(13 Jan 2015, 8:30 pm)Malarkey wrote I picked up a Leaflet on the Changes to the Service last week when getting off an 82/83, It states the following in regards to the Route.

Services 82/82A/83

• From 1 February 2015, 82 & 83 services will be revised to offer new connections following discussions with customers about their travel patterns.  Your revised routes will be numbered 82, 82A & 982 and we’ll now be serving Birtley Northside as well as Meresyde and Grange Crescent in Leam Lane Estate to provide new connections. A summary of each route is provided below.
  
  
• Service 82 – Buses will run from Birtley Northside to Heworth via Birtley Centre, Portmeads, Portobello, Barley Mow, Ayton, Lambton, Washington Galleries, Biddick, Barmston Centre, Spout Lane, Concord, Usworth, Lingey Lane & Leam Lane Estate.  In the opposite direction, buses will run from Heworth Interchange to Rickleton via Leam Lane Estate, Lingey Lane, Usworth, Concord, Spout Lane, Barmston Centre, Biddick, Washington Galleries, Lambton, Ayton & Vigo Lane.
  
  
• Buses will run every 30 minutes in each direction on Monday to Saturday daytimes, providing a service every 15 minutes on the combined section of the route with the 82A between Ayton, Lambton, Galleries, Barmston and Concord.
   
  
• The evening journeys between Heworth Interchange and Concord will no longer run, but will be replaced with an improved frequency on Connections 4, which will now run every 20 minutes between Heworth Interchange and Fatfield via Lingey Lane, Usworth, Concord and Galleries.  The evening services between Concord and Birtley that are provided by Arriva will remain unchanged.
  
  
• On Sundays, buses will run every 30 minutes during the day from Birtley Station Lane to Concord.
  
  
• Service 83 – will be replaced by service 82A. Buses will run from Rickleton to Concord via Harraton, Wear Industrial Estate, Ayton, Lambton, Washington Galleries, Biddick, Barmston Waskerley Road & Hertburn Industrial Estate.  In the opposite direction, buses will run from Concord to Birtley Northside via Hertburn Industrial Estate, Barmston Waskerley Road, Biddick, Washington Galleries, Lambton, Ayton, Barley Mow, Portobello, Portmeads and Birtley Centre.
  
  
• Buses will run every 30 minutes in each direction on Monday to Saturday daytimes, providing a service every 15 minutes on the combined section of the route with the 82A between Ayton, Lambton, Galleries, Barmston and Concord.  The route won’t serve the section between Concord and Heworth due to low passenger numbers, with customers for Stephenson Industrial Estate being able to use the 982 service (see below) and customers from Sulgrave being able to use the Whey Aye 50 for journeys to Washington or the Fab 56 for journeys to Gateshead or Newcastle.
  
  
• On Sundays, buses will run every 30 minutes during the day from Concord to Birtley Station Lane.
  
  
• Service 982 – Buses will run at peak times between Concord Bus Station and Stephenson Industrial Estate to maintain connections for commuters.
  

Yeah, that's the same information that Cbma06 shared.
I hadn't seen it until he shared it , but it still doesn't give any clue about the route in Birtley between Portmeads, Front Street and Northside. Ditto for the return journey.

I am only guessing the route (see my post above), but could be miles off.

It is odd that with the reduction of service X36 to hourly, Sunderland to Heworth will get a better frequency during the evenings and on Sundays, in comparison to during the day on weekdays and Saturday!

(05 Jan 2015, 9:12 pm)Tom wrote Cheers.

(13 Jan 2015, 7:20 pm)Andreos1 wrote I hadn't seen that. Thanks.

It does slightly  - in that it clarifies the section via Barley Mow Inn is no longer served.
It doesn't state the route between Portmeads and Birtley Front Street, which means I can only assume it is going via Fell Bank and Harras Bank in both directions.

So: ...Portmeads, Fell Bank, Harras Bank, Front Street, Northside - Northside, Front Street, Harras Bank, Fell Bank, Portmeads...

I have never been asked about my travel patterns, Malarkey and aureolin haven't mentioned about the time they were asked either.

I think it go will from Northside via Blackfell Way - Sanders Gardens - Durham Road - The Avenue/Fell Bank - Portmeads - Glenluce/Windermere/The Drive/Bedford Avenue (Barley Mow Estate) - Vigo Lane and then current route towards The Galleries.

As for being asked about Travel Patterns, your going to have jog my memory on this one as I honest cant remember anything about this.

