(06 Mar 2023, 8:01 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I think it would be easy to cancel the 97 and let the 1 do the entire route instead, thus merging two services into one.

Surprised no-one else in the thread has reached that conclusion...

It’s an obvious conclusion given that there will be plenty of spare drivers at Percy Main depot. I wonder if it will be branded “Blue Arrow”???

(06 Mar 2023, 8:13 pm)Unber43 wrote However where would u put the E200s, Pehaps you could put them on a non-newcastle route, possibly the 78 tho that has just been rebranded, I don't think they've got enough E200 for the 49/49a and 96, or the 20.

Possibly the 60, which means you can displace some Streetlites onto the 5/9/26 loop, as the 15 plates are CAZ Compliant can go to Washington for the 28/29/25 meaning their 17 plates can go to Percy Main. And you would have say 6 E200 for the 60, 3 for the 9, 1 spare. 5/24/26 stand alone, which means you can free up some more streelites for the 2/2A as well the 8339-8346 could be moved permanently onto the 35 with a retrim.

However those Versa's need to go and they need to go now, they're awful. Wheels scraping against the wheel arches.

49/49A/96 could get the ex-quaycity versas.

The Green Arrow E200's are euro 6, so they'll stay in the Newcastle area.

(06 Mar 2023, 8:21 pm)Michael wrote The Green Arrow E200's are euro 6, so they'll stay in the Newcastle area.

Yeah..but im pretty sure all/ a lot of the 15/16 plate Streetlites are CAZ Compliant, and they're all not in Newcastle

(06 Mar 2023, 8:13 pm)Unber43 wrote However where would u put the E200s, Pehaps you could put them on a non-newcastle route, possibly the 78 tho that has just been rebranded, I don't think they've got enough E200 for the 49/49a and 96, or the 20.

Possibly the 60, which means you can displace some Streetlites onto the 5/9/26 loop, as the 15 plates are CAZ Compliant can go to Washington for the 28/29/25 meaning their 17 plates can go to Percy Main. And you would have say 6 E200 for the 60, 3 for the 9, 1 spare. 5/24/26 stand alone, which means you can free up some more streelites for the 2/2A as well the 8339-8346 could be moved permanently onto the 35 with a retrim.

However those Versa's need to go and they need to go now, they're awful. Wheels scraping against the wheel arches.

49/49A/96 could get the ex-quaycity versas.

Well there is 8 red Streetlites at Washington - probably the amount needed for the PVR increase on the 1.

The E200s could replace them at Washington for the 25/28/29.

(06 Mar 2023, 9:11 pm)Thomas12 wrote Well there is 8 red Streetlites at Washington - probably the amount needed for the PVR increase on the 1.

The E200s could replace them at Washington for the 25/28/29.

4 year old E200s for 25/28/29 contracted services. 

Tbh there are 10 the PVR 2/2A is 9 + 1 spare, and they need to get shot of those versa's. And more layover time for the 2/2A at Silksworth aswell.

(06 Mar 2023, 9:14 pm)Unber43 wrote 4 year old E200s for 25/28/29 contracted services. 

Tbh there are 10 the PVR 2/2A is 9 + 1 spare, and they need to get shot of those versa's. And more layover time for the 2/2A at Silksworth aswell.

Well the buses they are using now are only two years older.

It would make sense to have 5462-5478 for the Coaster (with 5479/80 spares as now).

Yes which is why you would displace 8 streetlites which are 15 plates from Deptford when the 39/39A/39B go back to being Solos

(06 Mar 2023, 8:01 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I think it would be easy to cancel the 97 and let the 1 do the entire route instead, thus merging two services into one.

Surprised no-one else in the thread has reached that conclusion...

What was the reason for curtailing the 1 at Gateshead last time? 

Sure there was something said about the E200's driving growth on the 97 too. Something about branding and titivations being enough to make passengers switch to the bus.

I don't know. Can't keep up anymore.

(06 Mar 2023, 9:28 pm)Andreos1 wrote What was the reason for curtailing the 1 at Gateshead last time? 

Sure there was something said about the E200's driving growth on the 97 too. Something about branding and titivations being enough to make passengers switch to the bus.

I don't know. Can't keep up anymore.

I went with a couple people and we got on a StreetDeck & E200, and they said these are so much nicer than SC buses they use.

The bus you get does matter. If u shove a freezing OmniDekka on a route that will just have people who need to get the bus where as if u have a nice looking, warm, USB'd, tabled bus it might attract more people.

(06 Mar 2023, 9:28 pm)Andreos1 wrote What was the reason for curtailing the 1 at Gateshead last time? 

Sure there was something said about the E200's driving growth on the 97 too. Something about branding and titivations being enough to make passengers switch to the bus.

I don't know. Can't keep up anymore.

The 1 operated the 95/96 route from Gateshead to Metrocentre. They wanted to reduce that section to every 30 minutes, so it wouldn't work with the 1.

What was the reason it was withdrew from Kimblesworth and Wrekenton?

