![[Image: 49449908183_5810ffda17_c.jpg]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49449908183_5810ffda17_c.jpg)
Go North East X-lines 6331 / NK67 GNZ by kieron mathews, on Flickr![[Image: 49451035237_1088d06e2c_c.jpg]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49451035237_1088d06e2c_c.jpg)
Go North East X-lines 6331 / NK67 GNZ by kieron mathews, on FlickrGo North East X-lines 6331 / NK67 GNZ by kieron mathews, on Flickr
Go North East X-lines 6331 / NK67 GNZ by kieron mathews, on Flickr
6331 now in X-lines X21 livery
(26 Jan 2020, 6:30 pm)Michael Other than all the Loop Scania's and the coach seated Scania's getting withdrawn today due to changes, have we seen anymore fleet movements?
(26 Jan 2020, 6:30 pm)Michael Other than all the Loop Scania's and the coach seated Scania's getting withdrawn today due to changes, have we seen anymore fleet movements?
(27 Jan 2020, 5:17 pm)Malarkey Repaints last week included Wright StreetDeck 6331 (NK67 GNZ) into the blue variant of X-lines livery for service X21.Taking over from Bazza
Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5230 (NK55 OLH) has transferred from Deptford to Riverside, in order to replace similar 5231 (NK55 OLJ) which has been withdrawn. 5230 (NK55 OLH) was also later withdrawn from service at Riverside that week. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5232 (NK55 OLM) has also been withdrawn from service at Riverside.
Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6084 (NL63 XBS) has transferred from Riverside to Deptford, displacing recently refurbished 6099 (NL63 YJC) to Percy Main.
Former East Yorkshire Volvo B5TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 797 (BX14 SYT), now numbered 6335 within the Go North East fleet, has entered service at Riverside. It has been repainted into the “spare bus” X-lines livery and existing seats replaced with high-back Esteban Civic V3 seats trimmed in Go North East’s new moquette, with cream headrests. It should see primary allocation to services X9/X10 (Newcastle – Middlesbrough).
As a result of service changes, there have been a large number of vehicle movements this week:
Optare Solo SR M900/Optare 637, 638 and 639 (NK12 HCD/HCE/HCF) have transferred from Riverside to Deptford, allowing the similar pre-owned examples 718, 719 and 720 (YJ62 FMA/FME/FYH) to transfer from Deptford to Riverside, to operate the new 30/31/32 services which operate from Stanley to Lanchester, East Stanley and Annfield Plain.
Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6143 (YN04 GKA) has transferred from Percy Main to Chester-le-Street, displacing Vovlo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6912 (LX06 EBO) from Chester-le-Street to Consett and Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6932 (LX54 GZW) from Consett to Saltmeadows. Dual-door Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6911 (LX06 EBN) has also transferred from Riverside to Consett.
Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6146 (YN55 NFE) has transferred from Chester-le-Street to Riverside, whilst Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6043 (NK12 GCO) and 6044 (NK12 GCU), as well as dual-door Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6910 (LX06 EBM), have transferred from Riverside to Chester-le-Street. The two Volvo B9s should be allocated to “X-lines” service X21, following service changes on this route requiring more vehicles.
Wright Streetlite DF/Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid 5419 (NK15 EOL) has transferred from Consett to Chester-le-Street. Scania CN230UB/Scania OmniCity 5262 (NK56 KJX) and 5263 (NK56 KJY) have transferred from Chester-le-Street to Washington, displacing Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5486 (HW07 CXX) and 5487 (HW07 CXY) to Deptford, acting as float vehicles, covering for the repaints on the similar examples still branded as “Wear Xpress”.
In order to isolate dual-door configuration Volvo B7TLs at Saltmeadows, with provincial specification vehicles allocated to Riverside (where they are more likely to be allocated to services on the frontline core commercial network).Vehicles sold this week included Optare Solo M950/Optare 710, 711, 712, 713 and 714 (WK59 CWU/CWW/CWX/CWY/CWZ) to Scarlet Band, West Cornforth, and Scania K340EB/Caetano Levante 7096 (FJ08 KLU) to Weardale Motor Services.
