(26 May 2015, 10:31 pm)MurdnunoC wrote @Davie

Were you taking photos opposite the exit of Haymarket Bus Station today at around 12:30-ish? You might have been next to (or even sitting on) the little wall adjacent to the car-park. If so, I may have seen you.

Yeah it Was me

@Davie


If you didn't enjoy your journeys on 7524 and 7531 (both decent in my view), I dread to think what your view would have been if one of 7501-9 had been chucked on your X21/22 journey!  
Unless you didn't enjoy them because of the passengers, which is fine  I had the exact same problem with my ride on 7530(?) a couple of weeks back on an X18 from Berwick... 


 

(27 May 2015, 8:51 am)mb134 wrote @Davie


If you didn't enjoy your journeys on 7524 and 7531 (both decent in my view), I dread to think what your view would have been if one of 7501-9 had been chucked on your X21/22 journey!  
Unless you didn't enjoy them because of the passengers, which is fine  I had the exact same problem with my ride on 7530(?) a couple of weeks back on an X18 from Berwick... 


 

You'd understand if you were on the same bus as us! Honestly, it was horrendous. Every bump in the road you could feel, the seats were killing my back, they were stupendously uncomfortable, there were some right goons at the back of the bus running up and down the upper deck like idiots and shouting/screaming. Not once did the driver tell them too pack it in. 

(27 May 2015, 8:57 am)leestransportphotos wrote You'd understand if you were on the same bus as us! Honestly, it was horrendous. Every bump in the road you could feel, the seats were killing my back, they were stupendously uncomfortable, there were some right goons at the back of the bus running up and down the upper deck like idiots and shouting/screaming. Not once did the driver tell them too pack it in. 

Must have a solid back me! Never found the seats on those to be too bad, not as soft as fabric, but comfortable enough. 

I'm maybe looking at making a trip up to Berwick next week (possibly Wednesday or Thursday).

Does anybody know what the bus scene is like up there (what operators run and stuff like that) also does anyone any good spots to get any photos?

Also plan to spend an hour in Alnwick so again if anyone knows what runs there and spots for photos etc.

Looks like iv'e had to cancel my outing this week, things have come up... =(

(27 May 2015, 9:55 am)Jimmi wrote I'm maybe looking at making a trip up to Berwick next week (possibly Wednesday or Thursday).

Does anybody know what the bus scene is like up there (what operators run and stuff like that) also does anyone any good spots to get any photos?

Also plan to spend an hour in Alnwick so again if anyone knows what runs there and spots for photos etc.

Perrymans are the main operator in Berwick. Then you have Arriva and a couple of Travelsure and Glen Valley.

(27 May 2015, 9:55 am)Jimmi wrote I'm maybe looking at making a trip up to Berwick next week (possibly Wednesday or Thursday).

Does anybody know what the bus scene is like up there (what operators run and stuff like that) also does anyone any good spots to get any photos?

Also plan to spend an hour in Alnwick so again if anyone knows what runs there and spots for photos etc.

Berwick is fantastic for independent operators, they have:

Perrymans operate:
B2/B3/B6/B7 - Berwick Town Services
235 - Berwick-Eyemouth-St Abbs
253 - Berwick-Coldingham-Edinburgh
267/464 - Berwick-Wooler
477 - Berwick-Holy Island (different times depending on the tide) 

Travelsure operate:
32 - Swinton-Berwick-Tweedmouth
34 - Berwick-Duns
236 - Berwick-Eyemouth
260- Berwick-Chirnside-Duns

Glen Valley Tours operate:
267/464 - Berwick-Wooler

The majority of these services are operated by Solos, however Travelsure have (or did have) a Centro and a Dart. The 477 Solo is branded. 

In Alnwick you have services to the Coast (Amble/Belford) operated by Travelsure, and also services to Wooler operated by Travelsure and Glen Valley Tours. And also you have the Spirit Buses 15 from Alnmouth Station to Rothbury.

I'd recconmend catching the X18 to Alnwick from Berwick, then the 15 to Rothbury, then 14 to Newcastle if timings work. 

