(24 Feb 2020, 11:10 pm)V514DFT wrote Wow those changes are utter garbage

Why?

At least Go North East tickets will still be valid, only the 335 being extended to North Shields won't accept GNE tickets despite replacing a GNE operated service, which actually makes sense as it will be an extended GCT 335.

The loss of service 19 between Northumberland Park and Ashington will be a huge loss to commuters at Cobalt...

(24 Feb 2020, 11:25 pm)S830OFT wrote The loss of service 19 between Northumberland Park and Ashington will be a huge loss to commuters at Cobalt...

Always seemed to be a decent load (even if south of Bedlington) when I used it frequently last May.

Cobalt have withdrawn the funding apparently for the 19 between Ashington and Northumberland Park.

It wont last 2 minutes, then all the complaints will start flooding in

(24 Feb 2020, 11:18 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Why?

At least Go North East tickets will still be valid, only the 335 being extended to North Shields won't accept GNE tickets despite replacing a GNE operated service, which actually makes sense as it will be an extended GCT 335.

Why?
Look I am not one to criticise but these changes are a disgrace.
Cramlington, Ashington and everywhere in between a loosing their link to Cobalt, which was relatively well used. Why there can’t even be a peak time service is beyond me.
The 41 route is an absolute mess and Nexus should step in a do something about it.
42/42A is a big loss - 335 is only running hourly on Saturdays too which is a massive reduction

Only thing that makes its not a complete sham is that you can use GNE tickets on the GCT services.

(24 Feb 2020, 11:18 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Why?

At least Go North East tickets will still be valid, only the 335 being extended to North Shields won't accept GNE tickets despite replacing a GNE operated service, which actually makes sense as it will be an extended GCT 335.

11, 19, 41, 42/42A - Night time and Sunday services ran by GCT who are known for nice buses and good customer service.
19 - Cut between Ashington and Northumberland Park.
41 - Weird loop which doesn't work as it loops around places plus missing link between Hadrian Park and Howdon.
42A - Forest Hall bus reduced hourly while it's going along Four Lane ends which has god knows how many buses.
42/42A - Scrapped altogether between Wallsend and Cobalt.

If you can defend them changes then you need to get your body part out of GNE's exhaust as there's nothing positive. I know a lot of you hate Arriva on here but GNE really need to scrap Percy Main as they've pretty much gave up and every route is a either subsidised by another operator (11, 19, 41, 42/42A) or just competes against Arriva (309, 310, 311). At least Arriva actually run some routes commercially in the area. The 1 could easily be ran from Riverside. Then they wonder why everyone is driving into Newcastle, stuff like this isn't going to sort the problem. There's another 20 or so cars on the road coming from SE Northumberland to Cobalt for starters (or people jobless).

(25 Feb 2020, 8:43 am)Storx wrote 11, 19, 41, 42/42A - Night time and Sunday services ran by GCT who are known for nice buses and good customer service.
19 - Cut between Ashington and Northumberland Park.
41 - Weird loop which doesn't work as it loops around places plus missing link between Hadrian Park and Howdon.
42A - Forest Hall bus reduced hourly while it's going along Four Lane ends which has god knows how many buses.
42/42A - Scrapped altogether between Wallsend and Cobalt.

If you can defend them changes then you need to get your body part out of GNE's exhaust as there's nothing positive. I know a lot of you hate Arriva on here but GNE really need to scrap Percy Main as they've pretty much gave up and every route is a either subsidised by another operator (11, 19, 41, 42/42A) or just competes against Arriva (309, 310, 311). At least Arriva actually run some routes commercially in the area. The 1 could easily be ran from Riverside. Then they wonder why everyone is driving into Newcastle, stuff like this isn't going to sort the problem. There's another 20 or so cars on the road coming from SE Northumberland to Cobalt for starters (or people jobless).

I think stagecoach killed the link between Wallsend and Cobalt by offering a more frequent and faster service with the 22

(25 Feb 2020, 8:43 am)Storx wrote 11, 19, 41, 42/42A - Night time and Sunday services ran by GCT who are known for nice buses and good customer service.
19 - Cut between Ashington and Northumberland Park.
41 - Weird loop which doesn't work as it loops around places plus missing link between Hadrian Park and Howdon.
42A - Forest Hall bus reduced hourly while it's going along Four Lane ends which has god knows how many buses.
42/42A - Scrapped altogether between Wallsend and Cobalt.

