(17 Jul 2024, 10:44 am)Rob44 wrote I beg your pardon!!!  I think you'll find lots of people use the 44 to get to dinnington and vise vera.  Yoiur robbing peter to pay paul in this situational. Let the great park and the subsidised service keep away from making journey times longer for the villages of brunswick, hazlerigg and dinningiton.  Its bad enought that the " great park" was build on green belt in the first place and is slowly taking over, including a nature reserve at the top of hazlerigg!

I get your feelings there but I wouldn't say it's robbing Peter to pay Paul here as that would be taking something away from someone, ie sending the 44 to the Great Park and leaving Hazlerigg without a service at all.

Everywhere has the same service as now, some areas more services since there's more through Wideopen etc. The only loss is literally Dinnington to Hazlerigg, Dinnington's second service going via the Great Park instead which means it misses the traffic around Gosforth Park aswell. Brunswick isn't impacted at all.

If you wanted to keep the Hazelrigg to Dinnington links you could always restore the 342 via the airport, the passengers doing that might be enough to make it feasible, the links to the airport from this way are dire and would be useful for workers etc.

(17 Jul 2024, 11:42 am)Storx wrote I get your feelings there but I wouldn't say it's robbing Peter to pay Paul here as that would be taking something away from someone, ie sending the 44 to the Great Park and leaving Hazlerigg without a service at all.

Everywhere has the same service as now, some areas more services since there's more through Wideopen etc. The only loss is literally Dinnington to Hazlerigg, Dinnington's second service going via the Great Park instead which means it misses the traffic around Gosforth Park aswell. Brunswick isn't impacted at all.

If you wanted to keep the Hazelrigg to Dinnington links you could always restore the 342 via the airport, the passengers doing that might be enough to make it feasible, the links to the airport from this way are dire and would be useful for workers etc.

Bring back the 101 I say.  Or the 44b!  Defiantly need a link between the two though.

Without trying to put down the 49 before it's even started, there could be an argument for ditching the loop around Great Park and extending through to Dinnington thus leaving the 44/45 untouched. That would of course be dependent on getting through the weight restricted junction on to Brunton Lane (and picking an appropriate & more direct route through Great Park). A lot of ifs and buts.

(17 Jul 2024, 12:13 pm)Rob44 wrote Bring back the 101 I say.  Or the 44b!  Defiantly need a link between the two though.

Aye you're probably right there to be fair.

(17 Jul 2024, 12:16 pm)thw1008 wrote Without trying to put down the 49 before it's even started, there could be an argument for ditching the loop around Great Park and extending through to Dinnington thus leaving the 44/45 untouched. That would of course be dependent on getting through the weight restricted junction on to Brunton Lane (and picking an appropriate & more direct route through Great Park). A lot of ifs and buts.

To be fair the idea there was more about sorting Cramlington out so we don't have round 2 of this in a few years time.

https://i2-prod.chroniclelive.co.uk/inco...791224.jpg - There's a massive housing development being built to the South West of the town see above, and there's no buses so getting them there in advance would be useful.

People from the Cowpen area won't be happy when the X9 is forced to do a massive diversion around the world to try and cover as much as you can, so move them onto the express corridor and move the 4 BPH from the 43 to the West of Cramlington and grow both corridors imo. The only loser is Dudley and the place is tiny who would get 2 BPH instead but it's more than enough, with the 352 and 37 anyway.

Do buses have to comply with weight limits on bridges? I know that sounds stupid but isn't there a similar weight limit on the bridge between Salisbury on the valley and the gold medal pub and buses go across there no problem??

(17 Jul 2024, 1:08 pm)Rob44 wrote Do buses have to comply with weight limits on bridges?  I know that sounds stupid but isn't there a similar weight limit on the bridge between Salisbury on the valley and the gold medal pub and buses go across there no problem??

Depends on the restriction.  If it's a MGW - Maximum Gross Weight - then yes the bus will have to comply.  If it's a picture of a truck and then a weight the bus will be ok.  The bridge next to Sainsbury is like this and is fine for the bus to use.  I think in this case, the structure of the bridge is ok and the restriction is to prevent HGVs using it as a short cut to Team Valley.

