North East Buses

(20 May 2016, 6:24 pm)Michael Euston wrote [ -> ]Service X5 Middlesbrough to Easington.

We have 4 service 5/5A Sapphire buses per hour running from Middlesbrough to Skelton all following the same route. At Skelton the 5A's divert to ASDA and finish in Brotton. The 5's run to Easington, one via Skinningrove and the other via Liverton Mines. Surely one of the 5's could run as an express X56, cutting down the journey time by 10 minutes into East Cleveland.

If one of the 5's ran via the X66 and limited stop to Guisborough [as the X93 does now] the journey would be 27 minutes -not 37 minutes. Then the new X5 could do both the Skinningrove and Liverton Mines detours- or have more lay-over time in Easington. The only passengers to miss out would be in North Ormesby and on Cargo Fleet Lane- which does have quite a few other buses.

I know the X5 has been tried before but the route via Marske was silly. Years ago the old X56 could do the route in an hour!  Perhaps a morning and evening trial to start with.

That would just confuse people. The current arrangement means that the core section between Middlesbrough, Guisborough, Skelton and Brotton is every 15 minutes (admittedly not from Brotton into Middlesbrough but that's more due to the different routings).

As for the X56 being able to do the route in an hour - there's a lot more traffic these days! All routes have extra padding time in case of delays or accidents enroute.

Now that stops have been placed along Schalksmuhle Road in Bedlington, I'd suggest running the 2 along there instead of the Front Street on Monday-Saturday daytime. The 43 would serve the Front Street hourly, and removing that small part of the route would help timekeeping on the 2.

With Ashington's Station Road expected to open to westbound traffic in about six months time, maybe Arriva could route the 35/35A down there heading to Morpeth? It avoids the hellish Asda traffic lights, and could also observe the stop at Wilkinson's.

Maybe a possibility for Go North East's 434 too? The current stopping arrangement for that service on Laburnum Terrace is causing delays to other road users.

My proposal won't miss any stops out as there aren't any between the North Seaton Road and Park Road junctions.

Service suggestions for Ashington to Newcastle

Service X31 (Mondays to Saturdays every 30 minutes / evenings and Sundays every 60 minutes) serving: current X21 route between Newbiggin and Bedlington Front Street then via the current X22 route through the Hartlands to Newcastle. Would no longer call at Cresswell Arms in Newbiggin. Evening and Sunday journeys with the exception of omitting the Cresswell Arms would remain largely unchanged (bar some slight timing changes between Wansbeck Hospital and Newbiggin) including still inter working with service 35 as well as operating via Nedderton.

Service X32 (Mondays to Saturdays every 30 minutes / evenings and Sundays every 60 minutes) serving: Mostly the same route as the current X22 between Ashington and Newcastle omitting the Business Park, Booths Road and Station Road. Buses would instead operate via Lintonville Terrace and Rotary Parkway to the roundabout near Ninth Row then down towards Park Road. Evening and Sunday journeys would remain unchanged and serve the Business Park, Booths Road and Station Road as per now.

Service X33 (Mondays to Saturdays ONLY, every 30 minutes) serving: Same route as X22 between Ashington and Remscheid Way. From there, buses would then operate via the A196 and Stakeford Lane calling at all stops towards Guide Post Health Centre. From the Health Centre, this service would then operate down to Glebe Road to the Red Lion Roundabout then operate via current X21 route along Ridge Terrace and through Nedderton towards Newcastle.

Notes for the above

* Services X31 / X32 / X33 would operate EVERY 10 MINUTES combined during Monday to Saturday from Ashington Bus Station as well as between Hartford Bank and Newcastle. Journey times for all 3x services would be 55 minutes from end to end (Ashington to Newcastle).

* Services X31 / X32 would operate a 10/20 incarnation (very similar to GNE Red Kite services 45 / 46) between Ashington and Newcastle at Stakeford (either from Half Moon or Ashington Drive) as well as between Bedlington Front Street and Newcastle in both directions. Service X31 would operate 10 minutes before service X31 towards Newcastle with service X32 operating 10 minutes before service X31 towards Ashington.

* Services X32 / X33 would operate a 10/20 incarnation in Ashington (Bus Station only) as well as between Willow Vale and Guide Post Health Centre in both directions.

* Services X32 / X33 would operate every 15 minutes combined between Park Road and Remscheid Way in both directions.

* During Mondays to Saturdays, services X31 / X32 would benefit from improved reliability owing to Bedlington Front Street being classed as a major stopping point with 2 minutes layover in both directions for both services. Services X31 / X32 would be timed for 8 minutes between Bedlington Station or Guide Post Square to Bedlington Front Street on top of this.

* Service X31 would not only benefit from the additional 2 minutes layover but also an extra minute running time between Stakeford and Bedlington Station.

