(31 Jan 2013, 9:53 pm)citaro5284 wrote

(31 Jan 2013, 9:41 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote weren't they supposed to start like 7 months ago, but due to adverse weather conditions they didn't

No

Work was meant to start a while back, looking at original articles from the time planning permission was granted:
http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business-new...-31070465/
They suggest the depot would be open by late Summer 2013. Considering that land works have just begun, it is unlikely to be complete until Winter 2013/2014 at the earliest.

Some pictures of London companies (Stratford Bus Station)

Thought these photos would be worthy of a share on the site; though I nearly had heart failure at first glance of the NexusBus liveried vehicles!

Sean Blair -

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77351420@N0...hotostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77351420@N0...hotostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77351420@N0...hotostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77351420@N0...hotostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77351420@N0...hotostream

And http://www.flickr.com/photos/northernblu...376494590/ by Garry Luck!

Brilliant computer work! I think 3970 would look rather nice in Yellow Bus branding!

PB0002717/15 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and Esh Winning given service number 43 effective from 10-Mar-2013. To amend Timetable.

PB0002717/16 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham and New Brancepeth given service number 48/48A effective from 10-Mar-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0002717/28 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham Bus Station and Hartlepool Interchange given service number 22 effective from 10-Mar-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0002717/220 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted: Operating between Hartlepool Church Sqaure and Sunderland Park Lane Interchange given service number 23/23A/23B/23C effective from 10-Mar-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

PB0002717/238 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted: Operating between Eldon Square Bus Station, Newcastle and Durham Bus Station given service number X2 effective from 10-Mar-2013. To amend Timetable.

PB0002717/257 - ARRIVA DURHAM COUNTY LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP
Variation Accepted: Operating between Durham Bus Station and Hartlepool Interchange/Sunderland Park Lane Interchange given service number 24/24A/24B/24X effective from 10-Mar-2013. To amend Route and Timetable.

Addressing the barriers that transport creates to economic growth and accessing employment

This is a rather large file from the Tyne and Wear Transport Integrated Authority. It includes details of major bus improvements planned across Tyne and Wear; one of which is the re-routing of Go North East's service 8 away from Chester Road to run along the A1231 express between Sunderland and Waterview Park, in addition to a new 15 minute service between Sunderland, Hylton Enterprise Park and Washington. There's also proposals for an all-day 30 minute frequency service between Washington, Team Valley and MetroCentre; and a new half-hourly service between Jarrow, Cobalt and Northumberland Park.

According to this link - https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/2...rt-schemes - funding has been approved for this scheme. I'll post the highlights below.

I apologise if this is old news to some - it's just the first time I've seen it!

What is Proposed -

The Introduction of three new strategic routes, and extension of an existing service to match new employment patterns and residential areas.

Strategic Route 1): Washington - Springwell Village - Wrekenton - Harlow Green - Team Valley - Bensham - Dunston - Metrocentre (extending to/from Blaydon and Winlaton at peak times)
Frequency: every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes
Scheme details: This route provides a regular all day bus service between Washington, Team Valley and the Metrocentre. Washington is a major catchment area for Team Valley, but there is currently a very limited direct service. Providing better links to the Metrocentre also opens up connections to a wide range of other places in west Gateshead and north Durham.

Strategic Route 2): Jarrow - Percy Main - Silverlink - Cobalt - Northumberland Park
Frequency: every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes (every 15 minutes Percy Main to Northumberland Park combined with an existing service)
Scheme details: This route addresses the issue of poor transport connectivity from South Tyneside and areas of high unemployment, to North Tyneside where the Business and Industrial parks associated with the A19 provide significant employment opportunities for the this demographic.

Strategic Route 3): Washington - Waterview Park - A1231 - Enterprise Park - Hylton Riverside Park - Sunderland
Frequency: every 15 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes
Scheme Details: to pump-prime a 15-minute service between Sunderland and Washington, serving the employment areas along the north bank of the river Wear. As this corridor currently does not have an express bus service.

Service Extension: Extension of the current Quaylink service to Walker Riverside, enabling direct public transport provision to the newly declared Enterprise Zone.
Frequency: Every 10 mins on Monday to Saturday daytimes

The full document can be seen here; PDF too large to upload sadly - http://www.twita.gov.uk/sites/default/fi...20Case.pdf

These Annexes discuss the bus improvements in much more detail (from P.31) -

http://www.twita.gov.uk/sites/default/fi...nnexes.pdf

Some of these improvements have already been recently implemented, such as the bus-link between Gosforth Business Park and Balliol/Quorum. I think the proposals for the 8 running over the Queen Alexandra Bridge and a new 15 minute service between Sunderland, Enterprise Park and Washington gives more credibility to the rumour on the Skyscraper City forums that when the new Wear Bridge opens - the Queen Alexandra Bridge will be closed to all traffic except buses and emergency vehicles.

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edit - Just done some checking up - "Funding for a revised small project proposal from Tyne and Wear ITA, based on elements of their Large Project business case, has also been retained, and will be awarded pending a successful revised small project application."

