(07 Sep 2017, 12:21 pm)S830OFT wrote There is a few suggestions for North East services.Seems pointless to withdraw the X14, as that's always been the one to serve Thropton. Why not cut the X16 and increase the X14 frequency between Morpeth and Newcastle, like it was before the X16s introduction?
*New* X13: Newcastle - Newcastle Airport - Ponteland - Shilvington - Morpeth.
This service will create new links between Newcastle Airport and Morpeth and a extra service to Newcastle. The service will operate via the old 79 route from Ponteland, between Newcastle and Newcastle Airport the service will operate limited stop. The service will operate every 2 hours Mon - Sat daytimes using a Optare Solo.
X14: Service Withdrawn - The route is transferred to route X16.
X16: This service will continue to operate hourly, although extended to Thropton to replace service X14. The sunday service will be transferred to service X18.
*New* X19: Cobalt - Northumberland Park - Cramlington - Bedlington - Morpeth. This service will operate one journey each direction Monday to Friday peak times. This service will offer new links from Morpeth and Bedlington to Cobalt, also providing a extra service alongside service 43.
(07 Sep 2017, 1:27 pm)mb134 wrote Seems pointless to withdraw the X14, as that's always been the one to serve Thropton. Why not cut the X16 and increase the X14 frequency between Morpeth and Newcastle, like it was before the X16s introduction?
"Sunday service transferred to the X18" - I'm assuming this means the newly introduced 2 hourly X14 Sunday service? The one that gives Morpeth a bus to Newcastle every half an hour?
(07 Sep 2017, 1:27 pm)mb134 wrote Seems pointless to withdraw the X14, as that's always been the one to serve Thropton. Why not cut the X16 and increase the X14 frequency between Morpeth and Newcastle, like it was before the X16s introduction?
"Sunday service transferred to the X18" - I'm assuming this means the newly introduced 2 hourly X14 Sunday service? The one that gives Morpeth a bus to Newcastle every half an hour?
(07 Sep 2017, 1:55 pm)S830OFT wrote With some X14 journeys cut previously it would make more sense to take it off and replace it with service X16. It would work if Jesmond operate the New X13 and X19 using 1 bus. Then Ashington to operate service X16 using Max E400s. And yes the recently introduced Sunday service.I think it would make sense to just operate everything as an X14, including at the moment. I know that, going back to the days when MPDs were used on that X14/16 working, people associate the X16 with a smaller vehicle and so will aim for the bus either side. This leads to X16s often leaving Morpeth quite empty, and a whole load of people waiting for the next E400.
(07 Sep 2017, 12:21 pm)S830OFT wrote *New* X19: Cobalt - Northumberland Park - Cramlington - Bedlington - Morpeth. This service will operate one journey each direction Monday to Friday peak times. This service will offer new links from Morpeth and Bedlington to Cobalt, also providing a extra service alongside service 43.
(07 Sep 2017, 2:35 pm)omnicity4659 wrote I'd also cut the X16. Extend the 35 to Kirkhill and withdraw the service Woodhorn-Newbiggin.I forgot about the Kirkhill section, but if the X16 replaced the X14 the Kirkhill section would be reinstated by a extended 2.
Reinstate the 15 min frequency on 35, and have a service to Kirkhill every 30 on the single deck boards.
It's not really possible to merge the X14 and X16, as buses will have to back up on themselves through Morpeth along Curly Kews and Oldgate, or if a bus can even fit around there, around the back of Kirkhill along by Newminster School, and even then, there won't be enough time to turn around in Thropton.
Also, the X13 wouldn't work. The 79 nor the old 100 service didn't pick up passengers, so it just wouldn't be commercially viable.
(07 Sep 2017, 2:35 pm)omnicity4659 wrote I'd also cut the X16. Extend the 35 to Kirkhill and withdraw the service Woodhorn-Newbiggin.I forgot about the Kirkhill section, but if the X16 replaced the X14 the Kirkhill section would be reinstated by a extended 2.
Reinstate the 15 min frequency on 35, and have a service to Kirkhill every 30 on the single deck boards.
It's not really possible to merge the X14 and X16, as buses will have to back up on themselves through Morpeth along Curly Kews and Oldgate, or if a bus can even fit around there, around the back of Kirkhill along by Newminster School, and even then, there won't be enough time to turn around in Thropton.
Also, the X13 wouldn't work. The 79 nor the old 100 service didn't pick up passengers, so it just wouldn't be commercially viable.
(07 Sep 2017, 4:18 pm)omnicity4659 wrote So what benefit would passengers from Rothbury and Thropton get from their service, basically, being renumbered to X16?
(07 Sep 2017, 4:40 pm)S830OFT wrote Rothbury and Thropton passengers will get several benefits:
1. Service retimed to be hourly with all journeys to Newcastle
2. Improve punctuality - For example passenger's can continue journeys to Alwinton on service 16.
Ofcourse it's a little benefit, however it would make services a little bit more simple in those particular areas.
(07 Sep 2017, 4:33 pm)omnicity4659 wrote My plan would be...
- X15, revised to every 30 mins Newcastle to Alnwick, increasing capacity while replacing the withdrawn X16 journeys and increased PVR covered by new buses.
