Does anyone have any idea with the interworking system(s) at Ashington? Cheers.

(29 Oct 2013, 7:56 pm)peter wrote Does anybody know what has happened/is happening to the Waddington Street Depot? Has it been demolished?

This was the state of it earlier this year www.flickr.com/photos/danielhardcastle/8536999915/

B0002717/210 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Skerne Park and Harrowgate Farm given service number 14/14a/14b effective from 03-Nov-2013. To amend Route.

Apparently for the Lumiere, we will be operating a normal service with the Park and Ride solos (every 10 mins from every site), along with additional double deckers, also every 10 mins from every site effectively giving a 5 minute frequency.

(06 Nov 2013, 10:40 am)palatine3833 wrote Apparently for the Lumiere, we will be operating a normal service with the Park and Ride solos (every 10 mins from every site), along with additional double deckers, also every 10 mins from every site effectively giving a 5 minute frequency.

Note that the link between Belmont and Sniperley will not exist during the upgraded service hours.

From this morning: Attached is service 24X departing Peterlee bus station to Durham, showing X24 to Durham via the route of the X24 from Metrocentre.

(06 Nov 2013, 5:18 pm)cbma06 wrote From this morning: Attached is service 24X departing Peterlee bus station to Durham, showing X24 to Durham via the route of the X24 from Metrocentre.

The 24X was changed to X24 so I guess this is how the mistake has occurred.

(06 Nov 2013, 5:25 pm)Tom wrote The 24X was changed to X24 so I guess this is how the mistake has occurred.

The X24 Durham to Metro Centre is totally separate service to service 24X, looks like the driver put up the wrong destination.


http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/serviceInform...North+East

Changes to services in North Tyneside and Newcastle on the 8th December: - http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/content.aspx?id=34359740428

Edit: I'm guessing there will be major changes to the 685, so this could be posted later.

(06 Nov 2013, 5:29 pm)cbma06 wrote The X24 Durham to Metro Centre is totally separate service to service 24X, looks like the driver put up the wrong destination.


http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/serviceInform...North+East

I can confirm that the X24 runs between Easington Village and Durham. Some buses do have the new revised X24 screens, one for each service whereas others still have the old 24X destination.

On the timetable that you have posted a link to it states X24#, running from Framwellgate Moor to Easington.

(06 Nov 2013, 7:36 pm)palatine3833 wrote I can confirm that the X24 runs between Easington Village and Durham. Some buses do have the new revised X24 screens, one for each service whereas others still have the old 24X destination.

On the timetable that you have posted a link to it states X24#, running from Framwellgate Moor to Easington.

On the image that I took on my phone on the destination screen it says Durham City via Chester-Le-Street, Plawsworth. which is the destination screen for the X24 coming from metrocentre to Durham City, and the past few days when ive seen the bus arriving into Peterlee bus station to durham it had on 24X on the display.

(06 Nov 2013, 10:40 am)palatine3833 wrote Apparently for the Lumiere, we will be operating a normal service with the Park and Ride solos (every 10 mins from every site), along with additional double deckers, also every 10 mins from every site effectively giving a 5 minute frequency.

I hope someone remembers that you can't run a dd into the terminal loop at Belmont as it's not tall enough - unless the building has been altered.

(06 Nov 2013, 7:36 pm)palatine3833 wrote I can confirm that the X24 runs between Easington Village and Durham. Some buses do have the new revised X24 screens, one for each service whereas others still have the old 24X destination.

On the timetable that you have posted a link to it states X24#, running from Framwellgate Moor to Easington.

The printed timetable is erroneous. It SHOULD still be a 24X. The X24 is a different service.

I realise I'm not a transport big-wig, but wouldn't it have been simpler to use one of the other 99 numbers they could put before or after the letter X? What's so special about the number 24 that 3 different services have to use it

(06 Nov 2013, 8:49 pm)cbma06 wrote On the image that I took on my phone on the destination screen it says Durham City via Chester-Le-Street, Plawsworth. which is the destination screen for the X24 coming from metrocentre to Durham City, and the past few days when ive seen the bus arriving into Peterlee bus station to durham it had on 24X on the display.

It's a bit of a grey area at the moment. On the destination screens, it has 24X Easington Village/Durham/Framwellgate Moor
X24 Durham/Metrocentre/Durham (from Peterlee)/Easington Village/Fram

The option is there to use either screen. The 24X is now operated on the X24A duty board but we haven't been told of any service change so I'm assuming thats why both numbers are being used.

(06 Nov 2013, 9:52 pm)busman101 wrote I hope someone remembers that you can't run a dd into the terminal loop at Belmont as it's not tall enough - unless the building has been altered.

I've been told that certain parts of the bus stand will be sectioned off to allow the double deckers to load up further back, just to avoid having some open toppers.

Solo appears to have gained branding for service 23... see photo.

(09 Nov 2013, 12:58 pm)Dan wrote Solo appears to have gained branding for service 23... see photo.

