https://lm.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A...%2F3ou8f91&h=AT3e_mbLRA0yCfpJRfYlVIpDOL2kVjskx9gD5bssCo0_04b199_o0sf75aLAfExvQRN3WKvpm9beWMMVRjYGvgtiCOFWtqmdXAKV4ymkBXCg1rR1dlpKj80GiSqJhFDI314iClG4Rs46OAzw

Hearing regarding the B&T line to go ahead.

Economic Powerhouse, another laughable Tory rattler.

I just read on a form that the HS2 extension to Leeds is going to be scrapped and someone has commented that the blyth and tyne line is not going to happen due to arriva objecting? Not sure how true this is though?

I just read on a form that the HS2 extension to Leeds is going to be scrapped and someone has commented that the blyth and tyne line is  not going to happen due to arriva objecting?  Not sure how true this is though?

The regime has cut the amount of money for the B&T, meaning Northumbria Council must pick up the bill. Arriva have lodged an objection but the enquiry isn't until March next year.

The regime has cut the amount of money for the B&T, meaning Northumbria Council must pick up the bill. Arriva have lodged an objection but the enquiry isn't until March next year.

Typical Tories. Promise the world and deliver a slap in the face.

Typical Tories. Promise the world and deliver a slap in the face.

And I warned as much. No Leamisde, No ECML upgrade, No HS2 to Leeds, and now slashing their commitment to the B&T to around £60m of the £128m needed to reach the £162m overall cost..

News or discussion abouth the Northumberland Line here

February newsletter

https://www.northumberlandline.uk/post/n...r-february

News or discussion abouth the Northumberland Line here

February newsletter

https://www.northumberlandline.uk/post/n...r-february

https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showt...hp?tid=978&pid=266986#pid266986

There already is a thread

https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showt...hp?tid=978&pid=266986#pid266986

There already is a thread

did'nt see this one because it was buried

https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showt...hp?tid=978&pid=266986#pid266986

There already is a thread

I wonder if there will be integrated bus/train tickets and integrated bus/train timetables?

What they want first is a bus from Blyth Town Centre to Newsham/Bebside and from Bedlington Town Centre to Bedlington Station. Great Idea and will hopefully see the light of day.

What they want first is a bus from Blyth Town Centre to Newsham/Bebside and from Bedlington Town Centre to Bedlington Station. Great Idea and will hopefully see the light of day.

In fairness they already exist.

The 2/X21 do Bedlington to Bedlington Station
The X8/X10 do Blyth to Newsham
The X9 does Blyth to Bebside.

Whether those routes exist after the rail station comes is a different matter, wouldn't be surprised to see the X21/X22 dropped to both half hourly though and god knows with the X7 - X11 but I doubt there'll be demand for 8 buses between Blyth -> Cramlington -> Newcastle as now.

In fairness they already exist.

The 2/X21 do Bedlington to Bedlington Station
The X8/X10 do Blyth to Newsham
The X9 does Blyth to Bebside.

Whether those routes exist after the rail station comes is a different matter, wouldn't be surprised to see the X21/X22 dropped to both half hourly though and god knows with the X7 - X11 but I doubt there'll be demand for 8 buses between Blyth -> Cramlington -> Newcastle as now.

X8 is the basket case which needs to go.

Best way for a restructure would be:
- X9 - every 30 mins - Same as now Blyth to Cramlington then as per X10/X11 to Newcastle

- X9/X10/X11 (with X10/X11 still every 30 mins) - Up to every 10 mins Blyth - Parkside - Cramlington - Newcastle

- X7 - every 30 minutes or....every 20 but reduced to single deckers - Could interwork with 44/45 if still every 30 minutes

- 42 - Cramlington - High Pit - Annitsford - Fern Drive then as per current 43 to Newcastle - Every 30 mins with hourly extension to Morpeth

- 43 - Cramlington - Beacon Hill - Seaton Burn then as per current 43 to Newcastle - Every 30 mins with hourly extension to Blyth via current X8 route but also serving Amersham Road

X8 is the basket case which needs to go.

