https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/summer-saving-fares

(29 Jul 2021, 5:07 pm)citaro5284 wrote https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/summer-saving-fares

Hopefully these initiatives work. 
Long may they continue!

(29 Jul 2021, 5:13 pm)Andreos1 wrote Hopefully these initiatives work. 
Long may they continue!

And long may the maps continue!
I'll keep saying it, but I do find routes laid out on a map like that extremely useful.

...and because we get maps, its good to see that a common-sense approach has been taken to the boundary at Bournmoor, allowing the ticket to be valid on the 4.

(29 Jul 2021, 5:59 pm)Adrian wrote And long may the maps continue!
I'll keep saying it, but I do find routes laid out on a map like that extremely useful.

Seems to confirm the purple sunderland district is indeed for the 55

(29 Jul 2021, 5:59 pm)Adrian wrote And long may the maps continue!
I'll keep saying it, but I do find routes laid out on a map like that extremely useful.

Agreed. Particularly useful for those who prefer the visual layout and can clearly see defined, structured boundaries. Not just a thick line that runs down the middle of a town or village.

Wow, they’ve included all of Gateshead in the Gateshead zone.

For the first time in 20 odd years they’re acknowledging Gateshead doesn’t end at Eighton Lodge!!

You start competing with taxis for the Low Fell set at these prices

(29 Jul 2021, 6:14 pm)JP6004 wrote Seems to confirm the purple sunderland district is indeed for the 55

Isn't the 2 in purple on the map though?

Bit odd that the 33, 38, 39, 700 are completely omitted from the map (also a big fan of network maps here) - presume its because they operate wholly within the city but seems a missed opportunity to include full network, and could easily have fitted on without looking too cluttered.  Assuming they aren't all lost in the service changes of course.

These changes seem fairly positive, especially for people travelling from the likes of Chopwell where a single ticket has halved in price

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So, does the Gateshead zone include Newcastle? The map could be interpreted either way

(29 Jul 2021, 9:35 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Isn't the 2 in purple on the map though?

Bit odd that the 33, 38, 39, 700 are completely omitted from the map (also a big fan of network maps here) - presume its because they operate wholly within the city but seems a missed opportunity to include full network, and could easily have fitted on without looking too cluttered.  Assuming they aren't all lost in the service changes of course.

There’s a separate, more detailed, map for Sunderland Central. It’s impossible to show all those routes without it looking cluttered.


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(29 Jul 2021, 10:05 pm)Dan wrote There’s a separate, more detailed, map for Sunderland Central. It’s impossible to show all those routes without it looking cluttered.


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Is that online somewhere?  I had a quick look and couldn't see it.  Though have to say I find the whole 'fares & tickets' section of the GNE website overwhelming to the point of being offputting as there are just so many links and options it's pretty impossible as an infrequent GNE customer to work out what on earth I should look at!

Good start. Unfortunately I have to cross boundaries twice a week.

An interesting move, certainly welcome and I do echo the comments about maps being helpful because then you can see routes and boundary points clearly.

I’ve just noticed though that Follinsby Park doesn’t seem to be included in the Gateshead zone or Sunderland zone, double checking what I thought that it’s indeed in the Borough of Gateshead, is it a mistake that it’s excluded from that ticket? Also considering the below anomaly about Seaham, it might have been nice for the Sunderland ticket to include Follingsby too, so both areas can benefit considering it’s on the border of Gateshead to Sunderland.

Its also a little odd that a City of Sunderland zone is actually including Seaham and Murton, when they’re not part of Sunderland. Washington and Houghton is one thing being City of Sunderland Council and Tyne and Wear etc., but as a passenger I certainly wouldn’t think of a ‘City of Sunderland’ ticket being valid in areas of County Durham. Maybe it should been Sunderland Plus or something?

(29 Jul 2021, 9:43 pm)streetdeckfan wrote So, does the Gateshead zone include Newcastle? The map could be interpreted either way

Highly doubt it, haven't seen anything to confirm either way, but considering the zone is being touted as a ticket to cover the entire Borough I don't think it would make any sense to include Newcastle which definitely isn't in the Borough of Gateshead.

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(30 Jul 2021, 2:29 am)6049 wrote Highly doubt it, haven't seen anything to confirm either way, but considering the zone is being touted as a ticket to cover the entire Borough I don't think it would make any sense to include Newcastle which definitely isn't in the Borough of Gateshead.

