(03 Jan 2014, 9:37 pm)VolvoMarkII wrote Id also struggle to see how any extension of the 23 would be any quicker than the current Service 1 either.

Express from Hartlepool Centre, take 30 minutes at most compared to the 1's 45 minutes.

(03 Jan 2014, 9:42 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Express from Hartlepool Centre, take 30 minutes at most compared to the 1's 45 minutes.

30 minutes non-stop maybe, but do you think that enough people will use a direct non-stop bus between Hartlepool Centre and Middlesbrough to additional vehicles required to operate it (inclusive of relief in Middlesbrough) my maths make it at least 2 buses more?

I very much doubt it would. The service would need to observe more local south Hartlepool stops, plus either Billingham or Norton, then Stockton and Middlesbrough to be viable I think.

You would also need to extend both 23 each hour to make the cycle work, otherwise drivers would be away from Middlesbrough for around 6 hours by doing MB > SU > HP > SU > MB.

Suppose so but they could organise the buggy car like at Sunderland for the 23/24's although its a pain as the car only goes up there at certain times so drivers sometimes have to wait like an hour before the bus arrives.

X3 - Darlington - Newton Aycliffe - Ferryhill - Durham - Chester le Street - Gateshead - Newcastle - Every 30 Minutes - Limited Stopping Service - Providing a Service from Durham to Newcastle Every 15 Minutes with Service X2 - Interworking with Service X66 Between Middlesbrough and Darlington

(11 Jan 2014, 4:17 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote X3 - Darlington - Newton Aycliffe - Ferryhill - Durham - Chester le Street - Gateshead - Newcastle - Every 30 Minutes - Limited Stopping Service - Providing a Service from Durham to Newcastle Every 15 Minutes with Service X2 - Interworking with Service X66 Between Middlesbrough and Darlington

The X2 isnt heavily used as it is. Doubling the Durham to Newcastle frequency would be a waste in my eyes, and the money would be better spent introducing a double frequency on the X1 portion of the route.

The rest of that route for your X3 is covered by the 7, which already has 4 buses an hour. I assume ANE would have ordered deckers for the 7 if they felt there was more demand.

(11 Jan 2014, 4:17 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote X3 - Darlington - Newton Aycliffe - Ferryhill - Durham - Chester le Street - Gateshead - Newcastle - Every 30 Minutes - Limited Stopping Service - Providing a Service from Durham to Newcastle Every 15 Minutes with Service X2 - Interworking with Service X66 Between Middlesbrough and Darlington

Wouldn't that make the X3 come under EU regulations? Plus, there would be no attraction whatsoever interworking it with the X66.

(11 Jan 2014, 5:25 pm)aureolin wrote The X2 isnt heavily used as it is. Doubling the Durham to Newcastle frequency would be a waste in my eyes, and the money would be better spent introducing a double frequency on the X1 portion of the route.

The rest of that route for your X3 is covered by the 7, which already has 4 buses an hour. I assume ANE would have ordered deckers for the 7 if they felt there was more demand.

At many times the 7 does need double deckers, but they went for the Pulsar option as the depot manager at Darlington will not allow double deckers into his depot, so there were two options:

1. Go for a split operation with pulsars or
2. Go for a double deck operation and give all 11 buses to Durham

I don't think Darlington would have been prepared to do the second option at all since the 7 earns a lot of revenue.

(12 Jan 2014, 12:26 pm)palatine3833 wrote At many times the 7 does need double deckers, but they went for the Pulsar option as the depot manager at Darlington will not allow double deckers into his depot, so there were two options:

But surely it is up to the Senior Management of Arriva to tell him the service needs double deckers, so you will be getting them?

(12 Jan 2014, 12:26 pm)palatine3833 wrote At many times the 7 does need double deckers, but they went for the Pulsar option as the depot manager at Darlington will not allow double deckers into his depot, so there were two options:

1. Go for a split operation with pulsars or
2. Go for a double deck operation and give all 11 buses to Durham

I don't think Darlington would have been prepared to do the second option at all since the 7 earns a lot of revenue.

Weren't there deckers on it in the not too distant past?

(12 Jan 2014, 12:46 pm)andreos1 wrote Weren't there deckers on it in the not too distant past?

