(08 Aug 2013, 5:15 pm)fozzovmurton wrote Just out of interest, why do Stagecoach in Sunderland stay within the City boundary I.e The Board Inn to the West and Seaburn and Grangetown to the North and South respectively.

Would it be worth it to try branch out a bit and say extend there patch to Ryhope, Seaham and beyond.

I do remember years ago before Stagecoach bought busways that busways had a couple of services in Murton, the 155 Murton Circular and the 149 Murton-Seaham service on a Sunday

Those bus services that there did in Murton and Seaham areas were under the Favourite name of Busways Travel Services, depot was at Hetton Lyons industrial estate then later at Herrington then Wheatsheaf, Favourite was started up to compete against Trimdon Motor Services (TMS) for Durham County Council secured work.

Ive mentioned a few times to Stagecoach that there should run a bus service between Sunderland and Hartlepool and could continue to Stockton or Middlesbrough, more passengers could use the stagecoach pass between Sunderland and Hartlepool, than Arriva poorly service 23 which turns up half the time

Yeah, Favourite, what I remember about it, was its livery, Orange, Cream and Brown iirc..

I didn't realise they were stabled at Hetton.

Sunderland-Hartlepool is an interesting though as the Arriva 23 is turd and Pygalls look like a waste of Space with there medieval single Decker, there former gne yellow Decker and the flying banana I saw today

(08 Aug 2013, 5:34 pm)fozzovmurton wrote Yeah, Favourite, what I remember about it, was its livery, Orange, Cream and Brown iirc..

I didn't realise they were stabled at Hetton.

Sunderland-Hartlepool is an interesting though as the Arriva 23 is turd and Pygalls look like a waste of Space with there medieval single Decker, there former gne yellow Decker and the flying banana I saw today

Yes that was the livery, was told ages ago that when Busways got the following fleet of 1848 etc.., that there purchased them from GM Buses (Greater Manchester) could be wrong though if anybody knows the wiser? and Busways kept it in the same colour.

I think Stagecoach could do well between Sunderland and Hartlepool with connections going further at each end.

I wonder how much of it is politics.
We all know about the investigations into route fixing etc., could this be part of it?
It's not as if Stagecoach as an organisation only know how to run city centre services. There will be money to be made, very strange they have never gone about doing it.

I know it may sound utterly absurd, but I have heard a couple of drivers pretty much come up with quite a funny rumour

That bosses do deals with each other in the 19th after 18 holes of Golf or on the turn of a card.

I have wondered if politics comes into it, if they have gentlemens agreements and handshakes that sees them divide areas among themselves while competing at the same time

Who knows what happens and whether it happens in the 19th hole, we do know that Arriva drivers are fed raw meat though!

Tyresmoke will be able to confirm whether its sirloin, rump or roadkill

www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/arriva-go-north-east-secret-4419286

(08 Aug 2013, 6:31 pm)Andreos1 wrote I wonder how much of it is politics.
We all know about the investigations into route fixing etc., could this be part of it?
It's not as if Stagecoach as an organisation only know how to run city centre services. There will be money to be made, very strange they have never gone about doing it.

I think Stagecoach are in content running city/town centre services in Sunderland, South Shields and Newcastle, watching the money coming in with higher bus fares and less passenger services to the public, since there streamlined the services and not wanting to travel out of the local area just in case GNE starts running a service in front of them. There would generate more money if there start to expand connecting each Stagecoach area together, there could compete against the metro between Sunderland and Newcastle, yes I know the metro is quicker but you cant use a Stagecoach pass on the metro. but the big 3 bus operators are just prepared to lay back on there own turf, with now and then there might go into other operators tertitory for a short period of time just to let the other 2 operators know that im still here.

(07 Aug 2013, 5:16 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote

(07 Aug 2013, 3:59 pm)RJL66 wrote I think that stagecoach is losing opportunity to create increased patronage - here are my ideas

extend the 10 and or the 11 to Kingston Park via Fawdon providing North Kenton with new links
extend alternate x47 to Red House Farm and Wansbeck road fawdon loop

withdraw route 6 and 8 and improve route 7 to every 20 mins all day

withdraw 35 reroute service 30 via coxlodge to salters road

extend 33 from hollywood Ave to Wallsend and Walker via Freeman and on the irregular route 3 20-30 min frequency and eves alternatively extend the 38 on an Gosforth loop every 20 mins in both directions to replace service 33

Withdrawing the 6 & 8 and "improving" the 7 to every 20 mins would lead to a reduced frequency for the common parts of the routes compared to now, with the 6 & 7 each running every 30 mins!