* The total PVR would reduce from 15x vehicles to 14x vehicles for these services alongside improved reliability.

* As a result of the above changes, the allocation would consist of 7518, 7522-7528 and 6x of the best out of 7501 - 7509 series with 3x acting as spares.

* No changes to PVR, routes (bar new service numbers and omitting the Cresswell Arms), inter working patterns or times during evenings and Sundays.

Routes on Map between Ashington and Hartford Bank (Mondays to Saturdays)

Service X31: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/55.184...e2!1m0!3e0

Service X32: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/55.184...60!1m0!3e0


Service X33: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/55.184...2c!1m0!3e0

Timing Sample
[attachment=7936]

X21. Sunderland - Grangetown - Ryhope - a19 - Easington village - peterlee.
This service will serve Easington.
X22. Sunderland - Grangetown - Ryhope - seaham - spectrum - dalton park - Easington village - peterlee - sherburn - durham.
This service will run hourly allowing the 22 to be hourly aswell.

(13 Jun 2016, 6:45 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote [ -> ]X21. Sunderland - Grangetown - Ryhope - a19 - Easington village - peterlee.
This service will serve Easington.
X22. Sunderland - Grangetown - Ryhope - seaham - spectrum - dalton park - Easington village - peterlee - sherburn - durham.
This service will run hourly allowing the 22 to be hourly aswell.

There isn't really time to send the X21 via Easington Village and it can't be easily accessed from the A19 on Peterlee bound journeys, you would have to either come off at the junction for Dalton Park or Little Thorpe where you would have to go onto Easington Village and perform a loop back to Little Thorpe to reach Peterlee, either way both would simply make the service take longer.

The X22 running via Seaham seafront from Sunderland and Dalton Park would take considerably longer than the current 22 making the X prefix laughable, not to mention that the service number would clash with the peak time East Durham College X22 runs.

I have decided to do some service/allocation suggestions for ANE:
2601, 2602, 2603, 2801, 2802, 2815, 2816 and 2821 would be freed up from lost contracts.
2871 would gain WiFi for the 6 and 2870 would stay NEXUS for evening 18/18As. Two corporate solos would run the evening and Sunday 32/32A.

Service 55 would be edited to run half hourly but would run a revised route:
The current route to Forest Hall shops then it would follow the 53 to Benton ASDA where it would terminate taking 27 minutes therefore a PVR of two pulsars (two pulsar boards on the 43/44/45 would be run by two spare geminis.)
1764, 1774, 1775 and 2806 are thus freed up.

NEW FREQUENTA 56 would run from Forest Hall Meadway-Hollywood Avenue every 10 minutes which would run the following route:
Current 55 route Meadway-The top of Osborne Road where it would run through Jesmond down Osborne Road to St Mary's Place where it would pull into the Haymarket, it would then follow the Great North Road to Regent Centre where it would turn down Hollywood Avenue to terminate at the turning circle taking 48 minutes but waiting 6 minutes in the Haymarket Bus Station therefore a twelve minute layover at Hollywood Avenue. The PVR would be made up of (all would be branded):
2801
2802
2806
2815
2816
2821
2824
2826 (1774 would transfer over to Stockton)
2831
2834
2837
2848 (1764 would be 46 extra bus)

1775 and 2870 would be the allocation of the 51.

New MAX X17 service would run with a PVR of 3 (2601-2603) which would be MAXED running between Haymarket and Morpeth Lancaster Park. It would be express Newcastle-Ponteland only calling at Cowgate KFC, Kenton Bar Roundabout and Newcastle Airport then it would follow the PCL 79 route Ponteland-Morpeth and finally the Arriva 33 to Lancaster Park taking 1 hour 26 minutes.
This allows for 1761 to be freed up. The service would run out of Jesmond depot.
12 new streetlites would come for services 52/53/54 allowing them to be branded Eco Green.
4516-4523 would therefore be withdrawn.
1480-1482 would also be branded MAX for the X17 between the Haymarket and Ponteland Thornhill Road only and 1483 would be a MAX spare. They would also be fitted with luggage racks.

(28 Jun 2016, 4:08 pm)NK53 TKT wrote [ -> ]I have decided to do some service/allocation suggestions for ANE:
2601, 2602, 2603, 2801, 2802, 2815, 2816 and 2821 would be freed up from lost contracts.
2871 would gain WiFi for the 6 and 2870 would stay NEXUS for evening 18/18As. Two corporate solos would run the evening and Sunday 32/32A.

Service 55 would be edited to run half hourly but would run a revised route:
The current route to Forest Hall shops then it would follow the 53 to Benton ASDA where it would terminate taking 27 minutes therefore a PVR of two pulsars (two pulsar boards on the 43/44/45 would be run by two spare geminis.)
1764, 1774, 1775 and 2806 are thus freed up.

