(15 Dec 2017, 9:59 pm)RBZ 5459 Not alot on the face of it 22017, believe it was in pretty good nick underneath, plus the powerpack was obviously in good running order to go in 22011. Must have just been one of the more ropey ones. All are on UK Bus disposals, simple reason is no one has a use for them, so, good enough to store for now for moments like this. A few have been transferred to the likes of Western on loans etc.
(15 Dec 2017, 9:59 pm)RBZ 5459 Not alot on the face of it 22017, believe it was in pretty good nick underneath, plus the powerpack was obviously in good running order to go in 22011. Must have just been one of the more ropey ones. All are on UK Bus disposals, simple reason is no one has a use for them, so, good enough to store for now for moments like this. A few have been transferred to the likes of Western on loans etc.
I've seen the X24 a good few times recently off-peak, and with the regular allocation of gas buses, I've been able to see how many passengers were on-board (the numbers have been pretty woeful).
There is a clear peak flow (Sunderland to Newcastle in the morning, and Newcastle to Sunderland in the afternoon/evening).
I remain sceptical at the alleged success of the X24 - I've travelled on the service many times and even on the busy peak-time runs, 95% of the passengers appear to be concessionary pass holders or using Network One tickets (so Stagecoach aren't getting the full amount of revenue). It can't be making a lot of money, and the amount of money the Engineering Dept at Sunderland must be spending on maintaining and keeping the Omnilinks running, must be eliminating any sort of profit it might have otherwise made.
My main gripe is that the seemingly poor reliability of the Omnilinks is having a detrimental impact on services which ought to be allocated gas buses. The 20 is usually the one which ends up getting E200s and Darts, while the gas buses are otherwise engaged on the X24...
I intend on using the X24A service next week and will report back then. Here's hoping it's an Omnilink!
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
(17 Dec 2017, 2:27 pm)Dan I've seen the X24 a good few times recently off-peak, and with the regular allocation of gas buses, I've been able to see how many passengers were on-board (the numbers have been pretty woeful).
There is a clear peak flow (Sunderland to Newcastle in the morning, and Newcastle to Sunderland in the afternoon/evening).
I remain sceptical at the alleged success of the X24 - I've travelled on the service many times and even on the busy peak-time runs, 95% of the passengers appear to be concessionary pass holders or using Network One tickets (so Stagecoach aren't getting the full amount of revenue). It can't be making a lot of money, and the amount of money the Engineering Dept at Sunderland must be spending on maintaining and keeping the Omnilinks running, must be eliminating any sort of profit it might have otherwise made.
My main gripe is that the seemingly poor reliability of the Omnilinks is having a detrimental impact on services which ought to be allocated gas buses. The 20 is usually the one which ends up getting E200s and Darts, while the gas buses are otherwise engaged on the X24...
I intend on using the X24A service next week and will report back then. Here's hoping it's an Omnilink!
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
(17 Dec 2017, 2:27 pm)Dan I've seen the X24 a good few times recently off-peak, and with the regular allocation of gas buses, I've been able to see how many passengers were on-board (the numbers have been pretty woeful).
There is a clear peak flow (Sunderland to Newcastle in the morning, and Newcastle to Sunderland in the afternoon/evening).
I remain sceptical at the alleged success of the X24 - I've travelled on the service many times and even on the busy peak-time runs, 95% of the passengers appear to be concessionary pass holders or using Network One tickets (so Stagecoach aren't getting the full amount of revenue). It can't be making a lot of money, and the amount of money the Engineering Dept at Sunderland must be spending on maintaining and keeping the Omnilinks running, must be eliminating any sort of profit it might have otherwise made.
My main gripe is that the seemingly poor reliability of the Omnilinks is having a detrimental impact on services which ought to be allocated gas buses. The 20 is usually the one which ends up getting E200s and Darts, while the gas buses are otherwise engaged on the X24...
I intend on using the X24A service next week and will report back then. Here's hoping it's an Omnilink!
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
(17 Dec 2017, 2:45 pm)Michael I think the Omnilinks were rumoured to be replaced next year... I think offerig better buses could help it in getting more passengers.. Adding features like USB ports etc.
I think the changes to the service haven't helped either... 3 hour gap at the Hastings Hill on a morning and afternoon because it runs as the X24A.... Which to me, is daft.
