(30 Oct 2023, 12:32 pm)Andreos1 wrote What's that 777 route? Can't remember that mind. 
Aware the PTE maps weren't always the most accurate, but that's a new one on me.

(30 Oct 2023, 11:37 am)Adrian wrote Here's a rough sketch of the 50 route:

(30 Oct 2023, 1:00 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Very short lived.

By January 1987, it was replaced by this:



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(30 Oct 2023, 1:41 pm)Andreos1 wrote Convinced I was using the 777 to/from Vigo Lane before those dates.

Shows how the mind can play tricks on you.

(30 Oct 2023, 11:37 am)MurdnunoC wrote And because of my natural proclivity to provide a historical perspective. Here are some maps covering Newcastle and Gateshead from 1981 and 1986 respectively







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(30 Oct 2023, 2:56 pm)DeltaMan wrote You were right. According to my March 1985 Timetable book, a 777 ran from Chester to Sunderland via Vigo Lane!

(30 Oct 2023, 4:09 pm)Rob44 wrote This looks like hub and spoke to me????

(30 Oct 2023, 4:09 pm)Rob44 wrote This looks like hub and spoke to me????

(30 Oct 2023, 4:35 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I never claimed otherwise.

However, you'll see on both maps that the spokes are connected through other services. In the Newcastle example, we have the 49 (deemed as the 'Outerline', I think the 41 was deemed as the 'Innerline', IIRC) connecting Throckley with West Denton, Kingston Park, Gosforth, Heaton before heading towards Wallsend.

In Gateshead, you had services like the 616/617 which connected Blaydon with the West End of Newcastle, largely because of the employment offered by Stella Ppwer Station, at the time. Or the 715 which connected Rowlands Gill with Burnopfield and Stanley.

Those maps weren't intended to prove or disprove anything, but to provide a little bit of historical perspective on how thr network looked around 40 years ago (rounded up before anyone claims it was 37 years ago, and not 40).

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(30 Oct 2023, 4:49 pm)Rob44 wrote Its a shame a similar map on now isnt available  When I thnk of the buses that went along scotswood road when it had the houses/ factories  and pubs!!  No business park or metro centre then.

.

(30 Oct 2023, 5:26 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I agree

But while Stagecoach's network changes at an almost glacial pace, GNE's seems to alter whenever the weather changes.

So any map produced by Nexus will be probably be outdated when published.

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(30 Oct 2023, 6:12 pm)Rob44 wrote its as if GNE management don't have a clue what they are doing???

(30 Oct 2023, 6:12 pm)Rob44 wrote its as if GNE management don't have a clue what they are doing???

(30 Oct 2023, 6:38 pm)Andreos1 wrote Well it has been questioned on here many, many times and with all of the numbers and evidence seeming to back that up...
Members on here could be correct in their thinking.

(30 Oct 2023, 8:19 pm)Adrian wrote I've no doubt there's still some bold thinkers and people full of ideas over at Bensham, but like in any organisation, those talents are wasted when they're harboured behind clowns like Featham and Maxfield.

(08 Nov 2023, 11:33 am)ASX_Terranova wrote For an upstart bus operator, how much money realistically would they need to run a hourly service mon to fri with a PVR of 2 including fuel and vehicle purchase. I'm thinking between 400 and 500k a year, would I be correct?

(08 Nov 2023, 11:33 am)ASX_Terranova wrote For an upstart bus operator, how much money realistically would they need to run a hourly service mon to fri with a PVR of 2 including fuel and vehicle purchase. I'm thinking between 400 and 500k a year, would I be correct?

(29 Dec 2023, 9:59 pm)Unber43 wrote Went to the metro the other night, my friend drivers but hes at Uni (i still havent got around to getting a car but my commute is only 20 mins by bus so not bothered atm, but most of the time I get a lift) So I went to his and we decided to go to the Metro it was awful, absoutely awful, full of kids (yes not anything Buses can do about it) but what really was the turn off was the bus station, kids were running around throwing pop at each other (they should have been made to clean it up) shouting, screaming, fighting next to people walking, absoltuely no staff just some tape for the taped off areas (whcih did little to stop the vile youths).

And the bus back into the City Centre was awful, bell ringning none stop for no one to get off, kids screaming, no wonder peopel would rather use the car, even just a short hop, I think we will get an Uber next time.

