(08 Jun 2015, 6:43 pm)Michael wrote That's a good idea, would allow better links using only Stagecoach buses.... the current X34 starts/ends in a daft place (Horsley Hill)

The PVR shouldn't see too much of an increase, if the Park Lane - X - Park Lane extension, is only extended 15 mins down the road (30min overall extension).
I reckon Horsley Hill - Seaburn could be done in a 15 min each way, but it would be tight and there would be lack of a layover.

(08 Jun 2015, 6:47 pm)Andreos1 wrote The PVR shouldn't see too much of an increase, if the Park Lane - X - Park Lane extension, is only extended 15 mins down the road (30min overall extension).
I reckon Horsley Hill - Seaburn could be done in a 15 min each way, but it would be tight and there would be lack of a layover.

So how would that work? would it go from Marsden-Horsley Hill-Marsden-Seaburn-Marsden-Horsley Hill and then back towards Newcastle? Cause that seems like it would seriously increase journey times by some margin. If it were to extend to Sunderland too then that would be rather pointless as it would have to compete with the metro

(06 Jul 2015, 7:37 pm)Busman69 wrote So how would that work? would it go from mats-Horsley Hill-Marsden-Seaburn-Marsden-Horsley Hill and then back towards Newcastle? Cause that seems like it would seriously increase journey times by some margin. If it were to extend to Sunderland too then that would be rather pointless as it would have to compete with the metro

Does seem pointless doing Marsden - the hill- Marsden - whitburn - seaburn

Better idea would be to send alternate journeys from boldon towards seaburn via current route to ridgeway (south shields community school / king George school for non locals) forward up shields road to cleadon and then the existing 558 route to whitburn and seaburn.  SNE Will never withdraw the circular link around nook marsden and horsley hill. Its been that route for 15+ years now and is busy

(06 Jul 2015, 7:37 pm)Busman69 wrote So how would that work? would it go from Marsden-Horsley Hill-Marsden-Seaburn-Marsden-Horsley Hill and then back towards Newcastle? Cause that seems like it would seriously increase journey times by some margin. If it were to extend to Sunderland too then that would be rather pointless as it would have to compete with the metro

(06 Jul 2015, 9:07 pm)ifm001 wrote Does seem pointless doing Marsden - the hill- Marsden - whitburn - seaburn

Better idea would be to send alternate journeys from boldon towards seaburn via current route to ridgeway (south shields community school / king George school for non locals) forward up shields road to cleadon and then the existing 558 route to whitburn and seaburn.  SNE Will never withdraw the circular link around nook marsden and horsley hill. Its been that route for 15+ years now and is busy

The loop can still remain - or it could be removed in part.

Option 1) - Current route/loop, but continues down Sunderland Road - Cleadon - Cleadon Lane etc (reverse towards Newcastle). This would see the route extend (in each direction) by approx 5mins between the Nook and Cleadon (using the 20/20a timetable) and 7mins  Cleadon, Whitburn and Seaburn (using 558 timetable).

Option 2) - Or they split at the Ridgeway, with one doing a short loop (in its current 15min circle) and back and the other going via King George Road and the Nook, Sunderland Road and onto Seaburn via Cleadon and Whitburn. This would omit The Ridgeway, as I feel the Nook is an important link. I reckon that will save 15mins in each direction, as opposed to option 1.

Option 3) - As Option 2, but operates in a circle of Seaburn (serving the Metro) and operates via Cleadon, Sunderland Road, Sea Road, Seaburn Metro, Fulwell, Sea Lane circle - return.

I don't think it needs to get dizzy around Marsden at all.

I also think it would continue to offer an alternative to the metro, just as it does now.
The location of Seaburn metro versus the location of the majority of local amenities, means the metro is only likely to win for those living close to it.
Just like it is, in the Boldons.

The only suggestion about extensions to Sunderland that were mentioned, were the E services and them offering cross city links - 15mins down the A183 (and back), 15mins down the A690 (and back) etc.

(07 Jul 2015, 9:03 am)Andreos1 wrote The loop can still remain - or it could be removed in part.