Not sure about the suggestions for the 10/11/X47 either - though I have for a long time thought that the 10 and 11 should be reworked to extend from North Kenton via Kenton Lane to Ponteland Road and City Centre as that end of Kenton Lane has a really poor service into town (the small bit that is served just has the 15/15A which are infrequent and meander through Blakelaw & Fenham, while the 32/32A do a tedious tour of the whole of Newcastle).

Well I was not getting into semantics! But I do believe I would divert the 7 around blakelaw road and that really would reduce the loss of service drastically and the section of the 6 aropund kingston park could be covered by creative option of the X47 !

(11 Aug 2013, 10:57 am)RJL66 wrote

(07 Aug 2013, 5:16 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote

(07 Aug 2013, 3:59 pm)RJL66 wrote I think that stagecoach is losing opportunity to create increased patronage - here are my ideas

extend the 10 and or the 11 to Kingston Park via Fawdon providing North Kenton with new links
extend alternate x47 to Red House Farm and Wansbeck road fawdon loop

withdraw route 6 and 8 and improve route 7 to every 20 mins all day

withdraw 35 reroute service 30 via coxlodge to salters road

extend 33 from hollywood Ave to Wallsend and Walker via Freeman and on the irregular route 3 20-30 min frequency and eves alternatively extend the 38 on an Gosforth loop every 20 mins in both directions to replace service 33

Withdrawing the 6 & 8 and "improving" the 7 to every 20 mins would lead to a reduced frequency for the common parts of the routes compared to now, with the 6 & 7 each running every 30 mins!

Not sure about the suggestions for the 10/11/X47 either - though I have for a long time thought that the 10 and 11 should be reworked to extend from North Kenton via Kenton Lane to Ponteland Road and City Centre as that end of Kenton Lane has a really poor service into town (the small bit that is served just has the 15/15A which are infrequent and meander through Blakelaw & Fenham, while the 32/32A do a tedious tour of the whole of Newcastle).

Well I was not getting into semantics! But I do believe I would divert the 7 around blakelaw road and that really would reduce the loss of service drastically and the section of the 6 aropund kingston park could be covered by creative option of the X47 !

The 7 already operates along Blakelaw Road! All your suggestion would do is reduce the overall frequency along all sections of the route apart from Fawdon Metro to Ponteland Road.

Stagecoach in Sunderland should introduce the service 21 again but make a few change's - make it a loop service and introduce it like the 18/19...

21 >>>> - Theme road - Tilbury road - Tay road - Greenwood Road - Chester road - Pennywell road - Portchester road - Palgrove road - Hylton road - Fort Field road - Ford road - Fordenbridge lane - Hylton road - St Mary's - Holmeside - Hospital - Barnes Park road - Durham road - Townsend road - Theme road.... 22 <<<<<<<<<<<<


Half hourly routes -
21 - Anti Clockwise
22 - Clockwise

Would take 50 mins - would require 4 buses
Not sure i had a right fight on with Google maps, i gave up.. haha

That will never happen Michael 16 20 and 23 dominate. I wish all the old routes would return tho

It won't but it was a good route the old 21 route used to use it all time.

(27 Sep 2013, 4:26 pm)Michael wrote It won't but it was a good route the old 21 route used to use it all time.

Yep, I used to use the service from Grindon and Thorney Close, years and years ago, a new gaffer started at the wheatsheaf and the person streamlined all the bus services, used to like getting on the 17,21,25 etc.., don't think there ever come back as stagecoach was doing cut backs and saving money at the time, Stagecoach are just content of having these bus services there got now, should run a service connecting Sunderland with Hartlepool, linking all the divisons up.

(27 Sep 2013, 7:10 pm)cbma06 wrote Yep, I used to use the service from Grindon and Thorney Close, years and years ago, a new gaffer started at the wheatsheaf and the person streamlined all the bus services, used to like getting on the 17,21,25 etc.., don't think there ever come back as stagecoach was doing cut backs and saving money at the time, Stagecoach are just content of having these bus services there got now, should run a service connecting Sunderland with Hartlepool, linking all the divisons up.

