(10 Aug 2013, 10:53 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote More service reductions and GNE have the cheek to say (on simplygo.com) that changes to the 21 are “minor changes”.
GNE seem to be coming up with so called minor changes every couple of months which are really reductions in early morning, evening and weekend services. I was against quality contracts but this sort of behaviour from GNE has convinced me that quality contracts are needed to stop this erosion of services. No doubt the other GNE services that are included in the list of minor changes will see a reduction in the number of runs. My interpretation of minor changes is timing changes to improve performance measures or inter-workings.
The withdrawal of the early 21 from Durham should be seen by Arriva as an opportunity to continue to build business on the X2 by introducing an earlier first run from Durham to Newcastle. GNE have timed this very badly just when Arriva have brought in weekly tickets on the X2 offering a saving of 10% compared to the Angel Saver.

(10 Aug 2013, 3:45 pm)Daniel wrote I didn't see 3964 today but I saw all of the others mentioned that were covering for B9s on the X10. It really is quite worrying when 2+ B9s are VOR daily. Four being off on one day is really quite disgusting.

I seem to recall mentioning a few months ago that the B9 isn't built for such a demanding service as the X10, to which most people disagreed and said that seeing 2 B9s VOR daily isn't that bad and it is to be expected with monthly inspections of the vehicles etc. Has anyone had a change of heart, now that only one B9 was out on X10s today?

(10 Aug 2013, 4:29 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yes at peak times the X9/X10 is massively profitable, but it is very much used heavily from Teesside towards Tyneside and they need to try and grow the market in the opposite direction! I used the 0633 from Stockton the other day and leaving Norton there was around 20-30 people on it which I was quite impressed with. I caught the 1600 home from Newcastle and there was no spare seats after Gateshead.... The morning northbound journeys and afternoon southbound journeys are full. It is pretty outstanding considering until a few years ago it was just the hourly X10, the X9 has grown from nowhere but taken some of the pressure off the X10 which regularly used to arrive with standing passengers into Newcastle.

(10 Aug 2013, 6:36 pm)big mac wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 4:29 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yes at peak times the X9/X10 is massively profitable, but it is very much used heavily from Teesside towards Tyneside and they need to try and grow the market in the opposite direction! I used the 0633 from Stockton the other day and leaving Norton there was around 20-30 people on it which I was quite impressed with. I caught the 1600 home from Newcastle and there was no spare seats after Gateshead.... The morning northbound journeys and afternoon southbound journeys are full. It is pretty outstanding considering until a few years ago it was just the hourly X10, the X9 has grown from nowhere but taken some of the pressure off the X10 which regularly used to arrive with standing passengers into Newcastle.

I'd be curious to know how the early journeys that they have to run on the X9/X10 in order to get to Middlesbrough from the depot perform in terms of passenger numbers. For example, the 0510 X10 from Gateshead to Middlesbrough I can imagine running totally empty.

(10 Aug 2013, 4:07 pm)gtomlinson wrote I'm assuming the X9/10 is profitable? Or at the least 10 is?

I've always thought it should be treated as an Oxford Tube style service





Wouldn't necessarily have to be as large a vehicle as that or even brand new but it would certainly do a better job than B9's imo

(10 Aug 2013, 8:02 pm)Andreos1 wrote Can you imagine one of those working a 24 around Harlow Green?

(10 Aug 2013, 8:14 pm)BJ10VUS wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 8:02 pm)Andreos1 wrote Can you imagine one of those working a 24 around Harlow Green?

I'm sure Trent Chipchase wouldn't mind

(10 Aug 2013, 8:02 pm)Andreos1 wrote at the end of their TTX life?

(10 Aug 2013, 8:17 pm)Michael wrote Oh god, imagine hes moaning when he finds out the 24/24A is getting replaced by the 1/1A

(10 Aug 2013, 8:20 pm)Daniel wrote What about during their TTX life? We all know what Gateshead are like when it comes to the TTX allocations, whether they're feeling poorly or not

(10 Aug 2013, 8:02 pm)Andreos1 wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 4:07 pm)gtomlinson wrote I'm assuming the X9/10 is profitable? Or at the least 10 is?

