(22 Apr 2021, 7:02 pm)Storx wrote Ah yeah always get them mixed up still stuck in my head with the 356 to Shields and 343/344 to Whitley.

Tbh does there even need to be a bus between FLE and West Moor. I know it's about connecting Quorum to Wallsend but can't see many people using it when it's hourly and there's a 15 minute service with the 62 and 22/40 if you really need it (most people will have to get to Wallsend anyway for the 42A).

The 42A should go North from Dudley imo like the old 101 used to do. Bar Killingworth it makes no sense for anyone South of there to use it to Kingston Park or the Airport as you can just get the Metro and I can't see there's a massive demand from Dinnington or Wideopen down there either.

It's a bit of a confused route with no real purpose for most of it especially when it's so out of GNE's operating area aswell so no-one will have day tickets / passes for it.

I agree

(22 Apr 2021, 7:02 pm)Storx wrote Ah yeah always get them mixed up still stuck in my head with the 356 to Shields and 343/344 to Whitley.

Tbh does there even need to be a bus between FLE and West Moor. I know it's about connecting Quorum to Wallsend but can't see many people using it when it's hourly and there's a 15 minute service with the 62 and 22/40 if you really need it (most people will have to get to Wallsend anyway for the 42A).

The 42A should go North from Dudley imo like the old 101 used to do. Bar Killingworth it makes no sense for anyone South of there to use it to Kingston Park or the Airport as you can just get the Metro and I can't see there's a massive demand from Dinnington or Wideopen down there either.

It's a bit of a confused route with no real purpose for most of it especially when it's so out of GNE's operating area aswell so no-one will have day tickets / passes for it.

I only use GNE now (bar the Phoenix 808, and I plan to ride the A-line 792 at some point) so always have a day ticket for GNE (when not in a pandemic!) and have used the 42A between Wallsend and Kingston Park more than once! Fingers crossed the 42A remains as otherwise I have to walk from Gosforth (Q3 or 33/33A) which is twice as far as Kingston Park.  The purpose is to save money by sticking to one bus operator. Yeah, it't not a typical GNE operating area, but give passengers a bloody choice! Metro costs a fortune in addition to buses. At least 3 times I've used the 42A and it's been a vital service, at least a useful one.

(22 Apr 2021, 10:59 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote I only use GNE now (bar the Phoenix 808, and I plan to ride the A-line 792 at some point) so always have a day ticket for GNE (when not in a pandemic!) and have used the 42A between Wallsend and Kingston Park more than once! Fingers crossed the 42A remains as otherwise I have to walk from Gosforth (Q3 or 33/33A) which is twice as far as Kingston Park.  The purpose is to save money by sticking to one bus operator. Yeah, it't not a typical GNE operating area, but give passengers a bloody choice! Metro costs a fortune in addition to buses. At least 3 times I've used the 42A and it's been a vital service, at least a useful one.

I think GNE should add another service to run between Kingston Park and Killingworth to make the 42A and whatever route a 30 minute service. It pains when I've been in wideopen getting of the 42A then having to wait an hour for it to come back. I miss the old days when if your were anywhere between Dudley and wideopen. You had a bus nearly every second

(22 Apr 2021, 11:28 pm)Micheal Aaron Parker wrote I think GNE should add another service to run between Kingston Park and Killingworth to make the 42A and whatever route a 30 minute service. It pains when I've been in wideopen getting of the 42A then having to wait an hour for it to come back. I miss the old days when if your were anywhere between Dudley and wideopen. You had a bus nearly every second

Yeah, I'm planning to get the 42A from Kingston Park to Killingworth sometime and like you say it will be an hour until it comes back to get me back to Kingston Park! GNE should introduce the 48 between Killingworth and Kingston Park, and make the 42A half-hourly between Wallsend and Dinnington.

(22 Apr 2021, 10:59 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote I only use GNE now (bar the Phoenix 808, and I plan to ride the A-line 792 at some point) so always have a day ticket for GNE (when not in a pandemic!) and have used the 42A between Wallsend and Kingston Park more than once! Fingers crossed the 42A remains as otherwise I have to walk from Gosforth (Q3 or 33/33A) which is twice as far as Kingston Park.  The purpose is to save money by sticking to one bus operator. Yeah, it't not a typical GNE operating area, but give passengers a bloody choice! Metro costs a fortune in addition to buses. At least 3 times I've used the 42A and it's been a vital service, at least a useful one.

In fairness though you'll be the extreme minority to use that bus for the whole of its length. I actually agree with what your saying about tickets but it's in the wrong operating area so it actually in reality does the opposite.

For example someone in Annitsford or Dinnington will only have an Arriva ticket so to have to fork extra to pay for a one hourly GNE bus route it just won't happen especially when sections are covered by the 43 / 44 / 45 / 52 / 53 doing the same route. Similar those in the Killingworth / Forest Hall / Quorum area are all in a strong Stagecoach areas. Even most passengers in Wallsend will either have a Stagecoach or Metro ticket aswell tbh as they're cheaper and more frequent so they'd do the 22/X47 or Metro depending where they are. 