I've often thought Stagecoach should look at running a Sunderland-Newcastle express connecting those operations, and capitalising on the fact that GNE cant seem to find a model that works between these places. But, with very few exceptions (X34 springing to mind), Stagecoach haven't really gone for expansion beyond the old Busways operations, even within localities.

I really think a Sunderland - Newcastle stagecoach bus would work - Offer a good deal


Sunderland mega rider - All Sunderland Services + E services + the X5 to Newcastle.. for example

Any idea of a route it could use?

I would leave it in stagecoach - Basically the X36 route till Downhill - ASDA - then follow the X34 route? - Hourly at first then - half hourly if it works out?

(27 Sep 2013, 7:51 pm)Michael wrote I really think a Sunderland - Newcastle stagecoach bus would work - Offer a good deal


Sunderland mega rider - All Sunderland Services + E services + the X5 to Newcastle.. for example

Any idea of a route it could use?

I would leave it in stagecoach - Basically the X36 route till Downhill - ASDA - then follow the X34 route? - Hourly at first then - half hourly if it works out?

I'd rather see it use Chester Road to the Hastings Hill then express via A19/A184, stopping at Heworth, Gateshead, Newcastle. But to be honest, I think any route connecting Sunderland & Newcastle would be good - and would offer fantastic value on the dayrider/megarider (which is probably why we dont have such a route!)

I did suggest something similar to SNE when GNE pulled the X2 a few years ago - got some nonsense reply that because they dont currently operate between Sun & Ncl it would cost too much to start doing so. I could understand this for e.g. Sun - Darlington as they have no depot down there so a breakdown would be a nightmare...but they have depots in Newcastle and in Sunderland so I don't see the issue.

Right so as it's just being confirmed Sunderland are to get 23 more Gas buses on top of the 17 already confirmed.

Link here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...-table.pdf - Bottom of the page.


My suggestions - Once all here =)

The first 17 will be going on the - These i note are Confirmed.
Service 16 - 10 PVR
Service 20 - 5 PVR
2 Spare - For re-fueling etc

Next 23 i think will end up on the (Not Confirmed for services)

Service 4 - 11 PVR
Service 10/11 - 10 PVR

All in Total -

36/40 would be out on the road - 4 spares (to take over for Re-fueling etc)

21 E200's..

Service 3 - 8 PVR
Service 5/5A - 3 PVR
Service 8 - 2 PVR
Service 23 - 8 PVR

Current E200 - 20 of them

Service 12 - 4 PVR
Service 13 - 11 PVR
Service 18/19 - 6 PVR + (1 Dart)

Spares will be all newer Man's.

Mark my words, ill be wrong haha

Just been looking back through the Quality Contracts Thread to find the post with all the Liveries etc which on Post 109 Page 11. And I noticed this.

Stagecoach in Newcastle Service 40 - Chapel House - Newcastle -
Byker - Walker - Wallsend, is in the same "Lot" as GNE Service 40 - Wallsend - Battle Hill - Hadrian Park.

So if Stagecoach for example were to Win Lot 1 if the Quality Contracts Scheme goes ahead could we then see the GNE 40 Scrapped and the Stagecoach 40 extended to Hadrian Park from Wallsend

(13 Oct 2013, 3:06 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Just been looking back through the Quality Contracts Thread to find the post with all the Liveries etc which on Post 109 Page 11. And I noticed this.

Stagecoach in Newcastle Service 40 - Chapel House - Newcastle -
Byker - Walker - Wallsend, is in the same "Lot" as GNE Service 40 - Wallsend - Battle Hill - Hadrian Park.

So if Stagecoach for example were to Win Lot 1 if the Quality Contracts Scheme goes ahead could we then see the GNE 40 Scrapped and the Stagecoach 40 extended to Hadrian Park from Wallsend

Wasn't the GNE 40/41 changed to a circular service earlier this year to allow for people travelling between Howdon and Battle Hill to do so.

(13 Oct 2013, 3:06 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Just been looking back through the Quality Contracts Thread to find the post with all the Liveries etc which on Post 109 Page 11. And I noticed this.

