(04 Jul 2022, 4:59 pm)Aaron21 wrote Nexus put this out today on there news section

Funding an increase in the evening frequency of Go North East service 1 between Newcastle and Whitley Bay to two buses an hour.
•    Extending Go North East service 35 to give the Cotswold Estate in Boldon, South Tyneside a new bus service linked to local shops and on to Sunderland City centre.
•    Extending service 41, introduced by nexus in March, to create direct links between northern parts of Wallsend through to Howdon.
•    Funding the continued operation of service 69 in Gateshead to maintain direct links to Queen Elizabeth Hospital from Winlaton, Blaydon and Whickham.
•    Boosting the frequency of the new 82 route Nexus already plans to introduce in Washington.
•    Funding an extension of Go North East’s service Q3 from St Peters Basin in Newcastle to Wallsend, as part of a new route to be called the ‘QA/QB’.
•    Funding the expansion of the service 39 in Sunderland to introduce a new service ‘39B’, ensuring Tunstall Bank Estate continues to benefit from access to the bus network.

Nexus also expects to support the following new or re-routed services, working with Durham County Council to maintain links from the county through south Gateshead to Newcastle:


•    An hourly service 25 between Newcastle, Gateshead, Eighton Banks, Birtley, and Chester-le-Street.
•    An hourly service 28 operating between Newcastle, Gateshead, Wrekenton, Birtley, Ouston, Chester-le-Street.
•    An hourly service 29 operating between Newcastle, Gateshead, Kibblesworth, Ouston and Chester-le-Street

Link here

https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/nexus...l-bus-cuts

Whilst pleased services are being maintained, I find it an utter disgrace that Nexus are having to dig in to their pockets to fill the gaps left over by a commercial operator, unable to make things work in a deregulated market.

The irony being that those working for the operator, are paying their taxes to ensure their mistakes (and incompetence?) doesn't cut off communities, isn't lost on me. Hopefully it isn't lost on them either.

(04 Jul 2022, 6:03 pm)Andreos1 wrote Whilst pleased services are being maintained, I find it an utter disgrace that Nexus are having to dig in to their pockets to fill the gaps left over by a commercial operator, unable to make things work in a deregulated market.

The irony being that those working for the operator, are paying their taxes to ensure their mistakes (and incompetence?) doesn't cut off communities, isn't lost on me. Hopefully it isn't lost on them either.

Exploit gaps, surely?


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(04 Jul 2022, 6:51 pm)Dan wrote Exploit gaps, surely?


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Nah, definitely fill.

(04 Jul 2022, 3:41 pm)Thomas12 wrote Don’t think that’s accurate as it looks like the same timetable as now.

Yeah that's what I was thinking. Nexus said in their article that the 25 would be hourly but yet the timetable shows it's half hourly. The date of the timetable in the link is from 25th July too.

---

Timetables for new 82A and 83 attracted. Don't think they've been posted yet.

Hate to admit but Go North East & Nexus need to sort the Q3 out. The Q3 is confusing a lot of people. They both stop on St Mary's Place (towards Great Park & St Peters)

Why doesn't the Q3 towards St Peters stop in Haymarket as well. The amount of people who want a Q3 to St Peters that runs right past Haymarket to stop outside the gate. Over the past few weeks. There people getting confused on which bus stops where. Like it doesn't help that both Q3 pass St Mary's Place

Something needs to be done to stop confusing people. Easy solution. Make the Q3 towards St Peters serve Haymarket as well

(05 Jul 2022, 12:44 pm)Aaron21 wrote Hate to admit but Go North East & Nexus need to sort the Q3 out. The Q3 is confusing a lot of people. They both stop on St Mary's Place (towards Great Park & St Peters)

Why doesn't the Q3 towards St Peters stop in Haymarket as well. The amount of people who want a Q3 to St Peters that runs right past Haymarket to stop outside the gate. Over the past few weeks. There people getting confused on which bus stops where. Like it doesn't help that both Q3 pass St Mary's Place

Something needs to be done to stop confusing people. Easy solution. Make the Q3 towards St Peters serve Haymarket as well

Space within the bus stations? Time it takes to serve the bus stations?

(05 Jul 2022, 1:01 pm)Dan wrote Space within the bus stations? Time it takes to serve the bus stations?