Best way for a restructure would be:
- X9 - every 30 mins - Same as now Blyth to Cramlington then as per X10/X11 to Newcastle

- X9/X10/X11 (with X10/X11 still every 30 mins) - Up to every 10 mins Blyth - Parkside - Cramlington - Newcastle

- X7 - every 30 minutes or....every 20 but reduced to single deckers - Could interwork with 44/45 if still every 30 minutes

- 42 - Cramlington - High Pit - Annitsford - Fern Drive then as per current 43 to Newcastle - Every 30 mins with hourly extension to Morpeth

- 43 - Cramlington - Beacon Hill - Seaton Burn then as per current 43 to Newcastle - Every 30 mins with hourly extension to Blyth via current X8 route but also serving Amersham Road

See personally they need to do more, they need to change the routes in Blyth imo so there's only 4 buses max doing express routes from Cramlington to Newcastle and terminate some short in Cramlington, there's no need for so many buses when the train comes.

Personally in Cramlington though I'd have two expresses:
Every 20 Minutes via the X11 Route
Every 20 Minutes via the X9 Route

Then you've covered the vast majority of Cramlington, just need to find a way to make them work across to Blyth maybe using the 43. I wouldn't slow down Beacon Hill services though there's massive housing developments in that area.

With the X7 I'd seriously considering terminating some short at Holywell, it's not particularly busy the other half of the route anyway and look at something else to cover Seaton Delaval to Blyth going elsewhere maybe towards Shiremoor etc.

Maybe Every 20 Minutes, Newcastle to Holywell via Fern Drive and hourly from there to Blyth. People from New Hartley are likely to walk to the new rail station and beyond there it's not busy really and the resources arguably are better on the other half of the route which won't be affected by the railway especially if the X8 didn't exist.

See personally they need to do more, they need to change the routes in Blyth imo so there's only 4 buses max doing express routes from Cramlington to Newcastle and terminate some short in Cramlington, there's no need for so many buses when the train comes.

Personally in Cramlington though I'd have two expresses:
Every 20 Minutes via the X11 Route
Every 20 Minutes via the X9 Route

Then you've covered the vast majority of Cramlington, just need to find a way to make them work across to Blyth maybe using the 43. I wouldn't slow down Beacon Hill services though there's massive housing developments in that area.

With the X7 I'd seriously considering terminating some short at Holywell, it's not particularly busy the other half of the route anyway and look at something else to cover Seaton Delaval to Blyth going elsewhere maybe towards Shiremoor etc.

Maybe Every 20 Minutes, Newcastle to Holywell via Fern Drive and hourly from there to Blyth. People from New Hartley are likely to walk to the new rail station and beyond there it's not busy really and the resources arguably are better on the other half of the route which won't be affected by the railway especially if the X8 didn't exist.

See I'd have thought they would adapt and look to feed in from the train.
They can't stop people making the switch, but they can look at the first and final mile journeys from the stations to home and vice versa.

From what I've seen in Scotland and to a lesser extent elsewhere, it works well when it is implemented. 

A bit of joined up thinking never hurt anyone.

Mind, I've seen it ignored completely and operators not looked at the potential of thousands of customers who would benefit from the final/first mile principle too mind.

See I'd have thought they would adapt and look to feed in from the train.
They can't stop people making the switch, but they can look at the first and final mile journeys from the stations to home and vice versa.

From what I've seen in Scotland and to a lesser extent elsewhere, it works well when it is implemented. 

A bit of joined up thinking never hurt anyone.

Mind, I've seen it ignored completely and operators not looked at the potential of thousands of customers who would benefit from the final/first mile principle too mind.

Honestly can't disagree but we know fine well it won't happen. It'll be the old, 'people aren't using buses we want money!!!' approach instead.
Like personally if I was in charge I'd seriously be looking at something like:

X64 SEATON VALLEY EXPRESS (Every 20 Minutes)
Newcastle - South Gosforth - Quorum - Burradon - Fern Drive - Seghill - Elsdon Avenue - Tillmouth Avenue
Hourly Extension: New Hartley - Seaton Sluice - Blyth omitting Amersham Drive

X9 CRAMLINGTON EXPRESS (Every 20 Minutes)*
Newcastle - Beacon Hill - Cramlington - Northumbria Road - Horton Drive (Loop)

X10 FAST EXPRESS (Every 30 Minutes):
Newcastle - Cramlington - High Pit - Newsham - Plessey Road - A193 - Waterloo Road

X11 SEMI EXPRESS (Every 30 Minutes)
Newcastle - Cramlington - High Pit - Newsham - Druridge Drive - Newsham Road - Ogle Drive - Albion Way - Tynedale Drive - Briardale Road - Cowpen Road - A193 - Waterloo Road
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.06465...0d!1m0!3e0

42 (Every 30 Minutes)
Newcastle - Seaton Burn - Dudley - A1171 - Northumbria Hospital - High Pit - Cramlington - A1171 - East Hartford