After a quick search, 2011 is the most recent photo I can find of a decker on the 7. Before then I imagine it was pretty common though.

(12 Jan 2014, 12:51 pm)Dan wrote After a quick search, 2011 is the most recent photo I can find of a decker on the 7. Before then I imagine it was pretty common though.

Thought so.
It seemed to be a mixed bag at the time of deckers and single deckers. Never noticed any consistency.

Service 7 was created when Arriva revised many South Durham and Darlington services in July 2008. It's never had a regular decker allocation, just a rag tag mix of Prestiges,, Darts and Ikarus DB220's. Mores stable fare was introduced with the X-GGO Darts a couple of years back.
Prior to the 7, it was the 713/723 between Darlington and Durham. These themselves were a truncation of the former 722/723 half hourly joint service with Northern/GNE between Darlington and Newcastle. Not since those days has this service attracted decker operation

My X3 Idea wouldn't have use Deckers, Remember the X1/X2 use a Mixture of Tridents/Geminis and Pulsars, and the X66 seems to use a Mixture also OF mainly Omnicities and Darts, Perhaps if it was to use Pulsars, if there is any spare then that would be a better option, as I did propose my X3 idea Interworks with the X66 maybe if it was an Hourly Express rather than Half Hourly alongside the X2, Would that be more Justifiable.

(12 Jan 2014, 12:54 pm)andreos1 wrote Thought so.
It seemed to be a mixed bag at the time of deckers and single deckers. Never noticed any consistency.

The last decker I caught on the 7 was 7365 (R625MNU) in May 2011, a comment left on the photo explains that deckers would cease appearing on the route after it was extended to Brasside.

Chris

Yes, the 7 went to Brasside and theres a low bridge. Although lets not forget when the Lowlanders arrived which for the 723. As for the X1/X2, I think since Deckers have been introduced from Durham the X1 has started to finally get more reliable and at times Pulsars can be a bit of a squeeze. Arriva should just scrap the X2 as now it serves no advantage and increase the X1 to every 20 minutes. Sometimes Gemini's leave Durham with standing room only downstairs!

No.6 A captains tail,daytime service every 12 mins.West auckland,bishop,spenny,croxdale,elvet,durham.
Re route some buses as 6A into durham city via croxdale,meadowfield,langley moor,nevilles cross,durham.Morning and early evening services could be convenient for workers!
Would wait till the roundabout at the honest lawyer is built as that junction could delay the service travelling out of durham...

Newton News readers suggestions to change Service 7 route through Newton Aycliffe, which mainly seem to centre around Woodham wanting a service to Tesco.

Suggestion 1.
Re-route two journeys an hour via Burn Lane and Central Avenue (rather than Burnhill Way and Stephenson Way)

Suggestion 2.
Head towards Tesco from St. Calare's Church, then U turn at St. Mary's Church Roundabout (which is just after Tesco) then head back to St. Calare's Church to rejoin the current route.

Can't say I agree with Suggestion 1 as the passenger numbers are quite good down Burnhill Way and Stephenson Way and I think it would be a mistake to drop that section down to every 30 minutes.

Don't mind suggestion 2 too much, but there's not really any time to do this without adding an extra bus to the PVR.

Not to mention they like simplicity with Sapphire. The 5/5A being done this year is about the most complex route in the brand I think? All of the others are one simple run.

(12 Jan 2014, 5:29 pm)Chris White wrote The last decker I caught on the 7 was 7365 (R625MNU) in May 2011, a comment left on the photo explains that deckers would cease appearing on the route after it was extended to Brasside.

Chris

The most recent one I saw was July last year - 7477 was the bus in question

I wish arriva would operate in Sunderland and open up some new routes for people now that would be interesting. Arriva is a Sunderland company after all

(28 Mar 2014, 11:10 am)Acky81 wrote I wish arriva would operate in Sunderland and open up some new routes for people now that would be interesting. Arriva is a Sunderland company after all

What do people think? Can you suggest any good routes

(06 Apr 2014, 7:48 am)Acky81 wrote What do people think? Can you suggest any good routes

I think the X19 from Newcastle to Doxford International was a good route, but it never seemed to take off. I suppose there were few Arriva connections at Heworth and Gateshead?