Can't the Q3 serve the exact same stand as the current Q3. And it would take all of 5 minutes (same time they get at the gate)

(05 Jul 2022, 1:15 pm)Aaron21 wrote Can't the Q3 serve the exact same stand as the current Q3. And it would take all of 5 minutes (same time they get at the gate)

Haven't you just said it is confusing that the Q3 serves the same stop in two different directions at St Mary's Place?

(05 Jul 2022, 1:28 pm)Dan wrote Haven't you just said it is confusing that the Q3 serves the same stop in two different directions at St Mary's Place?

No, that it's confusing it serves St Mary's Place in both directions, but only serves Haymarket in one direction. That's how I read it, anyway.

surely it serves haymarket going north as that's where most of the buses if not all the buses going north stop? It makes sense to me anyway it stopping at the civis centre then at the gate missing out haymarket to save time.

(05 Jul 2022, 1:35 pm)F114TML wrote No, that it's confusing it serves St Mary's Place in both directions, but only serves Haymarket in one direction. That's how I read it, anyway.

Yes correct

I think the Q3 went from stand E in Eldon Square towards Wallsend a while back. Perhaps it could start serving Eldon Square in that direction again?

They need to do something. It's confusing people as you wait in Haymarket thinking you can get the Q3 to St Peters yet its going towards Great Park. Yet you wait round St Mary's Place. You have to wait for the right one as they both follow the exact same route except one missing Haymarket & the other goes into Haymarket. God forbid I wish anyone good luck when this QA/QB come into play

Why on earth is the Great Park-bound Q3 serving Haymarket?
So it comes up John Dobson St and has to turn left onto St Mary’s to travel to Haymarket Bus Station, to then come back on itself to head around Sandyford Road?!
Why can’t it just serve John Dobson St and turn right?
Surely that would be far less tedious for customers and reduce some of the increased journey times since it started serving Osborne Rd?

Timetables haven't came out with less than 20 days before these changes will directly impact people...great going.

Yes Durham may have only given out contracts Thursday I think, but still, people still deserve to know whether the same operator will operate their routes e.g 25

I got the 62 from Murton to Sunderland and it had a pretty decent load, guesstimate of 10-17 passengers throughout (quick silent headcount revealed 13 on board on arrival at Park Lane), most doing the same journey I did - felt busy as it was a Solo. The 61 I got back from Park Lane was much quieter (well, it wasn't because it was a StreetLite but you get what I mean)

A 56 left shortly after with all of 2 people on board, so presumably that's going to get heavily slashed and downgraded to minibuses

OK, that was a joke, but still failing to see why the 62 is being withdrawn - I've never seen an empty one, and I've always seen a fair few on it.

(05 Jul 2022, 6:33 pm)F114TML wrote I got the 62 from Murton to Sunderland and it had a pretty decent load, guesstimate of 10-17 passengers throughout (quick silent headcount revealed 13 on board on arrival at Park Lane), most doing the same journey I did - felt busy as it was a Solo. The 61 I got back from Park Lane was much quieter (well, it wasn't because it was a StreetLite but you get what I mean)

A 56 left shortly after with all of 2 people on board, so presumably that's going to get heavily slashed and downgraded to minibuses

OK, that was a joke, but still failing to see why the 62 is being withdrawn - I've never seen an empty one, and I've always seen a fair few on it.

I saw the one ran by the Blone 38 bus at Easington seemed quite busy.

62 are constanly busier than the 61. 56 do leave Park lane with poor loads. Staff Shuttles are usally busier

(05 Jul 2022, 6:35 pm)Unber43 wrote I saw the one ran by the Blone 38 bus at Easington seemed quite busy.

62 are constanly busier than the 61. 56 do leave Park lane with poor loads. Staff Shuttles are usally busier

I was also a bit miffed I just missed the 56, and a 700 because the 62 was 10 minutes late *grumble* which meant I didn't get the full value of my day ticket *grumble* and had to spend £4.20 using Stagecoach buses *grumble* because the 56 back was cancelled *grumble*. I'm not expecting the 56 to leave Park Lane rammed but it was amusing seeing a service with a seemingly bright and secure future leave carrying fresh air after getting off a busy bus doing a route that's on death row.

