(10 Aug 2023, 3:12 pm)Storx wrote I know it hasn't officially been announced but there's been talk that it's going to be part of the Metro Zones similar to being able to use tickets between Sunderland and Newcastle. 

Can't remember where I read but it's been kinda mentioned still relatively recently and it was definitely part of the early plans.

Good to hear that!

(09 Aug 2023, 9:33 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yes it’s a TVCA contract until 30th March, much like the evening & Sunday 29s also reintroduced with the same dates


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

However a full village is still missed out and not everyone drives and people especially the elderly reply on the bus.

(10 Aug 2023, 3:12 pm)Storx wrote I know it hasn't officially been announced but there's been talk that it's going to be part of the Metro Zones similar to being able to use tickets between Sunderland and Newcastle. 

Can't remember where I read but it's been kinda mentioned still relatively recently and it was definitely part of the early plans.

Tyne and wear and Northumberland metro???? That's going to cost alot to replace the branding

(10 Aug 2023, 3:25 pm)RMF1254 wrote Good to hear that!

Yeah, whether it happens though. I don't know.

https://haveyoursay.northumberland.gov.u...e%20v2.pdf - It's mentioned there in the consultation and the current website, is in discussion with partners who assume is Nexus.

They might however just accept the new day tickets that are coming in, they're roughly the same price as a Metro Day Ticket without using POP anyway.

(10 Aug 2023, 4:17 pm)Rob44 wrote Tyne and wear and Northumberland metro???? That's going to cost alot to replace the branding

Don't think it's going to be branded as that, just ticketing, similar to you can use a ticket on the Sunderland to Newcastle Northern services.

(10 Aug 2023, 5:06 pm)Storx wrote Yeah, whether it happens though. I don't know.

https://haveyoursay.northumberland.gov.u...e%20v2.pdf - It's mentioned there in the consultation and the current website, is in discussion with partners who assume is Nexus.

They might however just accept the new day tickets that are coming in, they're roughly the same price as a Metro Day Ticket without using POP anyway.


Don't think it's going to be branded as that, just ticketing, similar to you can use a ticket on the Sunderland to Newcastle Northern services.

Ah right me getting confused again.

Confirmation of changes in Tees Valley: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...ley-sept23
And Darlington/Co.Durham: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/...ham-sept23

Genuinely sad to see the 55 going, pretty much grew up with it (and the M55) even when it was with Northumbria, really is the end of an era

Do we know what the fleet movements & routes are from September between Blyth & Ashington

I wonder what the 47 will be allocated in September since 1499 is moving to the 553

(17 Aug 2023, 10:08 am)Busu284 wrote I wonder what the 47 will be allocated in September since 1499 is moving to the 553

Presumably just sitting within the 43/44/45 cycle of vehicles.

For any real bus enthusiast, today is your last chance to get photos of/ take trips on Arrivas 51-55

(02 Sep 2023, 11:05 am)V514DFT wrote For any real bus enthusiast, today is your last chance to get photos of/ take trips on Arrivas 51-55

Are there any actually running? There’s not a single one tracking on bustimes or the Arriva app.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(02 Sep 2023, 11:09 am)j986986 wrote Are there any actually running? There’s not a single one tracking on bustimes or the Arriva app.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Should be as far as im aware

(02 Sep 2023, 11:21 am)V514DFT wrote Should be as far as im aware

Just drove past one (53) so they are running but just not tracking anywhere.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(02 Sep 2023, 11:09 am)j986986 wrote Are there any actually running? There’s not a single one tracking on bustimes or the Arriva app.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

They should be running, just won't be tracking, the same occurred when Darlington made changes back in July such as the last day of X21 not tracking.

(02 Sep 2023, 1:18 pm)Jimmi wrote They should be running, just won't be tracking, the same occurred when Darlington made changes back in July such as the last day of X21 not tracking.

I've seen a couple of 54 and 55 around today. Looks like the 44/45 are suffering tonight though. After the 8.45pm, the next one out of Haymarket is the 11.35pm.

(02 Sep 2023, 1:18 pm)Jimmi wrote They should be running, just won't be tracking, the same occurred when Darlington made changes back in July such as the last day of X21 not tracking.

A number of them aren’t running today as most of the drivers have already left to go to their new employer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(02 Sep 2023, 4:05 pm)Shrek wrote I've seen a couple of 54 and 55 around today. Looks like the 44/45 are suffering tonight though. After the 8.45pm, the next one out of Haymarket is the 11.35pm.

Im surprised they didnt cover the late turns from another depot. It was obvious what would happen!

(02 Sep 2023, 4:06 pm)Dan wrote A number of them aren’t running today as most of the drivers have already left to go to their new employer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wonder how long it will be before they move on from their new employer?

(02 Sep 2023, 4:34 pm)Andreos1 wrote Wonder how long it will be before they move on from their new employer?

Probably not very long with Nigel Featham and his sidekick Ben Maxfield running the company.

