(22 Dec 2023, 8:53 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote The X16 has been a mixed allocation so far.  How will the interworking pattern look?

Looking at timetables:
X16 Morpeth - Newcastle
X16 Newcastle - Morpeth
777 Morpeth - Kingston Park
777 Kingston Park - Morpeth
Then repeat the cycle with the X16 to Newcastle

Something like the reinstatement of a service to Woller would have been better than the 777 IMHO, but the BSIP madness continues.

(22 Dec 2023, 9:48 pm)solsburian wrote Something like the reinstatement of a service to Woller would have been better than the 777 IMHO, but the BSIP madness continues.

Surely the 777 is a prime example of BSIP funding being used well? 

Creates new links, gives rural locations a service, and with the airport link has the potential to stand on its own two feet once the funding has ran out. 

Not saying that something like a Wooler service isn't deserving of some funding, but the 777 is a good use of the money IMO.

(22 Dec 2023, 10:09 pm)mb134 wrote Surely the 777 is a prime example of BSIP funding being used well? 

Creates new links, gives rural locations a service, and with the airport link has the potential to stand on its own two feet once the funding has ran out. 

Not saying that something like a Wooler service isn't deserving of some funding, but the 777 is a good use of the money IMO.

The 777 is not a good case of money we'll spent. I would be more forgiving if it was the Airport sponsoring the service, but it is not an example of a hub and spoke model that can make it sustainable. The airport only has a limited amount of employment opportunities and unless it was to terminate in Newcastle (ignoring the fact the Metro overlaps from Kingston park), it is going to have limited employment and leasire opportunities.

The minute the funding runs out I'd be willing to bet the service will be pulled.

(22 Dec 2023, 10:17 pm)solsburian wrote The 777 is not a good case of money we'll spent. I would be more forgiving if it was the Airport sponsoring the service, but it is not an example of a hub and spoke model that can make it sustainable. The airport only has a limited amount of employment opportunities and unless it was to terminate in Newcastle (ignoring the fact the Metro overlaps from Kingston park), it is going to have limited employment and leasire opportunities.

The minute the funding runs out I'd be willing to bet the service will be pulled.

It introduces/reintroduces the following new, direct, links:

Ponteland to Morpeth 
Ponteland to Kingston Park 
Ponteland to Airport Terminal
Morpeth to Airport
Morpeth to Kingston Park
Morpeth to Kirkley Hall

I personally think it's a much better use of the money than improving frequencies on already established services (not including evening services in that, or where it is a significant increase on an extension such as the 43 to Morpeth). 

Newcastle Airport is horrendous to get to with public transport, given the unreliability of the Metro and how much of the North East that system doesn't serve, so a new bus service to it should be applauded really, especially if it helps to take cars off the road. 

Obviously the service number is a nod to it being an airport bus, but it looks to be trying to do more than that given the route.

(22 Dec 2023, 10:05 am)tyresmoke wrote Full details have now been posted!

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...ear-jan-24


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These, overall, seem like pretty positive changes. 

The 1 and 57A evening and Sunday improvements are pretty big. Lynemouth, Ellington, and Cresswell having buses later on in the evening has been needed for years, as has a link between Ashington and Cramlington. 

The Saturday and Sunday X21/22 and 35 times look much better too, which have been the main problem with those services for years when I've used them.

(22 Dec 2023, 9:48 pm)solsburian wrote Something like the reinstatement of a service to Woller would have been better than the 777 IMHO, but the BSIP madness continues.

Wooler hasn't really lost much in terms of links as such in the last 20 odd years as far as I can tell from some guides, granted the 470 was binned off about a year ago but it seemed very lightly used aside from the school journeys which remain to an extent as the 869. with 473 diverted via some of the old 470 route, didn't help that the 470/473 had to be timed closely together too cos of the school times making Alnwick to Wooler direct journeys not particularly attractive, same with the 267/464.

Wednesday 710 was cut to to only run as far as Morpeth a few month back (still running to Newcastle & the Metrocentre on Saturdays).

