(22 Dec 2012, 10:40 pm)Brandon If the Royal Oak is where I think it is, then that's a horrendous corner and a nightmare for pedestrians to cross and for buses to navigate around. Very sad news for the person involved and their family, as well as the bus driver, especially being so close to Christmas.
(22 Dec 2012, 10:40 pm)Brandon If the Royal Oak is where I think it is, then that's a horrendous corner and a nightmare for pedestrians to cross and for buses to navigate around. Very sad news for the person involved and their family, as well as the bus driver, especially being so close to Christmas.
'Diversions' would have simply been via Springwell Road, instead of the High Street Loop, yes?
I can't see why this hasn't been instated as a permanent route... Most people who have used an X1, 56, or any other service that happens to use that "triangle loop" have witnessed a near-accident.
Just put this through as a suggestion on Facebook; hopefully, Go North East will put it forward for me. If not, I'll e-mail it to them this morning.
http://www.facebook.com/simplyGNE/posts/...d=37643234¬if_t=like
(23 Dec 2012, 12:17 am)Daniel 'Diversions' would have simply been via Springwell Road, instead of the High Street Loop, yes?
I can't see why this hasn't been instated as a permanent route... Most people who have used an X1, 56, or any other service that happens to use that "triangle loop" have witnessed a near-accident.
Just put this through as a suggestion on Facebook; hopefully, Go North East will put it forward for me. If not, I'll e-mail it to them this morning.
http://www.facebook.com/simplyGNE/posts/...d=37643234¬if_t=like
(23 Dec 2012, 12:17 am)Daniel 'Diversions' would have simply been via Springwell Road, instead of the High Street Loop, yes?
I can't see why this hasn't been instated as a permanent route... Most people who have used an X1, 56, or any other service that happens to use that "triangle loop" have witnessed a near-accident.
Just put this through as a suggestion on Facebook; hopefully, Go North East will put it forward for me. If not, I'll e-mail it to them this morning.
http://www.facebook.com/simplyGNE/posts/...d=37643234¬if_t=like
Interesting comments on the GNE Facebook page today -
Milo Potts Why has the X3 been dropped from the red arrows brand and from the gold standard?
Like · · about an hour ago
Go North East Milo - Unfortunately I'm only able to supply general information, buti f you're able to email us at customerservices@gonortheast.co.uk they should be able to assist you further.
about an hour ago · Like
Stuart Alexander Smith X3 getting withdrawn next year altogether as there isnt enough demand for it. The driver was telling me the original X3 plan was to have enough passengers to fill a double decker, and that didn't happen so they will be bringing the 26 or some variation back instead
Will be interesting to see if there is any truth to this sometime next year.
Wonder how the 26 will work in to X3 they were planning on it doing it before the Jarrow connection on the 26 is rubbish
9 should be every 15 or 20 mins
26 should return to Heworth and even extend to Newcastle. Sunderland, Southwick, Castletown, Hylton Castle, Heworth, Gateshead, Newcastle.
Yeah I think that's probably what would happen if the X3 was cancelled. The East Boldon corridor would need more than a half hourly service, maybe 9 up to every 15 or 20 minutes, and the 26 running to Heworth or beyond instead.
I've used the 26/X3 connection in the past, and sometimes it's very easy to miss it. The tight connection may put people off travelling this way. The M1/X1 connection works well at Washington Galleries because both services run up to every 10 minutes so it's not too bad if you miss it, plus you're indoors too. A half hour wait at Boldon ASDA isn't ideal really.
I think it's ludicrous that Go North East could even consider withdrawing the X3 service. The X3 is the only bus service that can get to Newcastle in (almost) the same time as the Metro. Takes 15-20 minutes longer I guess, but that's nothing in comparison to the 56 service.
I frequently choose the X3 over Metro to cut down my waiting time at Park Lane down while I wait for a bus to go home.