- 3967, 3970, 3971, 3973, 3975, 3977, 3983 from Riverside to Saltmeadows
- 6920, 6921, 6922, 6923, 6924, 6925, 6926, 6927, 6928, 6929, 6930, 6931 from Riverside to Saltmeadows
- 3995, 3996, 6122, 6123, 6124, 6125, 6128, 6131, 6136, 6137, 6138, 6139 from Saltmeadows to Riverside
- 6935, 6936, 6938, 6939, 6940, 6941 from Saltmeadows to Riverside.
(27 Jan 2020, 5:17 pm)Malarkey Repaints last week included Wright StreetDeck 6331 (NK67 GNZ) into the blue variant of X-lines livery for service X21.Taking over from Bazza
Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5230 (NK55 OLH) has transferred from Deptford to Riverside, in order to replace similar 5231 (NK55 OLJ) which has been withdrawn. 5230 (NK55 OLH) was also later withdrawn from service at Riverside that week. Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5232 (NK55 OLM) has also been withdrawn from service at Riverside.
Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6084 (NL63 XBS) has transferred from Riverside to Deptford, displacing recently refurbished 6099 (NL63 YJC) to Percy Main.
Former East Yorkshire Volvo B5TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 797 (BX14 SYT), now numbered 6335 within the Go North East fleet, has entered service at Riverside. It has been repainted into the “spare bus” X-lines livery and existing seats replaced with high-back Esteban Civic V3 seats trimmed in Go North East’s new moquette, with cream headrests. It should see primary allocation to services X9/X10 (Newcastle – Middlesbrough).
As a result of service changes, there have been a large number of vehicle movements this week:
Optare Solo SR M900/Optare 637, 638 and 639 (NK12 HCD/HCE/HCF) have transferred from Riverside to Deptford, allowing the similar pre-owned examples 718, 719 and 720 (YJ62 FMA/FME/FYH) to transfer from Deptford to Riverside, to operate the new 30/31/32 services which operate from Stanley to Lanchester, East Stanley and Annfield Plain.
Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6143 (YN04 GKA) has transferred from Percy Main to Chester-le-Street, displacing Vovlo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6912 (LX06 EBO) from Chester-le-Street to Consett and Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6932 (LX54 GZW) from Consett to Saltmeadows. Dual-door Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6911 (LX06 EBN) has also transferred from Riverside to Consett.
Scania N94UD/East Lancs OmniDekka 6146 (YN55 NFE) has transferred from Chester-le-Street to Riverside, whilst Volvo B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 6043 (NK12 GCO) and 6044 (NK12 GCU), as well as dual-door Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 6910 (LX06 EBM), have transferred from Riverside to Chester-le-Street. The two Volvo B9s should be allocated to “X-lines” service X21, following service changes on this route requiring more vehicles.
Wright Streetlite DF/Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid 5419 (NK15 EOL) has transferred from Consett to Chester-le-Street. Scania CN230UB/Scania OmniCity 5262 (NK56 KJX) and 5263 (NK56 KJY) have transferred from Chester-le-Street to Washington, displacing Mercedes Citaro 0350N/Mercedes Citaro 5486 (HW07 CXX) and 5487 (HW07 CXY) to Deptford, acting as float vehicles, covering for the repaints on the similar examples still branded as “Wear Xpress”.
In order to isolate dual-door configuration Volvo B7TLs at Saltmeadows, with provincial specification vehicles allocated to Riverside (where they are more likely to be allocated to services on the frontline core commercial network).Vehicles sold this week included Optare Solo M950/Optare 710, 711, 712, 713 and 714 (WK59 CWU/CWW/CWX/CWY/CWZ) to Scarlet Band, West Cornforth, and Scania K340EB/Caetano Levante 7096 (FJ08 KLU) to Weardale Motor Services.
