416
Morpeth - St George's Hospital
Operated by Rural Link
New Service Sunday, 24 April 2022


417
Morpeth - Northgate Hospital
Operated by Rural Link
New Service Sunday, 24 April 2022


436
Morpeth Chantry School - St Mary's Lodge
Operated by Rural Link
New Service Sunday, 24 April 2022

416
Morpeth - St George's Hospital
Operated by Rural Link
New Service Sunday, 24 April 2022


417
Morpeth - Northgate Hospital
Operated by Rural Link
New Service Sunday, 24 April 2022


436
Morpeth Chantry School - St Mary's Lodge
Operated by Rural Link
New Service Sunday, 24 April 2022

T1A becomes 417, T1B becomes 416 and S1 becomes 436.

Would be interesting to see how much money is being spaffed away on these fresh air carts, especially the 416 where the only passenger is dust...

417 to Lancaster Park/Northgate could have been covered by an extension of the 35. Perhaps alternate 35 arrivals to send one hourly off to Stannington as well...

T1A becomes 417, T1B becomes 416 and S1 becomes 436.

Would be interesting to see how much money is being spaffed away on these fresh air carts, especially the 416 where the only passenger is dust...

417 to Lancaster Park/Northgate could have been covered by an extension of the 35. Perhaps alternate 35 arrivals to send one hourly off to Stannington as well...

The new pattern is to be worked by 1 bus rather than 2, so a big saving to Northumberland County Council there.

Any extension of the 35 would need Arriva to agree a price with Northumberland CC - assuming that Arriva are interested in such things, given the current driver shortage.

416
Morpeth - St George's Hospital
Operated by Rural Link
New Service Sunday, 24 April 2022


417
Morpeth - Northgate Hospital
Operated by Rural Link
New Service Sunday, 24 April 2022


436
Morpeth Chantry School - St Mary's Lodge
Operated by Rural Link
New Service Sunday, 24 April 2022

Timetables on Nexus' website now: https://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/updates?ope...le-updates

The new pattern is to be worked by 1 bus rather than 2, so a big saving to Northumberland County Council there.

Any extension of the 35 would need Arriva to agree a price with Northumberland CC - assuming that Arriva are interested in such things, given the current driver shortage.

So it does, hadn't had the chance to check the timetables yet.

Lancaster Park and Northgate estates suffer from their own developers' incompetence, Lancaster Park itself could've been a useful loop but it's been severed halfway. Similar happens again at Northgate, where The Meadows and St Andrews Gardens aren't linked together to create a loop from Geranium Drive to Fennel Way - it would've been perfect for bus services - and enough people to justify Newcastle through services to both too.

The whole Morpeth bus network needs a rethink, because the 2/35/X14/X15/X18 are barely tapping into any potential customers who have been left with these 41x routes.

So it does, hadn't had the chance to check the timetables yet.

Lancaster Park and Northgate estates suffer from their own developers' incompetence, Lancaster Park itself could've been a useful loop but it's been severed halfway. Similar happens again at Northgate, where The Meadows and St Andrews Gardens aren't linked together to create a loop from Geranium Drive to Fennel Way - it would've been perfect for bus services - and enough people to justify Newcastle through services to both too.

The whole Morpeth bus network needs a rethink, because the 2/35/X14/X15/X18 are barely tapping into any potential customers who have been left with these 41x routes.

Morpeth is one of those places that on paper DRT would really work well. You'll never get a local bus network to work as like you've said everything is so badly designed.

It would work quite well imo connecting at Morpeth Bus station so you can catch the Newcastle expresses, 35 or 2 to wherever you want to go. Hexham is similar where most the Tynedale Links town services are a bit pointless and arguably would be better with a DRT. It's better than 2 hourly token service either way.

Could even extend it out to some of the villages like Mitford and Hepscott which don't really have a service at all.

Morpeth is one of those places that on paper DRT would really work well. You'll never get a local bus network to work as like you've said everything is so badly designed.

It would work quite well imo connecting at Morpeth Bus station so you can catch the Newcastle expresses, 35 or 2 to wherever you want to go. Hexham is similar where most the Tynedale Links town services are a bit pointless and arguably would be better with a DRT. It's better than 2 hourly token service either way.

Could even extend it out to some of the villages like Mitford and Hepscott which don't really have a service at all.

