Arriva North East: Service Suggestions

Storx

4,584

22 Dec 2021, 1:53 pm #1,136

(21 Dec 2021, 9:54 pm)omnicity4659 Some suggestions for Northumberland services...

2: Blyth - Bedlington Station - Bedlington - Guide Post - Stobhill - Morpeth - Kirkhill
Will serve Red House Farm in Bedlington on all journeys, replacing the 43.

Truncated to run as far as Morpeth only, with journeys to Kirkhill replaced by 35A.

X20: Alnwick - Amble - Widdrington - Ashington - North Seaton - Newcastle
Altered to run via Hawthorn Road in Ashington, instead of Alexandra Road.

X21: Newcastle - Nedderton - Bedlington - Bedlington Station - Milburn Road - Ashington - Wansbeck Hospital - Newbiggin
Altered to run via Woodhorn after Wansbeck Hospital, instead of Spital.

Terminating at Cresswell Arms after Seacrest Road.

Frequency remains every 20 minutes.

X22: Newcastle - Bedlington - Guide Post - Stakeford - Fallowfield - Ashington
Extended to Newbiggin after Ashington, running via Alexandra Road, North Seaton, The Demesne and Spital.

Terminating at Seacrest Road after St Andrew's Church.

Frequency remains every 20 minutes.

35: Morpeth - Pegswood - Ashington - North Seaton - Newbiggin - Woodhorn
Truncated to run as far as Cresswell Arms, instead of to Woodhorn and Seacrest Road.

Extended to Morpeth station and Stobhill (35) and Kirkhill (35A), every 30 minutes on each extension.

Altered to run via North Seaton Spar, instead of via The Demesne.

Frequency will be every 15 minutes between Morpeth and Ashington, every 30 minutes to North Seaton & Newbiggin.

43: Newcastle - Wideopen - Seaton Burn - Dudley - Cramlington - Bedlington - Morpeth
Truncated to run between Newcastle and Cramlington only.

Positives
Newbiggin gets 8 buses per hour, up from 6.

Woodhorn Road in Newbiggin gets an extra bus per hour, with faster journeys to Wansbeck Hospital & Ashington.

More buses per hour to North Seaton (6) and Alexandra Road (3).

Hawthorn Road in Ashington will retain 3 buses per hour, with a reinstated fast link to Newcastle on X20.

Direct access to Morpeth railway station from Ashington and Pegswood, linking with improved rail service provision.

More buses per hour to Red House Farm in Bedlington and Stobhill in Morpeth.

Every 15 minute service between Morpeth, Pegswood and Ashington reinstated.

Negatives
Loss of service between Nedderton and Stobhill.

Loss of 1 bus per hour between Bedlington and Cramlington.

Kirkhill loses direct access to Morpeth railway station, and onwards to Blyth.

Newbiggin, North Seaton and Hawthorn Road loses 1 bus per hour to Morpeth.

Don't think they're actually a bad idea tbf. Only missing link is Morpeth to Cramlington but not sure if it's really needed. Going to add some to cover the other side of the SE Northumberland.

X7: Additionally serve Amersham Drive (Every 20 Minutes)

Increase services between Seaton Valley and Newcastle/Blyth
Reduce services through Burradon and Newcastle (there's too many imo).
Increased and evening service for Amersham Drive.

X8: Withdrawn, replaced by X12 and 43A.

Removing duplicate services, Cramlington to Quorum already covered by 52.
Southern section of the route covered by 43A with negligible timings.
High Pit gets quicker services with X12.

X9: Withdrawn, replaced by 43 and 58

Worst performing service at Blyth and often dead.
Amersham Drive service increased to every 20 minutes on X7 with evening service.
Beacon Hill evening services with the 43.

X10: No Change (Every 30 Mins)

X11: No Change (Every 30 Mins)

X12 - Newcastle -> Regent Centre -> DIRECT -> Cramlington -> High Pit -> Eastfield -> Shankhouse -> Bebside -> Blyth (Every 30 Mins)

Provides a quicker service for passengers from the North of Blyth which is too slow atm.
Restores service every 10 minutes service between Cramlington and Newcastle.

43: Newcastle -> Regent Centre -> Dudley -> Cramlington -> Beacon Hill (Every 30 Minutes).

Better resources for Beacon Hill with intention of doing a loop around the new housing estate, meaning no crossing a busy dual carriageway when complete.
Evening service to Beacon Hill and replacement for 58 on that part of the route.

43A: Newcastle -> Regent Centre -> Dudley -> Fern Drive -> Annitsford -> High Pit -> Cramlington (Every 30 Minutes)

Too many services between Dudley and Cramlington (8 buses atm).
Gives Fern Drive a bus back to Newcastle
Rest of X8 route, new journey times are neglible and High Pit has new X12.

57: Ashington -> Bedlington -> Cramlington -> Dudley Lane -> Broad Law -> Front Street -> Seghill -> Whitley Bay (Every 60 Minutes)

Restores every 30 minute service through Seghill, links to hospital still exist from other areas with 19 and 58.

57A: No Change (Every 60 Minutes)

58: New Hartley -> East Cramlington -> High Pit -> Cramlington -> Nedderton -> East Hartford -> South Beach -> Blyth (Every 60 Minutes)

No longer serving Seaton Sluice, can change at New Hartley for the passengers there are.
No longer serving housing estate in Seaton Delaval, it's not needed and carts around fresh air.
Keeps links lost on X9 being withdrawn with most passengers having buses on the X7/X10/X11 depending on location.
East Hartford gets a new link to Blyth.

PVR's (I believe)

X7/X8/X9 - 7 (14).
X12 - 5 (-)
57/57A - No Change
58 - 2 (1)
43/43A - 8 (7)

Positives

More frequent service from Seaton Valley and South Beach to Newcastle.
Duplicates removed with the 52/X8 the former which isn't busy.
Faster service from Cowpen, Bebside and High Pit to Newcastle
Fern Drive gains bus back to Newcastle.
Evening service from Beacon Hill and Amersham Drive.
Restored express services of every 10 minutes between Newcastle and Cramlington with most areas served by one of the services.
Fix the allocation issues with singles and deckers (X7 - Pulsar, X10/X11/X12 - Decker)
Additional capacity for students from Annitsford going to Seaton Burn school.

Negatives

Only 1 bus an hour between South Beach and Cramlington
58 will struggle but it's needed to fill gaps (no doubt subsidised but it is already).
Only 3 express services from Burradon and Quorum to Newcastle (but it's enough).
Beacon Hill to Newcastle slower.