I've always thought it should be treated as an Oxford Tube style service





Wouldn't necessarily have to be as large a vehicle as that or even brand new but it would certainly do a better job than B9's imo

I have wondered that too, but the only logical conclusion is the value for money they get from the vehicle over the lifetime.

If GNE ordered a handful of those for the X9/X10, where would they end up when they are cascaded amongst the fleet at the end of their TTX life?
Can you imagine one of those working a 24 around Harlow Green?

(10 Aug 2013, 9:00 pm)Daniel wrote gtomlinson did say that they needn't be as big as the examples he gave, but a second hand low-floor coach isn't an irrational suggestion.
Debating whether or not I prefer Scott's idea even more of leasing the coaches instead - I think I do...

We all know nothing will come of this discussion, but it's a point of discussion at the end of the day which is quite interesting in my eyes. 6043/44 were out today, and another B9 joined them later in the day (I don't know which vehicle it replaced - though rough timings would suggest 4949 - but it was powering down the A19 looking fit and healthy).

Adam, think if you were a customer today. 1/3 chance of receiving a B9 with the advertised WiFi and plug sockets... I'd be well peeved if I didn't get the B9, but got 4949 instead. If I was a mother with a pram, I'd be even more irritated by 3833.

(10 Aug 2013, 9:14 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I actually was Today going from Newcastle to Heworth, and I did have the comfort of a B9 with Wifi.

As for 3833 that was the only bus other than MPD 564 available at the time when 3964 broke down, and both were only parked around the corner on the layover, not sure on what was in the Depot other than the other 2 B9's which are VOR. Most likely a Citaro Artic would of been the replacement otherwise. Although Passengers may complain about the bus not being low floor, The problem was solved immediately compared to in the past when they've had to wait for the Next one to arrive.

(10 Aug 2013, 9:19 pm)Daniel wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:14 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I actually was Today going from Newcastle to Heworth, and I did have the comfort of a B9 with Wifi.

As for 3833 that was the only bus other than MPD 564 available at the time when 3964 broke down, and both were only parked around the corner on the layover, not sure on what was in the Depot other than the other 2 B9's which are VOR. Most likely a Citaro Artic would of been the replacement otherwise. Although Passengers may complain about the bus not being low floor, The problem was solved immediately compared to in the past when they've had to wait for the Next one to arrive.

You weren't a customer from Newcastle to Middlesbrough though, like some passengers are. You hardly benefit from a 15 minute charge of your camera/phone on the X10. Over an hour, you can benefit greatly from it.
I've frequently used the service from A to B, and often have relied on a B9 turning up so that I could charge my phone which had died earlier in the day to get in touch with someone. I only do that if I know the allocations which admittedly normal passengers wouldn't, but I should be able to be fairly confident in knowing that I'll have the advertised benefits for using the service - especially when the service can be so costly when you're >18 and travelling the full length of the service on multiple occasions.

The vehicle has to be tachoed too, which is a big factor of determining a suitable replacement for a defective B9.

(10 Aug 2013, 9:27 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:19 pm)Daniel wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:14 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I actually was Today going from Newcastle to Heworth, and I did have the comfort of a B9 with Wifi.

As for 3833 that was the only bus other than MPD 564 available at the time when 3964 broke down, and both were only parked around the corner on the layover, not sure on what was in the Depot other than the other 2 B9's which are VOR. Most likely a Citaro Artic would of been the replacement otherwise. Although Passengers may complain about the bus not being low floor, The problem was solved immediately compared to in the past when they've had to wait for the Next one to arrive.

You weren't a customer from Newcastle to Middlesbrough though, like some passengers are. You hardly benefit from a 15 minute charge of your camera/phone on the X10. Over an hour, you can benefit greatly from it.
I've frequently used the service from A to B, and often have relied on a B9 turning up so that I could charge my phone which had died earlier in the day to get in touch with someone. I only do that if I know the allocations which admittedly normal passengers wouldn't, but I should be able to be fairly confident in knowing that I'll have the advertised benefits for using the service - especially when the service can be so costly when you're >18 and travelling the full length of the service on multiple occasions.