43 (Every 30 Minutes)*
Newcastle - Seaton Burn - Dudley - Cramlington - Northumbria Road - Newsham Station - Amersham Drive - Plessey Road - Blyth

52
Extended to Morpeth Hourly instead of 43

53
Extended to Blyth Hourly via Northumbria Road - Horton Drive - Newsham - Newsham Road - A193 - Waterloo Road

57 (Every 30 Minutes)*
Ashington - Bedlington - Cramlington - [Direct] - Annitsford - Seghill - Seaton Delaval - Holywell - Whitley Bay

19 (Every Hour)
Cramlington - Northumbria Hospital - East Cramlington - New Hartley - The Avenue - A192 - Elsdon Avenue - Seghill - Current Route

X21 (Dropped Every 30 Minutes)
X22 (Dropped Every 30 Minutes)
58 (Withdrawn)
X7 (Withdrawn and replaced with X64)
X8 (Withdrawn)
X9 (Blyth to Cramlington Withdrawn, mostly replaced by new X10)

X22/57 (Every 15 Minutes, Stakeford to Bedlington)
1/X21 (Every 15 Minutes, Bedlington Station to Ashington)
2/X21 (Every 15 Minutes, Bedlington Station to Bedlington)
X63/X64 (Every 10 Minutes, Newcastle to Quorum)
X10/X11 (Every 15 Minutes, Cramlington to Newcastle via Dudley)

It would work much better than what's there now imo and be more than enough with new links on the 53 from Blyth to Killingworth and beyond (if anyone wants it - but it's there). With the 1/2/X11 interworking with the trains giving more links around Blyth.

*Future proofed to serve the new Cramlington South West development when it's built.

52
Extended to Morpeth Hourly instead of 43

53
Extended to Blyth Hourly via Northumbria Road - Horton Drive - Newsham - Newsham Road - A193 - Waterloo Road

like the idea of the 52 going to Morpeth instead of the 43.

like the idea of the 52 going to Morpeth instead of the 43.

Makes sense to me as it would open new links like Killingworth and Quorum to Bedlington and Morpeth. Not saying anyone actually wants to do that mind but the 43 just duplicates the X21/X22 really.

Would help with some of the driver changeovers aswell as they could potentially run the 52/55 all from Morpeth sorting out the driver problem with it doing something like

52 (Long) -> 55 -> 52 (Short) -> 52 (Short) -> 55 -> 52 (Long)

The 51/54 could then interwork with the new long 57 like 57 -> 51 -> 54 -> 57 or 57 -> 54 -> 51 -> 57.

Arguably cheaper than shuttling drivers around with the 53 running from Blyth (reason I extended that).

Honestly can't disagree but we know fine well it won't happen. It'll be the old, 'people aren't using buses we want money!!!' approach instead. 
Like personally if I was in charge I'd seriously be looking at something like:

X64 SEATON VALLEY EXPRESS (Every 20 Minutes)
Newcastle - South Gosforth - Quorum - Burradon - Fern Drive - Seghill - Elsdon Avenue - Tillmouth Avenue
Hourly Extension: New Hartley - Seaton Sluice - Blyth omitting Amersham Drive

X9 CRAMLINGTON EXPRESS (Every 20 Minutes)*
Newcastle - Beacon Hill - Cramlington - Northumbria Road - Horton Drive (Loop)

X10 FAST EXPRESS (Every 30 Minutes):
Newcastle - Cramlington - High Pit - Newsham - Plessey Road - A193 - Waterloo Road

X11 SEMI EXPRESS (Every 30 Minutes)
Newcastle - Cramlington - High Pit - Newsham - Druridge Drive - Newsham Road - Ogle Drive - Albion Way - Tynedale Drive - Briardale Road - Cowpen Road - A193 - Waterloo Road
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.06465...0d!1m0!3e0

42 (Every 30 Minutes)
Newcastle - Seaton Burn - Dudley - A1171 - Northumbria Hospital - High Pit - Cramlington - A1171 - East Hartford

43 (Every 30 Minutes)*
Newcastle - Seaton Burn - Dudley - Cramlington - Northumbria Road - Newsham Station - Amersham Drive - Plessey Road - Blyth

52
Extended to Morpeth Hourly instead of 43

53
Extended to Blyth Hourly via Northumbria Road - Horton Drive - Newsham - Newsham Road - A193 - Waterloo Road

57 (Every 30 Minutes)*
Ashington - Bedlington - Cramlington - [Direct] - Annitsford - Seghill - Seaton Delaval - Holywell - Whitley Bay