If you can defend them changes then you need to get your body part out of GNE's exhaust as there's nothing positive. I know a lot of you hate Arriva on here but GNE really need to scrap Percy Main as they've pretty much gave up and every route is a either subsidised by another operator (11, 19, 41, 42/42A) or just competes against Arriva (309, 310, 311). At least Arriva actually run some routes commercially in the area. The 1 could easily be ran from Riverside. Then they wonder why everyone is driving into Newcastle, stuff like this isn't going to sort the problem. There's another 20 or so cars on the road coming from SE Northumberland to Cobalt for starters (or people jobless).

GCT, in my opinion, aren’t as bad as people make out.

I used the 335 very frequently not long back, and the buses were always on time and drivers were friendly enough (probably better than GNE!)
However I think it’s time they changed their name, for the amount of buses they operate I think they need a rebrand.

(25 Feb 2020, 8:55 am)Ds1197 wrote I think stagecoach killed the link between Wallsend and Cobalt by offering a more frequent and faster service with the 22

To be fair, any of the big 3 operators could have created that link, that route and that frequency. 
They didn't (for whatever reason) and if the 22 is the reason (partly or otherwise) for the changes, then they've only got themselves to blame for missing the commercial opportunity and seeing their passengers inconvenienced. 

Cuts, reductions, route consolidation and smaller fleets hasn't worked for GNE passengers in the past and I can't see it working for them in the future.

(25 Feb 2020, 11:17 am)Andreos1 wrote To be fair, any of the big 3 operators could have created that link, that route and that frequency. 
They didn't (for whatever reason) and if the 22 is the reason (partly or otherwise) for the changes, then they've only got themselves to blame for missing the commercial opportunity and seeing their passengers inconvenienced. 

Cuts, reductions, route consolidation and smaller fleets hasn't worked for GNE passengers in the past and I can't see it working for them in the future.

Exactly, people had been requesting a link from Wallsend to Silverlink for years - GNE didn’t listen. Stagecoach introduced the 22 which has been very successful based on passenger loadings.

Only positive i can see from the changes is the 335 provides some good links e.g North Shields to Quorum, otherwise they are a shambles.

So will there be any GNE services that still go to Ashington, or will I have to travel Arriva now?

(25 Feb 2020, 2:09 pm)streetdeckfan wrote So will there be any GNE services that still go to Ashington, or will I have to travel Arriva now?

Full details are to be announced on the Go North East website very shortly, but unfortunately Cobalt Business Park (who funded the section of the route to Cramlington and Ashington) have withdrawn their funding of it, and there aren’t enough passengers using this service to operate it on a commercial basis... so yes, if you’re travelling to Ashington from 22 March it will be on an Arriva bus.

Trust me when I say every avenue has been explored to save this section of the route, as completely pulling out of an area isn't ever something that an operator likes to do!

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(25 Feb 2020, 3:40 pm)Dan wrote Full details are to be announced on the Go North East website very shortly, but unfortunately Cobalt Business Park (who funded the section of the route to Cramlington and Ashington) have withdrawn their funding of it, and there aren’t enough passengers using this service to operate it on a commercial basis... so yes, if you’re travelling to Ashington from 22 March it will be on an Arriva bus.

Trust me when I say every avenue has been explored to save this section of the route, as completely pulling out of an area isn't ever something that an operator likes to do!

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Arriva could maybe once Haddricks Mill has been completed (due to interworking with the 52) send the 53 through Cobalt. Would still leave Seaton Deleval, Earsdon and East Cramlington without a bus to Cobalt though.

(25 Feb 2020, 2:09 pm)streetdeckfan wrote So will there be any GNE services that still go to Ashington, or will I have to travel Arriva now?

The only other GNE service available if you can access. Is the very infrequent 434 which serves Ashington.

(25 Feb 2020, 5:13 pm)ifm001 wrote The only other GNE service available if you can access. Is the very infrequent 434 which serves Ashington.

Never heard of that service before!

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(25 Feb 2020, 5:45 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Never heard of that service before!

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I've seen it when I've been in Ashington. Not sure how busy it gets..

(25 Feb 2020, 6:21 pm)ifm001 wrote I've seen it when I've been in Ashington. Not sure how busy it gets..

Contracted route, but tied in with the 448(?) school duty I believe hence the decker allocation M-F. 

The 19 being withdrawn doesn't surprise me too much, the downsizing from single deck to minibus was probably a good sign of the impending demise. 

Taking into account that Arriva are the main operator in the area, for *most* journeys people wouldn't been to travel on the 19 and pay for a further ticket, especially with the extension of the 43 alongside the established 57 giving connections to most destinations that the 19 offered.

