A Monday to Friday Inter-working Suggestion to save a Driver sitting around for 3 Hours in Hexham.

09:00 - 15 - Durham to Consett - 09:40
09:45 - 689 - Consett to Hexham - 10:39
11:10 - AD122 - Hexham to Haltwhistle - 12:06
12:08 - AD122 - Haltwhistle to Hexham - 13:04
13:41 - 689 - Hexham to Consett - 14:35
Driver Changeover
14:45 - 15A - Consett to Durham - 15:25

A few other Suggestions

X2 - Newcastle Eldon Square - Gateshead - Low Fell - Angel of the North - Washington Galleries - Shiney Row - Penshaw - Hastings Hill - Grindon - Royal Hospital - Sunderland City Centre(Fawcett Street/Holmeside)

X45 - Newcastle Eldon Square - Scotswood Road - Swallwell - Rowlands Gill - Shotley Bridge - Blackhill - Consett

48 - Stanley - Tanfield Lea - Tanfield - Burnopfield - Rowlands Gill - Swalwell - MetroCentre - Newcastle Eldon Square

A Monday to Friday Inter-working Suggestion to save a Driver sitting around for 3 Hours in Hexham.

09:00 - 15 - Durham to Consett - 09:40
09:45 - 689 - Consett to Hexham - 10:39
11:10 - AD122 - Hexham to Haltwhistle - 12:06
12:08 - AD122 - Haltwhistle to Hexham - 13:04
13:41 - 689 - Hexham to Consett - 14:35
Driver Changeover
14:45 - 15A - Consett to Durham - 15:25

A few other Suggestions

X2 - Newcastle Eldon Square - Gateshead - Low Fell - Angel of the North - Washington Galleries - Shiney Row - Penshaw - Hastings Hill - Grindon - Royal Hospital - Sunderland City Centre(Fawcett Street/Holmeside)

X45 - Newcastle Eldon Square - Scotswood Road - Swallwell - Rowlands Gill - Shotley Bridge - Blackhill - Consett

48 - Stanley - Tanfield Lea - Tanfield - Burnopfield - Rowlands Gill - Swalwell - MetroCentre - Newcastle Eldon Square

The 689/15A don't interwork like the timetable suggests though.
Other than that it's a good idea for the interworking pattern. 

Got a new service suggestion for the Tyne Valley:

682 – Hexham-Kielder

Connecting service from Newcastle
Newcastle Eldon Square…… 0800 1210 1340
Hexham Bus Station…………. 0847 1257 1440

682
Hexham Bus Station………… 0900 1300 1455
Hexham Railway Station…. 0903 1303 1558
Wark Village…………………… 0936 1336 1531
Bellingham Parkside Place. 0952 1352 1547
Stannersburn Village………. 1009 1604
Leaplish…………………………... 1019 1614
Kielder Castle………………….. 1027 1622

Kielder Castle………………….. 1033 1623
Leaplish…………………………… 1043 1633
Stannersburn………………….. 1051 1641
Bellingham Parkside Place. 1109 1400 1659
Wark………………………………. 1124 1415 1714
Hexham Railway Station… 1156 1447 1746
Hexham Bus Station………. 1159 1450 1749

Connecting service to Newcastle

Hexham Bus Station…….. 1202 1502 1753
Newcastle Eldon Square…. 1302 1602 1840

Got a new service suggestion for the Tyne Valley:

682 – Hexham-Kielder

Connecting service from Newcastle
Newcastle Eldon Square…… 0800 1210 1340
Hexham Bus Station…………. 0847 1257 1440

682
Hexham Bus Station………… 0900 1300 1455
Hexham Railway Station…. 0903 1303 1558
Wark Village…………………… 0936 1336 1531
Bellingham Parkside Place. 0952 1352 1547
Stannersburn Village………. 1009 1604
Leaplish…………………………... 1019 1614
Kielder Castle………………….. 1027 1622

Kielder Castle………………….. 1033 1623
Leaplish…………………………… 1043 1633
Stannersburn………………….. 1051 1641
Bellingham Parkside Place. 1109 1400 1659
Wark………………………………. 1124 1415 1714
Hexham Railway Station… 1156 1447 1746
Hexham Bus Station………. 1159 1450 1749

Connecting service to Newcastle

Hexham Bus Station…….. 1202 1502 1753
Newcastle Eldon Square…. 1302 1602 1840

Howard Snaithes/Tyne Valley Travel already operate a Service 880 Hexham to Kielder which goes via Leaplish, Stannersburn and Bellingham.

http://www.howardsnaith.co.uk/880kielder.pdf
http://www.tynevalleycoaches.co.uk/timetables.htm

Following on from those tremendous 194/294 Poems I have came up with the following.


