(23 Sep 2014, 7:08 pm)Michael wrote Least the X21 is doing a few runs, the new 22 timetable isn't online yet

How long we giving this X21 before certain runs get axed?

I feel like a broken record here, but I happen to regularly see the departures of services 23/24 on a morning, between 0800 and 0900, and the loadings out of Sunderland are embarrassing compared to the X7.

The 0817 24 departure often stays on the layover until 30 seconds before it's due to leave, by which time service 61 has picked up all of its passengers travelling along the same route. As such, that one often departs with zero passengers. This month, I think the most passengers I've witnessed on board that run was approximately four - and that was when the 61 driver went to the toilet and some went to the 24 instead.

If I miss the 0830/0832 60/61 departures on a morning, I'm regularly the only passenger on-board service 23, departing at 0837.

The same is replicated throughout the day. I almost fell off my seat when I saw a 24 service passing my school with a staggering 14 passengers a week or two ago...


Once again, their attempts to provide a greater service in Sunderland is commendable, but I can't help but be sceptical about it. Let's hope the drivers of service X21 are informed of the different tickets available in Tyne & Wear!  

One could argue that Arriva could have appealed to the market more by providing a Sunday service (something which is limited by Arriva on Sundays, and non-existent by Go North East), but it seems they haven't bothered to take the financial risk...

(23 Sep 2014, 7:23 pm)Dan wrote How long we giving this X21 before certain runs get axed?

I feel like a broken record here, but I happen to regularly see the departures of services 23/24 on a morning, between 0800 and 0900, and the loadings out of Sunderland are embarrassing compared to the X7.

The 0817 24 departure often stays on the layover until 30 seconds before it's due to leave, by which time service 61 has picked up all of its passengers travelling along the same route. As such, that one often departs with zero passengers. This month, I think the most passengers I've witnessed on board that run was approximately four - and that was when the 61 driver went to the toilet and some went to the 24 instead.

If I miss the 0830/0832 60/61 departures on a morning, I'm regularly the only passenger on-board service 23, departing at 0837.

The same is replicated throughout the day. I almost fell off my seat when I saw a 24 service passing my school with a staggering 14 passengers a week or two ago...


Once again, their attempts to provide a greater service in Sunderland is commendable, but I can't help but be sceptical about it. Let's hope the drivers of service X21 are informed of the different tickets available in Tyne & Wear!  

One could argue that Arriva could have appealed to the market more by providing a Sunday service (something which is limited by Arriva on Sundays, and non-existent by Go North East), but it seems they haven't bothered to take the financial risk...

A Pulsar on the 24 on Saturday had about 20 passengers leaving Sunderland!

The X21 will hopefully get passengers from Station Town and Wingate like the Go North East X7 does and hopefully further afield like Darlington, Aycliffe, Sedgefield and Trimdon.

I am hopeful that this service will be a success as I'd like having a direct service to Sunderland again as I hate changing buses in Durham or Peterlee bus stations.

Part of the reason why I think the GNE X7 is so good is passengers connecting from their East Durham services although I think it is also busy because they only have 1 bus an hour between Peterlee and Sunderland while Arriva have 4.


The loads on the 23/24 are usually better coming into Sunderland because concession pass holders will just on the first bus that turns up.

(23 Sep 2014, 7:23 pm)Dan wrote One could argue that Arriva could have appealed to the market more by providing a Sunday service (something which is limited by Arriva on Sundays, and non-existent by Go North East), but it seems they haven't bothered to take the financial risk...

I'd give it a couple months before an X7 Sunday service exists, now that there's competition.

(23 Sep 2014, 7:36 pm)Tom wrote A Pulsar on the 24 on Saturday had about 20 passengers leaving Sunderland!

Bloody hell - please tell me you got a photograph!

Was the bus on time or not? If it was late, I'd argue it was carrying the load of service 23 too... You see it all the time with the 60.
If it was on time, I'm truly amazed.

(23 Sep 2014, 7:39 pm)aureolin wrote I'd give it a couple months before an X7 Sunday service exists, now that there's competition.

My thoughts exactly... Go North East certainly isn't going to sit back and let Arriva take any customers from them - roll on the Wi-Fi and Sunday service!

