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Go North East: Service Suggestions

Go North East: Service Suggestions

RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
Service 39A
Parkside-dawdon-Byron place-ryhope village-tunstall village -mill hill- beckwith green- morrisons- Doxford international -board inn-Durham road- Sunderland royal hospital circular
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(29 Mar 2014, 10:11 pm)gtom wrote More buses through Durham Rd?!

Whey aye.
It will bring Durham Road - Newcastle services upto a level not seen for years
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(30 Mar 2014, 8:25 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Whey aye.
It will bring Durham Road - Newcastle services upto a level not seen for years

And congestion to boot
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(30 Mar 2014, 12:21 am)Acky81 wrote Service 39A
Parkside-dawdon-Byron place-ryhope village-tunstall village -mill hill- beckwith green- morrisons- Doxford international -board inn-Durham road- Sunderland royal hospital circular

Any thoughts on this service?? Be great for Seaham folk getting to morrisons Doxford international and royal hospital for a direct link
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(30 Mar 2014, 11:14 am)Acky81 wrote Any thoughts on this service?? Be great for Seaham folk getting to morrisons Doxford international and royal hospital for a direct link

Not sure, as theirs frequent links for the Hospital already from Park lane and other area's from GNE

2A/2C/8/35/39/78/78A/700 and the X36 (peak times only)

the 60 runs every 10 mins - which links straight to Stand J and K in park lane.

Not putting down your'e idea but i don't think we need anther service to the hospital
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(30 Mar 2014, 11:23 am)Michael wrote Not sure, as theirs frequent links for the Hospital already from Park lane and other area's from GNE

2A/2C/8/35/39/78/78A/700 and the X36 (peak times only)

the 60 runs every 10 mins - which links straight to Stand J and K in park lane.

Not putting down your'e idea but i don't think we need anther service to the hospital

I think passengers want a more direct link than waiting around
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
this might be an idea for 27 to split into 2 routes have one every 20 mins while the other the same why not have 27 operating its Normal route until Hebburn Town Centre then instead of going down Victoria Road East to join on to Campbell Park Road then on to Finchael Road why not replace that part with 27A and run the 27 up Victoria Road West and have it run direct along past the Football club and then where the old College used to be thus run Service 27 as Every 20 mins and 27A every 20 mins so a combined frequency to every 10 mins thus allowing to Withdraw 27X and 515 but still keep it under the Crusader brand and will require 14 vehicles once 27 and 27A then can rejoin the current 27 Route at Hebburn Fire Station this will ease pressure of 27 with capacity and it will give residents a nice vehicle instead of a crappy MPD
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RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(24 Apr 2014, 10:01 pm)Racer_Experience wrote this might be an idea for 27 to split into 2 routes have one every 20 mins while the other the same why not have 27 operating its Normal route until Hebburn Town Centre then instead of going down Victoria Road East to join on to Campbell Park Road then on to Finchael Road why not replace that part with 27A and run the 27 up Victoria Road West and have it run direct along past the Football club and then where the old College used to be thus run Service 27 as Every 20 mins and 27A every 20 mins so a combined frequency to every 10 mins thus allowing to Withdraw 27X and 515 but still keep it under the Crusader brand and will require 14 vehicles once 27 and 27A then can rejoin the current 27 Route at Hebburn Fire Station this will ease pressure of 27 with capacity and it will give residents a nice vehicle instead of a crappy MPD

Wasn't something like this attempted by GNE in the past? Can't recall exactly what, but I'm almost certain the Crusader was split at some point.. perhaps in the Cadet days?
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RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(24 Apr 2014, 10:13 pm)aureolin wrote Wasn't something like this attempted by GNE in the past? Can't recall exactly what, but I'm almost certain the Crusader was split at some point.. perhaps in the Cadet days?

One Service did not serve Hebburn Town Centre (27) while the other did serve the Town Centre (27A) but however once the 2 27s met at Hebburn College one would do the Monkton Lane Estate (27) while the other went straight to Hebburn Town Centre (27A)
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RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(24 Apr 2014, 10:01 pm)Racer_Experience wrote this might be an idea for 27 to split into 2 routes have one every 20 mins while the other the same why not have 27 operating its Normal route until Hebburn Town Centre then instead of going down Victoria Road East to join on to Campbell Park Road then on to Finchael Road why not replace that part with 27A and run the 27 up Victoria Road West and have it run direct along past the Football club and then where the old College used to be thus run Service 27 as Every 20 mins and 27A every 20 mins so a combined frequency to every 10 mins thus allowing to Withdraw 27X and 515 but still keep it under the Crusader brand and will require 14 vehicles once 27 and 27A then can rejoin the current 27 Route at Hebburn Fire Station this will ease pressure of 27 with capacity and it will give residents a nice vehicle instead of a crappy MPD

Sorry, but i don't see GoNE reinstating old 27A route back. Busy part between Fire Station to Town Centre is where 27 goes now. That would mean loss for Nexus who run's both 27X & 515.