Sometimes you can get away with it if you could connect with something at the other end ie the hourly Tynedale Links services but it doesn't even do that.

(22 Apr 2021, 11:59 am)big mac wrote For a place as big as the Team Valley in terms of the amount of workplaces, the bus service there seems completely inadequate.  During the main part of the day it's literally only one service along Kingsway every 20 minutes.

One suggestion to at least give it something more would be to make the X32, which is currently only peak time, a regular all-day service.  It would give the Team Valley a direct service to Newcastle during the day, and would still be about the same journey time as the x30/x31 from Newcastle to Stanley.  It would also provide a quicker option from Newcastle to Ouston than the 28/28a currently provide.

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I think that X32 option could work.
My own thoughts would be to send the 28a along Kingsway. 
Certainly cheaper from an ops perspective.

(23 Apr 2021, 8:27 am)Andreos1 wrote I think that X32 option could work.
My own thoughts would be to send the 28a along Kingsway. 
Certainly cheaper from an ops perspective.

Only issue with that is that it would leave part of Saltwell Road South with no service at all.

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(23 Apr 2021, 9:59 am)big mac wrote Only issue with that is that it would leave part of Saltwell Road South with no service at all.

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Ah yeah, forgot about that little stretch.
Without checking, I can't think how many stops are on there between The Gold Medal and Bell Vue Bank. 2? 3?

(24 Apr 2021, 9:55 am)Andreos1 wrote Ah yeah, forgot about that little stretch.
Without checking, I can't think how many stops are on there between The Gold Medal and Bell Vue Bank. 2? 3?

It's three northbound and four southbound.

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Could introduce the 28B full time and send it along there in place of the 28A or keep 28A as is and send the 28B along Kingsway

(24 Apr 2021, 4:13 pm)V514DFT wrote Could introduce the 28B full time and send it along there in place of the 28A or keep 28A as is and send the 28B along Kingsway

I think that's a good shout. Have the 28b go along Saltwell Road South and the 28a along Kingsway, which would give direct links to the Team Valley from Birtley etc.

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It makes sense imo

Would there be any routes where a 3-5 journey (each way) Shoppers service for Eldon Square or Metrocentre would be heavily used.

Are there any routes that would justify 24 hour running. Got the idea when looking at
Reading Buses' routes

(27 Apr 2021, 10:43 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Would there be any routes where a 3-5 journey (each way) Shoppers service for Eldon Square or Metrocentre would be heavily used.

If doing that. Your competitors with the 100 by stagecoach. Yea it would be good to do that but you have quite a few buses going to the metrocenter

(29 Apr 2021, 4:36 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Are there any routes that would justify 24 hour running. Got the idea when looking at
Reading Buses' routes

I doubt it. The 21 used to be 24/7 but didn’t last long and that was in a boom period.

(29 Apr 2021, 4:36 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Are there any routes that would justify 24 hour running. Got the idea when looking at
Reading Buses' routes

Not sure there is.  Like been pointed out the 21 used to be on a weekend and potential for a few very early X10 journeys for students at Teesside university to go to Newcastle and back but other than that I would say no.

74 diverted from Westerhope via Newbiggin Hall and Kingston Park (M71 route) onto Ponteland Road to Newcastle.

Special trips once in each direction :

Service 112 from West Jesmond to Blaydon via Fenham

Service 113 to Consett via Westerhope, Sunniside and South Stanley and Service 174 to Consett via Hexham and Stamfordham. Both from Newcastle Central Station.

Service 127 to South Shields from Callerton Village and Westerhope via Newcastle, Gateshead and Jarrow.

Service 151 from Hexham to Tynemouth via Newcastle Airport and Cowgate.

Service X74 to Washington Galleries via Cowgate, Westerhope and Metrocentre.

(29 Apr 2021, 4:36 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Are there any routes that would justify 24 hour running. Got the idea when looking at
Reading Buses' routes

The problem with 24 hour buses up here is there mostly all one way bar the N21 which kept going for a bit longer with Durham at one end and Newcastle at the other (not sure if it's coming back).

London etc can get away with it as you'll be taking people home from London and night shifts but at the same time taking people into work who are on early shifts where that doesn't happen up here. You can barely get a bus to a lot of work areas at peak time round here nevermind night time.

Oh, and improve service frequency and offer at Team Valley and between South Shields and the Metrocentre. Perhaps run the 28 and X32 along Kingway and other companies run the 91 and 941 all day linking the East and West of the city to Kingway and Retail World. Maybe run by A-line or GCT.

(29 Apr 2021, 5:48 pm)Ambassador wrote I doubt it. The 21 used to be 24/7 but didn’t last long and that was in a boom period.