Wooler is actually getting a long lost link restored in January with some BSIP funding as two journeys per day on service 418 (which will now be operated by Borders Buses from January 3rd) are being extended beyond Belford to Wooler, although I imagine its also to remove the need of remote changeovers at Belford as the 464 is having its timetable altered too, Berwick meanwhile gains extra evening and Sunday journeys on service B1.

Shame Durham County Council have yet to really do anything with BSIP funding, restoring the X21 from Peterlee to Darlington would be nice!!!

My point still stands. The 777 is a niche spoke to spoke service that, unlike the 57a changes, will unlikely survive when the BSIP funding is removed. The poor connectivity to the airport is somewhat moot when air passengers will likely get a taxi or drive regardless of the bus service. The 777 will not fix that., unless they operate it basically 24 hours.

(22 Dec 2023, 11:40 pm)solsburian wrote My point still stands. The 777 is a niche spoke to spoke service that, unlike the 57a changes, will unlikely survive when the BSIP funding is removed. The poor connectivity to the airport is somewhat moot when air passengers will likely get a taxi or drive regardless of the bus service. The 777 will not fix that., unless they operate it basically 24 hours.

If you've got an early or late flight then yes, you'll be using a taxi. But I always use public transport to get to the airport when it's an option, and I know loads of others who do. Especially if fares remain cheap on the bus, it can be a far better option than a taxi.

I know a couple of people who have to get to Kirkley daily and really struggle with the journey. This will be a lifeline for them and give them far better flexibility in their travel. As others have pointed out, Ponteland to Kingston Park or Morpeth also have real potential. 

It's not guaranteed to work after funding runs out, but I honestly think it will work a lot better than you think.

If you work at the Airport and live in Morpeth, then I can see the appeal. But I would only use the 777 as a passenger if I was taking hand luggage. 

Are there enough people travelling from Morpeth to the Airport every day just with hand luggage to make the service viable without a huge cost per passenger?

NCC could have made the service appealing to more passengers by asking operators to do what what TrentBarton have done with SkyLink services, using vehicles with luggage space. But no doubt it will just be a standard Pulsar or something similar used. 

That said, a direct link from Ponteland to Kingston Park could come in handy for those sick of buying lobster from Waitrose!

(22 Dec 2023, 11:54 pm)Shrek wrote If you've got an early or late flight then yes, you'll be using a taxi. But I always use public transport to get to the airport when it's an option, and I know loads of others who do. Especially if fares remain cheap on the bus, it can be a far better option than a taxi.

I know a couple of people who have to get to Kirkley daily and really struggle with the journey. This will be a lifeline for them and give them far better flexibility in their travel. As others have pointed out, Ponteland to Kingston Park or Morpeth also have real potential. 

It's not guaranteed to work after funding runs out, but I honestly think it will work a lot better than you think.

Personally I think it'll be dead most the time. Unless the workers, use the service then it won't have anyone on. If travelling from Morpeth it'll be much easier and just as quick to catch the X14/X15/X18 to the Regent Centre and change to the Metro which are both at least every 15 minutes.

Not to mention there's probably about 4 people max every day travelling from Morpeth to the airport daily anyway, anyone else will definitely do the above rather than changing for an hourly service.

Now if it was bolted onto the end of a 35 so you had an Newbiggin to Airport service then things might change a bit, as you'd link the two Northumberland College campuses together and additionally serve Abbey Meadows and Woodhill Drive (why it doesn't anyway I don't know - it's literally the same time). Then there's more links being opened up.

Just thought I'd mention this in response to the discussions a few weeks back. Was a comment made on FB about the Chronicle's story and a trip report on the X18.

"Four hour Ariva bus journey? Was it the x21 from the white elephant to town?"

Bearing in mind this comment had 19 reactions.

Clearly the passengers know that time and extra stops (Red House Farm & Nedderton) have been added onto the route since the old X21 and X31/X32 that went direct via Hartford Road.

However, it would be understandable that going back to the pre 2012 stopping arrangements would be unfeasible for the X22. So with that in mind plus the need to speed up the X21 (with added time)........

