(08 Aug 2014, 8:16 pm)Tom wrote Is there any point in running the 1 to Wrekenton, instead of just having the 24?

It causes delays, and very few passengers use it from Newcastle.

How many runs have you seen departing Wrekenton late? Nine minutes layover at Wrekenton is quite a lot... It also has seven minutes at Whitley Bay, which, again, is quite a lot of layover time (in comparison to other routes, both operated by Go North East and other operators in the North East).

The delays are usually caused by something mid-route, rather than due to the extension to Wrekenton.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:20 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote I would argue otherwise, as I have used the 1 on Several Occasions from Gateshead to my Dads near Low Fell, and loadings have been decent when I been on it, Majority of the time I otherwise use the 21. But I can see the point you are making in regards to Reliability of the Service etc.

I have seen loadings on Waverley Road in Harlow Green, and they have been quite impressive. Although most of the passengers have been concessionary pass holders, they are the ones who requested the direct link through to Newcastle.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:21 pm)Dan wrote How many runs have you seen departing Wrekenton late? Nine minutes layover at Wrekenton is quite a lot... It also has seven minutes at Whitley Bay, which, again, is quite a lot of layover time (in comparison to other routes, both operated by Go North East and other operators in the North East).

The delays are usually caused by something mid-route, rather than due to the extension to Wrekenton.


I have seen loadings on Waverley Road in Harlow Green, and they have been quite impressive. Although most of the passengers have been concessionary pass holders, they are the ones who requested the direct link through to Newcastle.

Today it was two minutes late arriving into Gateshead, then seven minutes late by the time it got to Rosehill.

I saw the one heading in the other direction and it had about five passengers when arriving into Gateshead.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:25 pm)Tom wrote Today it was two minutes late arriving into Gateshead, then seven minutes late by the time it got to Rosehill.

I saw the one heading in the other direction and it had about five passengers when arriving into Gateshead.

Any of the bus drivers on this forum will tell you that 29 minutes into a run is more than enough time to rack up a delay...
I highly doubt it left Wrekenton late, as it's very rare that it does.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:29 pm)Dan wrote Any of the bus drivers on this forum will tell you that 29 minutes into a run is more than enough time to rack up a delay...
I highly doubt it left Wrekenton late, as it's very rare that it does.

And it gets a five minutes waiting time in Gateshead - so that's seven minutes late along Durham Road.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:32 pm)Tom wrote And it gets a five minutes waiting time in Gateshead - so that's seven minutes late along Durham Road.

Is it any wonder they have so many breaks on the 1, I wouldn't want continuously Drive for 112 Minutes from Whitley Bay to Wrekenton and then have to do almost the same amount to North Shields, before changing Drivers. Must be a pretty grueling shift to do on there.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:45 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Is it any wonder they have so many breaks on the 1, I wouldn't want continuously Drive for 112 Minutes from Whitley Bay to Wrekenton and then have to do almost the same amount to North Shields, before changing Drivers. Must be a pretty grueling shift to do on there.

Believe me it's one of the most boring routes ever.
I'd much rather be on the 17 or 19. I just feel sorry for the drivers stuck on the NTL and Coaster rota, some of the most boring routes ever. Imagine circling Hadrian Park and Wallsend for three hours, if not more, then back to North Shields on a 80?

(08 Aug 2014, 8:45 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Is it any wonder they have so many breaks on the 1, I wouldn't want continuously Drive for 112 Minutes from Whitley Bay to Wrekenton and then have to do almost the same amount to North Shields, before changing Drivers. Must be a pretty grueling shift to do on there.

Drivers can drive up to 5:30 hours, so I think most drivers class 1 route just as same as the others to be honest which is I am getting paid for sitting here.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:49 pm)Tom wrote Believe me it's one of the most boring routes ever.

How do you quantify a boring route for a driver?

