(13 Aug 2013, 9:14 am)CatsFast101 wrote Well the evening & Sunday 34's heading to Waldridge Park take about 10 Mins longer and require a change at Chester-Le-Street. My understanding was that a 28 came in set down at south burns at 20:45 then goes round onto Front Street to work the remaining part of the 34A to Waldridge Park, leaving at 20:52. Then the bus that did 20:26 34A departure from Ouston gets into Chester for 20:42, drops off any through passengers on front street then runs round and does the 20:50 departure on the 28B at South Burns. It's the same on a Sunday 11:26 34A departure from Ouston does the same, drops off through passengers on front street at 11:42, runs round to South Bjrns for the 11:47 28 departure. The 28 from Newcastle would get into Chester at 11:48 then it runs round to front street to work the remaining 34A to Waldridge Park at 11:52.

On the evenings, I think it's a pointless interworking as on Sunday it's because the route takes a little more than hour (including layover times) so thats why the interworking allows them to have extra time. However on evenings, i think 5 mins layover at South Burns in adequet in my opinion so I'm not sure why this happens, as it only case as disruption to through passengers on the 34- which if unavoidable fair enough I suppose, but in this case I don't see why it needs to? Anyone got any ideas? It must happen as I have no other reasons hy the 34A's need a change of buses in Chester. The only explanation I have is that this way means the 34A takes up a wholly one hour cycle, as the route doesn't really allow for much layover either side at Ouston/Urpeth or at Waldridge Park, so the extra time to keep the service on track is used in Chester on the route forward, and interworking allows them to kill time (so it becomes an hour round trip) and also helps with time keeping.

(13 Aug 2013, 11:06 am)CatsFast101 wrote And what confirmation do we have of an X7 upgrade? I didn't know that had been said, could the M1 Solars not be for WTX & the Waggonway (4+5=9) then the other 2 I'm not sure where they'll end up. Then as for the 34 Renowns or the simplicity Versa's is my only thought. Otherwise I'm not sure where new buses for the X7 will come from unless they are going to order some new buses for the X7? Loadings are very good now, I'd argue one of the fastest growing routes in recent times, it started steady but now a lot of people are using it as it provides a lot of newer or faster connections.

(13 Aug 2013, 11:01 am)Daniel wrote If Deptford were not to be helped out a little, Crook's "The OK Way" service 18 could potentially be extended, as has been requested many a time. PVR would increase by 1, and the three spare Versas from the "Drifter" brand could go to "The OK Way" instead of just two.

(13 Aug 2013, 11:43 am)W179SCU wrote Where did people requested the 18 to be extended to?

(13 Aug 2013, 11:43 am)W179SCU wrote Where did people requested the 18 to be extended to?

(13 Aug 2013, 12:10 pm)Wellsey18 wrote Mpd 504 has been internally refurbished with the new go moquette looks quite smart actually

(13 Aug 2013, 12:24 pm)Michael wrote Couple more new style timetables have being uploaded...

307 - Northen, Doesn't it interwork with the 17/17A?
309/X39 new timetable has being uploaded...
310


78/78A has now being uploaded... yesterday it was opening the 8 timetable, so now

8/78A/V8 is on one timetable
78/78A is on one timetable.


X84/X85 requires 4 buses.

(13 Aug 2013, 12:30 pm)W179SCU wrote Yeah, the 307 does interwork with the 17 (not 17A as that doesn't go to ASDA)

(13 Aug 2013, 12:24 pm)Michael wrote Couple more new style timetables have being uploaded...

307 - Northen, Doesn't it interwork with the 17/17A?
309/X39 new timetable has being uploaded...
310


78/78A has now being uploaded... yesterday it was opening the 8 timetable, so now

8/78A/V8 is on one timetable
78/78A is on one timetable.


X84/X85 requires 4 buses.

(13 Aug 2013, 11:06 am)CatsFast101 wrote Loadings are very good now, I'd argue one of the fastest growing routes in recent times, it started steady but now a lot of people are using it as it provides a lot of newer or faster connections.

(13 Aug 2013, 12:41 pm)gtomlinson wrote Speaking of inter working, what does the X22 work with outside of term time?

(13 Aug 2013, 1:21 pm)big mac wrote It's been a while since I've used the X7, but one thing I did notice was that the loadings were pretty good on the Sunderland-Peterlee section of the route, but much less well used beyond Peterlee to Middlesbrough. Are more people now using it as it branded ie. a Wear Tees Express?

(13 Aug 2013, 1:22 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Nothing I don't believe. Looking the timetable I'd suggest it's standalone.

(13 Aug 2013, 1:22 pm)CatsFast101 wrote I nearly said that myself. Sunderland-Peterlee (where I most commonly use it) very good. Not as good towards Middlesbrough it maybe a cause of those doing Peterlee-Middlesbrough can use the X9 quicker (only 10 minutes but still). I think it's decent towards Wingate & StationTown but then are many passengers there switching to use GNE to travel further south? I have seen X7's leave Peterlee towards Middlesbrough looking busier than X9's in the same direction.

(13 Aug 2013, 10:06 am)Daniel wrote http://northeastbuses.co.uk/gnefleetsearch.php?fleetno=®=&chassis=&bodywork=&depot=&livery=plum&year=
Five vehicles have been repainted into a plum base livery. The "Wear Tees Xpress" X7 PVR is three, and Deptford holds a branded spare also. Five vehicles wouldn't be repainted into this plum livery for the "Wear Tees Xpress", four would.

(13 Aug 2013, 4:16 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I think they'll make it a PVR of 5 so that there are 2 Spares, One at Sunderland if there is a brake down that way or nearby, then one at Peterlee to cover a brake down between Peterlee and Middlesbrough, then have the other 3 out in service.

(13 Aug 2013, 4:19 pm)Daniel wrote I thought that originally to help with reliability and therefore increase passenger loyalty, but I'm told Peterlee is not allowed to hold a branded "Wear Tees Xpress" B10BLE spare - so that can't happen.
It's not all down to Deptford's engineers dealing with "Wear Tees Xpress" issues. :p

(13 Aug 2013, 4:29 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Peterlee aren't allowed to hold a branded spare? Could you elaborate on that? I'm sure when the WTX started the plan was for all 4 vehicles to remain at Peterlee. I assumed they later decided to keep the spare at Deptford to cover breakdowns at Sunderland.

(13 Aug 2013, 6:56 pm)Michael wrote its ok, it happens, they seem to be getting sloppy with most things....

(13 Aug 2013, 7:19 pm)gtomlinson wrote Re- changes.

X25

17.18 Waldridge to Newcastle now terminates at Chester Le Street (SAT)

18.30 Newcastle - Waldridge withdrawn (SAT)

Leaves a service gap of 17.55 to 19.20 on a Saturday now

18.45 Newcastle to Chester (M-F) withdrawn

Leaves a service gap of 18.06 to 19.20

(13 Aug 2013, 10:13 pm)CitaroFavourite wrote the maroon metrolink buses are for waggonway some are for lambton worm to be repainted while the last 2 are Northern red i got this info from Daniel Annis ask him he would tell ya he is a saltmeadows driver