(07 Oct 2015, 5:04 pm)nk55 wrote If you look at it from a drivers point of view its not, in the morning you might do 2 round trips in the mornings i.e 45 con-ncl / 46 ncl-con-ncl / 45 ncl-con then break, however if your 10 mins late on the return to consett the next driver will be late out and the run is hard to get back on time, so by putting in the extra bus this keeps the service on time. Also is the V3/V4 timed to have a 10min frequency towards shotley bridge?

Ye, it just seems odd for a passenger point of view... it might look better on a proper timetable and not from the Travel line site.


Not sure about the V3/V4, its not on the list of upcoming changes, they currently run hourly.

(07 Oct 2015, 5:11 pm)Michael wrote Ye, it just seems odd for a passenger point of view... it might look better on a proper timetable and not from the Travel line site.


Not sure about the V3/V4, its not on the list of upcoming changes, they currently run hourly.

Combined it'll offer a 10 min frequency out of consett bus wont it?

(07 Oct 2015, 6:01 pm)nk55 wrote Combined it'll offer a 10 min frequency out of consett bus wont it?

The V3 is hourly and the V4 is also hourly - unless you mean something else? Sorry if you do.

(07 Oct 2015, 6:04 pm)Michael wrote The V3 is hourly and the V4 is also hourly - unless you mean something else? Sorry if you do.

Michael if it works like this
45 @ 01 & 31
46 @ 21 & 51
V3 @ 11
V4 @ 41

Therefore you have a 10 min frequency to shotley bridge. You with me now?

(07 Oct 2015, 6:14 pm)nk55 wrote Michael if it works like this
45 @ 01 & 31
46 @ 21 & 51
V3 @ 11
V4 @ 41

Therefore you have a 10 min frequency to shotley bridge. You with me now?

Ye, sorry i didn't know what you meant, i didn't realise you included the 45 & 46... sorry!

No, that's too sensible. The 45 departs Consett at xx01 and the V3 at xx03. It would have made sense to have the X70/71 leave Consett at xx11 and xx41 to give ten minute frequency to Newcastle.

All these 'ten minute' departures seem attractive, but, as far as I have observed (at Hexham), buses occasionally get delayed when loading a queue of waiting passengers (agreed that these buses from Hexham are at best every 30 minutes and some hourly).
Even when the bus arrives ahead of the departure time it can be difficult to leave on time (and when other services arrive off-schedule the resulting traffic congestion can prevent vehicles leaving - or getting onto their stand).
Admittedly Hexham is going to get a new bus station (and at times the present bus station is 'impossible' with buses queuing on Priestpopple waiting to get in), but I still foresee delays despite the promised linear layout of the new stands being planned.
With departures every ten minutes, it only takes a few minutes delay arriving to back-up the departures.
Do passengers have to move from stand to stand to catch different services to the same destination?

(07 Oct 2015, 9:42 pm)G-CPTN wrote All these 'ten minute' departures seem attractive, but, as far as I have observed (at Hexham), buses occasionally get delayed when loading a queue of waiting passengers (agreed that these buses from Hexham are at best every 30 minutes and some hourly).
Even when the bus arrives ahead of the departure time it can be difficult to leave on time (and when other services arrive off-schedule the resulting traffic congestion can prevent vehicles leaving - or getting onto their stand).
Admittedly Hexham is going to get a new bus station (and at times the present bus station is 'impossible' with buses queuing on Priestpopple waiting to get in), but I still foresee delays despite the promised linear layout of the new stands being planned.
With departures every ten minutes, it only takes a few minutes delay arriving to back-up the departures.
Do passengers have to move from stand to stand to catch different services to the same destination?

At Washington Galleries, Gateshead interchange and Metrocentre, buses sharing the same stand and eventual destination just park up behind each other. Ones like Eldon Square, Peterlee and Durham, they do use different, often neighbouring stands. The GNE 21 and Arriva X12 are often parked up next to each other, for example - leave Durham within a few minutes of each other, follow the same route, though the X12 doesn't follow all the stops and the X12 ends up at Eldon Square in the stand next to the 21, a few minutes before it arrives.

Anyone using Durham is used to stand hopping, anyhow. That station is seriously over capacity.

