(28 Mar 2016, 8:15 pm)northern156 wrote Rail rovers etc are not really expensive. Some not as expensive as, for example, an Explorer.

If you book in advance you can save

(28 Mar 2016, 8:25 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote If you book in advance you can save

You cannot book rovers in advance

(28 Mar 2016, 8:27 pm)northern156 wrote You cannot book rovers in advance

A rail card im suggesting

Yes you can get railcard discounts but if you're using adult tickets.

(28 Mar 2016, 8:28 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote A rail card im suggesting

You can't get a U16 Rail card.

(28 Mar 2016, 8:33 pm)DanPicken wrote You can't get a U16 Rail card.

I no but there is other tickets also on offer

(28 Mar 2016, 8:34 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote I no but there is other tickets also on offer

The only other tickets children can get is cheaper Rangers/Rovers.

Plus you can probably get child ranger/rovers cheaper than adult with railcard discounts!

(28 Mar 2016, 9:01 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Plus you can probably get child ranger/rovers cheaper than adult with railcard discounts!

Like the child standard ticket I have just bought using a friends and family railcard.
£7.05 Durham - Kings Cross.

(28 Mar 2016, 9:01 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Plus you can probably get child ranger/rovers cheaper than adult with railcard discounts!

Certainly can, a railcard discount is 33% whereas typical child discounts are around 50%!

(28 Mar 2016, 7:49 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Think the cost puts people away from the train oftern

The expensive bus journey to even get to the train is offputting for us!

I have no idea where to put this but as it is a slight review of a bus journey, I felt that this was the more appropriate thread.

I wasn't originally going to do a write up of the journey as it isn't exactly a fun but we used the Scarborough Park and Ride today and driver was accompanied by another member of staff and, as usual, he was incredibly friendly.

Originally, we brought up the topic of getting such large vehicles through the Town Centre. Especially on the approach to York Place and heading down to the Seafront on Ramshill Road. He responded to this by saying that it wasn't an ideal situation with cars being parked on the corners which I couldn't do anything but agree with.

We then mentioned the route of the old Park and Ride, the 111 from the Weaponness Car Park and how it used to be a quick circular route that simply stopped at Debenhams, went down to the Seafront or 'Aquarium Top' as it is now called officially. The employee then preceded to say that the route previously used by the 111 was going to be the original route used by the 64 and 165 but the council said no and said that they had to go around the Town Centre.

He then asked us where we were from and, as normal, we just said Durham as they are more likely to have heard of Durham than Stanley. Once we'd replied, he then started complementing the Park and Ride here saying that it is frequent and the buses are an ideal size. Again, I couldn't help but agree - anything bigger than a Solo when it isn't on a busy day such as the Big Meeing.

Next, he moved on to the methods both companies used to issue the tickets. This was another section of the Park and Ride model that he described Durham as being ideal at, mainly because you purchase all tickets before boarding the bus whereas in Scarborough, it is just the conventional pay as you board method. However, the Seamer Road and Filey Road sites previously had similar machines installed but they were removed bu the council as they weren't user friendly and didn't offer every type of ticket available.

Whitby and Plymouth Park and Rides also got a mention, mainly focusing on the fact that they use Double Deckers on there because of popularity (alright, only 33.3% [50% max] of the Whitby Park and Ride is operated by a double decker) and he then outlined why deckers are not used in Scarborough. The main reason being for keeping the service going quick without any holdups as most people will want to sit upstairs including the older generation who aren't the best at walking or climbing stairs. It is a fair point really, even if it does sound slightly discriminative but even then, the services hardly need double deckers anyway.

I just found the whole conversation interesting and gave me a much clearer view on not only how the Park and Ride is run in Scarborough but how different each individual system is depending on the council that control them.