A Pulsar on the 24 on Saturday had about 20 passengers leaving Sunderland!

I've said this before and everytime I've been on the 24 it has had roughly that number of passengers onboard.

(23 Sep 2014, 7:42 pm)Jimmi wrote I've said this before and everytime I've been on the 24 it has had roughly that number of passengers onboard.

You've pulled my leg... I'll carry out a loadings audit tomorrow (or perhaps the day after, as I have no free periods tomorrow)  

In and out of Peterlee, this may be the case... But in and out of Sunderland, it's almost unheard of.

(23 Sep 2014, 7:40 pm)Dan wrote Bloody hell - please tell me you got a photograph!

Was the bus on time or not? If it was late, I'd argue it was carrying the load of service 23 too... You see it all the time with the 60.
If it was on time, I'm truly amazed.

Couldn't tell you if it was on time or not, but it left Park Lane at around 14:35ish.

Would like to see the X7 on a Sunday... think it still would like every 2 hours... WIFI would be a good move...
I hope the X21 is a good move from arriva... ill say it again..wouldnt mind them doing a few more routes in Sunderland... like to the Cobalt etc

You've pulled my leg... I'll carry out a loadings audit tomorrow (or perhaps the day after, as I have no free periods tomorrow) Wink

 In and out of Peterlee, this may be the case... But in and out of Sunderland, it's almost unheard of.

No, I'm not.
These loadings are mostly on a morning between about 10am and 12pm to Sunderland and 1pm to 3pm from Sunderland when I've used it.

(23 Sep 2014, 7:49 pm)Michael wrote Would like to see the X7 on a Sunday... think it still would like every 2 hours... WIFI would be a good move...
I hope the X21 is a good move from arriva... ill say it again..wouldnt mind them doing a few more routes in Sunderland... like to the Cobalt etc

Your not missing much, Michael. There service is shambles. 

(23 Sep 2014, 7:39 pm)Jimmi wrote The loads on the 23/24 are usually better coming into Sunderland because concession pass holders will just on the first bus that turns up.

I'm really not imagining the empty buses on mornings and throughout the day, when I see services 23/24 (more so service 23) - honest...!
Comparing the loadings of service X7 to services 23/24 combined, and you'll find that the loadings on service X7 are still superior.

Under 16 POP card holders rarely use Arriva services in Sunderland due to the fact Arriva drivers turn these kids away most of the time. Baffling - think of the lost revenue!
Concessionary Pass holders are more likely to use the buses, knowing that they can, but then again, the chance of an Arriva bus turning up on the Stockton Road corridor before a Go North East one is slim (6 buses p/h with services 29/39, 6 buses p/h with service 42, 6 buses p/h with service 60, 4 buses p/h with service 61, 1 bus p/h with service X7...)

I'm really not imagining the empty buses on mornings and throughout the day, when I see services 23/24 (more so service 23) - honest...!

 Comparing the loadings of service X7 to services 23/24 combined, and you'll find that the loadings on service X7 are still superior.
 Under 16 POP card holders rarely use Arriva services in Sunderland due to the fact Arriva drivers turn these kids away most of the time. Concessionary Pass holders are more likely to use the buses, knowing that they can, but then again, the chance of an Arriva bus turning up on the Stockton Road corridor before a Go North East one is slim (6 buses p/h with services 29/39, 6 buses p/h with service 42, 6 buses p/h with service 60, 4 buses p/h with service 61, 1 bus p/h with service X7...)

Yes the loadings on the X7 are brilliant but like I said I think that is people coming from Teesside and people using GNE tickets so they don't have to switch operators.
Hopefully the new 22 will get more passengers when it starts running to Sunderland instead of the 24 as people in Wheatley Hill have wanted a service to Sunderland again after they lost the 21/31 back in 2012.
It is poor that drivers don't know all the passes and tickets they accept.

(23 Sep 2014, 7:51 pm)Dan wrote I'm really not imagining the empty buses on mornings and throughout the day, when I see services 23/24 (more so service 23) - honest...!
Comparing the loadings of service X7 to services 23/24 combined, and you'll find that the loadings on service X7 are still superior.

