(08 Feb 2018, 10:21 pm)xpm wrote Like any other route the service is susceptible to breakdowns and weather issues, although these are fairly rare on the whole.  The service can be delayed at time with traffic or accidents around the Cowgate and RVI hospital area, moreso in peak time.  It is normally allocated a Solo, but can occasionally have a Dart or rarely a full size saloon.

This is a council contracted/subsidised service and the timetable reflects this - the round trip from Hexham to Newcastle taking in all the villages in-between is roughly a 3 hour round trip.

A Day Rover would only be valid on a relatively short part of the route from Newcastle to Callerton Bridge, you would need an Explorer or the appropriate Ticket/Buzzfare Zones for destinations further than that.

Yeah, breakdowns and weather issues are to be expected sometimes. Yeah, one time recently it didn't have the Tynedale Links Solo allocated, but it usually does whenever I see it. 

I wasn't sure if the 74 was subsidised as it has Tynedale Links branding like a normal GNE service, whereas the Nexus contracted services are Nexus Bus unbranded buses. The council subsidised bus services must not be identifiable in any way like Nexus services are. 3 hour round trip! That is a long trip. I don't think many people use the 74. 

I was only going to Newcastle Eldon Square from a short distance away. She just couldn't find the Day Rover option and had no idea what I was talking about, constantly saying it was only valid on Stagecoach buses and not GNE. Stagecoach is a Day Rider, a Day Rover is valid on all the operators. I don't know if Buzzfare is valid on the Nexus 32A, but if so how many Buzzfare zones are required to South Shields from Cowgate? 

For the 74, I was looking at getting a return ticket between Newcastle Eldon Square and Cowgate, with a return ticket costing £3, whereas a Stagecoach Day Rider is £4. Far less trips running, and more of a walk, but saving £1 each time. What do you think?

Thanks.