Stagecoach in Newcastle Service 40 - Chapel House - Newcastle -
Byker - Walker - Wallsend, is in the same "Lot" as GNE Service 40 - Wallsend - Battle Hill - Hadrian Park.

So if Stagecoach for example were to Win Lot 1 if the Quality Contracts Scheme goes ahead could we then see the GNE 40 Scrapped and the Stagecoach 40 extended to Hadrian Park from Wallsend

its just like the other allocated "lot" for Sunderland area, If GNE bids for the Sunderland "lot" then Stagecoach wont be running any bus services in Sunderland area, unless there bid for the works and scholars services.

if Stagecoach is unsuccessful for bids in Sunderland area then maybe the bus depot at Wheatsheaf will fall into the hands of the Council then go into the hands of GNE to run the Stagecoach bus service routes after the QCS comes into force.

Stagecoach wont be able to knock the Wheatsheaf depot down as you will need planning permission for this and I don't think the the council will be approving the demoltion of the depot, as the local councils are in favour of the QCS, and no house builders will not purchase the depot neither as there will know that there wont get permission to built homes on the land as yet again the council will not approve planning permission. (Same situation as the Vaux site when Tesco had planning permission turned down several times from the council).

(13 Oct 2013, 4:09 pm)cbma06 wrote its just like the other allocated "lot" for Sunderland area, If GNE bids for the Sunderland "lot" then Stagecoach wont be running any bus services in Sunderland area, unless there bid for the works and scholars services.

if Stagecoach is unsuccessful for bids in Sunderland area then maybe the bus depot at Wheatsheaf will fall into the hands of the Council then go into the hands of GNE to run the Stagecoach bus service routes after the QCS comes into force.

Stagecoach wont be able to knock the Wheatsheaf depot down as you will need planning permission for this and I don't think the the council will be approving the demoltion of the depot, as the local councils are in favour of the QCS, and no house builders will not purchase the depot neither as there will know that there wont get permission to built homes on the land as yet again the council will not approve planning permission. (Same situation as the Vaux site when Tesco had planning permission turned down several times from the council).

If it does go ahead, i do hope it doesn't, i want stagecoach to go for Lot 3 (My Area).

Stagecoach could run it with Gas buses and Enviro's alone. =D


Atm their are 260 Enviro's at Stagecoach North East (Not Including 12000)

We also have 40 Gas buses soon.

Stagecoach could also bid on some NEXUS/school contract's such as the 73 etc - They could use most of the spare enviro's on them services - all spares for the fleet would be enviro to.

Would be interesting to see what buses would run on what services?

(13 Oct 2013, 4:20 pm)Michael wrote If it does go ahead, i do hope it doesn't, i want stagecoach to go for Lot 3 (My Area).

Stagecoach could run it with Gas buses and Enviro's alone. =D


Atm their are 260 Enviro's at Stagecoach North East (Not Including 12000)

We also have 40 Gas buses soon.

Stagecoach could also bid on some NEXUS/school contract's such as the 73 etc - They could use most of the spare enviro's on them services - all spares for the fleet would be enviro to.

Would be interesting to see what buses would run on what services?

You may see deckers in Sunderland too

(13 Oct 2013, 4:31 pm)Andreos1 wrote You may see deckers in Sunderland too

We could see them more often if NEXUS has their way.

I'm happy with the Enviro's atm, will be even happier when we get the gas buses. =)

You never know that maybe Arriva might bid on the Sunderland Lot, or even maybe FirstBus could bid on any of the lots that come available, if Firstbus have the buses to cover the services.

And maybe you might see boris buses doing the internal bus services inside of Newcastle lol lol.