(17 Jul 2024, 2:04 pm)Chris 1 wrote Depends on the restriction.  If it's a MGW - Maximum Gross Weight - then yes the bus will have to comply.  If it's a picture of a truck and then a weight the bus will be ok.  The bridge next to Sainsbury is like this and is fine for the bus to use.  I think in this case, the structure of the bridge is ok and the restriction is to prevent HGVs using it as a short cut to Team Valley.

There's quite a few around Camperdown to stop the livestock lorries being another one. I believe the Great Park one was to stop construction traffic. Mind I wouldn't like to drive an HGV through there as it's horribly tight

I really don't know why it's like that. It must be 100yds from the other road and not even exaggerating. 

Either shut it or do it properly imo.

(13 Jul 2024, 7:25 pm)Storx wrote I know which junction you mean here and it did open later, we just used it get from Kingston Park, forgot about that actually.

I'm not surprised to be honest, if Newcastle Council actually bothered to fix bridges then this could literally be all fixed easily imo by doing:
553, PVR 1: Regent Centre - Hollywood Avenue - Salters Bridge - South Gosforth - Freeman Hospital (Every 30 Minutes as now)
X46, PVR 2: Newcastle - Gosforth - Brunton Park - Featherstone Grove - Great Park (Every 30 Minutes)

Literally fixed it in a minute and improved the services bar the few who don't use the bus along Hollywood Avenue who have to change now.

As long as Salters Bridge is a bus gate then there's never going to be issues because it'll never meet anything.

The X46 and 49 duplicating each other 2 minutes apart is terrible terrible bus planning imo.

---

Guessing people around there aren't aware of the X46 though mind as that's probably a better alternative, putting a bus stop where the bus stop is rather than hail and ride would probably help though.

Buses have never went over that mini bridge even before it was broken. Its always been a weak bridge and there's always been a weight limit on it. Plus, all the locals prefer it to a bike lane. And I remember driving that way as a kid and I remember you could barely get through even as a car

(18 Jul 2024, 3:39 pm)Lewispark1509 wrote Buses have never went over that mini bridge even before it was broken. Its always been a weak bridge and there's always been a weight limit on it. Plus, all the locals prefer it to a bike lane. And I remember driving that way as a kid and I remember you could barely get through even as a car

Aye, its never been used even when there was heavy use of Minibuses in the area, before Benton ASDA opened, our nearest was the one at Gosforth, and we used to use that little Bridge as a shortcut

Cancellation:

PB0002404/396
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 812 (812) Hedworth Lane Whitburn Academy

PB0002404/383
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 826 (826) Harton Comprehensive Marsden Grotto

PB0002404/379
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 802 (802) Harton Comprehensive Whitburn CoE Academy

PB0002404/380
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 803 (803, 803) West Boldon Whitburn Academy

PB0002404/398
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 819 (819) St. Josephs RC Academy Watermill Lane

PB0002404/393
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 457 (457) Cleadon Pond St. Roberts of Newminster

PB0002404/374
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 542 (542) Falmouth Drive Boldon Comp

PB0002404/375
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 558 (558) Fellgate Whitburn Academy

PB0002404/395
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 807 (807) Whitburn Academy Fellgate Estate

PB0002404/384
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 827 (827) Mile End Road Harton Academy


New:


PB0002404/424
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 105 (105) St. Cuthberts RC Academy Great Park

PB0002404/437
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 686 (686) St. Thomas More RC Academy John Spence High School

PB0002404/423
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 18A (18A) Byker Metro St. Marys RC Comp

PB0002404/428
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 452 (452) Hylton Road St Roberts RC Academy

PB0002404/429
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 656 (656) George Stephenson High School New York Road

PB0002404/430
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 660 (660) John Spence High School Shiremoor Metro

PB0002404/431
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 664 (664) Hadrian Park Burnside College

PB0002404/433
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 671 (671) Battle Hill St. Thomas More RC Academy

PB0002404/436
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 682 (682) St. Thomas More RC Academy Backworth, Station Road

PB0002404/425
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 140 (140) Two Ball Lonnen Walbottle Academy

PB0002404/426
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 146 (146) Kenton Bar Walbottle Academy

PB0002404/427
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 151 (151) Benton Front Street St. Teresas RC Primary School

PB0002404/432
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 665 (665) Shiremoor Metro Burnside College