(08 Aug 2014, 8:49 pm)Tom wrote Believe me it's one of the most boring routes ever.
I'd much rather be on the 17 or 19. I just feel sorry for the drivers stuck on the NTL and Coaster rota, some of the most boring routes ever. Imagine circling Hadrian Park and Wallsend for three hours, if not more, then back to North Shields on a 80?

Q1 and X66 must be the worst!

(08 Aug 2014, 8:20 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote I would argue otherwise, as I have used the 1 on Several Occasions from Gateshead to my Dads near Low Fell, and loadings have been decent when I been on it, Majority of the time I otherwise use the 21. But I can see the point you are making in regards to Reliability of the Service etc.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:21 pm)Dan wrote I have seen loadings on Waverley Road in Harlow Green, and they have been quite impressive. Although most of the passengers have been concessionary pass holders, they are the ones who requested the direct link through to Newcastle.

Completely agree with you both. I sometimes get the 1 from Wrekenton down to Low Fell and it's always fairly busy whenever I've used it. Saw one going along Low Fell heading to Whitley Bay at lunchtime today and it was full, standing room only.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:54 pm)BJ10VUS wrote Q1 and X66 must be the worst!

The old X3 interworking with Scholars though, has to be the worst alongside the 27X, I would hate to carry nothing but fresh air for 3 to 4 Hours.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:53 pm)citaro5284 wrote How do you quantify a boring route for a driver?

Well there is traffic lights all over so you can't get a decent speed anywhere for a start. Well it's boring for me as a passenger but I agree with the fact it's different for a non-enthusiast.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:54 pm)BJ10VUS wrote Q1 and X66 must be the worst!

definitely!

(08 Aug 2014, 8:54 pm)Adam wrote Completely agree with you both. I sometimes get the 1 from Wrekenton down to Low Fell and it's always fairly busy whenever I've used it. Saw one going along Low Fell heading to Whitley Bay at lunchtime today and it was full, standing room only.

Must have just been the times I've saw it then! I still think more people use it from Gateshead than Newcastle though. It's definitely the busiest between Newcastle and North Shields though, as North Shields to Whitley Bay is quite quiet also.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:54 pm)BJ10VUS wrote Q1 and X66 must be the worst!

Yet there is a waiting list for X66, so cannot be that boring. I think the X66 is different as it is busy.

(08 Aug 2014, 8:54 pm)BJ10VUS wrote Q1 and X66 must be the worst!

I'd imagine the X66 to be quite fun actually. It is quite a tight schedule, and if anything happens along the route, you're not gonna do it in 10 minutes.

So many times I've seen drivers look at traffic ahead in Dunston and swing off to go on the 49 route and then via the 10 route... Last minute decisions in hope of getting back on time. Some will enjoy the challenge.

If you've got a driver who is at the Centrelink turn off (towards Gateshead) five minutes into the journey, you're onto a winner.

(08 Aug 2014, 9:02 pm)citaro5284 wrote Yet there is a waiting list for X66, so cannot be that boring. I think the X66 is different as it is busy.

I suppose it's personal preference. I'd find driving between Gateshead and the Metrocentre again and again pretty boring, but I suppose that on the flip side, you're usually always guaranteed to be busy.

I tell you what - I'm going to do a whole run on the 1 sometime from Whitley Bay to Wrekenton. I was planning on doing the same for the 17 and 19 too.

(08 Aug 2014, 9:08 pm)BJ10VUS wrote I suppose it's personal preference. I'd find driving between Gateshead and the Metrocentre again and again pretty boring, but I suppose that on the flip side, you're usually always guaranteed to be busy.

I agree. Like the Q1, it's a repetitive task. How many loops do they do before a break? Got to be about 12/15? I'd find it as tedious as it gets... If I had a preference, I'd probably want to do something like the X1/56/21/20.

(08 Aug 2014, 1:10 pm)gtom wrote Anyone know the logic of renumbering the 937 out of Team Valley as X22?

Are they taking my route the X22 via Retail World idea? haha

Yes - the aim is to add an extra X22 journey from Metrocentre and merge it with the 937 from Team Valley & sadly, your Retail World idea didn't quite make it unfortunately.

