5312 is on 27X today anybody interested

(30 Jan 2014, 2:27 pm)Bazza Houston wrote 5312 is on 27 today anybody interested

I thought it was branded for the 27?

(30 Jan 2014, 2:28 pm)Michael wrote I thought it was branded for the 27?

Think he might mean 27X... there was a 'Crusader' Citaro on the route earlier, but I didn't catch the number.

(30 Jan 2014, 2:48 pm)BJ10VUS wrote Think he might mean 27X... there was a 'Crusader' Citaro on the route earlier, but I didn't catch the number.

Oh right thought it was odd to post a branded bus on its own route.

(30 Jan 2014, 2:55 pm)Michael wrote Oh right thought it was odd to post a branded bus on its own route.

Must admit, it took me a while to click on! Don't think there's been a Citato on the 27X before? Quite an improvement to the usual Dart!

It's mentioned that the Ex-Cobalt Citaros will be undergoing warranty repaint is any other Citaros getting repainted?

(30 Jan 2014, 4:16 pm)CatsFast101 wrote It's mentioned that the Ex-Cobalt Citaros will be undergoing warranty repaint is any other Citaros getting repainted?

Although I was unaware of this myself, park5354 mentioned yesterday in this post that "Crusader" branded Citaros 5328/29/30/32 should also receive warranty repaint.

(30 Jan 2014, 4:23 pm)Dan wrote Although I was unaware of this myself, park5354 mentioned yesterday in this post that "Crusader" branded Citaros 5328/29/30/32 should also receive warranty repaint.

I would guess, if the rumours regarding new vehicles for the 27 do turn out to be true, the warranty repaints for 5328/9/30/2 could be delayed until closure to the time.

(30 Jan 2014, 4:28 pm)Kuyoyo wrote I would guess, if the rumours regarding new vehicles for the 27 do turn out to be true, the warranty repaints for 5328/9/30/2 could be delayed until closure to the time.

That's what I thought too!

Just a little thing from GNE on their site about the changes to North Sunderland
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Better and faster bus services for north Sunderland

Date: 30 Jan 2014

We have recently made a number of improvements to bus services in north Sunderland.

Service X36

Between Sunderland and Newcastle has been increased from hourly to half-hourly and has joined the ‘Fast Cats’ brand of express services.
The bus provides unique, direct links to Newcastle and Sunderland from from Carley Hill, Witherwack and Hylton Red House, with journey times to Newcastle from the estates of less than 40 minutes.
Service 29

New service with a bus every 20 minutes between Boldon, Town End Farm Castletown, Sunderland, Ryhope and Doxford. Together with existing service 39, there is a bus between Sunderland City centre and Doxford every ten minutes.
New services X36 and 29 replace former services 26 and 36.
Read more information on our Sunderland Bus Briefing page, or view timetables.

Andrew Tyldsley, Go North East’s head of commercial, said: “Following extensive consultation with our passengers and local councillors, we’ve introduced new Service 29 to provide direct connections between north and south Sunderland and to the growing employment site at Doxford International. At the same time, we’ve been able to increase the number of express bus services we offer to Newcastle.”


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And the X36 is now under the Fast Cat's tab on their site with updated info about the Fast Cat's service.

Wonder if any more Express services will join the Fast Cat's brand in the future?

Shame the X3 cut way down.. it could of joined the brand to...

Other than services X7, X9, X10, X21 would you class any other service with the 'X' prefix an express service? Most of them can stop at every single stop along the route.

(30 Jan 2014, 5:15 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote Other than services X7, X9, X10, X21 would you class any other service with the 'X' prefix an express service? Most of them can stop at every single stop along the route.

The X39

(30 Jan 2014, 5:15 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote Other than services X7, X9, X10, X21 would you class any other service with the 'X' prefix an express service? Most of them can stop at every single stop along the route.

Not many but i think the X7,X9/X10 brands are quite good, same colour schemes but with the X7 about to receive newish buses, i hope the brand looks better than it does now

X21 might be a good one although not the fastest service, it can be said for the X35 to... not a fast route.

(30 Jan 2014, 5:19 pm)Dan wrote The X39

Forgot about that one, lol There other than that one and the one I mentioned, there isn't really any service that runs as an express. The only reason the X30/X31 are classed as 'express' services are because they shave quite a lot of time between Stanley and Newcastle compared to the Diamond routes. Talking of which, the X43 is another one that I missed off

(30 Jan 2014, 5:15 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote Other than services X7, X9, X10, X21 would you class any other service with the 'X' prefix an express service? Most of them can stop at every single stop along the route.

X1? After Shiney Row, it only stops at the Galleries, Springwell, Wrekenton, QE, Gateshead and Newcastle. Nothing in between?

(30 Jan 2014, 4:53 pm)Michael wrote Shame the X3 cut way down.. it could of joined the brand to...

Don't mention the X3......

