I just assumed whatever the plan for the 74 was is going to be the same for the 684. (assuming the Zebra bus order being that evidence for Euro 6 or another alternative if it fails).

The ZEBRA submission is just a business case at this stage. It'll only become an order if accepted.

The ZEBRA submission is just a business case at this stage. It'll only become an order if accepted.

Yeah I know, but it's supposed to be announced before the end of the next month (before the Percy Main changes) so they should know whether that's a reason before then otherwise they'll need to do something about the 74 either way and I can't see it being ran by full singles.

The Stagecoach 18 (Byker) has a minimum capacity of 84, so needs to be a double-deck (all day and all night!)

18 now needs to be double deck or has it always been that. See quite a few singles on it

Yeah I know, but it's supposed to be announced before the end of the next month (before the Percy Main changes) so they should know whether that's a reason before then otherwise they'll need to do something about the 74 either way and I can't see it being ran by full singles.

Are there any Euro 6 Solos? The 74 could use the Mercedes Sprinters 729/730 Monday to Friday, but they are too small for Saturdays apparently, perhaps run single decks on Saturdays?

Could the 74  be cut to peak times only to increase loadings on each trip? Surprisingly the 74 does get passengers in Slatyford at peak times and indeed less passengers even at Hexham/Newcastle off-peak.

Are there any Euro 6 Solos? The 74 could use the Mercedes Sprinters 729/730 Monday to Friday, but they are too small for Saturdays apparently, perhaps run single decks on Saturdays?

Could the 74  be cut to peak times only to increase loadings on each trip? Surprisingly the 74 does get passengers in Slatyford at peak times and indeed less passengers even at Hexham/Newcastle off-peak.

I have a feeling they'll just delay it until the electrics come unless they lose the Zebra bid comes then who knows. The only Euro 6 Solo's in the North East are the 700/701 examples and the 3 Durham Cathedral ones though I believe. Don't see why they couldn't have mods though if they wanted. The newest examples are only 6 year old.

I have a feeling they'll just delay it until the electrics come unless they lose the Zebra bid comes then who knows. The only Euro 6 Solo's in the North East are the 700/701 examples and the 3 Durham Cathedral ones though I believe. Don't see why they couldn't have mods though if they wanted. The newest examples are only 6 year old.

Northumberland Council might cut the 74, I expect at some point it will be peak times only like the 808/X85. We might see changes in Northumberland soon. Fingers crossed the 808 doesn't get withdrawn.

Northumberland Council might cut the 74, I expect at some point it will be peak times only like the 808/X85. We might see changes in Northumberland soon. Fingers crossed the 808 doesn't get withdrawn.

I think it's just been done the Northumberland changes if I'm right as part of the Hexham changes that have recently come in. Don't think there'll be any other changes over there anytime soon as there's nothing to cut. Arriva have pretty much confirmed their changes for the area in March and GNE/Stagecoach don't really have any commercial services to cut.

I think it's just been done the Northumberland changes if I'm right as part of the Hexham changes that have recently come in. Don't think there'll be any other changes over there anytime soon as there's nothing to cut. Arriva have pretty much confirmed their changes for the area in March and GNE/Stagecoach don't really have any commercial services to cut.

Thank you, I didn't realise. Really ticket acceptance on the 684/685 would be an improvement for the Hexham routes. Service 808 I thought might go to GNE.

Dan has confirmed on flickr that Phoenix have won the W2 and M6/552 as seen here and that the 342 has been awarded to GCT as seen here - while also confirming that some of the Little Coasters will be withdrawn as a result

342 has been awarded to GCT as seen here
I wonder how many buses will be missing on the daily for that.

342 has been awarded to GCT as seen here
I wonder how many buses will be missing on the daily for that.

GCT seem to have less work overall so hopefully a better performance from them - they’ve lost the 6, W2; the K1/2, 333 and 359 are withdrawn; the 335 requires fewer buses.

Go North East service changes have appeared on bustimes.org

Link here
https://bustimes.org/licences/PB0003954

Phoenix Coaches have won the W2 service in Whitley Bay & the M6/552 stated by Dan Graham post on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/2n5Jgh9

Any word on 18, 32, 35 and 84/84A in Newcastle or just North Tyneside contracts awarded? Good to see Phoenix Coaches have been awarded the M6 and W2.

Any word on 18, 32, 35 and 84/84A in Newcastle or just North Tyneside contracts awarded? Good to see Phoenix Coaches have been awarded the M6 and W2.

Never seen anything mention about the 84/84A

Nothing on who has the 18/32/35

Any word on 18, 32, 35 and 84/84A in Newcastle or just North Tyneside contracts awarded? Good to see Phoenix Coaches have been awarded the M6 and W2.

It's now been confirmed that the 18, 32/32A and 35 will all remain with Stagecoach: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:39:39:705

Any word on 18, 32, 35 and 84/84A in Newcastle or just North Tyneside contracts awarded? Good to see Phoenix Coaches have been awarded the M6 and W2.

Why?   What do they offer that others couldn’t.  

