This week's fleet list is now available, see attachment added.

Change-log:
09/01/13 - Ex-London Volvo Olympians 3904, 3916, 3917, 3918, 3936, 3937, 3938 and 3939 and Dennis SPD 8210: V210 ERG have been sold to Tees Valley Stage Carriage, Marske and have therefore been removed completely from the fleetlist.

[attachment=1419]

Brilliant work with the fleet list! Very helpful!

Yep you're right - the 0602 9A was a yellow B10BLE, most likely the one you saw at about 8am if it's around a two-hour round trip.

Wanted to get the X3 tonight for a change. I was hoping to catch the 16:35 from Eldon Square, but couldn't have made it there or to Gateshead in time, but the Metro managed to "catch up" at Heworth.

What a palava at Heworth though. Been a couple of years since I've been at Heworth to catch a bus, and didn't even know which side to come out of when I climbed up from the Metro. Got outside, it was dark and I didn't have a clue which stand was mine and by the looks of it all the stands have been changed and refurbished. There was an almighty queue just to the left at Stand D, so I asked a guy at the end if the X3 stopped here (I didn't fancy or have time to check all the stands). He said it used to but couldn't say for certain now. An M1 pulled in and the queue went down a fair bit. Turns out the X3 does stop there, but I just couldn't believe how many people were queuing at this stand, when Stand C just further up was completely empty. It was just chaos.

I was rather chuffed when a Vyking came, can't remember the fleet number for the life of me though. Already fully-seated downstairs and by the time we left Heworth there was around 12 of us upstairs. Glad to see there's no immediate plans for it's withdrawal, but I don't think it can be guaranteed like what GNE have said there in Openline - cheers cbma06!

Brilliant work with the fleet list! Very helpful!

...

What a palava at Heworth though. Been a couple of years since I've been at Heworth to catch a bus, and didn't even know which side to come out of when I climbed up from the Metro. Got outside, it was dark and I didn't have a clue which stand was mine and by the looks of it all the stands have been changed and refurbished. There was an almighty queue just to the left at Stand D, so I asked a guy at the end if the X3 stopped here (I didn't fancy or have time to check all the stands). He said it used to but couldn't say for certain. An M1 pulled him and the queue went down a fair bit. Turns out the X3 does stop there, but I just couldn't believe how many people were queuing at this stand, when Stand C just further up was completely empty. It was just chaos.

Thanks!

Oh dear, there are still problems? Stand changes were recently made to cut down the problems..!

"Following the recent stand changes at Heworth, problems have now arisen due to overcrowding of both buses and passengers on stand D. To alleviate this problem, Services X9, X10 and 557 will be relocated from Stand D forward to Stand C from Monday 7th January 2013.

Nexus staff will be on hand on both 7th and 8th January to oversee the relocation and advise customers."

^ From Go North East's Facebook around a week ago.

Cheers I didn't know that, would have hated to have seen it before the changes then! The queue for Stand D was almost into the metro station!

Stand C was empty when I was there; but in fairness, an X9 is timed there at 16:48 and I arrived a couple of minutes later or so.

Service 557 hasn't operated in years!

[attachment=1420]

Cheers I didn't know that, would have hated to have seen it before the changes then! The queue for Stand D was almost into the metro station!

Stand C was empty when I was there; but in fairness, an X9 is timed there at 16:48 and I arrived a couple of minutes later or so.

Service 557 hasn't operated in years!

I've never had a problem there actually - dare I say it's usually pretty empty when I'm there?

Guessing they meant the 57, they always make typos and such. Really gets on my nerves. :L

It's pretty bad on a morning, as the Washington buses all seem to run at once during the rush hours.

As of this week, the stands are:

Stand A - 51, 51A, 58, 58X, N58
Stand B - 52, 52A, 68, 93, 94, 94A
Stand C - 27, 57, 68, 515, 922, X9, X10
Stand D - 26A, 558, 994, M1, M2, M2A, M3, M3A, M12, X3, X19
Stand E - 27, 921, X3, X9*, X10*, X19, TB529

* Set down only.

Cheers for that Tom! I really wish Nexus would do a stand map for every Tyne and Wear Bus Station/Interchange. That would make it so much easier!