(29 Mar 2016, 7:05 pm)S813 FVK wrote Whitby and Plymouth Park and Rides also got a mention, mainly focusing on the fact that they use Double Deckers on there because of popularity (alright, only 33.3% [50% max] of the Whitby Park and Ride is operated by a double decker) and he then outlined why deckers are not used in Scarborough. The main reason being for keeping the service going quick without any holdups as most people will want to sit upstairs including the older generation who aren't the best at walking or climbing stairs. It is a fair point really, even if it does sound slightly discriminative but even then, the services hardly need double deckers anyway.

I understand what you mean about people struggling up the stairs and increasing boarding/alighting times, I got on the GNE X21 the other day and a passenger with crutches decided that he wanted to sit upstairs at a table seat and I was the next passenger to board and the whole thing caused a pile up for passengers who wanted to go and sit upstairs, especially as most of the remaining passengers boarding were young and also wanted to sit upstairs. It's not just people with difficulties though, it's the same with parents and toddlers where you get the toddler slowing making their way up and down the stairs with the parent(s) following behind.

The above doesn't just apply to seaside resorts, the situation also applies to double deckers pretty much everywhere really, I sometimes experience these scenarios on the 7.

(29 Mar 2016, 7:21 pm)Jimmi wrote I understand what you mean about people struggling up the stairs and increasing boarding/alighting times, I got on the GNE X21 the other day and a passenger with crutches decided that he wanted to sit upstairs at a table seat and I was the next passenger to board and the whole thing caused a pile up for passengers who wanted to go and sit upstairs, especially as most of the remaining passengers boarding were young and also wanted to sit upstairs. It's not just people with difficulties though, it's the same with parents and toddlers where you get the toddler slowing making their way up and down the stairs with the parent(s) following behind.

The above doesn't just apply to seaside resorts, the situation also applies to double deckers pretty much everywhere really, I sometimes experience these scenarios on the 7.

Sometimes I'm the slow person on the stairs

I tend to only go upstairs when I'm getting of again at a bus station, though, unless there's absolutely no seats downstairs and so long as it's not a spiral staircase like the lolynes have. I'd be inclined to take a different bus if the staircase was too difficult for me and I coudn't ge t a seat downstairs.

(29 Mar 2016, 7:21 pm)Jimmi wrote The above doesn't just apply to seaside resorts, the situation also applies to double deckers pretty much everywhere really, I sometimes experience these scenarios on the 7.

Yeah. That is kind of why I was a bit unsure as to where he was coming from when he said that as a reason why deckers were not used. I suppose, if they have no choice (ie they have a young child), holding the bus up is far better than having a toddler crying because they aren't alloeed to sit upstairs.

Dont drivers have to wait till passengers reach there seats

(29 Mar 2016, 7:31 pm)S813 FVK wrote Yeah. That is kind of why I was a bit unsure as to where he was coming from when he said that as a reason why deckers were not used. I suppose, if they have no choice (ie they have a young child), holding the bus up is far better than having a toddler crying because they aren't alloeed to sit upstairs.

It's probably more of an issue down there as people would want to go upstairs for the fantastic scenery on offer, especially on the X93.

I don't really have a problem with people taking a while to get upstairs, although it is annoying if passengers behind you are getting annoyed.

It's annoying though when a passenger decides to stop in the aisle and ponder or whatever, I wanted to punch some bloke when I got on the 17A in Stockton one day, it was a Plaxton Centro so I wanted to sit at the seat where the emergency exit door is towards the back for the leg room, he boarded before me and he stopped in the aisle just where the step up is, why? Because he wanted some woman to sit on the inside seat, the woman in question was at least five passengers behind me in the queue and surely the correct thing to do in this situation is stand where the seats are so people can get past, not what he did which was just stand there like a melon with me stood in front of him and edging slightly to the left is NOT getting out the way so I ended up having to squeeze past him and those of you who have seen me out and about will probably know that I keep my camera in a sort of messenger type of bag, so I ended up smashing it into the seat, seriously with arseholes like this I'm surprised that the camera hasn't been damaged yet because that bag is getting bashed on a regular basis, think I need to swap to a rucksack, the most recent incident was on a E400 where I was boarding and someone shoved past me so they could get the front seats upstairs, dickheads!