(08 Aug 2014, 9:11 pm)aureolin wrote I agree. Like the Q1, it's a repetitive task. How many loops do they do before a break? Got to be about 12/15? I'd find it as tedious as it gets... If I had a preference, I'd probably want to do something like the X1/56/21/20.

The Q1's got to be irritating. If you miss all the lights, you've got to lose a good 5-7 minutes, if not more, by Dean Street. Plus, with the tight timings, it's not ideal. Once they're at Gateshead/Central Station, it's time to leave.

(08 Aug 2014, 9:16 pm)busman101 wrote Yes - the aim is to add an extra X22 journey from Metrocentre and merge it with the 937 from Team Valley & sadly, your Retail World idea didn't quite make it unfortunately.

I'd imagine it could boost passenger numbers though!
I was so impressed with passenger numbers on Saturday nevertheless, must have made £30+ to Birtley!

(08 Aug 2014, 9:21 pm)Tom wrote I'd imagine it could boost passenger numbers though!
I was so impressed with passenger numbers on Saturday nevertheless, must have made £30+ to Birtley!

X22 is doing very nicely at the minute, but not convinced about Retail World as its just not a bus friendly place - it's Tyne & Wear's equivalent of Teesside Park !

(08 Aug 2014, 9:11 pm)aureolin wrote I agree. Like the Q1, it's a repetitive task. How many loops do they do before a break? Got to be about 12/15? I'd find it as tedious as it gets... If I had a preference, I'd probably want to do something like the X1/56/21/20.

If I had to choose it would probably be the X9/X10 or one of the Hexham runs such as the 74 or 688.

(08 Aug 2014, 9:33 pm)busman101 wrote X22 is doing very nicely at the minute, but not convinced about Retail World as its just not a bus friendly place - it's Tyne & Wear's equivalent of Teesside Park !

I'm not really familiar with Teesside Park (only ever been there once) but I agree that Team Valley is not really convenient for buses given where the bus-stops are located and the potential for queuing traffic both on Tenth Avenue and Kingsway.

It can be a nightmare just getting into Metrocentre on a Saturday - imagine if the X22 had to contend with a busy Team Valley too.

(08 Aug 2014, 9:33 pm)busman101 wrote X22 is doing very nicely at the minute, but not convinced about Retail World as its just not a bus friendly place - it's Tyne & Wear's equivalent of Teesside Park !

How is the 14 doing?

(08 Aug 2014, 9:40 pm)AdamY wrote I'm not really familiar with Teesside Park (only ever been there once) but I agree that Team Valley is not really convenient for buses given where the bus-stops are located and the potential for queuing traffic both on Tenth Avenue and Kingsway.

It can be a nightmare just getting into Metrocentre on a Saturday - imagine if the X22 had to contend with a busy Team Valley too.

I imagine if you made the X22 take a longer route it would put people off using it and people may turn to the Arriva X24 to get to the Metrocentre.

(08 Aug 2014, 9:44 pm)Tom wrote How is the 14 doing?

Not looked for a while, but might just on Monday !

(08 Aug 2014, 9:46 pm)Jimmi wrote I imagine if you made the X22 take a longer route it would put people off using it and people may turn to the Arriva X24 to get to the Metrocentre.

Can't be having that !

(08 Aug 2014, 9:48 pm)busman101 wrote Not looked for a while, but might just on Monday !

Great! Cheers.
Mind wouldn't expect anything from the 13.

Are the units at Percy Main like this at the moment?

- Unit 1 = Cobalt Clipper, Cobalt Connect
- Unit 2 = Coaster, 17 and NTL

(08 Aug 2014, 8:16 pm)Tom wrote Is there any point in running the 1 to Wrekenton, instead of just having the 24?

It causes delays, and very few passengers use it from Newcastle.

I used it a few weeks back from Wrekenton and it was full by the time it got to the Aletaster.
Mr Chipchase even got on!