Also I was at Park Lane at about 5.30 and it was dead, which quite surprised me.

(05 Jul 2022, 6:33 pm)F114TML wrote I got the 62 from Murton to Sunderland and it had a pretty decent load, guesstimate of 10-17 passengers throughout (quick silent headcount revealed 13 on board on arrival at Park Lane), most doing the same journey I did - felt busy as it was a Solo. The 61 I got back from Park Lane was much quieter (well, it wasn't because it was a StreetLite but you get what I mean)

A 56 left shortly after with all of 2 people on board, so presumably that's going to get heavily slashed and downgraded to minibuses

OK, that was a joke, but still failing to see why the 62 is being withdrawn - I've never seen an empty one, and I've always seen a fair few on it.

I do echo this and I realise anecdotal evidence of “xxx route” had a lot of passengers etc isn’t always the full story. But I have to admit that when I’ve seen buses around the East Durham area (Seaham, Murton, Peterlee, Easington etc.) the 62 seems to be doing very well, I was surprised that it gets as busy as it seemed to do. It’s the same with the 65 which was mentioned earlier too - Sunday buses with hardly any seats free etc.

(05 Jul 2022, 6:47 pm)Drifter60 wrote I do echo this and I realise anecdotal evidence of “xxx route” had a lot of passengers etc isn’t always the full story. But I have to admit that when I’ve seen buses around the East Durham area (Seaham, Murton, Peterlee, Easington etc.) the 62 seems to be doing very well, I was surprised that it gets as busy as it seemed to do. It’s the same with the 65 which was mentioned earlier too - Sunday buses with hardly any seats free etc.

There were times when the 202 was standing room only. I don't get why they don't just take their blinkers off and realise that it needs better coordination with the X6 and maybe the diversion through Horden wasn't the best idea. People on the local Facebook group realised that.

(05 Jul 2022, 7:01 pm)F114TML wrote There were times when the 202 was standing room only. I don't get why they don't just take their blinkers off and realise that it needs better coordination with the X6 and maybe the diversion through Horden wasn't the best idea. People on the local Facebook group realised that.

X6 and 62 need better coordination! But I also think the 62 should serve some areas better such as it being extended upto Parkside why that hasn't been done yet it beyond me!

You could do it so there is a "fast service" to Sunderland from Seaham every 20 mins, with 1 65 per hour extended for changeovers. 

If the 62 was kept moving the 61 to half hourly with the additional 62 & 65 placing it so you have a service to Murton every 15 mins!

(05 Jul 2022, 6:33 pm)F114TML wrote I got the 62 from Murton to Sunderland and it had a pretty decent load, guesstimate of 10-17 passengers throughout (quick silent headcount revealed 13 on board on arrival at Park Lane), most doing the same journey I did - felt busy as it was a Solo. The 61 I got back from Park Lane was much quieter (well, it wasn't because it was a StreetLite but you get what I mean)

A 56 left shortly after with all of 2 people on board, so presumably that's going to get heavily slashed and downgraded to minibuses

OK, that was a joke, but still failing to see why the 62 is being withdrawn - I've never seen an empty one, and I've always seen a fair few on it.

17 people using the bus throughout isn't that many though really especially if the X6 running at the same time has no passengers. They're probably trying to consolidate those 2 loads onto one bus if most are getting on stops which the X6 also serves - the X6 having a purpose connecting Peterlee and Seaham not around the sticks.

(05 Jul 2022, 8:04 pm)Storx wrote 17 people using the bus throughout isn't that many though really especially if the X6 running at the same time has no passengers. They're probably trying to consolidate those 2 loads onto one bus if most are getting on stops which the X6 also serves - the X6 having a purpose connecting Peterlee and Seaham not around the sticks.

My question is surely the longer 62 should be less popular, maybe the timing is the issue, who knew serivces which leave within 10 mins of each other going to identical places they would get on which ever comes first.

I thought GNE would learn that from why X84/X85 failed.

(05 Jul 2022, 8:06 pm)Unber43 wrote My question is surely the longer 62 should be less popular, maybe the timing is the issue, who knew serivces which leave within 10 mins of each other going to identical places they would get on which ever comes first.

I thought GNE would learn that from why X84/X85 failed.