(29 Mar 2016, 7:42 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Dont drivers have to wait till passengers reach there seats

They are really supposed to wait especially if the passengers are elderly or disabled as well as small children, but in my experience they pull away as soon as they close the doors when I am traveling by bus, had this a few times going from Prudhoe to Newcastle or Hexham.

Hoping to have my first proper outing in ages either this Saturday or next (probs next) depending on what day I'm not doing anything. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on what to do as I haven't been following much Arriva/Stagecoach recently so not sure what will be worth going for and have no idea what to do.

(06 Apr 2016, 8:19 pm)Tom wrote Hoping to have my first proper outing in ages either this Saturday or next (probs next) depending on what day I'm not doing anything. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on what to do as I haven't been following much Arriva/Stagecoach recently so not sure what will be worth going for and have no idea what to do.

I did an outing in Feb that I mentioned on here.

It involved not using the same vehicle type twice and not going to the same place twice.
Essentially a big zig zag across the region.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

(06 Apr 2016, 8:19 pm)Tom wrote Hoping to have my first proper outing in ages either this Saturday or next (probs next) depending on what day I'm not doing anything. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions on what to do as I haven't been following much Arriva/Stagecoach recently so not sure what will be worth going for and have no idea what to do.

An ideia for you is
North east explorer
Local bus to Newcastle
X9 or x10 or x12 to Middlesbrough's
Do a circular turn on the 39
17a to Stockton
36 to Hartlepool
58 to Durham
14 to Langley park
X25 to Newcastle
Then local bus home
This might work if you need 2 operators in geneal

(06 Apr 2016, 8:30 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote An ideia for you is
North east explorer
Local bus to Newcastle
X9 or x10 or x12 to Middlesbrough's
Do a circular turn on the 39
17a to Stockton
36 to Hartlepool
58 to Durham
14 to Langley park
X25 to Newcastle
Then local bus home
This might work if you need 2 operators in geneal

4 operators, even!

The 58 is a really nice route, actually. Even though it's local to us, we only did it to Hartlepool for the first time on Monday!

The 14 and X25 don't link up particularly neatly, mind.

(06 Apr 2016, 8:28 pm)Andreos1 wrote I did an outing in Feb that I mentioned on here.

It involved not using the same vehicle type twice and not going to the same place twice.
Essentially a big zig zag across the region.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

That sounds like a canny idea - I might give that a go but sounds quite challenging especially if spares are allocated or something.

(06 Apr 2016, 8:30 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote An ideia for you is
North east explorer
Local bus to Newcastle
X9 or x10 or x12 to Middlesbrough's
Do a circular turn on the 39
17a to Stockton
36 to Hartlepool
58 to Durham
14 to Langley park
X25 to Newcastle
Then local bus home
This might work if you need 2 operators in geneal

Sounds good also and I think I'd be using different buses every time so could do something like that if the timings work.

(06 Apr 2016, 8:49 pm)Tom wrote That sounds like a canny idea - I might give that a go but sounds quite challenging especially if spares are allocated or something.


Sounds good also and I think I'd be using different buses every time so could do something like that if the timings work.

I decided to take a crack at a 'no repeat bus type' outing although I didn't follow the 'no repeat location' part of it. It was a good outing and it did make me think which was good.