(13 Jan 2015, 9:03 pm)Malarkey wrote I think it go will from Northside via Blackfell Way - Sanders Gardens - Durham Road - The Avenue/Fell Bank - Portmeads - Glenluce/Windermere/The Drive/Bedford Avenue (Barley Mow Estate) - Vigo Lane and then current route towards The Galleries.

As for being asked about Travel Patterns, your going to have jog my memory on this one as I honest cant remember anything about this.

I can't see it doing The Avenue and miss out the main street. It is one way too.

According to the GNE patter, passengers were asked about their travelling patterns.
I was never asked and neither you or aureolin have mentioned about the time you were asked

The Avenue looks a Nightmare for Parked Cars from looking on Google Maps so that would be a big no no, so it would therefore have to go up Harras Bank as you mentioned or Alternatively the B1288/Birtley Lane and then up Fell Bank, I have a feeling it may do the current 83 route into Birtley and up to Northside then back out via Portmeads and Barley Mow Estate.

So therefore the Route could be, Vigo Lane - A167/Durham Road - Sanders Gardens - Blackfell Way - Northside - Portmeads - Barley Mow Estate - Vigo Lane, So basically a One Way Loop of Birtley omitting Fell Bank 

(13 Jan 2015, 8:49 pm)BJ10VUS wrote It is odd that with the reduction of service X36 to hourly, Sunderland to Heworth will get a better frequency during the evenings and on Sundays, in comparison to during the day on weekdays and Saturday!

Isn't the evening and Sunday when Nexus fund it?
At least the bus lane will be utilised by more than just a couple of services during those times :p

(13 Jan 2015, 9:33 pm)Malarkey wrote The Avenue looks a Nightmare for Parked Cars from looking on Google Maps so that would be a big no no, so it would therefore have to go up Harras Bank as you mentioned or Alternatively the B1288/Birtley Lane and then up Fell Bank, I have a feeling it may do the current 83 route into Birtley and up to Northside then back out via Portmeads and Barley Mow Estate.

So therefore the Route could be, Vigo Lane - A167/Durham Road - Sanders Gardens - Blackfell Way - Northside - Portmeads - Barley Mow Estate - Vigo Lane, So basically a One Way Loop of Birtley omitting Fell Bank 

To be honest, Harras Bank can be just as bad.
The car park at the doctors is next to useless and a number of patients just park on the main road. 
Totally different to a Sunday, when cars park outside the houses on the bank.

The leaflet states it goes via the town centre in both directions.

I am curious to see how the cuts to frequency affect loadings, particularly when Morrisons opens and if the new store increases demand.

(13 Jan 2015, 8:49 pm)BJ10VUS wrote It is odd that with the reduction of service X36 to hourly, Sunderland to Heworth will get a better frequency during the evenings and on Sundays, in comparison to during the day on weekdays and Saturday!

Good point, a little silly that. Why are nexus using public money to fund a service during the evening that doesn't even run during the day? Or arguably nexus should be stepping in to replace the lost daytime link by X36 terminating short. 
Out of interest is the loss of the Heworth link a problem? Not sure what any of the NEB Sunderland members think. I know the point is probably to reduce PVR, but could X36 not run Sunderland-Heworth? Then could it interwork with X35 to keep reliability? 

Worth mentioning also, GNE, are now operating X36 in 55 minutes, It currently does it in 58 minutes. And I'm sure it used to do it 60 when Northern branded. 

(13 Jan 2015, 11:28 pm)Drifter60 wrote Good point, a little silly that. Why are nexus using public money to fund a service during the evening that doesn't even run during the day? Or arguably nexus should be stepping in to replace the lost daytime link by X36 terminating short. 
Out of interest is the loss of the Heworth link a problem? Not sure what any of the NEB Sunderland members think. I know the point is probably to reduce PVR, but could X36 not run Sunderland-Heworth? Then could it interwork with X35 to keep reliability? 

Worth mentioning also, GNE, are now operating X36 in 55 minutes, It currently does it in 58 minutes. And I'm sure it used to do it 60 when Northern branded. 

Possibly because the service will terminate at Market Street instead of Eldon Square. 

(13 Jan 2015, 11:57 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Possibly because the service will terminate at Market Street instead of Eldon Square. 

Forgot about that, cheers! 

