I wonder what the longest dead runs are in normal operation, maybe Newcastle to Hexham, Gateshead to Durham?

I wonder what the longest dead runs are in normal operation, maybe Newcastle to Hexham, Gateshead to Durham?

I reckon Ashington to Percy Main may be a good shout (19)

I wonder what the longest dead runs are in normal operation, maybe Newcastle to Hexham, Gateshead to Durham?

I reckon Ashington to Percy Main may be a good shout (19)

I'm sure there's an X1 or two that run light from Easington Lane to Newcastle. 
Regularly see them in peaks on the A19 heading north in what I assume are positioning runs) at approx 1730.
They're often behind a 4 branded Merc, which I am guessing does the same, but from Houghton - Heworth.

I'm sure there's an X1 or two that run light from Easington Lane to Newcastle. 
Regularly see them in peaks on the A19 heading north in what I assume are positioning runs) at approx 1730.
They're often behind a 4 branded Merc, which I am guessing does the same, but from Houghton - Heworth.

Returning to depot at shift end

Returning to depot at shift end

Back to the depot during peaks?!

There is an 11 that starts at Wallsend Metro at 0809, does this operate another service or a scholars before hand?

Nope comes straight from depot

They will be depot runs as up Houghton Cut, A19 and Washington Highway is fastest route back to depot, if they were heading for Newcastle they prob would have headed towards the A1.

Though it would be interesting to see which depot has the most dead mileage, I would assume Percy Main would be near the top as they have dead runs to / from places like Blyth, Cramlington, Gateshead, Ashington, Kingston Park, Wideopen to name some of the further afield places. But then you have to take into account if some of these vehicles do other duties, I discovered a few months back that one of the 309s that terminated in Blyth runs dead to North Shields to do a 310. Only discovered that when I followed a Cobalt Clipper all the way down the coast from Blyth to N Shields where it then blinded up for the 310 to Newcastle or Cobalt South.

I've seen companies in the past like Preston Bus and Cardiff Bus actually create services to eliminate some dead mileage, though I believe both have done away with the practise. Though Preston have numbered their staff service the 4 and it's available to the public too. But in the cast of Preston Bus, back before Rotala and Stagecoach. Services that terminated on the outskirts away from the depot like the Larches Estate for the 27, instead of running back to the depot, it would change to the 127, run along its normal route to a location where it can head towards the depot. This also enable them to claim BSOG even if no one used the service they were getting some money back.

If GNE were to use this example, they could create something like D prefixed services to avoid confusion with normal services. So any buses terminating at Wallsend could run as the D6 to Percy Main via High Street, Tynemouth Road and Wallsend Road. For the 19 dead runs to Ashington, you could have the D19, start it from the depot run it through Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate and Cobalt before joining the A19 at Holystone and run it direct to Bedlington then up to Ashington. Ok it might increase the drivers duties slightly but they get BSOG and possibly some revenue from those who work overnight like cleaners etc.

Back to the depot during peaks?!

By 17.30 the number of buses reduces as the peaks tend to tail off before that time these days. There are still plenty of 4's and X1's to cope with demand from Heworth and Newcastle until 18.30 when peak demand has passed.

Back to the depot during peaks?!

By 17.30 the number of buses reduces as the peaks tend to tail off before that time these days. There are still plenty of 4's and X1's to cope with demand from Heworth and Newcastle until 18.30 when peak demand has passed.

The 16:03 X1 service arrives at Easington Lane at 17:11 and runs light to the depot from there, arriving 17:33.

The peak flow of demand is Newcastle to Easington Lane on an evening, so the service provision is increased in this direction from every 12 minutes to every 10 (or more, with the X1As) and decreased to every 15 in the opposite direction.

It'd take over an hour for that bus to travel back to Newcastle, plus any layover, so if that bus didn't return to the depot when it does now, it'd be doing a service from Newcastle at around 18:30 by which time the evening peak has been and gone, and the number of people travelling is much fewer (to the point the service provision is reduced to every 15 minutes in this direction too).

The 16:03 X1 service arrives at Easington Lane at 17:11 and runs light to the depot from there, arriving 17:33.

The peak flow of demand is Newcastle to Easington Lane on an evening, so the service provision is increased in this direction from every 12 minutes to every 10 (or more, with the X1As) and decreased to every 15 in the opposite direction.

It'd take over an hour for that bus to travel back to Newcastle, plus any layover, so if that bus didn't return to the depot when it does now, it'd be doing a service from Newcastle at around 18:30 by which time the evening peak has been and gone, and the number of people travelling is much fewer (to the point the service provision is reduced to every 15 minutes in this direction too).

Not wanting to split hairs, but if it takes an hour and 10 mins IN service from Newcastle, I'm not sure it would need to be allocated to a departure from Newcastle 1 hour and 20 mins after leaving Easington Lane when not in service. Particularly as it could use bus lanes approaching Heworth, wouldn't lose time around Gateshead Interchange, Prince Consort Road, Hills St etc.
The 921 doesn't take that long from Rainton Bridge and that's obviously in service too. 

However, the point still stands that the dead mileage even to Washington depot is quite high.
Appreciate the demand from Newcastle beyond 1800 may have dropped off a bit, but using the vehicle elsewhere, even for a part journey towards the depot, must be more beneficial than having it run completely light.
Exploring commercial opportunities and fitting it in to operational requirements is a challenge for any business. 
How many people would love a direct route from Washington to Dox International and back in the peaks? 
The 37 is often rammed and doesn't offer anything like the ticketing opportunities a GNE service has. 
Just one example off the top of my head to reduced dead mileage, whilst increasing revenues.

