(11 Feb 2014, 7:42 am)Michael wrote Saying that i got on at the Gall's yesterday with few seat's left, this was heading to Sunderland, this was at 4:36pm run though, it was still quite full after i got off at the Broadway.

No changes to the 8 please.

At peak times (considering it also serves Waterview Park), it is quite busy. It also provides good links from Sunderland and Washington to Beamish Museum, so yeah, just leave it as it is

(11 Feb 2014, 7:44 am)Tom wrote At peak times (considering it also serves Waterview Park), it is quite busy. It also provides good links from Sunderland and Washington to Beamish Museum, so yeah, just leave it as it is

Ye, i use it 4 times a week its a good link top the gall's and its fast means i can connect with the 4 better and get to college on time as the 2A/2C seem to stuck in traffic alot


Also i agree, they should be stand alone services - means better lay over time and reliability could be better..... Chester road is terrible for traffic at peak times.

Could that work?

Maybe when it gets new buses that might happen

(11 Feb 2014, 7:51 am)Michael wrote Ye, i use it 4 times a week its a good link top the gall's and its fast means i can connect with the 4.

Yeah, overall a service that doesn't need any changes.

When it gets the new buses this year it will probably be used more as a local services along Chester Road and Royal Hospital into Sunderland. The 78 seems to be well used along certain sections of the route, but what could be good is if the 78 ran along to the Royal Hospital, then operated to Houghton-le-Spring, then replaced the 71 route along that way? Possibly non-stop from Royal Hospital to Houghton-le-Spring?

(11 Feb 2014, 7:56 am)Tom wrote Yeah, overall a service that doesn't need any changes.

When it gets the new buses this year it will probably be used more as a local services along Chester Road and Royal Hospital into Sunderland. The 78 seems to be well used along certain sections of the route, but what could be good is if the 78 ran along to the Royal Hospital, then operated to Houghton-le-Spring, then replaced the 71 route along that way? Possibly non-stop from Royal Hospital to Houghton-le-Spring?

It already takes 100 years to Stanley/Consett.

It's one of GNE longest routes. No massive changes are needed tbh, think if these were stand alone services, reliability might increase.

Not sure on how many more buses may need to be added to the Lime services to help with its reliability.... it already has 13 branded buses, maybe a extra 1 when they order new buses?

anyone help?

(11 Feb 2014, 7:59 am)Michael wrote It already takes 100 years to Stanley/Consett.

It's one of GNE longest routes. No massive changes are needed tbh, think if these were stand alone services, reliability might increase.

Not sure on how many more buses may need to be added to the Lime services.

It wouldn't take a lot longer:
30 minutes - Houghton-Chester-le-Street
21 minutes - Houghton-Sunderland (express)

(10 Feb 2014, 10:05 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Up the Frequency of the 8/50 to Every 20 Minutes and/or Extend the M2/M3 into Chester le Street on Both Services.

Simple Reason for the 50 is, This Morning I started work at 10pm, and went out to catch the 09:40am which ended up turning up 10 Minutes Late, and I was pretty much cutting it for being late this Morning, Got bollocking off my Line Manager for being a Minute Early for my Shift, Although I should perhaps get an Earlier Bus, But if said Bus had Broken Down, I would of had to wait 30 Minutes for the Next One. Perhaps having the 50 at 02/22/42 through Lambton heading towards Durham wouln't be such a Bad Idea.

As for the 8, A simply short Xpress Journey which goes from Chester le Street to Sunderland via Washington Galleries - Waterview Park and Sunderland Enterprise Park, would be ideal also, As the 8 at 17:17pm from Chester was also 10 Minutes Late, which affects the Reliability of the whole Route and the 78 that it Interworks with. Maybe these should actually be Stand Alone Services.

Then the M2/M3 would also Improve Links between Chester le Street and Washington, Perhaps have it run via Station Lane - Ouston - Pelton/Drum Industrial Estate and Pelton Lane into Chester le Street. "And Brand it Lambton Worm" - Could even Extend to Waldridge Park to Replace the 34/34A and Split the Allocation between Chester/Washington and also Keep the Frequency at Every 15 Minutes across the whole Route.

There's a few Suggestions from my First Day at Work.