X21
- Every 30 minutes
- Via Hartford Road instead of Ridge Terrace and Nedderton Village

X22
- Every 30 minutes
- No route change

42
- Every 30 minutes
- Bedlington Town Centre clockwise loop - Hazelmere Estate (Alnwick Drive) - Nedderton Village - A192 - A1068 - B1318 then as per 43 to Newcastle

43
- Every 30 minutes (only Dudley and Northern Terrace would have reduced service)
- No route change

Something would also need worked out for the 35 as that would need a higher frequency especially Monday to Friday.

Is anyone else having problems with the Arrivabus website? When I try to find any service in the timetable section it insists there are no options. It has been doing this for about a week. The download timetables section only gives current timetables and not any for the week commencing 7th January 2024 which is what I am looking for.

Changes to Teesside services 15 and 17/17A and introducing NEW services 16 and 17B from 24th January 2024

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...wmPZAzy2mo

I start at Ashington depot this week already have my PCV licence does anyone know what the current rotas/rota are like. Will I be able to get on the X18/X15/X14/X16 rota.

With all of these service improvements and new services, can we expect any additions/cascades to the fleet?

(06 Jan 2024, 1:06 am)lloyd647 wrote I start at Ashington depot this week already have my PCV licence does anyone know what the current rotas/rota are like. Will I be able to get on the X18/X15/X14/X16 rota.

Unless things have changed, I believe new starters are on the 57/57A/434 boards but that might've changed with the shortage problems.

From 7th January 2024, there will be minor changes to Service 24 Hartlepool to Durham and Service 6 Durham to Cockfield.

Service 24 The current 2100 Monday to Friday journey from Hartlepool will depart at 2055 and run 5 minutes earlier throughout, following customer feedback.

Service 6 1657, 1717 and 1742 Monday to Friday journeys from Durham will run 3 minutes later from South Road Colleges onwards following a punctuality review.

(07 Jan 2024, 12:16 am)Jimmi wrote From 7th January 2024, there will be minor changes to Service 24 Hartlepool to Durham and Service 6 Durham to Cockfield.

Service 24 The current 2100 Monday to Friday journey from Hartlepool will depart at 2055 and run 5 minutes earlier throughout, following customer feedback.

Service 6 1657, 1717 and 1742 Monday to Friday journeys from Durham will run 3 minutes later from South Road Colleges onwards following a punctuality review.

Seemingly in coordination with the opening of the new bus station: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...nuary-2024

(06 Jan 2024, 10:52 pm)solsburian wrote With all of these service improvements and new services, can we expect any additions/cascades to the fleet?

I doubt it, PVR works out to be one less than it is now at Stockton.


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There is a timetable, and route, variation for the 306/308 from 24th March. Wild theories incoming...

There are also timetable changes to:
43, 44, 45, X7, X8, X21, X22.

(12 Feb 2024, 3:28 pm)mb134 wrote There is a timetable, and route, variation for the 306/308 from 24th March. Wild theories incoming...

There are also timetable changes to:
43, 44, 45, X7, X8, X21, X22.

Not surprised to see the X7 and X8 on there, the timetable is an absolute shambles still around this time pretty much every night, especially Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

I know it'll remove the new bus stops near Miller and Carter but they really need to pull them off the A189 / Killingworth Way and avoid Sandy Lane Roundabouts. It's much quicker to go via Killingworth nowadays and demand changes for them to re serve it (ie. bus gate off Great Lime Road).

No doubt they'll change the times by 2 minutes or something again which won't do the bot of difference.

(12 Feb 2024, 3:28 pm)mb134 wrote There is a timetable, and route, variation for the 306/308 from 24th March. Wild theories incoming...

There are also timetable changes to:
43, 44, 45, X7, X8, X21, X22.

306 route change will be to do with Tynemouth as they seem to be making Sea Banks Road near the priory Castle a 1 way system (towards Whitley Bay) so possibly just sending the 306 up Percy Park Road

(12 Feb 2024, 5:31 pm)Storx wrote Not surprised to see the X7 and X8 on there, the timetable is an absolute shambles still around this time pretty much every night, especially Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

I know it'll remove the new bus stops near Miller and Carter but they really need to pull them off the A189 / Killingworth Way and avoid Sandy Lane Roundabouts. It's much quicker to go via Killingworth nowadays and demand changes for them to re serve it (ie. bus gate off Great Lime Road).

