(25 Jul 2024, 9:14 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Thank you. I appreciate your reply. Where did you find that information?

Good to know the 941 isn't withdrawn this year. Not sure if JH will put a double or single decker on the 941. Presumably a double, interworking with a scholars run. No changes to route and timetable presumably?

VOSA

Been a few more schools/works services registered this week

Q3 will no longer serve Great Park, instead terminating on the eastern side of the A1 doing a one-way loop via Brunton Lane, Netherwitton Way, bus gate, Queensway, Princes Road and Polwarth Drive.

The service will operate every 20 minutes, and will remain serving Osborne Road in Jesmond.

At peak times, there will be a Q3X service operating via the Great North Road.

(26 Jul 2024, 3:45 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Q3 will no longer serve Great Park, instead terminating on the eastern side of the A1 doing a one-way loop via Brunton Lane, Netherwitton Way, bus gate, Queensway, Princes Road and Polwarth Drive.

The service will operate every 20 minutes, and will remain serving Osborne Road in Jesmond.

At peak times, there will be a Q3X service operating via the Great North Road.

So it's replacing the X46 I'm guessing?

(26 Jul 2024, 5:51 pm)Aaron21 wrote So it's replacing the X46 I'm guessing?

Probably not until march as that is when the contract ends. 

Also, the 35 should probably be scrapped from Jesmond if the Q3 is covering Jesmond still. It costs an extra bus to send it that way.

(26 Jul 2024, 10:37 am)Jimmi wrote VOSA

Been a few more schools/works services registered this week

Thanks for that. Interesting to see what they put on the 941. Hopefully no route or timetable changes.

Any registration for the 794 yet? Can't see one.

(26 Jul 2024, 3:45 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Q3 will no longer serve Great Park, instead terminating on the eastern side of the A1 doing a one-way loop via Brunton Lane, Netherwitton Way, bus gate, Queensway, Princes Road and Polwarth Drive.

The service will operate every 20 minutes, and will remain serving Osborne Road in Jesmond.

At peak times, there will be a Q3X service operating via the Great North Road.

They continue to not listen to the actual feedback regarding the service, if that is the case. 

From what I gather, the biggest issue residents of Great Park currently have with the Q3 is the diversion around Jesmond. Indeed, had they just re-routed via the Great North Road permanently then I'd think it would likely still be serving the western side of Great Park (which is still growing) as of September. 

Posts on Great Park pages suggest that the services operating to the estate do need to become viable without S106 funding sooner rather than later, and I doubt that the Q3 can achieve this operating on a 20-minute frequency to that side of the estate and continuing with Jesmond. 

I used the service today, and my experience was far from ideal. The first bus didn't turn up, the next was a late running 13 year old B9 with NSAs for the "Voltra Q3" - I thought the brand was "Quaycity"? Either way, the clapped out B9 wasn't either and continued to lose time. Majority of passengers used the service from the western side of Great Park, which the service will no longer serve, with only a few from the stop the other side of the A1 bridge. On the way back I paid some attention to loadings through Jesmond, around 6 got off but I think it would be safe to assume that none were fare paying, only one got on, and they all could have made the same journeys with the 35.

(27 Jul 2024, 3:42 pm)PH - BQA wrote a late running 13 year old B9 with NSAs for the "Voltra Q3" - I thought the brand was "Quaycity"?

So an old diesel B9 was basically advertising itself as an electric bus, because that’s what Voltra effectively means. Excellent.

Yes you’re right it should be “Quaycity”.
But do any of the Yutongs actually announce their service and destination when the doors close? I thought they weren’t able to do that?

This whole Q3 is stupid now. The fact there still gonna make it serve Osborne Road is pathetic. Why they made a whole consultation on this only for gne now not to do it. What they afraid off. The fact the Great North Road is Arriva & Stagecoach best with a gne slab in the middle. Q3 should go straight down past the town Moor like it was planned. No wonder it's been dropped from Great Park. X47 & 49 probs quicker

(26 Jul 2024, 3:45 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Q3 will no longer serve Great Park, instead terminating on the eastern side of the A1 doing a one-way loop via Brunton Lane, Netherwitton Way, bus gate, Queensway, Princes Road and Polwarth Drive.