(13 Jan 2015, 9:51 pm)Andreos1 wrote Isn't the evening and Sunday when Nexus fund it?
At least the bus lane will be utilised by more than just a couple of services during those times :p

(13 Jan 2015, 11:28 pm)Drifter60 wrote Good point, a little silly that. Why are nexus using public money to fund a service during the evening that doesn't even run during the day? Or arguably nexus should be stepping in to replace the lost daytime link by X36 terminating short. 

With regards to the bus lane and the services in and out of Heworth using it:

Service 4 is fully commercially operated, and this is the service seeing an increase in frequency on evenings and Sundays. Between Heworth and Concord, after 19:23, services 82/82A are also commercially operated. These journeys will be withdrawn and replaced by the increased frequency of service 4, from the first week in February. As I have said before, the resources saved from cutting services 82/82A on an evening/Sunday go into the revised 4 service. The Concord - Birtley section of the route is secured by Nexus, and this section remains unchanged on evenings/Sundays.

As service 29A is not commercially operated, this service was not subject to Go North East's changes, and remains unchanged (albeit re-numbered to coincide with the new 35/36 service route numbers). The buses, in my experience, run empty, but this is clearly how Nexus wishes to use public money. I think there will be some logic behind it, however. The weekday service of Nexus-secured 558 terminates at Heworth, but on Sundays, the service is curtailed at Cotswold Estate (just after Boldon ASDA). The resource which would have been needed to continue the 558 to Heworth (which would have otherwise been saved) has continued to be pumped into the half-hourly 29A service, despite the fact that there's no great need for it. At least that tax-payer funded bus lane will be getting used, eh? 

It seems Go North East are adding the new routes for services on its site, example:

http://www.simplygo.com/all-services/prince-bishops/

(14 Jan 2015, 7:43 am)Dan wrote With regards to the bus lane and the services in and out of Heworth using it:

Service 4 is fully commercially operated, and this is the service seeing an increase in frequency on evenings and Sundays. Between Heworth and Concord, after 19:23, services 82/82A are also commercially operated. These journeys will be withdrawn and replaced by the increased frequency of service 4, from the first week in February. As I have said before, the resources saved from cutting services 82/82A on an evening/Sunday go into the revised 4 service. The Concord - Birtley section of the route is secured by Nexus, and this section remains unchanged on evenings/Sundays.

As service 29A is not commercially operated, this service was not subject to Go North East's changes, and remains unchanged (albeit re-numbered to coincide with the new 35/36 service route numbers). The buses, in my experience, run empty, but this is clearly how Nexus wishes to use public money. I think there will be some logic behind it, however. The weekday service of Nexus-secured 558 terminates at Heworth, but on Sundays, the service is curtailed at Cotswold Estate (just after Boldon ASDA). The resource which would have been needed to continue the 558 to Heworth (which would have otherwise been saved) has continued to be pumped into the half-hourly 29A service, despite the fact that there's no great need for it. At least that tax-payer funded bus lane will be getting used, eh? 

I agree the only main part used of the route on the current 29A is Sunderland - Town end Farm, funding should be used else where but maybe terminating one of the 29A's at Boldon Asda, so only 1 an hour go to Heworth, means some funding can go else where?

New timetables are continuing to appear on www.simplygo.com

Services 2/2A will be Simplicty.

Service 61 will be silver Go North East.

Service 39 will be red Go North East.

(15 Jan 2015, 3:09 pm)park5354 wrote New timetables are continuing to appear on www.simplygo.com

Services 2/2A will be Simplicty.

Service 61 will be silver Go North East.

Service 39 will be red Go North East.

Maybe a hint of where these silver Mercedes buses are go eh.....

(15 Jan 2015, 3:09 pm)park5354 wrote New timetables are continuing to appear on www.simplygo.com

Services 2/2A will be Simplicty.

Service 61 will be silver Go North East.

Service 39 will be red Go North East.

Maybe a hint as to where these silver Mercedes vehicles are going eh....

(05 Jan 2015, 9:12 pm)Tom wrote Cheers.

(15 Jan 2015, 3:16 pm)citaro5284 wrote Maybe a hint as to where these silver Mercedes vehicles are going eh....

Under a New Brand maybe.

This will then be the third brand name for the 61, fourth livery. Drifter cream, Drifter Green, SimpliCity then new brand.
Very pleased that the Mercs appear to be going to 61!
Wonder what the brand name will be? It shouldn't keep Silver Arrows.

New 50 timetable uploaded but hasnt been updated to show omnicity

I would expect service 35 will be plain gold colour (by the draft timetable it states Gold as per (laser Gold colour)) similar as the silver going onto service 61.

