(30 Apr 2016, 9:45 am)Adrian wrote I tend to get a bus up to Clifford Terrace, and jump on the X21 from there. Avoid the queue.

You'd already have been out of luck, today!

(30 Apr 2016, 9:48 am)BusLoverMum wrote You'd already have been out of luck, today!

You and big'un already on board, bet u either got front seats upstairs or a table seat 

(30 Apr 2016, 9:46 am)NK53 TKT wrote I am hoping the versas are shortly going from the Q3, just 8312 has had some branding removed...

Probably accident damage which has been repaired and is awaiting replacement vinyls.

(30 Apr 2016, 10:04 am)citaro5284 wrote You and big'un already on board, bet u either got front seats upstairs or a table seat 

Upstairs was already full. Ended up crammed in at the back, facing backwards.

(29 Apr 2016, 1:43 pm)Michael wrote That's quite nice.

If its going back on the "Fast Cats" then i'm looking forward to seeing the new brand on it.

After the changes in Sunderland there should be enough citarios to go on the X35 and get them wifi up, and unbrand service X36 and stick the ex prince bishop buses branded up for service 61. The X35 need upgrading not downgrading with the same type of bus that's already on.

(29 Apr 2016, 5:08 pm)Michael wrote I would like to see the 61 branded something to do with Dalton Park and Sunderland, especially with the 61 running all night to Dalton Park from the 22nd May.

The cinema at dalton park have started advertising for staff.

(30 Apr 2016, 11:28 am)cbma06 wrote After the changes in Sunderland there should be enough citarios to go on the X35 and get them wifi up, and unbrand service X36 and stick the ex prince bishop buses branded up for service 61. The X35 need upgrading not downgrading with the same type of bus that's already on.

6 Citaros enough to cover 7 turns is it The X35 in my honest opinion does not justify an upgrade to Citaro at this point of time. The 61 doesn't justify a downgrade either especially with the Dalton Park improvements.

(30 Apr 2016, 11:37 am)Kuyoyo wrote 6 Citaros enough to cover 7 turns is it The X35 in my honest opinion does not justify an upgrade to Citaro at this point of time. The 61 doesn't justify a downgrade either especially with the Dalton Park improvements.

I do hope the improvements to Dalton Park attract new passengers to use the 61 and more people to use Dalton Park. 

Wonder if we'll see Arriva start to run to Dalton Park on an evening with the Cinema etc opening, i think they could use the 61 as a guideline, to see how much demand they'll be for it then Arriva will decide if its profitable enough to run the 22 via Dalton Park for rest of the night.

3962 looked like broken down on the 21 yesterday afternoon between Gateshead and Angel of the North (heading south).

(30 Apr 2016, 11:37 am)Kuyoyo wrote 6 Citaros enough to cover 7 turns is it The X35 in my honest opinion does not justify an upgrade to Citaro at this point of time. The 61 doesn't justify a downgrade either especially with the Dalton Park improvements.

Did you count the spare WTX citario aswell, the buses that are on are unreliable and also at present there's a different variety of buses that are getting used. Service 61 is used by all sorts as the silver citarios are used elsewhere on other services.

(30 Apr 2016, 11:57 am)cbma06 wrote Did you count the spare WTX citario aswell, the buses that are on are unreliable and also at present there's a different variety of buses that are getting used. Service 61 is used by all sorts as the silver citarios are used elsewhere on other services.

No and for good reason - it's the spare for the X7! The X35 doesn't warrant Citaros and nor does the 61 justify being downgraded to vehicles older than the Cadets used when the service was branded 'Drifter'.

(29 Apr 2016, 5:45 pm)JP6004 wrote Well I can't imagine them painting any of the older reg blue since they are among the oldest Scania's. Saying that the Green Arrows vary from 2001-2004

I am curious to see whether these newer vehicles are repainted in-line with the repaint seen yesterday.

The reduction of the PVR for the 36 indicates the priorities lie elsewhere.
The fact it doesn't interwork with the 35 and is a stand alone service...
Solars and a new brand for the 36?
The Mercs seen on the 36 currently, could be used elsewhere then

(30 Apr 2016, 12:05 pm)Kuyoyo wrote No and for good reason - it's the spare for the X7! The X35 doesn't warrant Citaros and nor does the 61 justify being downgraded to vehicles older than the Cadets used when the service was branded 'Drifter'.

The Scania's aren't bad on the X35, I don't think it'll get new buses so only thing would be for it to get buses past down from another service and currently i only see Citaro's, whether that ever happens... no idea. 


I still think that GNE should replace the 53 reg "Fast Cats" with 54 Reg ones.