I was led to believe that it was only dropped from the "Red Arrows" brand to supply the buses needed for the increased frequency of the "Silver Arrows" services... I know many drivers from Deptford on a somewhat personal level, and those that I speak to who regularly drive the X3 haven't mentioned anything about the withdrawal of the service and/or the service being dropped from the "Red Arrows" brand due to a lack of passengers using it. In fact, if I remember rightly, when the Renowns were first transferred to Deptford, a driver who randomly started talking to me (probably saw me taking a picture before getting on) upon boarding the bus, said that they would be used quite a lot on the service because there aren't enough Citaros to meet the PVR of the route and they'd prefer to keep it all as one vehicle class - which has been demonstrated in the past few months by the Renowns! I could imagine the reason why these Renowns haven't been branded for the service is because the service doesn't hold the PVR minimum requirement - as needed as a recent rule when branding services.
Many people have complained about that connection, but it isn't a connection I've ever tried to use. In my experience of using the X3 service though, it tends to run on-time if the driver has the pedal to the metal on the dual carriageways!
But it wouldn't take me by surprise if it was withdrawn. I don't it's frequent or fast enough to be competitive with the Metro. I don't think the number of service changes GNE have had in recent years have helped gain passenger's loyalty either. In June 2010, they axed the 57A which had provided a direct GNE bus between Boldon and Newcastle, leaving the Stagecoach X34 the only direct alternative. At the same time, the 26 had been re-routed through Fellgate Estate which increased journey times considerably and then you still had to change at Heworth for onwards travel to Gateshead and Newcastle. To be fair I don't think GNE have done themselves any favours on this corridor. You're right! The X3 has always ran on time when I've travelled on it too, it's the reliability of the 26 that's the problem. It's alright coming back home from Newcastle and connecting on to a late 26, but arriving at Boldon ASDA on a late 26 is hopeless even early on a morning when you'd think buses would be on time.
Back to the X3, considering it's an express bus service between two major cities and having operated for well over a year now, I'd say passenger growth has been pretty disappointing. The timetable was scaled back considerably last month with the withdrawal of a few early morning and evening journeys. I still see completely empty buses at certain times of the day too. Off-peak it tends to attract the free-travelling concessionaires especially those who don't pay for a Metro Gold Card. GNE aren't fully reimbursed for carrying these passengers so these journeys could possibly be operating at a loss or barely breaking even.
Having regularly been travelling on the metro over the past couple of months, trends seem to crop up. Seaburn is a very popular station - according to Wikipedia it's the busiest station on the Sunderland extension after Sunderland and Park Lane. East Boldon and Stadium of Light are also very well used stations, both of these having park and ride facilities. All three stations are very short walking distances from the X3 route.
I agree it would be a huge shame if the X3 was withdrawn, but it's nothing definite yet, it's just someone's post on Facebook so can't be assumed as fact! But it wouldn't take me by surprise if it was withdrawn. I don't it's frequent or fast enough to be competitive with the Metro. I don't think the number of service changes GNE have had in recent years have helped gain passenger's loyalty either. In June 2010, they axed the 57A which had provided a direct GNE bus between Boldon and Newcastle, leaving the Stagecoach X34 the only direct alternative. At the same time, the 26 had been re-routed through Fellgate Estate which increased journey times considerably and then you still had to change at Heworth for onwards travel to Gateshead and Newcastle. To be fair I don't think GNE have done themselves any favours on this corridor.
Personally, I think I'd be happy to see the return of daytime 26's to Heworth, but only if the two morning trips started from Sunderland/Southwick instead of Hylton Retail Park! That would mean I could get to work using one bus and one metro instead of one bus and two metros.
That time has finally arrived *weep*
The old red and blue Go North East livery has been eliminated from the operational fleet with the repainting of ex-Elcock Dennis Dart 8289: Y558 KUX into the new red livery with Northern fleet names.
Only news given on the Enthusiast Area this week!