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If it's not included then I do feel like the zone map is slightly misleading having Newcastle and Gateshead in the same bubble.
Plus, iirc Newcastle and Gateshead have been considered the same area in terms of ticketing with previous zones.

(29 Jul 2021, 6:14 pm)JP6004 wrote Seems to confirm the purple sunderland district is indeed for the 55

Is the 55 even going to exist after? From what I've heard the X1 / X20 is replacing it.

(30 Jul 2021, 12:21 am)Drifter60 wrote An interesting move, certainly welcome and I do echo the comments about maps being helpful because then you can see routes and boundary points clearly.

I’ve just noticed though that Follinsby Park doesn’t seem to be included in the Gateshead zone or Sunderland zone, double checking what I thought that it’s indeed in the Borough of Gateshead, is it a mistake that it’s excluded from that ticket? Also considering the below anomaly about Seaham, it might have been nice for the Sunderland ticket to include Follingsby too, so both areas can benefit considering it’s on the border of Gateshead to Sunderland.

Its also a little odd that a City of Sunderland zone is actually including Seaham and Murton, when they’re not part of Sunderland. Washington and Houghton is one thing being City of Sunderland Council and Tyne and Wear etc., but as a passenger I certainly wouldn’t think of a ‘City of Sunderland’ ticket being valid in areas of County Durham. Maybe it should been Sunderland Plus or something?

Isn't the City of Sunderland area just what will be the Sunderland and District routes. Looking at what routes there are it certainly seems that way at least anyway. Obviously they can't call it that yet though as it doesn't exist yet. 

Not sure whether the 9/26 are becoming part of it yet as they're the only routes going out the area.

(30 Jul 2021, 7:13 am)Storx wrote Is the 55 even going to exist after? From what I've heard the X1 / X20 is replacing it.


Isn't the City of Sunderland area just what will be the Sunderland and District routes. Looking at what routes there are it certainly seems that way at least anyway. Obviously they can't call it that yet though as it doesn't exist yet. 

Not sure whether the 9/26 are becoming part of it yet as they're the only routes going out the area.

I don’t know what the original changes were for service 55, but GNE have decided not to go ahead with changing the 55 from what was said on Martijn Facebook stream yesterday


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(30 Jul 2021, 7:32 am)cbma06 wrote I don’t know what the original changes were for service 55, but GNE have decided not to go ahead with changing the 55 from what was said on Martijn Facebook stream yesterday


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Ah that's fair guess we'll just have to see what happens then.

(30 Jul 2021, 7:13 am)Storx wrote Is the 55 even going to exist after? From what I've heard the X1 / X20 is replacing it.


Isn't the City of Sunderland area just what will be the Sunderland and District routes. Looking at what routes there are it certainly seems that way at least anyway. Obviously they can't call it that yet though as it doesn't exist yet. 

Not sure whether the 9/26 are becoming part of it yet as they're the only routes going out the area.

Well just one of many reasons why I’m not a fan of brands featuring a place name, if they go outside that area. Sunderland District Berries works sort of okay, as it’s wholly within “Sunderland” and ‘District’ I guess implies we’re talking about wider Sunderland ie, Houghton and Washington. But Seaham isn’t Sunderland, so shouldn’t include Drifter or the 61 or the 9 either as that’s South Tyneside for a good section too. I mean I’m not a fan of the berries bit, but that’s a separate conversation. 
It’s the same reason why the 2xx routes based out of Peterlee depot shouldn’t be known as “Peterlee xxx” (seen that suggested) as Peterlee isn’t Seaham and neither is Durham. A few of the 2xx and the 60/61 routes go into places that aren’t solely Sunderland or Peterlee; namely Wingate, Seaham, Durham, Belmont, Dalton Park and Murton. 

It’s also clunky using place names within brands I find, the Sunderland District Drifter 60 to Sunderland? Or just the Drifter 60 to Sunderland? One sounds better on a Next Stop Announcement and is a simpler brand name to remember and use in conversation. And not mention brands such as Drifter and Prince Bishop have been around for 10-15 years, changing them and unnecessarily complicating and elongating them would be a mistake IMO.

