Withdraw the TB29 and have the either the 49/49A or 96 serve Racecourse Estate.
Or create a new service that goes: Newcastle, Quayside, Gateshead, Racecourse Estate, A1, Ellison Road, Market Lane, Swalwell, Metrocentre (example in PDF).

The 2/2A, 4, 8, 50 & X1 all need increases because they are getting overcrowded very regularly.
 
I also want the 81/82/82A mess cleared up so that the same operator runs both the daytime and evening services, i would also like to one of these go into Newcastle perhaps replacing the 91 aswell to save money.

(30 Jan 2023, 1:59 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Withdraw the TB29 and have the either the 49/49A or 96 serve Racecourse Estate.
Or create a new service that goes: Newcastle, Quayside, Gateshead, Racecourse Estate, A1, Ellison Road, Market Lane, Swalwell, Metrocentre (example in PDF).

The 2/2A, 4, 8, 50 & X1 all need increases because they are getting overcrowded very regularly.
 
I also want the 81/82/82A mess cleared up so that the same operator runs both the daytime and evening services, i would also like to one of these go into Newcastle perhaps replacing the 91 aswell to save money.

If there increase the 2/2a, 4, 8,50,x1 etc etc, then where will these drivers come from?, don’t forget there is a driver shortage, and then there be back to square one with cancellations on a big scale, and will GNE pay for these extra wages for these drivers since GNE are not making profit.


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(30 Jan 2023, 2:36 pm)cbma06 wrote If there increase the 2/2a, 4, 8,50,x1 etc etc, then where will these drivers come from?, don’t forget there is a driver shortage, and then there be back to square one with cancellations on a big scale, and will GNE pay for these extra wages for these drivers since GNE are not making profit.


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They have sub-contracted services to other independents, is that an option at the moment?
If an independent suddenly decided to start commerical competition on a GNE flagship route, would they have the resources to fight back?

(30 Jan 2023, 3:42 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote They have sub-contracted services to other independents, is that an option at the moment?
If an independent suddenly decided to start commerical competition on a GNE flagship route, would they have the resources to fight back?

Sub contracting out was to help the independants out otherwise independent drivers would of had no jobs left and a lot more independents would of folded

Competition is practically dead in the water these days, there’s no profit in doing so especially when the bigger independants have been swallowed up or ran off the road.


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(30 Jan 2023, 1:59 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Withdraw the TB29 and have the either the 49/49A or 96 serve Racecourse Estate.
Or create a new service that goes: Newcastle, Quayside, Gateshead, Racecourse Estate, A1, Ellison Road, Market Lane, Swalwell, Metrocentre (example in PDF).

The 2/2A, 4, 8, 50 & X1 all need increases because they are getting overcrowded very regularly.
 
I also want the 81/82/82A mess cleared up so that the same operator runs both the daytime and evening services, i would also like to one of these go into Newcastle perhaps replacing the 91 aswell to save money.

50 is never that busy. Like it could be a couple of journeys a day. 

I agree with the 2/2A, 4, 8 & X1 however I think the X1 would be better as an every 15 mins for timetabling wise. The 20/60 are reguarly rammed too.

Re X66. I'm going to regret saying this.

Why not withdraw it altogether and replace with extension to services that exist already that terminate either Gateshead or Meteocentre.

Ie extend 97 from Metrocentre back to Gateshead via X66 route
Or 51/52 from Gateshead to Metrocentre via X66 route.

Alternatively something with the Newcastle bound buses, truncate some of them at Gateshead but send to Metrocentre instead. Similar to what Arriva did a few years ago with X1/X2/X12 or whatever number it was at the time, when they sent it to Metrocentre on a Sunday.

(31 Jan 2023, 3:01 pm)ifm001 wrote Re X66.  I'm going to regret saying this.

Why not withdraw it altogether and replace with extension to services that exist already that terminate either Gateshead or Meteocentre.

Ie extend 97 from Metrocentre back to Gateshead via X66 route
Or 51/52 from Gateshead to Metrocentre via X66 route.

Alternatively something with the Newcastle bound buses, truncate some of them at Gateshead but send to Metrocentre instead.  Similar to what Arriva did a few years ago with X1/X2/X12 or whatever number it was at the time, when they sent it to Metrocentre on a Sunday.

Imagine timekeeping would be an issue with that.

Personally I always think it should be bolted onto the Quaylink services across the river and give direct Metrocentre to Quayside services instead of the 53/54 maybe even extended through to the Great Park instead of the Q3. It would also give a direct link from Gateshead to Northumbria University without the walks at both end with the other half of the Q3 actually doing a loop around Newcastle again rather than the botch currently.

Be handy to have a bus with connects all the hubs together (Metrocentre / Eldon Square and Haymarket / Gateshead)

(30 Jan 2023, 3:42 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote They have sub-contracted services to other independents, is that an option at the moment?
If an independent suddenly decided to start commerical competition on a GNE flagship route, would they have the resources to fight back?