Made a random list of where each bus could go If stagecoach got lot 3 what buses they could use:


2A/2C – 8 buses – 8 Gas buses
3 – 9 buses – E200
4 – 11 buses – E200
5/5A – 3 buses – E200
8/78/78A– 13 buses – E300
8 (Sta) – 2 buses – E200
9 – 4 buses – E200
10/11 – 10 buses – E200
12 – 4 buses – E200
13 – 11 buses – E200
16 – 10 buses – 10 Gas buses
18/19 – 6 buses – E200
20 – 5 buses – 5 Gas buses
20/20A/X20 – 12 buses – E400
21/N21 – 17 buses – E400H
23 – 8 buses – 8 gas buses
26/26A – 4 buses – E200
28/28A- 5 buses – E200
35/35A/B/C – 18 buses – E400
36 – 4 buses – E200
38 – 2? buses – E200
39 – 8 buses – E200
42 – 5 buses – Gas buses
43/44 – 14 buses - E400
45/46 – 9 buses - E400
50/50A – 6 buses – E400
56 – 16 buses – E400
60 – 8 buses – E200
61 – 5 buses – E200
71 – 2 buses – E200
99 – 2 buses – E200
X1 – 1 bus – E300
X3/ X36 – 5 buses? – E200
X25 – 5 buses – E400
X30/X31/X70/X71 – 9 buses – E400H
X35 – 6 buses – E300
X88 - 1 bus – E400
------------
10 Spare E400’s
2 Spare Gas buses

It's fun so don't take it serious


Would be interesting if Arriva did bid for LOT 3, would like to see Arriva running its home town services.

Yet to ride a Pulsar, Temsa or the Gas buses

It's ok if you live in Sunderland like Michael as you won't be affected that much if say Stagecoach were to win that lot of Services. But if you your me and your living in Washington you looking at Potentially 2 Operators operating the Local Services.

2A/2C – Lot 3
8 – Lot 3
50/50A – Lot 3
M1 – Lot 2
M2/M3 – Lot 2
W5/W6 – Lot 2
X1/X1A – Lot 2
X88 – Lot 3

And the only other Services I use are - X66 Lot 2 - 62/63 Lot 1 - 21 Lot 3 and 10 Lot 3. So really I'm in a Lose/Lose Situation when comes to the proposed changes. Only real bonus is I wouldn't have to change Operators when going to the Eye Infirmary in Sunderland.

(13 Oct 2013, 5:39 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote It's ok if you live in Sunderland like Michael as you won't be affected that much if say Stagecoach were to win that lot of Services. But if you your me and your living in Washington you looking at Potentially 2 Operators operating the Local Services.

2A/2C – Lot 3
8 – Lot 3
50/50A – Lot 3
M1 – Lot 2
M2/M3 – Lot 2
W5/W6 – Lot 2
X1/X1A – Lot 2
X88 – Lot 3

And the only other Services I use are - X66 Lot 2 - 62/63 Lot 1 - 21 Lot 3 and 10 Lot 3. So really I'm in a Lose/Lose Situation when comes to the proposed changes. Only real bonus is I wouldn't have to change Operators when going to the Eye Infirmary in Sunderland.

Ye it seems Washington is gonna be a split, which is rubbish but least you can use a pass on all services.

(13 Oct 2013, 5:39 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote It's ok if you live in Sunderland like Michael as you won't be affected that much if say Stagecoach were to win that lot of Services. But if you your me and your living in Washington you looking at Potentially 2 Operators operating the Local Services.

2A/2C – Lot 3
8 – Lot 3
50/50A – Lot 3
M1 – Lot 2
M2/M3 – Lot 2
W5/W6 – Lot 2
X1/X1A – Lot 2
X88 – Lot 3

And the only other Services I use are - X66 Lot 2 - 62/63 Lot 1 - 21 Lot 3 and 10 Lot 3. So really I'm in a Lose/Lose Situation when comes to the proposed changes. Only real bonus is I wouldn't have to change Operators when going to the Eye Infirmary in Sunderland.

Is it the same with North Tyneside?

What difference does it make if two (or three operators) have the contract across a particular area?
I'm not being flippant or trying to start an argument by any means, but as a customer you have one pass which entitles you to use whoever and as an enthusiast, a whole range of vehicles you may not get to ride normally.

(13 Oct 2013, 5:48 pm)Andreos1 wrote What difference does it make if two (or three operators) have the contract across a particular area?
I'm not being flippant or trying to start an argument by any means, but as a customer you have one pass which entitles you to use whoever and as an enthusiast, a whole range of vehicles you may not get to ride normally.

Your not so don't worry, it will be great, here's a twist though;

What if 1 company got 2 contracts?

Such as Arriva got Lot 1 and 2
Stagecoach got Lot 3
And GNE only got NEXUS contracts and School Buses?

It might happen!