X1 - Easington Lane - Hetton le Hole - Houghton le Spring - Shiney Row - Washington Galleries - Springwell - Wrekenton - Q.E. Hospital - Gateshead - Newcastle

X2 - Easington Lane - Hetton le Hole - Houghton le Spring - Fencehouses - Bournmoor - Shiney Row - Washington Galleries - Springwell - Wrekenton - Q.E. Hospital - Gateshead - Newcastle

Operating Every 10 Minutes Combined.

4 - Houghton le Spring - Fencehouses - Bournmoor - Shiney Row - Fatfield - Biddick - Glebe - Washington Galleries - Albany - Concord - Usworth College - Heworth

4A - Houghton le Spring - Grasswell - Philadelphia - Shiney Row - Fatfield - Biddick - Glebe - Washington Galleries - Albany - Concord - Usworth College - Heworth

Operating Every 10 Minutes Combined.

86 - Coach Road Estate - Concord - B&Q - Blackfell - Oxclose - Washington Galleries - Sainsburys Car Park - Glebe - Washington Village - Barmston Court - Fatfield - Barnwell - Shiney Row - Success - Newbottle - Burnside Estate - Houghton le Spring - Fencehouses

Every 30 Minutes

Following on from those tremendous 194/294 Poems I have came up with the following.


X1 - Easington Lane - Hetton le Hole - Houghton le Spring - Shiney Row - Washington Galleries - Springwell - Wrekenton - Q.E. Hospital - Gateshead - Newcastle

X2 - Easington Lane - Hetton le Hole - Houghton le Spring - Fencehouses - Bournmoor - Shiney Row - Washington Galleries - Springwell - Wrekenton - Q.E. Hospital - Gateshead - Newcastle

Operating Every 10 Minutes Combined.

4 - Houghton le Spring - Fencehouses - Bournmoor - Shiney Row - Fatfield - Biddick - Glebe - Washington Galleries - Albany - Concord - Usworth College - Heworth

4A - Houghton le Spring - Grasswell - Philadelphia - Shiney Row - Fatfield - Biddick - Glebe - Washington Galleries - Albany - Concord - Usworth College - Heworth

Operating Every 10 Minutes Combined.

86 - Coach Road Estate - Concord - B&Q - Blackfell - Oxclose - Washington Galleries - Sainsburys Car Park - Glebe - Washington Village - Barmston Court - Fatfield - Barnwell - Shiney Row - Success - Newbottle - Burnside Estate - Houghton le Spring - Fencehouses

Every 30 Minutes

have the X2 terminus at Hetton-le-hole bus interchange, to compensate for the longer route via Fence Houses and Bournmoor, there would still be a 20 min freq on service X1 and a 30 minute freq on X35 between Hetton Interchange and Easington Lane.

Would of liked to see service 4 from Houghton down to Burnside then the route of the old 160 service to fence houses then normal 4 route to Heworth. the proposed X2 would cover the section between Houghton and Fence Houses connection.

have the X2 terminus at Hetton-le-hole bus interchange, to compensate for the longer route via Fence Houses and Bournmoor, there would still be a 20 min freq on service X1 and a 30 minute freq on X35 between Hetton Interchange and Easington Lane.

Would of liked to see service 4 from Houghton down to Burnside then the route of the old 160 service to fence houses then normal 4 route to Heworth. the proposed X2 would cover the section between Houghton and Fence Houses connection.

I actually hadnt taken into account the extra running time, but that is a good idea I reckon.