I think could be wrong but GoNE had dropped 27A due to low demand & 20mins is too long to wait Dodgy. What we do need is to reinstating 87 back but to extend to Eldon which would help with 27 every 30mins
followed by 87 to 30 mins.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
could re route 27 to serve Eldon Square instead of Market Street thats my prefered choice
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RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(24 Apr 2014, 10:21 pm)Racer_Experience wrote could re route 27 to serve Eldon Square instead of Market Street thats my prefered choice

I do agree with you their (may happen in the future or with the new buses who knows). Reminds me of 532 on Volvo NC 2.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
With GNE keen to protect their territory in Silksworth and passengers seemingly preferring the 35 options over the 42, I wondered if a 35/42 circular service could be introduced or divert the x35 via Silksworth.

idea 1:
35a - current route to Barnes Park and follow the route of the 20/a to The Board Inn. From the Board Inn, left towards Farringdon and pick up current 35a route back to Shields. Peak times extends to Rainton Bridge still.
42 operates current route to Silksworth.

idea 2:
35a - as current route to Silksworth, but operate 42 route back to Park Lane/Sunderland from Silksworth before continuing to Shields. Peak time still extends to Rainton Bridge.
42 - Current 42 route to Silksworth. Reverse via 35a route.

idea 3:
x35 diverted via Silksworth from/to Doxford Park rather than use Durham Road.

Obviously this leaves a gap in service between Herrington and Houghton and to the various destinations, which would need filling somehow - such as extending the 71 back to Sunderland via Burnside Estate, Herrington and Durham Road.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(03 May 2014, 11:50 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote With GNE keen to protect their territory in Silksworth and passengers seemingly preferring the 35 options over the 42, I wondered if a 35/42 circular service could be introduced or divert the x35 via Silksworth.

idea 1:
35a - current route to Barnes Park and follow the route of the 20/a to The Board Inn. From the Board Inn, left towards Farringdon and pick up current 35a route back to Shields. Peak times extends to Rainton Bridge still.
42 operates current route to Silksworth.

idea 2:
35a - as current route to Silksworth, but operate 42 route back to Park Lane/Sunderland from Silksworth before continuing to Shields. Peak time still extends to Rainton Bridge.
42 - Current 42 route to Silksworth. Reverse via 35a route.

idea 3:
x35 diverted via Silksworth from/to Doxford Park rather than use Durham Road.

Obviously this leaves a gap in service between Herrington and Houghton and to the various destinations, which would need filling somehow - such as extending the 71 back to Sunderland via Burnside Estate, Herrington and Durham Road.

For idea 3 why not extend the 238 into Chester from Houghton and Withdraw the 71, or would that still leave gap from the re-routing of the X35.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(03 May 2014, 1:55 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote For idea 3 why not extend the 238 into Chester from Houghton and Withdraw the 71, or would that still leave gap from the re-routing of the X35.

If the x35 was diverted, it would leave a gap between Dox Park and The Board Inn.
Although not many people use that bit.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
I got the TEN the other day and I've come up with an idea for the Cobalt Clipper based upon the TEN. It would help speed up journey times slightly whilst still turning a profit:

- Cobalt Express service X39 withdrawn and Citylink service 58X withdrawn.

- Service 309 would operate every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime on its current route between Blyth and Coast Road / Station Road. Between Station Road and St Mary's Place / Haymarket, buses would operate non stop. Evening and Sunday journeys would operate every 30 minutes on the same stopping basis as now serving all stops between Station Road and St Mary's Place.

- Service 310 would operate it's existing route between North Shields and Battle Hill Drive. From there, all journeys would follow the same route as the 309 to Coast Road / Station Road then operate just like the 309, non stop to St Mary's Place / Haymarket. Monday to Saturday journeys would operate every 20 minutes giving a combined frequency between Battle Hill Drive and Newcastle of every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime. Evening and Sunday journeys would operate every 30 minutes and serve all stops between Station Road and St Mary's Place. All journeys from High Farm would be served by a new enhanced Citylink 58 service. The PVR of the 309 would be 7 during the day and 4 during evenings and Sundays. The PVR of the 310 would be 5 during the day and 3 during evenings and Sundays.