GNE might get some ideas given the 21 was a Classic Coaches invention in the first place

(31 Jan 2023, 3:30 pm)Storx wrote Imagine timekeeping would be an issue with that.

Personally I always think it should be bolted onto the Quaylink services across the river and give direct Metrocentre to Quayside services instead of the 53/54 maybe even extended through to the Great Park instead of the Q3. It would also give a direct link from Gateshead to Northumbria University without the walks at both end with the other half of the Q3 actually doing a loop around Newcastle again rather than the botch currently.

Be handy to have a bus with connects all the hubs together (Metrocentre / Eldon Square and Haymarket / Gateshead)

Given people, like myself, use the X66 to connect between services at Gateshead and Metrocentre, timekeeping on the X66 is very important. If it was run off another service, and that was running late, it would mean I would end up missing the connection at Metrocentre. 
If it's standalone, then the chances of it running late are minimised.

After the last couple of posts about better connections, i think ive saw a potential way of.making use out of 311

(31 Jan 2023, 8:31 pm)V514DFT wrote After the last couple of posts about better connections, i think ive saw a potential way of.making use out of 311

Could it actually be possible. Are the legends true

I thought I would try a few ideas that could be run out of a washington-based depot, feel free to make any changes. 

I have also included a route using the backroads between Kibblesworth & Streetgate as discussed in the Bygone Era Seection.

(17 Feb 2023, 7:34 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote I thought I would try a few ideas that could be run out of a washington-based depot, feel free to make any changes. 

I have also included a route using the backroads between Kibblesworth & Streetgate as discussed in the Bygone Era Seection.

While I may have provided examples of where buses traverse single-lane thoroughfares in the thread mentioned above, there's no way a bus is getting down Ouslaw Lane, which is the most direct route between Kibby and Streetgate.

However, the underlying reason there has never been a service between Kibby and Streetgate/Sunniside is because there is next to nothing inbetween, and I don't think the Co-op at Sunniside is enough of a draw in terms of a destination for residents of Kibby.

(17 Feb 2023, 7:48 pm)MurdnunoC wrote While I may have provided examples of where buses traverse single-lane thoroughfares in the thread mentioned above, there's no way a bus is getting down Ouslaw Lane, which is the most direct route between Kibby and Streetgate.

However, the underlying reason there has never been a service between Kibby and Streetgate/Sunniside is because there is next to nothing inbetween, and I don't think the Co-op at Sunniside is enough of a draw in terms of a destination for residents of Kibby.

Ouselaw Lane, that's the one I was referring to also in the other thread about single track.  I wouldn't even say its single track, as its boundaried by large tyres in attempt  to help for anyone going to fast along the lane.  Like I said I refuse to take the car along if I can help it and with reference to Sunniside not really being a draw for the residents I would agree.  My family have lived in Kibby almost 50 years and it's not somewhere any of them would say, "why can't we have bus to?"

Can someone shed some light on why the 21 runs more frequently between Chester and Newcastle than Durham and Newcastle? It's always baffled me but it's probably something as simple as driving hours

(19 Feb 2023, 9:37 pm)itsadam wrote Can someone shed some light on why the 21 runs more frequently between Chester and Newcastle than Durham and Newcastle? It's always baffled me but it's probably something as simple as driving hours

Chester to Newcastle has more passengers, so it wouldn't make sense to run it to Durham every 10 mins its now every 30 mins

It used to be every 15 mins pre-pandemic but that was scrapped for what was meant to be every 15 mins X21 between Newcastle and Durham half hourly extended to Bishop iirc

(19 Feb 2023, 9:40 pm)Unber43 wrote Chester to Newcastle has more passengers, so it wouldn't make sense to run it to Durham every 10 mins its now every 30 mins

It used to be every 15 mins pre-pandemic but that was scrapped for what was meant to be every 15 mins X21 between Newcastle and Durham half hourly extended to Bishop iirc

It's always confused me because it's a popular corridor. 

I live in Durham but stay in Chester for work purely because the buses are more frequent and I can easily get a different 21 if the one from Durham isn't running. I'm one to get an earlier bus in case something happens to the later one, I don't really have that kinda luxury when I'm coming from Durham to Newcastle for work. 

If all these breakdowns recently are something to go by, you can't go wrong setting off early. I always like to have that peace of mind

(19 Feb 2023, 11:04 pm)itsadam wrote It's always confused me because it's a popular corridor. 

I live in Durham but stay in Chester for work purely because the buses are more frequent and I can easily get a different 21 if the one from Durham isn't running. I'm one to get an earlier bus in case something happens to the later one, I don't really have that kinda luxury when I'm coming from Durham to Newcastle for work. 

