(30 Jun 2013, 9:20 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Just been thinking and i'm pretty sure some of Arrivas Contracts are to run out in Durham/Bishop Auckland and are up for renewal soon, so possibly we could see GNE nick a few to build a bit of a presence. And also as mentioned before get a Depot in the Area to boost it ever.

And other thing I was thinking was extending the X21 to Darlington as currently there isn't an Xpress between Darlo and Newcastle, I was also thinking why don't GNE buy out Scarlet Band and there services, but obviously keep on the Drivers etc.

(30 Jun 2013, 9:42 pm)nk55 wrote

(30 Jun 2013, 9:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote Aren't Scarlet Band's services all contracted?

Nooo, you can't be having ANOTHER independant operator being bought out by the big boys.

All of scarlet bands contracts are due for renewal this year, only won on 1yr contracts so you could see gne open up a new depot in bishop if any are won. Also durham park & ride is up in march next year, so maybe a low cost unit could be established with the X21 being returned to chester & the X46 withdrawn.

(30 Jun 2013, 9:43 pm)AdamY wrote I'm not too familiar with the operations of Scarlet Band. They seem to run a lot of services around the Durham/Ferryhill/Spennymoor/Bishop Auckland area, but it's obvious that some services (i.e. 6, 22, 58a) are contract work. Do Scarlet Band they run any services commercially or is it mainly just contract work?

On another note, which GNE depot runs the DCC funded 59 on a Sunday?

EDIT: Beaten to the question!!

(30 Jun 2013, 9:42 pm)nk55 wrote

(30 Jun 2013, 9:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote Aren't Scarlet Band's services all contracted?

Nooo, you can't be having ANOTHER independant operator being bought out by the big boys.

All of scarlet bands contracts are due for renewal this year, only won on 1yr contracts so you could see gne open up a new depot in bishop if any are won. Also durham park & ride is up in march next year, so maybe a low cost unit could be established with the X21 being returned to chester & the X46 withdrawn.

(01 Jul 2013, 12:24 pm)Liam wrote Fab Fifty Seven leaving Newcastle for Heworth at 1:15

4905 just pulling into Eldon Square on X21 at 1:25

LOOP, FestNE and TTX B7 on the 24 also.

(01 Jul 2013, 7:09 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Looking at the fleet allocation/disposition on GNE's website. It has changed 4958 to Purple background with white text (the same as Simplicity) hard to explain, point beign could 4958 be going into simplicity branding or just GNE noting the livery change on 4958? Bearing in mind all ex-Drifter cadets are still showing as in drifter green livery.

(01 Jul 2013, 8:20 pm)Liam wrote

(01 Jul 2013, 8:06 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Can anyone confirm that Waggonway & Lambton Worm vehicles are due to withdrawn?

The Waggonway are to be withdrawn from September. Not sure on the time frame for the Lambton's, but it could be even earlier.

(01 Jul 2013, 6:37 am)Daniel wrote

(30 Jun 2013, 9:42 pm)nk55 wrote

(30 Jun 2013, 9:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote Aren't Scarlet Band's services all contracted?

Nooo, you can't be having ANOTHER independant operator being bought out by the big boys.

All of scarlet bands contracts are due for renewal this year, only won on 1yr contracts so you could see gne open up a new depot in bishop if any are won. Also durham park & ride is up in march next year, so maybe a low cost unit could be established with the X21 being returned to chester & the X46 withdrawn.

Quite a lot of discussion on the X46 potentially being withdrawn - why would it be? The X46 runs off an X21; unless there are upcoming timetable changes to service X21, I highly doubt we will see the withdrawal of the service.

(02 Jul 2013, 10:50 am)palatine3833 wrote

(01 Jul 2013, 6:37 am)Daniel wrote

(30 Jun 2013, 9:42 pm)nk55 wrote

(30 Jun 2013, 9:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote Aren't Scarlet Band's services all contracted?

Nooo, you can't be having ANOTHER independant operator being bought out by the big boys.

All of scarlet bands contracts are due for renewal this year, only won on 1yr contracts so you could see gne open up a new depot in bishop if any are won. Also durham park & ride is up in march next year, so maybe a low cost unit could be established with the X21 being returned to chester & the X46 withdrawn.

Quite a lot of discussion on the X46 potentially being withdrawn - why would it be? The X46 runs off an X21; unless there are upcoming timetable changes to service X21, I highly doubt we will see the withdrawal of the service.

