(24 Mar 2024, 10:15 am)Aaron21 wrote 317 is going great.

660 got taken off and replaced by a Cobalt cause of a break down and now 5463 has also died on its first journey taking 20 minutes to get from Percy Main to Royal Quays

(24 Mar 2024, 1:59 pm)Thomas12 wrote All of the buses seem to be running very late too, unusual as it was very reliable when Stagecoach operated it.

Hopefully it’s just some teething issues.

(24 Mar 2024, 5:12 pm)Storx wrote I know this might be a controversal opinion but I really don't understand why the 19 and 317 are both every 30 minutes on an evening and Sunday.

The councils are completely cash strapped and they're subsidising buses which are as frequent as buses from Ashington to Newcastle. It's a complete waste of tax payers money. Those 3 buses could be much better utilised, even if they ran the long 19 route on Sundays - at least the thing might actually have a purpose considering East Cramlington is busless.

It's even more baffling that the 57A runs at the same time, so North Shields to Whitley Bay via North Tyneside Hospital is more frequent on an evening and Sunday than during the week...

(24 Mar 2024, 5:23 pm)Thomas12 wrote I've never understood why the 57A from Whitley Bay to North Shields exists - any idea what the purpose of the service was/is?

(24 Mar 2024, 5:27 pm)Storx wrote Legacy route, the 57A used to be Cramlington to North Shields but I'm clueless why it still exists nowadays if I had to be honest. The subsidy has just never changed from when it was cancelled nearly 10 year ago now, why - god knows, incompetence more than likely.

It's the same as that circular route, who's number has bolted from my head in Sunderland which still existed until reletively recently.

(24 Mar 2024, 5:33 pm)Thomas12 wrote Oh yeah, the 135/136 - that was another waste of money that could've been better spent elsewhere.

I agree with your original post though, surely the 317 would be sufficient on a Sunday. I'm not sure what the benefit of the 19 is considering Cobalt is dead on weekends, and most 19s I see are completely dead on Sundays.

(24 Mar 2024, 1:59 pm)Thomas12 wrote All of the buses seem to be running very late too, unusual as it was very reliable when Stagecoach operated it.

Hopefully it’s just some teething issues.

(24 Mar 2024, 5:27 pm)Storx wrote Legacy route, the 57A used to be Cramlington to North Shields but I'm clueless why it still exists nowadays if I had to be honest. The subsidy has just never changed from when it was cancelled nearly 10 year ago now, why - god knows, incompetence more than likely.

It's the same as that circular route, who's number has bolted from my head in Sunderland which still existed until reletively recently.

(24 Mar 2024, 6:03 pm)V514DFT wrote Wasnt it both the 57 and 57A to North Shields at one point, one went via the college and the other the way the 353 goes now and interworked with the 56 cus via Billy Mill Avenue had the 53A, 56 and 57 at one point before 53A was axed and became the 53, the 56 was axed then it was the 57 on evenings and Sundays like it is now, no idea why they swapped the 57 for the 57A, something could probably be done to cover the 57A involving the 306/307/317

(24 Mar 2024, 9:52 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote See I would change 57 completely but use the community centre as a consultation hub to ask where do you want your bus to go from the village.

I actually think North Shields to Seghill then to Killingworth either via the back road and down to Northumberland Park then off to Killingworth Bus Station.

Why?

You create a link with Killingworth to Northumberland Park

And quite a lot of people shop at Morrisons Killingworth /Matalan /Home Bargains etc.... but there is no direct bus linking the Seghill village with Killingworth

Linking it with Northumberland Park is more strategic to link with the metro and the new line

(24 Mar 2024, 10:10 pm)Storx wrote A fair idea, but from Seaton Delaval - I'd much rather the bus went to Cramlington.

Must say I do agree with Killingworth though, personally I'd look at sending the X7 through instead, go down the back road, along Killingworth Way and then in via Northgate.

With the new rail taking passengers from Seaton Delaval station, it could be difference between the bus making a loss and making a profit. There's also no links between the place and Blyth either and is arguably a decent place for people to interchange to Byker or Four Lane Ends etc. Certainly better than on slip roads on the Coast Road or at Quorum at a bus stop.

The time difference is neglible and you'd avoid the Sandy Lane mess.

(24 Mar 2024, 10:40 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote I would disagree sending the X7 that way 

It serves a significant link to Camperdown and Burradon industrial estates 

Also for reliability issues  ...the country road sometimes gets flooded and is closed (severe rainy days) so diverting the X7 would make a massive impact in journey times in Newcastle and Blyth and what ever service it InterWorks. 

Also X7 is not nexus funded 57a is so there is more clout to push a secured service Vs a commercial service 

With a secured service a standing time say 3mins at NBL park and Killingworth/NShields HUB could be absorbed if the service had to divert 

(If GCT ran the service we would find the true time savings available) ???

(24 Mar 2024, 5:50 pm)V514DFT wrote It will be, if anyone remembers Stagecoach's 317 wasn't always a reliable ray of sunshine, that had teething troubles for the first week

(25 Mar 2024, 6:37 am)Dan wrote I understand the 317 was one of the least punctual services that Stagecoach operated. Obviously the schedule is outside of their hands.

Some rose tinted spectacles being worn by other posters, it seems.


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(25 Mar 2024, 6:37 am)Dan wrote I understand the 317 was one of the least punctual services that Stagecoach operated. Obviously the schedule is outside of their hands.

Some rose tinted spectacles being worn by other posters, it seems.


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(25 Mar 2024, 6:53 am)Thomas12 wrote I find that hard to believe, especially compared to the likes of the 12 and 22. Would be interested to know your source for that, 99% of the time I’ve used/seen it it’s been on time. 

I’m sure that a quick look back over bustimes would suggest most operated on time too.

(25 Mar 2024, 9:13 am)Retro Nero wrote Remember the old 317 from North Shields Ferry to Whitley Bay via Preston Grange .

(25 Mar 2024, 10:09 am)V514DFT wrote So what is the official allocation for the 317?

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So do i, but the 317 now is mostly the same as it,obviously North Shields has changed quite a bit with the Bus Station and the new road from the Ferry Landing, obviously Howdon is totally different, thats mostly the old 17, i believe the 317 is what was the evening 17A where it went straight along Tynemouth Road, and up Church Bank and along High Street East

(25 Mar 2024, 10:34 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote Nothing tracked on the X78 yesterday. Does anyone know what the expected allocation is?

(25 Mar 2024, 11:45 am)Blockybus wrote 5491 was on the X78 yesterday, Ticketer went down which is why it wasn't tracking

(25 Mar 2024, 10:21 am)Thomas12 wrote Versas maybe? Seems like some have been transferred from Washington to Percy Main.

(25 Mar 2024, 11:45 am)Blockybus wrote 5491 was on the X78 yesterday, Ticketer went down which is why it wasn't tracking