Under 16 POP card holders rarely use Arriva services in Sunderland due to the fact Arriva drivers turn these kids away most of the time. Baffling - think of the lost revenue!
Concessionary Pass holders are more likely to use the buses, knowing that they can, but then again, the chance of an Arriva bus turning up on the Stockton Road corridor before a Go North East one is slim (6 buses p/h with services 29/39, 6 buses p/h with service 42, 6 buses p/h with service 60, 4 buses p/h with service 61, 1 bus p/h with service X7...)

To be honest its expectable. Arriva don't really have many connections at Peterlee.
Maybe they should start a service or two around Peterlee?

(23 Sep 2014, 7:51 pm)Tom wrote Your not missing much, Michael. There service is shambles. 

Jimmi certainly didn't paint a pretty picture of Arriva's services on Teesside today - but I'm not one to tar the company with the same brush due to bad experiences on one specific service.

When I have had to use services 23/24 outside of Tyne & Wear in the past, I've had no major issues. By and large, the services have been on time. My experiences with other Arriva services are limited, but are similar to services 23/24. Time-keeping did seem to be an issue on the Quorum Express, though this has seemed to improve after umpteen amount of changes (which I still hear passengers complaining about).
I've always found the attitude of most drivers to be unpleasant, though this is replicated across all three operators. I do feel that bus drivers are under-paid for what they have to go through on a day-to-day basis, which could in part explain the poor customer service given by these drivers.
Branding is a major issue for Arriva at the moment, now more than ever as there is a growing 'hierarchy' of services: Sapphire > MAX > Normal. The mis-allocation of buses really does need to be nipped in the bud.
Of course, we all know my thoughts and feelings on the lack of knowledge some drivers have of the ticketing options in Tyne & Wear, and I needn't elaborate, as I've done that one to death!

To be honest its expectable. Arriva don't really have many connections at Peterlee.

Maybe they should start a service or two around Peterlee?

They had more services in Peterlee a while back, but then they changed them all and closed Peterlee depot with all their services transferring to different depots and then they withdraw many of the services because they weren't profitable through Peterlee and surrounding areas. Although Arriva still serve a large amount of Peterlee.

(23 Sep 2014, 8:04 pm)Tom wrote To be honest its expectable. Arriva don't really have many connections at Peterlee.
Maybe they should start a service or two around Peterlee?

See - I'd argue that, around Peterlee, the services perform somewhat decently. cbma06 may be able to provide a greater insight in regards to what he sees...

Granted, fare-paying passengers are few and far between, and Concessionary Pass holders make up the majority of the passengers, but I definitely think Peterlee is the place to go to see services 23/24 performing at their best.

There may be a lack of connections, but I think that the connections they do have in Peterlee suffice to provide a decent enough service, and that's due to the fact that they serve a few of the little villages.


Just had a quick little test on Flickr... Typed in 'arriva north east service 23 sunderland' and 'arriva north east service 24 sunderland' and categorised by 'Most Recent' - the photos speak for themselves, and certainly backs up what I've said about the loadings in and out of Sunderland.

(23 Sep 2014, 8:10 pm)Dan wrote See - I'd argue that, around Peterlee, the services perform somewhat decently. cbma06 may be able to provide a greater insight in regards to what he sees...

Granted, fare-paying passengers are few and far between, and Concessionary Pass holders make up the majority of the passengers, but I definitely think Peterlee is the place to go to see services 23/24 performing at their best.

There may be a lack of connections, but I think that the connections they do have in Peterlee suffice to provide a decent enough service, and that's due to the fact that they serve a few of the little villages.


Just had a quick little test on Flickr... Typed in 'arriva north east service 23 sunderland' and 'arriva north east service 24 sunderland' and categorised by 'Most Recent' - the photos speak for themselves, and certainly backs up what I've said about the loadings in and out of Sunderland.

I know the 24 is quite busy leaving Durham/Peterlee, yes.
What I mean is town services. So maybe one to Houghton via South Hetton, and another to Horden?

(23 Sep 2014, 8:10 pm)Dan wrote See - I'd argue that, around Peterlee, the services perform somewhat decently. cbma06 may be able to provide a greater insight in regards to what he sees...

Granted, fare-paying passengers are few and far between, and Concessionary Pass holders make up the majority of the passengers, but I definitely think Peterlee is the place to go to see services 23/24 performing at their best.

