(25 Dec 2023, 9:16 am)busmanT wrote Don’t Northumberland County Council rely on Nexus for their bus service publicity

Not that I'm aware of, Nexus is Tyne and Wear only especially for ticketing information, they always redirect you to Travelline or the individual operators for anything bus related and Arriva (who everyone would use up here) is still no service on boxing day.

They just have a contract out for timetable displays which Nexus as far as I'm aware, unsure what address they have on them

Edit: Just checked the liners online and it's travelline and the phone numbers for Arriva and GoNorthEast, no mention of Nexus.

(25 Dec 2023, 11:14 am)Storx wrote Not that I'm aware of, Nexus is Tyne and Wear only especially for ticketing information, they always redirect you to Travelline or the individual operators for anything bus related and Arriva (who everyone would use up here) is still no service on boxing day.

They just have a contract out for timetable displays which Nexus as far as I'm aware, unsure what address they have on them

Edit: Just checked the liners online and it's travelline and the phone numbers for Arriva and GoNorthEast, no mention of Nexus.

I see that the Northumberland area timetable liners are in the Nexus style; the liners are available as a PDF through the Nexus website (live map); the full timetables for all services in Northumberland are also available through the Nexus website (in Nexus style). Presumably the whole of the bus service information provision for Northumberland CC is contracted out to Nexus.

(25 Dec 2023, 8:26 pm)busmanT wrote I see that the Northumberland area timetable liners are in the Nexus style; the liners are available as a PDF through the Nexus website (live map); the full timetables for all services in Northumberland are also available through the Nexus website (in Nexus style). Presumably the whole of the bus service information provision for Northumberland CC is contracted out to Nexus.

I believe Northumberland CC have contracted Nexus to update bus timetable liners on bus stops.

I don't know how Nexus' website works, but I assume that information is needed to generate the liners and a large number of the services crosses into Nexus' area it makes no sense to actively build a system to hide the services that don't. There's no information on the Nexus website beyond what's needed for the liners, nor do the liners tell you use Nexus, instead mentioning Traveline.

You have to remember all these boxing day services run into Tyne and Wear, so need to be listed for passengers who use the services coming from Newcastle regardless. Note they're all under Newcastle or Gateshead rather than Northumberland though - https://www.nexus.org.uk/sites/default/f...b_2023.pdf

(24 Dec 2023, 5:54 pm)Aaron21 wrote Guessing so. It'll be like a normal day for tickets

And after checking with GNE, seems that the Coast Road agreement should still be in place for the 308 despite being operated by Stagecoach, qlthough presumably wouldn't include Stagecoach tickets.

(25 Dec 2023, 9:08 pm)L469 YVK wrote And after checking with GNE, seems that the Coast Road agreement should still be in place for the 308 despite being operated by Stagecoach, qlthough presumably wouldn't include Stagecoach tickets.

Given the legal document for the qualifying agreement is specifically between the two operators (GNE & Arriva) only, I'm very surprised at this.

If they do accept tickets, they are doing it off their own back. Absolutely no obligation to do so, it can't even be enforced by Nexus, as they are not party to the agreement either.

You'd think Arriva would tell thier own customers of service options from Blyth, Ashington and Morpeth on Boxing Day, but they clearly don't care.

(25 Dec 2023, 9:25 pm)RobinHood wrote Given the legal document for the qualifying agreement is specifically between the two operators (GNE & Arriva) only, I'm very surprised at this.

If they do accept tickets, they are doing it off their own back. Absolutely no obligation to do so, it can't even be enforced by Nexus, as they are not party to the agreement either.

Unless it was agreed as part of the tender when Stagecoach won the tender to provide a Boxing Day service.

Had a 69 plate Stagecoach E400MMC on the 308 this morning. Throw back to the days of good timekeeping and solid vehicles on the route such as Leyland/Volvo Olympians, Cityzens and Lowlanders

(25 Dec 2023, 9:25 pm)RobinHood wrote Given the legal document for the qualifying agreement is specifically between the two operators (GNE & Arriva) only, I'm very surprised at this.

If they do accept tickets, they are doing it off their own back. Absolutely no obligation to do so, it can't even be enforced by Nexus, as they are not party to the agreement either.

Regardless of what the Qualifying Agreement states, it is down to the tendering authority to determine which pre-purchased tickets they wish to accept on a Minimum Cost contract.

