(29 Dec 2014, 2:38 pm)Andreos1 wrote Seeing as people are claiming credit for services changing, the FPF want some credit too...

Just need them to sort out fares and get a service back to Newcastle.
Mind, the Avenue Vivian bad boys (or whatever they're called), deserve some credit too.

(29 Dec 2014, 2:06 pm)Dan wrote Both directions.

Go North East stated on their website that the changes are being made to improve reliability, with the service operating direct between Lambton and Chester-le-Street. Haven't looked at the timetable, but I'm guessing the time saved by not serving Ayton will be used up in increased layover time and/or recovery time at a timing point mid-route.

(29 Dec 2014, 4:27 pm)aureolin wrote RE: The 82/82A/83 changes. Is the 83 just being binned altogether? It goes on about axing the Concord-Heworth section, then the Birtley-Rickleton section? Then it's missing altogether from the new timetable that's linked at the bottom?

Also, Arriva provide no buses between Washington and Heworth, as mentioned in the news article? All Arriva 82/83 runs terminate at Concord? Will through-fares still be available connecting to and from the 4?

(29 Dec 2014, 4:32 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I'm glad I'm not the only one that found this confusing.

I feel it should have started off with something like 'Service 83 will be renumbered...' or 'Service 83 will be withdrawn and replaced by...' before going into detail about the changes. 

me:

Regarding the news article - http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-services-from-25-january-and-1-february-2015/ 
 
Could you tell me exactly what changes are being made to the 82/82A/83 please? The points listed in the article are over-confusing.
keylive:
Hi - Can I ask which points you are finding confusing?
me:
To clarify, you state that the 83 will no longer operate between Concord and Heworth, then further on, state that the 83 will no longer operate between Birtley and Rickleton. What is the new route? It doesn't appear to be in the timetable at all now?
me:
Furthermore, you state that the evening journeys  between Heworth and Lambton, provided by Arriva, continue to operate unchanged. Arriva don't operate any services to Heworth, and all their 82/83 runs terminate at Concord?
me:
And will through fares still be valid for those using the Arriva 82/83, wanting to continue their journey to Heworth (via the 4 now), and vice versa?
keylive:
Could you please take a moment to fill out the following form so that these issues can be addressed? Thank you. http://www.simplygo.com/contactusform/

(29 Dec 2014, 4:36 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote Although some of the changes are positive, it must be realised that the overall effect is a decrease in service. Assuming the PVR changes on post #719 are correct and routes 27 and 56 save one bus each, GNE's claim that they are to improve reliability is being somewhat economical with the truth. Like most of the other alterations they are principally to reduce the number of buses and staff to save money, thus increasing profits again at the expense of providing passengers with a stable service. Someone complained that Stagecoach don't take any notice of their suggestions, but Stagecoach don't seem to think it necessary to constantly cut their services and are presumably satisfied with their level of profit.

(29 Dec 2014, 4:49 pm)MurdnunoC wrote The thing is, outside of peak hours, do services 27 or 56 really require a 10 minute frequency? Probably not. 

I understand the argument you make about the reduction of services and you are right to highlight that point. However, if services are allowed more time at terminus points in an attempt to improve reliability (and, of course, to reduce wastage), then asking passengers to wait an extra two minutes for a bus really isn't a big deal - in my opinion. 

(29 Dec 2014, 4:48 pm)aureolin wrote It would seem that the article even confuses customer services...

From 1 February 2015, there will be some changes to services 82, 82A and 83, which will offer a number of new connections for passengers. We have asked passengers about their travel patterns on the current services before making these changes, and we hope that passengers will benefit from the new links which will be provided. 

• Service 82 will operate via Meresyde and Grange Crescent in Leam Lane instead of Felling Bypass, following passenger requests, creating new direct links from this area
  
  
• In Birtley, the service will be extended to the new housing estate at Northside, serving Highridge, Blackfell Way and Mount Pleasant Road
  
  
• Service 83 will no longer operate between Heworth and Concord, due to the low number of passengers travelling on this section of route
  
  
• Passengers on Felling bypass and Lingey Lane can continue to use Connections 4 which operates up to every 10 minutes
  
  
• Passengers travelling from Sulgrave to Washington Galleries can continue to do so on Whey Aye 5-0 services 50/50A, with passengers from Sulgrave travelling to Gateshead or Newcastle being able to use service Fab 56.
  
