Personally I think these are great changes to improve reliability, as X30/X31 users were really suffering. 

I also like the increase PVR in the 78, however there is an issue with the 78 PDF, it says the 78's sunday service is Saturdays.

Honestly I don't know how extending the 16 to Shotley Bridge is going to increase reliability V it going to Hownsgill, same with the X5|X15 the routes still an hour end to end like it was before the changes.

(03 Jan 2023, 11:09 am)Jack Gill wrote https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/service-ch...29-January

So the 16 is effectively the 719 once again.

These have appeared for the Saturday 21st Jan 2023:

PB0003954/1162
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 33 (33) Sunderland Silksworth

PB0003954/805
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 39 (39, 39A, 39B) Pennywell Doxford International

(16 Jan 2023, 4:57 pm)Michael wrote These have appeared for the  Saturday 21st Jan 2023:

PB0003954/1162
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 33 (33) Sunderland Silksworth

PB0003954/805
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 39 (39, 39A, 39B) Pennywell Doxford International

I dread to think what these are...

Possibly a temporary adjustment ( diversion maybe) as there are no service changes due until 29th January ( February for Sunderland Depot)

They'll probably announce it tomorrow. The 33 is perfect as a 20 min route as the route takes about 15-18 mins, so really any frequency reduction imo would be a nightmare and wouldn't be passenger friendly.

Did they register the 'temporary' September/October/Wheneveritwas reductions?

(16 Jan 2023, 6:21 pm)Unber43 wrote I dread to think what these are...

Driver changeovers are going to be done at the drop off stand in Park Lane (Stockton Rd side) from Saturday. It may be that

(17 Jan 2023, 10:02 am)Retro Nero wrote Driver changeovers are going to be done at the drop off stand in Park Lane (Stockton Rd side) from Saturday. It may be that

Yes, I've also been told of this since my above post.

Thank Christ for that!

(17 Jan 2023, 10:02 am)Retro Nero wrote Driver changeovers are going to be done at the drop off stand in Park Lane (Stockton Rd side) from Saturday. It may be that

See at first when the 20s/20As changed when the X20 was scrapped and the 20 was split up they did do driver changes from the 60 stand side but that changed soon after, the stockton road side just makes loads more sense.

(17 Jan 2023, 5:02 pm)nova347 wrote See at first when the 20s/20As changed when the X20 was scrapped and the 20 was split up they did do driver changes from the 60 stand side but that changed soon after, the stockton road side just makes loads more sense.

33s & 39s already change drivers on Stockton Rd at the new stop in the new bus lane , so this makes things a little easier, but services that are not due a driver changeover will just continue along Stockton Rd missing out the interchange drop off .

(17 Jan 2023, 6:25 pm)Retro Nero wrote 33s & 39s already change drivers on Stockton Rd at the new stop in the new bus lane , so this makes things a little easier, but services that are not due a driver changeover will just continue along Stockton Rd missing out the interchange drop off .

Tbf they should just have the 

33 - Stand A 
39/39A/39B - Stand E 
2/2A - Stand C

(17 Jan 2023, 6:49 pm)Unber43 wrote Tbf they should just have the 

33 - Stand A 
39/39A/39B - Stand E 
2/2A - Stand C

I don’t think GNE would want to pay anymore money out, than there have to use the interchange, don’t forget there are a private business, the costs will always outweigh the potential income.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Any ideas what the Sunderland changes will be

(18 Jan 2023, 10:47 pm)Acky81 wrote Any ideas what the Sunderland changes will be

Few timetable changes, 
Service's 20A and 65 will be interworking.
Sunderland depot (Deptford) will be operating service 71 .
This is all that's been mentioned at present

(19 Jan 2023, 4:29 pm)Retro Nero wrote Few timetable changes, 
Service's 20A and 65 will be interworking.
Sunderland depot (Deptford) will be operating service 71 .
This is all that's been mentioned at present

They should extend the 71 to Sunderland, I mean they might as well, change overs have to go that way. Aswell the X6 gets rammed so it would be nice to have a service at every 30 mins between Seaham & Sunderland express wise.

I wonder if something could be done to change the 71 to include the lost links by the 62
Or atleast run it commercially to Sunderland from the current route, as they need it as a PVR 3 for changeovers and the extension to Sunderland takes the X6 around 15 mins so why not.

(16 Jan 2023, 4:57 pm)Michael wrote These have appeared for the Saturday 21st Jan 2023:

PB0003954/1162
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 33 (33) Sunderland Silksworth

PB0003954/805
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 39 (39, 39A, 39B) Pennywell Doxford International

From the CSV on VOSA:


Certain journeys now operate via Cowan Terrace

(19 Jan 2023, 6:48 pm)Already Michael wrote From the CSV on VOSA:


Certain journeys now operate via Cowan Terrace

Already mentioned in this post , certain journey's are calling into the interchange for driver changeovers. 
The exit of Park Lane onto Stockton Rd is Cowan Terrace.