NEW FREQUENTA 56 would run from Forest Hall Meadway-Hollywood Avenue every 10 minutes which would run the following route:
Current 55 route Meadway-The top of Osborne Road where it would run through Jesmond down Osborne Road to St Mary's Place where it would pull into the Haymarket, it would then follow the Great North Road to Regent Centre where it would turn down Hollywood Avenue to terminate at the turning circle taking 48 minutes but waiting 6 minutes in the Haymarket Bus Station therefore a twelve minute layover at Hollywood Avenue. The PVR would be made up of (all would be branded):
2801
2802
2806
2815
2816
2821
2824
2826 (1774 would transfer over to Stockton)
2831
2834
2837
2848 (1764 would be 46 extra bus)

1775 and 2870 would be the allocation of the 51.

New MAX X17 service would run with a PVR of 3 (2601-2603) which would be MAXED running between Haymarket and Morpeth Lancaster Park. It would be express Newcastle-Ponteland only calling at Cowgate KFC, Kenton Bar Roundabout and Newcastle Airport then it would follow the PCL 79 route Ponteland-Morpeth and finally the Arriva 33 to Lancaster Park taking 1 hour 26 minutes.
This allows for 1761 to be freed up. The service would run out of Jesmond depot.
12 new streetlites would come for services 52/53/54 allowing them to be branded Eco Green.
4516-4523 would therefore be withdrawn.
1480-1482 would also be branded MAX for the X17 between the Haymarket and Ponteland Thornhill Road only and 1483 would be a MAX spare. They would also be fitted with luggage racks.

I dont think 2601 - 2603 would go max as there too small and the x17 should use the long pulsars the full route

(28 Jun 2016, 7:09 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote [ -> ]I dont think 2601 - 2603 would go max as there too small and the x17 should use the long pulsars the full route

The roads are too small

Why make the 55 half hourly,Forest Hall has been one for suffering over the years,its lost the 343/344 to whitley bay along with the newcastle to whitley bay service 355,to make its only frequent arriva service to town to every 30 minutes in my opinion is just silly,make it every 30 mins on a night time thats fair enough,what it needs is some sort of whitley service re-introduced instead of having to chop and change buses

(28 Jun 2016, 11:00 pm)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]Why make the 55 half hourly,Forest Hall has been one for suffering over the years,its lost the 343/344 to whitley bay along with the newcastle to whitley bay service 355,to make its only frequent arriva service to town to every 30 minutes in my opinion is just silly,make it every 30 mins on a night time thats fair enough,what it needs is some sort of whitley service re-introduced instead of having to chop and change buses

I only did that because of the Frequenta 56

(29 Jun 2016, 7:16 am)NK53 TKT wrote [ -> ]I only did that because of the Frequenta 56

You could make your 56 go to Whitley

(29 Jun 2016, 2:31 pm)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]You could make your 56 go to Whitley

Not enough solos

(29 Jun 2016, 6:07 pm)NK53 TKT wrote [ -> ]Not enough solos

What about a mixed allocation,56 would probably have to be every 30 mins,theres not alot in whitley it would just be nice to have the lost link restored,i do think arriva should trial the 51 to run every 30 mins

(29 Jun 2016, 9:46 pm)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]What about a mixed allocation,56 would probably have to be every 30 mins,theres not alot in whitley it would just be nice to have the lost link restored,i do think arriva should trial the 51 to run every 30 mins

I agree about the 51 gets very busy between Newcastle and asda with the solos. Should extend the service to Newcastle on Sunday too.

(29 Jun 2016, 9:48 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]I agree about the 51 gets very busy between Newcastle and asda with the solos. Should extend the service to Newcastle on Sunday too.

I completely agree

(29 Jun 2016, 9:46 pm)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]What about a mixed allocation,56 would probably have to be every 30 mins,theres not alot in whitley it would just be nice to have the lost link restored,i do think arriva should trial the 51 to run every 30 mins

How about this for the 56:
Two more pulsars off the 43/44/45 with one extra ALX400 and one extra Gemini replacing them and extending the 56 to Whitley Bay following the 51 route but missing out Beaumont Park and Whitley Lodge (due to pulsars being large buses thus not fitting down some of the small roads) having three buses an hour Newcastle-Whitley Bay via Benton ASDA. It would also run Four Lane Ends-Forest Hall following the 353 route down Whitley Road
This also still allows a faster link between Newcastle-Forest Hall than the Frequenta 56

Right, I'm going to re-do my proposal:

I have decided to do some service/allocation suggestions for ANE:
2601, 2602, 2603, 2801, 2802, 2815, 2816 and 2821 would be freed up from lost contracts.
2871 would gain WiFi for the 6 and 2870 would stay NEXUS for evening 18/18As. Two corporate solos would run the evening and Sunday 32/32A.

