(27 Jul 2013, 9:01 am)Daniel wrote "East Durham" MPD 543 on service 26 - at Southwick now.

Oh that's fun.... when its gonna be packed

(27 Jul 2013, 9:01 am)Daniel wrote "East Durham" MPD 543 on service 26 - at Southwick now.

26 gets MPD's fairly frequently now since the last changes, wonder what the reasoning is? Mind you yesterday there was an East Durham MPD (quite possibly 543 but don't quote me) on the 20A around 4:30 at Houghton was a very very tight squeeze!

The 238 yesterday had partially debranded 'Venture' MPD 544 and Peterlee-Based 'East Durham' MPD 573. Don't know where the other 2 East Durham MPD's were and why one ended up the 20 duties.

(27 Jul 2013, 9:15 am)CatsFast101 wrote

(27 Jul 2013, 9:01 am)Daniel wrote "East Durham" MPD 543 on service 26 - at Southwick now.

26 gets MPD's fairly frequently now since the last changes, wonder what the reasoning is? Mind you yesterday there was an East Durham MPD (quite possibly 543 but don't quote me) on the 20A around 4:30 at Houghton was a very very tight squeeze!

The 238 yesterday had partially debranded 'Venture' MPD 544 and Peterlee-Based 'East Durham' MPD 573. Don't know where the other 2 East Durham MPD's were and why one ended up the 20 duties.

26 has always had rubbish buses, starting with the Black Cats MPD's, SPD, Vykings, only decent bus its ever had was a Laser Scania for the day

the 26A is a Simplicity Versa still?

(27 Jul 2013, 9:26 am)Michael wrote the 26A is a Simplicity Versa still?

Yes, most of the time it is. I think the first evening journey from Sunderland is usually an SPD or Cadet though.

Odd workings in Chester le Street today:
4862 Lambton Worm working on the X25 departed for Newcastle at 09.10
8236 SPD working on the X25 departed for Newcastle at 09.40
5232 OK Solar working on X21 departed for Newcastle at 09.28
571 MPD working on the Lambton Worm as a replacment for 4862 departs Red Lion at 54 past the hour.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98641142@N08/9376919122/

Wonder where the Prince Bishop Solars are disapearing too. Apart from the MPD mentioned yesterday, there was a Northern SPD on the 20a yesterday evening and this morning.

(26 Jul 2013, 9:20 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Update on the GNE Timetables

In Chester le Street I Picked up the following Timetables

Northern X88
Northern 24
South Tyne 5
East Durham Network - 259/260/265 Have Separate Timetable to the rest
Crusader 27
Orbit 51/52
Saltwell Park 53/54
Fab 57
Citylink 58 - Citylink 58X - Both Separate Timetables for some reason
Loop 93/94
Northern 95/96/96A
Highwayman 97 - Highwayman 98/98A - Also Separate
Tyne Tees Xpress X9/X10
Centrelink X66

All of which are Gateshead/Saltmeadows Services with the exception of the X88 and East Durham Network, None of which are currently available at Gateshead Interchange Travel Office which is rather odd.

Still a few left to be Published in the new Styling Including:

Lime 8 - Lime 78/78A
Wheyaye50 50
Lambton Worm 34/34A
OK Way 18
OK Expressway OK1 - Won't be done due to Cancellation of Service
Waggonway 28/28/28B/128
Red Kite 45/46
Venture Network
Coaster 1 - Updated after Rebrand I would expect
Cobalt Clipper 309/310
Centurion 17
Various Northern Routes

I now have a Total of 58 of Newly Updated Timetables

I picked up the x40/40a timetable at haymarket

Pronto B7TL President 6024 on the Whey Aye Five O, 50 this afternoon due to arrive in Durham at 15.19.

(27 Jul 2013, 2:14 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote Pronto B7TL President 6024 on the Whey Aye Five O, 50 this afternoon due to arrive in Durham at 15.19.