Launch a new student product in September & start marketing it in November - genius !

(09 Nov 2013, 4:59 pm)busman101 wrote Launch a new student product in September & start marketing it in November - genius !

It seems a bit like marketing Christmas in July.

(09 Nov 2013, 5:12 pm)aureolin wrote It seems a bit like marketing Christmas in July.

Isn't that the case in supermarkets nowadays?

(09 Nov 2013, 4:59 pm)busman101 wrote Launch a new student product in September & start marketing it in November - genius !

Must be catching.

When Go North East started the X7 on 24th March, it only received its first marketing push in the middle of May. Genius!

(10 Nov 2013, 9:10 am)VolvoMarkII wrote Must be catching.

When Go North East started the X7 on 24th March, it only received its first marketing push in the middle of May. Genius!

Whilst I agree that the "Wear Tees Xpress" X7 service should have been promoted when first launched to maximise the service's potential market, the service did not target a specific market like Arriva's 23 service appears to, and therefore did not need to be marketed at a given date. In fact, I recall using the service frequently in the first week when first launched and Go North East employees were at Peterlee Bus Station handing out timetables to members of the public. However poor a level of promotion this was, it still existed - can the same be said about Arriva's 23 service?

If Arriva's 23 service is aimed at students, it should have been promoted at the start of the academic year (September), rather than two months down the line when the Autumn term is drawing to a close.

(10 Nov 2013, 1:12 pm)Dan wrote Whilst I agree that the "Wear Tees Xpress" X7 service should have been promoted when first launched to maximise the service's potential market, the service did not target a specific market like Arriva's 23 service appears to, and therefore did not need to be marketed at a given date. In fact, I recall using the service frequently in the first week when first launched and Go North East employees were at Peterlee Bus Station handing out timetables to members of the public. However poor a level of promotion this was, it still existed - can the same be said about Arriva's 23 service?

If Arriva's 23 service is aimed at students, it should have been promoted at the start of the academic year (September), rather than two months down the line when the Autumn term is drawing to a close.

I think it's more to do with the new East Durham student tickets rather than the 23 specifically. They are also valid on the 21/21A, 22, 24, 57A etc. They have been in place since September however...

Speaking of marketing...


Perhaps getting a little off-topic but all linked in, I guess...

I wonder if the 685 has ever had such marketing treatment?

It goes from bad to worse with Jesmond... They were using 7471 and 7476 on the 52 yesterday, a service that doesn't even justify and B10BLE! It's a waste because they could have been used on a busier service like the 306.

Also, 7471 now has a rear advert for East Coast.

(10 Nov 2013, 5:48 pm)Tom wrote It goes from bad to worse with Jesmond... They were using 7471 and 7476 on the 52 yesterday, a service that doesn't even justify and B10BLE! It's a waste because they could have been used on a busier service like the 306.

Also, 7471 now has a rear advert for East Coast.

You do understand that the 52 interworks with the 43, a route that does require Deckers. (And you can't run the 52 on its own, unless you give each trip a nice 21 minutes layover in Cramlington).

(10 Nov 2013, 5:53 pm)Kuyoyo wrote You do understand that the 52 interworks with the 43, a route that does require Deckers. (And you can't run the 52 on its own, unless you give each trip a nice 21 minutes layover in Cramlington).

Ah that explains it then. The 52 should be scrapped anyway, along with the 54. Services 51 and 53 always have good loads.

(10 Nov 2013, 5:30 pm)Dan wrote Speaking of marketing...


Perhaps getting a little off-topic but all linked in, I guess...

I wonder if the 685 has ever had such marketing treatment?

Probably not, but like most other long standing services, everyone knows the 685. The X84/X85 is a brand new project, which will be interesting to see how it works out.

I strongly suspect that in 12 months time, this additional service will over compensate demand and three bus operators will be running at a loss as not enough people overall within the coridoor to justify operation of the X84/X85 and Stagecoach/Arriva 685.

Competition, in this case is very likely to have a negative effect. I suspect it is a case of who will fold first and given the past, unless the X84/X85 starts to pick up more than concs, probably that! Most journeys carry 'freebies'.

(10 Nov 2013, 7:42 pm)VolvoMarkII wrote Probably not, but like most other long standing services, everyone knows the 685. The X84/X85 is a brand new project, which will be interesting to see how it works out.

I strongly suspect that in 12 months time, this additional service will over compensate demand and three bus operators will be running at a loss as not enough people overall within the coridoor to justify operation of the X84/X85 and Stagecoach/Arriva 685.

Competition, in this case is very likely to have a negative effect. I suspect it is a case of who will fold first and given the past, unless the X84/X85 starts to pick up more than concs, probably that! Most journeys carry 'freebies'.

Was the 685 never a 'new service'?

No comment on the 23 either?

(10 Nov 2013, 7:47 pm)Dan wrote Was the 685 never a 'new service'?

No comment on the 23 either?

Not in the age of the internet...