(19 Jan 2023, 6:58 pm)Retro Nero wrote Already mentioned in this post , certain journey's are calling into the interchange for driver changeovers. 
The exit of Park Lane onto Stockton Rd is Cowan Terrace.

Opps must of missed the post!

(19 Jan 2023, 4:29 pm)Retro Nero wrote Few timetable changes, 
Service's 20A and 65 will be interworking.
Sunderland depot (Deptford) will be operating service 71 .
This is all that's been mentioned at present

What buses are getting used on the 71, are the little pinks transferring to Depford?

(19 Jan 2023, 7:15 pm)nova347 wrote What buses are getting used on the 71, are the little pinks transferring to Depford?

I don't think the little pinks are being transferred, they will probably use the Peterlee Purples I'd imagine

(19 Jan 2023, 5:30 pm)Unber43 wrote They should extend the 71 to Sunderland, I mean they might as well, change overs have to go that way. Aswell the X6 gets rammed so it would be nice to have a service at every 30 mins between Seaham & Sunderland express wise.

I wonder if something could be done to change the 71 to include the lost links by the 62
Or atleast run it commercially to Sunderland from the current route, as they need it as a PVR 3 for changeovers and the extension to Sunderland takes the X6 around 15 mins so why not.

Considering the major lost link is Seaham Harbour/Dawdon to Peterlee via Easington, I think that's not going to be very productive - it'd just be the 203 but extended to Chester-le-Street, especially given what you said above, so prob best as a new route entirely if they fancied (which they clearly don't)

Sounds to me like the big song and dance made about moving routes to the depots drivers wanted could well have been nothing but PR. 71 to Deptford instead of Washington. How long until 25/28/29 all go to riverside and other changes made to mop up the 34 and town services?

Don’t get me wrong I appreciate the business logic in it. But would be wrong so soon after all the publicity around keeping routes where staff wanted etc.

(23 Jan 2023, 5:18 am)User2613 wrote Sounds to me like the big song and dance made about moving routes to the depots drivers wanted could well have been nothing but PR. 71 to Deptford instead of Washington. How long until 25/28/29 all go to riverside and other changes made to mop up the 34 and town services?

Don’t get me wrong I appreciate the business logic in it. But would be wrong so soon after all the publicity around keeping routes where staff wanted etc.

When the closure of Chester Le Street was first mentioned, the 71 was supposed to transfer to Deptford.
Nigel has a thing where he wants routes to run from the nearest depot (obviously for Chester local services, Chester was ideal) so it will be interesting to see what happens in the future. 
I have just been informed that the 4274 contract will be ending at the end of this week  (I assume the 5025 is the same) for those interested. I am unsure of who the new operator(s) will be.

(23 Jan 2023, 5:18 am)User2613 wrote Sounds to me like the big song and dance made about moving routes to the depots drivers wanted could well have been nothing but PR. 71 to Deptford instead of Washington. How long until 25/28/29 all go to riverside and other changes made to mop up the 34 and town services?

Don’t get me wrong I appreciate the business logic in it. But would be wrong so soon after all the publicity around keeping routes where staff wanted etc.

I think you got this mixed up mind. From what I'm aware it was more about drivers moving to depots they want rather than the routes. 

The routes at inappropiate depots was because certain depots in particular Washington had too many drivers whereas others ie. Riverside had too little. 

Now it's been 6 month I'd imagine things have changed with drivers leaving etc so the routes can be moved to more appropriate depots.

Pretty sure 71 is being ran by Deptford from today as there is two graphites on it

(21 Jan 2023, 1:25 pm)F114TML wrote Considering the major lost link is Seaham Harbour/Dawdon to Peterlee via Easington, I think that's not going to be very productive - it'd just be the 203 but extended to Chester-le-Street, especially given what you said above, so prob best as a new route entirely if they fancied (which they clearly don't)

Still somewhat surprised that the 62 was cancelled in its own right, considering some of the Council funded services that exist. It was certainly one that I would of thought would be worthy of subsiding, especially when Princess Road and Dawdon are left without service or with no buses to Murton/Dalton Park. But then again I do think is it short sightedness of the operator withdrawing it. Always seemed to get decent loads. I still think the 62 Peterlee to Seaham via South Hetton and Murton at least should be brought back and that 61 extension binned off, I still hear people complaining about it ‘looping Murton twice’ etc. feels like it takes forever, I’ve done it once before. 

I hear DCC are using money to fund bus services. I wonder where that’ll be spent. Lots in South Hetton still want the 55 back, seen comments just recently about it. I think the 61 extension just isn’t working.