If they’ve been awarded it it’s likely that it’s because they have put in the lowest bid, not service improvements

It's not been confirmed that the 18, 32/32A and 35 will all remain with Stagecoach: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:39:39:705

Oh the 100 is back

Why?   What do they offer that others couldn’t.  

If they’ve been awarded it it’s likely that it’s because they have put in the lowest bid, not service improvements

Because Phoenix actually turn up consistently, unlike GCT. They offer newer buses than most operators. 

Are these contracts all for 1 year? 18, 19, 32, 35, 41/41A, 46A, 84/84A, 317, 342, M6 and W2. Stagecoach are the only company not to lose out with all the cutbacks, now simply running their services with Nexus funding and gaining more Nexus work.

Because Phoenix actually turn up consistently, unlike GCT. They offer newer buses than most operators. 

Are these contracts all for 1 year? 18, 19, 32, 35, 41/41A, 46A, 84/84A, 317, 342, M6 and W2. Stagecoach are the only company not to lose out with all the cutbacks, now simply running their services with Nexus funding and gaining more Nexus work.

If the 317 is popular with Stagecoach. Maybe Stagecoach could keep it and not have it a nexus contract and Stagecoach could have it as a full service

Timetable are up on gne website linking the 342/317 Timetable

What's the PVR of the 342 is it two or 3 it's hard to work out

Here we go,it'll be all about the 342 now instead of the 42

I like that Nexus are returning to the 3XX service number format for N Tyneside. I lamented the breakup of the regulated services of the 1970s and 80s, which had a consistent numbering . I know it probably means little to todays passengers, but a return to the early 1980s in terms of bus - metro integration would be a good thing.

Timetable are up on gne website linking the 342/317 Timetable

What's the PVR of the 342 is it two or 3 it's hard to work out

It's 3 - very simple to work out - bus leaves Wallsend 08:50 arrives Newbiggin Lane 10:13, bus leaves Newbiggin Lane 10:18 arrives Wallsend 11:44 goes out again 11:50.

I like that Nexus are returning to the 3XX service number format for N Tyneside. I lamented the breakup of the regulated services of the 1970s and 80s, which had a consistent numbering . I know it probably means little to todays passengers, but a return to the early 1980s in terms of bus - metro integration would be a good thing.

Personally I like the consistent numbering even though I'm not old enough to fully understand the history of it. My local 792 and 808 must be remnants of the old system (along with the 306, 308, 309, 310 in North Tyneside of course, and the 684/685.) Metro replacement 900/901 and scholars numbers are too, I believe. Where did the 941 get its number from? 9xx numbers are just for Metro replacement I thought.

Here we go,it'll be all about the 342 now instead of the 42

I don't care about 342. I'm asking what time the pvr was

Personally I like the consistent numbering even though I'm not old enough to fully understand the history of it. My local 792 and 808 must be remnants of the old system (along with the 306, 308, 309, 310 in North Tyneside of course, and the 684/685.) Metro replacement 900/901 and scholars numbers are too, I believe. Where did the 941 get its number from? 9xx numbers are just for Metro replacement I thought.

Apart from 900/901, the remainder of the 9xx series was misc works, there used to be an abundance of them compared to now.

Apart from 900/901, the remainder of the 9xx series was misc works, there used to be an abundance of them compared to now.

So what's the full numbering?.

2xx = Durham (204)
3xx = Wallsend / North Tyneside (306, 308, 309, 310, 333, 335, 392, the 1 used to be 301)
5xx = Sunderland (558)
6xx = Hexham (683, 684, 685 etc) 
7xx = Gateshead? (792, 794)
8xx = Northumberland (808, 815, 885)

So what's the full numbering?.

2xx = Durham (204)
3xx = Wallsend / North Tyneside (306, 308, 309, 310, 333, 335, 392, the 1 used to be 301)
5xx = Sunderland (558)
6xx = Hexham (683, 684, 685 etc) 
7xx = Gateshead? (792, 794)
8xx = Northumberland (808, 815, 885)

Close enough. The 2xx tended to be east and south east Durham. 
5xx was mainly South Tyneside.
North and west Durham tended to be 7xx.
6xx was less specifically Hexham and more the far side of Gateshead and beyond. The 638/639/649 never touched Hexham for example. 

Local Gateshed services traditionally had the two digit system that you still see around Old Durham Road and Bensham Bank.
2x was Durham Road. 5x mainly Old Durham Road. 6x Dunston area and 9x Lobley Hill/Whickham.

You also had the 1xx series that was used in Washington and Sunderland.

Obviously there was the odd exception (292,293,294 in Washington for example). But in the main, that's what it tended to be.

Close enough. The 2xx tended to be east and south Durham. 
North and west Durham tended to be 7xx.
6xx was less specifically Hexham and more the far side of Gateshead and beyond. The 638/639/649 never touched Hexham for example. 

Local Gateshed services traditionally had the two digit system that you still see around Old Durham Road and Bensham Bank.
2x was Durham Road. 5x mainly Old Durham Road. 6x Dunston area and 9x Lobley Hill/Whickham.

5xx is South Tyneside isnt it?