(29 Aug 2021, 1:51 pm)Malarkey wrote Personally I'd knock down the multistory car park between Haymarket and Eldon Square to open up space to build one City Bus Station for all services that serve both bus stations with the potential for NatEx/Megabus & Flixbus to serve it also.

As for replacing the multistory car park I'd use the opportunity to then set up the first of many proposed Park & Ride sites which would reduce emissions in this area of the city.

I believe that the car park is a listed building and can therefore not be demolished. Just visited York and I agree Newcastle would really benefit from decent park and ride sites.

How does Peterlee Depot work? There is no like..anything bar buses parking up.

Surprised nobody's noticed the 47/47A now have their own timetable page which also reveals the new brand name - 'Red Kite Ranger'

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/services/G...2021-09-06

(29 Aug 2021, 7:50 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Surprised nobody's noticed the 47/47A now have their own timetable page which also reveals the new brand name - 'Red Kite Ranger'

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/services/G...2021-09-06

I think people are more likely refer to the route brands when they are only made of one or two words, rather than three. Makes the NSAs less annoying too.

(29 Aug 2021, 7:50 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Surprised nobody's noticed the 47/47A now have their own timetable page which also reveals the new brand name - 'Red Kite Ranger'

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/services/G...2021-09-06

Wonder if Tonto appears anywhere on the livery?

(29 Aug 2021, 12:01 pm)Adrian wrote I suppose it depends on what you class as the centre of town, but lets put it into some perspective.

Geographically, Grainger Town is the centre of town, so buses terminating on Market Street actually take you closer. However, if you class Northumberland Street as the centre of town (which people tend to), then its 0.2mi or 5 minutes walk, according to Google.
That's roughly the same as alighting the bus in Eldon Square Bus Station and walking through the shopping centre to get to Northumberland Street. It's slightly shorter up the stairs adjacent to M&S, but arguably that'd be a physically tougher walk than from Market Street.

From a passenger experience perspective, then Eldon Square is the hands down winner, compared to a couple of bus stop flags on Market Street East. Likewise from a safety perspective, more vulnerable users would be better waiting in Eldon Square Bus Station, as Market Street East isn't exactly somewhere you'd want to be standing around at night.  Safety being a barrier to people using public transport.

Cheers for the reply.  IF your going for a pint in the garter or to the cinema in the Gate you could argue its dropping you off closer to where you want to be.  My other worry would be when GNE turn buses around at Gateshead and leave punters in newcastle standing around ( with no shelter at market street) you have a lot less choice of buses to get you to gateshead. I was waiting for a 56 at market street for 45 minutes with no sign of one turning up. When i checked the app one was heading into gateshead then suddenly ended up outside the carpet right o 5 minutes later. I even ask the drive of the THIRD27 if he had seen one... a shrug of his shoulders I assume meant he hadn't. If the 56 served eldon square i might have had more chance of getting told what the crack was?

(30 Aug 2021, 7:42 am)Rob44 wrote Cheers for the reply.  IF your going for a pint in the garter or to the cinema in the Gate you could argue its dropping you off closer to where you want to be.  My other worry would be when GNE turn buses around at Gateshead and leave punters in newcastle standing around ( with no shelter at market street) you have a lot less choice of buses to get you to gateshead. I was waiting for a 56 at market street for 45 minutes with no sign of one turning up. When i checked the app one was heading into gateshead then suddenly ended up outside the carpet right o 5 minutes later. I even ask the drive of the THIRD27 if he had seen one... a shrug of his shoulders I assume meant he hadn't. If the 56 served eldon square i might have had more chance of getting told what the crack was?

I’m doubtful.

Buses can be missing from Eldon Square and passengers can still be left nonethewiser. During times of disruption, there is definitely room for improvement for communication. This isn’t unique to any operator, and, without any bias, Go North East are probably the best operator for being quite open and transparent about journeys not operating, or being curtailed at short notice (but are far from perfect!)

I believe Go North East are going to start updating their app and website with disruption, meaning that journeys will be removed from journey planners, be appropriately highlighted on the page for that service, etc.

That said, this is still not enough as many intending passengers will not make use of this technology. Cancellations on the railway have been commonplace for a long time now, and these are appropriately shown on the departure boards. This is the level of communication we need in our bus stations and at bus stops, but we are lightyears behind and need appropriate investment.


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Thanks for the reply

Is there not a Nexus "inspector" based at eldon square ( at peak hours at least)? Granted he works for nexus?? but surely his job is to help customer and surely he would know someone to contact at GNE to see why a 12 minute service hasn't had a bus show up for over 45 minutes? Also, Arn't all GNE buses fitted with radios? The number of times i've waited for buses and asked another driver from the same company if he can help by finding out what the crack is i get a shrug of shoulders Could they not have radioed control to ask what was happening for me?