19 (Every Hour)
Cramlington - Northumbria Hospital - East Cramlington - New Hartley - The Avenue - A192 - Elsdon Avenue - Seghill - Current Route

X21 (Dropped Every 30 Minutes)
X22 (Dropped Every 30 Minutes)
58 (Withdrawn)
X7 (Withdrawn and replaced with X64)
X8 (Withdrawn)
X9 (Blyth to Cramlington Withdrawn, mostly replaced by new X10)

X22/57 (Every 15 Minutes, Stakeford to Bedlington)
1/X21 (Every 15 Minutes, Bedlington Station to Ashington)
2/X21 (Every 15 Minutes, Bedlington Station to Bedlington)
X63/X64 (Every 10 Minutes, Newcastle to Quorum)
X10/X11 (Every 15 Minutes, Cramlington to Newcastle via Dudley)

It would work much better than what's there now imo and be more than enough with new links on the 53 from Blyth to Killingworth and beyond (if anyone wants it - but it's there). With the 1/2/X11 interworking with the trains giving more links around Blyth.

*Future proofed to serve the new Cramlington South West development when it's built.

I've often imaginged the conversation to be like this between them. 

Operator: hey, how's it going? We need some help. 

DfT: yeah, good thanks. Haven't seen you for a few weeks. Hit me up. What do you need? 

Operator: Well, we tried painting the buses funky colours, we installed some WiFi and plugs and still nothing. 

DfT: Is that the WiFi and stuff that we helped pay for?

Operator: That's the ones! We developed the app using data from the ticket machines you helped pay for too. 

DfT: Still no joy? 

Operator: Nah, the passengers still aren't coming. We blame covid. 

DfT: Have you asked the passengers what they want or where they want to go on your buses? 

Operator: Don't be daft. That would be too much hard work. Plus they keep changing their habits. Anyway, we've brought along Oliver. 

DfT: Who is Oliver? Is he the new guy in your commercial department? 

Operator: Don't be daft, we just keep the same faces and sometimes mix it up a bit with people from other companies. It's what we call our begging bowl. Please sir, can we have some more? 

DfT: Of course you can. Tell you what, we've got a dead horse too. We will throw in a stick to keep hitting it with, along with a share of a few billion pounds. 
See you in a couple of weeks!

I've often imaginged the conversation to be like this between them. 

Operator: hey, how's it going? We need some help. 

DfT: yeah, good thanks. Haven't seen you for a few weeks. Hit me up. What do you need? 

Operator: Well, we tried painting the buses funky colours, we installed some WiFi and plugs and still nothing. 

DfT: Is that the WiFi and stuff that we helped pay for?

Operator: That's the ones! We developed the app using data from the ticket machines you helped pay for too. 

DfT: Still no joy? 

Operator: Nah, the passengers still aren't coming. We blame covid. 

DfT: Have you asked the passengers what they want or where they want to go on your buses? 

Operator: Don't be daft. That would be too much hard work. Plus they keep changing their habits. Anyway, we've brought along Oliver. 

DfT: Who is Oliver? Is he the new guy in your commercial department? 

Operator: Don't be daft, we just keep the same faces and sometimes mix it up a bit with people from other companies. It's what we call our begging bowl. Please sir, can we have some more? 

DfT: Of course you can. Tell you what, we've got a dead horse too. We will throw in a stick to keep hitting it with, along with a share of a few billion pounds. 
See you in a couple of weeks!

Ha that made me laugh, not think it'll be more like this though up here

Operator: Hey I'm struggling to pay the shareholders and my bonus this year, do us a favour.

DfT: Erm erm erm, erm, can you not cut some more stuff instead.

Operator: I've done that, the driver's are all on strike I can't do anything and we've already sold the depots to top the funds up.

DfT: Oh strikes, they don't look good, let's see what I can do.

-- Checks accounts --

DfT: Covid, good excuse that one we'll give you some more money people will fall for that. Just remember to mention Ukraine aswell, that ones popular.

Operator: Thanks man, I'll make sure we'll make it up sometime soon.

DfT: No worries, it's not our money. Can call it levelling up aswell and mention Consett 10 times. Suckers up North!!

Operator: Yeah and it'll shut that clown Gannon up, he does my head in.