I think it's getting to a point where the majority of South East Northumberland would benefit from DRT. The likes of Cambois, Linton, Hepscott and Stannington obviously have very poor connectivity, then there's huge estates in Cramlington, Morpeth, Blyth and Ashington that have no service whatsoever. I've tried planning routes from the newest Ashington and Bedlington estates but it's difficult without running more vehicles or inconveniencing others by looping around estates for 5 minutes.

A DRT service in South East Northumberland could also ease pressure from a lot of the core routes, too.

I've tried planning routes from the newest Ashington and Bedlington estates but it's difficult without running more vehicles or inconveniencing others by looping around estates for 5 minutes.

A DRT service in South East Northumberland could also ease pressure from a lot of the core routes, too.

I'd imagine that once the estate being built next to Wansbeck Hospital is fully completed, it would be easy enough to figure out how to loop a 1 around there within the current PVR?

I think it's getting to a point where the majority of South East Northumberland would benefit from DRT. The likes of Cambois, Linton, Hepscott and Stannington obviously have very poor connectivity, then there's huge estates in Cramlington, Morpeth, Blyth and Ashington that have no service whatsoever. I've tried planning routes from the newest Ashington and Bedlington estates but it's difficult without running more vehicles or inconveniencing others by looping around estates for 5 minutes.

A DRT service in South East Northumberland could also ease pressure from a lot of the core routes, too.

Yeah agreed tbh, especially if the railway lines open aswell as they're not really in the best place to connect with buses, Bebside in particular and trying to build buses to interwork with that without going on a magical mystery tour is going to be very difficult. Similar to lack of links like Guide Post to Bedlington Station which aren't easy to fix.

North Tyneside and parts of Eastern Newcastle would be useful really being part of it aswell imo as it could replace the likes of the W1, W2, 18, 19, 58, 317, 335 and 342 aswell. The amount blown on most of them, you'd be well on the way to having the DRT system in place anyway.

---

I'd imagine that once the estate being built next to Wansbeck Hospital is fully completed, it would be easy enough to figure out how to loop a 1 around there within the current PVR?

In fairness there's large chunks of Ashington that doesn't have a bus service atm and never really has had one even known the houses have been there for over 20 years:

• Blackthorn Way and surrounding areas
  
• Nursery Park
  
• Cotswalds Drive
  
• North Seaton Ind. Estate
  
• Housing Estate near the Rugby Ground
  
• Wansbeck Road
  

Just to name a few. Seems quite tight to be adding extensions to the 1 aswell unless it's just the short boards then you've got a problem it's an hourly service and it's too infrequent.

Timetables on Nexus' website now: https://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/updates?ope...le-updates

Why are Nexus hosting Northumberland-specific timetables?

I'd imagine that once the estate being built next to Wansbeck Hospital is fully completed, it would be easy enough to figure out how to loop a 1 around there within the current PVR?

The road network in the estate has been complete for a couple of years now, a full loop opened in late-2019/early-2020. Plenty of houses have been there for the last 10-15 years, too.

There's still a lack of service in the west and south of Ashington (Storx beat me to those details), along with the south of Bedlington and the west of Blyth.

---

Why are Nexus hosting Northumberland-specific timetables?

They've done so since around 2016 when Northumberland County Council transferred responsibility to them for online and roadside information. One of the better moves they've done - previously information for some routes was only available by contacting the highways team or Traveline.

In fairness there's large chunks of Ashington that doesn't have a bus service atm and never really has had one even known the houses have been there for over 20 years:

• Blackthorn Way and surrounding areas
  
• Nursery Park
  
• Cotswalds Drive
  
• North Seaton Ind. Estate
  
• Housing Estate near the Rugby Ground
  
• Wansbeck Road
  

Just to name a few. Seems quite tight to be adding extensions to the 1 aswell unless it's just the short boards then you've got a problem it's an hourly service and it's too infrequent.

No you're right, but that new estate surrounding the hospital is going to be huge. I'd imagine you could loop it by adding 3-4 minutes to the running time. At the moment the shorts get 14 minutes to get from Ashington Bus Station, to the hospital, and back where it's realistically more than achievable in 8 or so - so add that loop in and you've still got a couple of minutes sitting time at Ashington.

The Widdrington's look a tad more difficult, but you could cut the sitting time at Ashington from the current 4 minutes to 2, and then slice a minute off at both Widdrington and Blyth?

---

The road network in the estate has been complete for a couple of years now, a full loop opened in late-2019/early-2020. Plenty of houses have been there for the last 10-15 years, too.

