(18 Sep 2014, 5:48 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]November changes are very positive, and it's certainly refreshing to see. The cynic in me would suggest the 8 changes may be in retaliation to losing the 73 to Gateshead Central Taxis. Aside from Teal Farm, I'd say it'll now be quite difficult for Nexus to justify securing that route in it's entirety.
One slight criticism would be that there appeared to be no consultation. I don't use GNE buses nearly as much as I used to, but I've certainly been on 8's and 4's numerous times a week. Consultation is always a good thing, and something that GNE have historically done very well (apart from the Metrolink consultation 
).
The changes are good, changing the M2 etc to 82 etc is a good move.
The changes to the 8 is the only one which effects me, i use it on a morning to Washington... looks like i'll be stuck with the Silver Arrows, either way i still get to ride a decent bus!
I also use it to Beamish
@aureolin: Re the 8/73. Which can only be a good thing. The less taxpayer money spent propping up gaps the big boys choose to ignore - the better.
Unfortunately, the 8 is launched 6months after the GCT contract was agreed and if you are right, demonstrates the power afforded to the big boys in de-regulated market, in dictating the provision on offer.
(18 Sep 2014, 5:54 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]The changes are good, changing the M2 etc to 82 etc is a good move.
The changes to the 8 is the only one which effects me, i use it on a morning to Washington... looks like i'll be stuck with the Silver Arrows, either way i still get to ride a decent bus!
I also use it to Beamish
It shouldnt really affect you considering the first 8A from Sunderland is at 0627 and goes the same way as the current 8...Unless its because of time reasons it should be fine.
(18 Sep 2014, 6:00 pm)Robert wrote [ -> ]It shouldnt really affect you considering the first 8A from Sunderland is at 0627 and goes the same way as the current 8...
I normally get the 8:01am or 8:31am one =(
Either way, the Silver Arrows is quite quick to the galls to, its ok, just typical when they are gonna get new buses on the lime they change its bloody route!
(18 Sep 2014, 6:00 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]@aureolin: Re the 8/73. Which can only be a good thing. The less taxpayer money spent propping up gaps the big boys choose to ignore - the better.
Unfortunately, the 8 is launched 6months after the GCT contract was agreed and if you are right, demonstrates the power afforded to the big boys in de-regulated market, in dictating the provision on offer.
Watch what you say. You may end up getting a tirade of abuse from busman1
You're right in what you say though. I'd like to think it was done exactly for the reasons listed in the news article, but I'm far too cynical for that. We'd have still had the X4 otherwise.
(18 Sep 2014, 6:00 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]@aureolin: Re the 8/73. Which can only be a good thing. The less taxpayer money spent propping up gaps the big boys choose to ignore - the better.
Unfortunately, the 8 is launched 6months after the GCT contract was agreed and if you are right, demonstrates the power afforded to the big boys in de-regulated market, in dictating the provision on offer.
I really think these changes to the 8 could work, Castletown has new links to Beamish etc..... no doubt people will be pleased with the changes
(18 Sep 2014, 6:02 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]I normally get the 8:01am or 8:31am one =(
Either way, the Silver Arrows is quite quick to the galls to, its ok, just typical when they are gonna get new buses on the lime they change its bloody route!
Shame the 8A doesnt run for the for the whole day. Especially with the hospital there as well which supports aureolin's point about the customer consultation. As much as i doubt it will make a difference to people there is now 1 less bus (or no bus at all) from Waterview Park to the Hospital at all during the day where people will need it most.
(18 Sep 2014, 6:10 pm)Robert wrote [ -> ]Shame the 8A doesnt run for the for the whole day. Especially with the hospital there as well which supports aureolin's point about the customer consultation. As much as i doubt it will make a difference to people there is now 1 less bus (or no bus at all) from Waterview Park to the Hospital at all during the day where people will need it most.
Ye, i was hoping they would both run hourly, at the time it seemed like the best idea, the link is lost but like u said, 1 less bus won't make a difference, the choice of bus is quite good to the hospital with buses from different area's connecting to a bus from Park Lane/Holmeside to the hospital.
@Michael - I agree, new links are being opened and it reduces overkill on Chester Road, but as Robert pointed out - direct links to the hospital are lost from a number of areas.
Appreciate what you say about changing buses - but someone going for tests, coming home from tests etc (basically those who don't qualify for Patient Transport) or are visiting friends/family - don't want to faff on changing buses, particularly when a direct bus has existed for a number of years (remember the patter GNE came up with re the x2?).
It also leaves huge swathes of Washington, without a bus to one of their local hospitals (the QE being the other which covers Washington).
It could be argued that numbers don't commercially justify a direct bus to the hospital - but (without repeating the same old mantra) who comes first?