If Nexus wish to accept GNE/Arriva tickets on their secured 308 service on Boxing Day, that is up to them.

In the same way, Northumberland County Council wanted Go North East to accept pre-purchased Arriva tickets on the 43, X10/X11, X18 and X22.

I’d imagine putting customers first is their priority, and the marginal revenue loss is not as important to them.


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It’s the season of goodwill to all mankind this Matchday and as ambassador heads off for a festive feast

But I am here to hark that my angel hasn’t turned up, too much turkey and sherry at riverside to get all the buses out?

Edit - she’s here! It turns out even at Xmas the Chester starts are invariably very late. Merry Christmas Marty G

The 08:57 X18 from Morpeth didn’t turn up. Wonder why this was?

(26 Dec 2023, 9:42 am)Ambassador wrote It’s the season of goodwill to all mankind this Matchday and as ambassador heads off for a festive feast

But I am here to hark that my angel hasn’t turned up, too much turkey and sherry at riverside to get all the buses out?

Edit - she’s here! It turns out even at Xmas the Chester starts are invariably very late. Merry Christmas Marty G

Saw one on Christmas Eve being driven through the Fell by a fitter.
Maybe it was wingmirror issues, maybe there had been a festive photoshoot by a well known landmark that inspired the brand. Maybe the fitter didn't want to go home. 

But on the off-chance there had been mechanical issues - unless there was a festive miracle between then and now, I'd not hold out much hope that particular vehicle had been fixed properly.

(26 Dec 2023, 9:22 am)L469 YVK wrote Had a 69 plate Stagecoach E400MMC on the 308 this morning. Throw back to the days of good timekeeping and solid vehicles on the route such as Leyland/Volvo Olympians, Cityzens and Lowlanders

You mean like the DB300's which run every day...? Which are just the next generation (Lowlander DB250).

I'd also take a DB300 over an awful Trident any day of the week which ironically were removed from service years ago as they we're absolutely useless. The Enviro 400's not particularly being much better.

There seems to be a 15 minute delay to most services already. Mine was running in a pair and both were empty

(25 Dec 2023, 9:32 pm)DeltaMan wrote You'd think Arriva would tell thier own customers of service options from Blyth, Ashington and Morpeth on Boxing Day, but they clearly don't care.

They would have done, if NCC or Nexus had bothered to send the details to Arriva to include...

My 21 ran full from low fell.

Always a positive, but the highlight was spotting Dan at st Mary’s place

(26 Dec 2023, 10:24 am)Storx wrote You mean like the DB300's which run every day...? Which are just the next generation (Lowlander DB250).

I'd also take a DB300 over an awful Trident any day of the week which ironically were removed from service years ago as they we're absolutely useless. The Enviro 400's not particularly being much better.

The W*** RBB Tridents were awful on the 308 after being hammered on the 602 and to the extent that Jesmond never sent them out on the 306 on Sundays with B10BLE's or Palatines / 7445-46 used instead.

DB300's I think are okay.......but not as rapid as the E400MMC, not forgetting the DB300 is powered by a 205BHP Cummins unit whereas the E400/E400MMC is powered by a 240/250BHP Cummins unit. Got up to speed fairly quick this morning too!

The original E400 allocated (7501-06) were a bag of ***** as Arriva Blyth didn't look after their buses then contrary to Ashington's examples on the X31/X32/X33 (7507-13) which had a bit more TLC. In fact, anything that never touched the 308 or X93 out of that batch were sound.

Is phoenix running a party bus as a service bus today?

(26 Dec 2023, 11:06 am)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Is phoenix running a party bus as a service bus today?

Yes. It’s on the X21 just arriving into Haymarket (as seen with pint in hand at the junction)

wouldnt be the first time

(26 Dec 2023, 10:27 am)RobinHood wrote They would have done, if NCC or Nexus had bothered to send the details to Arriva to include...

Well, I hope they aren't withdrawn next year as nobody knew about them this year....

(26 Dec 2023, 10:57 am)Ambassador wrote My 21 ran full from low fell.

Always a positive, but the highlight was spotting Dan at st Mary’s place

I’m just disappointed you didn’t say hello and allow me to buy you a pint! ‘Tis the season…


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(26 Dec 2023, 10:27 am)RobinHood wrote They would have done, if NCC or Nexus had bothered to send the details to Arriva to include...