- 3967, 3970, 3971, 3973, 3975, 3977, 3983 from Riverside to Saltmeadows
- 6920, 6921, 6922, 6923, 6924, 6925, 6926, 6927, 6928, 6929, 6930, 6931 from Riverside to Saltmeadows
- 3995, 3996, 6122, 6123, 6124, 6125, 6128, 6131, 6136, 6137, 6138, 6139 from Saltmeadows to Riverside
- 6935, 6936, 6938, 6939, 6940, 6941 from Saltmeadows to Riverside.
Drove the 'new' 49A today, nice change not having to pootle all around Hanover Estate, but a shame that the next stop announcements haven't changed. I'm told there was an 'incident' with some angry old folks today when it didn't go through the estate despite it being announced...
Also that error on the timetable map is pretty shocking, and I'm not sure why we have a generic couple with shopping bags on there. For me after a few years here it seems like business as usual - Attempts at professional design and image all falling slightly short due to lack of attention to detail.
"718, 719 and 720 (YJ62 FMA/FME/FYH) to transfer from Deptford to Riverside, to operate the new 30/31/32 services which operate from Stanley to Lanchester, East Stanley and Annfield Plain"
Is this an error, should it now be Hownsgill? for these 3 Solo's
Or are they running these services from Riverside?
(27 Jan 2020, 4:36 pm)TEN 6083
6331 now in X-lines X21 livery
(27 Jan 2020, 4:36 pm)TEN 6083
6331 now in X-lines X21 livery
(27 Jan 2020, 5:23 pm)MrBoyt Drove the 'new' 49A today, nice change not having to pootle all around Hanover Estate, but a shame that the next stop announcements haven't changed. I'm told there was an 'incident' with some angry old folks today when it didn't go through the estate despite it being announced...
(27 Jan 2020, 6:07 pm)BeachBoy99 Ooh they've changed the destination display for the X21 to have the 'thinner' X like it is on X6|X7 & X20!!.
(27 Jan 2020, 5:23 pm)MrBoyt Drove the 'new' 49A today, nice change not having to pootle all around Hanover Estate, but a shame that the next stop announcements haven't changed. I'm told there was an 'incident' with some angry old folks today when it didn't go through the estate despite it being announced...
(27 Jan 2020, 6:07 pm)BeachBoy99 Ooh they've changed the destination display for the X21 to have the 'thinner' X like it is on X6|X7 & X20!!.
(27 Jan 2020, 6:15 pm)Dan They have changed, but it depends which bus you've been allocated. Hanover have attended to 60 buses out of 300 thus far. Outside of those 60 buses, some buses have taken the update and some haven't. We're in the hands of a supplier, who are aware of Go North East's desperation to get this sorted, and are aware that the deadline for completing all of this by was 26 January.
The X30/1, X45/6/7, X66 and X70/1/2 have also been updated. 6331 had the wrong version uploaded though (will be corrected by tomorrow) - the revised version shows "Eldon Square up to every 15 mins"... I'm sure someone would have noticed by now and will be itching to point it out!
(27 Jan 2020, 6:15 pm)Dan They have changed, but it depends which bus you've been allocated. Hanover have attended to 60 buses out of 300 thus far. Outside of those 60 buses, some buses have taken the update and some haven't. We're in the hands of a supplier, who are aware of Go North East's desperation to get this sorted, and are aware that the deadline for completing all of this by was 26 January.
The X30/1, X45/6/7, X66 and X70/1/2 have also been updated. 6331 had the wrong version uploaded though (will be corrected by tomorrow) - the revised version shows "Eldon Square up to every 15 mins"... I'm sure someone would have noticed by now and will be itching to point it out!
(27 Jan 2020, 6:15 pm)Dan They have changed, but it depends which bus you've been allocated. Hanover have attended to 60 buses out of 300 thus far. Outside of those 60 buses, some buses have taken the update and some haven't. We're in the hands of a supplier, who are aware of Go North East's desperation to get this sorted, and are aware that the deadline for completing all of this by was 26 January.Question with regards to the Eldon Square destination display. All streetlites change to “Eldon Square” at the Metro Centre but the B9 (6118-21 & 49-61) don’t unless manually changed. How come?
