(21 Aug 2017, 12:29 am)Acky81 wrote X60 parkside-station road- new seaham-ryhope-tunstall bank estate- tunstall-doxford park-mill hill road-east herrington-shiney row- then direct to Washington galleries
Black cats solo to be used to see if a success
(21 Aug 2017, 9:40 am)S830OFT wrote Perhaps if the service could operate via Doxford International at Peak times as commuters usually change buses at Ryhope from the 60/61 routes to the 39/39A. Also I have noticed that this route is similar to the Nexus 37 service, this idea may work or it may not.
(01 Sep 2017, 9:54 am)BJ10VUS wrote I wonder if it would be worth extending the Allenheads journeys on the "Tynedale Links" 688 to Cowshill (around 8-10 minute journey) to connect with Weardale 101 to Stanhope and Bishop Auckland.
The current alternative route linking Allenheads and Cowshill is via Bishop Auckland, Newcastle and Hexham, so it would certainly reduce journey times between the two areas!
(05 Nov 2017, 1:36 pm)Malarkey wrote 690 - Durham Rail Station - Durham Bus Station - Chester-Le-Street - Pelton Fell - Grange Villa - Beamish - Sunniside - Whickham - Intu MetroCentre - Denton Burn - Throckley - Heddon-On-The-Wall - Wylam - Ovingham - Corebridge - Hexham
This new service will provide cross-regional links to various tourist and retail locations and will replace the X22 which will be withdrawn.
(24 Dec 2017, 7:17 pm)Malarkey wrote Some night bus suggestions which maybe viable with a few services merged together.
N1 - Easington Lane - Hetton-le-Hole - Houghton-le-Spring - Grasswell - Newbottle - Shiney Row - Fatfield - Glebe - Washington Galleries - Springwell Village - Wrekenton - Gateshead - Newcastle
N2 - Heworth - Usworth - Concord - Barmston - Washington Village - Biddick - Washington Galleries - Lambton - Harraton - Shiney Row - Hastings Hill - Grindon - Pennywell - Royal Hospital - Sunderland - Grangetown - Hollycarrside - Ryhope - Silksworth
N10 - Hexham - Corbridge - Riding Mill - Branch End - Prudhoe - Crawcrook - Ryton - Blaydon - Metrocentre - Newcastle
N11 - Whitley Bay - Marden - Tynemouth - North Shields - Howden - Wallsend - Byker - Newcastle - Gateshead - Bensham - Lobley Hill - Whickham - Fellside Park - Swalwell - intu Metrocentre
N16 - Castleside - Consett - Stanley - South Stanley - Craghead - Edmondsley - Sacriston - New College Durham - University Hospital of North Durham - Durham City Centre
N20 - Durham – Gilesgate Moor – Belmont – West Rainton – East Rainton – Hall Lane Estate – Houghton-le-Spring – East Herrington – Sunderland – Fulwell – Cleadon – Harton Nook – South Shields
N27 - South Shields - Chichester - Tyne Dock - Jarrow - Hebburn - Monkton Lane - Heworth - Sunderland Road - Gateshead - Newcastle
N39 - Blyth - Rotary Way - South Beach - Seaton Sluice - Whitley Bay - North Tyneside Hospital - North Shields - West Chirton - Battle Hill Drive - Coast Road - Cradlewell - Newcastle
N45 - Newcastle - Teams - Metrocentre - Swalwell - Rowlands Gill - Ebchester - Shotley Bridge - Blackhill - Consett - Number One - Blackhill - Shotley Bridge - Bridgehill - Pemberton Road - Consett
N46 - Newcastle - Teams - Metrocentre - Swalwell - Rowlands Gill - Ebchester - Shotley Bridge - Blackhill - Consett - Leadgate - Bradley Bungelows - Hat and Feather - Medomesley - The Dene
N50 - Durham - Framwellgate Moor - Arnison Centre - Plawsworth - Waldridge Park - Chester-le-Street - Ayton - Washington Galleries - Concord - Nissan - Boldon - West Harton - South Shields
N53/N54 - Newcastle - Bensham Road - Saltwell Park - Coatsworth Road - Gateshead - Deckham - Felling Square - Leam Lane Estate - Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Wrekenton - Harlow Green - Low Fell - Gateshead - Newcastle
N57 - Wardley - Ellen Wilkinson Estate - Heworth - Leam Lane Estate - Whitehills Estate - Beacon Lough Estate - Queen Elizabeth - Hospital - Gateshead - Newcastle - Coast Road - Battle Hill - Hadrian Park
N60 - Murton - Parkside - Dawdon - Seaham - New Seaham - Ryhope - Grangetown - Sunderland - Southwick - Castletown - Town End Farm
N78 - Consett - Leadgate - Greencroft - Annfield Plain - Stanley - Pelton - Chester-le-Street - Great Lumley - Shiney Row - Hastings Hill - Chester Road - Sunderland
(24 Dec 2017, 7:17 pm)Malarkey wrote Some night bus suggestions which maybe viable with a few services merged together.