- Service 58 would be enhanced to operate every 10 minutes between Heworth and Hadrian Park. All journeys would serve High Farn and Station Road rather than the Coast Road and Rising Sun. During the peak times Monday to Friday, one journey every 20 minutes would continue to Cobalt from Battle Hill via the current 309 route rather than Hadrian Park. This would retain the links lost by a faster Cobalt Clipper service between the Civic Centre and Benfield Road. The same would apply during the PM peak for journeys towards Newcastle. It would only serve Cobalt in one direction at the peak times according to the traffic flow (AM to Cobalt and PM from Cobalt). Evening and Sunday journeys would operate the same frequencies as now but journeys to Hadrian Park on both evenings and Sundays would operate between Civic Centre and Pilgrim Street via Blackett Street, Percy Street and St Mary's place giving a combined upto every 10 minute frequency between St Mary's Place and Battle Hill Drive during the evenings and Sundays.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(10 May 2014, 8:48 am)DaveyBowyer wrote - Service 309 would operate every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime on its current route between Blyth and Coast Road / Station Road. Between Station Road and St Mary's Place / Haymarket, buses would operate non stop. Evening and Sunday journeys would operate every 30 minutes on the same stopping basis as now serving all stops between Station Road and St Mary's Place.

By doing this you would be erasing Arriva's competition on the 308 so it can potentially lose money. Would a company really want to do this? I'm not saying your idea is bad and you have said how passengers could connect with the 309/310 with the 58 at Cobalt.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(10 May 2014, 9:28 am)Robert wrote By doing this you would be erasing Arriva's competition on the 308 so it can potentially lose money. Would a company really want to do this? I'm not saying your idea is bad and you have said how passengers could connect with the 309/310 with the 58 at Cobalt.

The 58 wouldn't connect with the Cobalt Clipper at all. Every other journey (every 20 minutes) would operate to Cobalt in the mornings and from Cobalt during the teatime. So like during the mornings, the 58 would only operate to Hadrian Park every 20 minutes with the other three journeys going to Cobalt instead. During teatime, the 58 would only operate from Hadrian Park every 20 minutes with the other three journeys operating from Cobalt. That would solve the problem of the Cobalt Clipper missing out stops between St Mary's and Station Road. The 58 peak time journeys would operate Monday to Friday.

Also, the 309 and 310 would only lose out on frequency during the day with 2 buses ( 1 on either route) lost at the expense of a better journey time. The journey between Station Road and St Mary's would be reduced from 20-25 minutes at peak times to just under 15 minutes. Off peak, the journey time would be reduced from 15 minutes to just under 10 minutes. Also, despite the fact that the 309 would offer one less bus per hour than the 308 between Blyth and Rake Lane, the journey time would be quicker and the 20 minute frequency would still offer convenience to passengers. The 310 would also offer a similar journey time to the 306 between the Norham Road area and Newcastle.

It works for the TEN and it would potentially work on the Cobalt Clipper with good marketing. The Cobalt Clipper would still serve all stops between Station Road and Newcastle during the evenings and Sundays forming a combined frequency between Battle Hill Drive and St Mary's Place of every 10 minutes with Citylink 58 operating half hourly and both the 309 and 310 operating half hourly during the evenings and on Sundays.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(10 May 2014, 11:58 am)DaveyBowyer wrote The 58 wouldn't connect with the Cobalt Clipper at all. Every other journey (every 20 minutes) would operate to Cobalt in the mornings and from Cobalt during the teatime. So like during the mornings, the 58 would only operate to Hadrian Park every 20 minutes with the other three journeys going to Cobalt instead. During teatime, the 58 would only operate from Hadrian Park every 20 minutes with the other three journeys operating from Cobalt. That would solve the problem of the Cobalt Clipper missing out stops between St Mary's and Station Road. The 58 peak time journeys would operate Monday to Friday.

Also, the 309 and 310 would only lose out on frequency during the day with 2 buses ( 1 on either route) lost at the expense of a better journey time. The journey between Station Road and St Mary's would be reduced from 20-25 minutes at peak times to just under 15 minutes. Off peak, the journey time would be reduced from 15 minutes to just under 10 minutes. Also, despite the fact that the 309 would offer one less bus per hour than the 308 between Blyth and Rake Lane, the journey time would be quicker and the 20 minute frequency would still offer convenience to passengers. The 310 would also offer a similar journey time to the 306 between the Norham Road area and Newcastle.