(30 Jul 2021, 1:25 pm)Drifter60 wrote Well just one of many reasons why I’m not a fan of brands featuring a place name, if they go outside that area. Sunderland District Berries works sort of okay, as it’s wholly within “Sunderland” and ‘District’ I guess implies we’re talking about wider Sunderland ie, Houghton and Washington. But Seaham isn’t Sunderland, so shouldn’t include Drifter or the 61 or the 9 either as that’s South Tyneside for a good section too. I mean I’m not a fan of the berries bit, but that’s a separate conversation. 
It’s the same reason why the 2xx routes based out of Peterlee depot shouldn’t be known as “Peterlee xxx” (seen that suggested) as Peterlee isn’t Seaham and neither is Durham. A few of the 2xx and the 60/61 routes go into places that aren’t solely Sunderland or Peterlee; namely Wingate, Seaham, Durham, Belmont, Dalton Park and Murton. 

It’s also clunky using place names within brands I find, the Sunderland District Drifter 60 to Sunderland? Or just the Drifter 60 to Sunderland? One sounds better on a Next Stop Announcement and is a simpler brand name to remember and use in conversation. And not mention brands such as Drifter and Prince Bishop have been around for 10-15 years, changing them and unnecessarily complicating and elongating them would be a mistake IMO.

Don’t forget the original SDO used to operate buses to Durham/Bishop Auckland/South Shields/Newcastle etc… and not just in the Sunderland district area

I don’t mind the brands, but don’t like route branding especially when the bus does other routes, especially on Arriva buses when anything from the depot turns up


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(30 Jul 2021, 1:34 pm)cbma06 wrote Don’t forget the original SDO used to operate buses to Durham/Bishop Auckland/South Shields/Newcastle etc… and not just in the Sunderland district area

I don’t mind the brands, but don’t like route branding especially when the bus does other routes, especially on Arriva buses when anything from the depot turns up 


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I know we are getting well off topic, but that's part of the excitement for me. Whether it plane, train or... bus.
Always has been and although I see a lot of benefits to the various apps or rtt where the vehicle type/id is shown, it definitely takes the surprise out of what is going to come around the corner next and the groan/little fist pump that inevitably follows.

(30 Jul 2021, 1:34 pm)cbma06 wrote Don’t forget the original SDO used to operate buses to Durham/Bishop Auckland/South Shields/Newcastle etc… and not just in the Sunderland district area

I don’t mind the brands, but don’t like route branding especially when the bus does other routes, especially on Arriva buses when anything from the depot turns up


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Wasn't Murton depot Wear Buses as well even though it wasn't anywhere near the river Wear? I don't think many people in Seaham and Murton will be too offended with buses that have "Sunderland District" on the front of them when they can get all the way to Sunderland for £1.70 instead of the current £3.60/£3.10 respectively.

(30 Jul 2021, 2:30 pm)deanmachine wrote Wasn't Murton depot Wear Buses as well even though it wasn't anywhere near the river Wear? I don't think many people in Seaham and Murton will be too offended with buses that have "Sunderland District" on the front of them when they can get all the way to Sunderland for £1.70 instead of the current £3.60/£3.10 respectively.

I think murton depot was closed well before the wearbuses livery came out


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(30 Jul 2021, 2:30 pm)deanmachine wrote Wasn't Murton depot Wear Buses as well even though it wasn't anywhere near the river Wear? I don't think many people in Seaham and Murton will be too offended with buses that have "Sunderland District" on the front of them when they can get all the way to Sunderland for £1.70 instead of the current £3.60/£3.10 respectively.

I don’t think anyone will be offended! As I say, I welcome the promotion. And it’s welcome to see new zones introduced to lower travel to new areas, for instance Seaham to Durham is usually an all zone ticket whereas with this a County Durham ticket would be valid? Actually just as I wrote this, I’m wondering would it? As technically you leave County Durham in Hetton and Moorsley, is the ticket still valid as long as you don’t alight in Tyne and Wear area? Nonetheless welcome the introduction of new tickets and zones and the evening fare offer is also a great initative. 

Just not a fan of the livery really. And also this sort of hark back to yesteryear is what we’ve previously been told doesn’t connect with passengers. I’m 27 and didn’t even realise “Sunderland District Buses” was a previous name and I’m someone from this forum who takes an interest in buses. So I do wonder is the point of the brand? Surely not many people 10 years either side of my age are going to know the history of this brand name and surely those aged 17-37 are a growth marker who you’re more likely to convince to go green and ditch the car, particularly the younger end of that age band. So I just question the usefulness? The brands like “Coaster” “Prince Bishop” “XLINES” that are easy one or two word names work best, “East Gateshead Rider” “Sunderland District Purple” is just too many syllables in my eyes.

