Well, I can't shout for Sunderland but I can for Teesside, their can be times that you can wait up to 20 minutes for a every 10/12 minute bus, and i've even seen 2 or 3 buses come at once (even 4 in a bizarre moment). This doesn't show a gold service.

I also think that branding shows care towards any customer. Whether it be tourist or local, take the crusader - it hasn't had top notch buses on it but yet it still carries a branding that shows locality and background knowledge of the area they service.

Changes to the 18/19 in Sunderland

Extending it from Seaburn to South Shields

18 - Grindon - Bede - Pallion - Southwick - Seaburn - Marsden Inn - South Shields - Westoe - Cleadon - Seaburn - City Centre - Grangetown - Grindon - Every 30 mins


19 - Grindon - Grangetown - City Centre - Seaburn - Cleadon - Westoe - South Shields - Marsden Inn - Seaburn - Southwick - Pallion - Bede College -Grindon - Every 30 mins

As an outsider looking in - keep the North side of the the river as it is, but adapt it between the hospital and Springwell.

So rather than serve Ormond Street, Durham Road and Prospect, it goes via Chester Road, Holborn Road, Hylton Road, Portsmouth/Pennywell Road, Chester Road, Somerset Road - current route through Thorney Close on a circular to Premier Road.

As an outsider looking in - keep the North side of the the river as it is, but adapt it between the hospital and Springwell.

So rather than serve Ormond Street, Durham Road and Prospect, it goes via Chester Road, Holborn Road, Hylton Road, Portsmouth/Pennywell Road, Chester Road, Somerset Road - current route through Thorney Close on a circular to Premier Road.

Thinking of it that way, ye it might do a little better on this side of the water.

But how would that affect the E1/2/6 if the 18/19 were extended from Seaburn to Shields via The Coast?

The Cleadon/Harton route to Shields provides competition for the 35(A/B/C) and doesn't overlap with existing Stagecoach services with exception of the 30 between Cleadon and Shields. However, the 30 could be re-timed and coordinated with your suggestion to extend the 18/19 to Shields and provide an increased frequency (every 10 mins) between Cleadon and Shields.

Taking into account Andreos' suggestion, the route might look something like this:

18: South Shields - Harton - Cleadon - Fulwell - Seaburn - Roker - City Centre - Grangetown - Thornley Close - Grindon - Pallion - Southwick - Cleadon - Harton - South Shields

19: Reverse route of 18.

I'd probably withdraw the service from South Bends Estate and divert one of E's (another alternative would be to extend the 23 from Dene Estate) to replace any lost links there. The service would also probably need renumbering to prevent confusion with the South Shields 18 - I'd probably go with the 28/29.

But how would that affect the E1/2/6 if the 18/19 were extended from Seaburn to Shields via The Coast?

The Cleadon/Harton route to Shields provides competition for the 35(A/B/C) and doesn't overlap with existing Stagecoach services with exception of the 30 between Cleadon and Shields. However, the 30 could be re-timed and coordinated with your suggestion to extend the 18/19 to Shields and provide an increased frequency (every 10 mins) between Cleadon and Shields.

Taking into account Andreos' suggestion, the route might look something like this:

18: South Shields - Harton - Cleadon - Fulwell - Seaburn - Roker - City Centre - Grangetown - Thornley Close - Grindon - Pallion - Southwick - Cleadon - Harton - South Shields

19: Reverse route of 18.

I'd probably withdraw the service from South Bends Estate and divert one of E's (another alternative would be to extend the 23 from Dene Estate) to replace any lost links there. The service would also probably need renumbering to prevent confusion with the South Shields 18 - I'd probably go with the 28/29.

The 23 could be extended from dene estate,it would only add 1 to its PVR, it will give the area an 10 min service to.

I like your idea Adam, its better than mine.

I like your idea Adam, its better than mine.

It's your idea, I've merely expanded upon it!