(07 Oct 2015, 10:54 pm)BusLoverMum wrote At Washington Galleries, Gateshead interchange and Metrocentre, buses sharing the same stand and eventual destination just park up behind each other. Ones like Eldon Square, Peterlee and Durham, they do use different, often neighbouring stands. The GNE 21 and Arriva X12 are often parked up next to each other, for example - leave Durham within a few minutes of each other, follow the same route, though the X12 doesn't follow all the stops and the X12 ends up at Eldon Square in the stand next to the 21, a few minutes before it arrives.

Anyone using Durham is used to stand hopping, anyhow. That station is seriously over capacity.

The Haymarket can have that problem, the lat time I was there the 21 was 12 minutes late on a cold evening I got on at the wrong stand and was nearly on the 44, to make matters worse at Chester le Street the police arrested someone, put me off the ANGEL service south of Gateshead, now use the train or the PRONTO.

(07 Oct 2015, 10:54 pm)BusLoverMum wrote At Washington Galleries, Gateshead interchange and Metrocentre, buses sharing the same stand and eventual destination just park up behind each other. Ones like Eldon Square, Peterlee and Durham, they do use different, often neighbouring stands. The GNE 21 and Arriva X12 are often parked up next to each other, for example - leave Durham within a few minutes of each other, follow the same route, though the X12 doesn't follow all the stops and the X12 ends up at Eldon Square in the stand next to the 21, a few minutes before it arrives.

Anyone using Durham is used to stand hopping, anyhow. That station is seriously over capacity.

Park Lane in Sunderland can get quite bad at times, that's why Stagecoach Sunderland pulled their services out ages ago, except for the peak time service X1..... Stagecoach South Shields still run the E1,E2,E6 in to Park Lane.

http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-...tober-2015

Date: 08 Oct 2015

We always aim to deliver fast, frequent and reliable bus services, to make your journey easy, whether you’re going to work, meeting friends or going to the shops.

There will be a number of changes to your bus services from 25 October 2015, to provide more fast buses to Newcastle and Metrocentre from some locations, and to make services more reliable.

The details below provide a summary of the changes. New timetables will be available soon.

TEN - 10, 10A & 10B

Timetable revised to improve reliability
In Newcastle City Centre, evening journeys operate the normal daytime route via Newgate Street, not Westgate Road

Services 11 & 11A

No longer branded ToonLink
When arriving in Newcastle City Centre, the service will now set down at Central Station and Market Street (near the Theatre Royal). On return from Newcastle, the service will continue to pick up from Eldon Square bus station.
Timetable revised to improve reliability

New ToonLink services 12 & 12A

One of the main changes we consulted upon earlier in the year was to provide more “fast” buses to Newcastle from Winlaton via Scotswood Road. This proposal was well received and so this new service provides a bus up to every 15 minutes between Newcastle and Winlaton via Scotswood Road and Blaydon.
This replaces services 31 and 32.
The service operates as a loop Winlaton, allowing passengers to travel locally around Winlaton without needing to change buses.
Service 12 operates from Blaydon via Hazel Road, Parkhead Estate, Snook Hill, Hanover Estate, Winlaton, Heddon View and Croftdale Road back to Blaydon, and then on to Newcastle. Service 12A operates in the opposite direction around Winlaton.
Passengers travelling from Parkhead Estate, Snook Hill and Hanover Estate to Metrocentre can use the revised Blaydon Racers service.
Evening and Sunday journeys will omit Newcastle Business Park, instead operating direct along Scotswood Road. The bus stops on Scotswood Road near to the Business Park will be served.
In Newcastle City Centre, evening journeys operate the normal daytime route via Newgate Street, not Westgate Road.
Scroll to the bottom of this page to view a map of the revised routes in Winlaton.

Red Kite - 45, 46 & 47

The timetable of these services is revised to improve reliability.
The timetable will also be revised to provide a bus up to every 10 minutes between Rowlands Gill, Metrocentre and Newcastle.
All journeys will now operate via Askew Road West, providing a bus up to every 10 minutes from Askew Road West and Team Street to Newcastle and Metrocentre.
In Newcastle City Centre, evening journeys operate the normal daytime route via Newgate Street, not Westgate Road.

