(10 Aug 2013, 9:46 pm)Daniel wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:41 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:30 pm)Daniel wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:27 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:19 pm)Daniel wrote You weren't a customer from Newcastle to Middlesbrough though, like some passengers are. You hardly benefit from a 15 minute charge of your camera/phone on the X10. Over an hour, you can benefit greatly from it.
I've frequently used the service from A to B, and often have relied on a B9 turning up so that I could charge my phone which had died earlier in the day to get in touch with someone. I only do that if I know the allocations which admittedly normal passengers wouldn't, but I should be able to be fairly confident in knowing that I'll have the advertised benefits for using the service - especially when the service can be so costly when you're >18 and travelling the full length of the service on multiple occasions.

The vehicle has to be tachoed too, which is a big factor of determining a suitable replacement for a defective B9.

I have done from Heworth to M'Boro a few times so I the same have benefited in the past. Have no reason to go all the way to Newcastle to catch it when I can go to Heworth on the M1 From Washington.

Okay, so say you had 4949 today which was incredibly cramped rather than the usual B9 and 3833/3863/3864 was the alternative... Would you be particularly happy if you were using the service thinking you'd receive WiFi and plug sockets? No you wouldn't!

No I wouldn't to be honest, although I don't use my phone that often I wouldn't of minded having a trip on 3833 on the X10 though. I think of other services which have this same problem i.e. X30/X31/X70/X71, They always seem to have an Olympian on them, I know they don't have Wifi but even so, passengers must be just as sick as those on the X9/X10.

Passengers on the services you mentioned above don't have the promise of WiFi, plug sockets and 'luxury headrests' though. I'm positive we've all seen the numerous complaints made about the services you mentioned for either a) not being low floor or b) not having a space for a wheelchair/pushchair (whatever).
The X9/X10 comes under the "Gold Standard" policy, and customers really shouldn't have to expect a big old Olympian coming along to give them their journey rather than the bus with all of the fancy features. From an enthusiast point of view, I'm sure a lot of us wouldn't mind having the Oly on there, but from a customer's point of view needing the things that the services are advertised with... We'd think differently.

Of course we would think differently about it and I totally agree with what you have said Daniel. I do think GNE need to invest in buying buses for the Northern Division rather than Branded Services though.

(10 Aug 2013, 9:55 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Of course we would think differently about it and I totally agree with what you have said Daniel. I do think GNE need to invest in buying buses for the Northern Division rather than Branded Services though.

Rob has already told us that Vykings and Presidents within the fleet are going to take a "back role" from the end of this year.
I also remember seeing a post on Go North East's Facebook page a few months ago with a complaint about one of the services you mentioned above. The complaint was regarding one of the points I raised above too. Go North East replied saying that new vehicles were going to be purchased by the end of the year for those services.
Hitting on a point raised earlier today... More ex-London trash? B7 Geminis perhaps, given movements down there?

(10 Aug 2013, 10:00 pm)Daniel wrote Rob has already told us that Vykings and Presidents within the fleet are going to take a "back role" from the end of this year.
I also remember seeing a post on Go North East's Facebook page a few months ago with a complaint about one of the services you mentioned above. The complaint was regarding one of the points I raised above too. Go North East replied saying that new vehicles were going to be purchased by the end of the year for those services.
Hitting on a point raised earlier today... More ex-London trash? B7 Geminis perhaps, given movements down there?

I recall seeing a post on here a few months ago about 11 Scania deckers being transferred up from London?.... Nothing has been said about it since. Does anyone know if there's been any developments since then or was it incorrect speculation?

The best low floor endurance buses that are also good for general use were these. Shame they aren't made anymore. They are tough as old boots and come with the mighty screaming voith whine!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ1FV98gG0c

(10 Aug 2013, 10:00 pm)Daniel wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 9:55 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Of course we would think differently about it and I totally agree with what you have said Daniel. I do think GNE need to invest in buying buses for the Northern Division rather than Branded Services though.