Is 4955 repainted?, i can't remember if someone did a post about it.

(30 Apr 2016, 12:15 pm)Andreos1 wrote I am curious to see whether thesl newer vehicles are repainted in-line with the repaint seen yesterday.

The reduction of the PVR for the 36 indicates the priorities lie elsewhere.
The fact it doesn't interwork with the 35 and is a stand alone service...
Solars and a new brand for the 36?
The Mercs seen on the 36 currently, could be used elsewhere then

The reduction of the 36 PVR is only 1, i'm hoping the Citaro which will become spare will become a spare for the 35/36 and 60, I hope we don't see a downgrade, they've just branded them. 


The Solar's from the Prince Bishops are likely to replace routes with duel door B10's or Cadets, well that's my thought anyway.

(30 Apr 2016, 12:05 pm)Kuyoyo wrote No and for good reason - it's the spare for the X7! The X35 doesn't warrant Citaros and nor does the 61 justify being downgraded to vehicles older than the Cadets used when the service was branded 'Drifter'.

So how come the spare WTX citario gets used on deptford routes while an indigo solo on X7!. Everybody has different point of views in case you forget, any member can suggest information

(30 Apr 2016, 12:21 pm)Michael wrote The reduction of the 36 PVR is only 1, i'm hoping the Citaro which will become spare will become a spare for the 35/36 and 60, I hope we don't see a downgrade, they've just branded them. 


The Solar's from the Prince Bishops are likely to replace routes with duel door B10's or Cadets, well that's my thought anyway.

I was surprised to see the Mercs appear on it to be honest.
Although nice vehicles, they seem to be wasted, particularly when you look at their capacity.
If you look at the services that were amalgamated with the 36, the 71 never justified owt flash when that ran.
The North Sunderland Estates only ever had smaller vehicles allocated too.

Now we are seeing the Silksworth section return and the hospital portion removed - along with the Town End Farm extension.

(30 Apr 2016, 12:31 pm)Andreos1 wrote I was surprised to see the Mercs appear on it to be honest.
Although nice vehicles, they seem to be wasted, particularly when you look at their capacity.
If you look at the services that were amalgamated with the 36, the 71 never justified owt flash when that ran.
The North Sunderland Estates only ever had smaller vehicles allocated too.

Now we are seeing the Silksworth section return and the hospital portion removed - along with the Town End Farm extension.

Go North East can never get North Sunderland right  , supposedly these changes to the 36 is so there's a faster bus to the City Centre from Castletown and i think that's only occurred because the 99 is getting withdrawn.

According to a comment by GNE on its Facebook page when changes were post, they said the 35/36 will still serve the Hylton College?, i think that's a mistake, as wasn't it said, the 36 will go through the full Hylton enterprise park to the bridge then via Trimdon Street?


Edit:

Also in North Sunderland, only Stagecoach service which doesn't offer WIFI is the 4, that could be the reason why.... 

None of the GNE services do, unless you count the 56, but that uses Washington Road, so doesn't really enter of the estates.

(30 Apr 2016, 12:40 pm)Michael wrote Go North East can never get North Sunderland right  , supposedly these changes to the 36 is so there's a faster bus to the City Centre from Castletown and i think that's only occurred because the 99 is getting withdrawn.

According to a comment by GNE on its Facebook page when changes were post, they said the 35/36 will still serve the Hylton College?, i think that's a mistake, as wasn't it said, the 36 will go through the full Hylton enterprise park to the bridge then via Trimdon Street?


Edit:

Also in North Sunderland, only Stagecoach service which doesn't offer WIFI is the 4, that could be the reason why.... 

None of the GNE services do, unless you count the 56, but that uses Washington Road, so doesn't really enter of the estates.

Without checking, I can't remember the new route in North Sunderland.

So if it serves Trimdon St, is it now going to miss Fawcett/John St?

(30 Apr 2016, 12:51 pm)Andreos1 wrote Without checking, I can't remember the new route in North Sunderland.

So if it serves Trimdon St, is it now going to miss Fawcett/John St?

I would think so, which seems daft but its not serving Southwick Green so that's the only other "Fast" route in to Sunderland.

Edit:


Currently GNE haven't uploaded the new route maps yet, hopefully they're put on next week.


------------
Route changes for the 36 are:


Service 36 will be revised in North Sunderland to provide a faster connection between Castletown and the City Centre, omitting Southwick Green, and will now terminate at Castletown, no longer serving Hylton Castle or Town End Farm.

Service 36 will now terminate at Castletown, no longer serving Hylton Castle or Town End Farm.