The service will operate every 20 minutes, and will remain serving Osborne Road in Jesmond.

At peak times, there will be a Q3X service operating via the Great North Road.

I hope they've route tested it in the electric Breezeblocks as the Solo on the X46 can just about get around ?

My personal view on this would be pulling the Q3 out of Jesmond, running it via Polwarth Drive, Princes Road, Queensway, Netherwitton Way, Brunton Lane, Roseden Way, Whiteadmiral Place, Ringlet Drive, then either Primrose Lane (if the developers have decided its a thoroughfare yet?)  or Great Parkway, Park & Ride, Sir Bobby Robson Way, then back along Brunton Lane.

The X47 should do the same loop around the western part of Great Park, but in reverse.

---

(27 Jul 2024, 4:57 pm)DeltaMan wrote I hope they've route tested it in the electric Breezeblocks as the Solo on the X46 can just about get around ?

No idea, I am however sick of the usual council planning permission incompetencies when all they check is if they can get refuse collection vehicles around and not PCVs.

I have however driven around tighter on other service routes with other operators in a range of vehicles, so ideally there should be enhanced route training on how to negotiate such turns and spaces.

(27 Jul 2024, 5:10 pm)omnicity4659 wrote My personal view on this would be pulling the Q3 out of Jesmond, running it via Polwarth Drive, Princes Road, Queensway, Netherwitton Way, Brunton Lane, Roseden Way, Whiteadmiral Place, Ringlet Drive, then either Primrose Lane (if the developers have decided its a thoroughfare yet?)  or Great Parkway, Park & Ride, Sir Bobby Robson Way, then back along Brunton Lane.

The X47 should do the same loop around the western part of Great Park, but in reverse.

---

No idea, I am however sick of the usual council planning permission incompetencies when all they check is if they can get refuse collection vehicles around and not PCVs.

I have however driven around tighter on other service routes with other operators in a range of vehicles, so ideally there should be enhanced route training on how to negotiate such turns and spaces.

There are a lot of turns on the 60/61 which are extremely tight, and the 65 as well.

(27 Jul 2024, 5:10 pm)omnicity4659 wrote My personal view on this would be pulling the Q3 out of Jesmond, running it via Polwarth Drive, Princes Road, Queensway, Netherwitton Way, Brunton Lane, Roseden Way, Whiteadmiral Place, Ringlet Drive, then either Primrose Lane (if the developers have decided its a thoroughfare yet?)  or Great Parkway, Park & Ride, Sir Bobby Robson Way, then back along Brunton Lane.

The X47 should do the same loop around the western part of Great Park, but in reverse.

---

No idea, I am however sick of the usual council planning permission incompetencies when all they check is if they can get refuse collection vehicles around and not PCVs.

I have however driven around tighter on other service routes with other operators in a range of vehicles, so ideally there should be enhanced route training on how to negotiate such turns and spaces.

I don't know how feasible it would be but I'd always think it would be interesting to merge the Q3, 46 and 35 into one big loop so you'd end up with something like:


With both directions running every 30 minutes, combined every 15 minutes to St Peter's with the Wallsend extension also dropped back down to every 30 minutes.

You'd probably have to restore the 33 to cover Jesmond and Hollywood Avenue though. Can't see anyone on any of the 3 routes really complaining bar as it's most frequency increases or a service which won't exist soon.

Service changes from 1 September 2024

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/Service-Ch...-September

(16 Jul 2024, 12:48 pm)Rob44 wrote But you still can - the q3 that going to continue to run to haymarket - then change there for your bus to ???? 

I loved going to the quay side but would expect the 44 ( the bus i used to use) to go down there or the 27 (which i use now) to detour down there instead of over the tyne bridge.

