(25 Jul 2015, 2:10 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Why don't they just do the following and sod the 'easy peazy 10 minute frequency' shite:
(25 Jul 2015, 1:05 pm)mb134 wrote But 7505...
I think one of the best bits of branding I've ever seen was 'the express' branding applied to 7410-13, and the R-CKO DAF's, simple but very effective. If they could incorporate that into Sapphire, then that would be brilliant, I think the fact it is an express service needs to be promoted a bit more. There is a distinct impression that, especially with the people I talk to, the buses to Newcastle from Ashington and Bedlington are slow and they may as well take the car, promoting the service as 'the express' again may help?
(25 Jul 2015, 2:29 pm)GX03 SVC wrote What I'm trying to do is keep things simple while changing the perception of Sapphire X21/X22. Having the X31/32/33 return is going to earn feck all as it will confuse passengers and drive them away from the bus.
Having my plan will see the X21/22 change to X41/42 with a revised Sapphire brand which will be easy to apply to the existing 14-plates!
The thing about having three normal routes to Newcastle is if there is capacity in Ashington and Haymarket bus stations.
(25 Jul 2015, 2:35 pm)GX03 SVC wrote 7505 my bottom, it's that bus that's broken down about fifty times in one year.
What I was thinking was having the usual Sapphire logo, but in the same font as "brought to you by Arriva" having "E X P R E S S" where the Arriva tagline was...
(25 Jul 2015, 2:37 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Well, the X31 and X32 would use stand P and the X33 would fall in between a departing Sapphire service and the next one due to come in for a 7-8 minute layover. Got to remember that people know it's supposedly an express service however, a straight through route from Ashington to Newcastle would take just over 50 minutes as opposed to nearly an hour through trying to balance the books with one service taking the longer route between Ashington and Bedlington with the other doing the same between Bedlington and Newcastle. That is what is turning people off the X21 / X22 services and a clear rebrand and restructure is needed so people know the difference which would put things right. People on the Ryton corridor have no problem with a combined 10 minute service as well as a standalone 30 minute service. They know that if they need to get into Newcastle quickly, they can use Toon Link 11 and if they just want the first bus that comes, then they've got 8 services per hour to choose from.
(25 Jul 2015, 3:06 pm)Kuyoyo wrote And that is exactly why you don't work for any bus company. Why make things complicated - all I can see in Tommy's suggestion is a simple renumbering, which is easy to communicate to the passengers. Your backwards step would just confuse people and likely make the Ashington Sapphire the worse performing of the branding by actually losing trade! How many times - today it's about simplicating networks (hence the current ongoing consultation on Teesside to simplify the Netherfields services).
(25 Jul 2015, 3:06 pm)Kuyoyo wrote And that is exactly why you don't work for any bus company. Why make things complicated - all I can see in Tommy's suggestion is a simple renumbering, which is easy to communicate to the passengers. Your backwards step would just confuse people and likely make the Ashington Sapphire the worse performing of the branding by actually losing trade! How many times - today it's about simplicating networks (hence the current ongoing consultation on Teesside to simplify the Netherfields services).Ok then, but how about a 52 minute journey on the X31 / X32 from Ashington to Newcastle with improved reliability across all three routes and also taking into account that the X33 wouldn't need to go past the Police Station to get onto Bedlington Front Street thus actually reducing delays. People want quick journeys from A to B and if passengers were to travel from Newcastle to Bedlington, parts of Stakeford and Ashington, they'd know that:
(25 Jul 2015, 3:16 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Ok then, but how about a 52 minute journey on the X31 / X32 from Ashington to Newcastle with improved reliability across all three routes and also taking into account that the X33 wouldn't need to go past the Police Station to get onto Bedlington Front Street thus actually reducing delays. People want quick journeys from A to B and if passengers were to travel from Newcastle to Bedlington, parts of Stakeford and Ashington, they'd know that:
X20 = Very quick
Sapphire X31 / X32 = Relatively quick, frequent, well equipped, punctual.
