(04 Aug 2015, 8:28 pm)Malarkey wrote Tell you what I have a cracking memory of these services mind, baring in mind that I would been the age of some of the younger enthusiasts on the forum at the time, im 22 and probably of a lot more knowledge of the past GNE Services than some of the Members who are a lot older than I am, goes to show how much attention/interest I payed to Buses when I was younger, just wish I started taking photos a lot sooner as I really liked some of the Branding when they first started to be rolled out.

(04 Aug 2015, 8:28 pm)Malarkey wrote Tell you what I have a cracking memory of these services mind, baring in mind that I would been the age of some of the younger enthusiasts on the forum at the time, im 22 and probably of a lot more knowledge of the past GNE Services than some of the Members who are a lot older than I am, goes to show how much attention/interest I payed to Buses when I was younger, just wish I started taking photos a lot sooner as I really liked some of the Branding when they first started to be rolled out.

(04 Aug 2015, 8:28 pm)Malarkey wrote Tell you what I have a cracking memory of these services mind, baring in mind that I would been the age of some of the younger enthusiasts on the forum at the time, im 22 and probably of a lot more knowledge of the past GNE Services than some of the Members who are a lot older than I am, goes to show how much attention/interest I payed to Buses when I was younger, just wish I started taking photos a lot sooner as I really liked some of the Branding when they first started to be rolled out.

(04 Aug 2015, 6:46 pm)R852 PRG wrote You've made my day.

(04 Aug 2015, 6:52 pm)Jimmi wrote I must have a better doctors surgery than you as mine has TV screens!

(04 Aug 2015, 7:35 pm)BJ10VUS wrote Did they ever work properly? I think this was one of the ones that worked the X3, but if not, the one that used to work the X3 only ever showed "X3 Sunderland" or "X3 Newcastle" on both lines.

(04 Aug 2015, 8:51 pm)Dan wrote Divvint big ya sel up too much Malarkey - you were saying OK Expressways were on loan to Sunderland Rd when the OK1 was axed the other day, and that was far from reet..!

citaro5284 would give ya a run for ya money on services in general, that's for sure... Regularly talks about stuff that was gaan on before I was even born.. Daint knaa how he remembers some of the stuff he cracks on about some days!

(04 Aug 2015, 8:39 pm)Davie wrote I wish I was taking photographs when some of the older services such as; X2/X3/X4/X5/X90 & X94 (That's going back a bit) used to pass Wrekenton.

(04 Aug 2015, 9:29 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Now this discussion is making me feel old.

I used to catch the X5. And the X95 and X96 when I was travelling to Sunderland for uni or work and bored of the train. (train not metro). I don't even remember the M... services to Washington because I was catching the (green Wear) 194 from Heworth (and occasionally the quieter Redby 394, though the driver was often bloody terrifying with his lead foot and there was usually someone smoking in the back seat)

(04 Aug 2015, 8:50 pm)citaro5284 wrote I have probably forgotten more than you will ever know 

(03 Aug 2015, 8:17 pm)Dan wrote The new Streetlites delivered this year and the new Solos for Peterlee have the blue LED lighting (under the seats on the former, and on the edge of the seat leg on the latter). All with e-leather seats - so half way there..!

The luxurious Lazerini seating isn't used, admittedly. Perhaps Go North East could look into adding tables on commuter routes such as the Tyne Tees Xpress, when new vehicles are ordered for these routes. I guess it would be a case of toying up whether it would be worth losing the seats for?

(04 Aug 2015, 9:47 pm)citaro5284 wrote Oh aye the X95 and X96...
X95 to Parkside via Concord and Hastings Hill/Grindon Mill and the X96 to Seaham Harbour via Boldon.

Use to finish work at 1700 and catch the 1717 X95 from Park Lane, got into Newcastle for just after 1800...operated by MCW Metrobuses!

(03 Aug 2015, 10:46 pm)G-CPTN wrote I presume that GNE might not have had pax usage figures for Snaith (and Tyne Valley) services (though maybe NCC should have been able to provide 'expectations'?)
I cannot imagine that any operator would introduce a service without figures to support the expected demand.
There had, apparently, been a 'meeting' where said passenger had expressed her concerns which had now become reality.

My personal inconveniences are restricted to needing to walk further in Hexham (currently from the Hospital to ALDI/Tesco 'soon' to be from the new bus station at Loosing Hill) and back 'up' to the bus station - currently on Priestpopple, later Loosing Hill - which will almost certainly mean that I will no longer visit the town centre shops in Fore Street and adjacent to the bus station (fruit shop and bakers).

I have an adequate choice of buses (TEN, 685 and X84/X85) - though the timings today meant that I transferred from GNE to Stagecoach/Arriva (both ways scheduled before the GNE services). 