PB0002404/434
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 674 (674) Monkseaton St. Thomas More RC Academy

PB0002404/435
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 681 (681) Shields Road, Byker St. Thomas More RC Academy

PB0002404/438
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 695 (695) North Gosforth Academy Killingworth Bus Station

PB0002404/439
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 960 (960) South Shields Interchange Waterview Park

PB0002404/440
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 49 (49) Newcastle Eldon Square Great Park

Variation:

PB0002404/394
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 525 (525) Whitburn Academy Nevinson Avenue

PB0002404/278
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD X47 (X47) Newcastle Eldon Square Newcastle Great Park

PB0002404/352
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 556 (556) St Joseph's RC Academy South Shields Interchange

PB0002404/381
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 804 (804) Whitburn Academy Cotswolds Estate

PB0002404/355
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 821 (821) Fellgate St Josephs RC Academy

PB0002404/2
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 1011n (11, 10) Chapel House or West Denton Park North Kenton

PB0002404/4
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 22 (22, 22X) Cobalt Business Park Throckley

PB0002404/75
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 68 (68) Four Lane Ends Metro D.S.S Tyneview Park

PB0002404/10
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD X77X78X79 (X79, X79, X78, X77) Eldon Square Bus Station Ponteland and Darras Hall

PB0002404/382
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 815 (815) Whitburn North Guards St Josephs RC Academy

PB0002404/354
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 820 (820) Falmouth Drive, Low Simonside, Jarrow St Josephs Catholic Academy, Hebburn

PB0002404/29
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 12ss (12) South Shields Town Centre South Shields The Lonnen

PB0002404/48
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 23 (23) Dene Estate Thorney Close

PB0002404/5
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 303136 (31, 36, 30) Fenham Fawdon, Montagu Estate or City Centre

(19 Jul 2024, 10:44 pm)Michael wrote Cancellation:

PB0002404/396
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 812 (812) Hedworth Lane Whitburn Academy

PB0002404/383
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 826 (826) Harton Comprehensive Marsden Grotto

PB0002404/379
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 802 (802) Harton Comprehensive Whitburn CoE Academy

PB0002404/380
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 803 (803, 803) West Boldon Whitburn Academy

PB0002404/398
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 819 (819) St. Josephs RC Academy Watermill Lane

PB0002404/393
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 457 (457) Cleadon Pond St. Roberts of Newminster

PB0002404/374
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 542 (542) Falmouth Drive Boldon Comp

PB0002404/375
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 558 (558) Fellgate Whitburn Academy

PB0002404/395
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 807 (807) Whitburn Academy Fellgate Estate

PB0002404/384
Cancellation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 827 (827) Mile End Road Harton Academy


New:


PB0002404/424
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 105 (105) St. Cuthberts RC Academy Great Park

PB0002404/437
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 686 (686) St. Thomas More RC Academy John Spence High School

PB0002404/423
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 18A (18A) Byker Metro St. Marys RC Comp

PB0002404/428
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 452 (452) Hylton Road St Roberts RC Academy

PB0002404/429
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 656 (656) George Stephenson High School New York Road

PB0002404/430
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 660 (660) John Spence High School Shiremoor Metro

PB0002404/431
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 664 (664) Hadrian Park Burnside College

PB0002404/433
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 671 (671) Battle Hill St. Thomas More RC Academy

PB0002404/436
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 682 (682) St. Thomas More RC Academy Backworth, Station Road

PB0002404/425
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 140 (140) Two Ball Lonnen Walbottle Academy

PB0002404/426
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 146 (146) Kenton Bar Walbottle Academy

PB0002404/427
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 151 (151) Benton Front Street St. Teresas RC Primary School

PB0002404/432
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 665 (665) Shiremoor Metro Burnside College

PB0002404/434
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 674 (674) Monkseaton St. Thomas More RC Academy

PB0002404/435
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 681 (681) Shields Road, Byker St. Thomas More RC Academy

PB0002404/438
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 695 (695) North Gosforth Academy Killingworth Bus Station

PB0002404/439
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 960 (960) South Shields Interchange Waterview Park

PB0002404/440
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 49 (49) Newcastle Eldon Square Great Park

Variation:

PB0002404/394
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 525 (525) Whitburn Academy Nevinson Avenue

