(07 Mar 2022, 12:32 pm)streetdeckfan Does that mean we'll be back to Omnidekkas on the X21?

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(07 Mar 2022, 1:53 pm)Dan Chester-le-Street don't have any OmniDekkas, so no. They do however have a fleet livery StreetDeck as the spare bus for the X21, and Voyager branded Volvo B9s if there's more than one X-lines bus off service.

6377 was only ever at Chester-le-Street as a temporary measure to assist while the Voyager branded Volvo B9s had tachographs fitted and calibrated.

(07 Mar 2022, 2:13 pm)Train8261 If the Volvo B9 Voyager are not for hire. They could be used for the 25. Just a thought

(07 Mar 2022, 12:32 pm)streetdeckfan Does that mean we'll be back to Omnidekkas on the X21?

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(07 Mar 2022, 3:53 pm)Tiger5105 Since the X45/46 service changes, am I right in thinking there's 4 surplus streetdecks in light green backs? In theory 6331 to 6333 and one of the new batch could move. Is the reason they haven't moved due to the reliability issues with the B5 hybrids and the fact there's regularly 3-4 out of service at a time and 6045 being long term VOR for the Red Kite Ranger, meaning they are regularly used on these services.

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(07 Mar 2022, 10:51 am)Kuyoyo Looking at the timetable
Peterlee journeys leave Newcastle during the day at xx11 and xx47, the Dalton Park journey departs at xx35 with the xx23 and xx59 terminating at Easington Lane.
Easington Lane terminating journeys have 14 minute layovers at Easington Lane while the Dalton Park trip and the Peterlee journeys have 5 minutes turnaround at the southern end of their route.
The last weekday journey to Dalton Park leaves Newcastle at 1632 (presently 1734) while it will be 1535 on Saturdays (presently 1719). Peterlee meanwhile goes from a last Newcastle departure of 1810 weekday (1749 Saturdays) to two later journeys at 1905 and 2230 From Dalton Park, the last trips are 1719 weekdays and 1707 on Saturdays (currently 1905 weekdays and 1836 Saturdays).
Sunday service is uplifted to every 20 minutes between Newcastle and The Galleries - from there, two an hour continue to Easington Lane from where one an hour extends to Peterlee. Sunday evening journeys remain hourly but the 2300 from Newcastle is extended to Peterlee

(07 Mar 2022, 4:49 pm)Drifter60 The 55s days seems to be numbered. The X1 offering two buses an hour means it’s not as needed on that Houghton to Peterlee corridor as much. Plus it’s been took out of Doxford International outside peak times, so is just doing exactly the same as the 20/X20 do on daytime runs. So it’s now just duplicating other routes across all sections. I wonder if once the 20 goes back to normal timetable, it’ll be a case of “the 55 is no longer needed as we’ve increased our popular X1 and 20 services across all sections of the 55 route”. Peterlee to Sunderland passengers have the X6 as the quicker option in any case.

(07 Mar 2022, 10:51 am)Kuyoyo Looking at the timetable
Peterlee journeys leave Newcastle during the day at xx11 and xx47, the Dalton Park journey departs at xx35 with the xx23 and xx59 terminating at Easington Lane.
Easington Lane terminating journeys have 14 minute layovers at Easington Lane while the Dalton Park trip and the Peterlee journeys have 5 minutes turnaround at the southern end of their route.
The last weekday journey to Dalton Park leaves Newcastle at 1632 (presently 1734) while it will be 1535 on Saturdays (presently 1719). Peterlee meanwhile goes from a last Newcastle departure of 1810 weekday (1749 Saturdays) to two later journeys at 1905 and 2230 From Dalton Park, the last trips are 1719 weekdays and 1707 on Saturdays (currently 1905 weekdays and 1836 Saturdays).
Sunday service is uplifted to every 20 minutes between Newcastle and The Galleries - from there, two an hour continue to Easington Lane from where one an hour extends to Peterlee. Sunday evening journeys remain hourly but the 2300 from Newcastle is extended to Peterlee

(07 Mar 2022, 5:32 pm)Adrian Tend to agree with this. It feels like there's too much running on the A182 between Houghton and the A19. X1/55 running 4 buses an hour throughout, the 62/62A adding a further two buses an hour from Easington Lane, and then the 35 providing two buses an hour between Houghton and Hetton.

The 55 is probably the easiest to cull, given it shares most of its route with the 20/X20 and I think would only leave a section of Silksworth without. Having said that, it wouldn't be too difficult to replace it by extending the 2/2A deeper into Silksworth.

(07 Mar 2022, 5:40 pm)Dan The 55 hasn't served Silksworth since the 33 was reinstated - appreciating the 33 has been on and off more times over the years than you and I put together have had bacon sarnies!

There's no unique sections of route on the 55 other than the peak-time link to Doxford International - arguably the link to Sunderland exists with the 39, it's just towards Houghton-le-Spring where there is no alternative.

(07 Mar 2022, 5:39 pm)Omega54 I also think the X10 extension to Seaham, wouldn't do much to harm passengers as if they haven't chose to get the train a extra 10 mins isn't going to push them and get more passengers as it is roughly faster than the train, and 1/3 of the price.

(07 Mar 2022, 5:43 pm)Omega54 GNE could try something new with the 55, taking it from Peterlee. Sherburn, Low Pittington, Houghton, Sunderland.