All good and well saying that, but will the timetables on an evening match up?

Bus operators struggle to sort out their own timetables, nevermind potentially having to match with another operators. In Biddick, we've now got a mad situation where we have two buses an hour from the Galleries on an evening. The only catch is that one is xx.43 and the other is xx.45 ??‍♂️

(29 Jul 2024, 1:28 pm)Michael wrote Service changes from 1 September 2024

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/Service-Ch...-September

Timetable now on

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/services/G...2024-09-02&direction=outbound

(29 Jul 2024, 5:01 pm)Iamtheone8483748 wrote Timetable now on

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/services/G...2024-09-02&direction=outbound

The quicker franchising comes in so the Q3 disappears the better, it's just a duplicate of the 43/44/45 pretty much nowadays bar going on a detour via Jesmond.

This badly needs remerging back with the 43/44/45 as a 46 and binned off. I really can't see where the numbers are going to come from as anyone with sense is going to pick the quicker Arriva service which is also 8 buses an hour vs 3 and in the not too long future will have better vehicles to boot.

Unless there's a massive demand for going to Jesmond or the Quayside, without the Great Park, I really can't see where the passengers are coming from personally. They're already pretty poor as it is. Brunton Park doesn't have the demand for 3 Saloons an hour plus a midibus imo, hence the 46 was already binned.

(29 Jul 2024, 5:01 pm)Iamtheone8483748 wrote Timetable now on

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/services/G...2024-09-02&direction=outbound

The last buses are quite early, how are people getting back from the quayside?

There seriously need to reinforce the x9 back x10 is absolutely full and standing

(01 Aug 2024, 1:33 pm)Mark66t wrote There seriously need to reinforce the x9 back x10 is absolutely full and standing

See suggestion in the 'state of the fleet' thread and in the July 2024 changes.

- X32 increased to 2x PH and X31 dropped
- X70 re-routed via Lobley Hill Est and X32 kept on Lobley Hill Road

Clearly do-able with appropriate vehicles being made available as a result although the X20 would need dropped from XLines to backfill any released E400MMC's.

Could then do

Enviro 400:
- 6336-37 - Consett low height spares
- 6338-41 - X30/X71
- 6342-55 - X9/X10/X21**

StreetDeck:
- 6356-63 - X32/X45/X73 & X32/X70*
- 6377 - X9/X10/X21**

Volvo B5TL:
- 6308-14 - X32/X45/X73 & X32/X70*

* Includes 2x spares as total PVR for X32/X45/X73 & X32/X70 boards would only be 13x

** Any VOR out of the 14x Enviros or 6377, covered with a Misc spare allocated to the X21 and full Enviro (or 6377) allocation kept on X9/X10 where possible

(29 Jul 2024, 5:18 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote The last buses are quite early, how are people getting back from the quayside?

Walking up Dean and Grey St? The 54? 

A regular evening bus service down there is a fairly modern phenomena but I doubt there’s a massive market for the Q3s destination at night

(03 Aug 2024, 6:12 pm)Ambassador wrote Walking up Dean and Grey St? The 54? 

A regular evening bus service down there is a fairly modern phenomena but I doubt there’s a massive market for the Q3s destination at night

Regularly fairly busy when I'd get the one from near the Free Trade around 11pm. I think I need to move to Ouseburn now, save me climbing the hill.

Cricket Shuttles:

PB0003954/1447
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 500 (500) Durham Railway Station Riverside Stadium

PB0003954/1448
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 501 (501) Rainton Meadows Riverside Stadium

PB0003954/1449
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 502 (502) Belmont Park and Ride Riverside Stadium

-----------------

PB0003954/1179
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 21 (21) Newcastle Brandon

PB0003954/1436
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X72 (X72) Stanley Newcastle

PB0003954/649
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 12 (12) Winlaton Newcastle

PB0003954/364
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X71 (X71, X70, X71A) Newcastle Consett

PB0003954/1431
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X78 (X78) Newcastle Darras Hall