N1 - Easington Lane - Hetton-le-Hole - Houghton-le-Spring - Grasswell - Newbottle - Shiney Row - Fatfield - Glebe - Washington Galleries - Springwell Village - Wrekenton - Gateshead - Newcastle
N2 - Heworth - Usworth - Concord - Barmston - Washington Village - Biddick - Washington Galleries - Lambton - Harraton - Shiney Row - Hastings Hill - Grindon - Pennywell - Royal Hospital - Sunderland - Grangetown - Hollycarrside - Ryhope - Silksworth
N10 - Hexham - Corbridge - Riding Mill - Branch End - Prudhoe - Crawcrook - Ryton - Blaydon - Metrocentre - Newcastle
N11 - Whitley Bay - Marden - Tynemouth - North Shields - Howden - Wallsend - Byker - Newcastle - Gateshead - Bensham - Lobley Hill - Whickham - Fellside Park - Swalwell - intu Metrocentre
N16 - Castleside - Consett - Stanley - South Stanley - Craghead - Edmondsley - Sacriston - New College Durham - University Hospital of North Durham - Durham City Centre
N20 - Durham – Gilesgate Moor – Belmont – West Rainton – East Rainton – Hall Lane Estate – Houghton-le-Spring – East Herrington – Sunderland – Fulwell – Cleadon – Harton Nook – South Shields
N27 - South Shields - Chichester - Tyne Dock - Jarrow - Hebburn - Monkton Lane - Heworth - Sunderland Road - Gateshead - Newcastle
N39 - Blyth - Rotary Way - South Beach - Seaton Sluice - Whitley Bay - North Tyneside Hospital - North Shields - West Chirton - Battle Hill Drive - Coast Road - Cradlewell - Newcastle
N45 - Newcastle - Teams - Metrocentre - Swalwell - Rowlands Gill - Ebchester - Shotley Bridge - Blackhill - Consett - Number One - Blackhill - Shotley Bridge - Bridgehill - Pemberton Road - Consett
N46 - Newcastle - Teams - Metrocentre - Swalwell - Rowlands Gill - Ebchester - Shotley Bridge - Blackhill - Consett - Leadgate - Bradley Bungelows - Hat and Feather - Medomesley - The Dene
N50 - Durham - Framwellgate Moor - Arnison Centre - Plawsworth - Waldridge Park - Chester-le-Street - Ayton - Washington Galleries - Concord - Nissan - Boldon - West Harton - South Shields
N53/N54 - Newcastle - Bensham Road - Saltwell Park - Coatsworth Road - Gateshead - Deckham - Felling Square - Leam Lane Estate - Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Wrekenton - Harlow Green - Low Fell - Gateshead - Newcastle
N57 - Wardley - Ellen Wilkinson Estate - Heworth - Leam Lane Estate - Whitehills Estate - Beacon Lough Estate - Queen Elizabeth - Hospital - Gateshead - Newcastle - Coast Road - Battle Hill - Hadrian Park
N60 - Murton - Parkside - Dawdon - Seaham - New Seaham - Ryhope - Grangetown - Sunderland - Southwick - Castletown - Town End Farm
N78 - Consett - Leadgate - Greencroft - Annfield Plain - Stanley - Pelton - Chester-le-Street - Great Lumley - Shiney Row - Hastings Hill - Chester Road - Sunderland
(24 Dec 2017, 7:48 pm)Adrian wrote Which ones are the viable ones then?![]()
I can't see why you'd have an N50, when there is not enough justification to run it out of Durham after 6pm? It only runs between Chester-le-Street and Shields on an evening, because it is secured.
X1/10/27... you may be able to stick a later run or two in (like they have done with the X1 recently), but I can't see them becoming a night bus anytime soon.
Your best bet are ironically the two you've missed off, i.e. an extension to an already established N21/N56 - or out of the town and right through Gateshead to be specific. I can't see there being much demand beyond Wrekenton or Harlow Green...
(24 Dec 2017, 8:19 pm)Malarkey wrote I reckon they all could be viable in some way, I would think a lot of people would use taxis across of these areas, so why not offer an extra run or two after midnight, obviously quite a few use the N21/N56 otherwise they'd not of lasted as long as they have, no reason why any of the above couldn't work.
(24 Dec 2017, 8:32 pm)Adrian wrote Say it costs £23 per hour to run each bus (which is what the QCS costings estimated), then you're looking at £690 per hour to have two vehicles out on each of those routes, for every hour. Are you really going to take at *least* that per hour in fares? Even meeting that would not be enough, as unfortunately most commercial operators have their own targets to meet. Just breaking even has an impact on overall profit figures.
(24 Dec 2017, 9:18 pm)Malarkey wrote But if GNE offered fares similar to Lothian (£3.50) for those who go out after 6pm for the evening then that would entice more people to use the service than getting in a taxi home thus covering the costs of running each bus per hour, perhaps trialling the cheaper fare offering on the N21/N56 first before looking at expansion of the Night Network.