Rob has already told us that Vykings and Presidents within the fleet are going to take a "back role" from the end of this year.
I also remember seeing a post on Go North East's Facebook page a few months ago with a complaint about one of the services you mentioned above. The complaint was regarding one of the points I raised above too. Go North East replied saying that new vehicles were going to be purchased by the end of the year for those services.
Hitting on a point raised earlier today... More ex-London trash? B7 Geminis perhaps, given movements down there?

I think I may of met Rob today in Newcastle, not sure though could of been someone else called Rob.

I hope we don't get more Ex London Trash, so that'll mean come the end of the year No DAF's/Olympians/ELC Loynes and Ex Oxford Renowns and Possibly Citaro Artics.

I think that Citaro K Demo that has been rumoured for the Q1/Q2 would be great for Midibus Services, Perhaps even the likes of the Venture and East Durham. I wouldn't seeing a Volvo 7900 tested also.

As I said in a previous post the X30/X31/X70/X71 should be a priority for new buses next year I think, Also the 58 needs sorting, sure I read on here Versas have been ordered. X7 as well could do with an upgrade.

Someone in a previous posting was moaning about the reliability of the B9TLs (and the B7TLs before them).

I don't think it's the bus itself that is the problem. I think something else might be causing the problem, not saying what, as I might have legal action threatened against me.

But look at it this way. I believe one of the most punishing bus routes in the UK for a normal bus are the Yorkshire Coastliner services from Leeds to Whitby / Scarborough / Bridlington. They are 3 times as long as the X9/X10, the route to Whitby is extremely hilly. There's plenty of fast running. Also enroute it passes through two cities. The mainstay of the Yorkshire Coastliner fleet is the very same Volvo B7TLs / Volvo B9TLs with the Wright Eclipse Gemini body (Some are Gemini 2). And to be honest, I haven't heard many reports of mass unreliability with their Volvos.

So what are they doing to theirs that GNE aren't?

(10 Aug 2013, 10:22 pm)GMitchelhill wrote Someone in a previous posting was moaning about the reliability of the B9TLs (and the B7TLs before them).

I don't think it's the bus itself that is the problem. I think something else might be causing the problem, not saying what, as I might have legal action threatened against me.

But look at it this way. I believe one of the most punishing bus routes in the UK for a normal bus are the Yorkshire Coastliner services from Leeds to Whitby / Scarborough / Bridlington. They are 3 times as long as the X9/X10, the route to Whitby is extremely hilly. There's plenty of fast running. Also enroute it passes through two cities. The mainstay of the Yorkshire Coastliner fleet is the very same Volvo B7TLs / Volvo B9TLs with the Wright Eclipse Gemini body (Some are Gemini 2). And to be honest, I haven't heard many reports of mass unreliability with their Volvos.

So what are they doing to theirs that GNE aren't?

Why would you have legal action threatened against you, that's just stupid, I'm sure Renowns and Solars are also used on there aswell along with the Geminis

Just mentioning the Scania deckers, some ex go ahead examples have appeared on ensigns website so i dunno if we will see them up here, maybe if there's more to be released?

http://www.ensignbus.com/scania-omnicity-2008.html

must admit these are very nice looking buses and would be great to see them up here!

(10 Aug 2013, 10:28 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Why would you have legal action threatened against you, that's just stupid, I'm sure Renowns and Solars are also used on there aswell along with the Geminis

If making statements that could be proven libelous/defamatory. Opinions are great but statements aren't unless you can back them 100% with hard facts.

(10 Aug 2013, 11:06 pm)Wellsey18 wrote Just mentioning the Scania deckers, some ex go ahead examples have appeared on ensigns website so i dunno if we will see them up here, maybe if there's more to be released?

http://www.ensignbus.com/scania-omnicity-2008.html

must admit these are very nice looking buses and would be great to see them up here!

They only had 9 of these, so I would guess not unless GNE have only taken so many of them for whatever reason. I'm sure they will have been offered around the group before sale to Ensign.

Quite possible that they might have been leased. My dad got a photo of one of that batch on delivery when it broke down at some services near Cambridge.

They'd be an excellent purchase by GNE if rumour is true, Euro 5 Engine and the Bus isn't even 6 years old yet, suppose they'd be better than having 55reg Geminis or something older.

(10 Aug 2013, 10:28 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I'm sure Renowns and Solars are also used on there aswell along with the Geminis

The Renowns and Solars are usually used on the York-Leeds services, rather than the long-distance services.