The main problem with extending the 18/19 from Seaburn or Fulwell to South Shields by any route is that the link from North East Sunderland to the Royal Hospital will be lost. The length of the route and whether anyone would use it or not also causes concern.

My suggestion would be creating a new Economic route that will serve the "Lawe Top" - next to the Roman Fort, the Coast Road, the whole of Lizard Lane, the South Bents Estate, Roker Park Road, Park Parade, Roker Avenue and the City Centre.

This will allow the E1 to serve the east side of Church Street North and Dame Dorothy Street, and the E6 to serve Mill Lane. This is because Roker Avenue and Lizard Lane (in Whitburn) is becoming too narrow for "full sized" single decker's.

This will replace services 18 and 19 between Seaburn and the City Centre.

What about the route between - Grindon and City Centre - Via Grangetown?

Edit: U answered my question after i posted it and u edited your's haha

Sorry, that's a habbit that I will have to get out of. (Editing and expanding after posting)

XD its ok, it happens, i do it alot to!

Sorry, that's a habbit that I will have to get out of. (Editing and expanding after posting)

Guilty of doing this all the time.

To give these Sunderland to South Shields service suggestions an old-school twist, why not extend the 30 beyond Boldon Asda via the old 537 route via Hylton Castle, A19, Chester Road and Royal Hospital thus recreating the service.

Or route it into Sunderland via the current X36 route to give GNE a further excuse to re-jig services in Northern Sunderland.

Guilty of doing this all the time.

Same here Dan. Always realise I've left something out

My suggestion would be creating a new Economic route (ran by E200s / Darts), such as an "E3", that will serve the "Lawe Top" - next to the Roman Fort, the Coast Road, the whole of Lizard Lane, the South Bents Estate, Roker Park Road, Park Parade, Roker Avenue and the City Centre.

There could also be an "E3a" that will continue the route to serve the 18/19 route past the city centre via the Eye infirmary to Grindon.

This will allow the E1 to serve the east side of Church Street North and Dame Dorothy Street, and the E6 to serve Mill Lane. This is because Roker Avenue and Lizard Lane (in Whitburn) is becoming too narrow for "full sized" single decker's.

Frequency could include the E3 running every 15 minutes, and the E3a running every 30 minutes.

Doubt E3a in Sunderland. It's an economic route shields based.

To give these Sunderland to South Shields service suggestions an old-school twist, why not extend the 30 beyond Boldon Asda via the old 537 route via Hylton Castle, A19, Chester Road and Royal Hospital thus recreating the service.

Or route it into Sunderland via the current X36 route to give GNE a further excuse to re-jig services in Northern Sunderland.

Stagecoach have tried a Chester Road/ Royal Hospital to Boldon service previously – the original incarnation of the current Service 5 operated to Boldon Asda from 1999 until it was curtailed in 2004 and subsequently extended to the Docks to replace the 14/14A (when the 5A was introduced).

Yes november 2003 it was for newcastle
I remember the majority of the old routes i was 10 when it changed
1,2,3,4,5,6 wasnt stagecoach then,7,8,10,11,12,13,dunno if there was a 14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,30,31,32,34,36,37,38,39,40,49,50,61,62,62A,62B,63,64,64A,70,71,72,73,74,80,81,87,88,X34,X87,X88
Best to my knowlege sorry im only 21 lol
Also in regards to the 40/41 GNE
This used to be the 321 and 340 not too sure if there was a 340A but anyway it became a loop service of 40/40C/41/41C but got reduced to just being the 40 through battle hill and the 41 through howdon,the returned to the loop again from march 24th 2013, just to add didnt the 39 used serve wallsend

I was discussing this with Tom about a week ago via PM, and he suggested a Service X33 between Newcastle and Sunderland which would interwork with the X34. I'm surprised Stagecoach haven't already cashed in on the idea of a direct express between Newcastle and Sunderland - seeing as they have major networks in both areas.