No doubt they'll change the times by 2 minutes or something again which won't do the bot of difference.

Do Arriva get money from the developers of those new estates around Sandy Lane at the moment? I can't be 100% sure, but I think I read something about funding for public transport links being part of their planning approval?

(12 Feb 2024, 6:25 pm)Shrek wrote Do Arriva get money from the developers of those new estates around Sandy Lane at the moment? I can't be 100% sure, but I think I read something about funding for public transport links being part of their planning approval?

Not too sure, I'd doubt it though as the bus ran that way anyway. I'd guess the money went towards the bus stops and the 'improvements'  at Sandy Lane Roundabout.

In fact, I'm quite sure, they did as North Tyneside has bizarrely being trying to duck all responisibility for the thing since before it was even build quoting, 'it was part of the planning for the homes.'

https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category...roundabout - Kept it up with that aswell as even they know it's a complete 'f' up to put it blunt.

(12 Feb 2024, 6:06 pm)Aaron21 wrote 306 route change will be to do with Tynemouth as they seem to be making Sea Banks Road near the priory Castle a 1 way system (towards Whitley Bay) so possibly just sending the 306 up Percy Park Road

You mean they won't be aligning with any of the hundreds of Coast Road suggestions on here? Shocked.

(12 Feb 2024, 6:48 pm)mb134 wrote You mean they won't be aligning with any of the hundreds of Coast Road suggestions on here? Shocked.

Yea I heard from my mates dog who drives the X39 that there making that new X39 that was mentioned the other day. There withdrawn the 306/7/8/9 just make the X39

When the X7/X8 was the X4/X5, even the 363/364, they always went via Station Road/Northumbrian Way and through Westmoor that way, i understand the rerouting as it was covered by the 52/53/54 (in parts), but now an arguement could be made to send them back that way again now that Arriva no longer run those services

(12 Feb 2024, 7:22 pm)V514DFT wrote When the X7/X8 was the X4/X5, even the 363/364, they always went via Station Road/Northumbrian Way and through Westmoor that way, i understand the rerouting as it was covered by the 52/53/54 (in parts), but now an arguement could be made to send them back that way again now that Arriva no longer run those services

Only the 363/364 done that route, the X24/X25 went direct from Annitsford straight to South Gosforth pretty much. I believe they changed it though as it was quicker the route it goes now - used to be traffic problems in West Moor aswell. It was only after 2016 or so when they pissed about with Sandy Lane which now backs onto the roundabout when it got worse, which miraculously they've made even worse with the traffic lights.

I believe the 52/54 were formed when they went with the absolute crackjack idea of sending the X4/X5 via Gosforth and the Freeman respectively which went down like a lead balloon. I must admit, I never really returned since and always go for a bus or lift to the Metro and in that way instead as it's just as quick. Horrific decision and one they were pretty much forced to do.

The 52 was the 340/342, the 53 - 343/344 and the 54 - 356 before all the pissing about though, guessing you know that though.

(12 Feb 2024, 7:46 pm)Storx wrote Only the 363/364 done that route, the X24/X25 went direct from Annitsford straight to South Gosforth pretty much. I believe they changed it though as it was quicker the route it goes now - used to be traffic problems in West Moor aswell. It was only after 2016 or so when they pissed about with Sandy Lane which now backs onto the roundabout when it got worse, which miraculously they've made even worse with the traffic lights.

I believe the 52/54 were formed when they went with the absolute crackjack idea of sending the X4/X5 via Gosforth and the Freeman respectively which went down like a lead balloon. I must admit, I never really returned since and always go for a bus or lift to the Metro and in that way instead as it's just as quick. Horrific decision and one they were pretty much forced to do.

The 52 was the 340/342, the 53 - 343/344 and the 54 - 356 before all the pissing about though, guessing you know that though.

Unfortunately West Moor also gets choked during the peaks too. The whole thing is a mess.