Cricket shuttle has the following working today:
571, 3821, 3831, 3878, 6028, 3983, 6019 and 3828. This is based on a breif walk past so there will be others to add to the list.
The 500 has changed its route since my visit on Friday it is now approaching the Riverside from the A167 rather than Lumley Castle direction.

(10 Aug 2013, 3:32 pm)gtomlinson wrote

(10 Aug 2013, 10:53 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote More service reductions and GNE have the cheek to say (on simplygo.com) that changes to the 21 are “minor changes”.
GNE seem to be coming up with so called minor changes every couple of months which are really reductions in early morning, evening and weekend services. I was against quality contracts but this sort of behaviour from GNE has convinced me that quality contracts are needed to stop this erosion of services. No doubt the other GNE services that are included in the list of minor changes will see a reduction in the number of runs. My interpretation of minor changes is timing changes to improve performance measures or inter-workings.
The withdrawal of the early 21 from Durham should be seen by Arriva as an opportunity to continue to build business on the X2 by introducing an earlier first run from Durham to Newcastle. GNE have timed this very badly just when Arriva have brought in weekly tickets on the X2 offering a saving of 10% compared to the Angel Saver.

I agree, I'm not massively in favour of QC purely on the reliability of Nexus but dismissing the changes as 'e are making some changes to the times of a small number of journeys on services in County Durham and North Tyneside to improve reliability or which few passengers use'

You can guarantee if they'd added a 5.45 journey they'd trumpeting it to the high heaven.

Staying with service changes, when the 24 was altered and finished in Gateshead, the Facebook wall was full of posts from Harlow Green and parts of Wrekenton and Low Fell complaining about the change for a good week. Then it changed to the reliability of the 24 (of which the number 1 will surely be worse?!)

Then shock horror, GNE find people actually wanted the service to Newcastle! They had to see this coming? It's almost like route changes are done in the most cynical way to see what they can get away with before triumphantly telling us 'we listened to 8,000'

Well, you didn't. If you'd listened to 8,000 then you'd never have made the changes to Angel 24 in the first place!

ps 4865 is quite frankly the most uncomfortable, dirty, rattling piece of junk I've ever had the pleasure of riding

That’s a very accurate description of 4865 I could not have put it better myself. If you are unfortunate enough to get a seat near the back it is horrible with the smell of fumes from the engine bay and knocking from the rear suspension. 4865 appeared to be having a bad day yesterday as I noticed a lot of black smoke when it passed me which is out of character. With the recent fine weather I have walked rather than use 4865 (or 4862).
The strange thing is I have just started you use the Arriva X2 and when the odd S registration DAF turned up I thought of GNE 4865 how wrong I was the Arriva buses appear to be far better than the GNE offering of the same vintage.

Not to mention that Arriva have just upped the quality so all journeys should now be run with Gemini or Pulsar. There are plans to look at further marketing of the X2 but it does provide a lot of connections from the Durham local work.

Shock rare working of the day... A "Northern" liveried Omni is on the 9...
Don't fret though, everyone... Two "Cobalt Connect" branded examples are on as well! Bloody Mercy Pain...

Another day, another breakdown on X10. I'm told 6045 is the culprit this time, broken in Peterlee.

(11 Aug 2013, 11:12 am)Daniel wrote Shock rare working of the day... A "Northern" liveried Omni is on the 9...
Don't fret though, everyone... Two "Cobalt Connect" branded examples are on as well! Bloody Mercy Pain...

how about a south tyne cadet on Washington street shuttle 88/a

I agree, I'm not massively in favour of QC purely on the reliability of Nexus but dismissing the changes as 'e are making some changes to the times of a small number of journeys on services in County Durham and North Tyneside to improve reliability or which few passengers use'

You can guarantee if they'd added a 5.45 journey they'd trumpeting it to the high heaven.

Staying with service changes, when the 24 was altered and finished in Gateshead, the Facebook wall was full of posts from Harlow Green and parts of Wrekenton and Low Fell complaining about the change for a good week. Then it changed to the reliability of the 24 (of which the number 1 will surely be worse?!)