(30 Apr 2016, 12:40 pm)Michael wrote According to a comment by GNE on its Facebook page when changes were post, they said the 35/36 will still serve the Hylton College?, i think that's a mistake, as wasn't it said, the 36 will go through the full Hylton enterprise park to the bridge then via Trimdon Street?

I also think that may have been a mistake. Between Sunderland City Centre and Castletown, the route of service 36 is revised to provide a faster bus between these two locations, running via Kier Hardie Way, Hylton Riverside and A1231. It won't serve Trimdon Street and will follow current route as far as the Stadium of Light.

Similarly; 35/35A journeys which commence from Heworth will omit Sunderland Road in Wardley, instead operating direct along A184.

This is what I think will happen to the TEN, 11 and 96 eventually regarding previous mentions the other day about the rumor of service 11 being withdrawn:

- 10 remains the same and same frequency.

- 10B becomes the 10A with same route and frequency.

- NEW 10B replaces 11 between Blackhall Mill and Pack Horse, then running same route as current 10a from there to Newcastle. Serves Woodside during evenings and Sundays too. Every 30 mins Monday to Saturday; every 60 mins evenings and Sundays.

- Current 10A becomes 10C from Rockwood Hill to Newcastle. Would run same route as service current service 11 between Pack Horse and Fox & Hounds then running normal route from there to Newcastle. Every 30 mins Monday to Saturday; every 60 mins evenings and Sundays.

- Current 11A journeys renumbered to service 11.

-96 during Monday to Saturday daytime running with a PVR of 3 no longer serving Eldon Square. Would loop via New Bridge Street, Pilgrim Street and Market Street.

Other notes:
- Total PVR out of the TEN and 11/96 would increase from 21 vehicles to 22 vehicles.

- All Hexham journeys operated by double deck vehicles; all 10 journeys operated by Hexham Depot including a 30 minute layover during evenings.

- All Hexham / Prudhoe journeys during Monday to Saturday daytime operated by double deck vehicles.

- All Blackhall Mill / Rockwood Hill journeys operated by single deck vehicles bar 1x board (Monday to Friday only).

- All Sunday daytime 10A journeys to Prudhoe operated by single deck vehicles.

- Although the PVR has been very slightly increased including a few more drivers being required out of the Hexham Depot for evening journeys, the vehicles used on the TEN group of services would be very fuel efficient and certain grants / subsidies may be available.

- Although journeys from Prudhoe and Greenside strictly combine properly towards Newcastle during Sunday daytimes, journeys towards Prudhoe and Greenside would run on a 15 / 45 basis to improve reliability.

- Buses would run every 7-8 minutes during Monday to Saturday daytime between Crawcrook and Newcastle as well as every 15 minutes during evenings and Sundays.

Please see attached running board samples as well as fleet allocation:

I have seen some strange places for a driver changeover, but the stop on the A183 (next to the Lambton Garden Centre), about 20mins back - is up there.

Has 8297(?) transferred to Riverside yet? I believe that was the Versa off for PSV when the depot changes occurred.

(30 Apr 2016, 6:41 pm)Andreos1 wrote I have seen some strange places for a driver changeover, but the stop on the A183 (next to the Lambton Garden Centre), about 20mins back - is up there.

There must have been a need to relive a driver who had been delayed beyond their driving hours.

(30 Apr 2016, 9:09 pm)Davie wrote Has 8297(?) transferred to Riverside yet? I believe that was the Versa off for PSV when the depot changes occurred.

Yes.

Entered service at Riverside yesterday, so all South Tynes have now arrived from Washington.

(30 Apr 2016, 9:13 pm)BusLoverMum wrote There must have been a need to relive a driver who had been delayed beyond their driving hours.

I thought that initially.
But the bus was on time - on its half hourly frequency. I am guessing a short notice replacement driver maybe?

The choice of stop is what got me.
There are a number of more suitable stops (that don't involve the crew van parking with hazards on) in the vicinity though.

(30 Apr 2016, 9:21 pm)Andreos1 wrote I thought that initially.
But the bus was on time - on its half hourly frequency. I am guessing a short notice replacement driver maybe?

The choice of stop is what got me.
There are a number of more suitable stops (that don't involve the crew van parking with hazards on) in the vicinity though.

Quite possible that the driver was late off from his previous journey and the spare started the journey, or that the driver concerned needed to be relieved from their duty.  Quite a number of reasons for a changeover at any location, although the stop in question does seem strange.

(30 Apr 2016, 9:16 pm)Dan wrote Yes.

Entered service at Riverside yesterday, so all South Tynes have now arrived from Washington.

Its been in Service more than 1 day, It entered service on the same day as 8300 and that was around Tuesday or Wednesday.

8301 is still to enter service.