---

Passengers can no longer take advantage of the pre-existing hail-and-ride arrangement on Castle Road, Prudhoe; due to new bus stops now in place for the Tynedale Links 686 bus. But this seems to have caused problems for residents living in the area -

http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/news...ome/2.3307

I can't quite believe it costs £700 for a new bus stop!

Cheers for that Tom! I really wish Nexus would do a stand map for every Tyne and Wear Bus Station/Interchange. That would make it so much easier!

---

Passengers can no longer take advantage of the pre-existing hail-and-ride arrangement on Castle Road, Prudhoe; due to new bus stops now in place for the Tynedale Links 686 bus. But this seems to have caused problems for residents living in the area -

http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/news...ome/2.3307

I can't quite believe it costs £700 for a new bus stop!

Just think how many times a year bus stops need to be repaired too! I'm thinking on a Tyne & Wear basis too, and not the full North East.
Countless times now I've passed bus shelters and they've had their glass smashed through - perhaps won't cost quite as much as £700 what with the structure already being there and the work being done, but the glass must be quite costly each time!
Can't believe there are only two new stops on the route though... It should continue to run Hail & Ride if they're not to implement a third one too. Elderly folk rely on this service being H&R now and they've gotten used to it. Suggesting they walk an additional 5-10 minutes is a ludicrous thought.

Cheers for that Tom! I really wish Nexus would do a stand map for every Tyne and Wear Bus Station/Interchange. That would make it so much easier!

---

Passengers can no longer take advantage of the pre-existing hail-and-ride arrangement on Castle Road, Prudhoe; due to new bus stops now in place for the Tynedale Links 686 bus. But this seems to have caused problems for residents living in the area -

http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/news...ome/2.3307

I can't quite believe it costs £700 for a new bus stop!

Just think how many times a year bus stops need to be repaired too! I'm thinking on a Tyne & Wear basis too, and not the full North East.
Countless times now I've passed bus shelters and they've had their glass smashed through - perhaps won't cost quite as much as £700 what with the structure already being there and the work being done, but the glass must be quite costly each time!
Can't believe there are only two new stops on the route though... It should continue to run Hail & Ride if they're not to implement a third one too. Elderly folk rely on this service being H&R now and they've gotten used to it. Suggesting they walk an additional 5-10 minutes is a ludicrous thought.

I understand bus stops are maintained by whichever company uses them to advertise, down here on Teesside that is Clearchannel. Unfortunately you need fixed bus stops in order to comply with DDA which is why Skerne Park estate in Darlington (Arriva 14/14A) has just had stops put in recently.

Cheers for that Tom! I really wish Nexus would do a stand map for every Tyne and Wear Bus Station/Interchange. That would make it so much easier!

Not quite comprehensive but the Nexus MyJourney allows you to search specific bus stops and download the timetables that are printed and placed in the stops themselves. It also offers realtime departures

Unfortunately for stations it only lists the next departures but it is a feature they are going to change to allow individual stand timetables to be downloaded. (ie - the Metrocentre is filled with X66 and 100 departures!)


http://myjourney.nexus.org.uk/

Omni galore on the 17/307 today!

Omni galore on the 17/307 today!

Steven Hodgson and Mark McCann managed to get a photo of 5248 on the 307 today! - http://www.flickr.com/photos/nerbp/83673...hotostream

Thanks gtomlinson! Would be better if you could access the information from each stand at bus stations remotely, rather than a full list of departures - not helpful at MetroCentre if you want to know the times of the next two 69A's in a hurry!

Actually I'm mistaken about having access to the stand layouts at bus stations - just found it buried at the bottom of this page - http://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/stations

Daniel I'm not that familiar with the area; but on Google Earth, Castle Road looks far too long to only have stops at the entrance and at the end where buses turn around.

Stagecoach's service 8 in South Hylton is also losing/or has lost it's hail&ride stopping arrangement.

‘Hail and Ride’ - Service 8
Until bus stops are erected, customers may stop the Service 8 bus at any
safe place on South View, Greenbank Drive, Railway Terrace, Pottery Lane,
Ford Avenue and Claxheugh Road. Please signal clearly to the driver.

Until a couple of years ago, I hadn't realised the police could get involved with situations about unsafe use of hail&ride. The car park at Seaburn Morrisons used by Redby then later Go North East; and also Stagecoach 18/19 until they were re-routed to South Bents. In early 2010, complaints were coming in from car-users at Morrisons about service 99 buses obstructing view at the entrance/exit to the car park; and from what I understand, the police banned buses from stopping there for a short time until a permanent bus stop could installed at a safer place just opposite the petrol station.