  
• A new works service 982 will be provided between Stephenson Industrial Estate and Concord at peak times for commuters, allowing connections with other bus services at Concord to complete your journey
  
  
• The number of passengers travelling from Harraton and Rickleton to Birtley is very low, which means that unfortunately service 83 will no longer operate between Rickleton and Birtley. Passengers from Washington, Lambton, Ayton and Barley Mow will still be able to travel to Birtley on service 82.
  
  
• Due to low passenger numbers, the evening journeys between Heworth and Concord will no longer operate. The evening journeys between Heworth and Lambton which are currently provided by Arriva will continue to operate unchanged. However, from the same date the frequency of Connections 4 will be increased to every 20 minutes on an evening between Heworth, Lingey Lane, Usworth and Concord.
  
  
• Sunday services will operate between Concord and Birtley only, due to low passenger numbers between Concord and Heworth. Connections 4 continues to operate every 15 minutes on Sunday daytimes between Concord, Usworth, Lingey Lane and Heworth.
  
  
• The services will be renumbered 82 and 82A
  
  
• service 82 will operate via Spout Lane and Barmston Village Centre, and service 82A will operate via Hertburn Industrial Estate and Barmston Waskerley Road.
  
  
• Service 82 will operate to and from Heworth, and service 82A will terminate at Concord
  
  
• Service 82 will operate to Birtley, with service 82A operating from Birtley
  
  
• Service 82A will operate to Rickleton and Harraton, with service 82 operating from Rickleton and Harraton
  
  
• Passengers are advised to check the destination and the route number on the front of the bus before boarding
  
  
• View NEW timetable
  

• All services on this route will be renumbered either 82 or 82A.
  
• Services will be rerouted between Heworth and Concord via Grange Crescent and Meresyde (Leam Lane Estate) instead of the Felling-by-Pass; and will omit Stephenson Industrial Estate and Sulgrave. New service 982 will operate between Concord and Stephenson Industrial Estate at peak-times to ensure current links are maintained. Passengers boarding/alighting on the Felling-by-Pass can catch Connections 4 to Concord and connect with our services. 
  
• Service 82 will extend beyond its current terminus in Birtley to serve the new housing estate at Northside. Buses will serve Highridge, Blackfell Way and Mount Pleasant Road.
  

(29 Dec 2014, 5:14 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Maybe we at NEB should attempt to disseminate the changes to make things clearer.

• All services on this route will be renumbered either 82 or 82A.
  
• Services will be rerouted between Heworth and Concord via Grange Crescent and Meresyde (Leam Lane Estate) instead of the Felling-by-Pass; and will omit Stephenson Industrial Estate and Sulgrave. New service 982 will operate between Concord and Stephenson Industrial Estate at peak-times to ensure current links are maintained. Passengers boarding/alighting on the Felling-by-Pass can catch Connections 4 to Concord and connect with our services. 
  
• Service 82 will extend beyond its current terminus in Birtley to serve the new housing estate at Northside. Buses will serve Highridge, Blackfell Way and Mount Pleasant Road.
  

Next....

(29 Dec 2014, 5:23 pm)Andreos1 wrote The thing that got me, was the line which said it wasn't viable to run 82/83 between Heworth and Concord - due to low passenger numbers.
But in the next breath, they tell you to use the 4, apparently the 4 is having its frequency increased.
Does the 4 justify an extra bus? Certainly not between Heworth and Concord, cos numbers would have meant the 82/83 were viable...

(29 Dec 2014, 5:23 pm)Andreos1 wrote The thing that got me, was the line which said it wasn't viable to run 82/83 between Heworth and Concord - due to low passenger numbers.
But in the next breath, they tell you to use the 4, apparently the 4 is having its frequency increased.
Does the 4 justify an extra bus? Certainly not between Heworth and Concord, cos numbers would have meant the 82/83 were viable...