Blaydon Racers - 49, 49A, 49B & 49C

The route of service 49 is unchanged.
Service 49B is replaced by new service 49A. This service will operate the normal route between Gateshead and Swalwell, but omits Blaydon, operating direct from Shibdon Road up Shibdon Bank. The 49A will then follow the current 49B route around Parkhead Estate, operating additionally via Snook Hill and Hanover Estate to Winlaton.
This provides more fast buses to Metrocentre from parts of Winlaton, and replaces this connection which is currently provided on service 31.
Most journeys on service 49C are also replaced by service 49A, however some early morning journeys continue to operate as a 49C on the current route.
Winlaton map
The map below outlines the revised routes in Winlaton. Click the image to view a full size map.

http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-...tober-2015

Date: 08 Oct 2015

We always aim to deliver fast, frequent and reliable bus services, to make your journey easy, whether you’re going to work, meeting friends or going to the shops.

There will be a number of changes to your bus services from 25 October 2015, to provide more frequent buses to Newcastle from some locations, and to make services more reliable.

The details below provide a summary of the changes. New timetables available soon.

Introducing our new Green Arrow

Our Highwayman 97 service is being re-launched as our new Green Arrow service and is joined by new services 97A and X97.

We consulted upon the proposal to provide a more regular service around Whickham. Instead of operating the 97 and 98 every 15 minutes from opposite sides of the road at an irregular frequency, service 97 will be increased to operate every 10 minutes between Newcastle, Gateshead and Whickham. This means that around Fellside Park and Rectory Lane there will be a regular service every 10 minutes towards Newcastle.
Service 97 and new service 97A will each operate every 20 minutes on Monday-Saturday daytimes, providing a bus every 10 minutes between Newcastle, Gateshead, Lobley Hill and Whickham.
Service 97 will operate around Whickham on its current route, continuing to Metrocentre.
New service 97A will operate on the same route as service 97 between Newcastle and Whickham, but serving Broadway instead of Oakfield Road.
Service 97A will also provide a connection from the local shops on Whickham Front Street up to Fellside Park, Broadway and Whaggs Lane.
Some journeys at peak times will operate as service X97, from Fellside Park via Broadway, Dunston Monument, Redheugh Bridge and Central Station. This means at peak times there continue to be up to 8 buses per hour from Whickham to Newcastle City Centre.
In Newcastle City Centre, the route of service 97/97A is revised. The services will enter Newcastle from Gateshead the same way as now, and terminate on Market Street outside the Theatre Royal as now. Upon return to Gateshead, the services will depart from this same stop (number 08NC45), then operate via Bigg Market and High Level Bridge.

Diamond - 43, 44 & 44A

Despite many attempts to improve the reliability of this service, it continues to suffer from reliability issues caused by traffic congestion in Newcastle, Metrocentre and Durham. A problem at just one of these locations means that passengers along the whole route are affected.
Therefore, to improve reliability the service will be split at Stanley Bus Station, meaning the service through Whickham and Sunniside will operate between Newcastle, Metrocentre and Stanley. Passengers wishing to travel to Durham are advised to change buses at Stanley.
The Diamond service through Sunniside and Whickham will be replaced by new service 6 and revised service X30.
New service 6 will operate via Sunniside Gladeley Way, Broadway, Broom Lane and Whickham Front Street, ensuring all of these areas continue to have a service up to every 30 minutes direct to Metrocentre and Newcastle
Revised service X30 will operate via Sunniside Front Street, Sunniside Road, Rectory Lane, Whickham Highway and Dunston Monument. This ensures that Sunniside Road and the centre of Dunston continue to have a service direct to Newcastle up to every 30 minutes.

Services 64 & 64A

Due to low passenger numbers, this service is revised to operate to Clasper Village and Yetholm Road only, and will operate every 60 minutes on Monday-Saturday daytimes
Passengers from the area around Dunston Monument towards Gateshead can use the Blaydon Racers service, which operates up to every 10 minutes
Passengers from the Wellington Road area towards Gateshead can use service 96, which operates up to every 30 minutes
Service X66 will also stop additionally at Kingfisher Court and on Team Street, improving access to Gateshead from Dunston Riverside and Staithes.