(27 May 2015, 10:08 am)Tom wrote Berwick is fantastic for independent operators, they have:

Perrymans operate:
B2/B3/B6/B7 - Berwick Town Services
235 - Berwick-Eyemouth-St Abbs
253 - Berwick-Coldingham-Edinburgh
267/464 - Berwick-Wooler
477 - Berwick-Holy Island (different times depending on the tide) 

Travelsure operate:
32 - Swinton-Berwick-Tweedmouth
34 - Berwick-Duns
236 - Berwick-Eyemouth
260- Berwick-Chirnside-Duns

Glen Valley Tours operate:
267/464 - Berwick-Wooler

The majority of these services are operated by Solos, however Travelsure have (or did have) a Centro and a Dart. The 477 Solo is branded. 

In Alnwick you have services to the Coast (Amble/Belford) operated by Travelsure, and also services to Wooler operated by Travelsure and Glen Valley Tours. And also you have the Spirit Buses 15 from Alnmouth Station to Rothbury.

I'd recconmend catching the X18 to Alnwick from Berwick, then the 15 to Rothbury, then 14 to Newcastle if timings work. 

Thanks Tom and Robert.

I'll try and see how things work with bus times later as I tried viewing the X18 timetable on my phone but it is an absolute mess and extremely difficult to follow.

Marygate would be a canny place to take photos if you want to include some background scenery of Berwick.

The photos below are ripped from Google Maps. Most buses go through the arch in the second photo and I believe Perrymans operate a bus around the town centre if want to get the town-hall in shot.

Some of Perrymans town services operate 2 routes in one. An example is B2/B3 (will display those numbers on the destination).

The first and second photos in MurdnunoC's post are both the same road looking in separate directions and some services serve the Railway Station further up from the arch including Arriva.

(27 May 2015, 10:18 am)Jimmi wrote Thanks Tom and Robert.

I'll try and see how things work with bus times later as I tried viewing the X18 timetable on my phone but it is an absolute mess and extremely difficult to follow.

No clue what they've done to that timetable, but they've fucked it up!

(27 May 2015, 10:26 am)Tom wrote No clue what they've done to that timetable, but they've fucked it up!

It's because they've split the registrations for these routes so it seems like they have to register each journey as a separate journey on the timetable and this is how they've done it.

It's really difficult to read, especially as the format Arriva use on their online timetables is horrendous, I'd much rather they made them like they are in the leaflets, infact when checking Arriva times I use the leaflets or sometimes other sites eg. Connect Tees Valley.

(27 May 2015, 8:51 am)mb134 wrote @Davie


If you didn't enjoy your journeys on 7524 and 7531 (both decent in my view), I dread to think what your view would have been if one of 7501-9 had been chucked on your X21/22 journey!  
Unless you didn't enjoy them because of the passengers, which is fine  I had the exact same problem with my ride on 7530(?) a couple of weeks back on an X18 from Berwick... 


 

7524 I didn't enjoy, I found the seats very uncomfortable, 7531 was ok but I think I might have enjoyed it more there weren't children running riot!

(27 May 2015, 11:38 am)Davie wrote 7524 I didn't enjoy, I found the seats very uncomfortable, 7531 was ok but I think I might have enjoyed it more there weren't children running riot!

I'm currently on 7535 and the seats are very uncomfortable.

(27 May 2015, 11:38 am)Davie wrote 7524 I didn't enjoy, I found the seats very uncomfortable, 7531 was ok but I think I might have enjoyed it more there weren't children running riot!

See, whats always ran through my mind is, "how much would it hurt if they were to 'fall' down the stairs..."  

(27 May 2015, 11:50 am)mb134 wrote See, whats always ran through my mind is, "how much would it hurt if they were to 'fall' down the stairs..."  

If they just happened to fall when you were behind them.

(27 May 2015, 11:39 am)danpick wrote I'm currently on 7535 and the seats are very uncomfortable.