PB0003954/1102
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X30 (X31, X30, X32) Stanley Newcastle

PB0003954/559
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 10 (10, 10A, 10B) Blackhall Mill Newcastle

PB0003954/690
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED Q3 (Q3, Q3X) Brunton Park Wallsend

PB0003954/1437
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X73 (X73) Stanley Newcastle

The 21 is increasing back to every 7/8 minutes - timetable on GNE website has been updated

Edit:
10/A/B also increasing to every 12 minutes
Additional evening journeys added to the revised Q3 service

(08 Aug 2024, 5:01 pm)Iamtheone8483748 wrote The 21 is increasing back to every 7/8 minutes - timetable on GNE website has been updated

Already?, that was fast!

No doubt more BSIP money since the 21 isn't frequent enough and other side of Birtley have a fantastic frequent hourly service around the world.

The 10 is more acceptable, if so, due to the hourly legs on the 10A/10B which is too infrequent especially for Greenside imo

(08 Aug 2024, 4:47 pm)Michael wrote Cricket Shuttles:

PB0003954/1447
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 500 (500) Durham Railway Station Riverside Stadium

PB0003954/1448
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 501 (501) Rainton Meadows Riverside Stadium

PB0003954/1449
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 502 (502) Belmont Park and Ride Riverside Stadium

-----------------

PB0003954/1179
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 21 (21) Newcastle Brandon

PB0003954/1436
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X72 (X72) Stanley Newcastle

PB0003954/649
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 12 (12) Winlaton Newcastle

PB0003954/364
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X71 (X71, X70, X71A) Newcastle Consett

PB0003954/1431
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X78 (X78) Newcastle Darras Hall

PB0003954/1102
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X30 (X31, X30, X32) Stanley Newcastle

PB0003954/559
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 10 (10, 10A, 10B) Blackhall Mill Newcastle

PB0003954/690
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED Q3 (Q3, Q3X) Brunton Park Wallsend

PB0003954/1437
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X73 (X73) Stanley Newcastle

Changes to the X Lines routes already

(08 Aug 2024, 5:11 pm)Michael wrote Already?, that was fast!

Have they stopped producing printed timetables again?   Notice the July changes are still just basic unformatted versions in pdfs

(08 Aug 2024, 6:12 pm)Storx wrote No doubt more BSIP money since the 21 isn't frequent enough and other side of Birtley have a fantastic frequent hourly service around the world.

The 10 is more acceptable, if so, due to the hourly legs on the 10A/10B which is too infrequent especially for Greenside imo

If BSIP is funding an increased frequency on the 21 then I'm genuinely lost for words. Why are taxpayers subsidising one of the busiest routes in the region when there are multiple towns/villages which have poor evening and weekend services?

(08 Aug 2024, 7:08 pm)PH - BQA wrote If BSIP is funding an increased frequency on the 21 then I'm genuinely lost for words. Why are taxpayers subsidising one of the busiest routes in the region when there are multiple towns/villages which have poor evening and weekend services?

Aye totally agreed, ironically including towns on the route aswell. Obviously I don't know but it just seems a co-incidence that it's coming in at the same time as the 1 (SNE) and 30/31/36 which are as stupid for the same reasons.

Also don't get me started on the 24/36 timetables on the 10/10A, talk about confusing.

(08 Aug 2024, 8:20 pm)Storx wrote Aye totally agreed, ironically including towns on the route aswell. Obviously I don't know but it just seems a co-incidence that it's coming in at the same time as the 1 (SNE) and 30/31/36 which are as stupid for the same reasons.

Also don't get me started on the 24/36 timetables on the 10/10A, talk about confusing.

Technically given that outside of any Busways services (Stagecoach NCL, SHI, SUN) that both GNE's 21 & ANbria's 308 were the two most profitable and busy routes before covid, would Arriva Northumbria technically not have a case to use the BSIP funding to launch an X38? 

GNE have basically done that with the X20 as it practically mirrors the 20!