Service 95

Due to low passenger numbers, this service is revised to operate hourly on Monday-Saturday daytimes
Sunday service continues to operate hourly to Metrocentre

Services 96 & 96A

Service 96 will be extended to Newcastle from Gateshead on Monday-Saturday daytimes, providing direct connections to Newcastle from Knightside Gardens and Lobley Hill
In Newcastle service 96 will depart from Newcastle Market Street stop 08NC68, near to Theatre Royal. It will operate via Gateshead High Street and Jackson Street, providing a direct service from this area of Gateshead Town Centre to Bensham Bank and Lobley Hill.

Highwayman service 98/98A

This service is replaced by:

Revised service 96 (which provides the connection from Knightside Gardens to Newcastle)
Revised service 97/97A/X97 (which provides an improved frequency around Whickham towards Newcastle)
Revised service X30 (which provides a regular service from Dunston Centre to Whickham and Newcastle, up to every 30 minutes on Monday-Saturday daytimes and every 60 minutes on Sundays)

Services X30 & X31

Branded as ToonLink

The frequency of services X30 and X31 will be increased, providing a service up to every 15 minutes between Stanley, Sunniside and Newcastle
The route of service X30 is revised. From Sunniside, the service will operate via Sunniside Road, Rectory Lane, Whickham Highway, Dunston Bank and Ellison Road, ensuring that these areas continue to have a direct service to Newcastle.
The route of service X31 is largely unchanged, continuing to serve Lobley Hill, Bensham Bank and Gateshead on its way to Newcastle.
Services X43

The frequency of this service is increased to every 30 minutes on Monday-Saturday daytimes, with the service being renumbered V7 and V8.
Following passenger requests, all stops along Fellside Road will be observed.
These services will now depart from Stand G in Metrocentre Bus Station.
X66

Following requests from passengers to improve the service from Staithes and Dunston Riverside, service X66 will stop additionally at the bus stops outside Kingfisher Court in Dunston, and at the two bus stops outside the new Staithes Estate on Team Street.
Services X70, X71 & X72

The timetable of these services are revised to improve reliability

(08 Oct 2015, 9:54 am)47406 wrote http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-...tober-2015

Date: 08 Oct 2015

We always aim to deliver fast, frequent and reliable bus services, to make your journey easy, whether you’re going to work, meeting friends or going to the shops.

There will be a number of changes to your bus services from 25 October 2015, to provide more fast buses to Newcastle and Metrocentre from some locations, and to make services more reliable.

The details below provide a summary of the changes. New timetables will be available soon.

TEN - 10, 10A & 10B

Timetable revised to improve reliability
In Newcastle City Centre, evening journeys operate the normal daytime route via Newgate Street, not Westgate Road

Services 11 & 11A

No longer branded ToonLink
When arriving in Newcastle City Centre, the service will now set down at Central Station and Market Street (near the Theatre Royal). On return from Newcastle, the service will continue to pick up from Eldon Square bus station.
Timetable revised to improve reliability

New ToonLink services 12 & 12A

One of the main changes we consulted upon earlier in the year was to provide more “fast” buses to Newcastle from Winlaton via Scotswood Road. This proposal was well received and so this new service provides a bus up to every 15 minutes between Newcastle and Winlaton via Scotswood Road and Blaydon.
This replaces services 31 and 32.
The service operates as a loop Winlaton, allowing passengers to travel locally around Winlaton without needing to change buses.
Service 12 operates from Blaydon via Hazel Road, Parkhead Estate, Snook Hill, Hanover Estate, Winlaton, Heddon View and Croftdale Road back to Blaydon, and then on to Newcastle. Service 12A operates in the opposite direction around Winlaton.
Passengers travelling from Parkhead Estate, Snook Hill and Hanover Estate to Metrocentre can use the revised Blaydon Racers service.
Evening and Sunday journeys will omit Newcastle Business Park, instead operating direct along Scotswood Road. The bus stops on Scotswood Road near to the Business Park will be served.
In Newcastle City Centre, evening journeys operate the normal daytime route via Newgate Street, not Westgate Road.
Scroll to the bottom of this page to view a map of the revised routes in Winlaton.