X9 and X10 pick up at Heworth going to Newcastle, they aren't set down only.

As far as I'm aware, the 8 lost its "Hail & Ride" operation when it also lost the Alexander Dash bodied Dennis Darts that ran the service... Good few years ago, that was!
Will be interesting to see if any additional bus shelters/stops are placed for the 8X though... Over the course of the route (one-way) it has two or three stops/shelters... The terminus at the Golden Lion public house doesn't even have a stop!

Laser 4946 on X3... 07:54 departure running 10 mins late if anyone wants to catch it.
8259 on 08:07 X35.

574 is on the X3 today aswell. 502 was on there yesterday

X9 and X10 pick up at Heworth going to Newcastle, they aren't set down only.

They aren't on the timetables in the shelters.

574 is on the X3 today aswell. 502 was on there yesterday

510 is on the 35A today too!

I think go north east really need a service that connects to four lane ends!! Only operator that doesn't and I've never understood why they've never introduced a link to that area (I know the 17 is the same,sort of area)

---

And obviously they have the 353 but that isn't really their own service

I think go north east really need a service that connects to four lane ends!! Only operator that doesn't and I've never understood why they've never introduced a link to that area (I know the 17 is the same,sort of area)

---

And obviously they have the 353 but that isn't really their own service

A number of years ago, they did with service 314 which operated from the North Shields area, but if I remember, but really did not carry many passengers.

Good luck to anyone who entered Go North East's New Year competition...

Somehow doubt the winner will be announced within the next 8 minutes, so it will be early next week instead!

Daniel Graham ‏@danielgrahamm
To set out five minutes earlier than I did in 2012 for the buses I need to catch so I don't miss them! #hardwork #GNENewYearComp

Good luck to anyone who entered Go North East's New Year competition...

Somehow doubt the winner will be announced within the next 8 minutes, so it will be early next week instead!

Daniel Graham ‏@danielgrahamm
To set out five minutes earlier than I did in 2012 for the buses I need to catch so I don't miss them! #hardwork #GNENewYearComp

What was the new year competition?

I think go north east really need a service that connects to four lane ends!! Only operator that doesn't and I've never understood why they've never introduced a link to that area (I know the 17 is the same,sort of area)

---

And obviously they have the 353 but that isn't really their own service

A number of years ago, they did with service 314 which operated from the North Shields area, but if I remember, but really did not carry many passengers.

Closest you can get on the 17 is Station Road/Whitley Road near DSS Tyne-view Park, but it's still around a 10 minute walk from here to Four Lane Ends. I always used to think it would be a good idea if the 17 could make that "small" diversion to serve Four Lane Ends, but now regularly walking up and down Whitley Road every day, it just wouldn't be possible sadly. The traffic is absolutely horrendous on this road at peak-times. Earlier this week, I passed Tyne View Park and a 335 pulls up in the stop alongside me. I ended up at Four Lane Ends before the bus did, almost stationary traffic the whole way along. The top of Coach Lane and also the entrance to Tyne View Park is pretty grim as well if you're on the road here at peak-times.

I do agree though! Four Lane Ends is rather un-chartered territory for GNE, only services are the DSS worker buses and the occasional Metro replacement.

Try as I might I don't seem to able to locate a copy of the 314 timetable that went to Four Lane Ends. I've enclosed a copy of a 314 timetable from 2002, but I think it must have been some other time when it went to Four Lane Ends. In 2002, it was only the 322 I think that operated a regular service to Four Lane Ends.

[attachment=1422]

[attachment=1423]

[attachment=1424]

Interesting route of the 322 actually. Between Benton ASDA and Four Lane Ends, it operated via Benton Metro and Goathland Avenue instead of direct to Four Lane Ends along Front Street. This is a good route and would avoid a substantial amount of traffic that the NexusBus (Arriva) 335 faces every day.

I'll get those timetables added to the lists on Page 1 of the Old Stuff thread too, just to keep them all together.

only 1 thing on VOSA today..