Option 1) - Current route/loop, but continues down Sunderland Road - Cleadon - Cleadon Lane etc (reverse towards Newcastle). This would see the route extend (in each direction) by approx 5mins between the Nook and Cleadon (using the 20/20a timetable) and 7mins  Cleadon, Whitburn and Seaburn (using 558 timetable).

Option 2) - Or they split at the Ridgeway, with one doing a short loop (in its current 15min circle) and back and the other going via King George Road and the Nook, Sunderland Road and onto Seaburn via Cleadon and Whitburn. This would omit The Ridgeway, as I feel the Nook is an important link. I reckon that will save 15mins in each direction, as opposed to option 1.

Option 3) - As Option 2, but operates in a circle of Seaburn (serving the Metro) and operates via Cleadon, Sunderland Road, Sea Road, Seaburn Metro, Fulwell, Sea Lane circle - return.

I don't think it needs to get dizzy around Marsden at all.

I also think it would continue to offer an alternative to the metro, just as it does now.
The location of Seaburn metro versus the location of the majority of local amenities, means the metro is only likely to win for those living close to it.
Just like it is, in the Boldons.

The only suggestion about extensions to Sunderland that were mentioned, were the E services and them offering cross city links - 15mins down the A183 (and back), 15mins down the A690 (and back) etc.

What about this, few different alternatives.

X19 - South Shields - Town Hall - Westoe - Chichester - Dean Road - Tyne Dock - Newcastle Road A184/Leam Lane A194 (Non Stop) - Gateshead - Newcastle 

X33 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Cleadon - Whitburn - Seaburn - Roker - Wheatsheaf - Sunderland City Centre

X34 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Whiteleas Bridge - Harton Nook - Horsley Hill - Marsden - A183 Coast Road - South Shields

X35 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Biddick Hall - West Harton - Chichester - Westoe - Town Hall - South Shields

(07 Jul 2015, 2:53 pm)Malarkey wrote What about this, few different alternatives.

X19 - South Shields - Town Hall - Westoe - Chichester - Dean Road - Tyne Dock - Newcastle Road A184/Leam Lane A194 (Non Stop) - Gateshead - Newcastle 

X33 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Cleadon - Whitburn - Seaburn - Roker - Wheatsheaf - Sunderland City Centre

X34 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Whiteleas Bridge - Harton Nook - Horsley Hill - Marsden - A183 Coast Road - South Shields

X35 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Biddick Hall - West Harton - Chichester - Westoe - Town Hall - South Shields

Of those I think the X33 would be the best option, it would work in the same way the 56 does, not so much competing directly with the metro but providing local links, while not adding too many stopping points and with a simple route. Only problem is would it be any busier than the 558 which operates a similar route?

(07 Jul 2015, 2:53 pm)Malarkey wrote What about this, few different alternatives.

X19 - South Shields - Town Hall - Westoe - Chichester - Dean Road - Tyne Dock - Newcastle Road A184/Leam Lane A194 (Non Stop) - Gateshead - Newcastle 

X33 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Cleadon - Whitburn - Seaburn - Roker - Wheatsheaf - Sunderland City Centre

X34 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Whiteleas Bridge - Harton Nook - Horsley Hill - Marsden - A183 Coast Road - South Shields

X35 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Biddick Hall - West Harton - Chichester - Westoe - Town Hall - South Shields

The X33 suggestion is similar to what GNE did with an express service replacing daytime service 558 between Newcastle and Seaburn, and that ended up being withdrawn due to low patronage  and replaced by introducing the daytime 558 back.

Why does the express have to start from South Shields town centre for?, where does the passengers come from to get on the stagecoach express from south shields town centre?, passengers would have to come in from other stagecoach buses which connects onto service X34 to Newcastle along the route between Boldon Asda and Horsley Hill square. This is probably why stagecoach never put service X34 to Shields town centre.

(07 Jul 2015, 8:09 pm)cbma06 wrote The X33 suggestion is similar to what GNE did with an express service replacing daytime service 558 between Newcastle and Seaburn, and that ended up being withdrawn due to low patronage  and replaced by introducing the daytime 558 back.

