(13 Apr 2014, 12:59 pm)Dan wrote I've just sent them an e-mail asking how much a return costs on the 685.
Might be worth me trying to get my hands on a Teen Card instead. Reluctant to mind, as I'll use it so infrequently yet I'll still be paying the £5 fee.

Are the North East Explorer tickets not valid all the way on the 685?

(13 Apr 2014, 1:03 pm)aureolin wrote Are the North East Explorer tickets not valid all the way on the 685?

They are, but they cost £9.30.
It would only cost me £1.10 to get to Newcastle, so assuming that a return costs less than £8.20...

The Teen Card option is still less than that - £5 initial fee + £1 (x2) maximum single fare each way.

(13 Apr 2014, 1:04 pm)Dan wrote They are, but they cost £9.30.
It would only cost me £1.10 to get to Newcastle, so assuming that a return costs less than £8.20...

The Teen Card option is still less than that - £5 initial fee + £1 (x2) maximum single fare each way.

Probably worth having anyway I'll just get an explorer I think, and then a day rider or whatever I need over there. Will be 17 quid on the train return, not to mention needing at least a purple GNE ticket over here and whatever I need over there!

(13 Apr 2014, 1:04 pm)Dan wrote They are, but they cost £9.30.
It would only cost me £1.10 to get to Newcastle, so assuming that a return costs less than £8.20...

The Teen Card option is still less than that - £5 initial fee + £1 (x2) maximum single fare each way.

£3.50-£4 return if I remember correctly. It was different on Stagecoach to Arriva though, with Stagecoach being the cheapest.

How do you get from Carlisle to the depot though?

(13 Apr 2014, 2:59 pm)Tom wrote £3.35-£4 return if I remember correctly. It was different on Stagecoach to Arriva though, with Stagecoach being the cheapest.

How do you get from Carlisle to the depot though?

It's only a small walk but I'm fairly positive there will be a shuttle bus on anyway.

(13 Apr 2014, 3:06 pm)Dan wrote It's only a small walk but I'm fairly positive there will be a shuttle bus on anyway.

Oh right, thanks.

Also, just checked my emails, as I asked a month back, £3.35 on Stagecoach, £4 on Arriva.

(13 Apr 2014, 3:07 pm)Tom wrote Oh right, thanks.

Also, just checked my emails, as I asked a month back, £3.35 on Stagecoach, £4 on Arriva.

Can you use an Arriva return on the Stagecoach 685 and vice versa, do you know?

(13 Apr 2014, 3:08 pm)Dan wrote Can you use an Arriva return on the Stagecoach 685 and vice versa, do you know?

I think you can, yeah. Well, I did when I went to the Lakes a couple of years ago, and a few months back when I went to Hexham.

(13 Apr 2014, 3:13 pm)Tom wrote I think you can, yeah. Well, I did when I went to the Lakes a couple of years ago, and a few months back when I went to Hexham.

Think I will get the Stagecoach variation there and the Arriva variation back then!

(13 Apr 2014, 3:14 pm)Dan wrote Think I will get the Stagecoach variation there and the Arriva variation back then!

I'll either be getting the 0845 or 0945 there, then 1607 or 1707 back

Has nothing been posted on the stagecoach website about this open day?

(13 Apr 2014, 3:20 pm)Tom wrote I'll either be getting the 0845 or 0945 there, then 1607 or 1707 back

I'll probably be on the 0845 too! Gives me a little bit of time to see what's out and about in Newcastle early doors. Not sure about what time to head back home as of yet though.

(13 Apr 2014, 7:06 pm)aureolin wrote I'll probably be on the 0845 too! Gives me a little bit of time to see what's out and about in Newcastle early doors. Not sure about what time to head back home as of yet though.

Chances are it'll be the 0845 but maybe the 0945. What one are you planning on getting back?

(13 Apr 2014, 7:15 pm)Tom wrote Chances are it'll be the 0845 but maybe the 0945. What one are you planning on getting back?

1607 ideally. Gets me back into Newcastle for a reasonable time.

(13 Apr 2014, 7:32 pm)aureolin wrote 1607 ideally. Gets me back into Newcastle for a reasonable time.

I was thinking of getting that one too, 1707 is all right though I suppose.

I'll no doubt appear, too. I'll probably board the same bus as all of you in the morning and return on the same.

Re Stagecoach tickets on Arriva services (and vice versa) yes they are accepted - it's just the likes of Teen Cards (Arr), Smart Cards (Stg) and Explorers (Both separately) that aren't accepted.

You're talking £6-8 return Newcastle to Carlisle for adult - half for a child.
(You're all mad for wanting to go on the whole route btw!!!)

Regarding walk from the bus station to the depot - about a 10 minute walk; I did it every day for my Work Experience. Alternatively there has been a shuttle bus every time it has happened, so it will be no different.
Alternatively, buy a Dayrider and get a 60/61/61A/67/68 from Lowther Street (the main street alongside the bus station), Devonshire Street or the Courts (English St) if you want a Greggs!
Take the bus up to Sainsbury's (on the right as you pass over the railway line) and it is a 5-min walk from there.

7 hours is a bit too long (from what I have seen, 10am til 5pm) for me for the open day so I'll probably just go bashing; get a dayrider and that'll be me!

As I say I'll no doubt be there for people to follow if they're lost getting there etc.