I don't suppose that the loss of my custom will break GNE . . .

(04 Aug 2015, 10:16 pm)busmanT wrote As the piece from the Hexham Courant says, the service has been thinned out at the County Councils request as they have to cut their overall spend on secured bus services by £200,000 per annum.

What Go North East are operating will be what the County Council wanted/can afford.

It is unfortunate that the County Council has to cut its spending on bus services, but this clearly means that there will be fewer buses operating, and those that do might not run at the same times as before, especially where passenger numbers are low.

(04 Aug 2015, 10:18 pm)R852 PRG wrote Only bus routes that I can remember from when I was young were; the 778 and 775 (Sunderland to Consett), 729 (think that Chester-le-Street to Stanley?) 809 (Chester-le-Street to the MetroCentre), 734 (I think that one was sort of a part of the 34/34A nowadays, if I remember correctly it was always a little minibus Metrorider little breadvan type of thing) and then the 724 as well I think (Newcastle to Bishop Auckland). Then I think I can remember a 21, 21A and a 21B...? There was also the 551 to South Shields, I think. It's possible I'm thinking about something I've seen on Flickr rather than a memory (either way it's something I remember) but the X50 (South Shields to Durham). Also got a very vivid memory of an Arriva Optare Delta on a bus to Durham from Chester-le-Street. Apologies for going off-topic but I thought I'd chip in with the 'old buses' discussion.

(04 Aug 2015, 10:24 pm)Jimmi wrote Think someone should set up a thread for old buses and old bus routes where people can share their memories, I've got a fair few routes from when I was younger although some of my memories are slightly hazy now.

(04 Aug 2015, 10:36 pm)Adam wrote Seeing Marcus' post about buses from his childhood reminded me of one service of mine in particular: the 89.

It went along my front street (even closer than what the X25, or the 725/726 back in the day, did). It was a cracking service, I absolutely loved it. Usually operated by a Metrorider, it did a Gateshead - Gateshead circular, going here there and everywhere, eventually ending up in Wrekenton, continuing with a loop around the mighty homeland of Eighton Banks, finding itself back in Wrekenton before it returned to Gateshead.

It did a similar route in Eighton Banks as to what the current TB10 does (excluding the Longbank and Black Lane Estate). I have very fond memories of it. One that stands out especially is when my Mam and I bumped into one of the neighbours at Gateshead Interchange (old style interchange) and the three of us got on the 89 back home. I remember giggling away as it went over the speed bumps. Unfortunately though, the service was withdrawn in 2001. I was only 5 at the time

I can't find any leaflets or that in the Bygone Era section of the forum however. If anyone does have any leaflets/timetables of the service, I would be most grateful.

(04 Aug 2015, 10:18 pm)R852 PRG wrote Only bus routes that I can remember from when I was young were; the 778 and 775 (Sunderland to Consett), 729 (think that Chester-le-Street to Stanley?) 809 (Chester-le-Street to the MetroCentre), 734 (I think that one was sort of a part of the 34/34A nowadays, if I remember correctly it was always a little minibus Metrorider little breadvan type of thing) and then the 724 as well I think (Newcastle to Bishop Auckland). Then I think I can remember a 21, 21A and a 21B...? There was also the 551 to South Shields, I think. It's possible I'm thinking about something I've seen on Flickr rather than a memory (either way it's something I remember) but the X50 (South Shields to Durham). Also got a very vivid memory of an Arriva Optare Delta on a bus to Durham from Chester-le-Street. Apologies for going off-topic but I thought I'd chip in with the 'old buses' discussion.

(04 Aug 2015, 10:39 pm)Davie wrote Service 28 used to be the 721 too, service X25 used to be the 725/726 then 25/25A

(04 Aug 2015, 10:39 pm)Davie wrote Service 28 used to be the 721 too, service X25 used to be the 725/726 then 25/25A

(04 Aug 2015, 10:54 pm)R852 PRG wrote Are you sure? I recall being told it was an amalgamation of some services. 721 was Chester-le-Street - Birtley - Wrekenton - Gateshead - Newcastle according to the Bygone Era.

(05 Aug 2015, 9:25 am)LeeCalder wrote Just too add to the discussion, can anyone remember the 730?

I'm sure that was the route that went from Chester-le-Street to Ouston via Birtley and Perkinsville?

(05 Aug 2015, 8:18 am)Malarkey wrote Anyone know times 5303 will be in Sunderland, and has anymore Gold Mercs been branded?

(05 Aug 2015, 9:28 am)Andreos1 wrote I can. Sure it went via Drum and North Lodge at one point too.

Memory is hazy here, but an independent (Cousins?) had it in the early 90's. It seemed to come and go until GNE took it on in the early 2000's.