Arriva North East: Service Suggestions

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05 Apr 2015, 10:31 pm #399

Right folks, after the discussion between some of yous on the main forum for Arriva, I've decided to come up with this. Now I know that I've suggested something very similar to this before but, the benefits are massive. Please see the attached partial timetable with the times, frequencies and stands but I'll outline the routes for you all with no evening or Sunday variations at all:

- X31 from Seacrest Rd to Newcastle via Nth Seaton NSC / Fairfield Dr, Ashington Bus Stn, Nth Seaton Elephant, Stakeford Half Moon, Bedlington Stn, Bedlington Front St Red Lion, Bedlington Hartlands, A192, A1068 then limited stop via A1, Brunton Park, Polwarth Drive, Regent Centre, Gosforth Brandling Arms and Barras Bridge (to NCL only).

- X32 from Seacrest Rd to Newcastle via Cresswell Arms, Wansbeck Hospital, Ashington Bus Stn, Nth Seaton Elephant, Stakeford Half Moon, Bedlington Stn, Bedlington Front St Red Lion, Bedlington Hartlands, A192, A1068 then limited stop via A1, Brunton Park, Polwarth Drive, Regent Centre, Gosforth Brandling Arms and Barras Bridge (to NCL only).

- X33 from Ashington Bus Station to Newcastle via Ashington Town Centre, Ashington Park, Briardene, Stakeford Ashington Drive, Wansbeck Estate, Guide Post, Choppington, Bedlington Glebe Road Red Lion, Ridge Terrace, Nedderton Village, A192, A1068 then limited stop via A1, Brunton Park, Polwarth Drive, Regent Centre, Gosforth Brandling Arms and Barras Bridge (to NCL only).

- 35 increased to every 30 minutes during the evenings and on Sundays.

Now for Monday to Saturday daytime, the PVR would be 16 and it would work like this:
- X33 Ashington to Newcastle (1hr journey followed by 15 minute layover).
- X31 Newcastle to Newbiggin (1hr 11m journey followed by 15 minute layover).
- X31 Newbiggin to Newcastle (1hr 12m journey followed by 7 minute layover).
- X32 Newcastle to Newbiggin (1hr 13m journey followed by 11 minute layover).
- X32 Newbiggin to Newcastle (1hr 14m journey followed by 7 minute layover).
- X33 Newcastle to Ashington (1hr journey followed by 15 minute minute layover).

Now the Sunday daytime total PVR for the X31 / X32 / X33 and 35 would be 10 and it would work like this with two separate boards:
Board 1 with a PVR of 6:
- X33 Ashington to Newcastle (57m journey followed by 5 minute layover).
- X31 Newcastle to Newbiggin (1hr 10m journey followed by 4 minute layover).
- 35 Newbiggin to Morpeth (38m journey followed by 3 minute layover).
- 35 Morpeth to Newbiggin (37m journey followed by 5 minute layover).
- X31 Newbiggin to Newcastle (1hr 8m journey followed by 5 minute layover).
- X33 Newcastle to Ashington (58m journey followed by 10 minute layover).
Board 2 with a PVR of 4:
- 35 Morpeth to Newbiggin (37m journey followed by 4 minute layover).
- X32 Newbiggin to Newcastle (1hr 9m journey followed by 15 minute layover).
- X32 Newcastle to Newbiggin (1hr 11m journey followed by 3 minute layover).
- 35 Newbiggin to Morpeth (38m journey followed by 3 minute layover).

The main benefits of all of the above would be:
- Very generous layover time allowing services to make up lost time in out of the blue circumstances without having to up the timetable and make most journeys longer.
- Faster journey times from places on the current X21 route between Newbiggin and Bedlington to Newcastle.
- Regular service at all times through North Seaton even during evenings and Sundays.
- 35 increased to every 30 minutes during evenings and Sundays.
- Core up to 15 minute frequency from Newbiggin and between Ashington and Newcastle with another service providing all local links en-route.
- More frequent and even service from Bedlington Front Street Red Lion with 4 buses per hour running up to every 15 minutes.
- Nice, fast and easy to use bus service without having to take a grand de-tour of Nedderton Village (except the X33).
- Despite the X33 taking a longer route than the current X22, the journey time would most likely be the same due to all the delays that the X22 encounters between Glebe Road and Bedlington Front Street and with the 15 minute gap (technically 20) in service causing the current service to get hammered at the Red Lion Stop.
- Journeys towards Ashington between Newcastle and Stakeford (either Ashington Drive or Half Moon) given more time to complete their journey on a Sunday to help with congestion issues in Newcastle City Centre.

Here's a brief timetable (NOT AN OFFICIAL ARRIVA PUBLICATION):

x31x32x33.pdf
Size 18.37 KB / Downloads 35

Now for branding:
- Arriva could ditch the Sapphire brand and perhaps re-introduce the Northumbria Express 'red meat' brand using the old NMS base livery. The logo could be the old NMS triangle with NORTHUMBRIA written at the top with a white line behind with EXPRESS written at the bottom of the logo with a white line behind express.
- On the front blind of the E400, the logo could be placed both left and right of the blind with NORTHUMBRIA written at the top of the blind and EXPRESS written at the bottom of the blind.
- On the panel below the drivers windscreen, perhaps some famous names to do with the area such as Jackie Millburn, could be applied to the panel.
- On the grey parts of the base coat above the passenger entrance and drivers cab window, the Arriva logo could be applied.
- On the panel covering the stair way on the offside, the Northumbria Express logo could be applied.
- On the panels between the upper and lower saloon on both sides, the route information could be applied like this
* X31 / X32 Newbiggin - Ashington - Stakeford - Bedlington - Newcastle up to every 15 minutes and fast.
then below it...........
* X33 Ashington - Wansbeck Estate - Guide Post - Choppington - Glebe Road - Nedderton - Newcastle up to every 30 minutes.
- On the rear of the E400, the Northumbria Express logo could be applied on the panel between the rear blind and upper saloon window.
- On the engine bay hood, either brief route information or taglines could be inserted.

L469 YVK