Here's what he came up with

''
Service X33 – Sunderland-Newcastle express
Newcastle Pilgrim Street….. 55 25
Gateshead Metro…………….. 04 34
East Boldon Blacks Corner. 25 55
Fulwell The Grange…………. 31 01
Monkwearmouth……………. 36 06
Sunderland Fawcett St…… 44 14

Sunderland Fawcett St…. 50 20
Monkwearmouth………… 54 24
Fulwell The Grange…….. 59 29
Fulwell Herbet Terrace.. 01 31
East Boldon Blacks Corner 05 35
Gateshead High Street…… 25 55
Newcastle, Pilgrim Street. 32 02

It would interwork with the X34 at Newcastle.
''

Not sure if he already posted about it or not - but all credit goes to him

I was discussing this with Tom about a week ago via PM, and he suggested a Service X33 between Newcastle and Sunderland which would interwork with the X34. I'm surprised Stagecoach haven't already cashed in on the idea of a direct express between Newcastle and Sunderland - seeing as they have major networks in both areas.

Here's what he came up with

''
Service X33 – Sunderland-Newcastle express
Newcastle Pilgrim Street….. 55 25
Gateshead Metro…………….. 04 34
East Boldon Blacks Corner. 25 55
Fulwell The Grange…………. 31 01
Monkwearmouth……………. 36 06
Sunderland Fawcett St…… 44 14

Sunderland Fawcett St…. 50 20
Monkwearmouth………… 54 24
Fulwell The Grange…….. 59 29
Fulwell Herbet Terrace.. 01 31
East Boldon Blacks Corner 05 35
Gateshead High Street…… 25 55
Newcastle, Pilgrim Street. 32 02

It would interwork with the X34 at Newcastle.
''

Not sure if he already posted about it or not - but all credit goes to him

But the idea of x33 is just the gne route x3

But the idea of x33 is just the gne route x3

There used to be an X97 service operated many moons ago by Redby Travel which could easily be re introduced by stagecoach as X33 and operate in addition to X34. This operated Seaburn - Whitburn - Cleadon - Boldon Asda - Gateshead - Newcastle. As this does not directly follow the metro system perhaps it wouldn't fail as miserably as the X3 has done.

There used to be an X97 service operated many moons ago by Redby Travel which could easily be re introduced by stagecoach as X33 and operate in addition to X34. This operated Seaburn - Whitburn - Cleadon - Boldon Asda - Gateshead - Newcastle. As this does not directly follow the metro system perhaps it wouldn't fail as miserably as the X3 has done.

Don't recall x97 going through seaburn it did start I'm sure in Silksworth then via the boldons to Newcastle. It soon went as go wear buses introduced a x91 service on the same route 5 minutes earlier. I'm nearly 99% x97 never went to seaburn or Whitburn. A redby x2 and 558 ran along seaburn

There used to be an X97 service operated many moons ago by Redby Travel which could easily be re introduced by stagecoach as X33 and operate in addition to X34. This operated Seaburn - Whitburn - Cleadon - Boldon Asda - Gateshead - Newcastle. As this does not directly follow the metro system perhaps it wouldn't fail as miserably as the X3 has done.

yes, their used to be a X97 operated by Redby travel, When it first started it used to go between Sunderland and Newcastle via the old Northern route X96, after a short period the X97 was extended to commence from Silksworth to lure passengers of Northern 133 between Silksworth and Sunderland, then Northern put on the X91 5 minutes in front of Redby X97, this was many moons ago, When the 538 was withdrawn Sunderland to Heworth, Northern put on a X98 Southwick to Newcastle going along most of the 538 route: http://northeastbuses.net78.net/archive/...ch2002.jpg
Then Northern put on the X97 Seaburn to Newcastle daytime replacing the daytime 558 and X98 http://northeastbuses.net78.net/archive/...e2001a.jpg

I was told by Stagecoach about a year ago that their have no intentions to run a service between Sunderland and Newcastle due to the higher frequent of service from the metro and train services. Also told me that their had no intention to run a service between Sunderland and Hartlepool to join up the areas and for passengers with megariders etc... to travel between Newcastle/Sunderland/Hartlepool/Stockton/Middlesbrough.