End of an era! That livery was all I ever knew of GNE while I was growing up. I think the local identities like Go Wear Buses were still in full force when I was very young, but I just can't remember it.
I assumed it was a Saturday service on all routes today. After hearing the unmistakable groaning sound of a passing MPD, I just caught sight of the 592 passing my front room just a few minutes ago which took me by surprise!
(23 Dec 2012, 4:36 pm)Daniel I think it's ludicrous that Go North East could even consider withdrawing the X3 service. The X3 is the only bus service that can get to Newcastle in (almost) the same time as the Metro. Takes 15-20 minutes longer I guess, but that's nothing in comparison to the 56 service.
I frequently choose the X3 over Metro to cut down my waiting time at Park Lane down while I wait for a bus to go home.
I was led to believe that it was only dropped from the "Red Arrows" brand to supply the buses needed for the increased frequency of the "Silver Arrows" services... I know many drivers from Deptford on a somewhat personal level, and those that I speak to who regularly drive the X3 haven't mentioned anything about the withdrawal of the service and/or the service being dropped from the "Red Arrows" brand due to a lack of passengers using it. In fact, if I remember rightly, when the Renowns were first transferred to Deptford, a driver who randomly started talking to me (probably saw me taking a picture before getting on) upon boarding the bus, said that they would be used quite a lot on the service because there aren't enough Citaros to meet the PVR of the route and they'd prefer to keep it all as one vehicle class - which has been demonstrated in the past few months by the Renowns! I could imagine the reason why these Renowns haven't been branded for the service is because the service doesn't hold the PVR minimum requirement - as needed as a recent rule when branding services.
Many people have complained about that connection, but it isn't a connection I've ever tried to use. In my experience of using the X3 service though, it tends to run on-time if the driver has the pedal to the metal on the dual carriageways!
(23 Dec 2012, 4:36 pm)Daniel I think it's ludicrous that Go North East could even consider withdrawing the X3 service. The X3 is the only bus service that can get to Newcastle in (almost) the same time as the Metro. Takes 15-20 minutes longer I guess, but that's nothing in comparison to the 56 service.
I frequently choose the X3 over Metro to cut down my waiting time at Park Lane down while I wait for a bus to go home.
I was led to believe that it was only dropped from the "Red Arrows" brand to supply the buses needed for the increased frequency of the "Silver Arrows" services... I know many drivers from Deptford on a somewhat personal level, and those that I speak to who regularly drive the X3 haven't mentioned anything about the withdrawal of the service and/or the service being dropped from the "Red Arrows" brand due to a lack of passengers using it. In fact, if I remember rightly, when the Renowns were first transferred to Deptford, a driver who randomly started talking to me (probably saw me taking a picture before getting on) upon boarding the bus, said that they would be used quite a lot on the service because there aren't enough Citaros to meet the PVR of the route and they'd prefer to keep it all as one vehicle class - which has been demonstrated in the past few months by the Renowns! I could imagine the reason why these Renowns haven't been branded for the service is because the service doesn't hold the PVR minimum requirement - as needed as a recent rule when branding services.
Many people have complained about that connection, but it isn't a connection I've ever tried to use. In my experience of using the X3 service though, it tends to run on-time if the driver has the pedal to the metal on the dual carriageways!
(26 Dec 2012, 2:10 pm)Michael Has anyone got pics of today's odd workings in the Sunderland Area
(26 Dec 2012, 2:10 pm)Michael Has anyone got pics of today's odd workings in the Sunderland Area
(26 Dec 2012, 6:55 pm)W179SCU Can you give me a list of allocations, or would you rather surprise me with your pic, Dan ;-)
(26 Dec 2012, 6:55 pm)W179SCU Can you give me a list of allocations, or would you rather surprise me with your pic, Dan ;-)
(26 Dec 2012, 10:39 pm)W179SCU Right, cheers
(26 Dec 2012, 10:39 pm)W179SCU Right, cheers