Also that was with the 21 which surely must be GNE's busiest route. So if it failed on there, what chance would it have anywhere else?

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(30 Apr 2021, 7:29 am)big mac wrote Also that was with the 21 which surely must be GNE's busiest route.  So if it failed on there, what chance would it have anywhere else?

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Yeah, I mean to be fair when it was 7 days a week 24 hours the stock wasn’t fantastic (original Tridents and single deckers iirc) on it so it didn’t entice you to give it a go.

(30 Apr 2021, 8:50 am)Ambassador wrote Yeah, I mean to be fair when it was 7 days a week 24 hours the stock wasn’t fantastic (original Tridents and single deckers iirc) on it so it didn’t entice you to give it a go.

Used it a couple of times and it wasn't an easy or value for money experience.

* It had the additional cost. Even if you already had some sort of ticket or pass.
* The frequency meant it was easier (and often cheaper) rolling out of a club and getting a taxi.
* If you didn't live on the Durham Road corridor, you were limited as to what you could do once you got off (took me two hours to walk home from Chester early one morning, as the last of the taxis had left the rank for the evening and there were no alternatives. The sunrise was spectacular though!).
Ditto for those who could have used it northbound, but would struggle to actually get to Durham Road for whatever reason.

Obviously the same applied to the N56 or N97 when they had night versions.
I would have found the N20 useful, if it went beyond the confines of Durham.

Innovative at the time imo, just had too many weaknesses vs strengths.

(30 Apr 2021, 9:26 am)Andreos1 wrote Used it a couple of times and it wasn't an easy or value for money experience.

* It had the additional cost. Even if you already had some sort of ticket or pass.
* The frequency meant it was easier (and often cheaper) rolling out of a club and getting a taxi.
* If you didn't live on the Durham Road corridor, you were limited as to what you could do once you got off (took me two hours to walk home from Chester early one morning, as the last of the taxis had left the rank for the evening and there were no alternatives. The sunrise was spectacular though!).
Ditto for those who could have used it northbound, but would struggle to actually get to Durham Road for whatever reason.

Obviously the same applied to the N56 or N97 when they had night versions.
I would have found the N20 useful, if it went beyond the confines of Durham.

Innovative at the time imo, just had too many weaknesses vs strengths.

What were the passenger numbers on it like when you did use it?

I've used the n21 on a Saturday night at 12.15pm and it's always been busy but that's to be expected given it is a weekend. I can't imagine there having been much demand for it on a Monday night, though, for example.

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(30 Apr 2021, 4:35 pm)big mac wrote What were the passenger numbers on it like when you did use it?

I've used the n21 on a Saturday night at 12.15pm and it's always been busy but that's to be expected given it is a weekend.  I can't imagine there having been much demand for it on a Monday night, though, for example.

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They were OK on the Fridays and Saturdays I used it.
Don't think I used it on a weekday night, but I've had my moments over the years - so it may have just slipped under the radar.

From what I remember, loads were OK.
Not far off a mid-day type run. Whether it was Omnicity or decker, the loads were OK.
Not sure how much money they made vs how much money they could have made though.

Would an x84/x85 service on a Sunday be viable? It is unusual in that it's in the XLines network yet does not have a Sunday service.

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(03 May 2021, 2:32 pm)big mac wrote Would an x84/x85 service on a Sunday be viable?  It is unusual in that it's in the XLines network yet does not have a Sunday service.

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I don't know why they don't run the X84/X85 on Sundays between Newcastle and Hexham. Even an hourly service would be satisfactory. Inconvenient for me that it doesn't run.

(03 May 2021, 3:54 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote I don't know why they don't run the X84/X85 on Sundays between Newcastle and Hexham. Even an hourly service would be satisfactory. Inconvenient for me that it doesn't run.

Are there any sunday services out of hexham already. If not then i cant see any benefit in opening a depot just for a couple of vehicles.

(03 May 2021, 10:47 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Are there any sunday services out of hexham already. If not then i cant see any benefit in opening a depot just for a couple of vehicles.

Tyne Valley Ten? Or is that Riverside?

Special trips once in each direction :

Service 112: Benton - West Jesmond - Fenham - Blaydon

Service 113: Westerhope - Sunniside - Consett and Service 174: Newcastle - Stamfordham - Hexham - Consett

Service 115 - Newcastle - Westerhope - Alnwick- Ashington - Blyth

Service 127: Callerton Village - Westerhope - Cowgate - Newcastle - Gateshead - South Shields

Service 151: Hexham - Ponteland - Newcastle Airport - Kingston Park - Newcastle - Byker - Wallsend - Tynemouth - Marden Estate

Service X74 from Hexham to Washington Galleries via Cowgate, Westerhope and Metrocentre.

Are the Q1/Q2 staying as Quaylink? Refurbs planned?

33/33A could extend from Gosforth/Fawdon to North Fawdon?