The 62/X6 cannot have an even headway because of the services in Peterlee that they interwork with.

The 62 between Peterlee and Sunderland is of course a recent development, intended to get the bus (and driver) back to Sunderland, rather than running it out of service. Presumably this is also why Nexus were not interested in replacing this section of route.


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(05 Jul 2022, 8:10 pm)Dan wrote The 62/X6 cannot have an even headway because of the services in Peterlee that they interwork with.

The 62 between Peterlee and Sunderland is of course a recent development, intended to get the bus (and driver) back to Sunderland, rather than running it out of service. Presumably this is also why Nexus were not interested in replacing this section of route.


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Surely the 62 which takes say 80-90 mins each direction just turns into the X6 at each direction. 

I understand the 38A however, Couldn't that just be operated by the 20 mins every 9 has at Sunderland

(05 Jul 2022, 8:14 pm)Unber43 wrote Surely the 62 which takes say 80-90 mins each direction just turns into the X6 at each direction. 

I understand the 38A however, Couldn't that just be operated by the 20 mins every 9 has at Sunderland

Then your removing the only bus between Seaham and Peterlee not around the world. 

Its one of those areas that competition doesn't help. In an ideal world, the 22 or 23 would serve Seaham and you wouldn't need the X6 at all and the 61 would interwork with the one that doesn't serve Seaham and no-one would be worse off

But when you have 2 operators with different fares then it doesn't work. One for the BSIP in the future maybe if it still happens.

(05 Jul 2022, 8:10 pm)Dan wrote The 62/X6 cannot have an even headway because of the services in Peterlee that they interwork with.

The 62 between Peterlee and Sunderland is of course a recent development, intended to get the bus (and driver) back to Sunderland, rather than running it out of service. Presumably this is also why Nexus were not interested in replacing this section of route.


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Having an even headway is a problem in a lot of areas, i quite often see empty buses near me because theres been 3 in about 5 mins, luckly the upcoming changes will solve this problem.

(05 Jul 2022, 8:24 pm)Storx wrote Then your removing the only bus between Seaham and Peterlee not around the world. 

Its one of those areas that competition doesn't help. In an ideal world, the 22 or 23 would serve Seaham and you wouldn't need the X6 at all and the 61 would interwork with the one that doesn't serve Seaham and no-one would be worse off

But when you have 2 operators with different fares then it doesn't work. One for the BSIP in the future maybe if it still happens.

In an ideal world the 22/23 would terminate at Peterlee. 

Also I don't get the first point, how is the 62 and X6 interworking at each point removing the bus between Seaham and Peterlee. And also the 22/23 doesn't really even that busy.

(05 Jul 2022, 8:29 pm)Unber43 wrote In an ideal world the 22/23 would terminate at Peterlee. 

Also I don't get the first point, how is the 62 and X6 interworking at each point removing the bus between Seaham and Peterlee. And also the 22/23 doesn't really even that busy.

Why would the 22/23 termating at Peterlee help anyone they're the principal route between the two and connect places beyond enough to kill of numerous GNE services. 

The X6 duplicates the 22 pretty much and the 22/23 duplicate the 61. 

In an ideal work you'd have something like.

60 - Every 15 minutes throughout 
22 - X6 route to Dalton Park, 22 route to Durham every 30 minutes 
23 - 23 route throughout - every 30 minutes
23A - 61 route to South Hetton - every 30 minutes.
62 - Peterlee to Easington via Hordon every hour. 

23/23A - Every 15 minutes Dalton Park to Sunderland via outskirts Seaham.
23/23A/60 - Every 7.5 minutes Seaham outskirts to Sunderland
22/23 - Every 15 minutes'ish Sunderland to Peterlee. 

X6/61 withdrawn.

(05 Jul 2022, 8:10 pm)Dan wrote The 62/X6 cannot have an even headway because of the services in Peterlee that they interwork with.

The 62 between Peterlee and Sunderland is of course a recent development, intended to get the bus (and driver) back to Sunderland, rather than running it out of service. Presumably this is also why Nexus were not interested in replacing this section of route.


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Really?

They don't interwork with any of the Peterlee Locals (if they're meant to, someone needs to have a word), unless you're referring to passengers connecting to them? In which case you can still have an even headway between DP and Sunderland if you alter the timings.