(25 Feb 2020, 6:33 pm)mb134 wrote Contracted route, but tied in with the 448(?) school duty I believe hence the decker allocation M-F. 

The 19 being withdrawn doesn't surprise me too much, the downsizing from single deck to minibus was probably a good sign of the impending demise. 

Taking into account that Arriva are the main operator in the area, for *most* journeys people wouldn't been to travel on the 19 and pay for a further ticket, especially with the extension of the 43 alongside the established 57 giving connections to most destinations that the 19 offered.

That's the same issue GNE have with the X21, the only people who would realistically use it are the people travelling north of Durham, if you're going anywhere else it makes more sense to just buy an Arriva ticket and use the 6.

(25 Feb 2020, 10:09 am)Tom wrote GCT, in my opinion, aren’t as bad as people make out.

I used the 335 very frequently not long back, and the buses were always on time and drivers were friendly enough (probably better than GNE!)
However I think it’s time they changed their name, for the amount of buses they operate I think they need a rebrand.

Their courier division delivers amazon stuff in Durham. Quite far flung from the name.

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(25 Feb 2020, 7:30 pm)streetdeckfan wrote That's the same issue GNE have with the X21, the only people who would realistically use it are the people travelling north of Durham, if you're going anywhere else it makes more sense to just buy an Arriva ticket and use the 6.

Unless you're under 25 when the X21 is much cheaper. Family tickets also cheaper.

Dont know if its been noted,but theres a consultation running from 24th February- 6th April about the upcoming North Tyneside service changes, surely you'd think they would of done the consultation before the changes were registered?

(28 Feb 2020, 11:09 pm)V514DFT wrote Dont know if its been noted,but theres a consultation running from 24th February- 6th April about the upcoming North Tyneside service changes, surely you'd think they would of done the consultation before the changes were registered?

Just for those trying to find it, its on the NEXUS site not the GNE site.

https://www.nexus.org.uk/consultation/it...2a-and-335

The 22 was extended from Wallsend to Cobalt thanks to funding from Cobalt Business Park, same goes for the 1 extension from Coach Lane to Cobalt, and the 10/11 from Jarrow to Cobalt.

(28 Feb 2020, 11:42 pm)Michael wrote Just for those trying to find it, its on the NEXUS site not the GNE site.

https://www.nexus.org.uk/consultation/it...2a-and-335

These changes have now formally been announced by Go North East:
http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/s...rch-395926

Note no confirmation on service 19 just yet.

Absolutely laughable

(03 Mar 2020, 4:27 pm)Dan wrote These changes have now formally been announced by Go North East:
http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/s...rch-395926

Note no confirmation on service 19 just yet.

Service 19 is subject to change – we're working in partnership with Cobalt and Northumberland County Council to confirm final details, with full information to be announced on Monday 9 March.

What on earth does that even mean. Why even mention it if the details aren't finalised

Also, it says "Evening and Sunday journeys will no longer be operated by Go North East, following a change in contract by Nexus, however pre-purchased Go North East tickets will be valid on Nexus buses at these times." Does that include using tickets purchased on The Key or only paper tickets?

(03 Mar 2020, 5:25 pm)streetdeckfan wrote What on earth does that even mean. Why even mention it if the details aren't finalised

Also, it says "Evening and Sunday journeys will no longer be operated by Go North East, following a change in contract by Nexus, however pre-purchased Go North East tickets will be valid on Nexus buses at these times." Does that include using tickets purchased on The Key or only paper tickets?

Because some details are already online elsewhere, which are now subject to change following further discussions with Cobalt & Northumberland City Council.

All tickets are valid.

(03 Mar 2020, 5:32 pm)Dan wrote Because some details are already online elsewhere, which are now subject to change following further discussions with Cobalt & Northumberland City Council.

All tickets are valid.

Makes sense I suppose.

So I'll just be able to tap my key card on their reader and it should pick up my ticket?

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(03 Mar 2020, 5:35 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Makes sense I suppose.

So I'll just be able to tap my key card on their reader and it should pick up my ticket?

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Doubtful that their ticket machine would read it - probably just a flash pass, and the driver manually logs its use.

(03 Mar 2020, 5:43 pm)Dan wrote Doubtful that their ticket machine would read it - probably just a flash pass, and the driver manually logs its use.

So is it a case of GCT just telling GNE how many passengers used a GNE ticket, then GNE paying GCT a certain amount per ticket, similar to the ENCTS? Or is GCT not receiving anything from GNE for those passengers?

Because if it's the former I guess they'd have no problem taking my word that I have a valid ticket on my Key, or if it's the latter I'd guess they'd be reluctant

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