(29 Dec 2021, 6:25 am)omnicity4659 wrote I think it's about time that services on Bank Holidays that aren't heavily followed run to a normal timetable. I didn't know, along with many others, that there were two Bank Holidays this week!

I noticed that Arriva were duplicating certain journeys on the X21 yesterday though.

Eh? really?

(29 Dec 2021, 2:06 pm)Rob44 wrote Eh? really?

It amazes me so many people are shocked about when bank holidays are in relation to the Christmas/New Year period.

Perhaps it's because I know how many days annual leave I've used for the days which aren't bank holidays!

(29 Dec 2021, 2:26 pm)Dan wrote It amazes me so many people are shocked about when bank holidays are in relation to the Christmas/New Year period.

Perhaps it's because I know how many days annual leave I've used for the days which aren't bank holidays!

I know quite a few people who didn't know that Tuesday was also a bank holiday, they just assumed that only the one bank holiday rolled over

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Would any services benefit from using PSVAR Coaches, i'm thinking along the lines of X15/X18

(02 Jan 2022, 11:33 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Would any services benefit from using PSVAR Coaches, i'm thinking along the lines of X15/X18

They were Coaches on them routes originally (when they were number 501/505/518)

(02 Jan 2022, 11:33 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Would any services benefit from using PSVAR Coaches, i'm thinking along the lines of X15/X18

That's a funny one. GNE had a coach operation on the X9/X10 but soon moving away from that. 

If DB see a long term future in Arriva or Arriva are takenover with investment, high spec coach seated E400MMCs with ZF gearboxes and 10.9M length would be ideal for the X15/X18. Obviously Arriva would need a clear cascade plan for when they'd be between 5-7 years old.

Alternatively, Scania N250UD E400MMC or OM936 StreetDeck also could be an option.

(02 Jan 2022, 11:33 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Would any services benefit from using PSVAR Coaches, i'm thinking along the lines of X15/X18

I'd love to see the 20 plate Mercedes Tourismo Greenline coaches come up here (providing they own them), there's about 7 of them doing absolutely nothing in Luton since they've withdrawn all the Greenline routes but the 757.

I think North Road services might suffer from a lot of late running considering the extra time it takes to get on and off with high steps, wheelchair lifts etc. The X18 for example is basically a local stopping service north of Morpeth so would coaches be suitable? Summer loadings can be pretty high and often need a double decker on both routes, plus from a tourism point of view, double deckers give a superb view - thinking of the Warkworth - Alnwick and the coastal route north of Alnwick.

(03 Jan 2022, 9:44 am)RMF1254 wrote I think North Road services might suffer from a lot of late running considering the extra time it takes to get on and off with high steps, wheelchair lifts etc. The X18 for example is basically a local stopping service north of Morpeth so would coaches be suitable? Summer loadings can be pretty high and often need a double decker on both routes, plus from a tourism point of view, double deckers give a superb view - thinking of the Warkworth - Alnwick and the coastal route north of Alnwick.

Yeah I was thinking more for the X15 rather than the X18 which agreed wouldn't be ideal through Amble etc. It's pretty much non stop, only stops at 2 bus stops through Gosforth then nothing to Morpeth then nothing bar a few villages to Alnwick.

If loadings are too high in the Summer then imo they should be creative and introduce a few peak time Newcastle -> Morpeth -> Alnwick -> (running via Denwick) -> Beadnall-> Seahouses -> Bamburgh services similar to the GNE X11. Most people would appreciate the quicker journey times on day trips rather than meandering around Amble, Broomhill and Pegwood etc anyway.

(03 Jan 2022, 10:10 am)Storx wrote Yeah I was thinking more for the X15 rather than the X18 which agreed wouldn't be ideal through Amble etc. It's pretty much non stop, only stops at 2 bus stops through Gosforth then nothing to Morpeth then nothing bar a few villages to Alnwick.

If loadings are too high in the Summer then imo they should be creative and introduce a few peak time Newcastle -> Morpeth -> Alnwick -> (running via Denwick) -> Beadnall-> Seahouses -> Bamburgh services similar to the GNE X11. Most people would appreciate the quicker journey times on day trips rather than meandering around Amble, Broomhill and Pegwood etc anyway.

The X15 still serves 11 stops on paper between Gosforth and Morpeth, then another 31 between Morpeth and Alnwick. I'd imagine they're not all frequently used, but even stopping at 1/3 of those stops in a coach is likely to add significant delay onto your journey. You see it already with people navigating the steep steps on the X9/X10 interdecks.