As for the 4A, Coming out of Houghton it will go down Station Road onto Drinkburn Cresent and along Blind Lane and up Success Road to Philadelphia, alternatively could it turn right off of Blind Lane and go up Coaley Lane to Newbottle and down to Philadelphia, either way the routing is a various of the old 294/493, used to use the 294/493 to my Grandparents when they were Alive as they lived on Blind Lane, we used to go to the Beehive for Lunch sometimes also.

I actually hadnt taken into account the extra running time, but that is a good idea I reckon.

As for the 4A, Coming out of Houghton it will go down Station Road onto Drinkburn Cresent and along Blind Lane and up Success Road to Philadelphia, alternatively could it turn right off of Blind Lane and go up Coaley Lane to Newbottle and down to Philadelphia, either way the routing is a various of the old 294/493, used to use the 294/493 to my Grandparents when they were Alive as they lived on Blind Lane, we used to go to the Beehive for Lunch sometimes also.

I would of done the following:

X1 normal route but decrease the service to every 20 minutes

X2 same as X1 between Newcastle and Shiney row then 4 route to Houghton then X1 route as far as Hetton Interchange on 20 minute freq.

Have service 4 as 4/4A/4C

service 4/4A/4C  original 194 route between Heworth and Newbottle then the old 161 route to Houghton then:

service 4 every 30 minutes down to Chester-Le-Street replacing  service 71.
service 4A every 30 minutes anti clockwise running down to fence houses then Rainton Bridge-Hall Lane estate then Houghton back to Heworth.
service 4C every 30 minutes clockwise running upto Hall lane estate-Rainton Bridge-fence houses then Houghton to Heworth.

service 4A/4C goes through Hall Lane estate and not round the estate of what service 20 does.

I mentioned service 71 instead of service 36, as the proposal was sent to GNE before service 71 was cancelled and service 36 was introduced.

What about an N27 service? Between Newcastle and South Shields I'm sure there is demand for a night time service, I know many people who would pay for a ticket on this as opposed to a taxi, same goes for the 20 service, but this would only warrant a hugely reduced service, as it could serve people between Sunderland and Durham, a link that I'm sure doesn't exist during the night yet

I made a suggestion a few weeks back, when first mentioning the lack of a bus from Northside into Birtley.
This involved the X25 reducing to an hourly frequency, but an X26 being introduced at the other end of the clock.
It would follow the X25 route, but rather than operate via Portmeads, it would operate via Birtley - reinstating the link lost with the 82/82A shambles.

However, another option would be for GNE to work with Nexus, overhauling the Birtley services.
In Vigo and Barley Mow, the 23 runs more or less the same time into Birtley as the 82.
My proposal would see:

The 23 operating as is between Washington and Station Lane, via Eighton Banks etc.
It would turn left at the top of Station Lane, go along Durham Road and turn right into Sanders Gardens - working its way onto Blackfell Way and onto Northside, continuing onto Portmeads, Birtley Lane (serving Lord Lawson) and onto Harrass Bank.
This would mean the end of the TB18.

The 82/82A would operate as as circular service, on a half hourly frequency.
It would operate as it does between the Galleries and The Drive - one would turn right, continuing up Windermere and its present route to Fell Bank. It would turn right, onto Birtley Lane, operate through Birtley and then via Dorset Ave (replacing the 23).
The other, would follow the opposite direction, covering the loss of the 23 via Dorset Ave and then onto Birtley, Fell Bank etc.

Each estate in Birtley, would have a link to the Galleries and Birtley Town Centre and the duplication and gaps we see presently - removed.

I made a suggestion a few weeks back, when first mentioning the lack of a bus from Northside into Birtley.
This involved the X25 reducing to an hourly frequency, but an X26 being introduced at the other end of the clock.
It would follow the X25 route, but rather than operate via Portmeads, it would operate via Birtley - reinstating the link lost with the 82/82A shambles.

However, another option would be for GNE to work with Nexus, overhauling the Birtley services.
In Vigo and Barley Mow, the 23 runs more or less the same time into Birtley as the 82.
My proposal would see:

The 23 operating as is between Washington and Station Lane, via Eighton Banks etc.
It would turn left at the top of Station Lane, go along Durham Road and turn right into Sanders Gardens - working its way onto Blackfell Way and onto Northside, continuing onto Portmeads, Birtley Lane (serving Lord Lawson) and onto Harrass Bank.
This would mean the end of the TB18.