Here's how mine played out:

0804 5A Newton Aycliffe, Williamfield Way - Bishop Auckland Bus Station (ANE 1425)
0845 109 Bishop Auckland Bus Station - Willington, High Street (SB Travel: SB10BUS)
0919 46 Willington, High Street - Durham Bus Station (ANE 1327)
1008 64 Durham, North Road - Abbey Sports Centre (ANE 7444)
1032 50 Arnison Centre, Mercia Retail Park - South Shields, Keppel Street (GNE 3869)
1229 27 South Shields, Fowler Street - Jarrow Bus Station (GNE 5317)
1250 9 Jarrow Bus Station - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange (GNE 4907)
1400 56 Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - Concord Bus Station (GNE 6093)
1458 82 Concord Bus Station - Heworth Interchange (GNE 6032)
1519 58 Heworth Interchange - Newcastle, Blackett Street (GNE 5384)
1702 X36 Newcastle, Market Street - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange (GNE 4943)
1820 X21/21 Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - Newton Aycliffe Tesco (ANE 4811)
2010 5A Newton Aycliffe Tesco - Newton Aycliffe, Williamfield Way (ANE 2857)

---

I did the full Scarlet Band 58 route once ages ago, it is long but it is actually a canny route to do I feel. I've not been to Hartlepool in ages, think I need to get myself over there again at some point soon.

(06 Apr 2016, 9:02 pm)Jimmi wrote I decided to take a crack at a 'no repeat bus type' outing although I didn't follow the 'no repeat location' part of it. It was a good outing and it did make me think which was good.

Here's how mine played out:

0804 5A Newton Aycliffe, Williamfield Way - Bishop Auckland Bus Station (ANE 1425)
0845 109 Bishop Auckland Bus Station - Willington, High Street (SB Travel: SB10BUS)
0919 46 Willington, High Street - Durham Bus Station (ANE 1327)
1008 64 Durham, North Road - Abbey Sports Centre (ANE 7444)
1032 50 Arnison Centre, Mercia Retail Park - South Shields, Keppel Street (GNE 3869)
1229 27 South Shields, Fowler Street - Jarrow Bus Station (GNE 5317)
1250 9 Jarrow Bus Station - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange (GNE 4907)
1400 56 Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - Concord Bus Station (GNE 6093)
1458 82 Concord Bus Station - Heworth Interchange (GNE 6032)
1519 58 Heworth Interchange - Newcastle, Blackett Street (GNE 5384)
1702 X36 Newcastle, Market Street - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange (GNE 4943)
1820 X21/21 Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - Newton Aycliffe Tesco (ANE 4811)
2010 5A Newton Aycliffe Tesco - Newton Aycliffe, Williamfield Way (ANE 2857)

---

I did the full Scarlet Band 58 route once ages ago, it is long but it is actually a canny route to do I feel. I've not been to Hartlepool in ages, think I need to get myself over there again at some point soon.

Hartlepool is one of those places that you muse on having not visited for a while, then you do visit and remember why. i ventured into the market hall for the first time on Monday and oculdn't get out fast enough. The smell made me want to hurl, not helped by the 3rd day of being on the verge of a big migraine (fingers crossed, I've averted that)

MIL is making her first trip there on the bus, tomorrow - she has a choice of 3 buses that go right past her house, so should be nice and easy for her.

---

(06 Apr 2016, 9:02 pm)Jimmi wrote I decided to take a crack at a 'no repeat bus type' outing although I didn't follow the 'no repeat location' part of it. It was a good outing and it did make me think which was good.

Here's how mine played out:

0804 5A Newton Aycliffe, Williamfield Way - Bishop Auckland Bus Station (ANE 1425)
0845 109 Bishop Auckland Bus Station - Willington, High Street (SB Travel: SB10BUS)
0919 46 Willington, High Street - Durham Bus Station (ANE 1327)
1008 64 Durham, North Road - Abbey Sports Centre (ANE 7444)
1032 50 Arnison Centre, Mercia Retail Park - South Shields, Keppel Street (GNE 3869)
1229 27 South Shields, Fowler Street - Jarrow Bus Station (GNE 5317)
1250 9 Jarrow Bus Station - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange (GNE 4907)
1400 56 Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - Concord Bus Station (GNE 6093)
1458 82 Concord Bus Station - Heworth Interchange (GNE 6032)
1519 58 Heworth Interchange - Newcastle, Blackett Street (GNE 5384)
1702 X36 Newcastle, Market Street - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange (GNE 4943)
1820 X21/21 Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - Newton Aycliffe Tesco (ANE 4811)
2010 5A Newton Aycliffe Tesco - Newton Aycliffe, Williamfield Way (ANE 2857)