There may be a lack of connections, but I think that the connections they do have in Peterlee suffice to provide a decent enough service, and that's due to the fact that they serve a few of the little villages.


Just had a quick little test on Flickr... Typed in 'arriva north east service 23 sunderland' and 'arriva north east service 24 sunderland' and categorised by 'Most Recent' - the photos speak for themselves, and certainly backs up what I've said about the loadings in and out of Sunderland.

I don't know the area around East Durham much at all, but I'd think anything they're running into Sunderland would perhaps suffer from the same problem as the X2 down Durham Road. 

We know the passenger flow on Durham Road is thick and fast, and also that there's a massive gulf between what you'd see in the figures for the  21 and for the X2. Problem with the X2 though, is that between Pity Me and Eldon Square, there is not a single other Arriva connection in sight. Some 50 minutes of travel time, with god knows how many stops. 

If there were say a few local services in Chester, a few in Gateshead, and the odd connection to Washington? Probably a completely different story.

That being said, it doesn't cater for drivers not knowing the product, and it's a disgrace that this is still being mentioned on here. It must have been at least a year ago since Dan first complained to Arriva. If you're not going to look after your customers, then another operator will be more than willing to.

Jimmi certainly didn't paint a pretty picture of Arriva's services on Teesside today - but I'm not one to tar the company with the same brush due to bad experiences on one specific service.


When I have had to use services 23/24 outside of Tyne & Wear in the past, I've had no major issues. By and large, the services have been on time. My experiences with other Arriva services are limited, but are similar to services 23/24. Time-keeping did seem to be an issue on the Quorum Express, though this has seemed to improve after umpteen amount of changes (which I still hear passengers complaining about).
I've always found the attitude of most drivers to be unpleasant, though this is replicated across all three operators. I do feel that bus drivers are under-paid for what they have to go through on a day-to-day basis, which could in part explain the poor customer service given by these drivers.
Branding is a major issue for Arriva at the moment, now more than ever as there is a growing 'hierarchy' of services: Sapphire > MAX > Normal. The mis-allocation of buses really does need to be nipped in the bud.
Of course, we all know my thoughts and feelings on the lack of knowledge some drivers have of the ticketing options in Tyne & Wear, and I needn't elaborate, as I've done that one to death!

It was more County Durham where I had the problems today, and the 21 that was late this morning usually arrives in Aycliffe early and we all know the reliability of the X1 is often poor, the only problem I had on Teesside was the large amount of traffic service 5 got stuck in and was heavily loaded with school children.

Most times I've used the 24 in County Durham it has been alright occasionally only a few minutes late, apart from the time the 24 left Peterlee Bus Station 6 MINUTES EARLY!!! which meant I had to sit in Peterlee Bus Station in the freezing cold for over 30 minutes. 

(23 Sep 2014, 8:17 pm)aureolin wrote I don't know the area around East Durham much at all, but I'd think anything they're running into Sunderland would perhaps suffer from the same problem as the X2 down Durham Road. 

We know the passenger flow on Durham Road is thick and fast, and also that there's a massive gulf between what you'd see in the figures for the  21 and for the X2. Problem with the X2 though, is that between Pity Me and Eldon Square, there is not a single other Arriva connection in sight. Some 50 minutes of travel time, with god knows how many stops. 

If there were say a few local services in Chester, a few in Gateshead, and the odd connection to Washington? Probably a completely different story.

That being said, it doesn't cater for drivers not knowing the product, and it's a disgrace that this is still being mentioned on here. It must have been at least a year ago since Dan first complained to Arriva. If you're not going to look after your customers, then another operator will be more than willing to.

I'd like to see a Chester-le-Street-Fence Houses-Houghton-Sunderland service.

Peterlee is where the 23/24 do best as I've done the full route before and everyone bar me who got on at the Durham end before Shotton got off at Peterlee and then people got on in Shotton and Peterlee to head to Sunderland.

(23 Sep 2014, 8:17 pm)aureolin wrote I don't know the area around East Durham much at all, but I'd think anything they're running into Sunderland would perhaps suffer from the same problem as the X2 down Durham Road. 