Flip side of the coin think of how much it must cost to run a taxi per hour, more so if a taxi who usually operates the Asda rank at The Galleries ends up doing pick ups from Newcastle, Sunderland or Durham which a driver I had on friday night was going to do after he dropped off with my xmas shopping, so like the bus operator is a taxi firm breaking even and is that impacting overall profit figures.
(24 Dec 2017, 9:32 pm)Adrian wrote It costs a lot less to run a taxi per hour. Because if the taxi is empty, then it is not moving and the driver is not earning any money. A bus still has to run to a registered route, and a driver is still paid an hourly rate for driving that route.
I'd be a fan of reduced evening fares, but that should be for your existing evening services, with a view to being able to expand the offering over time. That doesn't instantly produce a night bus, and to be honest, would make you even less likely to hit that target of £690 an hour to run your proposed night buses...
(24 Dec 2017, 7:17 pm)Malarkey wrote Some night bus suggestions which maybe viable with a few services merged together.
N1 - Easington Lane - Hetton-le-Hole - Houghton-le-Spring - Grasswell - Newbottle - Shiney Row - Fatfield - Glebe - Washington Galleries - Springwell Village - Wrekenton - Gateshead - Newcastle - Could work
N2 - Heworth - Usworth - Concord - Barmston - Washington Village - Biddick - Washington Galleries - Lambton - Harraton - Shiney Row - Hastings Hill - Grindon - Pennywell - Royal Hospital - Sunderland - Grangetown - Hollycarrside - Ryhope - Silksworth - Unlikely, maybe a later run
N10 - Hexham - Corbridge - Riding Mill - Branch End - Prudhoe - Crawcrook - Ryton - Blaydon - Metrocentre - Newcastle - Could work if operating the 10B route between Newcastle and Prudhoe only
N11 - Whitley Bay - Marden - Tynemouth - North Shields - Howden - Wallsend - Byker - Newcastle - Gateshead - Bensham - Lobley Hill - Whickham - Fellside Park - Swalwell - intu Metrocentre - No Chance
N16 - Castleside - Consett - Stanley - South Stanley - Craghead - Edmondsley - Sacriston - New College Durham - University Hospital of North Durham - Durham City Centre - Hmmmmm, might, might not??? Maybe a later run
N20 - Durham – Gilesgate Moor – Belmont – West Rainton – East Rainton – Hall Lane Estate – Houghton-le-Spring – East Herrington – Sunderland – Fulwell – Cleadon – Harton Nook – South Shields - Could work
N27 - South Shields - Chichester - Tyne Dock - Jarrow - Hebburn - Monkton Lane - Heworth - Sunderland Road - Gateshead - Newcastle - Could work
N39 - Blyth - Rotary Way - South Beach - Seaton Sluice - Whitley Bay - North Tyneside Hospital - Billy Mill - Formica - Silverlink - Willington Square - Battle Hill Drive - Coast Road - Cradlewell - Newcastle - Could work but would be better under Arriva's hands as they have more of a monopoly. However, Arriva are only interested on runs that consist of a packed Gemini in limp mode running 15 minutes late with another bus chasing it.
N45 - Newcastle - Teams - Metrocentre - Swalwell - Rowlands Gill - Ebchester - Shotley Bridge - Blackhill - Consett - Number One - Blackhill - Shotley Bridge - Bridgehill - Pemberton Road - Consett - Same route as 47E might work
N46 - Newcastle - Teams - Metrocentre - Swalwell - Rowlands Gill - Ebchester - Shotley Bridge - Blackhill - Consett - Leadgate - Bradley Bungelows - Hat and Feather - Medomesley - The Dene - See above
N50 - Durham - Framwellgate Moor - Arnison Centre - Plawsworth - Waldridge Park - Chester-le-Street - Ayton - Washington Galleries - Concord - Nissan - Boldon - West Harton - South Shields - No chance
N53/N54 - Newcastle - Bensham Road - Saltwell Park - Coatsworth Road - Gateshead - Deckham - Felling Square - Leam Lane Estate - Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Wrekenton - Harlow Green - Low Fell - Gateshead - Newcastle - Might but unlikely
N57 - Wardley - Ellen Wilkinson Estate - Heworth - Leam Lane Estate - Whitehills Estate - Beacon Lough Estate - Queen Elizabeth - Hospital - Gateshead - Newcastle - Coast Road - Battle Hill - Hadrian Park - Not this route but an N58 serving the 58 route might work
N60 - Murton - Parkside - Dawdon - Seaham - New Seaham - Ryhope - Grangetown - Sunderland - Southwick - Castletown - Town End Farm - Unlikely, maybe a later run
N78 - Consett - Leadgate - Greencroft - Annfield Plain - Stanley - Pelton - Chester-le-Street - Great Lumley - Shiney Row - Hastings Hill - Chester Road - Sunderland - Unlikely, maybe a later run