North East Buses

(27 Mar 2018, 8:03 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]6126, 6127, 6129 - Stanley to Riverside (for Jewish Scholars)
3995, 3996, 6136 - Stanley to Percy Main
6009, 6025, 6031 - Withdrawn (replaced as above)
559 - Withdrawn (suffered defects, 4899 has replaced it)
4937 - Withdrawn (suffered defects, but was already planned for withdrawal).

Will 4899 be withdrawn next month as its tax runs out.

(27 Mar 2018, 2:09 pm)S830OFT wrote [ -> ]Will 4899 be withdrawn next month as its tax runs out.

Tax is no problem to renew, it's just MOT which has a more significant cost.

(27 Mar 2018, 10:26 am)xpm wrote [ -> ]Blue Buzzfare will get you as far as the Frenchmans (Just past Throckley bank top) - If you want to ride the full route you'll need a 3 Zone+ Buzz as it goes through Cherry and Orange as well - you need all the zones you travel through - not just the one you board at.  NSAs were recently introduced on the route, but still need a bit of tweaking at the moment.

My planned trip is Denton Burn - Eldon Square - Haymarket - Cobalt Business Park - Haymarket - Eldon Square - Denton Burn, which involves Tynedale Express X84/X85, Cobalt Clipper 309/310 and some walking. I hope the connections work out. I think a Blue Zone covers my journey. Do I just ask for a Blue Zone?

After I took a return trip on the Tynedale Links 74 recently, I was thinking how do the drivers keep track of where every has to get off when using the Adult Return or Blue Zone or whatever? 

Thanks.

(27 Mar 2018, 8:03 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]6126, 6127, 6129 - Stanley to Riverside (for Jewish Scholars)
3995, 3996, 6136 - Stanley to Percy Main
6009, 6025, 6031 - Withdrawn (replaced as above)
559 - Withdrawn (suffered defects, 4899 has replaced it)
4937 - Withdrawn (suffered defects, but was already planned for withdrawal).

6136 still at Stanley this afternoon, it worked the 16:50 peak X21.  I guess it's due to move soon.

(27 Mar 2018, 3:13 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]My planned trip is Denton Burn - Eldon Square - Haymarket - Cobalt Business Park - Haymarket - Eldon Square - Denton Burn, which involves Tynedale Express X84/X85, Cobalt Clipper 309/310 and some walking. I hope the connections work out. I think a Blue Zone covers my journey. Do I just ask for a Blue Zone?

After I took a return trip on the Tynedale Links 74 recently, I was thinking how do the drivers keep track of where every has to get off when using the Adult Return or Blue Zone or whatever? 

Thanks.

Over-riding has probably been an issue since buses were invented.
Until all operators introduce a system where passengers are required to clock out on disembarking, I not sure it will ever be solved.

The Amsterdam tram system introduced a touch in/touch out system years ago. There will still be the problem of people travelling for free. But for those who do clock in, it will be impossible for them to over-ride.

(27 Mar 2018, 7:31 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Over-riding has probably been an issue since buses were invented.
Until all operators introduce a system where passengers are required to clock out on disembarking, I not sure it will ever be solved.

The Amsterdam tram system introduced a touch in/touch out system years ago. There will still be the problem of people travelling for free. But for those who do clock in, it will be impossible for them to over-ride.

Yes, I am sure it probably has. Requiring passengers to clock out when disembarking is a good idea. I don't know what the penalty for over-riding would be. I thought perhaps the driver was alerted when someone passed the point of the journey they had a valid ticket for, as passengers board with a Return or a particular zone ticket which goes into the machine, and could potentially tell drivers when someone has stayed on too long and needs to pay the extra. 

People will always find ways of getting around things, but a tap in/tap out system is a good solution. I would think a potential fine would be a good deterrent for regular bus users.

(27 Mar 2018, 3:13 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]My planned trip is Denton Burn - Eldon Square - Haymarket - Cobalt Business Park - Haymarket - Eldon Square - Denton Burn, which involves Tynedale Express X84/X85, Cobalt Clipper 309/310 and some walking. I hope the connections work out. I think a Blue Zone covers my journey. 

[quote="OrangeArrow49" pid='215228' dateline='1522180664']

Yes, I am sure it probably has. Requiring passengers to clock out when disembarking is a good idea. I don't know what the penalty for over-riding would be. I thought perhaps the driver was alerted when someone passed the point of the journey they had a valid ticket for, as passengers board with a Return or a particular zone ticket which goes into the machine, and could potentially tell drivers when someone has stayed on too long and needs to pay the extra. 

People will always find ways of getting around things, but a tap in/tap out system is a good solution. I would think a potential fine would be a good deterrent for regular bus users.