Red Kite - 45, 46 & 47

The timetable of these services is revised to improve reliability.
The timetable will also be revised to provide a bus up to every 10 minutes between Rowlands Gill, Metrocentre and Newcastle.
All journeys will now operate via Askew Road West, providing a bus up to every 10 minutes from Askew Road West and Team Street to Newcastle and Metrocentre.
In Newcastle City Centre, evening journeys operate the normal daytime route via Newgate Street, not Westgate Road.

Blaydon Racers - 49, 49A, 49B & 49C

The route of service 49 is unchanged.
Service 49B is replaced by new service 49A. This service will operate the normal route between Gateshead and Swalwell, but omits Blaydon, operating direct from Shibdon Road up Shibdon Bank. The 49A will then follow the current 49B route around Parkhead Estate, operating additionally via Snook Hill and Hanover Estate to Winlaton.
This provides more fast buses to Metrocentre from parts of Winlaton, and replaces this connection which is currently provided on service 31.
Most journeys on service 49C are also replaced by service 49A, however some early morning journeys continue to operate as a 49C on the current route.
Winlaton map
The map below outlines the revised routes in Winlaton. Click the image to view a full size map.

http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-...tober-2015

Date: 08 Oct 2015

We always aim to deliver fast, frequent and reliable bus services, to make your journey easy, whether you’re going to work, meeting friends or going to the shops.

There will be a number of changes to your bus services from 25 October 2015, to provide more frequent buses to Newcastle from some locations, and to make services more reliable.

The details below provide a summary of the changes. New timetables available soon.

Introducing our new Green Arrow

Our Highwayman 97 service is being re-launched as our new Green Arrow service and is joined by new services 97A and X97.  

We consulted upon the proposal to provide a more regular service around Whickham. Instead of operating the 97 and 98 every 15 minutes from opposite sides of the road at an irregular frequency, service 97 will be increased to operate every 10 minutes between Newcastle, Gateshead and Whickham. This means that around Fellside Park and Rectory Lane there will be a regular service every 10 minutes towards Newcastle.
Service 97 and new service 97A will each operate every 20 minutes on Monday-Saturday daytimes, providing a bus every 10 minutes between Newcastle, Gateshead, Lobley Hill and Whickham.
Service 97 will operate around Whickham on its current route, continuing to Metrocentre.
New service 97A will operate on the same route as service 97 between Newcastle and Whickham, but serving Broadway instead of Oakfield Road.
Service 97A will also provide a connection from the local shops on Whickham Front Street up to Fellside Park, Broadway and Whaggs Lane.
Some journeys at peak times will operate as service X97, from Fellside Park via Broadway, Dunston Monument, Redheugh Bridge and Central Station. This means at peak times there continue to be up to 8 buses per hour from Whickham to Newcastle City Centre.
In Newcastle City Centre, the route of service 97/97A is revised. The services will enter Newcastle from Gateshead the same way as now, and terminate on Market Street outside the Theatre Royal as now. Upon return to Gateshead, the services will depart from this same stop (number 08NC45), then operate via Bigg Market and High Level Bridge.

Diamond - 43, 44 & 44A

Despite many attempts to improve the reliability of this service, it continues to suffer from reliability issues caused by traffic congestion in Newcastle, Metrocentre and Durham. A problem at just one of these locations means that passengers along the whole route are affected.
Therefore, to improve reliability the service will be split at Stanley Bus Station, meaning the service through Whickham and Sunniside will operate between Newcastle, Metrocentre and Stanley. Passengers wishing to travel to Durham are advised to change buses at Stanley.
The Diamond service through Sunniside and Whickham will be replaced by new service 6 and revised service X30.
New service 6 will operate via Sunniside Gladeley Way, Broadway, Broom Lane and Whickham Front Street, ensuring all of these areas continue to have a service up to every 30 minutes direct to Metrocentre and Newcastle
Revised service X30 will operate via Sunniside Front Street, Sunniside Road, Rectory Lane, Whickham Highway and Dunston Monument. This ensures that Sunniside Road and the centre of Dunston continue to have a service direct to Newcastle up to every 30 minutes.

Services 64 & 64A

Due to low passenger numbers, this service is revised to operate to Clasper Village and Yetholm Road only, and will operate every 60 minutes on Monday-Saturday daytimes
Passengers from the area around Dunston Monument towards Gateshead can use the Blaydon Racers service, which operates up to every 10 minutes
Passengers from the Wellington Road area towards Gateshead can use service 96, which operates up to every 30 minutes
Service X66 will also stop additionally at Kingfisher Court and on Team Street, improving access to Gateshead from Dunston Riverside and Staithes.