Then shock horror, GNE find people actually wanted the service to Newcastle! They had to see this coming? It's almost like route changes are done in the most cynical way to see what they can get away with before triumphantly telling us 'we listened to 8,000'

Well, you didn't. If you'd listened to 8,000 then you'd never have made the changes to Angel 24 in the first place!

It's funny how GNE have quickly restored the 24's route back into Newcastle, but there are other places within Gateshead that lost a direct link to Newcastle and still do not have one.

For example, when the Orbit 51/52 was altered to terminate at Gateshead, both Easedale Gardens in Beacon Lough and Springwell Estate lost a direct Newcastle bus, both areas with a sizeable number of residents. There was quite a bit of dissent when this was first done, but GNE allowed it to blow over and the route still remains Gateshead-Gateshead.

Why is the 24 so much more important?

(11 Aug 2013, 11:54 am)big mac wrote It's funny how GNE have quickly restored the 24's route back into Newcastle, but there are other places within Gateshead that lost a direct link to Newcastle and still do not have one.

For example, when the Orbit 51/52 was altered to terminate at Gateshead, both Easedale Gardens in Beacon Lough and Springwell Estate lost a direct Newcastle bus, both areas with a sizeable number of residents. There was quite a bit of dissent when this was first done, but GNE allowed it to blow over and the route still remains Gateshead-Gateshead.

Why is the 24 so much more important?

Loud councillors and I imagine an extra bus to Newcastle along Low Fell generates more money and can cover/support the Angels.

Re- X10. I'm not suggesting tri-axle coaches but something along those lines would be decent, they wouldn't have that much difficulty in Eldon Square.

And on Gary's view of why the B9s aren't operating to optimal levels, I don't think there'd be a problem if you expressed your opinion as 'I believe in my opinion based on the breakdowns etc that Go North East aren't changing the oil enough (not the cause but an example) Quite frankly the Go Ahead legal team will have better things to do than look at the opinion of forums (no disrespect intended there)

Re the comments above relating to the Durham Road corridor.
The majority of passengers get off between the cenotaph/snooker club and Harlow Green.
How many of those passengers actually live within 5mins of their stop?

You just need to look at the housing in that area, either wedged between Durham Road & Old Durham Road or wedged between Durham Road & Saltwell Road.
Using the 1st area as an example, it isn't hard to see people trudging up Beacon Lough bank after getting off a 21 to see an Orbit, Pulse or Loop trundling past (it used to happen with me way back when, walking up that hill as a kid, with little legs isnt fun - believe me).

It is all well and good having a super fast frequency along Durham Road, but ignoring the residents of Dryden Road, Valley Drive, Church Road or Beacon Lough bank and not having an Orbit extend into Newcastle is strange.

(11 Aug 2013, 1:48 pm)Andreos1 wrote Re the comments above relating to the Durham Road corridor.
The majority of passengers get off between the cenotaph/snooker club and Harlow Green.
How many of those passengers actually live within 5mins of their stop?

You just need to look at the housing in that area, either wedged between Durham Road & Old Durham Road or wedged between Durham Road & Saltwell Road.
Using the 1st area as an example, it isn't hard to see people trudging up Beacon Lough bank after getting off a 21 to see an Orbit, Pulse or Loop trundling past (it used to happen with me way back when, walking up that hill as a kid, with little legs isnt fun - believe me).

It is all well and good having a super fast frequency along Durham Road, but ignoring the residents of Dryden Road, Valley Drive, Church Road or Beacon Lough bank and not having an Orbit extend into Newcastle is strange.

Newcastle - Bensham Road - Saltwell Park - Coatsworth Road - Gateshead - Carr Hill - Felling Square - Heworth - Leam Lane Estate - Springwell Estate - Wrekenton - Easedale Gardens - Dryden Road - Gateshead - Coatsworth Road - Saltwell Park - Bensham Road - Newcastle

Just a suggestion that I have put into Service Suggestions Section, Combining the Saltwell Park and Orbit Brands

(11 Aug 2013, 1:48 pm)Andreos1 wrote Re the comments above relating to the Durham Road corridor.
The majority of passengers get off between the cenotaph/snooker club and Harlow Green.
How many of those passengers actually live within 5mins of their stop?