Can the simplicity versas manage Washington to Silksworth with the loadings between Sunderland and Washington?.

I would of expected that the 45/46 would of been upgraded by now or soon and putting the red kite Omni's on less demanding short routes, what does other members think?.

 I would like to see the red kite buses upgraded, hopefully this happens this year :p

Not sure whats happening with the 35/35A/36, Citaro may let us know if were nice to him...


Ffs fourm is still taking ages

(17 Jan 2015, 4:05 pm)cbma06 wrote I would expect service 35 will be plain gold colour (by the draft timetable it states Gold as per (laser Gold colour)) similar as the silver going onto service 61.

Can the simplicity versas manage Washington to Silksworth with the loadings between Sunderland and Washington?.

I would of expected that the 45/46 would of been upgraded by now or soon and putting the red kite Omni's on less demanding short routes, what does other members think?.

Beyond peaks, I haven't seen the loadings on the 2a/2c justify the frequency or capacity that is seen currently.

Between Shiney Row/Penshaw Washington, the services follow others around.
Obviously, this will partly change, following the decision to stop the M3/82A going over 'Malarkey Bridge' at Wear Ind Est - but you still have a very frequent service between Lambton and Galleries and also between Penshaw/Shiney/Fatfield and Galleries.

Ditto between Shiney and Sunderland, with the 78 and then everything that joins it along Chester Road.

Wonder if Deptford will keep the 2 spare versa's or will they go else where?

(17 Jan 2015, 4:30 pm)Andreos1 wrote Beyond peaks, I haven't seen the loadings on the 2a/2c justify the frequency or capacity that is seen currently.

And even though a Citaro looks a lot bigger than a Versa, I think there is only about 8 difference in capacity against the 2.  Of course I think it would be more comfortable when full on a Citaro.

Bus firm defends decision to change South Shields to Sunderland service.

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/busin...-1-7053494

(17 Jan 2015, 5:20 pm)Michael wrote Bus firm defends decision to change South Shields to Sunderland service.



http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/busin...-1-7053494

Pretty much the standard reaction when a direct bus service is lost. A few people are affected and it ends up with claiming that loads of people make the journey and don't like the fact that a few people have lost their direct link.

Is it so bad changing buses in Park Lane as it's not like there is only a limited amount of buses to connect to.

(05 Jan 2015, 9:12 pm)Tom wrote Cheers.

(17 Jan 2015, 5:20 pm)Michael wrote Bus firm defends decision to change South Shields to Sunderland service.

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/busin...-1-7053494

Cant see why they are complaining for to be honest, as theyll be able to get on 2/2A Every 10 Minutes, the revised 35/36 Every 10 Minutes, and finally 39 and 700 every 15 Minutes and 78 Every 30 Minutes, unless they are Travelling with Stagecoach on the E1/E2 and E6 in which they can then get on the 16 which Every 10 Minutes I think, not as if there isnt any Buses now is it from Sunderland City Centre to the Royal Hospital.

(17 Jan 2015, 5:20 pm)Michael wrote Bus firm defends decision to change South Shields to Sunderland service.

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/busin...-1-7053494

yes, I saw that in my facebook news feed a few hours ago.   passengers don't know how to transfer onto another bus to get to their destination. it seems that majority of passengers wants a bus service from door to door, just like the PTE days which in turn ran the bus services into the ground.

There's nowt at Rainton Gate...

Certainly not a 'growing employment centre'.

Presuming he meant Rainton Bridge, there was already a bus from Shields to Rainton Bridge. I am guessing less than 16 people a day got a direct bus too.

I would also question the 16 people from South Shields to the hospital line.
A day ticket wouldn't necessarily record where a person disembarked.
Ditto, the number of passengers getting a bus from places such as Harton, Cleadon, Newcastle Road etc.

(17 Jan 2015, 5:34 pm)Malarkey wrote Cant see why they are complaining for to be honest, as theyll be able to get on 2/2A Every 10 Minutes, the revised 35/36 Every 10 Minutes, and finally 39 and 700 every 15 Minutes and 78 Every 30 Minutes, unless they are Travelling with Stagecoach on the E1/E2 and E6 in which they can then get on the 16 which Every 10 Minutes I think, not as if there isnt any Buses now is it from Sunderland City Centre to the Royal Hospital.

The new 35 is every 30 minutes and the new 36 will be every 30 minutes.

The Shields to Sunderland Hospital is a complete non-story. There must be a bus every two or three mins between the City Centre and the Hospital?