(03 Jan 2022, 11:26 am)Adrian wrote The X15 still serves 11 stops on paper between Gosforth and Morpeth, then another 31 between Morpeth and Alnwick. I'd imagine they're not all frequently used, but even stopping at 1/3 of those stops in a coach is likely to add significant delay onto your journey. You see it already with people navigating the steep steps on the X9/X10 interdecks.

Yeah that's a fair point, mind I'm not sure there many issues with timings when they were ran with the Plaxton coaches to pretty recently and ironically the Greenline coaches before that and there's no real difficulties with the Inverness to Thurso or Inverness to Aberdeen services which have similar stopping patterns.

Mind it was interesting to see the passengers moaning up in Thurso about interdeck coaches similar to the X9/X10 buses and wanted a normal coach back on - https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/new...sm-204716/ over toilets.

(03 Jan 2022, 11:26 am)Adrian wrote The X15 still serves 11 stops on paper between Gosforth and Morpeth, then another 31 between Morpeth and Alnwick. I'd imagine they're not all frequently used, but even stopping at 1/3 of those stops in a coach is likely to add significant delay onto your journey. You see it already with people navigating the steep steps on the X9/X10 interdecks.

To be fair the steps onto a Tourismo are very shallow, nothing like the Interdecks. Still have an issue should you need to load a wheelchair though!


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Bus stops within the car parks at the new Bebside and Newsham stations have been confirmed.

To aid anyone wishing to propose services, at Bebside the bus stop will be accessible via leaving the A193 and travelling along Errington Street. The A193 is currently served by X8 (soon to be X9), X20 passes along the adjacent Spine Road and 1, 2 and X30 stops over the Spine Road at Asda.

At Newsham, the bus stops will be located to the east of the railway near Blagdon Drive, currently served by X9 (soon to be X8) with X10, X11 and X30 stopping to the west of the railway.

Just fancied having a go a blyth express suggestion, decided to try and also serve Northumbria Uni.

(03 Mar 2022, 3:37 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Just fancied having a go a blyth express suggestion, decided to try and also serve Northumbria Uni.

Have you checked for back lanes and public footpaths this time?

(03 Mar 2022, 4:18 pm)Andreos1 wrote Have you checked for back lanes and public footpaths this time?

Yes i dont think the A189 has either of those, nether does coach lane, or the A1018 and its just the 1 route between Blyth & Bebside.

434 is currently a Northumberland County Council service contracted to Go North East, but would work around Arriva services in my suggestion so I've posted it here.

Changes to Cambois and North Blyth services

• 434 no longer running between Ashington and Linton, now operating a bi-hourly service between Ashington and Blyth via Cambois and Bebside station.
  
• New 444 running between Stannington and North Blyth via Bedlington, its estates and the south of Cambois, bi-hourly.
  

Timings are an example, ideally journeys to/from Bedlington and Bebside stations are timed not too far off rail arrivals and departures. A Bedlington area PlusBus ticket should also be introduced to allow travel from both Bedlington and Bebside stations to Cambois/North Blyth.
434 and 444 will provide an combined hourly outward link between Cambois/North Blyth, railway stations and shops in Blyth and Bedlington.

Change to Arriva route 1 (not in document)

• Remains half-hourly, Wansbeck Hospital short journey extended to Linton every hour via existing 1 route to Ellington then via A1068, providing an extra bus per hour between Ashington and Ellington.
  

(06 Mar 2022, 6:37 am)omnicity4659 wrote 434 is currently a Northumberland County Council service contracted to Go North East, but would work around Arriva services in my suggestion so I've posted it here.

Changes to Cambois and North Blyth services

• 434 no longer running between Ashington and Linton, now operating a bi-hourly service between Ashington and Blyth via Cambois and Bebside station.
  
• New 444 running between Stannington and North Blyth via Bedlington, its estates and the south of Cambois, bi-hourly.
  

Timings are an example, ideally journeys to/from Bedlington and Bebside stations are timed not too far off rail arrivals and departures. A Bedlington area PlusBus ticket should also be introduced to allow travel from both Bedlington and Bebside stations to Cambois/North Blyth.
434 and 444 will provide an combined hourly outward link between Cambois/North Blyth, railway stations and shops in Blyth and Bedlington.

Change to Arriva route 1 (not in document)

• Remains half-hourly, Wansbeck Hospital short journey extended to Linton every hour via existing 1 route to Ellington then via A1068, providing an extra bus per hour between Ashington and Ellington.
  