PB0003954/556 - GO NORTH EAST LIMITED, 117 QUEEN STREET, GATESHEAD, NE8 2UA
Registration Accepted by SN
Starting Point: LONGBENTON METRO STATION
Finish Point: MANORS METRO STATION
Via: FOUR LANE ENDS, PALMERSVILL, BYKER
Service Number: 900
Service Type: Limited Stop
Effective Date: 19-JAN-2013
Other Details:

From Facebook today -

Donna Stokoe
Hi can you tell me if it is right you are going to put a 38 on through tunstal bank estate for us to take our kids to school that would go burdon road way in ryhope. To get of at black path to cut through to St. Paul's school apparently before Xmas something was said about putting just the 1on to get kids to school
Like · · 2 hours ago via Mobile

Go North East Hi Donna - we're considering making changes to the 38 service but nothing is finalised at the moment.
2 hours ago · Like

Donna Stokoe Okay honestly it's a nitemare I live at the top of tunstal bank and have a little boy. It's not so bad in dry weather but in the rain he's soaked before we get there at the Minuit I'm getting on at the top of tunstal bank. Getting of at asda at ryhope and cutting through the estates to St. Paul's school by ryhope hospital or do to no of a school bus running that way
2 hours ago via mobile · Like

Jean Bosworth bring back the 141 i say
2 hours ago · Like

John Barrass They had someone out on the 38s the other day doing a survey about sending it round the city centre loop like it used to
about an hour ago · Like

---

Go North East can't seem to win. The 38 was seemingly re-routed onto Black Road because of complaints about elderly passengers having too far to walk to the health centre there after it was diverted via Ryhope Green instead. But now people are complaining about the withdrawal of the direct link between Tunstall Bank Estate and Esdale Estate.

I wonder if the 38 will end up on its original route that it ran when first introduced in July 2006, - Tunstall Bank Estate, Esdale Estate, Black Road, Hollycarrside, Leechmere ASDA, Sunderland City Centre loop; perhaps on a 20 minute frequency instead to retain the 3 buses worth of work on current 38A/38B.

[attachment=1427]

Interesting to see how this turns out.

TBH, i didnt see the point of the 38 spliting in to 2 services when the changes happened, when it could of run as a 38 like it does on its Sunday route.

The current 38C route takes 24 mins to do its route, don't see how GNE cant do that during the week.

I agree with your route - Tunstall Bank Estate, Esdale Estate, Black Road, Hollycarrside, Leechmere ASDA, Sunderland City Centre loop, i think that would work.

Me and Josh were thinking of a new express between Chester and Sunderland. Basically, this is what we thought.

X25 - Langley Park - Witton Gilbert - Sacriston - Edmondsley - Waldridge Park - Chester-le-Street - Portobello - Wrekenton - Gateshead - Newcastle - Every hour.

X26 Langley Park - Witton Gilbert - Sacriston - Edmondsley - Waldridge Park - Chester-le-Street - Portobello - Chester Road - Sunderland
Every 30 mins between Chester-le-Street and Sunderland, Every hour extending to Langley Park.

A new, improved 20 minute frequency between Chester-le-Street and Portobello.
A new, fast link between Chester-le-Street and Sunderland and Royal Hospital.
New links for passengers in Langley Park and Birtley to Sunderland and the Royal Hospital.

I really like that idea! Langley Park used to have its own hourly service to Sunderland on the X6.

[attachment=1428]

The journey time back in 2003 was around an hour but this will have increased now. Four minutes from Sunderland Interchange to Royal Hospital? No way these days; even on the quicker route omitting the University! But there could be scope for the X25 & X26 to interwork at Langley Park.

I really like that idea! Langley Park used to have its own hourly service to Sunderland on the X6.



The journey time back in 2003 was around an hour but this will have increased now. Four minutes from Sunderland Interchange to Royal Hospital? No way these days; even on the quicker route omitting the University! But there could be scope for the X25 & X26 to interwork at Langley Park.

Only get two extra minutes now! With a further two to get up to The Wavendon. Many drivers struggle with the timetables set for the Chester Road services at peak times. Off-peak times they just scrape it, peak times is hell.

X25 - Langley Park - Waldridge Park - Chester-le-Street - Portobello - Newcastle

X26 - Langley Park - Waldridge Park - Chester-le-Street - Portobello - Royal Hospital - Sunderland

X27 -Sunderland - Royal Hospital - Birtley - Chester-le-Street - Great Lumley - West Raiton - Belmont - Gilesgate Moor.

What about this instead - Each servcie runs every hour...