(23 Jan 2023, 6:30 pm)Drifter60 wrote Still somewhat surprised that the 62 was cancelled in its own right, considering some of the Council funded services that exist. It was certainly one that I would of thought would be worthy of subsiding, especially when Princess Road and Dawdon are left without service or with no buses to Murton/Dalton Park. But then again I do think is it short sightedness of the operator withdrawing it. Always seemed to get decent loads. I still think the 62 Peterlee to Seaham via South Hetton and Murton at least should be brought back and that 61 extension binned off, I still hear people complaining about it ‘looping Murton twice’ etc. feels like it takes forever, I’ve done it once before. 

I hear DCC are using money to fund bus services. I wonder where that’ll be spent. Lots in South Hetton still want the 55 back, seen comments just recently about it. I think the 61 extension just isn’t working.

Wonder if you could do something like this 

62 - Peterlee - South Hetton - Easington Lane - Murton - Dalton Park - Dawdon - Seaham - Station Road - Doxford Park - Sunderland (Stand N) (every 60 mins)
63 - Peterlee - South Hetton - Easington Lane - Houghton-Le-Spring - Doxford Park - Sunderland (Stand N) (every 60 mins)

It can work with the 39A to have a 30 min connection from Houghton to Doxford and Doxford to Sunderland as well as expanded links to Seaham, and I know this is something you don't agree with however I don't know why for the 5-6 mins it takes why not extend it upto Parkside I don't get why they've never done that it just opens links, and lets face it if you need to walk 1/2 a mile or smth for a stop its going to put people off using the bus. 

Also GNE should really move the X20 to Stand N as that is where all the Doxford Park people stand, aswell it should be timed so it leaves like 2-3 mins before the X1 as the X20 always leaves so late.

You could use the X20 Citaros possibly for this. It stops the X20 services which are just out of place at this point. And to go furhter with Doxford Park why did the 20s stop going there it added like 3 mins onto the journey.

(23 Jan 2023, 6:42 pm)Unber43 wrote Wonder if you could do something like this 

62 - Peterlee - South Hetton - Easington Lane - Murton - Dalton Park - Dawdon - Seaham - Station Road - Doxford Park - Sunderland (Stand N) (every 60 mins)
63 - Peterlee - South Hetton - Easington Lane - Houghton-Le-Spring - Doxford Park - Sunderland (Stand N) (every 60 mins)

It can work with the 39A to have a 30 min connection from Houghton to Doxford and Doxford to Sunderland as well as expanded links to Seaham, and I know this is something you don't agree with however I don't know why for the 5-6 mins it takes why not extend it upto Parkside I don't get why they've never done that it just opens links, and lets face it if you need to walk 1/2 a mile or smth for a stop its going to put people off using the bus. 

Also GNE should really move the X20 to Stand N as that is where all the Doxford Park people stand, aswell it should be timed so it leaves like 2-3 mins before the X1 as the X20 always leaves so late.

You could use the X20 Citaros possibly for this. It stops the X20 services which are just out of place at this point. And to go furhter with Doxford Park why did the 20s stop going there it added like 3 mins onto the journey.

Personally if your going to do stuff like that I'd be more radical and do something like especially if there was inter working tickets between Arriva and GNE:
X5: Current Route to Dalton Park, 61 Murton Loop (Every 30 Minutes)
X6: No Changes (Hourly)
X7: Old 62 Route omitting Easington (Hourly)
60: Remain Every 15 Minutes
22/23/60: Every 7.5 Minutes from The Mallard to Sunderland
61: Withdrawn Completely - The X5 is no longer and removes overbussing between the Mallard and Ryhope.
65: Current Route (Hourly)
65/71: Every 30 Minutes Seaham to Station Road
66: Durham to Easington Lane as current 65, 55 route to Easington, 208 to Peterlee (Hourly)
65/66: Every 30 Minutes Durham to Hetton

Haven't worked out the PVR but would be surprised if it's anymore than now and would shut up most the complaints around there.

(23 Jan 2023, 7:28 pm)Storx wrote Personally if your going to do stuff like that I'd be more radical and do something like especially if there was inter working tickets between Arriva and GNE:
X5: Current Route to Dalton Park, 61 Murton Loop (Every 30 Minutes)
X6: No Changes (Hourly)
X7: Old 62 Route omitting Easington (Hourly)
60: Remain Every 15 Minutes
22/23/60: Every 7.5 Minutes from The Mallard to Sunderland
61: Withdrawn Completely - The X5 is no longer and removes overbussing between the Mallard and Ryhope.
65: Current Route (Hourly)
65/71: Every 30 Minutes Seaham to Station Road
66: Durham to Easington Lane as current 65, 55 route to Easington, 208 to Peterlee (Hourly)
65/66: Every 30 Minutes Durham to Hetton

Haven't worked out the PVR but would be surprised if it's anymore than now and would shut up most the complaints around there.

On paper the 22/23 should be ran by GNE, and tbh the only reason they get passengers is if a GNE bus is either quite late or they're going past Dalton Park. Even for Peterlee to Sunderland, students get free travel so that helps the numbers however a lot of them just used to get the 62/X6.