(30 Jul 2021, 6:34 pm)Drifter60 wrote I don’t think anyone will be offended! As I say, I welcome the promotion. And it’s welcome to see new zones introduced to lower travel to new areas, for instance Seaham to Durham is usually an all zone ticket whereas with this a County Durham ticket would be valid? Actually just as I wrote this, I’m wondering would it? As technically you leave County Durham in Hetton and Moorsley, is the ticket still valid as long as you don’t alight in Tyne and Wear area? 

Just double checked our staff briefing, the Durham county ticket is valid the full route of the 265.

(30 Jul 2021, 6:34 pm)Drifter60 wrote Just not a fan of the livery really. And also this sort of hark back to yesteryear is what we’ve previously been told doesn’t connect with passengers. I’m 27 and didn’t even realise “Sunderland District Buses” was a previous name and I’m someone from this forum who takes an interest in buses. So I do wonder is the point of the brand? Surely not many people 10 years either side of my age are going to know the history of this brand name and surely those aged 17-37 are a growth marker who you’re more likely to convince to go green and ditch the car, particularly the younger end of that age band. So I just question the usefulness? The brands like “Coaster” “Prince Bishop” “XLINES” that are easy one or two word names work best, “East Gateshead Rider” “Sunderland District Purple” is just too many syllables in my eyes.

I wonder if it's got anything to do with Scarborough and District at East Yorkshire.

Since MG came to power everything seems to just be a rehash of other people's branding! I'm not saying it's necessarily a bad thing, just an observation

(30 Jul 2021, 6:58 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I wonder if it's got anything to do with Scarborough and District at East Yorkshire.

Given they’ve taken the opposite view and banished the Scarborough & District brand from use, probably not.

(30 Jul 2021, 7:04 pm)S813 FVK wrote Given they’ve taken the opposite view and banished the Scarborough & District brand from use, probably not.

That is true, I forgot they rebranded them to Scarborough Locals. I wonder when the 'locals' branding will turn up then! 

(30 Jul 2021, 6:34 pm)Drifter60 wrote I don’t think anyone will be offended! As I say, I welcome the promotion. And it’s welcome to see new zones introduced to lower travel to new areas, for instance Seaham to Durham is usually an all zone ticket whereas with this a County Durham ticket would be valid? Actually just as I wrote this, I’m wondering would it? As technically you leave County Durham in Hetton and Moorsley, is the ticket still valid as long as you don’t alight in Tyne and Wear area? Nonetheless welcome the introduction of new tickets and zones and the evening fare offer is also a great initative. 

Just not a fan of the livery really. And also this sort of hark back to yesteryear is what we’ve previously been told doesn’t connect with passengers. I’m 27 and didn’t even realise “Sunderland District Buses” was a previous name and I’m someone from this forum who takes an interest in buses. So I do wonder is the point of the brand? Surely not many people 10 years either side of my age are going to know the history of this brand name and surely those aged 17-37 are a growth marker who you’re more likely to convince to go green and ditch the car, particularly the younger end of that age band. So I just question the usefulness? The brands like “Coaster” “Prince Bishop” “XLINES” that are easy one or two word names work best, “East Gateshead Rider” “Sunderland District Purple” is just too many syllables in my eyes.

You probably not know that there used to be Durham and District Buses aswell but there were bought by United (now Arriva) , but that’s another story

All that GNE has done is used the old name and just spiced it up with out the old colour brand


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(30 Jul 2021, 3:04 am)streetdeckfan wrote If it's not included then I do feel like the zone map is slightly misleading having Newcastle and Gateshead in the same bubble.
Plus, iirc Newcastle and Gateshead have been considered the same area in terms of ticketing with previous zones.

I agree, and I've seen a few queries around this already. The merging of the Newcastle and Gateshead bubbles suggest its inclusive, especially when the dashed boundary line doesn't split the two.

There also seems to be some confusion at whether these tickets compliment the existing Go Zones or replace them. Colouring the zones identically to the Go Zones doesn't help here. 

I note that the ticket page states "The ticket offers are designed to offer a range of very simple headline fares with easy-to-understand fare zones that match borough and county boundaries.", but I've noticed that Springwell falls outside of the City of Sunderland zone, despite the original Springwell being part of the administrative boundary.