But would you want to, in the middle of winter, when it's chucking it down, and freezing?

Yes. 7518 has no legroom whatsoever, I'd rather be stretching my legs rather than spending 5 minutes with my knees above my head.

Hi.
Does anyone have info on changes to the 57. I have a number of worries neighbours in Nelson Village who a terrified about losing their bus.

I have been yold that the 58 will serve the village, linking it with the town centre and new hospital site. If anyone has any info it is hugely appreciated.

Furthermore, my own opinion is that Arriva have desimated what was a solid network of longstanding routes. As a very frequent traveller if many years, some changes have seemed ludicrous almost every time.
A look through VOSA certainly tells a tale!

Thank you for putting up with me on my first post.

Cheers

---

Sorry for the spelling...using my phone

Mark

Hi,

Yes the 58 will be serving Nelson Village, and will be operating to Cramlington, but I'm unsure how frequent the service will be. As the service will also be serving Beacon Lea it could be a two hourly service as they may need to alternate, e.g one goes to Nelson Village, and another to Beacon Lea.

Hope this helps.

Tom

Thank you for that. My word from Northumberland county council was that the 58 will essentially be the old 43A (East Hartford to Cramlington section),C1 (Nelson Village to Eastfield Lea) & C2 (Beacon Hill to Collingwood Grange) combined into a single service. Council said Arriva seem to be playing with the timetable as it is not yet finalised.

The option is simple. Return the old C1 with extension to the new hospital, likewise for the C2. Number them as such too. The current C3 can stay as is.

Just my thought.

Cheers

Tom

Thank you for that. My word from Northumberland county council was that the 58 will essentially be the old 43A (East Hartford to Cramlington section),C1 (Nelson Village to Eastfield Lea) & C2 (Beacon Hill to Collingwood Grange) combined into a single service. Council said Arriva seem to be playing with the timetable as it is not yet finalised.

The option is simple. Return the old C1 with extension to the new hospital, likewise for the C2. Number them as such too. The current C3 can stay as is.

Just my thought.

Cheers

I'd imagine you'll find out soon when the timetables are released, I don't think it was very clear in the consultation what they were doing.

Northumberland Consultation Results

Happy that the 20 changes are going ahead!

Looks like the 57 will terminate at Ashington like I suggested too.

Happy that the 20 changes are going ahead!

Looks like the 57 will terminate at Ashington like I suggested too.

Love the X20 changes, wonder if the frequency between Ashington and Newcastle will increase? 

Like the 43 changes as well, I hope that if proven popular, it will increase to half hourly between Cramlington and Morpeth, think there will be a lot of usage. (I imagine the service will be quicker than the 2 between Bedlington and Morpeth, and will provide excellent links from Bedlington to Cramlington)

Can I just add that the 19% of people who wanted the X13 to miss out Sandringham Drive, Blyth may little or seldom use the bus at all. I wonder if the 70(something)% was classed as they wanted the route to miss Sandringham Drive?

The X20 route change in Ashington now leaves Hawthorn Road users with a lengthy walk to Alexandra Road, Ashington Bus Station or Milburn Road for Newcastle services. I understand that the 57 got curtailed at Ashington, but why can't the council have service 30 use Alexandra Road and X20 revert back to Hawthorn Road?

I don't understand how the 58 will work either.

Will it be: Nelson Village-Beacon Lea-Cramlington then either Hollywell or New Hartley?

All looking pretty positive, good work!
Looking forward to the X20 going to Alnwick, I think that one could prove pretty popular. It will remain hourly throughout though I am sure, just the one extra bus required here.
X16 will be run by Jesmond, probably with (wifi) Darts freed up from Blyth

All looking pretty positive, good work!
Looking forward to the X20 going to Alnwick, I think that one could prove pretty popular. It will remain hourly throughout though I am sure, just the one extra bus required here.
X16 will be run by Jesmond, probably with (wifi) Darts freed up from Blyth

So 4 would be required? 

Think Kuyoyo posted a few months ago about 7453-6 going back to Ashington, that would fit in?

All looking pretty positive, good work!
Looking forward to the X20 going to Alnwick, I think that one could prove pretty popular. It will remain hourly throughout though I am sure, just the one extra bus required here.
X16 will be run by Jesmond, probably with (wifi) Darts freed up from Blyth

Are you trying to get a job at Doxford Park there Scott....

So 4 would be required? 

Think Kuyoyo posted a few months ago about 7453-6 going back to Ashington, that would fit in?

Since then, I've heard differently - 7453-6 will be staying South of the Tyne as Engineering don't trust Ashington to look after them after the state they were in their final days there.