We know the passenger flow on Durham Road is thick and fast, and also that there's a massive gulf between what you'd see in the figures for the  21 and for the X2. Problem with the X2 though, is that between Pity Me and Eldon Square, there is not a single other Arriva connection in sight. Some 50 minutes of travel time, with god knows how many stops. 

If there were say a few local services in Chester, a few in Gateshead, and the odd connection to Washington? Probably a completely different story.

That being said, it doesn't cater for drivers not knowing the product, and it's a disgrace that this is still being mentioned on here. It must have been at least a year ago since Dan first complained to Arriva. If you're not going to look after your customers, then another operator will be more than willing to.

You're right, and that's why I've always aspired that Arriva would take the commercial risk to divulge into operating more services in the Sunderland area, but it's probably just a case of finding something that hasn't already been covered by other companies.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - there's not much left in Sunderland to do (in my opinion). Stagecoach's cross-city services are all very much similar in the way they operate, and they cover a vast amount of the city, whilst Go North East's services primarily branch off out of Sunderland, covering other areas in the process. As someone who lives in Sunderland, who travels on buses and Metros, I have to say I couldn't be any happier with the service provided. I have the ability to travel (on weekdays) from 5am onwards, all the way through to about 00:15am in the morning, and I have the option of using night buses on top of that. Granted, this isn't the case for everyone in Sunderland, but anyone who lives within close proximity of the City Centre cannot complain.

What's left to take? I know if Malarkey was working for Arriva, he'd find something, but I really am struggling...

(23 Sep 2014, 8:23 pm)Tom wrote I'd like to see a Chester-le-Street-Fence Houses-Houghton-Sunderland service.

It's been done before, in the form of Go North East's 71, but failed due to low usage.

Direct services are appealing to some (mainly those who pay for single fares), but I really do prefer streamlined high frequency services which offer connections. You've gotta think - if Arriva did this, they'd be competing against services 20/35/X35 (14 buses per hour) from Sunderland to Houghton, and then service 71 from Houghton to Chester-le-Street (2 bsues per hour).

I think the main reason that the 71 didn't perform as well as it could have is due to the fact that the frequency of the 20 means that most passengers will opt for that service over others. It's advantageous over the 35 too, of course, due to the shorter journey time.

Go North East has the monopoly there too, as I explored in my post above.

I don't know the area around East Durham much at all, but I'd think anything they're running into Sunderland would perhaps suffer from the same problem as the X2 down Durham Road. 


We know the passenger flow on Durham Road is thick and fast, and also that there's a massive gulf between what you'd see in the figures for the  21 and for the X2. Problem with the X2 though, is that between Pity Me and Eldon Square, there is not a single other Arriva connection in sight. Some 50 minutes of travel time, with god knows how many stops. 

If there were say a few local services in Chester, a few in Gateshead, and the odd connection to Washington? Probably a completely different story.

When I've used the X2 many of the fare paying passengers have day/weekly tickets and either boarded the X1 or has come off another service like I've seen people jump on in Newcastle and Chester-Le-Street and then get on the 7 or other services like the 43. Like you say Arriva don't have anything after Framwellgate Moor apart from the 42 from Brasside and Arnsion Centre although I doubt many have connected from these two services.

Saying about Arriva running services in Chester-Le-Street they did have the 726 from Langley Park to Chester which ran hourly Monday to Saturdays between school runs and it only lasted a few months before being axed because the passenger numbers were pretty much non existent.

In terms of the Quorum Express reliability, I would put the following services in Northumbria I know off for being late in order of unreliability:
53, 52, 43, 45, 54, 44, X20 / 20, 57, 57A, X5, X4, 308, X22, X21, 

(23 Sep 2014, 8:43 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote In terms of the Quorum Express reliability, I would put the following services in Northumbria I know off for being late in order of unreliability:
53, 52, 43, 45, 54, 44, X20 / 20, 57, 57A, X5, X4, 308, X22, X21, 

I've never had any problems with the 52 and I use that quite a bit. 
The X4/X5 had improved a lot, but the 308 is terrible. 