When i was waiting for the 56 at market 3 27s and 2 57s left the bus stop. Surely if one of those drivers had been advised by control to inform anyone waiting to jump on their bus and a 56 was getting turned round at gateshead I wouldn't be adding this to the reply?

(30 Aug 2021, 8:37 am)Rob44 wrote Thanks for the reply

Is there not a Nexus "inspector" based at eldon square ( at peak hours at least)? Granted he works for nexus?? but surely his job is to help customer and surely he would know someone to contact at GNE to see why a 12 minute service hasn't had a bus show up for over 45 minutes?  Also,  Arn't all GNE buses fitted with radios? The number of times i've waited for buses and asked another driver from the same company if he can help by finding out what the crack is i get a shrug of shoulders Could they not have radioed control to ask what was happening for me?

When i was waiting for the 56 at market 3 27s and 2 57s left the bus stop. Surely if one of those drivers had been advised by control to inform anyone waiting to jump on their bus and a 56 was getting turned round at gateshead I wouldn't be adding this to the reply?

Nope doesn't happen, in all the years I've worked at gne only once has an "inspector" asked me to take passengers for the 28 over to Gateshead.  My question is if you've witnessed 6 buses in the space of time you've waited for your bus, why not get on a bus heading into Gateshead?, there's supervisors and even LDs at the interchange and if they're turning buses there because of delays you're guaranteed to catch the bus there.

(30 Aug 2021, 10:40 am)Stanleyone wrote Nope doesn't happen, in all the years I've worked at gne only once has an "inspector" asked me to take passengers for the 28 over to Gateshead.  My question is if you've witnessed 6 buses in the space of time you've waited for your bus, why not get on a bus heading into Gateshead?, there's supervisors and even LDs at the interchange and if they're turning buses there because of delays you're guaranteed to catch the bus there.

I asked myself that question now but  i kept hoping the next bus around the corner at manors would be the 56. I didnt want to hope on the 27 just for the 56 to pass at grainger market  or at either end of the high level.

(30 Aug 2021, 10:40 am)Stanleyone wrote Nope doesn't happen, in all the years I've worked at gne only once has an "inspector" asked me to take passengers for the 28 over to Gateshead.  My question is if you've witnessed 6 buses in the space of time you've waited for your bus, why not get on a bus heading into Gateshead?, there's supervisors and even LDs at the interchange and if they're turning buses there because of delays you're guaranteed to catch the bus there.

That is the main issue, while GNE Twitter is good there is nothing saying what to do. I think Communication between drivers/control about how to assist passengers is needed.

(29 Aug 2021, 7:47 am)Rob44 wrote Im looking forward to the long walk from market street to the centre of town now the 28 isn't going to eldon square. Makes you winder why they didn't spend a few quid on the bus station at worsick street??

Long walk? Are you being sarcastic? Have you never caught a bus in to Sunderland Park Lane or Durham?

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If someone has a return ticket for the 56, they're not going to be able to hop on a different bus to Gateshead.

not being sarcastic at all. Have COPD and a big bloke so that walk to me on a incline up to the haymarket will be a killer. Plus i'll now get asked if i have any change by about a dozen strangers!

You would like to think so but dont they tear your ticket in half when you use the retunr?

(29 Aug 2021, 2:20 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Surely they need to get Great Park P&R right first before opening new ones?

There is one almost ready made, at Heworth.

(30 Aug 2021, 12:46 pm)BusLoverMum wrote There is one almost ready made, at Heworth.

How?

(29 Aug 2021, 1:51 pm)Malarkey wrote Personally I'd knock down the multistory car park between Haymarket and Eldon Square to open up space to build one City Bus Station for all services that serve both bus stations with the potential for NatEx/Megabus & Flixbus to serve it also.

As for replacing the multistory car park I'd use the opportunity to then set up the first of many proposed Park & Ride sites which would reduce emissions in this area of the city.

Even without the car park there's not enough space there. The car park doesn't take too much space. Any new bus station should be at the South side of the site, buses from Gateshead and The Central Station direction shouldn't be heading anywhere near Eldon Square / Haymarket. It'd be nice not having buses trailing across Newcastle for no reason.

Also the P&R sites would do nothing to help since that car park serves the North and we already have the Regent Centre, Northumberland Park, Kingston Park, Callerton Parkway, Four Lane Ends and The Great Park. You'd just cause more congestion with people attempting to get to other car parks delaying buses even more.