(17 Dec 2017, 2:45 pm)Michael I think the Omnilinks were rumoured to be replaced next year... I think offerig better buses could help it in getting more passengers.. Adding features like USB ports etc.
I think the changes to the service haven't helped either... 3 hour gap at the Hastings Hill on a morning and afternoon because it runs as the X24A.... Which to me, is daft.
(15 Dec 2017, 10:23 am)RBZ 5459 PERIOD 8 (wk commencing 10th December 2017)
Not much movement over the last period, summed up...
BUSWAYS: 19204 has returned to Walkergate with 22343 going the other way to Slatyford - one of the 18 boards is now decker operated Monday-Friday.
Another bus has been added to the Slatyford express services cycle to hopefully sort reliability out, the boards don't interwork as much now with greater layover at either ends which will probably see more stand fighting at Eldon..! X47 best part of the day doesnt interwork.
(15 Dec 2017, 10:23 am)RBZ 5459 PERIOD 8 (wk commencing 10th December 2017)
Not much movement over the last period, summed up...
BUSWAYS: 19204 has returned to Walkergate with 22343 going the other way to Slatyford - one of the 18 boards is now decker operated Monday-Friday.
Another bus has been added to the Slatyford express services cycle to hopefully sort reliability out, the boards don't interwork as much now with greater layover at either ends which will probably see more stand fighting at Eldon..! X47 best part of the day doesnt interwork.
The X87/88 don’t interwork with anything else and haven’t since the changes in April. Until very recently, the X47 interworked with the X77/78/79 and X82. This has now changed, with the X47 being self-contained for most of the day. There are a couple of boards on the X77/78/79 that need to be E400 operated due to school and college numbers.
23 for Newcastle on the second X55 on Saturday. No-one for Doxford.
(18 Dec 2017, 3:06 pm)Cock Robin No-one for Doxford.Do you mean Dalton Park?
(18 Dec 2017, 3:06 pm)Cock Robin No-one for Doxford.Do you mean Dalton Park?
(18 Dec 2017, 3:23 pm)HarryCowans4041 Do you mean Dalton Park?
(18 Dec 2017, 8:12 am)markydh The X87/88 don’t interwork with anything else and haven’t since the changes in April. Until very recently, the X47 interworked with the X77/78/79 and X82. This has now changed, with the X47 being self-contained for most of the day. There are a couple of boards on the X77/78/79 that need to be E400 operated due to school and college numbers.
(18 Dec 2017, 8:12 am)markydh The X87/88 don’t interwork with anything else and haven’t since the changes in April. Until very recently, the X47 interworked with the X77/78/79 and X82. This has now changed, with the X47 being self-contained for most of the day. There are a couple of boards on the X77/78/79 that need to be E400 operated due to school and college numbers.
(23 Dec 2017, 9:24 am)Charles41 34611 at newcastle monument in use as Santa's grotto. Smart Christmas livery side and rear.
Charles
(23 Dec 2017, 9:24 am)Charles41 34611 at newcastle monument in use as Santa's grotto. Smart Christmas livery side and rear.
Charles
(23 Dec 2017, 10:15 am)Cock Robin Anyone see the last X55 today?
(23 Dec 2017, 10:15 am)Cock Robin Anyone see the last X55 today?
(23 Dec 2017, 10:57 pm)RBZ 5459 I gather the last southbound carried 6 in total, with 1 remaining into Stockton from Billingham.
(18 Dec 2017, 8:12 am)markydh The X87/88 don’t interwork with anything else and haven’t since the changes in April. Until very recently, the X47 interworked with the X77/78/79 and X82. This has now changed, with the X47 being self-contained for most of the day. There are a couple of boards on the X77/78/79 that need to be E400 operated due to school and college numbers.
(23 Dec 2017, 10:57 pm)RBZ 5459 I gather the last southbound carried 6 in total, with 1 remaining into Stockton from Billingham.
(18 Dec 2017, 8:12 am)markydh The X87/88 don’t interwork with anything else and haven’t since the changes in April. Until very recently, the X47 interworked with the X77/78/79 and X82. This has now changed, with the X47 being self-contained for most of the day. There are a couple of boards on the X77/78/79 that need to be E400 operated due to school and college numbers.