Few more changes on VOSA today

PB0002032/333 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted: Operating between Thropton and Morpeth given service number 14 effective from 16-Nov-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0002032/370 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted: Operating between Ashington and Bedlington Station given service number 34 effective from 16-Nov-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0002032/428 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted: Operating between Newcastle and Berwick given service number X18 effective from 16-Nov-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0002032/429 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted: Operating between Newcastle and Berwick given service number X15 effective from 16-Nov-2014. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0002032/488 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Alnwick
Finish Point: Berwick
Via:
Service Number: 418
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 16-NOV-2014
Other Details: Sundays

Since I Live in peterlee for quite a number of years, l do see service 23 and 24 being busy, yes sometimes some runs may not be busy and also see either a 23 or 24 with only a few on a certain times of the day, especially when their is a hold up along the route and you get service 23 and service 24 arriving into Sunderland almost together, service 23 and 24 are busy going into Sunderland in the mornings due to workers and not many passengers leaving Sunderland to go towards Peterlee. When I travel on service 24 to Sunderland ive always wanted like an express bus which doesn't hit the Seaham and Dalton-le-Dale section as it is stop and start along their which ends on the journey time for passengers travel from the East Durham communities to Sunderland, most passengers don't board the Arriva due to them having the GNE loyalty tickets. Last week I caught Arriva service 24 from Sunderland at midday, the bus went through Seaham area and 2 service 24's was together going to Sunderland with service 23 10 minutes behind, both service 24's were busy, and when my bus reached Dalton Park a lady got on the bus with Arriva day ticket but suddenly she got off as she was wanting the 24 to Sunderland, she asked the driver where the 24 is because shes been waiting for sometime, the driver replied to her that he didn't know, so we know what happened there as both of the 24's together bypassed Dalton Park.

About the Arriva App, it is terrible since their updated the App, since their have installed new features, their have cut back on data for the live map feed, before you used to follow the bus as it was going along the route and when ive used it, it has been about 95% correct minus the times when the live map doesn't show the bus at all, soon afterwards their updated the App, I was standing on Southway in Peterlee waiting for service 22 to Durham and I used the App to see where the bus is and the live feed icon says that the bus was at Horden traffic lights junction and then 30 seconds later the bus pulled into Southway and when I looked at the feed again it still says the bus was at Horden traffic lights. ive stopped using the App as its not really giving me the information that I needed.

About Arriva bus services in Peterlee, someone saying that their should branch out and do more bus services?, the answer is that you must be joking.

Arriva/United used to do a lot of bus services in the East Durham areas, but somebody from Arriva/United management decided to withdraw the local services and used the out of town arriva services to run through these estates which the local buses used to do which had a knock on effect, since out of town services started running these services then their was no need for the depot in Peterlee, the bus services which didn't go through certain estates fell into the hands of the taxpayers to pay for via DCC which in later GNE won the contract to do, even though Arriva has a few times tried to win the contract to run them via DCC, maybe if Arriva were so desperate to run these services then their should of done what GNE did by running them commercially, but Arriva wanted to run them with funding from the council.

When the announcement was made to close Peterlee depot down, I did ask GNE MD at the time if their was any deal could be struck to purchase the peterlee depot, but GNE was content of still sharing the land at the East Durham community transport  and use Deptford depot for maintaining the peterlee fleet. but would see what the fall out of the bus services in Peterlee from the closure of the depot, since the only bus services that had to run light to Peterlee from Durham was the 26/27 later became 26 and also service 239, since GNE gained service 239 under contract and Arriva diverting service 21/21A away from Thornley and Wheatley Hill replacing service 26 at Wingate area.

Cant see Arriva anytime in the near future doing bus services in Chester-Le-Street unless under DCC contracts, the only jointly services that Arriva and GNE did was service 723 and 230/231, the decision to split the 723 was I think because of reliablilty issues and cheaper by Train, Arriva kept the Durham to Darlington and GNE had the Durham to Newcastle section, and GNE gained service 231 while Arriva gained service 230. Arriva and GNE are not going to step onto each overs toes especially when their are in partnership against QCS.

I would of loved to see Arriva service 23 extended from Sunderland Interchange to Durham via Durham Road, Doxford International,Houghton,Npower then Durham, even if its only Hourly extension, it would help Arriva drivers out by driving all the way to Sunderland by car or van to take over the other driver on service 23, and also pick up Arriva passengers who have got Arriva day, weekly or monthly tickets who have to purchase other operator tickets (GNE) for onward travel to get to work at Npower or Doxford International.