Might end up on the 50A Tonight, If I have the Timings Correct and it don't get taken off, which it most likely will, Due to leave Durham Now getting to Chester le Street at 18:40, The Galleries 18:55, South Shields 19:37.

Returning From South Shields at 19:41, The Galleries 20:23 and Finally CLS at 20:37

Ended up taking a taxi home this afternoon after deciding to leave the car at home and neither the 28 or 28A turning up.

Driver of the 15.10 21 came up with a great line (he used to drive them so knows me well from when I used them daily)

'Unfortunately the 28 and 28A both stopped too long at Beamish Museum and have now been taken in as exhibits'

(27 Jul 2013, 5:41 pm)gtomlinson wrote Ended up taking a taxi home this afternoon after deciding to leave the car at home and neither the 28 or 28A turning up.

Driver of the 15.10 21 came up with a great line (he used to drive them so knows me well from when I used them daily)

'Unfortunately the 28 and 28A both stopped too long at Beamish Museum and have now been taken in as exhibits'

They were running about 10-15 Minutes Late Yesterday aswell, as I decided to go up to Beamish to take a few photos. The 11:11am into CLS Didn't turn up, Apparently skipped Beamish and straight into CLS and was taken out of service. So went right 11:14am 128, Ohh I'll get that to Durham, Didn't turn up as it only runs on Saturdays(Stupid Service), then the 11:41 into CLS didn't turn up until 11:55am. Rang up Customer Service and complained, which is how I found out the above.

(27 Jul 2013, 5:17 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(27 Jul 2013, 2:14 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote Pronto B7TL President 6024 on the Whey Aye Five O, 50 this afternoon due to arrive in Durham at 15.19.

Might end up on the 50A Tonight, If I have the Timings Correct and it don't get taken off, which it most likely will, Due to leave Durham Now getting to Chester le Street at 18:40, The Galleries 18:55, South Shields 19:37.

Returning From South Shields at 19:41, The Galleries 20:23 and Finally CLS at 20:37

As I assumed is now a Wheyaye50 Solar

543 ended up on the 20/20A because 5217 failed with a defective water pump. 541 & 540 were on loan to Peterlee depot to cover for 510 & 574 which were at Deptford for maintenance. Yesterday there were 6 Prince Bishop Scania's VOR. 4969, 4989, 4992, 5211, 5213, 5216 & 5217. 4969 Diff has gone, 4989 PSV, 4992 Broke down in Durham earlier in week and got towed in, 5211 burst radiator, 5213 Gearbox problems, 5216 @ Saltmeadows Engine and Gearbox problems (Been there nearly 3 months) and 5217 water pump gone.

Wasn't 5216 sent back to Deptford from Saltmeadows a week or so ago? I haven't seen her in there for a while. I know she used to lurk around the back, but I certainly haven't seen her...

6 off the road? Whats the PVR - must be approx 14? Thats a big chunk to cover, especially on air show weekend.
I read on the fb page that one of the a3 services had broken down too.

(27 Jul 2013, 8:56 pm)Andreos1 wrote 6 off the road? Whats the PVR - must be approx 14? Thats a big chunk to cover, especially on air show weekend.
I read on the fb page that one of the a3 services had broken down too.

12 according to fleet list are branded Prince Bishops, So half it's PVR are missing. Suppose it'll be ok for cover with no Scholars till September

I had noticed a handful of them not working, but had not expected 6. I wonder what that number is like in total, as there's been an awful lot of spares and odd allocations floating round lately.

Park and Ride 1 /2
We have been informed that the Park and Ride sites at Downhill and Fulwell have been suspended. Park and Ride will run from Stadium of Light.

from abit of rain...

(28 Jul 2013, 9:36 am)Michael wrote Park and Ride 1 /2
We have been informed that the Park and Ride sites at Downhill and Fulwell have been suspended. Park and Ride will run from Stadium of Light.

from abit of rain...

Cue the Metro being off.