The Stack / Dex Car Park site would be the best place for any bus station in Newcastle.

Wiill all the PDF versions of the new timetables be uploaded by Sunday?
Also which service change does anyone think will be reversed first?

(30 Aug 2021, 1:02 pm)Keeiajs wrote How?

Massive great long stay car park straight across the road from the interchange. We often park there and catch the bus or metro if we don't fancy the traffic.

(30 Aug 2021, 1:10 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Wiill all the PDF versions of the new timetables be uploaded by Sunday?
Also which service change does anyone think will be reversed first?

Well I mean 30/28/71 have already been reversed. But I think it will be the 62. Or the X1 to Peterlee and Double the Dalton Park Section.

(30 Aug 2021, 1:02 pm)Storx wrote Even without the car park there's not enough space there. The car park doesn't take too much space. Any new bus station should be at the South side of the site, buses from Gateshead and The Central Station direction shouldn't be heading anywhere near Eldon Square / Haymarket. It'd be nice not having buses trailing across Newcastle for no reason.

Also the P&R sites would do nothing to help since that car park serves the North and we already have the Regent Centre, Northumberland Park, Kingston Park, Callerton Parkway, Four Lane Ends and The Great Park. You'd just cause more congestion with people attempting to get to other car parks delaying buses even more.

The Stack / Dex Car Park site would be the best place for any bus station in Newcastle.

The main issue is Newcastle City Council own very little land in the city and developing what little land they own into a bus station is not in their economic interest.

nobody is going to do park and ride because it’s just not appealing. It’s not York or Durham, it’s big enough to cope with traffic.

If you’re used to undercover brightly secure Eldon Sq, then Market St East is a 2nd rate drop off, it’s nowhere near St James for a matchday, it’s a canny hike for the old dears heading to M&S and at the moment it requires passing across 2 busy roads from Northumberland St

While on the subject of Eldon Square v Market Street East, what's the reason for the N21 stopping at Market Street instead of Eldon Square? Does the bus station close during the night or something?

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(30 Aug 2021, 2:04 pm)big mac wrote While on the subject of Eldon Square v Market Street East, what's the reason for the N21 stopping at Market Street instead of Eldon Square?  Does the bus station close during the night or something?

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I believe it does to avoid folk spending the evening inside it.

Tho even back in the 90s the night services always stopped in a different place to their daytime counterparts

(30 Aug 2021, 2:04 pm)big mac wrote While on the subject of Eldon Square v Market Street East, what's the reason for the N21 stopping at Market Street instead of Eldon Square?  Does the bus station close during the night or something?

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Yes it does. That is why the N21 would terminate out side of Durham bus station. Instead of in it. (when it was open)

(30 Aug 2021, 2:04 pm)big mac wrote While on the subject of Eldon Square v Market Street East, what's the reason for the N21 stopping at Market Street instead of Eldon Square?  Does the bus station close during the night or something?

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Yes, the security guards lock individual doors after the last bus pulls off stand. Shutters in place to stop anyone entering the shopping centre.

(30 Aug 2021, 1:10 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Wiill all the PDF versions of the new timetables be uploaded by Sunday?
Also which service change does anyone think will be reversed first?

Personally judging by the last year or so,i reckon it'll be the Little Coasters that get it

(30 Aug 2021, 5:35 pm)V514DFT wrote Personally judging by the last year or so,i reckon it'll be the Little Coasters that get it

Get what? I'm confused....

(30 Aug 2021, 5:50 pm)logidoodah wrote Get what? I'm confused....

Cut

(30 Aug 2021, 1:10 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Wiill all the PDF versions of the new timetables be uploaded by Sunday?
Also which service change does anyone think will be reversed first?

Well the obvious ones, will be 730, 643, 734. They’ll not last as we’ve seen with the 938 & 925. The 938 is been reversed though? I think I’m right in suggesting that the 38 is going back to what it ran previously therefore no need for the 938? The 925 though is just withdrawn. I’d hazard a guess that Service 30 will go back the way it is now, one to Lanchester, one terminating early at Quaking Houses, withdrawing the 730.

(30 Aug 2021, 8:29 pm)V514DFT wrote Cut

ah right okie

(23 Aug 2021, 4:28 am)Dan wrote Go North East is working with Nexus to try and resurrect racks in bus stations but those discussions are still ongoing.

I’d love to know what Nexus’s stand point is on that, there is literally no reason why the racks can’t be reintroduced now Covid restrictions have been removed.

They could open the Gateshead travel centre unmanned and use the ones in there as well. I imagine it is pretty doubtful that that unit will ever get a commercial tenant considering the number of shops already present around the Interchange, so it’s just sitting there empty