The X30/1, X45/6/7, X66 and X70/1/2 have also been updated. 6331 had the wrong version uploaded though (will be corrected by tomorrow) - the revised version shows "Eldon Square up to every 15 mins"... I'm sure someone would have noticed by now and will be itching to point it out!
(27 Jan 2020, 6:15 pm)Dan They have changed, but it depends which bus you've been allocated. Hanover have attended to 60 buses out of 300 thus far. Outside of those 60 buses, some buses have taken the update and some haven't. We're in the hands of a supplier, who are aware of Go North East's desperation to get this sorted, and are aware that the deadline for completing all of this by was 26 January.Question with regards to the Eldon Square destination display. All streetlites change to “Eldon Square” at the Metro Centre but the B9 (6118-21 & 49-61) don’t unless manually changed. How come?
The X30/1, X45/6/7, X66 and X70/1/2 have also been updated. 6331 had the wrong version uploaded though (will be corrected by tomorrow) - the revised version shows "Eldon Square up to every 15 mins"... I'm sure someone would have noticed by now and will be itching to point it out!
(27 Jan 2020, 6:36 pm)Stanleyone Question with regards to the Eldon Square destination display. All streetlites change to “Eldon Square” at the Metro Centre but the B9 (6118-21 & 49-61) don’t unless manually changed. How come?
(27 Jan 2020, 6:36 pm)Stanleyone Question with regards to the Eldon Square destination display. All streetlites change to “Eldon Square” at the Metro Centre but the B9 (6118-21 & 49-61) don’t unless manually changed. How come?
(27 Jan 2020, 5:23 pm)MrBoyt Drove the 'new' 49A today, nice change not having to pootle all around Hanover Estate, but a shame that the next stop announcements haven't changed. I'm told there was an 'incident' with some angry old folks today when it didn't go through the estate despite it being announced...
Also that error on the timetable map is pretty shocking, and I'm not sure why we have a generic couple with shopping bags on there. For me after a few years here it seems like business as usual - Attempts at professional design and image all falling slightly short due to lack of attention to detail.
(27 Jan 2020, 5:23 pm)MrBoyt Drove the 'new' 49A today, nice change not having to pootle all around Hanover Estate, but a shame that the next stop announcements haven't changed. I'm told there was an 'incident' with some angry old folks today when it didn't go through the estate despite it being announced...
Also that error on the timetable map is pretty shocking, and I'm not sure why we have a generic couple with shopping bags on there. For me after a few years here it seems like business as usual - Attempts at professional design and image all falling slightly short due to lack of attention to detail.
(27 Jan 2020, 6:44 pm)L469 YVK So have load factors improved on the 309/310/311? Just seen a tweet that a passenger had to go upstairs to find a seat and was complaining that the 309 & 310 was busier than usual.
(27 Jan 2020, 6:44 pm)L469 YVK So have load factors improved on the 309/310/311? Just seen a tweet that a passenger had to go upstairs to find a seat and was complaining that the 309 & 310 was busier than usual.
(27 Jan 2020, 7:28 pm)Malarkey Of course they are going to be busier when there is one less 309/310 per hour due to the introduction of the 311.I seen the 311 heading to Newcastle along the Coast Rd this morning and the loads seemed decent.
I'm back in work tomorrow so will give an update on loadings on the 309 in the coming days given I work on the Cobalt.
(27 Jan 2020, 7:28 pm)Malarkey Of course they are going to be busier when there is one less 309/310 per hour due to the introduction of the 311.I seen the 311 heading to Newcastle along the Coast Rd this morning and the loads seemed decent.
I'm back in work tomorrow so will give an update on loadings on the 309 in the coming days given I work on the Cobalt.
(27 Jan 2020, 8:04 pm)L469 YVK I seen the 311 heading to Newcastle along the Coast Rd this morning and the loads seemed decent.