Drivers aren't revenue protections and it would be nothing short of impratical if that was another of their concerns. People who get on without purchase get radio'd in, but aside from that there's not much deliberation from drivers over people who abuse the system. The orange jacket revenue protection officers are the ones who deal with that stuff, but for whatever reason, never seem to have a huge public presence.

(27 Mar 2018, 2:29 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Tax is no problem to renew, it's just MOT which has a more significant cost.

Yard man reckons 4899 is going next week (for the third time). I'll miss it, always a smooth drive.

5205 looked expired when I passed it earlier in Seaham. Fitter doing something to it, whilst a driver was busy getting settled in an un-identified Solar that had just pulled in behind it.
Not sure which route was affected.

I know weekdays at 16:00 there is 2 309 runsfrom blyth to newcastle due to the rest going out of service to cobalt for the X39 but it doesn't run on saturday or sunday so is there more 309s at 16:00

(28 Mar 2018, 4:49 pm)GNE6312 wrote [ -> ]I know weekdays at 16:00 there is 2 309 runsfrom blyth to newcastle due to the rest going out of service to cobalt for the X39 but it doesn't run on saturday or sunday so is there more 309s at 16:00

Although 2x drop out at Blyth and go light to Cobalt to run the X39, the only significant gap is between 16:26 and 17:06. Better than before Jul 2016 when the 309 used to go down to every 30 minutes after 4pm.

(27 Mar 2018, 11:21 pm)MrBoyt wrote [ -> ]Yard man reckons 4899 is going next week (for the third time). I'll miss it, always a smooth drive.

Really sad, big fan. Anyone know where its knocking about for a final ride.

(27 Mar 2018, 8:03 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]6126, 6127, 6129 - Stanley to Riverside (for Jewish Scholars)
3995, 3996, 6136 - Stanley to Percy Main
6009, 6025, 6031 - Withdrawn (replaced as above)
559 - Withdrawn (suffered defects, 4899 has replaced it)
4937 - Withdrawn (suffered defects, but was already planned for withdrawal).

Leaves Deptford with all Euro 5 and 6 buses now.

Im going to miss the solars

(29 Mar 2018, 9:01 am)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]Im going to miss the solars

Still got the 54 plate ones for a while yet like

5438 has been repainted plain red and has gained advert frames

Perhaps one for service suggestions, but I was thinking maybe the Quaylink brand should go.

Quaylink is a long-standing brand previously with Stagecoach, and now less of a fitting brand with the Q3 going to Wallsend and the Q1/Q2 further into Gateshead.

I would scrap Quaylink and Blue Arrow creating a new either indiGo Links or indiGo Arrows brand incorporating Q1/Q2/Q3, 11/11A and 42/42A. The Q would still highlight the Quay link of the route, and update/expand three brand over all.

(29 Mar 2018, 3:40 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]Perhaps one for service suggestions, but I was thinking maybe the Quaylink brand should go.

Quaylink is a long-standing brand previously with Stagecoach, and now less of a fitting brand with the Q3 going to Wallsend and the Q1/Q2 further into Gateshead.

I would scrap Quaylink and Blue Arrow creating a new either indiGo Links or indiGo Arrows brand incorporating Q1/Q2/Q3, 11/11A and 42/42A. The Q would still highlight the Quay link of the route, and update/expand three brand over all.

Whole idea of the Quaylink brand is that they go to the Quayside, which al of them do, no argumenta there. Its a recognised and settled brand. Especially with tourists to the area.

(29 Mar 2018, 4:00 pm)ifm001 wrote [ -> ]Whole idea of the Quaylink brand is that they go to the Quayside, which al of them do, no argumenta there. Its a recognised and settled brand. Especially with tourists to the area.

True. When the Quaylink service launched with Stagecoach operating it, the idea was that it ran to and from the Quayside, a new circular service. No idea what served the Quayside before? Now it goes further, the Quayside is only part of the route (albeit a significant one) and this would be recognised in the Q prefix, at the same time as promoting other links as part of a wider (and GNE original) brand with potential to expand further. The buses would remain bright yellow and recognisable for tourists. GNE regularly changes brands/colours.  

A further suggestion would be to divert a service along the Stagecoach 12 route to compete against that, with both the Coaster and Blue Arrow services going along Shields Road and the Q3 serving Walker Road. GNE doesn't serve Byker Metro, Stagecoach does. The 1/1A and 11/11A go to Whitley Bay via Byker and the 12 and 39/40 go to Walker/Wallsend via Byker, but Stagecoach's 12 goes a different route, picking up passengers GNE could with their cheaper fares and features. I don't see why even some Coaster or Blue Arrow couldn't divert along the route providing a further link for GNE.

(29 Mar 2018, 3:11 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote [ -> ]5438 has been repainted plain red and has gained advert frames

5401,5389,5419 should aswell then ?