PB0002404/278
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD X47 (X47) Newcastle Eldon Square Newcastle Great Park

PB0002404/352
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 556 (556) St Joseph's RC Academy South Shields Interchange

PB0002404/381
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 804 (804) Whitburn Academy Cotswolds Estate

PB0002404/355
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 821 (821) Fellgate St Josephs RC Academy

PB0002404/2
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 1011n (11, 10) Chapel House or West Denton Park North Kenton

PB0002404/4
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 22 (22, 22X) Cobalt Business Park Throckley

PB0002404/75
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 68 (68) Four Lane Ends Metro D.S.S Tyneview Park

PB0002404/10
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD X77X78X79 (X79, X79, X78, X77) Eldon Square Bus Station Ponteland and Darras Hall

PB0002404/382
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 815 (815) Whitburn North Guards St Josephs RC Academy

PB0002404/354
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 820 (820) Falmouth Drive, Low Simonside, Jarrow St Josephs Catholic Academy, Hebburn

PB0002404/29
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 12ss (12) South Shields Town Centre South Shields The Lonnen

PB0002404/48
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 23 (23) Dene Estate Thorney Close

PB0002404/5
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 303136 (31, 36, 30) Fenham Fawdon, Montagu Estate or City Centre

Stagecoach changes on bus times details 

23 Sunderland 
Minor changes to journeys during MF am peak to provide additional reliability.

30/31/36 Slatyford 
0919 service 31 from Pilgrim Street revised to commence at Whickham View at 0856. No other changes.

49 Slatyford (New service)
New Monday to Saturday daytime service, working in partnership with Newcastle Great Park.

22 Walkergate 
Minor timetable change on Monday to Friday afternoons to improve reliability.

12 South Shields 
Monday-Sunday regular service. Minor changes to afternoon departure times from Watson Avenue towards The Lonnen/South Shields Town Centre.

X47 Slatyford 
Revised route and timetable. Service revised to extend and serve Great Park, in partnership with NGP. Runs via Windsor Way in both directions, omitting Ascot Court.

10/11 Slatyford 
Minor timetable changes on Monday to Friday morning and early afternoons.

X77/X78/X79 Slatyford 
All services revised to operate via Kingston Park and Ascot Court, replacing revised Service X47

68 Walkergate 
New journey at 1610 from Tyneview Park, and 1627 return. 2010 from Tyneview Park withdrawn due to low customer numbers.

(22 Jul 2024, 8:12 am)Aaron21 wrote Stagecoach changes on bus times details 

23 Sunderland 
Minor changes to journeys during MF am peak to provide additional reliability.

30/31/36 Slatyford 
0919 service 31 from Pilgrim Street revised to commence at Whickham View at 0856. No other changes.

49 Slatyford (New service)
New Monday to Saturday daytime service, working in partnership with Newcastle Great Park.

22 Walkergate 
Minor timetable change on Monday to Friday afternoons to improve reliability.

12 South Shields 
Monday-Sunday regular service. Minor changes to afternoon departure times from Watson Avenue towards The Lonnen/South Shields Town Centre.

X47 Slatyford 
Revised route and timetable. Service revised to extend and serve Great Park, in partnership with NGP. Runs via Windsor Way in both directions, omitting Ascot Court.

10/11 Slatyford 
Minor timetable changes on Monday to Friday morning and early afternoons.

X77/X78/X79 Slatyford 
All services revised to operate via Kingston Park and Ascot Court, replacing revised Service X47

68 Walkergate 
New journey at 1610 from Tyneview Park, and 1627 return. 2010 from Tyneview Park withdrawn due to low customer numbers.

Are the GNE X78 trips revised to operate via Kingston Park or will they continue going the existing route? Is the GNE contract only for one year to operate the X78?