I suspect Arriva will probably end up doing the following:
- 306 & 308 reduced to every 20 mins each
- 306 pulled from Battle Hill Drive creating a simple 10 min frequency between Billy Mill and Newcastle
- Evening services reduced to hourly on both services (with them interworking and 308 getting more running time during the evenings)
- Section of 306 withdrawn between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay with 51A extended to Marden Estate via West Allotment, New York and Rake Lane
- X6 withdrawn
(27 Jan 2020, 8:04 pm)L469 YVK I seen the 311 heading to Newcastle along the Coast Rd this morning and the loads seemed decent.
I suspect Arriva will probably end up doing the following:
- 306 & 308 reduced to every 20 mins each
- 306 pulled from Battle Hill Drive creating a simple 10 min frequency between Billy Mill and Newcastle
- Evening services reduced to hourly on both services (with them interworking and 308 getting more running time during the evenings)
- Section of 306 withdrawn between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay with 51A extended to Marden Estate via West Allotment, New York and Rake Lane
- X6 withdrawn
(27 Jan 2020, 9:12 pm)Storx How can you suspect any of that? None of it makes sense.
- Why would they drop the frequency they've both been every 15 minutes forever and the 308 is one of Arriva's flagship routes and slightly less frequent than GNE as it is (8 buses vs 9 along the coast road).
* 306 & 308 currently run on a 5/10 split between Billy Mill and Willington Square with the 308 taking the bulk of passengers. A combined 10 minute frequency would spread the load more evenly between them. ANE would still have the monopoly between Billy Mill and Station Road including Malton and Selby Gardens.
- Removing the 306 from Battle Hill will remove the link from there to the coast and Tynemouth.
* Battle Hill is mainly GNE territory now. If passengers needed a bus to the Coast or Tynemouth, it's not too far in most instances to walk to the Coast road. Removing the 306 from Battle Hill Drive would also improve reliability.
- The 306 and 308 are both busy at evenings why would they do that.
* GNE now operate a 20 minute service. Both the 310 & 311 departures at xx:05 and xx:25 will take passengers from Arriva between Newcastle and Station Road. Even if Arriva moved the 306 & 308 to xx:00,15,30,45 they'd still have 2x journeys at xx:30 (5 minutes after the 311) and xx:45 not guaranteed to pick up on shared corridor. If the 306 & 308 were reduced to hourly, the 308 would most likely run at xx:15 with the 306 running at xx:45.
- Interworking also makes no sense the 308's at night run to Blyth and go into the depot why would you have dead running back to Jesmond or an empty extra bus from Blyth to Newcastle. Also they'd be less frequent than GNE.
* From a timetable I've devised (which I will upload to the Arriva suggestions in due course), the only cross depot dead mileage would be as follows:
@ 1x Jesmond board running light back from Blyth between 1800-1900 (after doing a most likely profitable 17:10 308 journey to Blyth).
@ 1x Jesmond board running light to Whitley Bay to commence a short 308 to Newcastle on a Saturday morning.
- So removing the link from Marden to Whitley, Morrisons, Tynemouth and North Shields with Arriva and having an extremly long winded and pointless route along Rake Lane to Marden. (The recently axed 59 with 1 person a journey).
* 51A would be roughly be the same if not slightly quicker than the 306. 51A would provide links to Morrisons. GNE's 1/1A provide links to Whitley Bay, Tynemouth and North Shields from Marden.
- Don't know enough on the X6 to comment on that.
(27 Jan 2020, 9:12 pm)Storx How can you suspect any of that? None of it makes sense.
- Why would they drop the frequency they've both been every 15 minutes forever and the 308 is one of Arriva's flagship routes and slightly less frequent than GNE as it is (8 buses vs 9 along the coast road).
* 306 & 308 currently run on a 5/10 split between Billy Mill and Willington Square with the 308 taking the bulk of passengers. A combined 10 minute frequency would spread the load more evenly between them. ANE would still have the monopoly between Billy Mill and Station Road including Malton and Selby Gardens.
- Removing the 306 from Battle Hill will remove the link from there to the coast and Tynemouth.