Speaking of timetable changes on the X21, this was on VOSA around a week ago:

PB0002400/458 - GO NORTHERN LTD T/A GO NORTH EAST, 117 QUEEN STREET, GATESHEAD, NE8 2UA

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Bishop Auckland Bus Station and Newcastle Eldon Square Bus Station given service number X21 effective from 22-Jul-2013. To amend Route and Timetable. - it may just be to accomodate the extra journeys during the A1 works though

(02 Jul 2013, 12:53 pm)Panasonic44 wrote Go North East Bus changes from July 28th

From Go North East website. New timetables Available.

There will be minor adjustments to timetables to improve reliability or change journeys which few passengers use on the following services:

South Tyne 5
Ten 10/10A/10B
ToonLink 11
Northern 24
Crusader 27
Over the last few months, we have been working hard to identify the causes of delays to your Crusader 27 service. To improve reliability, we will be introducing a revised timetable, with journeys continuing to operate up to every 10 minutes on Monday-Saturday daytimes.
ToonLink 47
Blaydon Racers 49/49A/49B/49C
Orbit 51/52
Saltwell Park 53/54

Citylink 58
Citylink 58 will be increased to operate every 15 minutes on Sundays between Heworth and Newcastle, with the service continuing to Hadrian Park every 30 minutes. There will also be minor changes to the timetable on Monday-Saturday daytimes.

N58
Over the last few years, we have worked hard to offer a network of night bus services in Newcastle. However, the number of passengers using service N58 has not grown to the levels which we had expected, and unfortunately this night bus will no longer operate after running on 21 July 2013. Other night buses will continue to operate unchanged.
Fab 57
Northern 64/64A
Pulse 67/69
Northern 92
Loop 93/94
Northern 95/96
Highwayman 97/98/98A
Northern 99
Will be revised to operate an anti-clockwise loop in Silksworth, via Lincoln Road, Vicarage Road, Church View, Silksworth Avenue, Blind Lane and Warwick Terrace. There is no change to the timetable.
Tyne Tees Xpress X9/X10
Centrelink X66
Following passenger requests, more journeys will be introduced on a Saturday morning, so that Centrelink X66 operates every 10 minutes from 8.30am.

Due to low passenger numbers, the final journey each day will be withdrawn. This means the final journey on Centrelink X66 from Metrocentre is at 2310, with the last journey from Metrocentre to Gateshead on Blaydon Racers 49C departing Metrocentre at 2323.

(02 Jul 2013, 1:35 pm)aureolin wrote Disappointing to see another night bus go. I've always wondered why they don't get as much use as they should. Given the alternative is at least £10 in a taxi between Newcastle and either destination.

(02 Jul 2013, 2:36 pm)gtomlinson wrote The 'last' bus of the night always had a poor reputation so god knows what people think of a nightbus. Think its just our culture up here!

(02 Jul 2013, 2:58 pm)aureolin wrote

(02 Jul 2013, 2:36 pm)gtomlinson wrote The 'last' bus of the night always had a poor reputation so god knows what people think of a nightbus. Think its just our culture up here!

You're right there mind! I bet anyone who used the last 638 between Sunderland and Heworth on a regular basis could tell a tale or two.

(02 Jul 2013, 2:36 pm)gtomlinson wrote

(02 Jul 2013, 1:35 pm)aureolin wrote Disappointing to see another night bus go. I've always wondered why they don't get as much use as they should. Given the alternative is at least £10 in a taxi between Newcastle and either destination.

I think the North East in general is attuned to using taxis. We've a relatively high car ownership and low public transport usage stats We've never had a great night bus service in modern times (including NightRider)

It's £3 from Newcastle to Low Fell but with a local taxi firm it's not much more in a cab, especially with friends.

The 'last' bus of the night always had a poor reputation so god knows what people think of a nightbus. Think its just our culture up here!

(02 Jul 2013, 8:54 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote

(02 Jul 2013, 2:36 pm)gtomlinson wrote

(02 Jul 2013, 1:35 pm)aureolin wrote Disappointing to see another night bus go. I've always wondered why they don't get as much use as they should. Given the alternative is at least £10 in a taxi between Newcastle and either destination.

I think the North East in general is attuned to using taxis. We've a relatively high car ownership and low public transport usage stats We've never had a great night bus service in modern times (including NightRider)

It's £3 from Newcastle to Low Fell but with a local taxi firm it's not much more in a cab, especially with friends.

The 'last' bus of the night always had a poor reputation so god knows what people think of a nightbus. Think its just our culture up here!

I'm not sure where you get your information from - but outside of London, the North East is the region with the highest number of public transport journeys (proportional to population size) and also has the highest proportion of no-car households outside of London. So quite the reverse of what you state, on both points.

(03 Jul 2013, 3:18 pm)W179SCU wrote Hi - Does anyone know where 506 is likely to be?