1st September 2024:

PB0002404/5
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 303136 (30, 31, 36) Fenham Fawdon, Montagu Estate or City Centre

PB0002404/1
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 1 (1) Slatyford or Buddle Road Coach Lane Campus



2nd September 2024:

PB0001987/328
New CLEVELAND TRANSIT LTD 16 (16) Harrowgate Hill Mowden or West Park

(01 Aug 2024, 5:34 pm)Michael wrote 1st September 2024:

PB0002404/5
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 303136 (30, 31, 36) Fenham Fawdon, Montagu Estate or City Centre

PB0002404/1
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 1 (1) Slatyford or Buddle Road Coach Lane Campus


2nd September 2024:

PB0001987/328
New CLEVELAND TRANSIT LTD 16 (16) Harrowgate Hill Mowden or West Park

All 3 have been accepted by the Traffic Commissioner today, with the following on the CSA sheet for the Busways services:

1: BSIP funded service enhancement, with services operating up to every 7/8 minutes between Coach Lane Campus and South Benwell, extending to either Buddle Road or Slatyford up to every 15 minutes. Evening and Sunday services also uplifted commercially, up to every 15 minutes.
30/31/36: BSIP funded service enhancement, with Monday to Saturday services to operate up to every 15 minutes, combining to operate up to every 7/8 minutes on combined sections of Service 30 and 31. No changes to evening and Sunday journeys.

(02 Aug 2024, 1:22 pm)Kuyoyo wrote All 3 have been accepted by the Traffic Commissioner today, with the following on the CSA sheet for the Busways services:

1: BSIP funded service enhancement, with services operating up to every 7/8 minutes between Coach Lane Campus and South Benwell, extending to either Buddle Road or Slatyford up to every 15 minutes. Evening and Sunday services also uplifted commercially, up to every 15 minutes.
30/31/36: BSIP funded service enhancement, with Monday to Saturday services to operate up to every 15 minutes, combining to operate up to every 7/8 minutes on combined sections of Service 30 and 31. No changes to evening and Sunday journeys.

Basically returning to what they were a few years ago. I’m sure the regular BSIP whiner on this forum will have something to say about it and I don’t think there will enough Yutongs to operate the enhanced 30/31/36 given the numbers ordered only covered the pre-existing PVR. I’m guessing the uplift on the number 1 is the real reason the additional E400MMCs have arrived from Manchester, too.

(02 Aug 2024, 2:38 pm)markydh wrote Basically returning to what they were a few years ago. I’m sure the regular BSIP whiner on this forum will have something to say about it and I don’t think there will enough Yutongs to operate the enhanced 30/31/36 given the numbers ordered only covered the pre-existing PVR. I’m guessing the uplift on the number 1 is the real reason the additional E400MMCs have arrived from Manchester, too.

18 Yutongs on order - the same number as E200MMCs ordered for the same group of services in 2016, when the PVR was 17.

Personally I think there needs to be an internal investigation on the bias towards Gosforth and Heaton in relation to transport because it's getting absolutely stupid in Newcastle now

Gosforth Investment:
Q3 Electrics
43/44/45 Electrics
30/31/36 Electrics
New Cycle Lanes
30/31/36 BSIP Improvement on a frequent service

Heaton Investment:
New Cycle Lanes
1 BSIP Improvement on a frequent service
New Low Traffic Schemes

Outer West, Walker, and Byker Investment:
...

It's like a 2 tier city and parts of the West End are an absolute disgrace, they can't even be bothered to cut the grass.

(02 Aug 2024, 6:23 pm)Storx wrote Personally I think there needs to be an internal investigation on the bias towards Gosforth and Heaton in relation to transport because it's getting absolutely stupid in Newcastle now

Gosforth Investment:
Q3 Electrics
43/44/45 Electrics
30/31/36 Electrics
New Cycle Lanes
30/31/36 BSIP Improvement on a frequent service

Heaton Investment:
New Cycle Lanes
1 BSIP Improvement on a frequent service
New Low Traffic Schemes

Outer West, Walker, and Byker Investment:
...

It's like a 2 tier city and parts of the West End are an absolute disgrace, they can't even be bothered to cut the grass.

Not sure who you’re upset at here. 
The investments you’ve mentioned are surely from at least three different organisations.
And if you’re going to throw in random topic such as grass cutting, how about the major investment in the Outer West’s brand new pool, gym, sports hall, community space and library. 
Does Heaton have an equivalent of Byker pool/gym or Walker Activity Dome?
Benwell & Elswick have had a major new cycleway in the last few years, which is due to be extended further. Fenham had an LTN.


Presumably many of the investments you’ve listed for Gosforth and Heaton have been a result of them being popular densely populated areas just outside of the city centre, with busy high streets, numerous schools, several large employment sites, busy public & private transport corridors, and as a result they see their fair share of congestion, air quality and traffic related safety issues which all need to be migrated.