The 78 will then have to go to every 20 mins aswell because they interwork, it would mean a whole new timetable would have to be drawn out rather than just changing a few services.

(11 Feb 2014, 7:59 am)Michael wrote It already takes 100 years to Stanley/Consett.

It's one of GNE longest routes. No massive changes are needed tbh, think if these were stand alone services, reliability might increase.

Not sure on how many more buses may need to be added to the Lime services to help with its reliability.... it already has 13 branded buses, maybe a extra 1 when they order new buses?

anyone help?

The 13 branded buses make up its PVR and there is usually always a Northern B10 or a Solar, its usually one of Chester's that are off the road though. 4850-4855 are rubbish.

(11 Feb 2014, 7:40 am)Tom wrote Cutting the 8 from Chester-le-Street to Stanley isn't a good idea, that's the busiest section of the route!

The 8 would remain the same Every Half Hour - Stanley to Sunderland - But there would be an Xpress Short Journey put on from Chester le Street, to then Increase the Frequency and Improve Reliability.

(10 Feb 2014, 10:05 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Up the Frequency of the 8/50 to Every 20 Minutes and/or Extend the M2/M3 into Chester le Street on Both Services.

Then the M2/M3 would also Improve Links between Chester le Street and Washington, Perhaps have it run via Station Lane - Ouston - Pelton/Drum Industrial Estate and Pelton Lane into Chester le Street. "And Brand it Lambton Worm" - Could even Extend to Waldridge Park to Replace the 34/34A and Split the Allocation between Chester/Washington and also Keep the Frequency at Every 15 Minutes across the whole Route.

There's a few Suggestions from my First Day at Work.

How would you route that? I'd change the 34 to mimic the old 734 running Chester Le Street - Barley Mow - Birtley Station Lane - Ouston then current 34 route to CLS

(12 Feb 2014, 5:56 pm)gtom wrote How would you route that? I'd change the 34 to mimic the old 734 running Chester Le Street - Barley Mow - Birtley Station Lane - Ouston then current 34 route to CLS

Basically as the 34/34A is Now between Waldridge Park and Ouston and then onto Birtley via Station Lane and then the Current M2/M3 Route to Heworth.

(12 Feb 2014, 5:56 pm)gtom wrote How would you route that? I'd change the 34 to mimic the old 734 running Chester Le Street - Barley Mow - Birtley Station Lane - Ouston then current 34 route to CLS

When did it do that?

(12 Feb 2014, 8:06 pm)MilkybarKid wrote When did it do that?

Cant remember the 734 doing it, but there was a 730 which did some sort of variation of that route

Maybe worth someone checking out the bygone section to double check

yeah remember the 730 doing it, thought the 734 just turned at the roundabout at the bottom of ouston.

I was confusing my 73...s!

I meant the Metrorider operated 730

(12 Feb 2014, 9:07 pm)gtom wrote I was confusing my 73...s!

I meant the Metrorider operated 730

Saw the aftermath of a Metrorider being hit by a car at Urpeth Grange in mid 2000s.
Think it was written off.

In the early 90s, the 730 was operated by an independent using a white Transit van type bus.

#randomhistory #hashtagsonNEB

(12 Feb 2014, 9:14 pm)andreos1 wrote Saw the aftermath of a Metrorider being hit by a car at Urpeth Grange in mid 2000s.
Think it was written off.

In the early 90s, the 730 was operated by an independent using a white Transit van type bus.

#randomhistory #hashtagsonNEB

Cousins

I like Adam's thinking. Reroute everything via his new place of work now, instead of the galleries.

(12 Feb 2014, 9:40 pm)aureolin wrote I like Adam's thinking. Reroute everything via his new place of work now, instead of the galleries.

It's so Inconvenient finishing work at 5pm, with my 50 Home being at 4 Minutes Past, Had to Run for it Tonight as I got out at 2 Minutes Past and I didn't fancy waiting 20+ Minutes like I did on Monday for the 8 because It was late. Even on Monday when I started at 10am, the 50 was due at 42 Minutes Past, It didn't come till Bang on 09:50am as it was Running Late.

