(21 Aug 2013, 8:43 pm)Daniel wrote What's odd about the Vyking on 26A?
Nice to know she has returned to service nevertheless.

(21 Aug 2013, 8:55 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I thought the 26A was operated by a Versa, although this is first time i've seen this working other than on a Sunday, this could be the norm, I believe shes been back a few weeks now...not sure though.

(21 Aug 2013, 8:58 pm)Daniel wrote The first few of the evening are commercial. They therefore do not need a Euro 5 vehicle.
A Vyking allocation would not occur on a Sunday.

(21 Aug 2013, 8:56 pm)Andreos1 wrote Is it possible to check out the Concord - Newcastle and Concord - Sunderland services for the same period too?

Literally just shut down the laptop otherwise I would have done it myself.

(21 Aug 2013, 8:58 pm)Daniel wrote The first few of the evening are commercial. They therefore do not need a Euro 5 vehicle.
A Vyking allocation would not occur on a Sunday.

(21 Aug 2013, 4:45 pm)Daniel wrote Why was the X2 withdrawn?

(21 Aug 2013, 9:01 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I was a tad confused at the time, thinking where is the Versa, thanks for clearing that up for me Daniel.

(21 Aug 2013, 10:34 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Would all buses on a Sunday need a euro 5 vehicle. I thought that the 26A was operated by GNE commercial for a few early evening runs and Sunday daytime-early evening buses with Monday-Sunday evening buses been the contracted service which was Arriva but now GNE.

(22 Aug 2013, 1:17 am)stagecoachbusdepot wrote The real reason was so the Citaros could be put to use on providing a 10 minute frequency on the X1 - GNE's model of giving a high frequency on one route at the expense of an entire service. Great if you live in Houghton, Easington Lane etc, unlucky if you live anywhere on the Chester Road corridor.

I remember contacting GNE via Open Line on this at the time as the X2 was well used and provided a direct link for commuters and shoppers. Waste of time as they didn't give a monkeys about providing (at that time) no direct express service between the two biggest cities in their operating area. They seemed to think the fact that the journey was still possible by getting two buses (conveniently meaning singles/returns were pointless so everyone needed to buy a GNE Buzzfare) meant overall this was an improvement. After all, who wouldn't want to get a slower, stopping service, get off half way and wait around outside a shopping centre to change to another bus. And they wonder why people drive to work.

(22 Aug 2013, 6:31 am)Daniel wrote It is a shame that the X2 was withdrawn for fare paying customers (single/return) and I do think that Go North East should have given customers the opportunity to buy a 'through single' or 'through return' to accommodate for the loss of their direct link.

I personally don't mind not having an X2 because I pay for Nexus CAT day tickets naturally (or Get Around, if going further afield). As I don't pay for singles, it really doesn't affect me. I've just woken up and am in no way prepared to go look for information myself (so do forgive me) but what were the differences in journey times between the old X2 and the new 2A/2C and X1?

FTAO those who have quoted that the loadings were good...
Were all of these people purchasing singles and returns? Or at least a majority at that..?
If not, and the service was being used by concessions that didn't buy those tickets (Here he goes again... It's like Dan's version of Fencehouses!), I can understand why GNE did withdraw it. That doesn't mean to say I agree with them doing it, but I can understand from their point of view why they did.
Without looking at the 'time machine', I don't know what tickets were like back then. Were they similar to how they are at present or were they a lot more limited (i.e. single/return with a few other options only)?

(22 Aug 2013, 1:19 pm)Adam wrote Was trawling through my Twitter feed before and found this. Looks as if the 13 and 14 are being reviewed in the next service changes. I wonder what their proposals are.

(22 Aug 2013, 1:19 pm)Adam wrote Was trawling through my Twitter feed before and found this. Looks as if the 13 and 14 are being reviewed in the next service changes. I wonder what their proposals are.

(22 Aug 2013, 1:59 pm)Andreos1 wrote My own thoughts, based on the apparent unreliability of services in the area - how many 13's, 14's and x25s go missing, is to avoid the well known Langley Park triangle.

It is less famous that its well known cousin in Bermuda, but is notorious amongst drivers - who are loath to operate a vehicle in the area.

Services have been reported to vanish without trace or develop mysterious engine problems, rendering the vehicles un-servicable.
However, when said vehicles operate on other routes, they are known to work absolutely fine.

By consolidating everyone on one bus, bosses hope that the never-ending posting on the wall, querying the whereabouts of their bus will end, simply because the entire populations of the villages will have vanished with the bus.

(22 Aug 2013, 1:24 pm)Michael wrote Interesting, wonder what they will involve... bet you one of them is merging the services as 1 and making a pointless brand.. haha

Would that work?

The next set of changes are 1st September for the 13/14 - you probley's already know the changes so ill not bother going on about them.

(22 Aug 2013, 2:14 pm)cbma06 wrote A few years ago, GNE were thinking of merging the 13/14 in with the 65 (now 265) under the kickstart fund, but the kickstart fund got withdrawn from the government, GNE were thinking of merging the 15 with the 45/46 but couldn't get the timing issue out on the 45/46 at Consett end.

(22 Aug 2013, 3:13 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Well to be honest, I don't know why the 13 route is still there is there much of a need of a Langley Park-Findon Hill?! I think having the 14 operate half-hourly would be better as the current 13 is just the 43/44 route to Sacriston then 14 route to Langley. The 14 is the most used in my opinion 2 factors bring me to this conclusion, 1) buses I've seen in Durham are busier on the 14 2) A lot of people on social networks, seem to ask for the 14 and the Arnison Centre seems to be quite an attraction.

(22 Aug 2013, 6:31 am)Daniel wrote It is a shame that the X2 was withdrawn for fare paying customers (single/return) and I do think that Go North East should have given customers the opportunity to buy a 'through single' or 'through return' to accommodate for the loss of their direct link.

I personally don't mind not having an X2 because I pay for Nexus CAT day tickets naturally (or Get Around, if going further afield). As I don't pay for singles, it really doesn't affect me. I've just woken up and am in no way prepared to go look for information myself (so do forgive me) but what were the differences in journey times between the old X2 and the new 2A/2C and X1?

FTAO those who have quoted that the loadings were good...
Were all of these people purchasing singles and returns? Or at least a majority at that..?
If not, and the service was being used by concessions that didn't buy those tickets (Here he goes again... It's like Dan's version of Fencehouses!), I can understand why GNE did withdraw it. That doesn't mean to say I agree with them doing it, but I can understand from their point of view why they did.
Without looking at the 'time machine', I don't know what tickets were like back then. Were they similar to how they are at present or were they a lot more limited (i.e. single/return with a few other options only)?

(22 Aug 2013, 5:16 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote A Mystery has been solved, about a month back, someone might remember that I reported seeing a Pronto President coming along Crowther Road in Ayton N.I.S, now in light a development today, Phillip Spencer on Facebook had posted he seen an Angel Decker in the same area yesterday. Bit of a coincidence wouldn't you say. Anyways as it turns out there is a Volvo Truck and Bus Centre on Crowther Road in Washington(Ayton) which I never knew existed. So for anyone who is interested in catching something interesting one day, it looks like GNE send there Volvo Buses there for repairs etc.