Sean

Edit: If it (probably) is going to be on a Saturday, loadings on 85/685 shouldn't be that bad. 1607 and 1707 off Carlisle are always more busy than the early ones - especially if there is a large group of us going!

Chances are, you'll find me on the 1045 one half-asleep because I slept in!
Oddly, if I go to bed later, I get up earlier.

What routes are everyone planning to get on, I'll try my best to join you's.

(13 Apr 2014, 9:58 pm)Tom wrote Chances are, you'll find me on the 1045 one half-asleep because I slept in!
Oddly, if I go to bed later, I get up earlier.

What routes are everyone planning to get on, I'll try my best to join you's.

We can sort out closer to the time. Over a month away so plenty of time to do so.

Both North East Explorer and North West Explorer are valid on the 685 regardless of it being Arriva or Stagecoach having used both explorers on both operators. I even used the Arriva issued North West Explorer around the lakes.

(13 Apr 2014, 9:25 pm)northern156 wrote You're talking £6-8 return Newcastle to Carlisle for adult - half for a child.
(You're all mad for wanting to go on the whole route btw!!!)

Correct!

Dear Mr Graham,

Thank you for your email. A return ticket from Newcastle to Carlisle is £7.50.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact the Customer Service Team.


Kind Regards

Matt Williams
Customer Services Advisor

Think I need to order myself a Teen Card and get the Arriva one both ways...

I would have expected it to be priced 10p below the Day Ticket price but there you go, learn something new every day.
Mind I suppose a lot of our returns in Teesside are £4.20 which matches the day price.

(14 Apr 2014, 11:27 am)Dan wrote Correct!


Think I need to order myself a Teen Card and get the Arriva one both ways...

If your getting a Teen Card you'll either have to leave very early or late.

(14 Apr 2014, 12:53 pm)Tom wrote If your getting a Teen Card you'll either have to leave very early or late.

Not on a Saturday; you can use them all day on weekends and bank holidays.
Only thing I would be careful with is that some drivers won't let you use it past Greenhead (it's not officially the Tyne Valley, which is the limitation on the Teen Card). 9 out of 10 drivers will let you use it to Carlisle though.

Sean

(14 Apr 2014, 1:11 pm)northern156 wrote Not on a Saturday; you can use them all day on weekends and bank holidays.
Only thing I would be careful with is that some drivers won't let you use it past Greenhead (it's not officially the Tyne Valley, which is the limitation on the Teen Card). 9 out of 10 drivers will let you use it to Carlisle though.

Sean

Yeah, because the 0845/0945 from Newcastle are Stagecoach operated.

(14 Apr 2014, 1:11 pm)northern156 wrote Not on a Saturday; you can use them all day on weekends and bank holidays.
Only thing I would be careful with is that some drivers won't let you use it past Greenhead (it's not officially the Tyne Valley, which is the limitation on the Teen Card). 9 out of 10 drivers will let you use it to Carlisle though.

Sean

Teencards are valid on all services starting/finishing in the North East now and have been for a while. Only exceptions are the X93 and X24. I can't see why it wouldn't be valid on the 685 to Carlisle, obviously Stagecoach won't accept it.

(14 Apr 2014, 1:57 pm)tyresmoke wrote Teencards are valid on all services starting/finishing in the North East now and have been for a while. Only exceptions are the X93 and X24. I can't see why it wouldn't be valid on the 685 to Carlisle, obviously Stagecoach won't accept it.

It's the 'starting/finishing in the North East' line which makes me think it wouldn't be valid all the way to Carlisle, or from Carlisle to Newcastle - Carlisle obviously being the North West and not the North East!

(14 Apr 2014, 2:05 pm)Dan wrote It's the 'starting/finishing in the North East' line which makes me think it wouldn't be valid all the way to Carlisle, or from Carlisle to Newcastle - Carlisle obviously being the North West and not the North East!

You'd be starting your journey in the North East though, eg Newcastle-Carlisle. The same principle applies to the "County Durham" tickets that can be used to get to Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough to name a few

(14 Apr 2014, 2:12 pm)tyresmoke wrote You'd be starting your journey in the North East though, eg Newcastle-Carlisle. The same principle applies to the "County Durham" tickets that can be used to get to Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough to name a few

I guess it does say 'or' and not 'and'! I have e-mailed for confirmation but nothing back as of yet. Wouldn't be too painful getting the one an hour earlier than the first SC one from NCL.

(14 Apr 2014, 1:15 pm)Tom wrote Yeah, because the 0845/0945 from Newcastle are Stagecoach operated.

Quite right, my apologies!

Re starting and finishing points; I was just going on what's on the back of my teen card and experience of a couple of 685/85 drivers in the past.
I've done the full route on a teen card before so it's no problem - just carry the money to pay for a single anyway.

On the subject of day-trips, would anyone be interested in going somewhere further afield for an open day event such as Yorkshire, Manchester or even Glasgow/Scotish Lowlands?

I know the idea has been discussed as part of a forum-based coach trip, but I was thinking more along the lines of car-trip shared with three other people. Of course I'd be prepared to drive my car, but if more than three people wanted to go and if there are others on the forum prepared to drive their cars, then perhaps this could provide alternative solution to the coach-trip idea - if it's doubtful whether there'd be enough of us to fill a bus/coach.

It's just an idea floating around in my head at the minute, but I'd be interested to know what you all think?