It works for the TEN and it would potentially work on the Cobalt Clipper with good marketing. The Cobalt Clipper would still serve all stops between Station Road and Newcastle during the evenings and Sundays forming a combined frequency between Battle Hill Drive and St Mary's Place of every 10 minutes with Citylink 58 operating half hourly and both the 309 and 310 operating half hourly during the evenings and on Sundays.

But people on the Coast Road going to Blyth or North Shields will use Arriva services which isn't want Go North East want. They want to compete with Arriva and if they do go Non Stop along the Coast Road then they will lose passengers and money which will start to make the B9s look like they have been purchased for an un-profitable service.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
GNE would give that away in a sense. But put it this way, when GNE took over the Hexham depot, 6 weeks later, they carried out a consultation and one of the questions was, "Would you use our TEN service more for a faster journey time by not stopping between the Metrocentre and Newcastle Monday to Saturday daytime?" The majority answered yes and despite people wanting fast journeys between Newcastle and the Metrocentre, it would've been particularly favoured by people on the Tyne Valley corridor.

If GNE implemented my idea above, rather than the journey time being 40 minutes to Rake Lane hospital on Arriva's 308 during peak time or more due to it struggling to keep to time, the 309 would do it in around 35 minutes. And off peak, Arriva's 308 takes 33 minutes to Rake Lane. The 309 would do it in 30 minutes. It's not much less off peak but during peak time, the time saved would be better.

If GNE sent leaflets around on the existing 309 route and some of it overlapping Arriva's 308 route with the service changes promoting a faster journey time, the patronage would be good. The 309 and 310 would run just before the 58 Monday to Saturday daytime through Battle Hill with the 58 only stepping in place to provide the lost links due to a faster 309 / 310 service and to still serve High Farm.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(10 May 2014, 12:18 pm)Robert wrote But people on the Coast Road going to Blyth or North Shields will use Arriva services which isn't want Go North East want. They want to compete with Arriva and if they do go Non Stop along the Coast Road then they will lose passengers and money which will start to make the B9s look like they have been purchased for an un-profitable service.

Very few passengers board the 309 heading towards Blyth or Whitley Bay along the Coast Road, with the 310 notably picking up more passengers along that section of the route. This would also allow service X39 to be withdrawn.

To be honest, the 310 doesn't need to be non-stop along the Coast Road, therefore that could operate via it's normal route via High Farm. This would provide a service regularly from Benfield Road even if the 58 remained unchanged, which I think should happen.
So, the Coast Road services would remain the same, but the 309 would opeate non-stop from the Corner House to Station Road, providing competition with Arriva. A B9 with a tachograph could transfer to Riverside to aid with reliability on the TTX.

Some changes to the North Tyne Links and Coaster could also be made, to provide new and better links for Hadrian Park, and assist with reliability on service 1. Services 40/41 would remain the same, however only run every half hour. New service 40A and 41A would be introduced, with service 40A operating from Wallsend to North Shields via Hadrian Park, Cobalt South and Royal Quays half hourly, combining with the 40 to provide a service from Hadrian Park to Wallsend via Battle Hill every 15 minutes. Service 41A would operate from Wallsend to Whitley Bay via Hadrian Park, Cobalt and Marden Estate every 30 minutes, providing a link from Wallsend to Hadrian Park via Howdon every 15 minutes. Service 80 would be withdrawn in it's current form, and replaced by service 41A between Wallsend and Cobalt, and services new 80 and 80A in North Shields. Service 80 would operate a North Shields Circular from North Shields via Tynemouth, Marden Estate, Morrisons, Rake Lane and Billy Mill, with service 80A operating anti-clockwise. This would allow service 1 to omit Marden Estate improving reliability.

Service 307 would be withdrawn, and replaced by a new X44 service. It would operate from Whitley Bay (interworking with the 17), via Marden Estate, Rake Lane, Shiremoor, Northumberland Park, Benton Asda and Wiltshire Drive, then non-stop to the Civic Centre.