Not to the houses that are currently being built by the Spine Road though?

No you're right, but that new estate surrounding the hospital is going to be huge. I'd imagine you could loop it by adding 3-4 minutes to the running time. At the moment the shorts get 14 minutes to get from Ashington Bus Station, to the hospital, and back where it's realistically more than achievable in 8 or so - so add that loop in and you've still got a couple of minutes sitting time at Ashington.

The Widdrington's look a tad more difficult, but you could cut the sitting time at Ashington from the current 4 minutes to 2, and then slice a minute off at both Widdrington and Blyth?

---

Not to the houses that are currently being built by the Spine Road though?

Forgot about those ones, I'm hoping that they are joining the estate to the south west of the hospital to the brand new estate - if so, they can divert the 1, X20 and X21 through there and build a new stop opposite the hospital's main entrance for Ashington-bound services. Doing that would mean there's no stops missed.

If they connect the estates then there's no need for lengthy loops, just running straight through.

Forgot about those ones, I'm hoping that they are joining the estate to the south west of the hospital to the brand new estate - if so, they can divert the 1, X20 and X21 through there and build a new stop opposite the hospital's main entrance for Ashington-bound services. Doing that would mean there's no stops missed.

If they connect the estates then there's no need for lengthy loops, just running straight through.

That's essentially what I was meaning, possibly didn't come across that way with me terming it as a loop. I can't imagine it would add more than 3-4 minutes so would be achievable with only minor timing changes. 

In the plans, they are linked I believe.

No you're right, but that new estate surrounding the hospital is going to be huge. I'd imagine you could loop it by adding 3-4 minutes to the running time. At the moment the shorts get 14 minutes to get from Ashington Bus Station, to the hospital, and back where it's realistically more than achievable in 8 or so - so add that loop in and you've still got a couple of minutes sitting time at Ashington.

The Widdrington's look a tad more difficult, but you could cut the sitting time at Ashington from the current 4 minutes to 2, and then slice a minute off at both Widdrington and Blyth?

---

Not to the houses that are currently being built by the Spine Road though?

Aye possibly like, in fairness for the number of houses down there I wonder if there could be a case of just extending all the X22's down with an extra bus on the PVR. It serves quite a large area and shouldn't affect the rest of the route really.

I think it's getting to a point where the majority of South East Northumberland would benefit from DRT. The likes of Cambois, Linton, Hepscott and Stannington obviously have very poor connectivity, then there's huge estates in Cramlington, Morpeth, Blyth and Ashington that have no service whatsoever. I've tried planning routes from the newest Ashington and Bedlington estates but it's difficult without running more vehicles or inconveniencing others by looping around estates for 5 minutes.

A DRT service in South East Northumberland could also ease pressure from a lot of the core routes, too.

Why would DRT be better? It doesn’t seem to have worked in many places around the country. A few years ago I remember seeing the Nexus Link Up minibuses parked around the county waiting for work but I rarely saw them in service apart from a bit of service work on the 6 and 359. [attachment=10031]

Why would DRT be better? It doesn’t seem to have worked in many places around the country. A few years ago I remember seeing the Nexus Link Up minibuses parked around the county waiting for work but I rarely saw them in service apart from a bit of service work on the 6 and 359. 

Because the area is semi urban with lots of housing estates which are on dead ends or just plopped in the middle of nowhere with current very little / no bus service at all. It's all good wanting people to want to use public transport but telling people to walk 20 minutes every day or use a 2 hourly bus service to connect to a bus service is never going to work.

I'm not sure how much it's costing Nexus / Northumberland County Council but the cost of a DRT scheme can't be much more than the W1, W2, 19, 58, 317, 335, 342, 434, Morpeth locals just to name a few there's no doubt more I forgot about which arguably mostly would be better as a DRT. Not to mention the new rail line which is coming soon which some of the stations are going to be difficult to serve sensibly, Bebside in particular.

The biggest problem with a DRT though is getting people used to it as it's something new and unusual but if you can break that it'd be argubly better than what's around atm which is a about 10 buses daily carting around fresh air.

If marketed well though I could see it working well with the train, you go on an app pick which what train you want to get and the bus comes upto a set time before the train and picks you up near your door and drops you off with 10 minutes for the train coming, then the same the reverse. You get off the train and step straight on your DRT bus taking you the last mile. No pissing about walking or waiting 20 minutes for a normal bus to turn up (if there's one at all).