Yeah, they certainly aren't the nicest seats

@Jimmi

Here is something you could do, based on a plan I've made for myself:

#7 0635 Newton Aycliffe to Durham 0713
#X21 0722 Durham to Newcastle 0821
#X15 0833 Newcastle to Berwick 1057
#X18 1207 Berwick to Alnwick Bus Station 1358
#15 1410 Alwnick Bus Station to Rothbury Queens Head 1445
#14 1455 Rothbury Queens Head to Newcastle 1611

(27 May 2015, 3:35 pm)Tom wrote @Jimmi

Here is something you could do, based on a plan I've made for myself:

#7 0635 Newton Aycliffe to Durham 0713
#X21 0722 Durham to Newcastle 0821
#X15 0833 Newcastle to Berwick 1057
#X18 1207 Berwick to Alnwick Bus Station 1358
#15 1410 Alwnick Bus Station to Rothbury Queens Head 1445
#14 1455 Rothbury Queens Head to Newcastle 1611

I don't know which type of ticket Jimmi usually purchases (if indeed any), but Spirit Buses service 15 may incur an extra charge as I don't believe Explorer tickets are valid.

(27 May 2015, 4:45 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I don't know which type of ticket Jimmi usually purchases (if indeed any), but Spirit Buses service 15 may incur an extra charge as I don't believe Explorer tickets are valid.

Ah right never realised. Not sure how much a single is like.

(27 May 2015, 4:56 pm)Tom wrote Ah right never realised. Not sure how much a single is like.

The maximum single fare is £4.00.

Since this particular journey is point-to-point I suspect the maximum fare will be charged.

National concessionary passes are valid as normal though.

http://www.spiritbuses.co.uk/tickets.html

(27 May 2015, 3:35 pm)Tom wrote @Jimmi

Here is something you could do, based on a plan I've made for myself:

#7 0635 Newton Aycliffe to Durham 0713
#X21 0722 Durham to Newcastle 0821
#X15 0833 Newcastle to Berwick 1057
#X18 1207 Berwick to Alnwick Bus Station 1358
#15 1410 Alwnick Bus Station to Rothbury Queens Head 1445
#14 1455 Rothbury Queens Head to Newcastle 1611

This section of route is fantastic, and depending on which run you get, and when, you could be pretty much by yourself, no annoying kids or anything   

Although the Sunday journey I get only has a few passengers upstairs, I got the 10.40 from Morpeth to Berwick (13.57), on a Friday in February, and from Alnwick there was me and one other guy upstairs

It'd cost a bit more Jimmi, but could you not do Darlington to Berwick one way by train, and then spend the day working your way back down?

(27 May 2015, 8:17 pm)aureolin wrote It'd cost a bit more Jimmi, but could you not do Darlington to Berwick one way by train, and then spend the day working your way back down?

Maybe but I'm not sure how much it would cost also I am not very confident with trains as I rarely use them.

About how much would it cost and is it possible to start at Durham or not?

(27 May 2015, 8:22 pm)Jimmi wrote Maybe but I'm not sure how much it would cost also I am not very confident with trains as I rarely use them.

About how much would it cost and is it possible to start at Durham or not?

Based on Thursday next week, you could get an advance single Durham - Berwick for £7.40, but you'd have to take the 0915 train. You'll also need to purchase your tickets in advance, but you can do it online at www.eastcoast.co.uk, then just collect from the station on the day with the order code.

(27 May 2015, 8:32 pm)aureolin wrote Based on Thursday next week, you could get an advance single Durham - Berwick for £7.40, but you'd have to take the 0915 train. You'll also need to purchase your tickets in advance, but you can do it online at www.eastcoast.co.uk, then just collect from the station on the day with the order code.

That's not bad, might do that then

Is 25 minutes in Alnwick enough to get good photos?

Today I headed out around about 11am to go to Newcastle for my £1 lunch! After that, me and Baz headed for Eldon Square where we seen Sid and Jack. I quickly nipped to the MetroCentre for the two freight that passed the station. Then I headed home!

Plan for tomorrow is: Newcastle only

(27 May 2015, 9:35 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Today I headed out around about 11am to go to Newcastle for my £1 lunch! After that, me and Baz headed for Eldon Square where we seen Sid and Jack. I quickly nipped to the MetroCentre for the two freight that passed the station. Then I headed home!

Plan for tomorrow is: Newcastle only

And I might be coming to Newcastle today.