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X85 Farewell Event

X85 Farewell Event

#4
Michael
Michael
RE: X85 Farwell Event
(24 Jan 2022, 8:54 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Is it just me that thinks this is a little… odd?

I feel like its odd too, just seems really random and out of the blue..feels like its more for the ethusiasts than the actual passengers....
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
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#5
Dan
Site Administrator
Dan
X85 Farwell Event
(24 Jan 2022, 9:00 pm)Michael wrote I feel like its odd too, just seems really random and out of the blue..feels like its more for the ethusiasts than the actual passengers....


That’s because it is - the event doesn’t really have any affiliation with Go North East, it’s just promoted as something to do on the company’s website. An event by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.

It isn’t being promoted on GNE’s social media channels as it’s not a customer event, nor something that could be described as a family event.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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#8
MurdnunoC
MurdnunoC
RE: X85 Farewell Event
(24 Jan 2022, 9:09 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Great idea to celebrate the downgrading of a service!

Sent from my AC2003 using Tapatalk

The next time I lose something, I might celebrate that too.
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#11
MurdnunoC
MurdnunoC
RE: X85 Farwell Event
(24 Jan 2022, 9:50 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Are the vintage buses going to be free to ride on then?

Presumably so as the drivers are volunteers and the vehicles are not to be used for profit or reward.
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#12
OrangeArrow49
OrangeArrow49
RE: X85 Farwell Event
(24 Jan 2022, 10:13 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Presumably so as the drivers are volunteers and the vehicles are not to be used for profit or reward.

I'm confused how this is going to work. This makes no sense, providing free travel on the X85.
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#13
Bazza
Bazza
RE: X85 Farewell Event
(24 Jan 2022, 11:04 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote I'm confused how this is going to work. This makes no sense, providing free travel on the X85.

That’s why it’s not being promoted as such to the general public.
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#14
MurdnunoC
MurdnunoC
RE: X85 Farwell Event
(24 Jan 2022, 11:04 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote I'm confused how this is going to work. This makes no sense, providing free travel on the X85.

I agree that the event makes no sense as it is essentially celebrating the loss of a service - whether it was well used or not. For me, it's like going for a score of 101 or more at the end of Bullseye, then failing, and Jim Bowen coming out and showing you what you could have won. 

It's not that confusing how the event is going to work:

Gilbert and his preservationist pals are providing buses to operate on the route at the times stated on the website. Presumably there will be something stated in the insurance policy of each vehicle that prohibits the vehicle being used for purposes of 'hire or reward' which means money can not be taken otherwise the insurance will be invalidated if proven to be the case. 

It does actually make a little bit of sense. If you're not going to be making money on the service after Saturday anyway, then losing a few quid here and there on a few journeys isn't going to significantly affect the bottom line.
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#15
Storx
Storx
RE: X85 Farewell Event
(24 Jan 2022, 11:25 pm)Bazza wrote That’s why it’s not being promoted as such to the general public.

In fairness I'm not sure that's why. I could imagine it's more of the why am I standing at a bus stop for 60 minutes when my bus is cancelled and your running old buses to Hexham issue which for someone with little interest in buses isn't exactly an outrageous view.
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#16
Andreos1
Andreos1
RE: X85 Farwell Event
(24 Jan 2022, 8:48 pm)Omega54 wrote https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/x85-farewe...MkB5CTIkD4


Anyone have any timings for when the Solar will be operating?
I am hoping that's so you can avoid it?
(24 Jan 2022, 8:54 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Is it just me that thinks this is a little… odd?
I mean. It's nice and that, but it's hardly an historic route.
Starting to wonder if this sort of idea (and subsequent publicity) could have helped sustain it longer term and ensure that they didn't have to rely on tables, WiFi and paint jobs (titivating) to make it sustainable.

Unless the tables, WiFi and titivating did work - but it was just the fall guy with the X9/10 debacle.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
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#17
streetdeckfan
streetdeckfan
RE: X85 Farwell Event
(24 Jan 2022, 11:42 pm)Andreos1 wrote I am hoping that's so you can avoid it?
I mean. It's nice and that, but it's hardly an historic route.
Starting to wonder if this sort of idea (and subsequent publicity) could have helped sustain it longer term and ensure that they didn't have to rely on tables, WiFi and paint jobs (titivating) to make it sustainable.

