(21 Jun 2022, 5:06 pm)Drifter60 wrote
The 8 will still serve Beamish on Sundays as it’s still operating CLS to Stanley only.


They could have done that route on all journeys really, to save differentiating between evenings and daytimes. That way they could have said the 38 would be replaced in the main as it’s not like they need the 61 on the Grangetown to City Centre corridor between the 39,60 & 2.

Ah ye, missed that haha

(21 Jun 2022, 4:54 pm)User2613 wrote Having just worked it out it would appear that in order to keep the timings evenly spaced at every 15 minutes between great park and st peters while running every 30 minutes to Wallsend the QA would have to run from Wallsend-st peters-great park-st peters and the QB would have to run the reverse. This would mean a PVR of 8. In order to have the QA run Wallsend - great park - Wallsend and the QB run at peters-great park-st peters only you would need a PVR of 9.

*This assumes the same route is taken to Wallsend as previously

The current PVR for the Q3 is 8, so surely it would be 9 when it changes?

(21 Jun 2022, 5:12 pm)Thomas12 wrote The current PVR for the Q3 is 8, so surely it would be 9 when it changes?

It seems there is a reliability issue with the Q3 aswell, I saw someone on twitter, 4 had broke down in just a couple of days not good

(21 Jun 2022, 5:12 pm)Thomas12 wrote The current PVR for the Q3 is 8, so surely it would be 9 when it changes?

The way I worked it gave 4min recovery time at either end. If they wanted to increase that recovery time then yes it would mean increasing the PVR to 9.

Seemingly the 50 will have a PVR of 7 and be operated using 6301-6307.

As far as the Consett expresses are concerned, I reckon 6356-61 will stay put on the X45 (+ 1 as a spare) with 6362/63 moving onto the X1 to provide the full PVR.

Assuming the X70/71/72 are gonna have to become standalone that would be a PVR of 7 (although part of me did wonder could they interwork with the 12 which is also every 20 minutes) and then the X30/31 would have a PVR of 3. So that accounts for 10 of the MMC's which leaves 4, a couple as spares and maybe 6351 could move to Riverside as the X10 spare allowing 6336/7 to be spares for the other double deck services at Riverside.

Certainly doesn't look like those B5's will be moving off the X21 anytime soon, no matter how many times people post about it 

(21 Jun 2022, 5:33 pm)peter wrote Seemingly the 50 will have a PVR of 7 and be operated using 6301-6307.

As far as the Consett expresses are concerned, I reckon 6356-61 will stay put on the X45 (+ 1 as a spare) with 6362/63 moving onto the X1 to provide the full PVR.

Assuming the X70/71/72 are gonna have to become standalone that would be a PVR of 7 (although part of me did wonder could they interwork with the 12 which is also every 20 minutes) and then the X30/31 would have a PVR of 3. So that accounts for 10 of the MMC's which leaves 4, a couple as spares and maybe 6351 could move to Riverside as the X10 spare allowing 6336/7 to be spares for the other double deck services at Riverside.

Certainly doesn't look like those B5's will be moving off the X21 anytime soon, no matter how many times people post about it 

X10 certainly need 2 spare. 

I think maybe 6099/6100 would go to Percy Main, with maybe 6337 going to Deptford or Washington.

(21 Jun 2022, 3:41 pm)Unber43 wrote Clearly but if GNE can't make it run successfully what chance do (i presume GCT) have?

Why GCT - the 82 passes within walking distance of JH Coaches depot, more likely to be them operating it??

(21 Jun 2022, 5:33 pm)peter wrote Certainly doesn't look like those B5's will be moving off the X21 anytime soon, no matter how many times people post about it 

Depends how timetables and interworking patterns pan out. By the looks of it, the X45 being extended to Hownsgill will allow the driving hours to be pushed in a similar way to how Arriva's Blyth drivers can also do two round trips on the 308 (also nearly 5 hours) and then just walk into the depot.

If the interworking patterns allowed, below could actually work out as a feasible allocation

E400MMC:
- 6338-40 - X30/X31
- 6341-42 - Consett Spares
- 6343-51 - X21

StreetDeck:
- 6331-33 - Riverside Spares
- 6356-60 - X45
- 6361 - Washington Spare
- 6362-75 - X1
- 6376 - Washington Spare

B5TL:
- 6308-14 - X70/X71/X72
- 6334-35 - Consett Spares

B9TL:
- 6043-48 - 47 (Unchanged)

(21 Jun 2022, 4:18 pm)citaro5284 wrote Aye, I agree daft route numbers there for sure

A & C would surely have been better - anti-clockwise and clockwise. Presumably simply “Welcome to the Quaycity A” with no reference to QA other than on the destinations.

for the 50 extension to Marsden bay on a Sunday i wonder which way it will go around to get to the Seafront, possibly routes:
if it did head around River Drive so really where a Coach would head around for the Seafront then that will mean the Bus Stop outside the Haven Point will be in use again

---

(21 Jun 2022, 8:15 pm)L469 YVK wrote Depends how timetables and interworking patterns pan out. By the looks of it, the X45 being extended to Hownsgill will allow the driving hours to be pushed in a similar way to how Arriva's Blyth drivers can also do two round trips on the 308 (also nearly 5 hours) and then just walk into the depot.