(02 Aug 2024, 7:44 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Not sure who you’re upset at here. 
The investments you’ve mentioned are surely from at least three different organisations.
And if you’re going to throw in random topic such as grass cutting, how about the major investment in the Outer West’s brand new pool, gym, sports hall, community space and library.
Benwell & Elswick have had a major new cycleway in the last few years, which is due to be extended further. 
Does Heaton have an equivalent of Byker pool/gym or Walker Activity Dome?

Anyway, presumably many of the investments you’ve listed for Gosforth and Heaton have been a result of them being popular densely populated areas just outside of the city centre, with busy high streets, numerous schools, several large employment sites, busy public & private transport corridors, and as a result they see their fair share of congestion, air quality and traffic related safety issues which all need to be migrated.

What new outer pool, you mean the one that's pretty much been delayed indefinitely?

There's plenty other corridors in the North East that deserve this investment, West Road, Byker High Street and god to sake mention it, the Coast Road but not a penny has been spent on any of them, all with the same pollution issues and also serious congestion on 3 of them. There's no need for every route in Gosforth getting money.

This BSIP money should be improving bus services in areas with a poor bus service, I'm sorry but a 10 minute service is not a poor service by any stretch of the imagination and a bus service being 7.5 or 10 minute won't change someone using it, they're near identical. This is literally the 56 again but on steroids. The 71/72/87 being a prime example which are horrible infrequent (hourly) on the extemes, this is unacceptable in an urban area. The 6/7 two other services, also hourly on it's unique sections, also completely unusable.

It's not a new thing Gosforth getting money spent on it either.

The quicker the North East gets some adults in to run the transport while the councillors go splashing tax payers money down the drain, the better. Credit where credit due to Northumberland as they're the only area which has spent their BSIP money on creating new links and improving services in areas which genuinely have a poor service.

(02 Aug 2024, 8:22 pm)Storx wrote What new outer pool, you mean the one that's pretty much been delayed indefinitely?

There's plenty other corridors in the North East that deserve this investment, West Road, Byker High Street and god to sake mention it, the Coast Road but not a penny has been spent on any of them, all with the same pollution issues and also serious congestion on 3 of them. There's no need for every route in Gosforth getting money.

This BSIP money should be improving bus services in areas with a poor bus service, I'm sorry but a 10 minute service is not a poor service by any stretch of the imagination and a bus service being 7.5 or 10 minute won't change someone using it, they're near identical. This is literally the 56 again but on steroids. The 71/72/87 being a prime example which are horrible infrequent (hourly) on the extemes, this is unacceptable in an urban area. The 6/7 two other services, also hourly on it's unique sections, also completely unusable.

It's not a new thing Gosforth getting money spent on it either.

The quicker the North East gets some adults in to run the transport while the councillors go splashing tax payers money down the drain, the better. Credit where credit due to Northumberland as they're the only area which has spent their BSIP money on creating new links and improving services in areas which genuinely have a poor service.

Tyne and Wear doesn't have remote communities. Those that are further out, actually have a decent service. Chopwell has six buses an hour. Murton in North Tyneside has two buses an hour. Even somewhere like Clara Vale has one bus an hour.
 
Although. I think you have a point with the frequent services getting money. I'm happy to be corrected, but I don't know of anywhere else in the country using BSIP money to enhance similar services.

(03 Aug 2024, 8:34 am)DeltaMan wrote Tyne and Wear doesn't have remote communities. Those that are further out, actually have a decent service. Chopwell has six buses an hour. Murton in North Tyneside has two buses an hour. Even somewhere like Clara Vale has one bus an hour.
 
Although. I think you have a point with the frequent services getting money. I'm happy to be corrected, but I don't know of anywhere else in the country using BSIP money to enhance similar services.

Aye no arguments there but personally I'd argue Newcastle shouldn't be spending their money on buses, at all. Like personally it'd be much better spending Newcastle's money on speeding the buses up. If you could knock off 3 minutes off every bus heading through Gosforth you'd save PVR naturally anyway which could be used to increase frequencies. Repeat that with the other bottlenecks everywhere and you might have the 30/31/36 frequency increase with no cost.