(28 Jul 2013, 9:38 am)aureolin wrote

(28 Jul 2013, 9:36 am)Michael wrote Park and Ride 1 /2
We have been informed that the Park and Ride sites at Downhill and Fulwell have been suspended. Park and Ride will run from Stadium of Light.

from abit of rain...

Cue the Metro being off.

Haha I'm just waiting for a post on FB from them.

Does anyone know whats on the A1/A2/A3 today?

(28 Jul 2013, 9:43 am)Michael wrote

(28 Jul 2013, 9:38 am)aureolin wrote

(28 Jul 2013, 9:36 am)Michael wrote Park and Ride 1 /2
We have been informed that the Park and Ride sites at Downhill and Fulwell have been suspended. Park and Ride will run from Stadium of Light.

from abit of rain...

Cue the Metro being off.

Haha I'm just waiting for a post on FB from them.

Does anyone know whats on the A1/A2/A3 today?

If they're dropping quite a few services from the Park & Ride schemes, I expect - unless it is set allocations for the full weekend despite some services having the potential to be cut (as above) - GNE will attempt to have the A1/A2/A3 low-floor today.

'Sliver Arrows' Citaro 5325 is on the A1 shuttle.

And anyone wanting a photo of 3964, it's on one of the Park & Rides.

''Red Arrows'' 3943 was working service A2 yesterday, might be on today aswell!

(28 Jul 2013, 10:40 am)W179SCU wrote ''Red Arrows'' 3943 was working service A2 yesterday, might be on today aswell!

Washington seem to send a Red Arrows every yesr. I think last year it was a B9 rather than B7 mind.

Renown 4922 on today, as well as recently repainted Vyking 3974.
Isn't completely low-floor, as Gateshead have sent Olympian 3833.

Remember service changes also start from today:

South Tyne 5
Ten 10/10A/10B
Monday to Friday (except Public Holidays)
The 1728 Hexham Bus Station to Newcastle Eldon Square journey will leave at 1732 and run four minutes later.
The 1802 Hexham Bus Station to Newcastle Eldon Square journey will leave at 1800 and run two minutes earlier.
The 1904 Newcastle Eldon Square to Hexham Bus Station journey will leave at 1858 and run six minutes earlier.
Saturday
The 1723 Hexham Bus Station to Newcastle Eldon Square journey will leave at 1722 and run up to five minutes earlier between Corbridge and Newcastle.
The 1825 Newcastle Eldon Square to Hexham Bus Station journey will leave at 1830 and run five minutes later.

ToonLink 11
Northern 24
Crusader 27
Over the last few months, we have been working hard to identify the causes of delays to your Crusader 27 service. To improve reliability, we will be introducing a revised timetable, with journeys continuing to operate up to every 10 minutes on Monday-Saturday daytimes.
ToonLink 47
Blaydon Racers 49/49A/49B/49C
Orbit 51/52
Saltwell Park 53/54
Citylink 58
Citylink 58 will be increased to operate every 15 minutes on Sundays between Heworth and Newcastle, with the service continuing to Hadrian Park every 30 minutes. There will also be minor changes to the timetable on Monday-Saturday daytimes.

N58
Over the last few years, we have worked hard to offer a network of night bus services in Newcastle. However, the number of passengers using service N58 has not grown to the levels which we had expected, and unfortunately this night bus will no longer operate after running on 21 July 2013. Other night buses will continue to operate unchanged.

Fab 57
Northern 64/64A
Pulse 67/69
Northern 92
Loop 93/94
Northern 95/96
Highwayman 97/98/98A
Northern 99
Will be revised to operate an anti-clockwise loop in Silksworth, via Lincoln Road, Vicarage Road, Church View, Silksworth Avenue, Blind Lane and Warwick Terrace. There is no change to the timetable.
Tyne Tees Xpress X9/X10
Centrelink X66
Following passenger requests, more journeys will be introduced on a Saturday morning, so that Centrelink X66 operates every 10 minutes from 8.30am.
Due to low passenger numbers, the final journey each day will be withdrawn. This means the final journey on Centrelink X66 from Metrocentre is at 2310, with the last journey from Metrocentre to Gateshead on Blaydon Racers 49C departing Metrocentre at 2323.

