think it cost 6 quid ( compared to 45p on the bus). Now it around 12-14 quid in a taxi compared to 3.20. You dont need a genius to work out why people use taxi's instead of the bus!
(09 Jun 2021, 9:36 am)Storx Personally I think the difference is people's drinking habits. Over the last few decades we've got from drinking in the early evening to 11pm so buses we're still running so they were an option. Nowadays there's a large chunk of people who'd rather drink in there house and won't hit the clubs until 10pm'ish and stay out until 3am so there's no option to use the bus if they even wanted to. I can't see it ever changing personally as there'll never be demand for a full network at 2/3am in the morning for a few punters especially in town.
The evening fare is a great idea but I'm not sure it's targeted at the target market who go down the Quayside and will be more for your mature audience who stick to local pubs and possibly the likes of Grey Street who aren't there to get mortal lets say.
You'd be better off having later journeys on the Q3 rather than running the Q1/Q2 imo.
(09 Jun 2021, 9:44 am)JP6004 Bloody hell, it's been a long time since the 194!
(09 Jun 2021, 9:36 am)Storx Personally I think the difference is people's drinking habits. Over the last few decades we've got from drinking in the early evening to 11pm so buses we're still running so they were an option. Nowadays there's a large chunk of people who'd rather drink in there house and won't hit the clubs until 10pm'ish and stay out until 3am so there's no option to use the bus if they even wanted to. I can't see it ever changing personally as there'll never be demand for a full network at 2/3am in the morning for a few punters especially in town.
The evening fare is a great idea but I'm not sure it's targeted at the target market who go down the Quayside and will be more for your mature audience who stick to local pubs and possibly the likes of Grey Street who aren't there to get mortal lets say.
You'd be better off having later journeys on the Q3 rather than running the Q1/Q2 imo.
(09 Jun 2021, 9:44 am)JP6004 Bloody hell, it's been a long time since the 194!
(09 Jun 2021, 10:49 am)Andreos1 See, I know others who are going out earlier and coming back earlier.
You've got BTRBC under the Tyne Bridge plus the Baltic, Sage and the hotels along there too. Hard Rock has just opened.
It's not all the Livello or Aveika crowd.
For all the Q3 does a job, it's not very attractive for those on the Quayside who are needing to head south or connect with something at Gateshead.
Adrian mentioned the 56 a week or two back, there's the 53/54 which could easily be sent down there on an evening or even a 21.
Very little outlay or expenditure to do so, but there is the potential for an increase in revenue and custom.
As an example, it's often easier me climbing up to Shields Road or New Bridge St and getting the first bus in to the town (before coming back out again) if I'm down the Ouseburn.
A reliable connection between the Q3 and something south at the bottom of Dean Street could be a lot easier (and cheaper) for me and many others.
Isn't it just. Yet the legacy and habits created back then, still last now.
I remember the last 194 from Heworth that left at 23.15 and terminated at Newbottle was always heaving on a weekend.
It would pick up and drop off at various points, but always (like 2 or 3 other runs prior) miss out Fatfield and chucking out time there.
Some people are stuck in there habits and even if we have a few quiet ones in the club, the idea that the 4 runs down there near chucking out time still surprises some. They still remember the void 25/30 years ago.
Mind, they're probably the same folks that would call the 49, the 649!
(09 Jun 2021, 10:49 am)Andreos1 See, I know others who are going out earlier and coming back earlier.
You've got BTRBC under the Tyne Bridge plus the Baltic, Sage and the hotels along there too. Hard Rock has just opened.
It's not all the Livello or Aveika crowd.
For all the Q3 does a job, it's not very attractive for those on the Quayside who are needing to head south or connect with something at Gateshead.
Adrian mentioned the 56 a week or two back, there's the 53/54 which could easily be sent down there on an evening or even a 21.
Very little outlay or expenditure to do so, but there is the potential for an increase in revenue and custom.
As an example, it's often easier me climbing up to Shields Road or New Bridge St and getting the first bus in to the town (before coming back out again) if I'm down the Ouseburn.
A reliable connection between the Q3 and something south at the bottom of Dean Street could be a lot easier (and cheaper) for me and many others.
Isn't it just. Yet the legacy and habits created back then, still last now.
I remember the last 194 from Heworth that left at 23.15 and terminated at Newbottle was always heaving on a weekend.
It would pick up and drop off at various points, but always (like 2 or 3 other runs prior) miss out Fatfield and chucking out time there.
Some people are stuck in there habits and even if we have a few quiet ones in the club, the idea that the 4 runs down there near chucking out time still surprises some. They still remember the void 25/30 years ago.
Mind, they're probably the same folks that would call the 49, the 649!
(09 Jun 2021, 11:52 am)streetdeckfan I keep hearing all these 3 digit route numbers mentioned on here, is there a reason they were phased out?
(09 Jun 2021, 12:14 pm)Rob44 631 632 633 648 648 all used by me as a child in the 80's when off to my grandparents every Saturday
(09 Jun 2021, 12:14 pm)Rob44 631 632 633 648 648 all used by me as a child in the 80's when off to my grandparents every Saturday
(09 Jun 2021, 12:38 pm)streetdeckfan So did the first number signify that the bus route was in a certain area?
(09 Jun 2021, 12:38 pm)streetdeckfan So did the first number signify that the bus route was in a certain area?
(09 Jun 2021, 1:53 pm)JP6004 Sure 57bwas the 527 and possibly the 56 was 187?
(09 Jun 2021, 2:12 pm)Rob44 was the 527 not the VFM bus from central station to South shields?
(09 Jun 2021, 2:12 pm)Rob44 was the 527 not the VFM bus from central station to South shields?
(09 Jun 2021, 2:12 pm)Rob44 was the 527 not the VFM bus from central station to South shields?Might of 527 or 557 that was curtailed at wardley in 00s? Not too sure
(09 Jun 2021, 1:55 pm)cbma06 The 56 Newcastle to springwell estate every 10 minutes was always 56, service got extended to Sunderland in replace of 187/188, and replaced 185 in Sunderland alsoDidnt one of then go down heworth road?
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(09 Jun 2021, 2:12 pm)Rob44 was the 527 not the VFM bus from central station to South shields?Might of 527 or 557 that was curtailed at wardley in 00s? Not too sure
(09 Jun 2021, 1:55 pm)cbma06 The 56 Newcastle to springwell estate every 10 minutes was always 56, service got extended to Sunderland in replace of 187/188, and replaced 185 in Sunderland alsoDidnt one of then go down heworth road?
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(09 Jun 2021, 12:48 pm)cbma06 This is only Roughly:
00’s Newcastle area
100’s Sunderland/houghton/Washington area
200’s Durham east area
300’s north Tyneside
400’s scholars
500’s south tyneside
600’s Gateshead
700’s Stanley/consett/Durham/Chester area
800’s
900’s Works
Others will know exact areas
(09 Jun 2021, 12:48 pm)cbma06 This is only Roughly:
00’s Newcastle area
100’s Sunderland/houghton/Washington area
200’s Durham east area
300’s north Tyneside
400’s scholars
500’s south tyneside
600’s Gateshead
700’s Stanley/consett/Durham/Chester area
800’s
900’s Works
Others will know exact areas
The Q3 isnt very convenient either if you want to take advantage of the £1 fare on an evening between wallsend and quayside, if the service curtails at St Peter's basin. That hasnt really been thought through at all given the micro breweries,restaurants and bars around the quayside/ouseburn area
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