* Battle Hill is mainly GNE territory now. If passengers needed a bus to the Coast or Tynemouth, it's not too far in most instances to walk to the Coast road. Removing the 306 from Battle Hill Drive would also improve reliability.
- The 306 and 308 are both busy at evenings why would they do that.
* GNE now operate a 20 minute service. Both the 310 & 311 departures at xx:05 and xx:25 will take passengers from Arriva between Newcastle and Station Road. Even if Arriva moved the 306 & 308 to xx:00,15,30,45 they'd still have 2x journeys at xx:30 (5 minutes after the 311) and xx:45 not guaranteed to pick up on shared corridor. If the 306 & 308 were reduced to hourly, the 308 would most likely run at xx:15 with the 306 running at xx:45.
- Interworking also makes no sense the 308's at night run to Blyth and go into the depot why would you have dead running back to Jesmond or an empty extra bus from Blyth to Newcastle. Also they'd be less frequent than GNE.
* From a timetable I've devised (which I will upload to the Arriva suggestions in due course), the only cross depot dead mileage would be as follows:
@ 1x Jesmond board running light back from Blyth between 1800-1900 (after doing a most likely profitable 17:10 308 journey to Blyth).
@ 1x Jesmond board running light to Whitley Bay to commence a short 308 to Newcastle on a Saturday morning.
- So removing the link from Marden to Whitley, Morrisons, Tynemouth and North Shields with Arriva and having an extremly long winded and pointless route along Rake Lane to Marden. (The recently axed 59 with 1 person a journey).
* 51A would be roughly be the same if not slightly quicker than the 306. 51A would provide links to Morrisons. GNE's 1/1A provide links to Whitley Bay, Tynemouth and North Shields from Marden.
- Don't know enough on the X6 to comment on that.
(27 Jan 2020, 8:04 pm)L469 YVK I seen the 311 heading to Newcastle along the Coast Rd this morning and the loads seemed decent.
I suspect Arriva will probably end up doing the following:
- 306 & 308 reduced to every 20 mins each
- 306 pulled from Battle Hill Drive creating a simple 10 min frequency between Billy Mill and Newcastle
- Evening services reduced to hourly on both services (with them interworking and 308 getting more running time during the evenings)
- Section of 306 withdrawn between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay with 51A extended to Marden Estate via West Allotment, New York and Rake Lane
- X6 withdrawn
(27 Jan 2020, 8:04 pm)L469 YVK I seen the 311 heading to Newcastle along the Coast Rd this morning and the loads seemed decent.
I suspect Arriva will probably end up doing the following:
- 306 & 308 reduced to every 20 mins each
- 306 pulled from Battle Hill Drive creating a simple 10 min frequency between Billy Mill and Newcastle
- Evening services reduced to hourly on both services (with them interworking and 308 getting more running time during the evenings)
- Section of 306 withdrawn between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay with 51A extended to Marden Estate via West Allotment, New York and Rake Lane
- X6 withdrawn
(27 Jan 2020, 11:10 pm)peter What is it with your obsession with changing the 306/308........you say almost every other week how you think Arriva will change it or they'll be replaced with an X38 etc and yet here they are still running more or less the same as they have for years and years previous. And now your suggestions are ending up in the GNE thread when they aren't even GNE services!Not a suggestion, more of a prediction if anything in response to the market. As quoted by another user in previous posts when the changes were released, he rightly quoted it would be sensible for Arriva to follow suit and drop their equivalent services to every 20 minutes.
(27 Jan 2020, 11:10 pm)peter What is it with your obsession with changing the 306/308........you say almost every other week how you think Arriva will change it or they'll be replaced with an X38 etc and yet here they are still running more or less the same as they have for years and years previous. And now your suggestions are ending up in the GNE thread when they aren't even GNE services!Not a suggestion, more of a prediction if anything in response to the market. As quoted by another user in previous posts when the changes were released, he rightly quoted it would be sensible for Arriva to follow suit and drop their equivalent services to every 20 minutes.