---

I did the full Scarlet Band 58 route once ages ago, it is long but it is actually a canny route to do I feel. I've not been to Hartlepool in ages, think I need to get myself over there again at some point soon.

Hartlepool is one of those places that you muse on having not visited for a while, then you do visit and remember why. i ventured into the market hall for the first time on Monday and oculdn't get out fast enough. The smell made me want to hurl, not helped by the 3rd day of being on the verge of a big migraine (fingers crossed, I've averted that)

MIL is making her first trip there on the bus, tomorrow - she has a choice of 3 buses that go right past her house, so should be nice and easy for her.

(06 Apr 2016, 9:21 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Hartlepool is one of those places that you muse on having not visited for a while, then you do visit and remember why. i ventured into the market hall for the first time on Monday and oculdn't get out fast enough. The smell made me want to hurl, not helped by the 3rd day of being on the verge of a big migraine (fingers crossed, I've averted that)

If you think visiting is bad enough, try living here!

(06 Apr 2016, 9:27 pm)beefcake wrote If you think visiting is bad enough, try living here!

The best description I've seen is "promises so much but is really a bit shit".

There's a reason why houses are even cheaper than east Durham

(06 Apr 2016, 9:02 pm)Jimmi wrote I decided to take a crack at a 'no repeat bus type' outing although I didn't follow the 'no repeat location' part of it. It was a good outing and it did make me think which was good.

Here's how mine played out:

0804 5A Newton Aycliffe, Williamfield Way - Bishop Auckland Bus Station (ANE 1425)
0845 109 Bishop Auckland Bus Station - Willington, High Street (SB Travel: SB10BUS)
0919 46 Willington, High Street - Durham Bus Station (ANE 1327)
1008 64 Durham, North Road - Abbey Sports Centre (ANE 7444)
1032 50 Arnison Centre, Mercia Retail Park - South Shields, Keppel Street (GNE 3869)
1229 27 South Shields, Fowler Street - Jarrow Bus Station (GNE 5317)
1250 9 Jarrow Bus Station - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange (GNE 4907)
1400 56 Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - Concord Bus Station (GNE 6093)
1458 82 Concord Bus Station - Heworth Interchange (GNE 6032)
1519 58 Heworth Interchange - Newcastle, Blackett Street (GNE 5384)
1702 X36 Newcastle, Market Street - Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange (GNE 4943)
1820 X21/21 Sunderland, Park Lane Interchange - Newton Aycliffe Tesco (ANE 4811)
2010 5A Newton Aycliffe Tesco - Newton Aycliffe, Williamfield Way (ANE 2857)

---

I did the full Scarlet Band 58 route once ages ago, it is long but it is actually a canny route to do I feel. I've not been to Hartlepool in ages, think I need to get myself over there again at some point soon.

Sounds good Jimmi - but don't fancy that long on a E200 on the 58 to be fair takes an hour and a half or something doesn't it?

(06 Apr 2016, 10:33 pm)Tom wrote Sounds good Jimmi - but don't fancy that long on a E200 on the 58 to be fair takes an hour and a half or something doesn't it?

Yeah, about 90 minutes on the 58.

(06 Apr 2016, 10:33 pm)Tom wrote Sounds good Jimmi - but don't fancy that long on a E200 on the 58 to be fair takes an hour and a half or something doesn't it?

It is about 8o minutes from city centre to town centre but yes, those seats are not kind to the tush.

There's a solo on at least one of the boards, most days, lately, but I haven't sampled one, yet.