Why does the express have to start from South Shields town centre for?, where does the passengers come from to get on the stagecoach express from south shields town centre?, passengers would have to come in from other stagecoach buses which connects onto service X34 to Newcastle along the route between Boldon Asda and Horsley Hill square. This is probably why stagecoach never put service X34 to Shields town centre.

The reason why stagecoach never operated service X34 into south shields town centre originally was in order for those areas not served by metro to be able to direct to Newcastle without need to change Buses etc. However like other areas across all of Tyne and Wear there is scope for expansion and other services to be introduced.

(07 Jul 2015, 8:47 pm)ifm001 wrote The reason why stagecoach never operated service X34 into south shields town centre originally was in order for those areas not served by metro to be able to direct to Newcastle without need to change Buses etc. However like other areas across all of Tyne and Wear there is scope for expansion and other services to be introduced.

yes I know, so why warrant extend it to South Shields Market now, cant see Stagecoach expanding there services in Sunderland or South Shields, all Stagecoach have done since the purchase Busways is streamlined there services and cancelled all their midi services and hiked up the prices, Stagecoach could of ran a service from Sunderland to Newcastle via north estates just like GNE did which serves the area where the metro doesn't go, Stagecoach could of done a service down the east coast connecting Sunderland-Hartlepool-Billingham-Stockton or Middlesbrough which are Stagecoach areas. Stagecoach are just contempt in there own area without expanding. passengers with stagecoach passes/tickets in Hartlepool can only go out of the area southwards and not north through to Sunderland etc...

Don't forget the X34 wouldn't be running if it wasn't for Stagecoach inheriting Catch-A-Bus service 534 all them years ago.

Would Route 30 to Newcastle Via X34 from Boldon Work? So it goes South Shields - Cleadon - Boldon - Heworth - Gateshead - Newcastle,going by the timetables it would take just under an hour to do the full route so it would be around 10 Min quicker than GNE 27 (maybe have it skip out Gateshead so it runs Direct from Heworth to Newcastle City Centre,possibly nicking a few passengers from the Metro) ,Plus it would provide new links from Cleadon & up the Stagecoach frequency from Bolton to Newcastle to Every 15 Mins

I have a suggestion about the 685 service as I think Stagecoach are missing a trick.

I've thought for a long time that Stagecoach North East should compete and run a 685 spoiler service against the Arriva journeys.

Arriva will have no answer. They cannot compete from "the west" as they have no presence in Carlisle

Once Stagecoach win then make the route Stagecoach Gold from both Carlisle and Newcastle depots and you have a better, more coordinated service than before.

Maybe even incorporate Megabus fares for off peak services for end to end journeys like with Stagecoach Highlands service 10 between Inverness and Aberdeen.

I think soon it may be an idea for the X47 to serve the new Greenside estate and the X77 to run through the day instead of the X78

What if the frequency of local services was increased to every 15/20 minutes in South Shields on Sundays? whenever I'm in that nick of the woods I find that the levels of service are really quite low on that day. Plus by increasing frequency it might attract more passengers and persuade more people to get the bus than a taxi so as to avoid a 30 minute wait cause loadings don't seem to be all that bad typically

(08 Jul 2015, 7:33 am)cbma06 wrote Don't forget the X34 wouldn't be running if it wasn't for Stagecoach inheriting Catch-A-Bus service 534 all them years ago.

Catch-A-Bus 534? I'm not too familiar with that, how long ago did that happen?

(23 Aug 2015, 4:13 pm)Busman69 wrote Catch-A-Bus 534? I'm not too familiar with that, how long ago did that happen?

OH you talking mid 90s

could start the gold brand they have it all across the Uk for most services why not up here

X62 - Killingworth - West Moor - Quorum - Four Lane Ends - South Gosforth - Barras Bridge - St Marys Place - John Dobson Street - New Bridge Street - Blackett Street - Cowgate - West Denton - North Walbottle

X63 - Killingworth - West Moor - Quorum - BT Call Centre - South Gosforth - Barras Bridge - St Marys Place - John Dobson Street - New Bridge Street - Blackett Street - Fenham - West Denton - Chapel House

• Operating every 7/8 minutes combined, providing improved faster cross city links
  
• Current 62/63 would be curtailed to operate between Four Lane Ends and Newcastle City Centre only on current frequency.
  