MAX+ X33 = Slow, less frequent, local links if needed, punctual.
A just over 10 minute difference between the journey time on the X20 and X31 / X32 would encourage customers but at nearly 20 minutes more sometimes with delays, then that begs to differ. The X21 / X22 are good in the fact that they're simple but they're simply not quick enough and the quality of the vehicles used (some of the 57 plates) don't help either.
(25 Jul 2015, 3:16 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Ok then, but how about a 52 minute journey on the X31 / X32 from Ashington to Newcastle with improved reliability across all three routes and also taking into account that the X33 wouldn't need to go past the Police Station to get onto Bedlington Front Street thus actually reducing delays. People want quick journeys from A to B and if passengers were to travel from Newcastle to Bedlington, parts of Stakeford and Ashington, they'd know that:
X20 = Very quick
Sapphire X31 / X32 = Relatively quick, frequent, well equipped, punctual.
MAX+ X33 = Slow, less frequent, local links if needed, punctual.
A just over 10 minute difference between the journey time on the X20 and X31 / X32 would encourage customers but at nearly 20 minutes more sometimes with delays, then that begs to differ. The X21 / X22 are good in the fact that they're simple but they're simply not quick enough and the quality of the vehicles used (some of the 57 plates) don't help either.
(25 Jul 2015, 3:31 pm)GX03 SVC wrote I'll be grateful if I'm able to get to Newcastle without getting confused on which bus that I should use...From Ashington:
(25 Jul 2015, 3:06 pm)Kuyoyo wrote And that is exactly why you don't work for any bus company. Why make things complicated - all I can see in Tommy's suggestion is a simple renumbering, which is easy to communicate to the passengers. Your backwards step would just confuse people and likely make the Ashington Sapphire the worse performing of the branding by actually losing trade! How many times - today it's about simplicating networks (hence the current ongoing consultation on Teesside to simplify the Netherfields services).
(25 Jul 2015, 3:33 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Do you never engage your brain and realise that all you come out with the same things time and time again and everytime we say the same thing!? Your 'proposals' are basically ruining a simple-to-remember 10 minutely combined Ashington-Bedlington-Newcastle service because you think everyone wants them to be faster. Sorry, but these days networks need to be simple and effective - not over complicated and hard to remember.Well technically, the X31 / X32 would be 1 route between Ashington and Newcastle. The only difference between them would be that one serves Wansbeck Hospital and the other serves North Seaton between Newbiggin and Ashington.
(25 Jul 2015, 3:37 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Well technically, the X31 / X32 would be 1 route between Ashington and Newcastle. The only difference between them would be that one serves Wansbeck Hospital and the other serves North Seaton between Newbiggin and Ashington.
(25 Jul 2015, 3:42 pm)Kuyoyo wrote On a reduced frequency however between Ashington and Newcastle. It doesn't need changing beyond a renumbering as per the X4/X5/X9/X13 becoming X7/X8/X6/X9 to avoid duplication of numbers. Having used them before, I don't hear moans about how long they take. People are use to things, why changing the network (and reduce the frequency) just because you think people want a faster service?Well technically, it would increase the frequency from Bedlington and Stakeford as the 5/15 gaps would be eliminated. Not remember the uproar when the X21 first got rerouted?
(25 Jul 2015, 3:06 pm)Kuyoyo wrote And that is exactly why you don't work for any bus company. Why make things complicated - all I can see in Tommy's suggestion is a simple renumbering, which is easy to communicate to the passengers. Your backwards step would just confuse people and likely make the Ashington Sapphire the worse performing of the branding by actually losing trade! How many times - today it's about simplicating networks (hence the current ongoing consultation on Teesside to simplify the Netherfields services).