Overview
1:Unchanged, however omits Marden Estate and operates direct via Cullercoats to assist with reliability.
9: Unchanged
17: Unchanged
19: Unchanged
40/41: Unchanged route, operates every 30 minutes.
40A: New service - Wallsend-Battle Hill-Hadrian Park-Cobalt South-Percy Main-Royal Quays-Howdon Road-North Shields
41A New service - Wallsend-Howdon-Hadrian Park-Cobalt-New York-Rake Lane-Marden Estate-Whitley Bay
80/80A North Shields Circular - North Shields-Tynemouth-Marden Estate-Morrisons-Rake Lane-Billy Mill-North Shields
307 Withdrawn
309 Operates via normal route from Blyth to Station Road/Coast Road, then runs non-stop to the Civic Centre.
X39 Withdrawn
X44 New service, from Whitley Bay to Newcastle, via Marden Estate, Rake Lane, Northumberland Park, Holystone, Benton Asda, Wiltshire Drive, then non-stop to Newcastle Civic Centre.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(11 May 2014, 12:56 pm)Tom wrote Very few passengers board the 309 heading towards Blyth or Whitley Bay along the Coast Road, with the 310 notably picking up more passengers along that section of the route. This would also allow service X39 to be withdrawn.

To be honest, the 310 doesn't need to be non-stop along the Coast Road, therefore that could operate via it's normal route via High Farm. This would provide a service regularly from Benfield Road even if the 58 remained unchanged, which I think should happen.
So, the Coast Road services would remain the same, but the 309 would opeate non-stop from the Corner House to Station Road, providing competition with Arriva. A B9 with a tachograph could transfer to Riverside to aid with reliability on the TTX.

Some changes to the North Tyne Links and Coaster could also be made, to provide new and better links for Hadrian Park, and assist with reliability on service 1. Services 40/41 would remain the same, however only run every half hour. New service 40A and 41A would be introduced, with service 40A operating from Wallsend to North Shields via Hadrian Park, Cobalt South and Royal Quays half hourly, combining with the 40 to provide a service from Hadrian Park to Wallsend via Battle Hill every 15 minutes. Service 41A would operate from Wallsend to Whitley Bay via Hadrian Park, Cobalt and Marden Estate every 30 minutes, providing a link from Wallsend to Hadrian Park via Howdon every 15 minutes. Service 80 would be withdrawn in it's current form, and replaced by service 41A between Wallsend and Cobalt, and services new 80 and 80A in North Shields. Service 80 would operate a North Shields Circular from North Shields via Tynemouth, Marden Estate, Morrisons, Rake Lane and Billy Mill, with service 80A operating anti-clockwise. This would allow service 1 to omit Marden Estate improving reliability.

Service 307 would be withdrawn, and replaced by a new X44 service. It would operate from Whitley Bay (interworking with the 17), via Marden Estate, Rake Lane, Shiremoor, Northumberland Park, Benton Asda and Wiltshire Drive, then non-stop to the Civic Centre.

Overview
1:Unchanged, however omits Marden Estate and operates direct via Cullercoats to assist with reliability.
9: Unchanged
17: Unchanged
19: Unchanged
40/41: Unchanged route, operates every 30 minutes.
40A: New service - Wallsend-Battle Hill-Hadrian Park-Cobalt South-Percy Main-Royal Quays-Howdon Road-North Shields
41A New service - Wallsend-Howdon-Hadrian Park-Cobalt-New York-Rake Lane-Marden Estate-Whitley Bay
80/80A North Shields Circular - North Shields-Tynemouth-Marden Estate-Morrisons-Rake Lane-Billy Mill-North Shields
307 Withdrawn
309 Operates via normal route from Blyth to Station Road/Coast Road, then runs non-stop to the Civic Centre.
X39 Withdrawn
X44 New service, from Whitley Bay to Newcastle, via Marden Estate, Rake Lane, Northumberland Park, Holystone, Benton Asda, Wiltshire Drive, then non-stop to Newcastle Civic Centre.

i would make the x39 every hour releasing pressure on 309
Against the Anti-Lee Club.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(11 May 2014, 1:03 pm)Marcus wrote To be honest, I would make the X39 a peak time service like the 921 and 922, because every time I see it in Haymarket it only has people dressing in work uniforms onboard.

Exactly. Who's going to use a service from Newcastle to Cobalt off-peak?
Service X39 could be withdrawn because the 309 would provide a fast link from Newcastle to Cobalt, along with the 58X.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(11 May 2014, 1:05 pm)Tom wrote Exactly. Who's going to use a service from Newcastle to Cobalt off-peak?
Service X39 could be withdrawn because the 309 would provide a fast link from Newcastle to Cobalt, along with the 58X.