You can tell you working in North Tyneside now Adam......nee suggestions that go via Washington, or is it a mistake

Service X81
Ashington - Pegswood Bypass - Morpeth - Cowgate - Eldon Gardens - Metro Centre
Every 30 minutes Mon-Sat daytimes, every 60 minutes Sunday and evenings.

• Provides fast link between Ashington and Morpeth in as little as 13 minutes, compared to Arriva's 35/35a
  
• Runs limited stop from Morpeth to Newcastle calling at Shields Road Roundabout, County Hall and Cowgate, in about 35-40 minutes
  
• Provides fast link into Newcastle City Centre and Metro Centre
  
• Competes with Arriva service X21/X22 with a faster link into Newcastle via Morpeth
  

10. Mile end road-south shields - horsley hill- marsdern- harton nook- south Tyneside hospital-primrose- fellgate
11 same route as 10 but back wards
12 south shields- chichester- Tyne dock- harton nook- harton estate-cleadon - east boldon- boldon
X20 renumbered x30 so no confusion with the go ahead x20
X30 south shields,Chichester,Tyne dock,primrose,Jarrow
34 south shields,harton nook,cleadon,east boldon-boldon,fellgate, heworth
X34 normal route just to stop at heworth.
The 10/11 will be half hourly PVR 4
The 12 will be half hourly with a PVR 3
X30 PVR 2 half hourly
34 hourly PVR 2
X34 same PVR
East boldon will have 3 buses per hour
34 replaces 558 cleadon to heworth

(03 Feb 2016, 8:36 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote 10. Mile end road-south shields - horsley hill- marsdern- harton nook- south Tyneside hospital-primrose- fellgate
11 same route as 10 but back wards
12 south shields- chichester- Tyne dock- harton nook- harton estate-cleadon - east boldon- boldon
X20 renumbered x30 so no confusion with the go ahead x20
X30 south shields,Chichester,Tyne dock,primrose,Jarrow
34 south shields,harton nook,cleadon,east boldon-boldon,fellgate, heworth
X34 normal route just to stop at heworth.
The 10/11 will be half hourly PVR 4
The 12 will be half hourly with a PVR 3
X30 PVR 2 half hourly
34 hourly PVR 2
X34 same PVR
East boldon will have 3 buses per hour
34 replaces 558 cleadon to heworth

Most routes are pointless and miss out profitable areas and why turn back the X34 at Heworth? The place where the people of Harton want to go is Newcastle City Centre not Heworth.
East Bolden doesn't need 3 buses per hour it rarely fills 2 buses per hour.
Whats going to serve Watson Avenue and the Lonnen if the 12 changes to a tottaly different route?

A few people from Simonside and loads from Whitleas use the 10/11 to go to Schools in the Harton area, Whats going to fill that missing link when you chage the route?

14 dene estate-blue bell-wheatsheaf-sunderland-thorndale road-barnes-thorney close estate-grindon
4 doxford park-east herrington-barnes'-royal hospital-hylton road-millfield-sunderland-wheatsheaf - southwick -downhill.
8 south hylton-royal hospital-palion-southwick-carley hill-witherwack
16 hastings hill-chester road-Sunderland -southwick -ramsgate road - red house
17 new south bents -seaburn-roker-wheatsheaf-Sunderland - grangetown-ashbrooke-prospect-springwell-grindon

14 replaces the 23 fully the sunday extension to seaburn will remain.
4 remains the same doxford park to barnes then replaces the 18 to hylton road to then replace the 8 into Sunderland then to downhill the town end farm extension will be withdrawn
8 normal route to hylton road then replaces route 18 to southwick then replaces the 16 to witherwack creating some of the old 6.
16 rerouted round ransgate road again
New 17 old 18 route south bents to prospect then the 19 route to grindon
People between southwick and seaburn could use the 99 or a change of bus