Service 95

Due to low passenger numbers, this service is revised to operate hourly on Monday-Saturday daytimes
Sunday service continues to operate hourly to Metrocentre

Services 96 & 96A

Service 96 will be extended to Newcastle from Gateshead on Monday-Saturday daytimes, providing direct connections to Newcastle from Knightside Gardens and Lobley Hill
In Newcastle service 96 will depart from Newcastle Market Street stop 08NC68, near to Theatre Royal. It will operate via Gateshead High Street and Jackson Street, providing a direct service from this area of Gateshead Town Centre to Bensham Bank and Lobley Hill.

Highwayman service 98/98A

This service is replaced by:

Revised service 96 (which provides the connection from Knightside Gardens to Newcastle)
Revised service 97/97A/X97 (which provides an improved frequency around Whickham towards Newcastle)
Revised service X30 (which provides a regular service from Dunston Centre to Whickham and Newcastle, up to every 30 minutes on Monday-Saturday daytimes and every 60 minutes on Sundays)

Services X30 & X31

Branded as ToonLink

The frequency of services X30 and X31 will be increased, providing a service up to every 15 minutes between Stanley, Sunniside and Newcastle
The route of service X30 is revised. From Sunniside, the service will operate via Sunniside Road, Rectory Lane, Whickham Highway, Dunston Bank and Ellison Road, ensuring that these areas continue to have a direct service to Newcastle.
The route of service X31 is largely unchanged, continuing to serve Lobley Hill, Bensham Bank and Gateshead on its way to Newcastle.
Services X43

The frequency of this service is increased to every 30 minutes on Monday-Saturday daytimes, with the service being renumbered V7 and V8.
Following passenger requests, all stops along Fellside Road will be observed.
These services will now depart from Stand G in Metrocentre Bus Station.
X66

Following requests from passengers to improve the service from Staithes and Dunston Riverside, service X66 will stop additionally at the bus stops outside Kingfisher Court in Dunston, and at the two bus stops outside the new Staithes Estate on Team Street.
Services X70, X71 & X72

The timetable of these services are revised to improve reliability

Disappointed the Highwayman brand has been dropped 

TEN - 10, 10A & 10B

Timetable revised to improve reliability

I wonder if the changes will be restricted to:-

Newcastle City Centre, evening journeys operate the normal daytime route via Newgate Street, not Westgate Road

That is possibly the most ridiculous brand name I have ever heard..... Who ever has been coming up with the recent brand names, someone needs to have a word with them

indiGO, Green Arrow, Coast and Country

They are meaningless!

(08 Oct 2015, 11:12 am)LeeCalder wrote That is possibly the most ridiculous brand name I have ever heard..... Who ever has been coming up with the recent brand names, someone needs to have a word with them

indiGO, Green Arrow, Coast and Country

They are meaningless!

I agree
What does 'Green Arrow' mean?
Want to see the branding
All we know is it has a Lambton Worm green

---

(08 Oct 2015, 11:12 am)LeeCalder wrote That is possibly the most ridiculous brand name I have ever heard..... Who ever has been coming up with the recent brand names, someone needs to have a word with them

indiGO, Green Arrow, Coast and Country

They are meaningless!

I agree
What does 'Green Arrow' mean?
Want to see the branding
All we know is it has a Lambton Worm green

(08 Oct 2015, 11:14 am)NK53 TKT wrote I agree
What does 'Green Arrow' mean?
Want to see the branding
All we know is it has a Lambton Worm green

---

I agree
What does 'Green Arrow' mean?
Want to see the branding
All we know is it has a Lambton Worm green

Its on GNE website.

But then you could say the same for Silver Arrows & Pronto

Edit: It may relate to the Green Arrow steam train from the 40s, which operated the ECM...