The thing I have learnt this week is that from an Enthusiasts Perspective the Links to Chester le Street from Washington are Excellent, But from as Person who needs to get Work for Certain Times, The Service is Diabolical and Inconveniently Shit.

(12 Feb 2014, 10:00 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote It's so Inconvenient finishing work at 5pm, with my 50 Home being at 4 Minutes Past, Had to Run for it Tonight as I got out at 2 Minutes Past and I didn't fancy waiting 20+ Minutes like I did on Monday for the 8 because It was late. Even on Monday when I started at 10am, the 50 was due at 42 Minutes Past, It didn't come till Bang on 09:50am as it was Running Late.

The thing I have learnt this week is that from an Enthusiasts Perspective the Links to Chester le Street from Washington are Excellent, But from as Person who needs to get Work for Certain Times, The Service is Diabolical and Inconveniently Shit.

Have some photo time in Chester then.

(12 Feb 2014, 10:00 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote It's so Inconvenient finishing work at 5pm, with my 50 Home being at 4 Minutes Past, Had to Run for it Tonight as I got out at 2 Minutes Past and I didn't fancy waiting 20+ Minutes like I did on Monday for the 8 because It was late. Even on Monday when I started at 10am, the 50 was due at 42 Minutes Past, It didn't come till Bang on 09:50am as it was Running Late.

The thing I have learnt this week is that from an Enthusiasts Perspective the Links to Chester le Street from Washington are Excellent, But from as Person who needs to get Work for Certain Times, The Service is Diabolical and Inconveniently Shit.

18 minutes is cutting it really fine. I live 10 mins from work but make sure I'm always in at least half hour early. If there's one thing I've learnt its that you can't rely on buses up here.

(12 Feb 2014, 10:02 pm)aureolin wrote 18 minutes is cutting it really fine. I live 10 mins from work but make sure I'm always in at least half hour early. If there's one thing I've learnt its that you can't rely on buses up here.

Thing is for me it only takes 10 Minutes to/from Work, Like Yesterday, I finished bang on 5, and I was Home at 10 Past, Basically out the door and straight on the 50. Even if I got the Earlier Bus, I would be sitting Around for 40 Minutes before my Shift Starts, Its great if I start at 9am as the 50 Operates 7 Minutes Earlier and comes at 35MPTH,That's the only Plus for me, other than that it's just Awful.

if 4 ex-cobalt citarios gets done into X7 livery then their should just be 3 citarios in the X7 livery with the 4th into Northern livery for a spare for TWX, Silver Arrows and Laser, or maybe the last 2 of the ex cobalt citarios will be going Northern for Deptford?.

Why is it that Consett got the new Solos instead of Peterlee Depot?, even though GNE has no competition in Consett area but have competition in East Durham area with Arriva, at present when you board the East Durham service from Peterlee bus station, passengers don't know if the bus will manage to start and reverse and leave the bus station.

(15 Feb 2014, 8:33 pm)cbma06 wrote if 4 ex-cobalt citarios gets done into X7 livery then their should just be 3 citarios in the X7 livery with the 4th into Northern livery for a spare for TWX, Silver Arrows and Laser, or maybe the last 2 of the ex cobalt citarios will be going Northern for Deptford?.

Why is it that Consett got the new Solos instead of Peterlee Depot?, even though GNE has no competition in Consett area but have competition in East Durham area with Arriva, at present when you board the East Durham service from Peterlee bus station, passengers don't know if the bus will manage to start and reverse and leave the bus station.

Branded spare, as now. 4 branded B10BLEs replaced by 4 branded Citaros. As for 5337/8, I think we've come round to the chance they might be going to Stanley in fleet livery as back-up for Diamond and use on the 15/15A as well.

Probably because the Venture routes like turn a larger profit than the East Durham network. Remember that the Peterlee area services all used to be contracted work (and Go North East only went commercial with the work when they lost the tender bit), hence the major changes last March, and the further change last month.

(15 Feb 2014, 8:57 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Branded spare, as now. 4 branded B10BLEs replaced by 4 branded Citaros. As for 5337/8, I think we've come round to the chance they might be going to Stanley in fleet livery as back-up for Diamond and use on the 15/15A as well.