Merging the 1 and 97 would be an absolute disaster and I don't care what anyone says there's so many bottlenecks and unless you give it stupid overtime will never recover (Tynemouth, Whitley Bay, Newcastle, Gateshead, Whickham, Bensham Bank and the Metro Centre just to name a few)

(06 Mar 2023, 9:39 pm)Storx wrote Merging the 1 and 97 would be an absolute disaster and I don't care what anyone says there's so many bottlenecks and unless you give it stupid overtime will never recover (Tynemouth, Whitley Bay, Newcastle, Gateshead, Whickham, Bensham Bank and the Metro Centre just to name a few)

15 mins either side would/ should surfice with 5 mins at Gateshead each way.

The 1 only have 5 mins either end, same with the 97

(06 Mar 2023, 9:42 pm)Unber43 wrote 15 mins either side would/ should surfice with 5 mins at Gateshead each way.

The 1 only have 5 mins either end, same with the 97

Layovers aren't the answer though, if I lived in Bensham and need to go to Metrocentre, it being 10 minutes late isn't alright because it has a 15 minute layover at the end or vice versa from Cullercoats to Whitley Bay.

Bolting bus routes together for the sake for bolting bus routes that have no connections in being together and can't easily be regulated as they're too infrequent is just stupid imo.

(06 Mar 2023, 9:28 pm)Andreos1 wrote What was the reason for curtailing the 1 at Gateshead last time? 

Sure there was something said about the E200's driving growth on the 97 too. Something about branding and titivations being enough to make passengers switch to the bus.

I don't know. Can't keep up anymore.

Migrants crossing the Tyne in small unbranded boats.

They seem to enjoy barfing up the same ideas from back in the day that dont work, and its always the 1, and one of the 90s they do it with, the 1 is long enough, leave it alone, it was only 18 months ago they reverted to 1 back to Whitley Bay- Gateshead, it doesnt work
2016 17 merged with the 96 and renumbered 11
2019 11 curtailed at Wallsend, replaced with the 1/ 1A- Failed
2020? 1 renumbered 1A/1B, 1 withdrawn- Failed
2021 1A/1B curtailed at Gateshead, renumbered back to 1- It Works
Thats just from the last 6 and a bit years, im sure theres plenty more before 2016

(07 Mar 2023, 8:32 am)V514DFT wrote They seem to enjoy barfing up the same ideas from back in the day that dont work, and its always the 1, and one of the 90s they do it with, the 1 is long enough, leave it alone, it was only 18 months ago they reverted to 1 back to Whitley Bay- Gateshead, it doesnt work
2016 17 merged with the 96 and renumbered 11
2019 11 curtailed at Wallsend, replaced with the 1/ 1A- Failed
2020? 1 renumbered 1A/1B, 1 withdrawn- Failed
2021 1A/1B curtailed at Gateshead, renumbered back to 1- It Works
Thats just from the last 6 and a bit years, im sure theres plenty more before 2016

The 301 has been like that since the 80s at least.
Someone may want to correct me, but it's been Kibblesworth along Saltwell Road, then Gateshead, then the Metrocentre when that opened, back to Gateshead, then a continued swap between Kibblesworth and Wrekenton via Durham Road or Gateshead and the Metrocentre ever since.

One advantage of the Metrocentre extension in the 90s, was that it had a slight variation and went along past Whickham Thorns and Market Lane. Immense at full-pelt on an Atlantean!

(07 Mar 2023, 8:32 am)V514DFT wrote They seem to enjoy barfing up the same ideas from back in the day that dont work, and its always the 1, and one of the 90s they do it with, the 1 is long enough, leave it alone, it was only 18 months ago they reverted to 1 back to Whitley Bay- Gateshead, it doesnt work
2016 17 merged with the 96 and renumbered 11
2019 11 curtailed at Wallsend, replaced with the 1/ 1A- Failed
2020? 1 renumbered 1A/1B, 1 withdrawn- Failed
2021 1A/1B curtailed at Gateshead, renumbered back to 1- It Works
Thats just from the last 6 and a bit years, im sure theres plenty more before 2016

GNE also merged the 1 with the eastern section of the erstwhile 85/86 between North Shields and Whitley Bay, taking the 1 through Marden Estate and giving a very indirect route between those two towns. Annoyingly the western side was covered by the W3, a Nexus-supported bus service for which the contract was at first given to GNE. The whole route of the 85/86 circle had been, at the time, a commercial service.
When the 1/85/86 merger took place, buses along the sea front between Tynemouth and Culleroats, ceased, as did buses along the full length of the Broadway between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay with the withdrawal of the 310.

It's interesting to note that, from a very good network of bus services in the North Shields/Tynemouth area once operated by the Tynemouth bus company, only two GNE routes will serve those areas after 26 March (the 1 and the 307).