If all these breakdowns recently are something to go by, you can't go wrong setting off early. I always like to have that peace of mind

A lot of people from Durham to Newcastle travel via train as it's much much quicker and reliable (13 mins vs 60 mins). It has very good loads between the two stations, especially at peaks. You'd have to be pretty into buses to sit on the 21 for 80 minutes on some peak boards.

(19 Feb 2023, 11:23 pm)Storx wrote A lot of people from Durham to Newcastle travel via train as it's much much quicker and reliable (13 mins vs 60 mins). It has very good loads between the two stations, especially at peaks. You'd have to be pretty into buses to sit on the 21 for 80 minutes on some peak boards.

Trains are just far too expensive for me, better value with a monthly 5-25 ticket in my opinion. I see the benefits of trains though but still doesn't tempt me

(20 Feb 2023, 1:40 pm)itsadam wrote Trains are just far too expensive for me, better value with a monthly 5-25 ticket in my opinion. I see the benefits of trains though but still doesn't tempt me

Aye I get that but most people commuting from Durham from Newcastle I can imagine will be on decent enough wages where they'd value time over money. I know I would if I was doing that commute, it's not a bad capacity 5 buses an hour really (more than Sunderland to Durham nowadays which has no alternative).

Unfortunately for me, I'll no longer be able to buy 5-25 tickets as of next week, so my use of GNE is going to drop considerably

I don't suppose anyone could help me out.

I got the 21 to Newcastle on Saturday I think and it was going back to Durham. It didn't drop passengers off at the bus station but instead dropped people off at the stop just right outside of Munchies in Newcastle and the driver said he got told to drop them off there. Why? What about the passengers from Eldon didn't know about this and missed their bus? Absolute shambles

Route Change to the 51/52, from Beacon Lough Road then Southend Road, Q.E Hospital, Windy Nook Road, Broadway and Kells Lane before rejoining current route.

Serve Bensham Hospital on 93/94 or 96.

Dont really know the Sunderland and Co Durham area all that well, but seeing peoples comments about the 71 i was thinking this
22 Newcastle- Seaham via Gateshead Interchange, Bensham, Team Valley, Chowdene Bank (Low Fell), Angel of the North, Birtley, Chester-Le-Street, then the 71 to Seaham

(27 Feb 2023, 12:43 pm)itsadam wrote I don't suppose anyone could help me out.

I got the 21 to Newcastle on Saturday I think and it was going back to Durham. It didn't drop passengers off  at the bus station but instead dropped people off at the stop just right outside of Munchies in Newcastle and the driver said he got told to drop them off there. Why? What about the passengers from Eldon didn't know about this and missed their bus? Absolute shambles

They for this when they need to regulate a late running service.

(27 Feb 2023, 5:25 pm)V514DFT wrote Dont really know the Sunderland and Co Durham area all that well, but seeing peoples comments about the 71 i was thinking this
22 Newcastle- Seaham via Gateshead Interchange, Bensham, Team Valley, Chowdene Bank (Low Fell), Angel of the North, Birtley, Chester-Le-Street, then the 71 to Seaham

I was thinking something a little more direct - extend the 71 to Newcastle via A167, Wrekenton, Old Durham Road & Gateshead Int.

I feel like a newcastle link would be useful for the 71, that could be either 21 service from Chester-Le-Street to Seaham, or an X1 which only goes to Houghton then goes to Seaham.

However I feel like there should be a slight route change for the 71.

Seaton - Station Road - Train Station - Seaham - Business Park, maybe you could even send it upto Princess Road, but that would limit turning around to Parkside which a newcastle link probably wouldn't be the worst thing similar to the old X95, and it would bring a service where the 202/62 used to be

A few routes I would love to see altered is the 58, alternate buses running along Furrowfield way as a 58A or something to run along side the 57 to give a 15 minute service. My idea is as follows:

58A runs normal route to windy nook church, instead of turning left at the lights it would continue straight on like a 93 and then turns left onto stone street (past Sutherlands) and into Heworth and onwards to Amazon.

Or a 93/94 instead of going along past Q.E it turns left after windy nook church then turns right onto campion gardens and through beacon Lough onto normal route down back into Gateshead and the 94 do the reverse going through beacon Lough, and back along campion gardens and along stone street and back to normal route at Windy Nook church with certain buses continuing to run past the QE

Is the 57 not returning back to 15 mins, or alteast 20?

(27 Feb 2023, 12:43 pm)itsadam wrote I don't suppose anyone could help me out.

I got the 21 to Newcastle on Saturday I think and it was going back to Durham. It didn't drop passengers off  at the bus station but instead dropped people off at the stop just right outside of Munchies in Newcastle and the driver said he got told to drop them off there. Why? What about the passengers from Eldon didn't know about this and missed their bus? Absolute shambles

Probably late running so skipped out Eldon Square to get back on time, i've this happen on more than one occasion.