Will the 444/434 be arriva in this as that makes more sense and a verry good suggestion btw

(06 Mar 2022, 11:16 am)GNE6312 wrote Will the 444/434 be arriva in this as that makes more sense and a verry good suggestion btw

For the sake of ticketing opportunities, I'd suggest so.

Although they may need a smaller bus, such as a Sprinter, for the 444 to fit through Bedlington's estates but I'm sure there'll be plenty of surplus ones available at other divisions.

Arriva should extend the 44/45 to Newcastle Airport on all journeys

(14 Mar 2022, 9:42 am)GNE6312 wrote Arriva should extend the 44/45 to Newcastle Airport on all journeys

Don't think it could work with the 7 minutes connection with the 43 along to Newcastle

(14 Mar 2022, 9:42 am)GNE6312 wrote Arriva should extend the 44/45 to Newcastle Airport on all journeys

What's the point, you can catch it direct from Newcastle / Regent Centre on the Metro much quicker and when you've paid £1k plus for a holiday a £20 taxi isn't the end of the world. Most people couldn't be chewed with a bus before a holiday especially with cases.

Because a lot of people don't want to pay for a day rover to get a bus and metro when an Arriva day ticket would be cheaper. There are also plenty of times where the Metro's are off at short notice (that's happened the last two times I've got a flight from the airport), so it would give additional choice on those occasions.

I actually know this idea has been put forward to Arriva as an idea to cover part of the route cut by GNE and the 42a. I don't know whether they have made a response to the idea though.

(14 Mar 2022, 4:28 pm)Shrek wrote Because a lot of people don't want to pay for a day rover to get a bus and metro when an Arriva day ticket would be cheaper. There are also plenty of times where the Metro's are off at short notice (that's happened the last two times I've got a flight from the airport), so it would give additional choice on those occasions.

I actually know this idea has been put forward to Arriva as an idea to cover part of the route cut by GNE and the 42a. I don't know whether they have made a response to the idea though.

Nothing been changed on nexus or Arriva website

(14 Mar 2022, 4:28 pm)Shrek wrote Because a lot of people don't want to pay for a day rover to get a bus and metro when an Arriva day ticket would be cheaper. There are also plenty of times where the Metro's are off at short notice (that's happened the last two times I've got a flight from the airport), so it would give additional choice on those occasions.

I actually know this idea has been put forward to Arriva as an idea to cover part of the route cut by GNE and the 42a. I don't know whether they have made a response to the idea though.

There's no demand for it though hence why Nexus has cut the subsidised route serving it.

There's no chance Arriva will be running that though it was never a GNE route and is an old Arriva route which they ditched in 2012 or so (might be off a couple year out) with the 101 then 3 in it's later years which ran a much more sensible route connecting at Cramlington rather than Newcastle.

See: http://travelnortheast.co.uk/downloads/b...ingprk.pdf

Promotional idea for 308 & 54 with timetable changes (improved connections in W.Bay and shift time coverage) and other uses. Would tie in with the appropriate zones covering Blyth & T&W.

"Work at Cobalt and live in Blyth? Then one ticket is all you will ever need"

"Catch our Service 308 & 54* to work and on your day off, get around with us onboard our fast X10/X11 service to Newcastle as well as many other local services too"

* Requires a change of bus in Whitley Bay

Simple one but change the 57/57A to do a loop around Whitley Bay like https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.04175...77!1m0!3e0

It's actually quicker and opens new links to the Seafront, the walk is a bit of a chore for people needing to do it rather than wasting time circling around the back of the Fire Station etc.

People from Park View could just get on towards Whitley Bay and go around the loop.

Google isn't good at sharing modified routes, your link just shows as a straight line over the Monkseaton Metro bridge.

(05 Jul 2022, 9:01 am)omnicity4659 wrote Google isn't good at sharing modified routes, your link just shows as a straight line over the Monkseaton Metro bridge.

Ah strange working fine for me.

It's Norham Road -> Park View -> Park Avenue -> Marine Avenue

Basically just the new route into Whitley Bay then the old route out, before all the changes, via the Playhouse. Seems logical to me, saves wandering around the back of the Firestation and it's actually a minute quicker aswell.

Bring the old 9 back, running hourly every day: Central Station - Blakelaw - Kenton Bar, possibly extended to Cramlington and extended once each day to run between Haymarket and Belsay. Someone recently said they miss the old 9.