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/2...rt-schemes

It looks as though Tyne and Wear will only receive £5 million for a revised smaller project instead. Pity

Check out these proposals for a new Transport Interchange on Keppel Street!

http://www.southtyneside.info/article/17...nterchange

Heres the order list for stagecoach =)

http://www.stagecoach.com/media/news-rel...01-09.aspx

Details..

Details of the new orders are as follows:

113 ADL Enviro 400 Dennis and Scania double-deckers
98 ADL Enviro 300 Dennis and Scania single-deckers
140 ADL Enviro 200 Dennis midibuses
1 Optare Versa midi-bus
32 Optare Solo mini-buses
10 Plaxton Panther Volvo B13R coaches
8 Plaxton Elite Volvo B13R coaches
10 Plaxton Elite Volvo B11R coaches
10 Van Hool Altano TDX 21 left-hand drive coaches
10 Van Hool Astromega double-decker sleeper coaches

Published a short while ago (December 2011), but still relevant I think -

Chapter 1 gives the strategic overview for both road and rail travel. It provides
• information on bus and rail use trends,
• describes the existing local networks and partnership arrangements.
• background information on the legislation and policy context
• the vision, aims and objectives which frame the strategy.

Chapter 2 explains how we have developed the bus strategy. It sets out a list of passenger requirements and includes a summary of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in taking the strategy forward

Chapter 3 sets out how the Council will deliver the bus strategy. It includes detail on 63 key actions grouped under the themes of Service Delivery, User Confidence and Infrastructure & Schemes.

Chapter 4 describes how we will fund the strategy.

Chapter 5 gives the strategic overview for rail. It provides information on the Northumberland rail network, franchises, passenger trends, existing levels of service and partnership arrangements. It provides a summary of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats and passenger requirements in taking the strategy forward.

Chapter 6 sets out how the Council will deliver the rail element of the strategy. It includes detail on three objectives under the themes of Service Delivery, User Confidence and Infrastructure & Schemes.

Chapter 7 describes how we will fund the rail elements of the strategy, using capital and revenue funding from the County Council and external sources.

[attachment=1417]

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Northumberland Council subsidised service 822 is facing the axe -

http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/news...rPath=home

A timetable for the service can be found on the Howard Snaith website -

http://www.howardsnaith.co.uk/882.pdf

Planning permission has been granted to merge St Mary's Way and Livingstone Road in Sunderland City Centre to create a new tree-lined boulevard. This will make this route much more attractive and far better equipped to deal with the increasing levels of traffic this road will face when the Sunderland Strategic Transport Corridor is completed as a part of the new Wear Bridge and route to the Port in the East End. It's also to "prime" the Vaux site to attract private development as a new business district for the City Centre. The council think that private companies may be put-off developing Vaux if they have to shoulder the cost of the road layout improvements themselves; so Sunderland City Council are footing the bill themselves instead.

The boulevard, and the new Magistrates's Square on the site of the current roundabout, will sever the road link currently used by buses to access The Londonderry Hotel and Sunderland Empire Theatre.

The routes of these buses will be permanently changed as they become realigned to the new boulevard. Stagecoach service 8 City Centre - South Hylton, Stagecoach service 20 City Centre - Pennywell, Stagecoach services E1/E2/E6 South Shields - Sunderland; plus Go North East's X3, 9, 36 & 56 en-route to Park Lane Interchange. NexusBus 135/136 and Sunderland Connect 700 will also be diverted to travel along the full length of the new boulevard (701 doesn't currently serve Sunderland Empire Theatre / Londonderry Hotel anyway).

A dedicated bus lane will be included in the westbound direction, and will be served by routes 8, 20, E1/E2/E6, X3, 9, 36, 56 & 135. Only services 136 and 700/701 will travel in the eastbound direction, but these routes will still benefit from a dedicated bus bay and shelter.

For interest, I've enclosed a links to some images and a couple of site plans available from Sunderland City Council.

http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6818

http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/Planning/St...nt=obj.pdf

http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/Planning/St...nt=obj.pdf

Advanced utility works are scheduled to start week commencing 14 January 2013. Details of the successful bidder to complete the works will be made in Spring 2013, with work on the new road starting in the summer. I'm led to believe that work on the new Magistrate's Square is supposed to start in Spring 2014 once the new boulevard opens, if my memory serves right.

Article in the Hexham Courant today -

http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/news...rPath=home

The 685 is a jointly-operated service so thought best to mention it here rather than in the operator threads.

Is it just me who doesn't understand where some of this moaning comes from? For such a long distance route, I don't think the occasional 10 minute delay is anything to shout about at all. I've found myself regularly waiting much longer than this for a local bus service on a far shorter route!

For a route that is in competition with the train and other buses between Hexham and Newcastle, it might just not be economical to insert an extra bus into the timetable.

Going from the article, a problem journey appears to be the 0745 from Newcastle. This trip is operated by Arriva and I think they run the 685 from their Jesmond depot, and this journey will have come straight from there. Pleasing to see that Arriva are aware and working to resolve this though.

I've never travelled on the route myself, but I think it would be too much of an ask to expect every bus to operate to timetable when you take into consideration the mileage these coaches are put up to.