If the interworking patterns allowed, below could actually work out as a feasible allocation

E400MMC:
- 6338-40 - X30/X31
- 6341-42 - Consett Spares
- 6343-51 - X21

StreetDeck:
- 6331-33 - Riverside Spares
- 6356-60 - X45
- 6361 - Washington Spare
- 6362-75 - X1
- 6376 - Washington Spare

B5TL:
- 6308-14 - X70/X71/X72
- 6334-35 - Consett Spares

B9TL:
- 6043-48 - 47 (Unchanged)

maybes 1 or 2 B9's will be taken off the Red Kite Rangers due to the withdrawal of the 47A :|

(21 Jun 2022, 9:11 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote for the 50 extension to Marsden bay on a Sunday i wonder which way it will go around to get to the Seafront, possibly routes:
if it did head around River Drive so really where a Coach would head around for the Seafront then that will mean the Bus Stop outside the Haven Point will be in use again

---

maybes 1 or 2 B9's will be taken off the Red Kite Rangers due to the withdrawal of the 47A :|

The PVR isn’t changing as the 47 is being increased to half hourly plus the route in Consett vis Bridgehill to the Bus Station and then on to Shotley Bridge

(21 Jun 2022, 8:15 pm)L469 YVK wrote Depends how timetables and interworking patterns pan out. By the looks of it, the X45 being extended to Hownsgill will allow the driving hours to be pushed in a similar way to how Arriva's Blyth drivers can also do two round trips on the 308 (also nearly 5 hours) and then just walk into the depot.

If the interworking patterns allowed, below could actually work out as a feasible allocation

E400MMC:
- 6338-40 - X30/X31
- 6341-42 - Consett Spares
- 6343-51 - X21

StreetDeck:
- 6331-33 - Riverside Spares
- 6356-60 - X45
- 6361 - Washington Spare
- 6362-75 - X1
- 6376 - Washington Spare

B5TL:
- 6308-14 - X70/X71/X72
- 6334-35 - Consett Spares

B9TL:
- 6043-48 - 47 (Unchanged)

I’ll give you credit, this makes more sense than any of your previous suggestions, as at least everything is in consistent batches. However that’s still 14 rear-end repaints that one could argue aren’t necessary

Id like 2 see a stagecoach bus to sunderland from boldon etc but wander wt there going todo when they take 35s of from boldon

(21 Jun 2022, 9:55 pm)Gonorth91 wrote Id like 2 see a stagecoach bus to sunderland from boldon etc but wander wt there going todo  when they take 35s of from boldon

The 35 isn’t being taken off from Boldon…Nexus are funding it to continue

There used to be one. It was the 5. Used to run from Doxford Park to Boldon.

(21 Jun 2022, 9:55 pm)Gonorth91 wrote Id like 2 see a stagecoach bus to sunderland from boldon etc but wander wt there going todo when they take 35s of from boldon

(21 Jun 2022, 10:21 pm)Rapidsnap wrote There used to be one. It was the 5. Used to run from Doxford Park to Boldon.

I wonder if service 5 would of ever existed if George Bell Travel didn’t started up service 125 on the south side

Service 4 did get extended to boldon Asda once a time a go, but it didn’t pay off and got withdrawn

Would of liked to see shields service 17 or 18 extended to boldon Asda and onwards to Downhill then replace Sunderland service 4 to Durham road prospect then the 23 route to Thorney close , and have that proposed stagecoach change that was in the pipeline for service 22 from Seaburn to Doxford park, and have the shields 17 or 18 extension run by Sunderland


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(22 Jun 2022, 8:23 am)Storx wrote imo if you wanted to connect those to Downhill and beyond this would be better

9: Increased to every 20 minutes and run the 5 route between Boldon ASDA and Jarrow

35: Low Moorsley - Sunderland as it is, extended to South Shields Bus Interchange via 20 route every 30 minutes
36: Sunderland - South Shields only every 30 minutes (Interwork every 15 minutes)

26: Jarrow - Leam Lane as it is interworks with 36 every 30 minutes

New 37: Sunderland - Boldon ASDA via 35 route then 5 route from there to South Shields every 30 minutes.