The thinking behind the "Coast and Country" was linking up somewhere fairly coastal (ie Sunderland) with rural areas. Much like about 50% of bus services in the NE, in fact! It's not less meaningfl than "Lime" anyhow, which simply referred to the colour of the bus (though, unlike IndiGO, the Lime buses did manage to be lime green)

(08 Oct 2015, 12:27 pm)BusLoverMum wrote The thinking behind the "Coast and Country" was linking up somewhere fairly coastal (ie Sunderland) with rural areas. Much like about 50% of bus services in the NE, in fact! It's not less meaningfl than "Lime" anyhow, which simply referred to the colour of the bus (though, unlike IndiGO, the Lime buses did manage to be lime green)

Actually it referred to the old lime quarries which were situated close to the route

Green Arrow is OK as a brand name and the livery isn't bad, although there was nowt wrong with Highwayman as a brand name, but the new darker green livery is better. I don't see the connection between X30/31 and 12/12A as Toonlink as they have no similar route. The 11 and 96 connection is illogical, causing the 11 to start, but not finish in Eldon Square. Regarding other brands, I don't like See it Do it Sunderland as a name, and IndiGo is odd, especially with the colour not being indigo. Coast to Country is acceptable and there was nothing wrong with Silver Arrows; it's a pity the silver Citaros on the 61 don't have a brand yet. And what happened to Black Cats for the 39?

Whickham and Dunston area changes need a map.

I am curious about the X66 changes and the additional stops around the Staithes.

The selling point of the service initially, was the speed and express nature of the route.
Obviously a couple of stops being added, in addition to the one at the back of Riverside, isn't going to make the world of difference to the overall journey time. However, they may make a difference to the loads.

I mentioned previously, the thoughts I had, about the increased numbers using the service in the lead up to Christmas and drivers using the service as a shuttle.
Assuming there is additional demand at the new stops, what are loads going to be like then?

Having used the 49's in the past, over the Streetlite on the X66 and there not being much difference in journey times - I wonder if others will do the same?
The Mercs on the 49's have seen better days, but certainly my vehicle of choice when travelling between the two points.

(08 Oct 2015, 11:12 am)LeeCalder wrote That is possibly the most ridiculous brand name I have ever heard..... Who ever has been coming up with the recent brand names, someone needs to have a word with them

indiGO, Green Arrow, Coast and Country

They are meaningless!

I know it will be the Silver Surfer next...

(08 Oct 2015, 2:52 pm)DanPicken wrote I know it will be the Silver Surfer next...

For what?
The 61?

(08 Oct 2015, 2:53 pm)NK53 TKT wrote For what?
The 61?

Aye.

(08 Oct 2015, 11:12 am)LeeCalder wrote That is possibly the most ridiculous brand name I have ever heard..... Who ever has been coming up with the recent brand names, someone needs to have a word with them

indiGO, Green Arrow, Coast and Country

They are meaningless!

(08 Oct 2015, 2:52 pm)DanPicken wrote I know it will be the Silver Surfer next...

Come on, Lee... I'm sure the person(s) responsible for coming up with brand names have an awful lot of marketing expertise, and just because you dislike the brand names, does not mean that "someone needs to have a word with them".

We discussed brand names needing to have a meaning to be successful and marketable from this post onwards, with regards to Stagecoach's "Connecting the Dots" brand. To follow on from the recent posts in the "What's annoying you today?" thread regarding debate and brash statements; the aforementioned debate regarding branding is, in my opinion, one of the better 'debates' we've had more recently, and (with hindsight) I'm shocked I didn't contribute a little bit more to it.

If you go back to the aforementioned debate, you'll see that, initially, I was of the opinion that brand names should have a meaning. Because I thought that brand names ought to have a meaning, I attempted to draw inferences based on the well-known idiom "connecting the dots", and suggested Stagecoach's use of this idiom didn't really work (in my opinion) as a brand name. However, Adrian hit the nail on the head by discussing Go North East's "Fab Fifty Six" brand. What made service 56 "fab" all of those years ago? Nothing - it was just a catchy name with a bit of alliteration. Almost ten years later, and I'd argue that it's one of Go North East's more recognised brand names, and it's one of those names that seems to roll off the tongue. "Fab Fifty Seven" seems to piggy-back on the brand name of service 56, and in my opinion, isn't half as successful. I'd have suggested it was down to the dated vehicle allocation if service 56 wasn't allocated fairly elderly Scania L94s until 2014... How do you know that "indiGo" isn't the next "Fab Fifty Six"..?