The allocation for the 15/15A has not and will not change - it will continue to be allocated Volvo B7TL vehicles; unless of course, one (or more) is VOR.

I pointed out the other day that Stanley currently have five Volvo B7TL vehicles for a PVR of 3 (services 15/15A). I have speculated that 5337/38 will therefore take the place of two Volvo B7TL vehicles and act as back-up for ALL services at Stanley depot - this will consequently allow for the withdrawal of two further Olympians (at depot/s TBC).

options on service X35/X36:

option A:

Why doesn't GNE run the X35 as a through service at Sunderland Interchange? the service has 7minutes layover before it goes out onto X36 to Newcastle which is nothing and it has about 20 minutes layover in Sunderland before it heads off to Hartlepool (it roughly takes about 10 minutes to get the passengers on board at Sunderland Interchange anyway as most passengers wait for this service to Houghton etc... instead of the 35 series), and run it as X35 between Hartlepool and Newcastle with it a split service at Sunderland Interchange as what GNE did with registering the X7 twice at Peterlee.

option B:

Run the X35 hourly between Hartlepool and Newcastle but half hourly between Peterlee bus station and Sunderland Interchange and run the X36 Newcastle to Hartlepool with a half hourly between Sunderland and Newcastle with X35, and extend the X36 from Sunderland to Hartlepool via Grangetown, Ryhope, Seaham Inn, Dalton Park, Easington Village to Peterlee bus station, then the X35 and X36 still be a joint 30 minute service between Peterlee and Hartlepool. it would take in customers off the Arriva 23 from Hartlepool and the Arriva service 24 between Peterlee and Sunderland and it would be more limited stop between Peterlee and Sunderland.

(15 Feb 2014, 10:07 pm)cbma06 wrote options on service X35/X36:

option A:

Why doesn't GNE run the X35 as a through service at Sunderland Interchange? the service has 7minutes layover before it goes out onto X36 to Newcastle which is nothing and it has about 20 minutes layover in Sunderland before it heads off to Hartlepool (it roughly takes about 10 minutes to get the passengers on board at Sunderland Interchange anyway as most passengers wait for this service to Houghton etc... instead of the 35 series), and run it as X35 between Hartlepool and Newcastle with it a split service at Sunderland Interchange as what GNE did with registering the X7 twice at Peterlee.

option B:

Run the X35 hourly between Hartlepool and Newcastle but half hourly between Peterlee bus station and Sunderland Interchange and run the X36 Newcastle to Hartlepool with a half hourly between Sunderland and Newcastle with X35, and extend the X36 from Sunderland to Hartlepool via Grangetown, Ryhope, Seaham Inn, Dalton Park, Easington Village to Peterlee bus station, then the X35 and X36 still be a joint 30 minute service between Peterlee and Hartlepool. it would take in customers off the Arriva 23 from Hartlepool and the Arriva service 24 between Peterlee and Sunderland and it would be more limited stop between Peterlee and Sunderland.

I'd say the X35 is just under 50km, based on a quick calculation on Google Maps, so it'd need to be split anyway? Otherwise they'd need to use tacho fitted vehicles and have a different set of driving time rules applicable.

Would it be better if Waggonway 28/28A was extended from Chester-le-street to Houghton via 71 route and cancel service 71, or will it become unreliable as the 28 series comes from Newcastle?.

28 to houghton is a bad idea I reckon as waggonways always stuck in toon

Following on from a discussion in the bus order thread...

Decker
Sunderland - Avondale Shops - Station Road - Shiney Row - Washington Highway - Harraton - current route to Galleries.
Same in reverse.

Single decker
Sunderland - Shiney Row - Station Road - Fallowfield Way - Biddick Village Centre - Galleries.
Same in reverse.

Divert the 8 via Fatfield riverside and pick up current route from Southcroft.

(17 Feb 2014, 1:04 pm)cbma06 wrote Would it be better if Waggonway 28/28A was extended from Chester-le-street to Houghton via 71 route and cancel service 71, or will it become unreliable as the 28 series comes from Newcastle?.

God no. Reliability issues across the route. Newcastle isn't the worst part but Birtley, Wrekenton and Coal House roundabouts are pinch points on the 2 routes