Something needs to be done about this abhorant behaviour by vile youths if they want public transport to succeed, people have to feel safe using it, and if im being honest on an evening I do not.

(03 Apr 2024, 1:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote Well tickle me with a feather. 

'People tell survey that buses don't meet their needs' shocker. 
https://www.ippr.org/media-office/stop-treating-transport-as-a-culture-war-and-deliver-on-peoples-priorities-says-ippr

(03 Apr 2024, 2:27 pm)MurdnunoC wrote A pretty small sample size for my liking, perhaps one better suited to those terrible twins, Tim and Tom Dodds.



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(11 Apr 2024, 8:48 pm)Ambassador wrote Thought this may interest some on here. I attended an HR get together Cobalt .and here’s some summarised feedback (disclaimer I have no idea if this is shared with operators or not)

Majority of colleagues remain on hybrid with 1/2 days in office being the average norm. it was felt ticketing options didn’t really address this but acknowledged the new pricing was a positive in terms of day rovers. 

Issues with the. 19 running early or observing the wrong stop, GCT also not accepting the Cobalt free travel zone (which covers the park essentially). Some speeding around the bus gate area was reported 

Feedback that 22X is better served as a decker and colleagues prefer the morning run as the competing X39 has too many stops in comparison.

Feedback that the 22X terminus/waiting point at Market St isn’t convenient for other connections, could this be reviewed or the waiting time removed

Negative feedback on the admittedly limited use of single deckers on the X39 and general time keeping of the service, Quality of buses on the route was a sticking point but overwhelming positive comments about the drivers attitude and service  on the service. Ambassador suggested a note was sent to GNE to relay this feedback around driving team

Reintroduction of the 16.38 service was positive but Stagecoach and GNE expresses are bunched together. Could timing be reviewed to provide a more stable regular express to town

90% of colleagues said they’d stay late or work longer to avoid using a non express bus to Newcastle.

Interior layout, WiFi and charge points was listed as a low priority


As I say,  nothing new or astounding here but thought it might interest folk and we all know we love a coast road service on here

(11 Apr 2024, 8:48 pm)Ambassador wrote Thought this may interest some on here. I attended an HR get together Cobalt .and here’s some summarised feedback (disclaimer I have no idea if this is shared with operators or not) 

Majority of colleagues remain on hybrid with 1/2 days in office being the average norm. it was felt ticketing options didn’t really address this but acknowledged the new pricing was a positive in terms of day rovers. 

Issues with the. 19 running early or observing the wrong stop, GCT also not accepting the Cobalt free travel zone (which covers the park essentially). Some speeding around the bus gate area was reported 

Feedback that 22X is better served as a decker and colleagues prefer the morning run as the competing X39 has too many stops in comparison.

Feedback that the 22X terminus/waiting point at Market St isn’t convenient for other connections, could this be reviewed or the waiting time removed

Negative feedback on the admittedly limited use of single deckers on the X39 and general time keeping of the service, Quality of buses on the route was a sticking point but overwhelming positive comments about the drivers attitude and service  on the service. Ambassador suggested a note was sent to GNE to relay this feedback around driving team

Reintroduction of the 16.38 service was positive but Stagecoach and GNE expresses are bunched together. Could timing be reviewed to provide a more stable regular express to town

90% of colleagues said they’d stay late or work longer to avoid using a non express bus to Newcastle.

Interior layout, WiFi and charge points was listed as a low priority


As I say,  nothing new or astounding here but thought it might interest folk and we all know we love a coast road service on here

(11 Apr 2024, 9:36 pm)Storx wrote Must admit, I'm still surprised there's not been more of a push to get a proper service to Northumberland Park (ie 22 extension).

It seems a much quicker and easier journey time, even if you had to change twice than pissing about at Market Street, Haymarket or wherever. Like Gateshead is only 23 minutes on the Metro to Gateshead, say a 10 minute interchange at Northumberland Park (if you had a 10 minute service), you're looking at 38 minutes. Much more competitive than a bus which gets stuck at Corner House etc.

Always seems a missed opportunity to me, the 19's at peak times when they used to be every 15 minutes always seemed quite busy whenever I seen them pulling in. Crazy how bad the connection is from the biggest business park in the UK to the Metro system is considering it's only a mile between them.