PB0003954/1214
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 96 (96) Metrocentre Gateshead
PB0003954/304

(07 Mar 2023, 9:35 am)Andreos1 wrote The 301 has been like that since the 80s at least.
Someone may want to correct me, but it's been Kibblesworth along Saltwell Road, then Gateshead, then the Metrocentre when that opened, back to Gateshead, then a continued swap between Kibblesworth and Wrekenton via Durham Road or Gateshead and the Metrocentre ever since.

One advantage of the Metrocentre extension in the 90s, was that it had a slight variation and went along past Whickham Thorns and Market Lane. Immense at full-pelt on an Atlantean!

(07 Mar 2023, 10:28 am)Ex-conductor wrote GNE also merged the 1 with the eastern section of the erstwhile 85/86 between North Shields and Whitley Bay, taking the 1 through Marden Estate and giving a very indirect route between those two towns. Annoyingly the western side was covered by the W3, a Nexus-supported bus service for which the contract was at first given to GNE. The whole route of the 85/86 circle had been, at the time, a commercial service.
When the 1/85/86 merger took place, buses along the sea front between Tynemouth and Culleroats, ceased, as did buses along the full length of the Broadway between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay with the withdrawal of the 310.

It's interesting to note that, from a very good network of bus services in the North Shields/Tynemouth area once operated by the Tynemouth bus company, only two GNE routes will serve those areas after 26 March (the 1 and the 307).

You're both bob on

(07 Mar 2023, 12:01 pm)Michael wrote PB0003954/1214
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 96 (96) Metrocentre Gateshead
PB0003954/304

There is also confirmation that the 1 will be replacing the 97.

Registration number PB0003954/1221
Licence Number PB0003954
Status Variation
Service number.1, 1
Service type Normal Stopping
Start point Whitley Bay
Finish point Metrocentre
Via Tynemouth, North Shields, Howdon, Wallsend, Byker, Newcastle, Gateshead, Whickham
Date received 07 Mar 2023
Effective date 26 Mar 2023

Back to the future almost. This new incarnation of the 1 is one of those loony toons routes that were axed in the Peter Huntley days. They'll be wheeling the 638 out of retirement next.

(07 Mar 2023, 12:37 pm)Thomas12 wrote There is also confirmation that the 1 will be replacing the 97.

Registration number PB0003954/1221
Licence Number PB0003954
Status Variation
Service number.1, 1
Service type Normal Stopping
Start point Whitley Bay
Finish point Metrocentre
Via Tynemouth, North Shields, Howdon, Wallsend, Byker, Newcastle, Gateshead, Whickham
Date received 07 Mar 2023
Effective date 26 Mar 2023

Seems strange, they're going backwards and sending the 1 back to the Metro.

A PVR increase too, wonder if they'll repaint some of the Euro 6 Streetlites in to "Coaster"

Wonder where the E200's will end up?

It doesn’t make much sense after a fairly recent order of the new ADL buses for the 97, 4 year old the Enviros now? Appreciate a lot has happened during that time, but still. Assuming there’ll re-jig the Streetlites around so the 1 will have a full allocation of those, I wonder where the 10 Envrios will end up?

Is the 97 currently temporarily reduced? What was its frequency, every 15 mins?

(07 Mar 2023, 1:59 pm)Chris 1 wrote Back to the future almost.  This new incarnation of the 1 is one of those loony toons routes that were axed in the Peter Huntley days.  They'll be wheeling the 638 out of retirement next.

Reckon someone sits going through old timetables, shouts up they've come up with a brand new idea and hope nobody spots the obvious?

(07 Mar 2023, 1:59 pm)Chris 1 wrote Back to the future almost.  This new incarnation of the 1 is one of those loony toons routes that were axed in the Peter Huntley days.  They'll be wheeling the 638 out of retirement next.

Why theyre at it, may aswell bring back all the routes from the 300 series

(07 Mar 2023, 2:21 pm)Drifter60 wrote It doesn’t make much sense after a fairly recent order of the new ADL buses for the 97, 4 year old the Enviros now? Appreciate a lot has happened during that time, but still. Assuming there’ll re-jig the Streetlites around so the 1 will have a full allocation of those,  I wonder where the 10 Envrios will end up?

Is the 97 currently temporarily reduced? What was its frequency, every 15 mins?

Could the Enviro 200's not be distributed amongst the 6 & 12?

(07 Mar 2023, 3:48 pm)V514DFT wrote Why theyre at it, may aswell bring back all the routes from the 300 series

The orgiginal 310 and the 319!

Could the 1 extension to the MetroCentre be an indirect result of losing the 19 to Cowboy Taxis of Gateshead - erm I mean Central Taxis of Gateshead - to, at least in part, give Percy Main some lost work?

(07 Mar 2023, 6:03 pm)tynesider wrote Could the 1 extension to the MetroCentre be an indirect result of losing the 19 to Cowboy Taxis of Gateshead - erm I mean Central Taxis of Gateshead - to, at least in part, give Percy Main some lost work?

It would compensate Percy Main for losing the 19 and 311, and will also take the pressure off Riverside which still struggles with cancellations at times.
That said, if the 25 and 28/29 move to Riverside, it'll be Washington that has the net reduction in work.