I'd say maybe something that competes with the 56 could work? It could provide links with places like the Nissan Factory and Queen Elizabeth Hospital or possibly Waterview Park and The Galleries? Probably not such a good idea to compete with the crowded, super-frequent X3 though!

Just thinking about the existing network (with all three of the big operators) and there doesn't seem to be a gap in the market - 10min frequencies have seen to that.

The only other option, would be to have a variation on an existing service and go with that, in the hope the market increases.

The A19 has its own problems, but a variation of an ANE service in the East Durham area, could be an option.
So rather than hug the coast between Peterlee and Sunderland, it uses the A19, specifically where the x7 doesn't, such as Dalton Park, Doxford Park etc.

[quote='BJ10VUS' pid='37591' dateline='1396774006']

I think the X19 from Newcastle to Doxford International was a good route, but it never seemed to take off. I suppose there were few Arriva connections at Heworth and Gateshead?

If the X19 were to additionally stop at Waterview Park and possibly Follingsby Park then it could make a more successful return.

Was thinking more operating in sunderland

(07 Apr 2014, 10:52 am)Acky81 wrote Was thinking more operating in sunderland

Thing is - as Arriva don't have a depot in Sunderland, they're very limited to what they can actually do without it being a 'Malarkey Marathon' sort of service. Services which go all around the world aren't particularly favoured these days.
Arriva really can't do anything in Sunderland as both Go North East and Stagecoach North East (particularly the latter) have everything covered with streamlined 10 minute frequencies in most cases.

However:

I'd suggest an X24 service (although it would have to be numbered slightly differently owing to the current X24 service existing): a high speed express service between Sunderland and Durham.

I do think Arriva would be foolish to attempt at a Sunderland - Middlesbrough express owing to the X7 existing and they'd not stand much of a chance of having high profit levels if they missed out any extra stops to make it faster than the X7.

I'd personally like to see the X19 resurrected in one form or another as a normal daytime operation, but as BJ10VUS said above, they did and still do lack other Arriva connections (except at the Newcastle end).

(07 Apr 2014, 10:52 am)Acky81 wrote Was thinking more operating in sunderland

As Dan said, they don't have a depot in Sunderland and the urban nature of the place, doesn't seem to suit their model.

However, there could be scope with a variation of existing services.

Limited stop between Sunderland - Ryhope - Doxford Intl and A19 - Dalton Park - Easington Village - Peterlee and then either Durham, Hartlepool or Stockton from there, as a quicker route than exists currently or offering a new alternative.

* Peterlee - Castle Eden (via Passfield Way) Wingate - Wheatley Hill - Thornley - A181 - Durham

* as above - Wingate - Station Town - A19 - Billingham - Stockton

* as above - Wingate - Station Town - A19 - Elwick - Hartlepool (via Hart Lane) - A189 - Billingham - Norton - Stockton. Reverse misses Elwick and operates from Hart Lane via A179 to Station Town.

Land in those pit villages is cheap and one of the things putting off possible housebuilders, is lack of public transport.
Suppose it is like the chicken and the egg, who goes first?

Was just a thought with there hq in Sunderland

(06 Apr 2014, 8:46 am)BJ10VUS wrote I think the X19 from Newcastle to Doxford International was a good route, but it never seemed to take off. I suppose there were few Arriva connections at Heworth and Gateshead?

I'd say maybe something that competes with the 56 could work? It could provide links with places like the Nissan Factory and Queen Elizabeth Hospital or possibly Waterview Park and The Galleries? Probably not such a good idea to compete with the crowded, super-frequent X3 though!

The lack of connections is a massive problem for Arriva when they venture outside of their comfort zone. Look at the Durham-Newcastle X2 for example. It has a wealth of connections at each end of the route, but nothing in between. It is their only service between Durham and Newcastle. No connections in Chester le Street, Birtley, Gateshead, etc.

(07 Apr 2014, 4:52 pm)aureolin wrote The lack of connections is a massive problem for Arriva when they venture outside of their comfort zone. Look at the Durham-Newcastle X2 for example. It has a wealth of connections at each end of the route, but nothing in between. It is their only service between Durham and Newcastle. No connections in Chester le Street, Birtley, Gateshead, etc.

I agree and it's the same with Stagecoach and their X34. I personally think they could increase competition with the X36 if the route served Heworth.