Go North East: Upcoming Service Changes
Go North East: Upcoming Service Changes
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 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 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 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 I know it will be the Silver Surfer next...
(08 Oct 2015, 11:12 am)LeeCalder 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 I know it will be the Silver Surfer next...
(08 Oct 2015, 1:43 pm)Andreos1 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.
(08 Oct 2015, 1:43 pm)Andreos1 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.
(08 Oct 2015, 3:23 pm)Dan 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, 3:23 pm)Dan 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, 3:43 pm)DanPicken 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 With regards to the last bit I will always call the Green Arrow the Highwayman and still call the Coast & Country the Lime.
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 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 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, 3:40 pm)S813 FVK 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, 3:40 pm)S813 FVK 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, 4:46 pm)Michael 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 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!
Proper maps like those on new X30/31 timetable are infinitely superior and more useful than the linear diagrams usually shown. The lack of maps on GNE timetables is what makes them inferior to Arriva's. However, timetables and access to them on Arriva's website are useless; simply go.com is much better.
I too fail to see the logic in the X30/31/32 having the same brand as the new 12/12A. There is zero common ground between them and could actually end up confusing people at the Newcastle end. Especially as X31 has a very similar route number to the current Toonlink 31.
(08 Oct 2015, 5:26 pm)markydh I too fail to see the logic in the X30/31/32 having the same brand as the new 12/12A. There is zero common ground between them and could actually end up confusing people at the Newcastle end. Especially as X31 has a very similar route number to the current Toonlink 31.
(08 Oct 2015, 5:26 pm)markydh I too fail to see the logic in the X30/31/32 having the same brand as the new 12/12A. There is zero common ground between them and could actually end up confusing people at the Newcastle end. Especially as X31 has a very similar route number to the current Toonlink 31.
No, the linear diagrams don't work, they tell you the main stops but are useless if you are on a bus (without next stop announcements) and don't know the area; with a reasonable map you can follow the route. Or if you want to get a bus in a unfamiliar place you can work out where it runs from a decent map. The vast majority of bus timetables now have proper maps as the other big companies realise they are the most useful way of showing the route.
(08 Oct 2015, 5:33 pm)Greg in Weardale No, the linear diagrams don't work, they tell you the main stops but are useless if you are on a bus (without next stop announcements) and don't know the area; with a reasonable map you can follow the route. Or if you want to get a bus in a unfamiliar place you can work out where it runs from a decent map. The vast majority of bus timetables now have proper maps as the other big companies realise they are the most useful way of showing the route.
(08 Oct 2015, 5:33 pm)Greg in Weardale No, the linear diagrams don't work, they tell you the main stops but are useless if you are on a bus (without next stop announcements) and don't know the area; with a reasonable map you can follow the route. Or if you want to get a bus in a unfamiliar place you can work out where it runs from a decent map. The vast majority of bus timetables now have proper maps as the other big companies realise they are the most useful way of showing the route.
(08 Oct 2015, 5:33 pm)Greg in Weardale No, the linear diagrams don't work, they tell you the main stops but are useless if you are on a bus (without next stop announcements) and don't know the area; with a reasonable map you can follow the route. Or if you want to get a bus in a unfamiliar place you can work out where it runs from a decent map. The vast majority of bus timetables now have proper maps as the other big companies realise they are the most useful way of showing the route.
(08 Oct 2015, 5:33 pm)Greg in Weardale No, the linear diagrams don't work, they tell you the main stops but are useless if you are on a bus (without next stop announcements) and don't know the area; with a reasonable map you can follow the route. Or if you want to get a bus in a unfamiliar place you can work out where it runs from a decent map. The vast majority of bus timetables now have proper maps as the other big companies realise they are the most useful way of showing the route.
You can have different colours like the Stanley area and Winlaton maps to show routes and variations, but single colour solid and dotted lines can also do, as most timetables are printed only with one or two colours. Decent maps are an essential part of timetables.