Since then, I've heard differently - 7453-6 will be staying South of the Tyne as Engineering don't trust Ashington to look after them after the state they were in their final days there.

MAX-spec ALX400s then.... 

Since then, I've heard differently - 7453-6 will be staying South of the Tyne as Engineering don't trust Ashington to look after them after the state they were in their final days there.

Seems a bit strange, they were vehicles that were used on the 501/505/518/X15/X18 until last year, what state were they meant to be in?!

What other vehicles are available for the service?

Since then, I've heard differently - 7453-6 will be staying South of the Tyne as Engineering don't trust Ashington to look after them after the state they were in their final days there.

Seems like a bit of a flimsy reason.

In all seriousness though, Arriva want to have some decent new-ish vehicles on the X20 and promote the X20 going to Alnwick as well. All of which can make the service a success, if not, then the service will end up being reduced... again.

MAX-spec ALX400s then.... 

"We need to turn the X20 MAX" "What vehicles are available?" "Err, well, Engineering don't trust Ashington to look after 7453-6, so..." "15 year old ex-London deckers it is then!!" 

Never going to happen although it does raise a very good question, what vehicles are available?!

Seems a bit strange, they were vehicles that were used on the 501/505/518/X15/X18 until last year, what state were they meant to be in?!

What other vehicles are available for the service?

And what state are they in at Durham? Durham has the some of the most demanding routes in North East, along with the X15/8 and the X93.

Are you trying to get a job at Doxford Park there Scott....

Well you never know what might come up  
I know our commercial team quite well

Seems a bit strange, they were vehicles that were used on the 501/505/518/X15/X18 until last year, what state were they meant to be in?!

What other vehicles are available for the service?

I'd think it's more to do with the fact that Durham require a number of double deck vehicles, indeed those two Yorkshire B7s are due to go there also to help with this new East Durham College contract. I wouldn't be surprised if we needed more double decks for the 22 and 24 as a result also?!

As for the X20, it is still going MAX but with vehicles new to the fleet I understand

I'm liking the tidying up of the numbers for the Blyth expresses too

And what state are they in at Durham? Durham has the some of the most demanding routes in North East, along with the X15/8 and the X93.

I'm not great on Durham routes, but I highly doubt that any are as demanding as the X18.

Well you never know what might come up  
I'm quite friendly with our commercial team


I'd think it's more to do with the fact that Durham require a number of double deck vehicles, indeed those two Yorkshire B7s are due to go there also to help with this new East Durham College contract. I wouldn't be surprised if we needed more double decks for the 22 and 24 as a result also?!

As for the X20, it is still going MAX but with vehicles new to the fleet I understand

I'm liking the tidying up of the numbers for the Blyth expresses too

So DAFs for the time being on the 20/X20 until they can get newer double deckers?

As for the X20, it is still going MAX but with vehicles new to the fleet I understand

Good, the X20 needs good vehicles if it's going to become an improved service. The service loadings reduced dramatically last year, I remember boarding a Prima full to the rims, but now I've seen ALX400s carrying no more than 5 people.

As for the X20, it is still going MAX but with vehicles new to the fleet I understand

So, if the Arriva website is to be believed and it turns MAX this year, then we'll see more new vehicles before 2016?

Good, the X20 needs good vehicles if it's going to become an improved service. The service loadings reduced dramatically last year, I remember boarding a Prima full to the rims, but now I've seen ALX400s carrying no more than 5 people.

Well you should see morning journeys arriving into Newcastle! A lot more than 5 people I tell you that.

If the X20 was to get new vehicles, could Arriva not order 6x new ones for the X18? That would means that during the winter, there would be 4x E400s on the X20 and 5x E400MMCs on the X18 with 2x spare E400s. Then during the summer, fhey then have an additional spare.

If the X20 was to get new vehicles, could Arriva not order 6x new ones for the X18? That would means that during the winter, there would be 4x E400s on the X20 and 5x E400MMCs on the X18 with 2x spare E400s. Then during the summer, fhey then have an additional spare.

You taking the piss? 

The X18 got new vehicles last year!

Also, to note is;

new to the fleet

Well you should see morning journeys arriving into Newcastle! A lot more than 5 people I tell you that.

Off peak, the X20 passengers fluctuate. Like Tommy, I have seen more or less empty buses, but I have also seen buses which are rather full too.

Off peak, the X20 passengers fluctuate. Like Tommy, I have seen more or less empty buses, but I have also seen buses which are rather full too.

I'd guess it probably helps if it turns up just before an X21/X22. Should help with loadings on the X18 too by giving people another option to Alnwick.