- X16, withdrawn. 1408/11 repainted into new Arriva livery and transferred to Ashington for 35.
- 35, increased to every 15 mins, withdrawn Woodhorn-Newbiggin and extended to Kirkhill Estate every 30 mins, replacing the half-hourly X16. 1408/11 will contribute to the PVR with E400s cascading from X15, however more single decks may be required if deckers can't get up Curly Kews.
(07 Sep 2017, 4:53 pm)Jimmi wrote If you were going to run to Thropton hourly, just make the X14 go there hourly, zero need to change the service number to the X16 which would only cause pointless confusion to passengers.
Morpeth - Thropton stretch is supported and was recently cut from a hourly service, if it was busy enough to still run to Thropton every hour then Arriva may have continued to keep it going there hourly despite the cuts in subsidy.
(07 Sep 2017, 4:54 pm)S830OFT wrote
I agree to the X15 suggested changes as it would definitely allow faster journey times.
Perhaps from Haymarket it could be:
X18: 03 mins past
X15: 18 mins past
X20: 30 mins past
X14: 33 mins past
X15: 48 mins past
It would be easy for passengers if the X14 and X20 depart at the same time as they both operate completely different routes.
As for your 35 suggestion perhaps introdicing the 35A where deckers are allocated to, this would allow service 35 to operate to Kirkhill and 35A to Morpeth.
I believe the cut from hourly was due to the introduction of PCL Travels M1 service, correct me if I'm wrong.
(02 Nov 2017, 10:09 pm)i would run x19 through wingate but if not we dont want to lose x21 its our only through bus to sunderland we lost x7 last year well used but still got took off wrote Darlington:
7: Darlington - Newton Aycliffe - Ferryhill - Durham - Arnison Centre
This service will be revised to operate every 20 minutes Mon - Sat daytimes with a Hourly evening timetable. All Evening and Sunday journeys will operate to Arnison Centre whilst the remaining journeys will terminate at Durham (as current)
*New* X19: Darlington - A66 - Stockton - Billingham - A19 - Peterlee - A19 - Dalton Park - Seaham - Sunderland
This service will allow the withdrawal of service X21 and open new links between Sunderland and Stockton. This service will operate hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes. As a Consequence of this new service Route X66 will be reduced to hourly. This unfortunately only means 3 buses an hour between Middlesbrough and Darlington. But 4 buses an hour between Stockton and Darlington.
*New* 9: Durham - Willington - Bishop Auckland - West Auckland - Cockfield - Barnard Castle - Eggleston - Middleton in Teesdale.
This New service will operate Saturdays only on a 2 hour frequency with only 4 journeys in each direction, this service will allow a new link for mainly day trippers and tourists in County Durham.
X21: Darlington - Newton Aycliffe - Sedgefield - Wingate - Peterlee
This service will be revised to operate to its old route, passengers for Sunderland from Sedgefield and Wingate can change to services X19, 22, 23.
X22: On Saturday Daytimes this service will operate into Teesside Park.
X66: Revised to Operate hourly following new service X19. Service X67 will remain up to every 30 minutes Mon - Sat daytimes.
Newcastle:
X9: Blyth - Cramlington - Regent Centre - Newcastle - Metrocentre
This service will be extended to Metrocentre on Saturday daytimes to provide passengers with access to big retail.
X14: Thropton - Rothbury - Longframlington - Morpeth - Pegswood - Ashington.
This service will be rerouted from Morpeth to Ashington, this will have numerous benefits one of which will allow Passengers to have access to big retail at Ashington, also allow drivers to have extra transport for changeovers. Passengers for Newcastle can continue on services 43, 44, X15, X16, X18.
X16: Kirkhill - Morpeth - A1 - Regent Centre - Newcastle - Metrocentre
This service will be extended to Metrocentre on Saturday daytimes to provide passengers with access to big retail.
By these changes passengers from Blyth, Cramlington and Morpeth will have a frequent Saturday service to Metrocentre.
That's my Suggestions!
(02 Nov 2017, 10:09 pm)S830OFT wrote Some Suggestions
Darlington:
7: Darlington - Newton Aycliffe - Ferryhill - Durham - Arnison Centre
This service will be revised to operate every 20 minutes Mon - Sat daytimes with a Hourly evening timetable. All Evening and Sunday journeys will operate to Arnison Centre whilst the remaining journeys will terminate at Durham (as current)
*New* X19: Darlington - A66 - Stockton - Billingham - A19 - Peterlee - A19 - Dalton Park - Seaham - Sunderland
This service will allow the withdrawal of service X21 and open new links between Sunderland and Stockton. This service will operate hourly Monday to Saturday daytimes. As a Consequence of this new service Route X66 will be reduced to hourly. This unfortunately only means 3 buses an hour between Middlesbrough and Darlington. But 4 buses an hour between Stockton and Darlington.
*New* 9: Durham - Willington - Bishop Auckland - West Auckland - Cockfield - Barnard Castle - Eggleston - Middleton in Teesdale.
This New service will operate Saturdays only on a 2 hour frequency with only 4 journeys in each direction, this service will allow a new link for mainly day trippers and tourists in County Durham.