It's a waste of time and a waste of money to operate a service that probably doesn't even get two on people on between 9 and 5. Going back to the OK1; I've often wondered why they actually did withdraw it, because if you look at photos of it you'll see quite a few people onboard. I used it only the once all the way from Middlesborough to Darlington and it was about half full. The problem is, that service had a competition which it lost to.

Operating the X39 during the daytime isn't worth it.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(11 May 2014, 1:17 pm)Marcus wrote It's a waste of time and a waste of money to operate a service that probably doesn't even get two on people on between 9 and 5. Going back to the OK1; I've often wondered why they actually did withdraw it, because if you look at photos of it you'll see quite a few people onboard. I used it only the once all the way from Middlesborough to Darlington and it was about half full. The problem is, that service had a competition which it lost to.

Operating the X39 during the daytime isn't worth it.

I'd like to see Go North East operate some more services in competition with Arriva. There is a gap in the market on the Northumberland Coast network as the service provide by Arriva is disgusting.

But yeah, the OK1 did seem a busy service, and it's a shame they withdrew it.
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RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(11 May 2014, 1:17 pm)Marcus wrote It's a waste of time and a waste of money to operate a service that probably doesn't even get two on people on between 9 and 5. Going back to the OK1; I've often wondered why they actually did withdraw it, because if you look at photos of it you'll see quite a few people onboard. I used it only the once all the way from Middlesborough to Darlington and it was about half full. The problem is, that service had a competition which it lost to.

Operating the X39 during the daytime isn't worth it.

Most of which were pensioners, I bet?!

For reference, service OK1 operated with next to no passengers all day on the final day of operation. Whilst this will be in part to customers making alternative arrangements for travel owing to the impending withdrawal of the service, an empty bus with just me on it did suggest a lot.

The service may have been 'breaking even', but I doubt it was making much of a profit when in its prime. This was as a result of the strong competition from Arriva on the route. If you ask me, it's not a coincidence that the withdrawal of service OK1 saw the vehicles repainted for a new service which provides Arriva with strong competition down in Hexham where they don't have any other connecting services!
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
(11 May 2014, 1:21 pm)Dan wrote Most of which were pensioners, I bet?!

For reference, service OK1 operated with next to no passengers all day on the final day of operation. Whilst this will be in part to customers making alternative arrangements for travel owing to the impending withdrawal of the service, an empty bus with just me on it did suggest a lot.

The service may have been 'breaking even', but I doubt it was making much of a profit when in its prime. This was as a result of the strong competition from Arriva on the route. If you ask me, it's not a coincidence that the withdrawal of service OK1 saw the vehicles repainted for a new service which provides Arriva with strong competition down in Hexham where they don't have any other connecting services!

I do think GNE were planning the X84/X85 as the OK1 came to an end, as they knew Arriva didn't have much of a stand ever since the depot swap.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
A fast 309 and 310 service Monday to Saturday timetabled and marketed correctly would do well. There are upto 15 buses per hour at the moment between Battle Hill Drive and Newcastle (58, 306, 309 , 310). If the 309 and 310 was to be made fast Monday to Saturday daytime, the number of all stopping services serving Battle Hill drive would be 10 with the other 6 operating fast every 10 minutes combined. As long as they were timetabled before a 306 wherever possible or on an easier note before a 58, they would gain passengers to Newcastle. Once again, as long as they were timetabled just before another service on the Station Road slip road, they'd do well.

Also, there would be 16 all stop buses per hour between Station Road and Newcastle Monday to Saturday daytime but eastbound with the 58 not serving St Mary's Place with the exception of evening and Sunday journeys to combine with the 309 and 310, there would only be 10 all stop services (well 8 as the 51, 307 run only hourly) from between Haymarket and St Mary's Place to Station Road. Now at the peak times, they would get absolutely hammered with all the short fares particularly eastbound and the 309 and 310 would turn out to be the better choice.
RE: Go North East Service Suggestions
Or, here's another suggestion:

- Increase the Coaster PVR by 3.
- Terminate the journeys from Gateshead in Whitley Road rather than Bandstand.
- The journeys above would operate service X38 Monday to Saturday daytime every 30 minutes calling at all stops that the 308 serves between Whitley Bay and Billy Mill. Buses would then operate limited stop to St Mary's / Haymarket only calling at Willington Square.
- Through fares would be available between Marden and Newacastle.
- Most links lost by 44 would be reinstated.
- Faster journeys to Newcastle.
- Return tickets purchased between Newcastle and Whitley Bay allowed to be used on service 309 and vice versa as long as stops are the same.
- Would operate under the Coaster brand.