(29 Dec 2014, 5:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote Lingey Lane and Usworth College. Sometimes on bypass and Follingsby Roundabout in peaks. That's about it.

All of which, are in easy reach of any of the Heworth - Washington services.

The 191 ran through Leam Lane, as per the changes and never stopped at all, whenever I used it.
Locals seemingly preferring a 'Gateshead' service.

(29 Dec 2014, 6:13 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote Cutting the frequency from 10 min to 12 min means one less bus per hour hence more passengers per bus so there will be more dwell time at stops thus the timetable will need longer end to end. It was not honest for GNE to say the 27 and 56 changes were to make the service more reliable when in fact they were also, and probably mainly, to save money. If you say passengers won't notice the difference between a 10 and a 12 minute frequency, then would they notice if it went down to 15?

(29 Dec 2014, 6:13 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote Cutting the frequency from 10 min to 12 min means one less bus per hour hence more passengers per bus so there will be more dwell time at stops thus the timetable will need longer end to end. It was not honest for GNE to say the 27 and 56 changes were to make the service more reliable when in fact they were also, and probably mainly, to save money. If you say passengers won't notice the difference between a 10 and a 12 minute frequency, then would they notice if it went down to 15?

• Decrease (not 'revise') the frequency from 10 to 12 minutes, removing a bus from the PVR, but adding extra running time into the timetable.
  
• Leave the frequency at 10 minutes, but add an extra bus into the PVR, by still adding the extra running time into the timetable.
  
• Do nothing, and let people continue to complain about buses running in twos, and the company being accused "not being bothered" about it.
  

(29 Dec 2014, 6:33 pm)aureolin wrote 10 min frequency to a 15 minute frequency? Yes. 10 min to 12 min? I'd argue no. The 56 is generally a couple of minutes late anyway, so there'd be no noticeable difference. I honestly think they have done it primarily to improve reliability, but maintaining margins will also come into it.

There was always going to be three options in my opinion:

• Decrease (not 'revise') the frequency from 10 to 12 minutes, removing a bus from the PVR, but adding extra running time into the timetable.
  
• Leave the frequency at 10 minutes, but add an extra bus into the PVR, by still adding the extra running time into the timetable.
  
• Do nothing, and let people continue to complain about buses running in twos, and the company being accused "not being bothered" about it.
  

Can they realistically win?

(29 Dec 2014, 6:13 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote Cutting the frequency from 10 min to 12 min means one less bus per hour hence more passengers per bus so there will be more dwell time at stops thus the timetable will need longer end to end. It was not honest for GNE to say the 27 and 56 changes were to make the service more reliable when in fact they were also, and probably mainly, to save money. If you say passengers won't notice the difference between a 10 and a 12 minute frequency, then would they notice if it went down to 15?

(29 Dec 2014, 6:27 pm)Dan wrote If you lived on the routes of services 27 and 56, would you prefer the service to remain as it is at present? Not knowing if you can rely on it or not, as sometimes the buses get delayed and bunch up in twos? The current service is completely unpredictable, and whilst I haven't been affected a great deal, those who use the services more frequently may be delayed more frequently. This issue is not unique to services 27 and 56, either. It happens to Stagecoach's streamlined 10-minute frequency services too, but you don't find them doing anything about it, as apparently they're happy with their profit levels ya'da ya'da...

For your information, service 56 currently takes 1hr 10m from Sunderland - Newcastle. There is currently three minutes layover in Newcastle, and five in Sunderland. The new timetable gives 1hr 15m from Sunderland - Newcastle. There will be five minutes layover in Newcastle, and a further twelve in Sunderland. I needn't really say any more...

(29 Dec 2014, 8:12 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I think someone ought to contact GNE about these errors and things not making sense. We can't have the general public getting confused....we all know what happens then..!

(29 Dec 2014, 8:22 pm)aureolin wrote To be honest, I think the majority of changes are really positive. I just wish they wouldn't beat around the bush when informing customers. If you've changed something, just tell them, don't tell them that they can be closer to the shops or whatever. It wouldn't go a miss to actually give your customer services staff a briefing too. In addition to that, I'm not a fan of a route massively changing (i.e. 35 & 36), yet retaining the same service numbers.