Of course, a proactive operator would have asked Nexus or Northumberland CC - even if Arriva aren’t running buses today, it is in their interests to publish the information.

Especially given they went to the effort of producing printed publicity last year.

What changed?


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Decent loads on the 43

(26 Dec 2023, 10:58 am)L469 YVK wrote The W*** RBB Tridents were awful on the 308 after being hammered on the 602 and to the extent that Jesmond never sent them out on the 306 on Sundays with B10BLE's or Palatines / 7445-46 used instead.

DB300's I think are okay.......but not as rapid as the E400MMC, not forgetting the DB300 is powered by a 205BHP Cummins unit whereas the E400/E400MMC is powered by a 240/250BHP Cummins unit. Got up to speed fairly quick this morning too!

The original E400 allocated (7501-06) were a bag of ***** as Arriva Blyth didn't look after their buses then contrary to Ashington's examples on the X31/X32/X33 (7507-13) which had a bit more TLC. In fact, anything that never touched the 308 or X93 out of that batch were sound.

In fairness that's just a choice of the engine they chose I guess, I'd imagine they could've had the higher BHP Cummins engine if someone wanted but no-one touched VDL vehicles because Arriva were the dealer. 

The VDL DB300's even now give a better passenger experience than the brand new MMC's which are riddled with rattles already and they've been in service just over a year.

ADL vehicles, generally, are a pile of crap imo. Sadly Wright have followed them in recent years as the Streetdeck (awful) is pretty much the replacement for the DB300. I'm still surprised there hasn't been a 2 axle Volvo Decker using the 8 litre engine found in some single deckers and the 3 axle decker they currently produce.

(26 Dec 2023, 5:10 pm)Storx wrote In fairness that's just a choice of the engine they chose I guess, I'd imagine they could've had the higher BHP Cummins engine if someone wanted but no-one touched VDL vehicles because Arriva were the dealer. 

The VDL DB300's even now give a better passenger experience than the brand new MMC's which are riddled with rattles already and they've been in service just over a year.

ADL vehicles, generally, are a pile of crap imo. Sadly Wright have followed them in recent years as the Streetdeck (awful) is pretty much the replacement for the DB300. I'm still surprised there hasn't been a 2 axle Volvo Decker using the 8 litre engine found in some single deckers and the 3 axle decker they currently produce.

GNE's 6377 has a 7.7 Litre Engine, other than this one here in the North East I think only others ordered were by Bus Vannin, iirc there is an Ex KMB one now with Ensign also, large majority of 8 litre-ish have came in tri-axle format which is a shame as I agree more alternative options should be available on two-axle chassis.

(26 Dec 2023, 2:11 pm)Dan wrote Of course, a proactive operator would have asked Nexus or Northumberland CC - even if Arriva aren’t running buses today, it is in their interests to publish the information.

Especially given they went to the effort of producing printed publicity last year.

What changed?


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What changed this year was the lack of any information provided.

A 'proactive' operator can only include what is sent, by the deadlines it is needed.

(26 Dec 2023, 5:10 pm)Storx wrote In fairness that's just a choice of the engine they chose I guess, I'd imagine they could've had the higher BHP Cummins engine if someone wanted but no-one touched VDL vehicles because Arriva were the dealer. 

The VDL DB300's even now give a better passenger experience than the brand new MMC's which are riddled with rattles already and they've been in service just over a year.

ADL vehicles, generally, are a pile of crap imo. Sadly Wright have followed them in recent years as the Streetdeck (awful) is pretty much the replacement for the DB300. I'm still surprised there hasn't been a 2 axle Volvo Decker using the 8 litre engine found in some single deckers and the 3 axle decker they currently produce.

See, I think the days of true heavyweight deckers are over especially since covid with only Stagecoach ordering Scania N250 E400MMCs.......although the standard ADL/Cummins E400MMC can handle most work if well looked after. The Stagecoach examples used on the 308 didn't seem to have any major rattles and both power deliveries felt very smooth compared to the usual Arriva DB300's.

Could it just not be the age?

(26 Dec 2023, 2:09 pm)Dan wrote I’m just disappointed you didn’t say hello and allow me to buy you a pint! ‘Tis the season…


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I was in a rather large noisy group, I will stop by next time! 

Looks like the Angels recovered post match. The 3.50 I got home was pretty empty and had 15 wait time at Eldon. 

With most major retailers again closed on Boxing Day, it would be interesting to see how well used the services were without the match