The vehicle has to be tachoed too, which is a big factor of determining a suitable replacement for a defective B9.

I have done from Heworth to M'Boro a few times so I the same have benefited in the past. Have no reason to go all the way to Newcastle to catch it when I can go to Heworth on the M1 From Washington.

(10 Aug 2013, 9:30 pm)Daniel wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:27 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:19 pm)Daniel wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:14 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I actually was Today going from Newcastle to Heworth, and I did have the comfort of a B9 with Wifi.

As for 3833 that was the only bus other than MPD 564 available at the time when 3964 broke down, and both were only parked around the corner on the layover, not sure on what was in the Depot other than the other 2 B9's which are VOR. Most likely a Citaro Artic would of been the replacement otherwise. Although Passengers may complain about the bus not being low floor, The problem was solved immediately compared to in the past when they've had to wait for the Next one to arrive.

You weren't a customer from Newcastle to Middlesbrough though, like some passengers are. You hardly benefit from a 15 minute charge of your camera/phone on the X10. Over an hour, you can benefit greatly from it.
I've frequently used the service from A to B, and often have relied on a B9 turning up so that I could charge my phone which had died earlier in the day to get in touch with someone. I only do that if I know the allocations which admittedly normal passengers wouldn't, but I should be able to be fairly confident in knowing that I'll have the advertised benefits for using the service - especially when the service can be so costly when you're >18 and travelling the full length of the service on multiple occasions.

The vehicle has to be tachoed too, which is a big factor of determining a suitable replacement for a defective B9.

I have done from Heworth to M'Boro a few times so I the same have benefited in the past. Have no reason to go all the way to Newcastle to catch it when I can go to Heworth on the M1 From Washington.

Okay, so say you had 4949 today which was incredibly cramped rather than the usual B9 and 3833/3863/3864 was the alternative... Would you be particularly happy if you were using the service thinking you'd receive WiFi and plug sockets? No you wouldn't!

(10 Aug 2013, 9:41 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:30 pm)Daniel wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:27 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:19 pm)Daniel wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:14 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I actually was Today going from Newcastle to Heworth, and I did have the comfort of a B9 with Wifi.

As for 3833 that was the only bus other than MPD 564 available at the time when 3964 broke down, and both were only parked around the corner on the layover, not sure on what was in the Depot other than the other 2 B9's which are VOR. Most likely a Citaro Artic would of been the replacement otherwise. Although Passengers may complain about the bus not being low floor, The problem was solved immediately compared to in the past when they've had to wait for the Next one to arrive.

You weren't a customer from Newcastle to Middlesbrough though, like some passengers are. You hardly benefit from a 15 minute charge of your camera/phone on the X10. Over an hour, you can benefit greatly from it.
I've frequently used the service from A to B, and often have relied on a B9 turning up so that I could charge my phone which had died earlier in the day to get in touch with someone. I only do that if I know the allocations which admittedly normal passengers wouldn't, but I should be able to be fairly confident in knowing that I'll have the advertised benefits for using the service - especially when the service can be so costly when you're >18 and travelling the full length of the service on multiple occasions.

The vehicle has to be tachoed too, which is a big factor of determining a suitable replacement for a defective B9.

I have done from Heworth to M'Boro a few times so I the same have benefited in the past. Have no reason to go all the way to Newcastle to catch it when I can go to Heworth on the M1 From Washington.

Okay, so say you had 4949 today which was incredibly cramped rather than the usual B9 and 3833/3863/3864 was the alternative... Would you be particularly happy if you were using the service thinking you'd receive WiFi and plug sockets? No you wouldn't!

No I wouldn't to be honest, although I don't use my phone that often I wouldn't of minded having a trip on 3833 on the X10 though. I think of other services which have this same problem i.e. X30/X31/X70/X71, They always seem to have an Olympian on them, I know they don't have Wifi but even so, passengers must be just as sick as those on the X9/X10.