The 82/82A would operate as as circular service, on a half hourly frequency.
It would operate as it does between the Galleries and The Drive - one would turn right, continuing up Windermere and its present route to Fell Bank. It would turn right, onto Birtley Lane, operate through Birtley and then via Dorset Ave (replacing the 23).
The other, would follow the opposite direction, covering the loss of the 23 via Dorset Ave and then onto Birtley, Fell Bank etc.

Each estate in Birtley, would have a link to the Galleries and Birtley Town Centre and the duplication and gaps we see presently - removed.

That is quite simply one hell of an idea.

What about an N27 service? Between Newcastle and South Shields I'm sure there is demand for a night time service, I know many people who would pay for a ticket on this as opposed to a taxi, same goes for the 20 service, but this would only warrant a hugely reduced service, as it could serve people between Sunderland and Durham, a link that I'm sure doesn't exist during the night yet

That is correct, the current N20 only operates between Durham - Gilesgate Moor - Belmont - Carrville - Durham only inter-working with the N21 I think.

The reason there isnt many Nightbus Services in the North East is because if your in a Group of say 4-6 People and a Taxi costs less than £20, the cost of that split between the group is cheaper than getting on the Nightbus Services on offer, perhaps GNE should promote these Services more across the Region at Bus Stops and Online etc as they have done recently in Sunderland promoting Tickets/Fares available.

Fares and Tickets

• Newcastle to Low Fell - £3
  
  
• Newcastle to Wrekenton - £3
  
  
• Newcastle to Birtley - £4
  
  
• Newcastle to Washington - £4
  
  
• Newcastle to Durham - £5
  

Special fare for Durham University students

• £2 single from bus stops in Durham on North Road, Millburngate or Claypath (N20 only)
  
  
• Must show your Durham University ID card                                                                                                                                          
  Lothian Buses on the other hand offer the following for their large range of successfully operated Nightbus Services.All Night Ticket: £3.00

With RIDACARD: FREE

Your NIGHTticket can be used on multiple NightBus services.

Perfect after a night out or for getting somewhere (very) early

NIGHTtickets are available from your bus driver. When boarding the bus place the correct change into the red fares box. Please have your correct fare ready as our drivers do not have access to cash and cannot give change. Your NIGHTticket is valid for travel all night.

Also available as m-tickets in our app.

That is correct, the current N20 only operates between Durham - Gilesgate Moor - Belmont - Carrville - Durham only inter-working with the N21 I think.

The reason there isnt many Nightbus Services in the North East is because if your in a Group of say 4-6 People and a Taxi costs less than £20, the cost of that split between the group is cheaper than getting on the Nightbus Services on offer, perhaps GNE should promote these Services more across the Region at Bus Stops and Online etc as they have done recently in Sunderland promoting Tickets/Fares available.

Fares and Tickets

• Newcastle to Low Fell - £3
  
  
• Newcastle to Wrekenton - £3
  
  
• Newcastle to Birtley - £4
  
  
• Newcastle to Washington - £4
  
  
• Newcastle to Durham - £5
  

Special fare for Durham University students

• £2 single from bus stops in Durham on North Road, Millburngate or Claypath (N20 only)
  
  
• Must show your Durham University ID card                                                                                                                                          
  Lothian Buses on the other hand offer the following for their large range of successfully operated Nightbus Services.All Night Ticket: £3.00

With RIDACARD: FREE

Your NIGHTticket can be used on multiple NightBus services.

Perfect after a night out or for getting somewhere (very) early

NIGHTtickets are available from your bus driver. When boarding the bus place the correct change into the red fares box. Please have your correct fare ready as our drivers do not have access to cash and cannot give change. Your NIGHTticket is valid for travel all night.

Also available as m-tickets in our app.

Tickets are valid in some areas, rather than just cash fares.

As you say, very little incentive to use it, if a taxi to your door is a similar cost.

Tickets are valid in some areas, rather than just cash fares.

As you say, very little incentive to use it, if a taxi to your door is a similar cost.

I used Dean Taxis last night from my Dads on Belle Vue Bank in Low Fell to Lambton so I could get my TV which I had just bought off my Dad back home, and it only cost me £10, so if a group of 5 or 6 People fancy a night out on the Fell then it is only going to cost them a minimum of £2 each to get home to Washington.

