(13 Mar 2021, 12:28 am)Rapidsnap I'm sure there's plenty of demand from Newcastle for people wanting to go to Whitby and Scarborough. TBH those places have a lot more to offer then the Coastal resorts around here at least.

And from past experience when Arriva ran the service it was pretty full. Caught it from Whitby to Boro once and was lucky to get a seat (on a Urban 90 Lowlander).

As for pensioner passes, if the bus departs Newcastle before 9am, they would have to pay anyway Monday to Friday.

(13 Mar 2021, 5:08 pm)RobinHood On Weekends though, when it is more likely to be used, it will be full of zero fare paying passengers, whom on average will earn GNE significantly less in revenue than if they paid normal fares.
I recall when the X60 was withdrawn, Arriva were crystal clear that ENCTS killed the service. I really cant see what has changed in the meantime.

Fair play, trying something new, but even super fast links to Whitley Bay from Durham (example) or really fast link to Seahouses/Bamburgh from Newcastle etc somewhere like that would have provided more lucrative options. Its not painfully long, a few trips per day could operate to make worthwhile (i.e. spend a few hours at the coast rather than half a day).

The more I view it, the more it appears to be a bite at Arriva, similar to the 21 extension to Brandon. Stick a bus on (funded by the tax payer) and see what happens.

(13 Mar 2021, 5:08 pm)RobinHood On Weekends though, when it is more likely to be used, it will be full of zero fare paying passengers, whom on average will earn GNE significantly less in revenue than if they paid normal fares.
I recall when the X60 was withdrawn, Arriva were crystal clear that ENCTS killed the service. I really cant see what has changed in the meantime.

Fair play, trying something new, but even super fast links to Whitley Bay from Durham (example) or really fast link to Seahouses/Bamburgh from Newcastle etc somewhere like that would have provided more lucrative options. Its not painfully long, a few trips per day could operate to make worthwhile (i.e. spend a few hours at the coast rather than half a day).

The more I view it, the more it appears to be a bite at Arriva, similar to the 21 extension to Brandon. Stick a bus on (funded by the tax payer) and see what happens.

(13 Mar 2021, 5:08 pm)RobinHood On Weekends though, when it is more likely to be used, it will be full of zero fare paying passengers, whom on average will earn GNE significantly less in revenue than if they paid normal fares.
I recall when the X60 was withdrawn, Arriva were crystal clear that ENCTS killed the service. I really cant see what has changed in the meantime.

Fair play, trying something new, but even super fast links to Whitley Bay from Durham (example) or really fast link to Seahouses/Bamburgh from Newcastle etc somewhere like that would have provided more lucrative options. Its not painfully long, a few trips per day could operate to make worthwhile (i.e. spend a few hours at the coast rather than half a day).

The more I view it, the more it appears to be a bite at Arriva, similar to the 21 extension to Brandon. Stick a bus on (funded by the tax payer) and see what happens.

(13 Mar 2021, 11:24 pm)Adrian I agree that a fast link to the Northumberland Coastal towns may be more lucrative, but I think on the other hand, running to Scarborough provides some operational security (in the case of a bus developing a fault), with the East Yorkshire depot there. 

I think it has to be taken as an operator trying to do things to encourage people back onto buses. The more this is done the better, but they seem to be the only one doing it in the North East at the moment. I'm an Arriva customer, so I have a vested interest, but I have not heard a peep out of them lately.

Without going off topic too much, I don't think the 21 extension to Brandon was a dig at Arriva. Everything else along that route terminates at Durham Bus Station, like most Arriva services do, so I don't think its comparable to the X11/X93. Hopefully this provides customers along that section with a bit more choice, if travelling to other parts of Durham or even all the way to Newcastle.

(14 Mar 2021, 11:01 am)cbma06 So I take it when 6377 arrives at Scarborough it will do a short return trip to Whitby and back before heading back to Newcastle


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(14 Mar 2021, 11:25 am)ifm001 Dont think there are any short journeys as more than likely when the bus arrives into Scarborough the driver will be due his rest period

(14 Mar 2021, 11:48 am)GNE6312 Could they not find a 2nd hand astromega or something to use on the X11 seeing as its longer than the 2 gne coach services so in theory Is more than entitled to a coach or would a coach like an astromega be too large?

(14 Mar 2021, 7:28 am)Clifton Hignett III I can't believe so many people are already complaining about this service.

Those familiar with me know that I like to sing a song or two whilst travelling on public transport and,personally, I can't wait to lead my fellow patrons in a hearty rendition of Cliff Richard's "Summer Holiday' whilst blasting down the A19 or A171 on the way to sunny Scarborough.

I am also looking forward, after a year of misery for us all, to meeting up with my friend, Leyland, and hopefully making the most of our concessionary passes (we're both pensioners now) on this great journey.

Good on you, Go North East.

(13 Mar 2021, 11:24 pm)Adrian I agree that a fast link to the Northumberland Coastal towns may be more lucrative, but I think on the other hand, running to Scarborough provides some operational security (in the case of a bus developing a fault), with the East Yorkshire depot there. 

I think it has to be taken as an operator trying to do things to encourage people back onto buses. The more this is done the better, but they seem to be the only one doing it in the North East at the moment. I'm an Arriva customer, so I have a vested interest, but I have not heard a peep out of them lately.

Without going off topic too much, I don't think the 21 extension to Brandon was a dig at Arriva. Everything else along that route terminates at Durham Bus Station, like most Arriva services do, so I don't think its comparable to the X11/X93. Hopefully this provides customers along that section with a bit more choice, if travelling to other parts of Durham or even all the way to Newcastle.

(14 Mar 2021, 12:16 pm)big mac I know this thread isn't about the 21 extension to Brandon but seeing as you mention it, what's actually happening with that?  Is it going to be done at some point or not? I seen it appear as a vosa registration in January and heard nothing since.

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(14 Mar 2021, 11:37 am)S813 FVK MG said that there would be a Scarborough-Whitby return journey between the full runs in the facebook video Michael posted the link to yesterday a few posts upthread. Not long after the 9:30 mark if you want a timestamp.

(14 Mar 2021, 11:25 am)ifm001 Dont think there are any short journeys as more than likely when the bus arrives into Scarborough the driver will be due his rest period