In my opinion; Go North East's branding went downhill a few years ago, but recent designs are a significant improvement on what we've had in the past. The "Green Arrow" is a prime example of this - it's a far superior design to "The Highwayman", and I think it's instantly more recognisable.

(08 Oct 2015, 1:43 pm)Andreos1 wrote I am curious about the X66 changes and the additional stops around the Staithes.

The selling point of the service initially, was the speed and express nature of the route.
Obviously a couple of stops being added, in addition to the one at the back of Riverside, isn't going to make the world of difference to the overall journey time. However, they may make a difference to the loads.

Exactly...it is going to become like any other route operating between the Metrocentre and Gateshead (minus the 97 which does a tour of Whickham and Lobley Hill first) if they keep adding stops in here and there. The Riverside stop, yes - it saves money for drivers but other than that, I am personally strongly against adding any more stops to a service that has been non-stop for years.

(08 Oct 2015, 3:23 pm)Dan wrote Come on, Lee... I'm sure the person(s) responsible for coming up with brand names have an awful lot of marketing expertise, and just because you dislike the brand names, does not mean that "someone needs to have a word with them".

We discussed brand names needing to have a meaning to be successful and marketable from this post onwards, with regards to Stagecoach's "Connecting the Dots" brand. To follow on from the recent posts in the "What's annoying you today?" thread regarding debate and brash statements; the aforementioned debate regarding branding is, in my opinion, one of the better 'debates' we've had more recently, and (with hindsight) I'm shocked I didn't contribute a little bit more to it.

If you go back to the aforementioned debate, you'll see that, initially, I was of the opinion that brand names should have a meaning. Because I thought that brand names ought to have a meaning, I attempted to draw inferences based on the well-known idiom "connecting the dots", and suggested Stagecoach's use of this idiom didn't really work (in my opinion) as a brand name. However, Adrian hit the nail on the head by discussing Go North East's "Fab Fifty Six" brand. What made service 56 "fab" all of those years ago? Nothing - it was just a catchy name with a bit of alliteration. Almost ten years later, and I'd argue that it's one of Go North East's more recognised brand names, and it's one of those names that seems to roll off the tongue. "Fab Fifty Seven" seems to piggy-back on the brand name of service 56, and in my opinion, isn't half as successful. I'd have suggested it was down to the dated vehicle allocation if service 56 wasn't allocated fairly elderly Scania L94s until 2014... How do you know that "indiGo" isn't the next "Fab Fifty Six"..?

In my opinion; Go North East's branding went downhill a few years ago, but recent designs are a significant improvement on what we've had in the past. The "Green Arrow" is a prime example of this - it's a far superior design to "The Highwayman", and I think it's instantly more recognisable.

With regards to the last bit I will always call the Green Arrow the Highwayman and still call the Coast & Country the Lime.

(08 Oct 2015, 3:43 pm)DanPicken wrote With regards to the last bit I will always call the Green Arrow the Highwayman and still call the Coast & Country the Lime.

I was the same (with the Coast & Country) but as time has passed, i have been getting myself used to using the Coast & Country name. The process will be the same for the Green Arrow too, i'd imagine.

Timetables have appeared on the Stanley changes to - http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-...ober-2015/


Timetables have appeared for the changes to services in Winlaton, Ryton and Rowlands Gill from 25 October 2015-  http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-...ober-2015/


Timetables have appeared for the changes to services in Whickham and Dunston from 25 October 2015 - http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-...ober-2015/
 

All only available from the link - not on the service list yet on the GNE site.


Edit: Like how it shows what zones the buses go through, much easier to find out now!

(08 Oct 2015, 4:46 pm)Michael wrote Timetables have appeared on the Stanley changes to - http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-...ober-2015/


Timetables have appeared for the changes to services in Winlaton, Ryton and Rowlands Gill from 25 October 2015-  http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-...ober-2015/


Timetables have appeared for the changes to services in Whickham and Dunston from 25 October 2015 - http://www.simplygo.com/news/changes-to-...ober-2015/
 

All only available from the link - not on the service list yet on the GNE site.


Edit: Like how it shows what zones the buses go through, much easier to find out now!

The lack of maps does annoy me slightly. I much prefer the line ones as opposed to the one found on the X30/X31/X32 timetable.