I know some will say why should all the money be spent in Durham and Northumberland on bus service improvements but the simple answer is they need it more. That could be easily balanced by spending more on infrastruture in Newcastle instead. Personally I can't really think of anywhere in Northumberland where bus infrastructure really needs to be spent unless you want to waste it on pointless things.

I'm not sure why each pot has to be split evenly on each part, surely it would be better to split the pot evenly but with each part uneven. As someone in Northumberland, I'd rather the improvement money went to North Tyneside / Newcastle as the biggest delays to both our services are caused at Sandy Lane, Haddricks Mill and Whitley Bay.

I can't think of any frequent services either getting the money outside the North East, infact is there anywhere spending so much on services, I'm struggling to think of any.

----

EDIT: Just done some research into this and was also surprised to find out that South Tyneside is actually the worst area with 54.2% at risk of social exclusion, followed by Durham and Northumberland. Newcastle is 6.5% in comparison.

(Page 98: https://www.transportforthenorth.com/wp-...ngland.pdf)

Hartlepool is shockingly bad aswell mind, but obviously outside the area, second worse in the North at 66.4%.

(03 Aug 2024, 9:20 am)Storx wrote Aye no arguments there but personally I'd argue Newcastle shouldn't be spending their money on buses, at all. Like personally it'd be much better spending Newcastle's money on speeding the buses up. If you could knock off 3 minutes off every bus heading through Gosforth you'd save PVR naturally anyway which could be used to increase frequencies. Repeat that with the other bottlenecks everywhere and you might have the 30/31/36 frequency increase with no cost.

I know some will say why should all the money be spent in Durham and Northumberland on bus service improvements but the simple answer is they need it more. That could be easily balanced by spending more on infrastruture in Newcastle instead. Personally I can't really think of anywhere in Northumberland where bus infrastructure really needs to be spent unless you want to waste it on pointless things.

I'm not sure why each pot has to be split evenly on each part, surely it would be better to split the pot evenly but with each part uneven. As someone in Northumberland, I'd rather the improvement money went to North Tyneside / Newcastle as the biggest delays to both our services are caused at Sandy Lane, Haddricks Mill and Whitley Bay.

I can't think of any frequent services either getting the money outside the North East, infact is there anywhere spending so much on services, I'm struggling to think of any.

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EDIT: Just done some research into this and was also surprised to find out that South Tyneside is actually the worst area with 54.2% at risk of social exclusion, followed by Durham and Northumberland. Newcastle is 6.5% in comparison.

(Page 98: https://www.transportforthenorth.com/wp-...ngland.pdf)

Hartlepool is shockingly bad aswell mind, but obviously outside the area, second worse in the North at 66.4%.

 Alot of people in Marsden and Horsley Hill miss the 89, so i casually asked did they use it when it was around, and they said no, people like that do my head in, they dont use the service, then bitch when it's gone, but i agree with the South Tyneside thing, plenty of buses to/from South Shields, but not alot go to places where people need to be, most of the network is based on a network from 40 years ago, the entire lot of it needs bulldozed and rebuilt from the ground up, and at the same time ditch duplicate bus numbers aswell

(03 Aug 2024, 1:04 pm)V514DFT wrote  Alot of people in Marsden and Horsley Hill miss the 89, so i casually asked did they use it when it was around, and they said no, people like that do my head in, they dont use the service, then bitch when it's gone, but i agree with the South Tyneside thing, plenty of buses to/from South Shields, but not alot go to places where people need to be, most of the network is based on a network from 40 years ago, the entire lot of it needs bulldozed and rebuilt from the ground up, and at the same time ditch duplicate bus numbers aswell

Honestly, I was actually quite surprised at South Tyneside to be honest, I thought it would be lower with the Metro and quite frequent bus service (even known it goes to South Shields). Definitely didn't think it would be worse than Durham as the service is pretty much terrible everywhere bar Durham itself, especially the further South you go down Newton Aycliffe / Bishop way. 

It seems like basic services and employment are the two which are really down in the S. Tyneside, which in a way would make sense since they all go to South Shields, where there's no shops barely nowadays and there's no work there.

The 599 should help a bit though mind, I suppose.