(25 Jul 2015, 4:14 pm)NK57 GWX wrote The reason why I chose X41/X42 is because the X31/32/33 used old buses and was a confusing network. You also suggest ripping out NSAs, refurbishing Sapphire buses to MAX and modifying buses to have buggy bays, which will leave passengers complaining about a lack of seats...?
My posts are a bit scattered so here's it all in one post.
- Sapphire X21/X22 rebranded as Sapphire Express X41/X42 - No timetable or route changes. Nine new Enviro400s which will...
- Displace 7501-7509 to upgrade routes 35/35A to Sapphire and a 10-minute frequency, refurbishing 1579-1581 to Sapphire if needs be.
- Overall, passenger satisfaction will rise with the introduction of a full new (and 2014) X41/X42 fleet and upgraded quality on the 35/35A which currently have a mix of non-WiFi ex-London DLAs and WiFi Wright StreetLites.
(25 Jul 2015, 4:24 pm)NK64 EEH wrote I fully agree that something needs to be done to clear up the image of the X21/22, be it a new 'express' tagline, which I think would help promote the service, or more timetables posted through people's letterboxes. I don't think people know how frequent the service is, or how quick it is, the X22 is 57 minutes start to finish, with the X21 being similar from Newcastle to Ashington.
I know this will sound unbelievably hypocritical, BUT, I think 7501-9 should be kept on for the time being. I see the next few weeks as a perfect opportunity to give each of them a good look over mechanically, and get one of the NW Pulsars on loan to cover?
(25 Jul 2015, 4:34 pm)NK14 GFU wrote Do you mind not changing the name in my post?
Time-being: until the new orders
The 14-reg batch have had the Eco systems fixed, if they can sort 7501-7509 (INCLUDING 7505!!!) they'll still be going on the 35...
Why don't you go and catch your improved number 2 to go and find 7505...
(25 Jul 2015, 4:55 pm)Y258 KNB wrote Have the 14-plates always had them fitted, I was on 7524 on Tuesday and it felt as powerful as ever?
Think they could put 7501-4 on the 35 along with 1579-81 (would that cover the PVR?), 7505/7 could stay on the X21/22, with 7506/8/9 acting as spares for both?
The 'improved number 2' is now further away from my house than the current number 2! I'll get the X21 and hope it's 7524....
(25 Jul 2015, 5:09 pm)D178 FYM wrote What I've been told, yes. They had the system tweaked a few weeks ago.
7505 needs to break down and never start up again...
Aww, what a pity...
(25 Jul 2015, 5:15 pm)V213 DJR wrote Ahh, fair enough
Leave 7505 alone! Once Ashington fix it, get yourself on it, you'll regret wanting it to 'never start up' ;
Didn't like the allocation on the 2 anyway...
With the X20 now extending to Alnwick, will the vehicle requirement increase by one or two? Also, is the frequency between Ashington and Newcastle increasing?
(25 Jul 2015, 4:14 pm)GX03 SVC wrote The reason why I chose X41/X42 is because the X31/32/33 used old buses and was a confusing network. You also suggest ripping out NSAs, refurbishing Sapphire buses to MAX and modifying buses to have buggy bays, which will leave passengers complaining about a lack of seats...?
My posts are a bit scattered so here's it all in one post.
- Sapphire X21/X22 rebranded as Sapphire Express X41/X42 - No timetable or route changes. Nine new Enviro400s which will...
- Displace 7501-7509 to upgrade routes 35/35A to Sapphire and a 10-minute frequency, refurbishing 1579-1581 to Sapphire if needs be.
- Overall, passenger satisfaction will rise with the introduction of a full new (and 2014) X41/X42 fleet and upgraded quality on the 35/35A which currently have a mix of non-WiFi ex-London DLAs and WiFi Wright StreetLites.
(25 Jul 2015, 3:59 pm)aureolin wrote But neither do you? If you were such a commercial wiz yourself, then you'd be getting head-hunted by bus companies left right and centre.
Davey's ideas may be a bit OTT, but at least he's taking the time to think them out, and trying to put some justification behind it.