X21: Darlington - Newton Aycliffe - Sedgefield - Wingate - Peterlee
This service will be revised to operate to its old route, passengers for Sunderland from Sedgefield and Wingate can change to services X19, 22, 23.
X22: On Saturday Daytimes this service will operate into Teesside Park.
X66: Revised to Operate hourly following new service X19. Service X67 will remain up to every 30 minutes Mon - Sat daytimes.
Newcastle:
X9: Blyth - Cramlington - Regent Centre - Newcastle - Metrocentre
This service will be extended to Metrocentre on Saturday daytimes to provide passengers with access to big retail.
X14: Thropton - Rothbury - Longframlington - Morpeth - Pegswood - Ashington.
This service will be rerouted from Morpeth to Ashington, this will have numerous benefits one of which will allow Passengers to have access to big retail at Ashington, also allow drivers to have extra transport for changeovers. Passengers for Newcastle can continue on services 43, 44, X15, X16, X18.
X16: Kirkhill - Morpeth - A1 - Regent Centre - Newcastle - Metrocentre
This service will be extended to Metrocentre on Saturday daytimes to provide passengers with access to big retail.
By these changes passengers from Blyth, Cramlington and Morpeth will have a frequent Saturday service to Metrocentre.
That's my Suggestions!
(02 Nov 2017, 10:09 pm)S830OFT wrote Newcastle:
X9: Blyth - Cramlington - Regent Centre - Newcastle - Metrocentre
This service will be extended to Metrocentre on Saturday daytimes to provide passengers with access to big retail.
X14: Thropton - Rothbury - Longframlington - Morpeth - Pegswood - Ashington.
This service will be rerouted from Morpeth to Ashington, this will have numerous benefits one of which will allow Passengers to have access to big retail at Ashington, also allow drivers to have extra transport for changeovers. Passengers for Newcastle can continue on services 43, 44, X15, X16, X18.
X16: Kirkhill - Morpeth - A1 - Regent Centre - Newcastle - Metrocentre
This service will be extended to Metrocentre on Saturday daytimes to provide passengers with access to big retail.
By these changes passengers from Blyth, Cramlington and Morpeth will have a frequent Saturday service to Metrocentre.
That's my Suggestions!
(02 Nov 2017, 10:43 pm)Jimmi wrote Decreasing 7 frequency would be a disaster, especially as it's timed to provide a service roughly every 7/8 minutes between Darlington and Newton Aycliffe with the 5/5A, 8 & X21 and not that many travelled to the Arnison Centre when it terminated there in the past.
X19 would be a disaster as dropping a X66 to Middlesbrough in favour of this would cause anger and frustration, especially if people living on North Road or at Harrowgate Hill and Whinfield have only one bus an hour, can't imagine many would go to Sunderland from Darlington, Stockton or Billingham, pointless competition (suicide) with the X9/X10 and the current X21 between Peterlee and Sunderland is often a ghost town.
9 Arriva pulled out of those areas for a reason, the reason being low passenger numbers.
X66 running hourly would be a disaster considering how busy it is, especially with people heading towards Middlesbrough from various parts of Darlington (not just the town centre).
X14 don't see the point, passengers can just connect to the 35.
X9/X16 l where the extra buses that would be required to run on the extensions of these services come from?
(02 Nov 2017, 10:43 pm)Jimmi wrote Decreasing 7 frequency would be a disaster, especially as it's timed to provide a service roughly every 7/8 minutes between Darlington and Newton Aycliffe with the 5/5A, 8 & X21 and not that many travelled to the Arnison Centre when it terminated there in the past.
X19 would be a disaster as dropping a X66 to Middlesbrough in favour of this would cause anger and frustration, especially if people living on North Road or at Harrowgate Hill and Whinfield have only one bus an hour, can't imagine many would go to Sunderland from Darlington, Stockton or Billingham, pointless competition (suicide) with the X9/X10 and the current X21 between Peterlee and Sunderland is often a ghost town.
9 Arriva pulled out of those areas for a reason, the reason being low passenger numbers.
X66 running hourly would be a disaster considering how busy it is, especially with people heading towards Middlesbrough from various parts of Darlington (not just the town centre).
X14 don't see the point, passengers can just connect to the 35.
X9/X16 l where the extra buses that would be required to run on the extensions of these services come from?
(02 Nov 2017, 10:53 pm)S830OFT wrote The buses will come from Jesmond with Jesmond running 1 or 2 trips using some 02 plate Geminis which are Spare when the Scholars aren't on.
The buses will come from Jesmond with Jesmond running 1 or 2 trips using some 02 plate Geminis which are Spare when the Scholars aren't on.
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(05 Nov 2017, 7:38 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I don't think passengers in Durham would be pleased to have to wait for a 7 to turn up to get to the Arnison centre. It's bad enough waiting for a 64 to get across from Gilesgate!
(05 Nov 2017, 8:09 pm)Jimmi wrote When the 7/7A went up there previously, passengers used to get on whichever turned up first, even if it meant a longer trip round Newton Hall on the 63/64, same story with the 62 now.