With changes happening, will fleet changes happen?

(28 Jul 2013, 12:40 pm)Michael wrote Remember service changes also start from today:
With changes happening, will fleet changes happen?

I think the only service seeing a PVR increase is the 'Crusader' 27. I think there is a 'Cobalt Clipper' Citaro supposed to be coming over - or at least there has been one at Gateshead recently?

As for the 58, it was previously every 20 minutes for the whole route and now it's every 15 minutes from Heworth to Newcastle and every 30 beyond Newcastle to the Coast Road and Hadrian Park. The PVR shouldn't have changed from what I have worked out and may have even decreased. It should be fine regardless anyway, as there are enough bendy spares - not that they ever need to be used!

The other routes mentioned see only minor changes. The only other noticeable change that I can gather is that the 51/52 sees a PVR decrease on Sunday due to the frequency being cut from every 20 to every 30 minutes.

[/quote]

I think only for the 'Crusader' 27 there is a PVR increase. I think there is a 'Cobalt Clipper' Citaro supposed to be coming over? Might already be here?

As for the 58, it was previously every 20 minutes for the whole route, now it's every 15 minutes from Heworth to Newcastle and every 30 beyond to Hadrian Park, the PVR shouldn't have changed greatly. There are enough bendy spares anyway - not that they're ever used!

The other routes see only minor changes. The only other noticeable change is that the 51/52 sees a PVR decrease on Sunday due to the frequency being cut from every 20 to every 30 minutes.
[/quote]

Thank's i'm not sure of the PRV increase for the 27.

Yeh 58 changes are only on a Sunday, seems daft also the bendies need a rest after long week of work, they can't handle doing over 10MPH haha

They seem to dropping a few frequnacy drops on a Sunday, the 61 was dropped a few weeks ago and now the 51/52.

(28 Jul 2013, 12:56 pm)Michael wrote Yeh 58 changes are only on a Sunday, seems daft also the bendies need a rest after long week of work, they can't handle doing over 10MPH haha

They seem to dropping a few frequnacy drops on a Sunday, the 61 was dropped a few weeks ago and now the 51/52.

Haha, isn't 10 mph a bit optimistic?
Yeah, they seem to be reducing quite a number of services on a Sunday - guess it's not viable to run them?

(28 Jul 2013, 1:02 pm)BJ10VUS wrote

(28 Jul 2013, 12:56 pm)Michael wrote Yeh 58 changes are only on a Sunday, seems daft also the bendies need a rest after long week of work, they can't handle doing over 10MPH haha

They seem to dropping a few frequnacy drops on a Sunday, the 61 was dropped a few weeks ago and now the 51/52.

Haha, isn't 10 mph a bit optimistic?
Yeah, they seem to be reducing quite a number of services on a Sunday - guess it's not viable to run them?

Haha, they are which is a shame

(28 Jul 2013, 1:06 pm)Michael wrote

(28 Jul 2013, 1:02 pm)BJ10VUS wrote

(28 Jul 2013, 12:56 pm)Michael wrote Yeh 58 changes are only on a Sunday, seems daft also the bendies need a rest after long week of work, they can't handle doing over 10MPH haha

They seem to dropping a few frequnacy drops on a Sunday, the 61 was dropped a few weeks ago and now the 51/52.

Haha, isn't 10 mph a bit optimistic?
Yeah, they seem to be reducing quite a number of services on a Sunday - guess it's not viable to run them?

Haha, they are which is a shame

Services 93/94 are reduced on Saturdays to every 20 mins, leaving two Loop scanias spare.

Highwayman pvr on Sunday reduced by one (98/98A reduced)

Evening Highwayman pvr reduced by one.

96A is now operated by Orbit Versa, with interworking with 97 no longer taking place.