Because the area is semi urban with lots of housing estates which are on dead ends or just plopped in the middle of nowhere with current very little / no bus service at all. It's all good wanting people to want to use public transport but telling people to walk 20 minutes every day or use a 2 hourly bus service to connect to a bus service is never going to work.

I'm not sure how much it's costing Nexus / Northumberland County Council but the cost of a DRT scheme can't be much more than the W1, W2, 19, 58, 317, 335, 342, 434, Morpeth locals just to name a few there's no doubt more I forgot about which arguably mostly would be better as a DRT. Not to mention the new rail line which is coming soon which some of the stations are going to be difficult to serve sensibly, Bebside in particular.

The biggest problem with a DRT though is getting people used to it as it's something new and unusual but if you can break that it'd be argubly better than what's around atm which is a about 10 buses daily carting around fresh air.

If marketed well though I could see it working well with the train, you go on an app pick which what train you want to get and the bus comes upto a set time before the train and picks you up near your door and drops you off with 10 minutes for the train coming, then the same the reverse. You get off the train and step straight on your DRT bus taking you the last mile. No pissing about walking or waiting 20 minutes for a normal bus to turn up (if there's one at all). 

There was a train franchise who used to work on the ECML who wanted to do that.
Lots of talk, lots of research. No end product unfortunately. 

I think there's potential in the idea. After all it's about looking at the bigger picture and the complete door to door journey (including the website, app and booking engine) - not just the short period of time your on board using a certain brand or product. 

The middle bit may be good. But if the bit before or at the end of the trip isn't pleasant, attractive or a positive experience...

Didnt Arriva run a 144 to connect Thropton with Morpeth,later numbered to 14 to connect with the X14?

There was a train franchise who used to work on the ECML who wanted to do that.
Lots of talk, lots of research. No end product unfortunately. 

I think there's potential in the idea. After all it's about looking at the bigger picture and the complete door to door journey (including the website, app and booking engine) - not just the short period of time your on board using a certain brand or product. 

The middle bit may be good. But if the bit before or at the end of the trip isn't pleasant, attractive or a positive experience...

Ah I can't remember seeing that one, I know VTEC or one of it's incarnations had a chauffeur service for a bit to the train station. Totally agreed though, it's where I think DRT would work if it's pushing people on let's say a better transport than a bus. Most the DRT's I've seen just take people to certain town or doing bus to bus connections and only the really dedicated will do that as buses are slower than a car pretty much always so aren't attractive. Be interesting if it could work around Metro stations, Northumberland Park or West Monkseaton are the most obvious ones as the local estates like Briardene / Red House, most of Monkseaton pretty much and the new estates in Backworth have an absolutely abysmal bus service currently. It's no surprise car usage in those areas is through the roof aswell.

Didnt Arriva run a 144 to connect Thropton with Morpeth,later numbered to 14 to connect with the X14?

I believe it was just the same service but different numbers for some reason which they just ditched and renumbered the whole thing X14. Similar to the X1/X2 from Newcastle -> Durham -> Middlesbrough.

Didnt Arriva run a 144 to connect Thropton with Morpeth,later numbered to 14 to connect with the X14?

As I remember it, the Thropton - Newcastle service had been the 516 and was run by Northumbria Coaches of Ashington which GNE bought out. GNE took over the running of the service and numbered it 144. Later when Arriva got the service it was numbered 14 and this later became X14. For the record GNE swapped the Northumbria Coaches operations is Ashington for Arriva's operations in the Hexham area. Northumbria Coaches should not be confused with Northumbria Motor Services.

---

Service 470 has disappeared from the Nexus website, and it's not possible to obtain the timetable from Traveline. Has this service been discontinued?

Service 470 has disappeared from the Nexus website, and it's not possible to obtain the timetable from Traveline. Has this service been discontinued?

470 still running as far as I'm aware

470 still running as far as I'm aware

470 timetable on Glen Valley website

---

As I remember it, the Thropton - Newcastle service had been the 516 and was run by Northumbria Coaches of Ashington which GNE bought out. GNE took over the running of the service and numbered it 144. Later when Arriva got the service it was numbered 14 and this later became X14. For the record GNE swapped the Northumbria Coaches operations is Ashington for Arriva's operations in the Hexham area. Northumbria Coaches should not be confused with Northumbria Motor Services.