Don't recall x97 going through seaburn it did start I'm sure in Silksworth then via the boldons to Newcastle. It soon went as go wear buses introduced a x91 service on the same route 5 minutes earlier. I'm nearly 99% x97 never went to seaburn or Whitburn. A redby x2 and 558 ran along seaburn

The very first redby service. X67 was the one that started from seaburn. The silksworth came much later. The seaburn one used them funny double deckers that they had. Only thinkg I can remember was the registration used the letters BO. JBO if I remember correctly

Never heard of a redby X67 bus service, what year was it when redby ran this X67?.

Never heard of a redby X67 bus service, what year was it when redby ran this X67?.

No I've never ever heard of a redby x67 either.

yes, their used to be a X97 operated by Redby travel, When it first started it used to go between Sunderland and Newcastle via the old Northern route X96, after a short period the X97 was extended to commence from Silksworth to lure passengers of Northern 133 between Silksworth and Sunderland, then Northern put on the X91 5 minutes in front of Redby X97, this was many moons ago, When the 538 was withdrawn Sunderland to Heworth, Northern put on a X98 Southwick to Newcastle going along most of the 538 route: http://northeastbuses.net78.net/archive/...ch2002.jpg
Then Northern put on the X97 Seaburn to Newcastle daytime replacing the daytime 558 and X98 http://northeastbuses.net78.net/archive/...e2001a.jpg

I was told by Stagecoach about a year ago that their have no intentions to run a service between Sunderland and Newcastle due to the higher frequent of service from the metro and train services. Also told me that their had no intention to run a service between Sunderland and Hartlepool to join up the areas and for passengers with megariders etc... to travel between Newcastle/Sunderland/Hartlepool/Stockton/Middlesbrough.

Links don't open

The links don't open because the bygone era section needs to be updated, something to do with the old server or something, I'm not really technical person

The links don't open because the bygone era section needs to be updated, something to do with the old server or something, I'm not really technical person

Still on the "To do" list..!

The very first redby service. X67 was the one that started from seaburn. The silksworth came much later. The seaburn one used them funny double deckers that they had. Only thinkg I can remember was the registration used the letters BO. JBO if I remember correctly

Apologies. Finger slip. Was still referring to the x97 not 67

Still on the "To do" list..!

Ok Dan.

Apologies. Finger slip. Was still referring to the x97 not 67

I still cant remember the Redby X97 in seaburn, what year was it or roughly, the only Redby services that their did in Seaburn area that i can recall was:

from the start of dereg in 86, Redby ran a service between Sunderland Central to Seaburn as a circle route via Fulwell road, Sea Road, Roker Park, Roker under the name of Wearside Bus company, Then at first possible changes that were introduced in Feb 87 after dereg that Busways put on the 17A/17B in front of Redbys Wearside bus, Redby withdrew and Busways 17A/17B became the 17 Sunderland to Seaburn Camp.

Redby operated service 557 in Seaburn under secured contract.
Redby operated service 556/506 in Seaburn.
Redby operated service 18A/19A Southwick to Seaburn once summer.
Redby operated service 49/9/99 in Seaburn.

At the time when Redby received those double deckers (JBO types) their were usually used on service 42/43 Sunderland to Washington with Wear Buses operating service 242/243 5 minutes in front.

service 49 operated between Seaburn and Ryhope usually with those double deckers also, service 49 was cut between Hylton Castle and Ryhope and later turned into service 9 then with 99.

Took a lot of thinking back this. Serviceb X97 ended up being operated by the 2 alexander dash dennis darts which were bought brand new and went straight onto that service. Registrations N670 VUP and N671 VUP which were later sold to GNE. The N reg would have come out approx 1995 so the services would have operated from 1994 roughly. Whicj sounds about right as I worked in Sunderland 1992 to 1995 travelling through seaburn everyday seeing them.