They will be depot runs as up Houghton Cut, A19 and Washington Highway is fastest route back to depot, if they were heading for Newcastle they prob would have headed towards the A1.

Though it would be interesting to see which depot has the most dead mileage, I would assume Percy Main would be near the top as they have dead runs to / from places like Blyth, Cramlington, Gateshead, Ashington, Kingston Park, Wideopen to name some of the further afield places. But then you have to take into account if some of these vehicles do other duties, I discovered a few months back that one of the 309s that terminated in Blyth runs dead to North Shields to do a 310. Only discovered that when I followed a Cobalt Clipper all the way down the coast from Blyth to N Shields where it then blinded up for the 310 to Newcastle or Cobalt South.

I've seen companies in the past like Preston Bus and Cardiff Bus actually create services to eliminate some dead mileage, though I believe both have done away with the practise. Though Preston have numbered their staff service the 4 and it's available to the public too. But in the cast of Preston Bus, back before Rotala and Stagecoach. Services that terminated on the outskirts away from the depot like the Larches Estate for the 27, instead of running back to the depot, it would change to the 127, run along its normal route to a location where it can head towards the depot. This also enable them to claim BSOG even if no one used the service they were getting some money back.

If GNE were to use this example, they could create something like D prefixed services to avoid confusion with normal services. So any buses terminating at Wallsend could run as the D6 to Percy Main via High Street, Tynemouth Road and Wallsend Road. For the 19 dead runs to Ashington, you could have the D19, start it from the depot run it through Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate and Cobalt before joining the A19 at Holystone and run it direct to Bedlington then up to Ashington. Ok it might increase the drivers duties slightly but they get BSOG and possibly some revenue from those who work overnight like cleaners etc.

Hate double posts, but missed this earlier. 

I've made similar suggestions in the past about the 36.
For example, on a Saturday morning, it runs light from the depot to Houghton before dropping in to service and running towards Sunderland.
I don't see the logic in it running along the route (in the main), passing potential passengers, but unable to let them board.
Ditto on an evening, when Sunderland terminators follow the route of the 78 as far as Bournmoor. 

Years ago, the 638 ran as far as Pennywell Interchange from Washington on its last run of the night. 
It passed umpteen pubs along the way and picked up/dropped off.
It then ran back to the depot via the A19. 

There were many opportunities to terminate it prior to Pennywell, but the powers that be at the time identified a commercial opportunity, without incurring much (if any) extra cost than it would do if it terminated at Shiney Row.

Anyone else having problems with the gne bus app not showing buses only bus stops ?

Anyone else having problems with the gne bus app not showing buses only bus stops ?

Same here, hasn’t been working all afternoon


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Question; the Match Day P&R livery which 3983 carries, are we likely to see that livery on other vehicles or has it been a one off/scrapped idea now?

Question; the Match Day P&R livery which 3983 carries, are we likely to see that livery on other vehicles or has it been a one off/scrapped idea now?

Was only ever intended to be a one-off to promote the X50 service while it was used on scholars and Special Events - a little bit like the old Soccerbus branded buses.

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4949 is now in corp colours.

I wonder what the longest dead runs are in normal operation, maybe Newcastle to Hexham, Gateshead to Durham?

Hexham to Rockwood Hill
Riverside to South Shields

Hexham to Rockwood Hill
Riverside to South Shields

Percy main to stanley


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Nope comes straight from depot

Thanks.

Seems a bit odd mind.

Percy main to stanley

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Durham to Riverside

Middlesbrough to Riverside (on Xmas Eve/NYEve)

Durham to Riverside

Middlesbrough to Riverside (on Xmas Eve/NYEve)

I was going to say this but he said regular service!

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Back to the depot during peaks?!

Those pesky driving hours!

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On Saturday Morning a couple of X5s run from Deptford to Blackhall Rocks, that's quite a distance, especially the drivers who don't know their way through High Heselden and come down through Hart Village.

On Saturday Morning a couple of X5s run from Deptford to Blackhall Rocks, that's quite a distance, especially the drivers who don't know their way through High Heselden and come down through Hart Village.

If the 794 from PM doesnt use the tyne tunnel its slightly longer, but not much in it.

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Durham to Riverside

Middlesbrough to Riverside (on Xmas Eve/NYEve)

What GNE goes from Riverside to Durham? I should know this having studied the shifts enough, but don't.

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If the 794 from PM doesnt use the tyne tunnel its slightly longer, but not much in it.

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What GNE goes from Riverside to Durham? I should know this having studied the shifts enough, but don't.

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16:20 X21 from Newcastle.

It's possible that the early morning 91 from West Chirton service might run dead from Team Valley to Stanley to do the 794.

It's possible that the early morning 91 from West Chirton service might run dead from Team Valley to Stanley to do the 794.

Nope, thats a coaster. Stays on 91s and ends up onto a 1.

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NK51OLP / 4949 - Wright Solar by Jamie MP, on Flickr

Here is 4949 in corp.

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Has anyone seen 6911 in service at Percy Main? I have been on all of the other 2006 Volvo B7TL there but have never seen this one, also there is no pictures of it at Percy Main on flickr.

Has anyone seen 6911 in service at Percy Main? I have been on all of the other 2006 Volvo B7TL there but have never seen this one, also there is no pictures of it at Percy Main on flickr.

Yes, seen it on the 11 a couple of times

Yes, seen it on the 11 a couple of times

Great, I'll keep looking thanks