Unless the tables, WiFi and titivating did work - but it was just the fall guy with the X9/10 debacle.

I'm guessing that is the case, but they didn't even give it a chance to work, barely a full year.
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#18
Andreos1
Andreos1
RE: X85 Farwell Event
(24 Jan 2022, 11:52 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I'm guessing that is the case, but they didn't even give it a chance to work, barely a full year.
Short termism innit?
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
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#20
Storx
Storx
RE: X85 Farwell Event
(25 Jan 2022, 12:06 am)streetdeckfan wrote I guess the amount they'll lose from downgrading the X84 and killing the X85 is less than the amount they would lose keeping the coaches around.

It's alright my taxes will be keeping it running instead. I'm not sure why there's so many buses running around Hexham as it is when every other town in Northumberland has nothing of the sort.

It's a place that badly needs a DRT system (or a few taxis) running to all the random routes like the 683, 686, 687 and soon to be 684 since they'd be able to use Ovingham Bridge. It would arguably be a better service anyway (connecting to the train stations for onward travel to Newcastle).
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#21
omnicity4659
omnicity4659
RE: X85 Farwell Event
(25 Jan 2022, 12:20 am)Storx wrote It's alright my taxes will be keeping it running instead. I'm not sure why there's so many buses running around Hexham as it is when every other town in Northumberland has nothing of the sort.

It's a place that badly needs a DRT system (or a few taxis) running to all the random routes like the 683, 686, 687 and soon to be 684 since they'd be able to use Ovingham Bridge. It would arguably be a better service anyway (connecting to the train stations for onward travel to Newcastle).
Berwick, Alnwick, Cramlington and Morpeth have their own lesser advertised town networks, roughly the same as Hexham's.

Berwick:
  • B1: Ramparts-Berwick-Tweedmouth
  • Hoppa: Berwick-Prior Park-Tweedside
Alnwick:
  • T01: Barrasdale-Alnwick-St James Estate-Shilbottle-Amble
Cramlington:
  • 58: East Hartford-Beacon Hill-Cramlington-East Cramlington
  • 57/57A and X9 also provide into-town links.
Morpeth:
  • T1A/T1B/T1C: Morpeth-estates
  • 2 provides a Kirkhill and Stobhillgate into-town link

I think that the same brand and similar route numbers gives the impression that there's a tonne of buses running around Hexham and nowhere else, but only one or two services actually seem to stay within a couple of miles of the town centre.

Everything else could be compared with the X14 up to Rothbury from Morpeth or the 470/473 out to Wooler from Alnwick.
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#23
RMF1254
RMF1254
RE: X85 Farewell Event
As an enthusiast I look forward seeing such events and possibly get rides on interesting vehicles. It seems to me that nobody can do anything these days without some sort of negative comments. Good luck to those people running running these buses.
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#24
Ianthegoon
Ianthegoon
RE: X85 Farewell Event
(25 Jan 2022, 3:36 pm)RMF1254 wrote As an enthusiast I look forward seeing such events and possibly get rides on interesting vehicles. It seems to me that nobody can do anything these days without some sort of negative comments. Good luck to those people running running these buses.

Well said!

I'm just sorry that I'm not in the area and won't be able to partake of a ride or two.
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#26
Omega54
Omega54
RE: X85 Farewell Event
(25 Jan 2022, 3:36 pm)RMF1254 wrote As an enthusiast I look forward seeing such events and possibly get rides on interesting vehicles. It seems to me that nobody can do anything these days without some sort of negative comments. Good luck to those people running running these buses.
I agree, GNE get critiqued for pretty much everything they do, by me too. 

However it seems Arriva/SC don't get much, might be because quite a lot of GNE staff are on here, and they are the 'prominent' bus company in the NE and all their purchases etc.
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#30
Omega54
Omega54
RE: X85 Farewell Event
(26 Jan 2022, 9:24 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote God I'm getting old...Feels much more recent!
I was thinking 2016 tbh. 

Amazing how much a route fell. But tbh whennever I was going to Hexham, I would pick the X85/X84 over the train, I just thought they were nicer tbh.
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