It opens lots of new links, South Shields to Hylton Retail Park, North Sunderland to South Shields, South Shields to Royal Hospital and the only real lost link is Jarrow to New Road in Boldon, everywhere else has alternative services (X30 Fellgate to South Shields / 10/11 Whiteleas to Jarrow)

The only issue here, is that your suggestions are GNE services. As we have seen, GNE keep chopping and changing services. SNE especially in Sunderland are far more stable, so would be a much preferable service operator.

(21 Jun 2022, 9:11 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote for the 50 extension to Marsden bay on a Sunday i wonder which way it will go around to get to the Seafront, possibly routes:
if it did head around River Drive so really where a Coach would head around for the Seafront then that will mean the Bus Stop outside the Haven Point will be in use again

---

maybes 1 or 2 B9's will be taken off the Red Kite Rangers due to the withdrawal of the 47A :|

PVR of the 47 every 30 minutes would likely be 6.

(21 Jun 2022, 9:45 pm)peter wrote I’ll give you credit, this makes more sense than any of your previous suggestions, as at least everything is in consistent batches. However that’s still 14 rear-end repaints that one could argue aren’t necessary

Would make sense for a number of reasons:

- A clean fleet of 14x StreetDecks for the X1 plus 2x spares alao of the same age & spec without relying on 6377.

- 3x spare StreetDecks at Riverside for the 21/X21.

- If X10/X21 are on the same rota, will keep main vehicle type the same as well as helping improve reliability on the X21.

- A clean fleet of 7x (matching the exact PVR) B5TLs on the X70/X71/X72 plus a useful spare role for 6334-35.

61 should be renumbered the 62, for the extension to Peterlee to go along Station Road, around Seaham via Dawdon & Princess Road and go up either Avenue or Graham Way to continue on its normal route to Peterlee

(21 Jun 2022, 9:45 pm)peter wrote However that’s still 14 rear-end repaints that one could argue aren’t necessary

Total number of repaints would be:

E400MMC:
- 9x partial from XLines Dark Green to Blue (for X21)

B5TL:
- 7x partial from XLines Blue to Dark Green (for X70/X71/X72)

StreetDeck:
- 1x partial from XLines Light Green to Black (6361)
- 2x partial from XLines Light Green to Red (6362-63)

Would be pointless keeping the E400MMCs at Consett 'just for the sake of it' if there's no need for them to be used on any interworking patterns like now. They're more than capable machines as proven by GNE's own use on the X10 as well as Arriva's extensive use on long distance work (although classic versions up to now).

And I'm sure despite the repaint argument costs (and there'll likely be other repaints needed too), the drivers kicking off about the amount spent on paint will be happy to have a stable set of vehicles that can comfortably do the job required and not leave them stranded waiting for recovery.

(22 Jun 2022, 5:48 pm)L469 YVK wrote Total number of repaints would be:

E400MMC:
- 9x partial from XLines Dark Green to Blue (for X21)

B5TL:
- 7x partial from XLines Blue to Dark Green (for X70/X71/X72)

StreetDeck:
- 1x partial from XLines Light Green to Black (6361)
- 2x partial from XLines Light Green to Red (6362-63)

Would be pointless keeping the E400MMCs at Consett 'just for the sake of it' if there's no need for them to be used on any interworking patterns like now. They're more than capable machines as proven by GNE's own use on the X10 as well as Arriva's extensive use on long distance work (although classic versions up to now).

And I'm sure despite the repaint argument costs (and there'll likely be other repaints needed too), the drivers kicking off about the amount spent on paint will be happy to have a stable set of vehicles that can comfortably do the job required and not leave them stranded waiting for recovery.

That B5TL and MMC swap will never happen. Both Euro 6 so wont need swapping

(22 Jun 2022, 5:48 pm)L469 YVK wrote Total number of repaints would be:

E400MMC:
- 9x partial from XLines Dark Green to Blue (for X21)

B5TL:
- 7x partial from XLines Blue to Dark Green (for X70/X71/X72)

StreetDeck:
- 1x partial from XLines Light Green to Black (6361)
- 2x partial from XLines Light Green to Red (6362-63)

Would be pointless keeping the E400MMCs at Consett 'just for the sake of it' if there's no need for them to be used on any interworking patterns like now. They're more than capable machines as proven by GNE's own use on the X10 as well as Arriva's extensive use on long distance work (although classic versions up to now).

And I'm sure despite the repaint argument costs (and there'll likely be other repaints needed too), the drivers kicking off about the amount spent on paint will be happy to have a stable set of vehicles that can comfortably do the job required and not leave them stranded waiting for recovery.

I had a free day today up in Newcastle so I decided to have a try of the E400s on the X10, and honestly I wasn't that impressed. They didn't seem happy on the A19, the engine was loud and the ride wasn't particularly smooth.
In fact, they were probably on par with the B5s, granted they were going 60mph rather than the 50mph the B5s seem to be limited to.