DfT: Oh he's a right prick.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-65243820

bridge tripled in cost

Im shocked its even going ahead. I thought it was just a tory claim that would never come to be built.

Maybe they could use some of that extra £350,000,000 a week

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-65243820

bridge tripled in cost

*pretends to be shocked*

Has anything (stations, car parks, related infrastructure) actually been built for this yet? August 2024 seems awfully ambitious given things like bridges still don't have funding.

*pretends to be shocked*

Has anything (stations, car parks, related infrastructure) actually been built for this yet? August 2024 seems awfully ambitious given things like bridges still don't have funding.

Track for a bay platform in Ashington, some building supplies for Bebside.

*pretends to be shocked*

Has anything (stations, car parks, related infrastructure) actually been built for this yet? August 2024 seems awfully ambitious given things like bridges still don't have funding.

Most the work so far I believe has been on the track, I know they've been working around Palmersville on the new underpass and I believe they're currently doing the passing loop between Seghill and Backworth.

They've upgraded the level crossings aswell. There's been quite a bit work around those areas, assuming for speed increases I believe it's 40 mph in places currently as it's never been upgraded in it's lifetime pretty much.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...t-28214580

Delays to the opening of Bebside and Bedlington Station.

Just waiting for the inevitable delay of the whole thing now.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...t-28214580

Delays to the opening of Bebside and Bedlington Station.

Just waiting for the inevitable delay of the whole thing now.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmjr...ium=social&at_format=link&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_link_id=2612CB96-B079-11EE-8485-CD2D8161DE7E&at_link_type=web_link&at_link_origin=BBC_Radio_Newcastle&at_campaign_type=owned&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&fbclid=IwAR2j081AiJfC758PXKYGDG8rmK_EXVIMNqC-cDMoSFWkBdB-PRqaEa28KIc

It's been confirmed that there's more delays

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmjr...ium=social&at_format=link&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_link_id=2612CB96-B079-11EE-8485-CD2D8161DE7E&at_link_type=web_link&at_link_origin=BBC_Radio_Newcastle&at_campaign_type=owned&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&fbclid=IwAR2j081AiJfC758PXKYGDG8rmK_EXVIMNqC-cDMoSFWkBdB-PRqaEa28KIc

It's been confirmed that there's more delays

"I don’t want it to be late, but it is not the county council or the Government’s fault."

Ah yes, there it is, the Tory blame shift. I'm surprised that they haven't somehow pinned the blame on either "THE BOATS" or Labour.

Appears there's another date been announced for this again today. The dates are now:

Ashington, Newsham, Seaton Delaval - Summer 2024
Bedlington, Bebside, Northumberland Park - Unknown, possibly 2025

https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/...ms-4480863

The timetable for this has been released (unofficially this morning via realtraintimes). The times are

Ashington -> Newcastle

Ashington (00/30)
Bedlington (05/35)
Bebside (08/38)
Newsham (12/42)
Seaton Delaval (17/47)
Northumberland Park (24/54)
Manors (Periodic)
Newcastle (37/07)


Newcastle -> Ashington

Newcastle (47/17 (or thereabouts))
Manors (Perodic)
Northumberland Park (01/31)
Seaton Delaval (07/37)
Newsham (12/42)
Bebside (16/46)
Bedlington (19/49)
Ashington (24/54)

Every 30 minutes until approx 8pm, then hourly until:

Last train out of Newcastle: 22:16
Last train out of Ashington: 23:00

The timetable for this has been released (unofficially this morning via realtraintimes). The times are

Ashington -> Newcastle

Ashington (00/30)
Bedlington (05/35)
Bebside (08/38)
Newsham (12/42)
Seaton Delaval (17/47)
Northumberland Park (24/54)
Manors (Periodic)
Newcastle (37/07)


Newcastle -> Ashington

Newcastle (47/17 (or thereabouts))
Manors (Perodic)
Northumberland Park (01/31)
Seaton Delaval (07/37)
Newsham (12/42)
Bebside (16/46)
Bedlington (19/49)
Ashington (24/54)

Every 30 minutes until approx 8pm, then hourly until:

Last train out of Newcastle: 22:16
Last train out of Ashington: 23:00

37 minutes from Ashington to Newcastle seems very slow, especially when the X20 does it in 45. 

I imagine that'll be the case for most people given the timings, since a bus stop will likely be closer to their door than the badly positioned train stations. 

The last train being 22:16 is far too early too.

There's also not a huge amount of time at Ashington for when things inevitably go wrong and delays happen.