The Bygone Era is now back online (10/03/13)! While it has been down for essential maintenance which I’ll mention after this, I’ve taken the opportunity to make some other changes. As I promised earlier, the Independent operators now have their own threads, and we also welcome a new thread from the Tees and District Transport Company, with timetables from December 1990 including those operating under the names of CountyBus and Hoppa.

I have also been working on re-uploading the problematic PDF timetable attachments into unique URL links, which will give faster page load times and improved accessibility. The Independent operators and the Stagecoach/Busways threads have now been completed; and work is underway on the Go North East thread, the Tyne and Wear Timetables thread, and the PTE thread. These should be completed shortly in the coming days but are online now as they are in their current form.

The main reason for the section downtime was to add a watermark to all content generously donated by cbma06. After the recent scare we had with our bus photo collection, we both deemed it necessary to prevent against future theft. All timetable scans and a few other miscellaneous items are now copyright to cbma06, and you’ll now find a discreet copyright mark on all material supplied by him. I do apologise for the length of time the section has been down due to this. I only acquired the watermarking software this week, and combined with a poor internet connection and site issues; this has taken a bit longer than I was hoping to complete.

As before, I'll continue trying to locate further items as and when I get the time. Anyway, I'm just over the moon we're back online, so hope you enjoy having a look around!

Have a travel query? Visiting a new area but not familiar with the directions given by Traveline? Post your travel queries here, and someone with local North East knowledge should be able to help you out!

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I'm trying to find the best route for someone to get to the new Washington Primary Care Centre from Park Lane by bus. I've visited the old health centre, dentist part I think, many years ago and there was direct foot access from the Galleries, but I can't tell if it's as easy to reach the new building. Is it well sign-posted from the bus station and easy to find? This is for someone with a poor sense of direction and having not visited the Galleries for many years too!

Any help would be much appreciated, cheers!

Not sure if anyone else was listening this morning, but there was a big boss from Northern Rail in the 'hotseat' from 9am on Radio Newcastle.

Apart from the usual, he also announced 40 additional trains will call at Blaydon with extra services calling at Dunston - all from December this year.

It isn't an area I go to that often, but I am aware of how many buses to/from Newcastle and the Metrocentre from Blaydon. It will be interesting to see how GNE react to this, or whether the new deckers for the 10 was their pre-emptive move.
40 trains a day seems a massive number considering it is single figures at the moment.

39729 crashed this morning near the OAK tree farm pub in doxford park around 8:30.

Van pulled out in front of him.

Friend was driving bus.... Cant post link from echo on phone

Almost forgot I saw two East Coast trains on the Durham Coast Line through Sunderland this afternoon, one in each direction. Don't think I've ever seen it happen myself before but I guess it might happen more times than I've realised!

Photos by Graeme Phillips - http://www.flickr.com/photos/66289212@N07/8522131000/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66289212@N07/8521931968/

Diversion is in place until tomorrow -

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/

"Engineering work between Darlington and Newcastle from 13:30 on Saturday 2 until 12:30 on Sunday 3 March 2013"

"An hourly diverted train service will run between York and Newcastle, not calling at Darlington and Durham"

There's also some travel information for trains by other operators.

Since we have all discussed GNE on here, can i make a suggestion for stagecoach Sunderland?

I would merge the 8 and 20 together to make it one full route... New 20 route.


Pennywell, Prestbury Road, City Centre, Fawcett Street - Royal Hospital - South Hylton

Not many people use the 8 (well when ive seen it its being empty or very few on) but it may get used more if new links are opened.

All discussion of The Shields Ferry is to be placed here.

Hello everyone. March 1st has been quite an eventful day indeed! As many of you will know, March 1st is the day that marks both Saint David's Day for the Welsh communities and Self Harm Awareness Day which I do believe is a national event. In addition to that, North East Buses are using this date to mark a very special occasion indeed: the introduction of the "All Things Water" sub-forum!

Admittedly, this sub-forum had previously existed in the opening stages of the site, but was removed due to the inactivity of it. Having discussed the matter with the administration team, we have come to a joint decision to reinstate this sub-forum - starting completely fresh (hence why we are saying that "All Things Water" was founded in March 2013)!

We believe at this early stage that the primary thread that will see active use in this sub-forum will be the "Shields Ferry" thread, but we hope that this will develop over time as we attract several other transport enthusiasts to the group and more opportunities for discussion of boats will arise. As the site's main focus is buses, they may be discouraged against joining, but only time will tell!

I now hand over the sub-forum to you guys! Enjoy.

(28 Feb 2013, 9:54 pm)tyresmoke wrote Wow Nexus are way behind Connect Tees Valley have had new timetables up for weeks!
The only change to the X2 is withdrawing the schoolday journey around 1445 from Durham to CLS presumably to improve reliability on schools.

Can see why Nexus didn't rush through the news of the X2 change since any change is well outside of their patch!

After yet another regular Waggonway breakdown I stuck my concerns into GNE about the reliability of the service whilst DAF's remain in service.

Received a very nice reply, usual customer service schtick but added on

'We are monitoring this service as we have incurred an above average number of correspondence from passengers using this service. There are plans to update the vehicles on this service but I cannot confirm vehicle type or dates for this change. We do realise there is an issue and we are working hard to resolve this'

Added was a voucher for £2 off a Buzzfare...jeez, all out generosity