Whereas if Go North East were to offer what Lothian Buses are offering to their Passengers who go out on a Night, then the Passenger Number would rapidly increase, which would lead to the Nightbus Network expanding, and of course GNEs Profits also increasing as a result.

I made a suggestion a few weeks back, when first mentioning the lack of a bus from Northside into Birtley.
This involved the X25 reducing to an hourly frequency, but an X26 being introduced at the other end of the clock.
It would follow the X25 route, but rather than operate via Portmeads, it would operate via Birtley - reinstating the link lost with the 82/82A shambles.

However, another option would be for GNE to work with Nexus, overhauling the Birtley services.
In Vigo and Barley Mow, the 23 runs more or less the same time into Birtley as the 82.
My proposal would see:

The 23 operating as is between Washington and Station Lane, via Eighton Banks etc.
It would turn left at the top of Station Lane, go along Durham Road and turn right into Sanders Gardens - working its way onto Blackfell Way and onto Northside, continuing onto Portmeads, Birtley Lane (serving Lord Lawson) and onto Harrass Bank.
This would mean the end of the TB18.

The 82/82A would operate as as circular service, on a half hourly frequency.
It would operate as it does between the Galleries and The Drive - one would turn right, continuing up Windermere and its present route to Fell Bank. It would turn right, onto Birtley Lane, operate through Birtley and then via Dorset Ave (replacing the 23).
The other, would follow the opposite direction, covering the loss of the 23 via Dorset Ave and then onto Birtley, Fell Bank etc.

Each estate in Birtley, would have a link to the Galleries and Birtley Town Centre and the duplication and gaps we see presently - removed.

Would be alright if a Roundabout was inserted at the Red Lion allowing Buses to turn around, seems to be quite a lot of space at the junction also, nevertheless I quite the sound of those suggestions.

Would be alright if a Roundabout was inserted at the Red Lion allowing Buses to turn around, seems to be quite a lot of space at the junction also, nevertheless I quite the sound of those suggestions.

They have just installed lights at the Red Lion and made the road wider.
Gateshead Council love their lights like.

The only problem with it, is the lack of a stop between Station Lane and the Fire Station.
There was one opposite the cenotaph years ago, that the 709 and 728 called at. It would need to be reinstalled, otherwise shoppers on Birtley will have a canny hike.

That bus stop is still there mate - 28/A and TB14 stop there

That bus stop is still there mate - 28/A and TB14 stop there

Is it?
Thought it had long gone?!
Ah whey, ignore the last post

1 - Gateshead - Newcastle - Byker - Wallsend - North Shields - Tynemouth - Marsden - Whitley Bay
Every 15 Minutes

82/82A - Heworth - Leam Lane - Wardley - Usworth - Donwell - Concord - Barmston - Biddick - Washington Galleries - Haratton - Rickleton
Every 15 Minutes

24 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Harlow Green - Wrekenton - Eighton Banks - Washington Galleries 

25 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Angel of the North - Birtley - Portmeads - Portobello - Vigo Lane - Ayton - Lambton - Washington Galleries

26 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Angel of the North - Birtley - Barley Mow - Rickleton - Haratton - Ayton - Lambton - Washington Galleries
Every 10 Minutes Combined

1 - Gateshead - Newcastle - Byker - Wallsend - North Shields - Tynemouth - Marsden - Whitley Bay
Every 15 Minutes

82/82A - Heworth - Leam Lane - Wardley - Usworth - Donwell - Concord - Barmston - Biddick - Washington Galleries - Haratton - Rickleton
Every 15 Minutes

24 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Harlow Green - Wrekenton - Eighton Banks - Washington Galleries 

25 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Angel of the North - Birtley - Portmeads - Portobello - Vigo Lane - Ayton - Lambton - Washington Galleries

26 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Angel of the North - Birtley - Barley Mow - Rickleton - Haratton - Ayton - Lambton - Washington Galleries
Every 10 Minutes Combined

Would you not consider extending the Coaster to Blyth every 30 minutes Monday to Satyrday daytime? Would provide good links and would get packed on Saturdays during the summer as well. Only difference is that it would operate via Ridley Park rather than Renwick Road for Blyth Park.