They were also absolutely horrendous in the heat, they don't seem to have any air circulation like the StreetDecks/B5s do.

Sent from my AC2003 using Tapatalk

I think any further a Xline repaints should just go into generic Xlines Charcoal so they can be swapped around again in a month or two, or whenever the wind next changes.

Ditto any non Xline repaints, they should all go Corporate at this point.

The network and allocations seem so unstable surely they can’t justify route specific liveries any more.

(22 Jun 2022, 8:08 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote That B5TL and MMC swap will never happen. Both Euro 6 so wont need swapping

But would the numbers add up if looking at alternatives?

Option 1:
- 3x E400MMC - X30/X31
- 7x E400MMC - X70/X71/X72

Is 4x spares of the same vehicle type (most of them nearly new too) not overkill?

Option 2:
- 3x E400MMC - X30/X31
- 5x E400MMC - X45
- 6x E400MMC - 47 (B9TLs released)
- 7x StreetDeck - X70/X71/X72
- 1x StreetDeck X1

Would mean no low height spares unless 6336 and or 6337 sent back to Consett. Furthermore, would provide full PVR for X1 but with no spares unless 6377 was tied down.

My original suggestion would keep things consistent. A clean fleet of 9x E400MMCs on the X21 and a clean fleet of 7x B5TLs (and NO ex-dealer stock vehicles) on the X70/X71/X72. At the moment, the X21 is effectively being made up of 2x vehicles which should be in a spare role.

---

(22 Jun 2022, 8:49 pm)ne14ne1 wrote I think any further a Xline repaints should just go into generic Xlines Charcoal so they can be swapped around again in a month or two, or whenever the wind next changes.

This, probably not a bad idea to be honest!

---

(22 Jun 2022, 8:39 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I had a free day today up in Newcastle so I decided to have a try of the E400s on the X10, and honestly I wasn't that impressed. They didn't seem happy on the A19, the engine was loud and the ride wasn't particularly smooth.
In fact, they were probably on par with the B5s, granted they were going 60mph rather than the 50mph the B5s seem to be limited to.

They were also absolutely horrendous in the heat, they don't seem to have any air circulation like the StreetDecks/B5s do.

Sent from my AC2003 using Tapatalk

They're not perfect, but they're a proven vehicle type with Arriva & Stagecoach racking up the miles in them. Cummins units have always been loud anyways.

Sorry if this has been mentioned elsewhere, But if the 6 is every 30 minutes and remains so, and the 12 is going from 15 to 20 Minutes, I assume will no longer interwork? I wonder if the 6 will remain at Riverside?

(23 Jun 2022, 9:21 am)gc802002 wrote Sorry if this has been mentioned elsewhere, But if the 6 is every 30 minutes and remains so, and the 12 is going from 15 to 20 Minutes, I assume will no longer interwork? I wonder if the 6 will remain at Riverside?

Could the daytime 6 trips not be interworked with the 28 & 29 if GNE win the contract and they're operated from Riverside?

I still wonder if the Sunday X30 & X72 will be Consett or Riverside operated (interworking with the 6 & 12 if latter)

(23 Jun 2022, 11:09 am)L469 YVK wrote Could the daytime 6 trips not be interworked with the 28 & 29 if GNE win the contract and they're operated from Riverside?

I still wonder if the Sunday X30 & X72 will be Consett or Riverside operated (interworking with the 6 & 12 if latter)

Can the 6 not be done standalone? I’m pretty sure the interworking of the 6/12 was to avoid driver changeovers in Blaydon but that’s going to have to happen anyways I assume. Personally, interworking should only be done when it’s a clear business need and it would otherwise increase vehicles required (which of course in turn impacts fares etc.) or interworking between groups of services that follow a similar route or connect similar places. If there’s traffic or other incident on the 6 route in Burnopfield, Stanley or Lanchester it’s not really ideal that should an impact residents in Kibblesworth, Ouston or Chester-le-Street. Even on evenings and Sunday personally interworking should only happen in limited places.

Sounds like a daft idea. But the current 93/94/53/54 are current on diversion due to works next to the Gateshead College. Could gne not work and put stops along that area. Where they come out near the skate park current does not have a bus route. Had a ride on the 94 past it and it seems like I nice area for them to go through. Granted they did this the 93 would miss out Askew Road & the bus stop near the sage. 94 would miss the same stop and Gateshead High Street. 53/54 from the 24th July wouldn't miss out the sage but would miss out the same stops as the 93/94. It's a nice part of the route they currently are on now.

Like I said it's daft but just a suggestion

Anyone know when the timetables will be published for these changes?