---

Service 470 has disappeared from the Nexus website, and it's not possible to obtain the timetable from Traveline. Has this service been discontinued?

There was no “swapping” of operations between Go North East and Arriva. 
it was two separate transactions.

470 timetable is on the Glen Valley website https://glenvalley.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...tember.pdf

470 timetable on Glen Valley website

---

There was no “swapping” of operations between Go North East and Arriva. 
it was two separate transactions.

470 timetable is on the Glen Valley website https://glenvalley.co.uk/wp-content/uplo...tember.pdf

I was not referring to the number of transactions it took for the Ashington/Hexham change to take place. It was, as I understand, an agreement that each company would take over the operations of the other company at the respective depots.

Regarding my query about the 470, I am aware that the timetable is on Glen Valley's website but it is not on the Nexus site. Also the Wednesday journeys on service 710 are on Glen Valley's site (having recommenced last September) but the Nexus site only shows the Saturday operations. One of them must be wrong.

Change of operator for Morpeth local services.

PB1087751/3 Registered (Short notice)
GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAVEL LTD

Route: Morpeth Chantry School to St Mary's via Morpeth Bus Station, Morpeth Train Station, Hepscott Village, Stannington Village

Service number: 436

Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping

Effective date: 25 Jul 2022

PB1087751/2 Registered (Short notice)
GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAVEL LTD

Route: Morpeth Bus Station to St George's Hospital via St George's Estate

Service number: 416

Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping

Effective date: 25 Jul 2022

PB1087751/1 Registered (Short notice)
GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAVEL LTD

Route: Morpeth Bus Station to Northgate Hospital via Lancaster Park

Service number: 417

Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping

Effective date: 25 Jul 2022

Change of operator for Morpeth local services.

PB1087751/3 Registered (Short notice)
GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAVEL LTD

Route: Morpeth Chantry School to St Mary's via Morpeth Bus Station, Morpeth Train Station, Hepscott Village, Stannington Village

Service number: 436

Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping

Effective date: 25 Jul 2022

PB1087751/2 Registered (Short notice)
GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAVEL LTD

Route: Morpeth Bus Station to St George's Hospital via St George's Estate

Service number: 416

Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping

Effective date: 25 Jul 2022

PB1087751/1 Registered (Short notice)
GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAVEL LTD

Route: Morpeth Bus Station to Northgate Hospital via Lancaster Park

Service number: 417

Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping

Effective date: 25 Jul 2022

Who the hell are Green Mountain Travel

Who the hell are Green Mountain Travel

They're fairly well known in Northumberland, been around since 2008.

They used to do a lot of bike tours and hiking stuff up into Northumberland the Lakes but have branched out to more corporate and hire work in latter years


https://www.greenmountaintravel.co.uk/

They're fairly well known in Northumberland, been around since 2008.

They used to do a lot of bike tours and hiking stuff up into Northumberland the Lakes but have branched out to more corporate and hire work in latter years


https://www.greenmountaintravel.co.uk/

They were about well before 2008. Sure they were up in front of the TC at one point.

Based out of Dinnington at one stage.
Didn't they have the pedestrian tunnel contract too?

Change of operator for Morpeth local services.

PB1087751/3 Registered (Short notice)
GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAVEL LTD

Route: Morpeth Chantry School to St Mary's via Morpeth Bus Station, Morpeth Train Station, Hepscott Village, Stannington Village

Service number: 436

Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping

Effective date: 25 Jul 2022

PB1087751/2 Registered (Short notice)
GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAVEL LTD

Route: Morpeth Bus Station to St George's Hospital via St George's Estate

Service number: 416

Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping

Effective date: 25 Jul 2022

PB1087751/1 Registered (Short notice)
GREEN MOUNTAIN TRAVEL LTD

Route: Morpeth Bus Station to Northgate Hospital via Lancaster Park

Service number: 417

Service type: Hail & Ride, Normal Stopping

Effective date: 25 Jul 2022

 Good to see the end of the god damn awful Rural Link / PCL Travel / replace name in Morpeth. 

Horrid bus company and make GCT look like the Rolls Royce of the bus market in comparison.

 Good to see the end of the god damn awful Rural Link / PCL Travel / replace name in Morpeth. 

Horrid bus company and make GCT look like the Rolls Royce of the bus market in comparison.

Interesting that they've handed back the 87 in Bishop Auckland as well just recently. Wonder if they're packing in completely, only the 104 in Bishop and those once a week Hexham services left