(03 Aug 2024, 2:30 pm)Storx wrote Honestly, I was actually quite surprised at South Tyneside to be honest, I thought it would be lower with the Metro and quite frequent bus service (even known it goes to South Shields). Definitely didn't think it would be worse than Durham as the service is pretty much terrible everywhere bar Durham itself, especially the further South you go down Newton Aycliffe / Bishop way. 

It seems like basic services and employment are the two which are really down in the S. Tyneside, which in a way would make sense since they all go to South Shields, where there's no shops barely nowadays and there's no work there.

The 599 should help a bit though mind, I suppose.

The South Tyneside bus network is shocking now compared to the past, not surprising since Northern closed 2 depots so GNE have no base in the area now.

(04 Aug 2024, 9:15 am)RMF1254 wrote The South Tyneside bus network is shocking now compared to the past, not surprising since Northern closed 2 depots so GNE have no base in the area now.

Aye that's true mind. The amount of time buses have changed with GNE, is ridiculous. Feels like the Jarrow to South Shields/Sunderland services go a different route with every change - mind they have stablised, for once.

Just surprised it's worse than Durham. The pit villages, in particular, are really bad in places and parts of East Durham aren't exactly great either and that's going into discussion that places like Barnard Castle can't travel North at all without a detour via Darlington.

(02 Aug 2024, 6:23 pm)Storx wrote Personally I think there needs to be an internal investigation on the bias towards Gosforth and Heaton in relation to transport because it's getting absolutely stupid in Newcastle now

Gosforth Investment:
Q3 Electrics
43/44/45 Electrics
30/31/36 Electrics
New Cycle Lanes
30/31/36 BSIP Improvement on a frequent service

Heaton Investment:
New Cycle Lanes
1 BSIP Improvement on a frequent service
New Low Traffic Schemes

Outer West, Walker, and Byker Investment:
...

It's like a 2 tier city and parts of the West End are an absolute disgrace, they can't even be bothered to cut the grass.

Agreed. As a Walker resident we get jack. But with that being said, we do have a decent network especially with me living in the Birds Nest Road area. I have the 12's on my doorstep and if I walk to either Walker Road or Welbeck Road I have an 18, 39/40 and a Q3. That being said, barely anything on an evening. The only bus that stays in the east end and towards FLE is from every half hour to an hour. Also went to school in West Denton and sixth form in Elswick, so I'm all to familiar with the areas and locals and how disgusting it is. Rye Hill only looks nice cos its near a college but you can't polish a turd. Dont get me started on Arthur's Hill. The locals don't even know it's called Arthur's Hill. Trust me, spend a few days there, you'll hear people saying "Stanhopa" (no spelling mistake there either, it is supposed to be an A on the end)??‍♂️

(07 Aug 2024, 11:00 am)lewisparker1509 wrote Agreed. As a Walker resident we get jack. But with that being said, we do have a decent network especially with me living in the Birds Nest Road area. I have the 12's on my doorstep and if I walk to either Walker Road or Welbeck Road I have an 18, 39/40 and a Q3. That being said, barely anything on an evening. The only bus that stays in the east end and towards FLE is from every half hour to an hour. Also went to school in West Denton and sixth form in Elswick, so I'm all to familiar with the areas and locals and how disgusting it is. Rye Hill only looks nice cos its near a college but you can't polish a turd. Dont get me started on Arthur's Hill. The locals don't even know it's called Arthur's Hill. Trust me, spend a few days there, you'll hear people saying "Stanhopa" (no spelling mistake there either, it is supposed to be an A on the end)??‍♂️

Aye not surprised that people on the ground feel the same, from an outsider it's really noticeable. 

Mind talking of those routes, I'm really surprised the 39/40 didn't get electrics mind. I know it's had stuff in the past but so has the 21. It's arguably the busiest bus route in the North East, goes straight through Blackett Street and then through West Road and Byker two congested areas.

Doing that could've moved the Enviro 400 MMC's on the 12/22/37/38 etc. I don't really have an issue with the electrics on the 30/31/36 either really. Think those 5 routes would've been the best routes in Newcastle but using BSIP money to upgrade frequencies, that's just stupid. Would've removed most the crap in the area.

PB0002404/440
Variation BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 49 Newcastle Eldon Square Great Park

Looks like more stops being added in - Monday to Saturday daytime service. New trips added at customers' requests