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So with the X1 going back to old times, I wonder if the 20 will stay at every 15 mins. 

Personally I would put the Sunderland - Durham at every 10 mins, with 3ph extending to South Shields.

(07 Mar 2022, 5:53 pm)F114TML That's one hell of a diversion. You're adding at least 15 minutes to the total journey time (assuming it's going along the Sea Front, and depending on route), forcing buses along Seaton Lane which is incredibly congested and at times can take you 10-15 minutes just to get from the A19 to the crossroads at the school, and it'll use the horrific sliproads and associated junctions at Seaton, which are bad enough in a car.

Wouldn't it just be better to offer through tickets for the X6?

(07 Mar 2022, 5:55 pm)cbma06 The x20 could divert via Doxford to do the peak runs on the 55 if the 55 set to be withdrawn

I would of extended the 35 from low moorsley to sherburn via low and high pittington

I would chop the 20 at Sunderland and have the x20 going to shields, and chop the x20 at Durham and extend the 204/204a ( change number) to Langley park


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(07 Mar 2022, 5:53 pm)F114TML That's one hell of a diversion. You're adding at least 15 minutes to the total journey time (assuming it's going along the Sea Front, and depending on route), forcing buses along Seaton Lane which is incredibly congested and at times can take you 10-15 minutes just to get from the A19 to the crossroads at the school, and it'll use the horrific sliproads and associated junctions at Seaton, which are bad enough in a car.

Wouldn't it just be better to offer through tickets for the X6?

(07 Mar 2022, 5:58 pm)Andreos1 You would think an operator with an ounce of common sense would find out where those cars are going to and from and work out why the once hourly 71 gets stuck in there every single day.
Maybe doing something about it.

They can only come and go in one of two directions and I'd hazard a guess that a big chunk are travelling between Seaham and Doxford Park. 
Two buses or a bit of inconvenience in the car on Seaton Lane? Hmm. Its a toughy.

(07 Mar 2022, 5:55 pm)cbma06 The x20 could divert via Doxford to do the peak runs on the 55 if the 55 set to be withdrawn

I would of extended the 35 from low moorsley to sherburn via low and high pittington

I would chop the 20 at Sunderland and have the x20 going to shields, and chop the x20 at Durham and extend the 204/204a ( change number) to Langley park


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(07 Mar 2022, 4:49 pm)Drifter60 Is the X1 trying to do too many things at once? The Sunday service whilst a good uplift from Newcastle to Washington, it means Washington to Easington Lane is left with two buses an hour still but now not equally split, with a 40 minute gap, arguably a lot worse than they have now.

Dalton Park link seems to have been cut a lot too, I almost wonder why they’ve bothered continue it? Looking at the timetable seems to be just operationally convenient. 

I still maintain that the X1 is confusing now “X1 to Easington Lane, Dalton Park, Peterlee, Washington Galleries” you sort of need to know the exact route of each variation, just to know will this one get you home!

The 55s days seems to be numbered. The X1 offering two buses an hour means it’s not as needed on that Houghton to Peterlee corridor as much. Plus it’s been took out of Doxford International outside peak times, so is just doing exactly the same as the 20/X20 do on daytime runs. So it’s now just duplicating other routes across all sections. I wonder if once the 20 goes back to normal timetable, it’ll be a case of “the 55 is no longer needed as we’ve increased our popular X1 and 20 services across all sections of the 55 route”. Peterlee to Sunderland passengers have the X6 as the quicker option in any case.

(07 Mar 2022, 5:55 pm)cbma06 The x20 could divert via Doxford to do the peak runs on the 55 if the 55 set to be withdrawn

I would of extended the 35 from low moorsley to sherburn via low and high pittington

I would chop the 20 at Sunderland and have the x20 going to shields, and chop the x20 at Durham and extend the 204/204a ( change number) to Langley park


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(07 Mar 2022, 6:38 pm)Storx Personally I'd get shot of the X20 altogether and clean up the corridor there and have the following routes.

20 - South Shields -> Sunderland -> Houghton Le Spring -> Dene Gardens -> Middle Rainton -> A690 -> Carrville -> Gilesgate -> Durham (Every 20 Mins)
20A - South Shields -> Sunderland -> Doxford Park -> Houghton Le Spring -> Rainton Arena -> Middle Rainton -> Leamside -> Carrville -> A690 -> Durham (Every 20 Mins)
65 - Extended to Langley Park (Every 30 Mins)
35 - Evening route missing Rainton Arena (Every 30 Mins)
55 - Withdrawn (Nothing unique and alternatives exist with the X1, 62, 35 and 20/20A)

The PVR should be about the same and the 20/20A will be slightly quicker than it is now for most people with a better frequency on the South Shields ends (or you could drop it down to 20 minutes if it's not needed).

(07 Mar 2022, 6:43 pm)Omega54  But what would the 65 use? Also I think it is crucial for a x20, as a quick way to Durham.

(07 Mar 2022, 7:05 pm)cbma06 There’s not much difference between the 20 and x20, just that it doesn’t go via gilesgate. And the 20 goes via hall lane while the x20 goes via rainton bridge

Originally the 65 were intended to extend to Langley park under the government kickstart scheme many decades ago but didn’t as the scheme was stopped by the government


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