New Service 6

Town End Farm – Hylton Castle – Castletown – Hylton Riverside – Southwick – Pallion – Ford – Springwell – Durham Road – Doxford International

Operating via Baxter Road, Bexhill Road, Blackwood Road, Washington Road, Craigavon Road, Grange Road, Ringway, Ferryboat Lane, Wessington Way, Colima Avenue, Timber Beach Road, Hylton Park Road, Alexandra Avenue, Camden Street, Queen Alexandra Bridge, Pallion New Road, Pallion Subway, Merle Terrace, St Luke’s Road, Front Road, Holborn Road, Springwell Road, Durham Road, Parkside, City Way, Monarch Way, Admiral Way, Emperor Way

Replacing Service 4 in Town End Farm which will revert to terminate at Downhill.
Entering GNE territory, introducing a Stagecoach service to Castletown, Hylton Riverside, Ford, East Herrington/Parkside; and opening up new direct links from North Sunderland estates to Doxford International.

Every 20 mins, PVR=5


New Service 21

Plains Farm – Thorney Close – Grindon – The Broadway – Killingworth Drive – Cleveland Road – Barnes Park Road – Ormonde Street – Chester Road – City Centre – Docks

Operating via Pancras Road, Perth Road, Polmuir Road, Primate Road, Durham Road, Thorney Close Road, Thorndale Road, Tilbury Road, Tay Road, Gleneagles Road, Greenwood Road, Chester Road, The Broadway, then existing service 5A route with all buses operating clockwise around Docks.

Replacing Services 5&5A which will be withdrawn, alternative facilities to Gilley Law continue to be provided by Service 13 and alternative facilities to Springwell Road are provided by Services 16, 18 & 19.
Replacing Service 3 in Plains Farm, which will operate direct via Durham Road, reducing the PVR by 1 vehicle.

Every 30 mins, PVR=3 (utilising existing Service 5 vehicle allocation)


Overall increase in PVR of 4 vehicles for new Services 6 & 21, opening up a lot of new links and serving new communities, likely increasing Megarider sales.

Service 4 doxford park-east herrington-sunderland - southwick - downhill-boldon or town end farm
Service 4 to run every 10 mins with a extension to boldon at every 30 mins
To interwork a trip on 30 then back to doxford park
PVR 12 Sunderland pvr2 south shields-

this service could work but only in the summer bar Airshow weekend:

Open top service from Seaburn along the coast this service has happened in the past under the old Busways company

10 connect the dots E300s for service 6/7/8 to allow for the ALX300s 22021-22030 to replace 22010, 22014, 22015, 22462, 22673-22675 and 20550-20552. 
21 E400MMCs for replacing 19141-19163. 14669-14674 would be replaced on CitySightseeing services at Slatyford by 19141-19146. 19147 and 19148 would replace 16834 and 16836 at Stockton along with 17025-17032 being replaced by 19149-19156. 22408-22412 would be replaced on the X47 for higher capacity by 19157-19161. These would replace 20121, 20553 and 20554 at Driver Training.

(15 Apr 2016, 3:51 pm)NK53 TKT wrote 10 connect the dots E300s for service 6/7/8 to allow for the ALX300s 22021-22030 to replace 22010, 22014, 22015, 22462, 22673-22675 and 20550-20552. 
21 E400MMCs for replacing 19141-19163. 14669-14674 would be replaced on CitySightseeing services at Slatyford by 19141-19146. 19147 and 19148 would replace 16834 and 16836 at Stockton along with 17025-17032 being replaced by 19149-19156. 22408-22412 would be replaced on the X47 for higher capacity by 19157-19161. These would replace 20121, 20553 and 20554 at Driver Training.

The tridents don't need replacing as the schools are withdrawn

These threads are also for service suggestions not new vehicle or vehicle relocation suggestions.

(15 Apr 2016, 4:24 pm)Kuyoyo wrote These threads are also for service suggestions not new vehicle or vehicle relocation suggestions.

Technically in my post were service suggestions