(17 Aug 2014, 3:52 am)Dan wrote No good when it comes to numbering roads - is the A1231 next to The Wavendon in Sunderland? Chester Road? Description suits, and I've been on buses that have been stuck on that road in the traffic for 20 minutes before.

I'm sure I've said before that I've walked it quicker than the bus has done it. Inevitable delays, and thankfully GNE run extra 8s around that time which means that there doesn't tend to be anyone to pick up from Waterview Park to The Galleries, and the driver of the 8s at least can make up time a little. There's nothing in place for the 78s, but even despite service changes to service 16 in Sunderland, Stagecoach has to regulate their buses pretty much every day and there's not much GNE can do. Some days you can get down in 5 mins, other days it's 20 mins...

That road really needs to be worked on, as it's no good for car users (I certainly wouldn't want to drive there after 4pm) or bus users (who experience delays of 20 mins or more because of it).

(17 Aug 2014, 7:59 am)nk55 wrote Widening is taking place beside the new vantec warehouse, queues can be back to nissan/waterview pk junction at peaks. Hopefully the issues at cls should be lessoned after today with the re-opening of the road between northlands roundabout and the A1M roundabout.

(17 Aug 2014, 8:04 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote That is a bad stretch - not only because of the amount of traffic.
In the winter it is bad due to the low lying sun that smacks you right in the eyes as you drop down the hill heading west.

(17 Aug 2014, 8:04 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote That is a bad stretch - not only because of the amount of traffic.
In the winter it is bad due to the low lying sun that smacks you right in the eyes as you drop down the hill heading west.


What do drivers think of the new roundabout at Pelton/Perkinsville?
I tend to avoid using it these days, so unsure how it is affecting the 34's or 28's.

(17 Aug 2014, 8:24 am)nk55 wrote It hasn't helped at all, traffic comes quicker from chester direction, also the dip coming from pelton means probable grounding for the versas if you try and cross quickly, coming from perkinsville isn't bad because there's no traffic going round the roundabout to beat the queues, traffic lights would've helped. The new northlands roundabout will help greatly " when " its completed.

(17 Aug 2014, 8:04 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote What do drivers think of the new roundabout at Pelton/Perkinsville?
I tend to avoid using it these days, so unsure how it is affecting the 34's or 28's.

(17 Aug 2014, 8:24 am)nk55 wrote It hasn't helped at all, traffic comes quicker from chester direction, also the dip coming from pelton means probable grounding for the versas if you try and cross quickly, coming from perkinsville isn't bad because there's no traffic going round the roundabout to beat the queues, traffic lights would've helped. The new northlands roundabout will help greatly " when " its completed.

(17 Aug 2014, 8:32 am)AdamY wrote I think DCC went in with some sort of plan then managed to somehow over-complicate an improvement which should have been simple.

The junction probably needed to be simplified into a straight-forward roundabout in my view, but what they've managed to achieve is quite strange.

(17 Aug 2014, 8:31 am)Robert wrote I'm assuming the northlands roundabout is the one that the 21 and X25 uses. Traffic lights would probably work and make it a hell of a lot easier, especially in those peak times.

(17 Aug 2014, 8:40 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Aye, that's the one.
Heard rumours of traffic lights - whether it happens or not...

DCC are the total opposite to Gateshead Council.
Whereas I wish I bought shares in traffic light companies used by Gateshead Council - I just wish I had bought a few in roundabout construction companies used by DCC

(17 Aug 2014, 8:52 am)AdamY wrote I believe there was once a plan to create a new link road from the Drum Industrial Estate roundabout towards the Pelton to Pelaw road. If built, that may have slightly eased congestion around Pelton.

(17 Aug 2014, 9:09 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Across the site of the car boot sale farm?

Never heard that one to be honest.
I know the roundabout has the spur on, but just guessed it was to improve access to the site - rather than as a link road.

The old road across the farm is still used on Sundays, but closed for the rest of the week.

(17 Aug 2014, 9:19 am)AdamY wrote Yup, that's the one.

Rumour has it (or local gossip - just something I heard from a local) that a new housing estate was intended to built there as well. Instead, developers opted for the Roseberry Park site. I guess there were problems in obtaining a CPO.

(17 Aug 2014, 9:25 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Guessing the land must have been cheaper up at Roseberry too. Scope to extend once the school is demolished too.

Wonder if the airstrip being in Pelton would have had an impact on the houses being built on the farm/car boot sale site?

Just to stay on topic - with all these new houses being built, will we see an increase in services

(17 Aug 2014, 9:38 am)AdamY wrote Even though Roseberry Park looks like it might end up having around 150-200 houses overall I think it's unlikely that GNE will be diverting services through Newfield anytime soon. However, there is scope for a slight diversion via Newfield and Station Lane into Pelton for service 78. This diversion would also lift the restriction on single-deckers being used for the route.

I think bus companies are reluctant to serve new housing estates in general. Lack of custom and potential backlash from residents wishing to have their streets 'safe' and free from through traffic are probably most deciding factors.

Never knew about the airstrip in Pelton.

(17 Aug 2014, 9:47 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Not sure buses would enter the estates, but scope for the main roads in the area - particularly in an estate designed for families.

Aye, the airstrip is on the farm immediately behind the new school in Pelton running in a nw/se direction in the field between the 'new' road and the old road.
So when landing/taking off, aircraft come in low over the car boot sale site.

(17 Aug 2014, 9:58 am)AdamY wrote Even 'main roads' cause concern for some residents.

Using 'The Bronx' (Bleach Green, Blaydon) as an example, buses used to run through the estate via Springfield Road and Beech Terrace at the top; or via Larch Road, Birch Road, Sycamore Road, Pine Road, Cypress Road and Beech Terrace if cutting through. When it was being redeveloped as 'High View' (an ironic and appropriate name if one remembers the area), the estate was closed and buses diverted with the exception of the 49A/B/C (don't remember the lettered variation) route via Hazel Road. As the development was nearing completion, it was expected that services would resume routes through the estate. However, some residents objected and, as a result, residents living in the estate are forced to either walk to either Shibdon or Blaydon Bank to catch their bus.

There was someone kicking-off on GNE's Facebook Page (approx 2010) about buses resuming their routes through the estate. I'll try and find it sometime.

(17 Aug 2014, 10:21 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote 'The Bronx' in Birtley have had their buses removed too.
Just the 23 these days.

(15 Aug 2014, 7:12 am)Dan wrote As an update on recent repaints; Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne 3878 (W188 SCU) is currently at Saltmeadows, undergoing repaint into corporate livery.

Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 4972 should move over to Saltmeadows this weekend for its freshen up repaint.

(19 Aug 2014, 9:28 am)Greg in Weardale wrote Does anyone know if the Citaro demo is still on Lime and, if so, what workings it's on today, please.

(19 Aug 2014, 9:43 am)gtom wrote Pretty bad disruption in Birtley due to an armed robbery at the Post Office on Durham Road, I've been sitting in Southbound traffic for ages

(19 Aug 2014, 10:53 am)NEBCD Malarkey wrote 9120 departing The Galleries now (11:52) on the 8 to Sunderland, Operating 20 Minutes Late.

(19 Aug 2014, 12:26 pm)Robert wrote Now going into Stanley for Consett

(19 Aug 2014, 1:02 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote 9120 leaving Consett on 78 for Sunderland on time at 14.00