(30 Jan 2014, 5:24 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote Forgot about that one, lol There other than that one and the one I mentioned, there isn't really any service that runs as an express. The only reason the X30/X31 are classed as 'express' services are because they shave quite a lot of time between Stanley and Newcastle compared to the Diamond routes. Talking of which, the X43 is another one that I missed off

I'm inclined to suggest that I feel the X1 is also an express service. There is of course the X20, 27X, 58X, X66, X84/X85 and X88 too - all of which I'd consider to be express services.

Ultimately, I think it's what you're comparing it against - are you comparing it against other bus services in the area, other forms of transport, or just by the amount of stops it serves?

(30 Jan 2014, 5:31 pm)citaro5284 wrote Don't mention the X3......

(30 Jan 2014, 2:28 pm)Michael wrote I thought it was branded for the 27?

typo i ment to say 27X but was in a rush

For anyone interested...

We'll be at Northumberland St in Newcastle tomorrow promoting the Cobalt Clipper buses - pop along for a tea party!

The X22 is speedy as long as you only get on at Birtley Windsor Road

(30 Jan 2014, 5:31 pm)Dan wrote I'm inclined to suggest that I feel the X1 is also an express service. There is of course the X20, 27X, 58X, X66, X84/X85 and X88 too - all of which I'd consider to be express services.

Ultimately, I think it's what you're comparing it against - are you comparing it against other bus services in the area, other forms of transport, or just by the amount of stops it serves?

I was mainly looking at some kind of time lengths compared to full length routes for example:
X30/X31 between Stanley and Newcastle: 46 mins approx.
43/44/44A between Stanley and Newcastle: 55 mins approx.
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X0/X71 between Consett and Newcastle: 57 mins approx.
45/46 between Consett and Newcastle: 1hr 6 mins approx.

Looking at these 4 services in particular, the so called 'express' services are actually less than 10 mins faster in both cases and to go on top of that, services X30/X31/X70/X71 usually always get stuck in Bensham. And plus they aren't limited stop so they are normal stopping services.

Source: Timetables off the GNE website.

seen in N.Shields this afternoon, looked to be for familiarisation

(30 Jan 2014, 7:50 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote Just found out that services X21 and 21 have the same journey time between Durham and Newcastle.

Where are you looking. The 21 takes over an hour, the X21 takes around 50 minutes. I am looking at Monday to Friday daytimes.

(30 Jan 2014, 9:44 am)andreos1 wrote Maybe it's time for a re-jig of routes, stopping places and services along Durham Road - rather than another taxpayer purchase of green buses, which only ensure three of the vehicles (see what I did there) stuck in the queues of traffic, aren't belching out fumes?

The hybrids haven't grown wings and don't make the traffic disappear.
Road improvements, attractive pricing and reliable alternatives to the car are amongst the only things that can help the traffic disappear.

However, as for new deckers, why not try the Optare decker with the Merc engine?

One for the calendar this like as I agree with andreos1 on the what makes traffic disappear conundrum ! I'd always be nervy of buying something that nobody else has - not that its got owt to do with me like !

(30 Jan 2014, 7:57 pm)citaro5284 wrote Where are you looking. The 21 takes over an hour, the X21 takes around 50 minutes. I am looking at Monday to Friday daytimes.

Probably looking at one of the earlier journeys, as they are bound to take a less amount of time due to the traffic strain not been as high. Still, according to the timetable the 21 is 2 mins faster than the X21 between Newcastle and Durham.

(30 Jan 2014, 8:19 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote Probably looking at one of the earlier journeys, as they are bound to take a less amount of time due to the traffic strain not been as high. Still, according to the timetable the 21 is 2 mins faster than the X21 between Newcastle and Durham.

21: 63 Minutes Durham-Newcastle
X21: 50 minutes Durham-Newcastle

(30 Jan 2014, 8:16 pm)busman101 wrote One for the calendar this like as I agree with andreos1 on the what makes traffic disappear conundrum ! I'd always be nervy of buying something that nobody else has - not that its got owt to do with me like !

*collapses on the floor in shock.
Does anyone know where eezypeazys wet flanel has gone?

(30 Jan 2014, 8:23 pm)CatsFast101 wrote 21: 63 Minutes Durham-Newcastle
X21: 50 minutes Durham-Newcastle

Angel 21: 1hr 8 minutes Durham-Newcastle, 1hr 3 minutes Newcastle - Durham
Pronto X21: 49 minutes Durham-Newcastle, 50 minutes Newcastle-Durham
Arriva X2: 56 minutes Durham-Newcastle, 53 minutes Newcastle-Durham

(30 Jan 2014, 8:23 pm)CatsFast101 wrote 21: 63 Minutes Durham-Newcastle
X21: 50 minutes Durham-Newcastle

Yeah, looking back at it it kind of made me think 'hang on, where did I go wrong before' .
And I have found out where I got the 55 mins from! (Journey not highlighted is 50 mins and the highlighted one is 55 mins.