You just need to look at the housing in that area, either wedged between Durham Road & Old Durham Road or wedged between Durham Road & Saltwell Road.
Using the 1st area as an example, it isn't hard to see people trudging up Beacon Lough bank after getting off a 21 to see an Orbit, Pulse or Loop trundling past (it used to happen with me way back when, walking up that hill as a kid, with little legs isnt fun - believe me).

It is all well and good having a super fast frequency along Durham Road, but ignoring the residents of Dryden Road, Valley Drive, Church Road or Beacon Lough bank and not having an Orbit extend into Newcastle is strange.

Yet another reason why the 51/52 link direct to Newcastle should be restored. The number of people who used to board the 51 (or 27 if you want to go further back) along the Kells Lane and Dryden Road bus stops was always quite steady. Since the Orbit started to terminate at Gateshead there certainly seems to be less numbers stood at the bus stops along Kells Lane and Dryden Road. If relieving the pressure on the Angels in terms of loading is a big concern, restoring the direct Orbit link to Newcastle could help, as passengers used to use it to Newcastle instead of walking down to Durham Road.

You don't even need that. A simple Harlow Green/Allerdene circular would suffice following the 21 route from Newcastle to Shipcote, then via Dryden Road, Kells Lane, Beacon Lough Road, Easedale Gardens, Waverley Road, Harlow Green Lane, Hertford, Chowdene Bank, Durham Road and Beaconsfield Road to Kells Lane/Dryden Road with another bus running in the opposite direction. A complicated amalgamation of routes would probably not solve any problems in my view.

Whichever option they do choose, Gateshead Council need to get some yellow paint out along Dryden Road and Kells Lane. Driving along there can be very frustrating with cars left along the road, possibly after driving down from the different estates and getting a 21....

Gateshead Council love their traffic lights, white paint, bus lanes etc - maybe time to get a different colour.

Only reason I can think of (and its stretching it) is that Church Road/Valley Drive is an affluent area with high car ownership and ridership beyond Gateshead was fairly low

(11 Aug 2013, 2:27 pm)AdamY wrote You don't even need that. A simple Harlow Green/Allerdene circular would suffice following the 21 route from Newcastle to Shipcote, then via Dryden Road, Kells Lane, Beacon Lough Road, Easedale Gardens, Waverley Road, Harlow Green Lane, Hertford, Chowdene Bank, Durham Road and Beaconsfield Road to Kells Lane/Dryden Road with another bus running in the opposite direction. A complicated amalgamation of routes would probably not solve any problems in my view.

i love 21 route and X25 route my facebook mam works on them 2 routes

(08 Aug 2013, 10:05 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote

(06 Aug 2013, 9:06 pm)ifm001 wrote

(06 Aug 2013, 9:00 pm)gtomlinson wrote Not forgetting 221 and 21 which ran alongside all those during the bus war

And also Tyne Rider route 20 qhich operated to Harlow Green

Another one from the bus war was the OK service 23 from Worswick Street to Vigo Bridge via Low Fell and Birtley. That one caused Go Ahead Gateshead to run the 124 to compete with the OK 724. The 124 was an interesting service as it ran dead miles on a morning from Winlaton to Bishop Auckland.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplytrans...096927076/

A Tyne Rider Metrobus on service 74.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/busfreakbri...otostream/

(11 Aug 2013, 4:29 pm)CitaroFavourite wrote

(11 Aug 2013, 2:27 pm)AdamY wrote You don't even need that. A simple Harlow Green/Allerdene circular would suffice following the 21 route from Newcastle to Shipcote, then via Dryden Road, Kells Lane, Beacon Lough Road, Easedale Gardens, Waverley Road, Harlow Green Lane, Hertford, Chowdene Bank, Durham Road and Beaconsfield Road to Kells Lane/Dryden Road with another bus running in the opposite direction. A complicated amalgamation of routes would probably not solve any problems in my view.

i love 21 route and X25 route my facebook mam works on them 2 routes

I don't think anyone suggested replacing either the 21 or X25 so it looks like your 'Facebook Mam' will be safe for now!