Service 55 would be edited to run half hourly but would run a revised route:
The current route to Four Lane Ends then it would follow the 353 to Forest Hall, then the 53 to Benton ASDA where it would then go through Holystone to Northumberland Park, where it would then go up Emmerson Place and Earsdon Road to Earsdon where it would follow the Arriva 57 to Whitley Bay where it would terminate taking just under 45 minutes therefore a PVR of three pulsars (two pulsar boards on the 43/44/45 would be run by two 1402 and 1403 which would transfer from Blyth due to the being surplus and one board would be run by a spare gemini.)
1764, 1774, 1775 and 2806 are thus freed up.

NEW FREQUENTA 56 would run from Forest Hall Meadway-Hollywood Avenue every 10 minutes (every 30 minutes Evenings and Sundays) which would run the following route:
Current 55 route Meadway-The top of Osborne Road where it would run through Jesmond down Osborne Road to St Mary's Place where it would pull into the Haymarket, it would then follow the Great North Road to Regent Centre where it would turn down Hollywood Avenue to terminate at the turning circle taking 48 minutes but waiting 2 minutes in the Haymarket Bus Station and four minutes in Four Lane Ends in both directions, therefore a six minute layover at Hollywood Avenue. The PVR would be made up of (all would be branded):
2801
2802
2806
2815
2816
2821
2824
2826 (1764 would transfer over to Stockton)
2831
2834
2837
2848

1761, 1774, 1775 and 2870 would be the allocation of the 51 allowing a full route 30 minute frequency. The 51 and 55 would depart the Haymarket in the following way:
00 and 30 past the hour 51
15 and 45 past the hour 55.
They would both be hourly on Sundays full route with 1774 and 1775 running on the 32/32A.

New MAX X17 service would run with a PVR of 6 (1481-1483 and 2601-2603) which would be MAXED running between Haymarket and Morpeth Lancaster Park. It would be express Newcastle-Ponteland only calling at Cowgate KFC, Kenton Bar Roundabout and Newcastle Airport then it would follow the OLD HOWARD SNAITH 79 route Ponteland-Morpeth via Ogle, Whalton, Tranwell Woods and Mitford following this route: This would also free up 1761 due to the loss of the 33.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Haymar...172188!3e0

18 Eco Green streetlites would come for Jesmond for services 52/53/54 allowing all of these services to be every 20 minutes and allowing 4516-4520 to be withdrawn. 4521 and 4522 would transfer to Blyth to be spares replacing 1402 and 1403. 4523 would stay on replacing 1419 allowing it to be MAXED with a half-hourly Newcastle-Kirkhill frequency including a PVR rise of one. 1480-1483 would be MAXED for the X17 with three journeys per hour terminating at Ponteland Thornhill Road taking 26 minutes and the one journey  1480 would be a MAX spare for the X16/X17. One journey per hour would continue to Lancaster Park. 2809 which is a spare at Ashington would transfer as a MAX spare in case 2601-2603 are VOR.

Extention of the 53 to whitley bay once an hour,it will pretty much follow the 1 from North Shields to Marden Estate,then the old X6 route into Whitley Bay

My plan .
X12. This service will be revised to operate hourly and only be ran by belmont.
New x13.
Newcastle - Gateshead - chester le street - framwellgate moor - durham - sedgefield - newton aycliffe - darlington.
This service will operate hourly with a pvr of 5.
3x journeys will be darlington
2x journeys be belmont.
The service will be max using pulsars ( 1441,42,61,62,63)
4812-14 will be used on the 8,12.
This service replaces the 21 and gives a choice of route to durham and a bus to newcastle.
21A this service is withdrawn but replaced.
New 25.
Middlesbrough - stockton - sedgefield - wingate - peterlee
This service will operate half hourly and operate on the old 21A route this service replaces the x12 journeys up to sedgefield.
There will be a new link to sunderland.
New 26.
Sunderland - Grangetown - Ryhope - mill inn - seaton lane- mill inn - westlea - Strangford road - seaham byron place - dawdon - parkside - dawdon - spectrum - dalton park - murton - hetton le hole - low moorsley - belmont - durham.
This service will be introduced to compete with Go north east services the service will replace the x21 to Ryhope village and then serve estates on to seaham the service will provide additional transport upon seaton lane.
The service will operate a simmilar route to the 265.
The service serves spectrum giving a bus directly to durham.
The service will use optare solos.
New x23. This service will operate at peak times replacing the x21 and x22.
On school days the service will serve seaham.
Route 23 will operate hourly during peak periods