(02 Sep 2023, 6:30 pm)Thomas12 wrote Probably not very long with Nigel Featham and his sidekick Ben Maxfield running the company.

Surely most have gone to Stagecoach instead, considering it's literally a 50m walk from where they've been based for the past year or whatever it is.

Arriva's website is showing a Sunday only timetable for the Hurworth to Darlington service 12 commencing 3rd September. Service 12 should have been withdrawn after operating on Saturday 2nd September. The Sunday journeys on 12 were interworking with X75 which I believe is a Durham County Council contract. Solo 2841 is tracking on X75 but not 12. Are the Sunday journeys on 12 operating as shown on the attachment (assuming it opens) or have Arriva put this on their website in error? I note the news section of Arriva's website has not been updated to show the Sunday journeys as continuing. I do not know if the Sunday journeys on 12 were a Durham County contract as well as X75.

(03 Sep 2023, 11:10 am)XQ Zero wrote Arriva's website is showing a Sunday only timetable for the Hurworth to Darlington service 12 commencing 3rd September. Service 12 should have been withdrawn after operating on Saturday 2nd September. The Sunday journeys on 12 were interworking with X75 which I believe is a Durham County Council contract. Solo 2841 is tracking on X75 but not 12. Are the Sunday journeys on 12 operating as shown on the attachment (assuming it opens) or have Arriva put this on their website in error? I note the news section of Arriva's website has not been updated to show the Sunday journeys as continuing. I do not know if the Sunday journeys on 12 were a Durham County contract as well as X75.

I'm led to believe service 12 is operating today, but this is the last day of operation of the service entirely. BusTimes showing service 12 as operating today only currently.

(03 Sep 2023, 11:31 am)Jimmi wrote I'm led to believe service 12 is operating today, but this is the last day of operation of the service entirely. BusTimes showing service 12 as operating today only currently.

I heard an error was made for the end date on the registration, which is why it is running today for one day only.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I sampled the short 2313 X7 Blyth-Seghill Chester Grove tonight. It was just me and another passenger. I know it's early days but I can't imagine it being very popular except perhaps on Fridays and Saturdays and possibly once the new Cinema etc opens (and/if takes off), but that is a while off.

(04 Sep 2023, 10:57 pm)solsburian wrote I sampled the short 2313 X7 Blyth-Seghill Chester Grove tonight. It was just me and another passenger. I know it's early days but I can't imagine it being very popular except perhaps on Fridays and Saturdays and possibly once the new Cinema etc opens (and/if takes off), but that is a while off.

Personally don't see the point in it, I can't remember the last time I went to Blyth, if they want to improve the X7, then an earlier Sunday service would be better 10am is stupidly late for the first bus to get into Newcastle.

Not aware of anyone around here who would go to Blyth for drinking either or the cinema, arguably later 19 journeys would be better, possibly by using part of the money from the absolutely pointless North Shields extension on the 57A especially since the whole of East Cramlington has no bus service at night and would give Seghill a Metro link all day.

(05 Sep 2023, 10:29 am)Storx wrote Personally don't see the point in it, I can't remember the last time I went to Blyth, if they want to improve the X7, then an earlier Sunday service would be better 10am is stupidly late for the first bus to get into Newcastle.

Not aware of anyone around here who would go to Blyth for drinking either or the cinema, arguably later 19 journeys would be better, possibly by using part of the money from the absolutely pointless North Shields extension on the 57A especially since the whole of East Cramlington has no bus service at night and would give Seghill a Metro link all day.

The new evening journeys are contracted by Northumberland County Council and the southern end of the 57A is contracted by Nexus.

Unfortunately you would need them to work together for that to happen, but alas.

(05 Sep 2023, 2:21 pm)RobinHood wrote The new evening journeys are contracted by Northumberland County Council and the southern end of the 57A is contracted by Nexus.

Unfortunately you would need them to work together for that to happen, but alas.

Aye it's a shame they can't work together, on paper imo it would be better to have an hourly 19 running from North Shields to Cramlington and an hourly 57A running from Bedlington through to Whitley Bay, it's the same PVR as what's used now (4). Much much better use of resources and serve places that don't have a bus service (Backworth Estates, East Cramlington, Nelson Ind. Estate, Nelson Village, Cramlington Hospital). Complete waste the current bizarre 57A evening / Sunday service and the 19 being 2 BPH carrying dust around.

Could then potentially make an argument for running the 351 and 359 until late and binning off the 54 evening boards, again serving places with no evening service like Murton, Briardene etc.

Seen on Facebook/ Darlington Borough Council Website that Stagecoach will commence it's 6/6a operations from Tomorrow running Hurworth - Darlington - Middleton St George and Teesside Airport only

Must say, using Bustimes usual caveats, Blyth has turned an absolute shambles the past few days.

If the X7/X8 tracking is right I feel very sorry for whoever is driving 1505 right now. Absolute absurd to cancel 2 peak times X7 out of Newcastle and have a single decker heading in 80 minutes after the first cancelled bus.

There's going to be some right pissed off passengers.