Which areas of Washington don't have a direct service to Sunderland Royal Hospital when the changes to service 8 take effect?
(18 Sep 2014, 7:06 pm)AdamY wrote [ -> ]Which areas of Washington don't have a direct service to Sunderland Royal Hospital when the changes to service 8 take effect?
Just Barmston, Picktree and Rickleton, compared to now.
(18 Sep 2014, 7:13 pm)aureolin wrote [ -> ]Just Barmston, Picktree and Rickleton, compared to now.
Granted, there are parts of Washington which don't have a direct service to the Royal Hospital, but I don't think this revision is as drastic as Andreos suggests. Re-routing service 8 will not leave huge swathes of Washington without a link to the Royal Hospital mostly because that link doesn't exist (at least in recent years).
If the revised service 8 is successful then perhaps there's scope to reroute service 73 to create new links from North Washington to the Royal Hospital.
There are also those at Teal Farm who walk/use a 37 to Waterview Park and those from Spout Lane (and the estate just off it) who can use the 8 on the A1231 slip roads.
You also have people in Washington Village, Glebe, JFK Est, Brady Square etc who had the option of an 8 being just a short walk away.
The 8 also provided an alternative to the 78, for those referred to specialists at Sunderland, from other areas within the Chester area (not served by the 78).
This now requires a change of bus and I know of two family members who will be affected by the change.
However, I do appreciate there can't be the level of service which guarantees a bus to anywhere and everywhere.
When mention of the 8 being re-routed was suggested, I did think (and mentioned on here), that a diversion via Pallion would work - maintaining links to the hospital from all areas.
Whether timings were impossible or it wasn't an option - who knows...
(18 Sep 2014, 8:02 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]There are also those at Teal Farm who walk/use a 37 to Waterview Park and those from Spout Lane (and the estate just off it) who can use the 8 on the A1231 slip roads.
You also have people in Washington Village, Glebe, JFK Est, Brady Square etc who had the option of an 8 being just a short walk away.
The 8 also provided an alternative to the 78, for those referred to specialists at Sunderland, from other areas within the Chester area (not served by the 78).
This now requires a change of bus and I know of two family members who will be affected by the change.
However, I do appreciate there can't be the level of service which guarantees a bus to anywhere and everywhere.
When mention of the 8 being re-routed was suggested, I did think (and mentioned on here), that a diversion via Pallion would work - maintaining links to the hospital from all areas.
Whether timings were impossible or it wasn't an option - who knows...
I did forget about Glebe and Brady Square if I'm honest. Those in Glebe can still get the 2A from the police station bus link, or a short walk to Biddick. Brady Square can do the same, as the stop for the 2A is just round the corner (on Parkway), from where they would have to walk for the 8.
I'd say the ones that can walk from the Village or JFK estate for the nearest 8 stop (Fatfield Road) could probably source the energy to change buses, but it does of course result in additional expense, through the removal of ability to purchase a single or return. It always baffled me that the A2B tickets were scrapped years ago...
To be honest, when the changes were announced, I thought that both services 8 and 8A would operate all-day (or at least until 6-ish) with buses alternating between the different routes thus maintaining links to the Royal Hospital - albeit with a reduced frequency.
From the comments on here, I gather that a few services per day will operate as service 8A while the rest operate as service 8.
(18 Sep 2014, 8:16 pm)AdamY wrote [ -> ]To be honest, when the changes were announced, I thought that both services 8 and 8A would operate all-day (or at least until 6-ish) with buses alternating between the different routes thus maintaining links to the Royal Hospital - albeit with a reduced frequency.
From the comments on here, I gather that a few services per day operate as service 8A while the rest operate as service 8.
Only peak times operate as 8A - a few in the morning, one in the evening.
DWP are moving some staff to a new complex on hylton riverside, so the rerouting of the 8 is helping staff in that sense, also chester road has too many buses running down and i'm sure passengers from picktree (zero), rickleton (very few) and barmston (handful) can easily connect at the galleries for the royal.
(18 Sep 2014, 9:07 pm)nk55 wrote [ -> ]DWP are moving some staff to a new complex on hylton riverside, so the rerouting of the 8 is helping staff in that sense, also chester road has too many buses running down and i'm sure passengers from picktree (zero), rickleton (very few) and barmston (handful) can easily connect at the galleries for the royal.
It's a good move, to many buses on chester road
(19 Sep 2014, 3:26 pm)Robert wrote [ -> ]Why im happy that there are changes being made to service 825:
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...ol-7794623
Glad they are making changes, if the children are holding back by not getting on the first bus then they need to make sure they do.
Maybe have extra driver on each bus to make sure buses aren't over crowded?... even though it might cost extra..