Would you not consider extending the Coaster to Blyth every 30 minutes Monday to Satyrday daytime? Would provide good links and would get packed on Saturdays during the summer as well. Only difference is that it would operate via Ridley Park rather than Renwick Road for Blyth Park.

I've just literally thought of this... 

Get E400MMCs for the X1 and have the Red Arrows Geminis on the 1. 

I've just literally thought of this... 

Get E400MMCs for the X1 and have the Red Arrows Geminis on the 1. 

I was thinking E400MMCs for the X1, with the B9TLs going on my 24/25/26 Suggestion.

Personally, as the X1 can get extremely busy on the Washington-Newcastle section, I would have a service serving Eldon Square, Gateshead Interchange, then fast to Washington, every 30 minutes, to ease stress on this stretch of the route. Aside from that, keep the service how it is. Having this Newcastle-Washington service every 30 minutes would require a couple of extra buses, so an increase in the ''Red Arrows'' PVR as well.

I'm now imagining someone on this forum is going to end up making a petition to get these Volvo B9TLs off the X1 next as it seems like many members on this forum seem to want them off this route so bad [emoji14]

I know this is long but never mind :                                  one thing : YOU WILL HAVE TO READ MY ORDER PREDICTION FOR THIS TO MAKE SENSE

Service 4
extended to Newcastle Eldon Square with the 3 extra Streetlite Maxs suggested in my order predictions working with the current Citaros on the route

Service 82/83/85/86
Receive the Versas of the 88 and the 3 displaced from the new quaylink routes to replace cadets to operate Malarkys 24/25/26 routes alongside the solars of the 88 aswell

Service X1
Receive the spare B7TLs from the local services and operate short peak time services from Washington to Newcastle and back

REMEMBER IT WILL MAKE SENSE IF YOU READ THE ORDER PREDICTIONS FIRST!

I'm now imagining someone on this forum is going to end up making a petition to get these Volvo B9TLs off the X1 next as it seems like many members on this forum seem to want them off this route so bad [emoji14]

Nothing wrong with them, perfectly good vehicles even without all of the added extra luxury of power sockets and recent NSA's like the TEN, Tyne Tees, Fab 56 and Cobalt Clipper. However, they would be the most logical vehicles to cascade down the chain. 

could extend the 9 to serve Whitley Bay
could extend the 5 to run to Hebburn Shops
88 could cut out Lukes Lane and have a Hebburn local bus instead terminating at Monkton Lane Estate and vice versa one could operate one way and the other the other way
87 could be reintroduced again and have a slight change of frequency to replace 88/88A between the shops and lukes lane
27 could be split into 2 services 1 could do the current route and the other going down Victoria Road West thus cutting out Monkton Lane Estate could become 27 and 27A

future predictions probs won't happen knowing them lot

Service 4
extended to Newcastle Eldon Square with the 3 extra Streetlite Maxs suggested in my order predictions working with the current Citaros on the route

I don't see the logic? The 194 ran to Newcastle many moons ago, and ceased pretty soon after deregulation I think? There must be a good 7 or 8 buses an hour between Heworth and Newcastle via Sunderland Road, so I can't see the point of sending another 6 along there? 

I don't see the logic? The 194 ran to Newcastle many moons ago, and ceased pretty soon after deregulation I think? There must be a good 7 or 8 buses an hour between Heworth and Newcastle via Sunderland Road, so I can't see the point of sending another 6 along there? 

Would be even less logic if the 27 was to get Deckers also, personally I dont think many people would get on the 4 if was to continue on from Heworth towards Newcastle, as everyone gets on the Metro from Heworth anyway.

What is your opinion on the suggestions I made from Newcastle via Low Fell & Birtley to Washington.

What is your opinion on the suggestions I made from Newcastle via Low Fell & Birtley to Washington.

I'm not sure I see the reasoning behind it? Washington has 12 buses an hour to Newcastle already.

There's also 10 per hour along Low Fell/Durham Road at present. The suggestion would result in 16 an hour, or a bus every 2 or 3 mins... Bit overkill perhaps!

Not to mention the Washington to Birtley stretch being quiet at the best of times anyway...