(11 Feb 2024, 9:38 pm)Ambassador wrote The return of the X46 is a blast from the past!

(12 Feb 2024, 5:22 pm)Adrian wrote Stop giving cash out like confetti, for operators to run services they should be running commercially.

It's a partnership after all, isn't it?

(12 Feb 2024, 11:50 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Genuine Q Dan

I never knew that so as a member of the public it looks like chucking money  as you have seen on this forum

Does this mean that it is FOI available if asked for the info like nexus secured services are?

(12 Feb 2024, 6:01 pm)Dan wrote It’s worth noting that operators have to declare the amount of revenue taken to the Local Authority, where a commercial service has been enhanced in frequency or in terms of span of operation.

If these services are commercially viable, then the Local Authorities won’t be parting with any BSIP subsidy.

If they aren’t, then the subsidy covers the difference, until the point at which the service becomes commercially viable.

This is a good - and hopefully sustainable - use of the funding.


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(13 Feb 2024, 7:02 pm)RobinHood wrote Any FOI would only tell you a £number and some specification details for what Nexus are paying operators to do (in respect of tenders, agreements, BSIP improvements).

It won't include any other information, such as how much revenue a service may already be carrying, as that is commercially sensitive (even though Nexus may know it).

Bus operators are generally private companies, FOI doesn't apply to private companies or their data.

(13 Feb 2024, 8:01 pm)Adrian wrote It's worth noting that section 43 exemptions are subject to a public interest test. So, if you can make a good enough argument to Nexus, they could well have to release the revenue data.

(13 Feb 2024, 8:01 pm)Adrian wrote It's a high-risk strategy imo. If the demand were there and it was zero or minimal risk, I'd imagine operators would be increasing the frequency anyway?

If it eventually becomes commercially viable, does the operator pay any of the previous subsidy back into the system to be reinvested?

(13 Feb 2024, 9:38 pm)Storx wrote The 56 one is the most baffling one to me, surely there's not people about who think well I'm not using the 56 it's only every 15 minutes. Oh hang on, it's now every 12 minutes now I'm definitely using that.

Do people really care about those 3 minutes? I can understand the argument on an hourly service which is unusable pretty much for most people though.

(13 Feb 2024, 10:04 pm)Dan wrote A change in frequency can and does have an impact upon patronage, even one as minor as an increase from 4 buses an hour to 5. Just in the same way that increasing a bus fare by 5-10p also has an impact.

Likewise there would have been a reduction in patronage when the service dropped from every 10 to every 12, then from every 12 to every 15.

Of course, adding 3 PVR is a significant investment, so continued marketing activity is crucial to deliver the growth in patronage required to generate the additional revenue.

I find it truly baffling that the operators and Local Authorities are facing criticism for improvements being made to the network. The comments about using the BSIP funding to start from afresh and try something new are completely fair and I don’t disagree (though I can understand reluctance as it will be difficult to prove sustainability), but I really don’t think the criticism for increasing frequencies on their existing network is fair. Hopefully they are sustainable and there is no need for a cliff edge once the funding is no longer available to be spent.


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(13 Feb 2024, 10:04 pm)Dan wrote Hopefully they are sustainable and there is no need for a cliff edge once the funding is no longer available to be spent.

(13 Feb 2024, 10:45 pm)Storx wrote I understand your points, but personally I'd rather see this money on long term fixes. So instead spending money on forcing a frequency, go for the opposite option and reduce the journey times which naturally reduces the PVR.

Like in the other thread where we we're talking about the X7/X8 big issues, I'd rather see the money spend on investing in a bus lane from South Gosforth to Blue House Roundabout, or at least as far as they could, this would be better money spent as no doubt the changes on the 352-355 are all relating to same problems, noticed they were all over the place again tonight aswell. Similar with a bus gate at Peter Barratts, but this side of the BSIP has just vanished.

I don't know the 56 route, that well - but I'm sure there's places like Wrekenton where similar money could be spent, a bus would be much more attractive if it passed you on the road. It's not very attractive if you're parked behind it - regardless to frequency.

Obviously local and national government are more interesting about shoving cycle lanes in everywhere to carry fresh air, making public transport even worse in the process. Rake Lane in North Tyneside being a prime example of that, another place where a bus lane could've been built instead.

(14 Feb 2024, 6:31 am)Dan wrote The funding is divided into three different categories: fares and ticketing, network and highways and infrastructure.

All combined, this is a powerful combination to deliver sustainable growth - it isn’t a case of just choosing one of these categories.

It’s worth having a read of the TNE BSIP document:
https://www.transportnortheast.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/TNE-BSIP-Refresh-Sept-23-WEB.pdf


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(11 Aug 2024, 8:21 pm)L469 YVK wrote - Newcastle to Morpeth (X14/X15/X16/X18) - full half hourly evening service until late

(11 Aug 2024, 8:58 pm)PH - BQA wrote I'm relatively surprised this wasn't included in the September X16 changes. 

Since Morpeth to Longframlington is a sector, and a round trip on that would be doable in the 43 mins you'd have available between Newcastle to Morpeth stints, you could significantly improve the service to Northgate, Longhorsley, and Longframlington as well as the Morpeth to Newcastle corridor. It would need 2 buses anyway, may as well use them rather than having them sitting around for three quarters of an hour.

(18 Aug 2024, 7:37 pm)Michael wrote Stagecoach should ask for funding for a later journey(s) on the X24, after 9pm or later, as every time I've used it on a Saturday, the last X24 at 20:10pm is always busy.

• Go North East Services 352/354/355 Withdrawn as routes duplicated by Stagecoach's 37/38 & 62/63 and Arriva X7/X8, Stagecoach X63 extended from Killingworth to Whitley Bay replacing the 354, Service X63 would remain operated by Stagecoach.
  
• Stagecoach North East Services X24/X34 have an Evening & Sunday timetable introduced, both services would operate Hourly.
  
• Arriva North East Service 47 & Go North East Service "H" merged together to form one route with a frequency of Every 20 Minutes connecting Newcastle General, RVI & Freeman Hospital, service would no longer be NHS Staff Only and the public would be allowed to use the service also by showing proof of Hospital Appointment for free, Service would be Re-Tendered.
  
• Additional Outbound & Return Journey's on Peter Hogg's X74 leaving Jedburgh at 12:13 and Newcastle at 15:30.
  
• Go North East Service 684 and Stagecoach Service X82 merged together to provide a Service 30 Minutes from Newcastle to Hexham Monday to Saturday, Go North East Service 684 Withdrawn, Stagecoach 685 still operates Sunday shorts as it does now, Service would be Re-Tendered. 
  
• Go North East Service 1 Whitley Bay - Newcastle merged with Stagecoach North East Service 22, Existing Service 22 would continue to operate Throckley - Newcastle - Wallsend - Cobalt Every 20 Minutes, Go North East Service 1 would be re-numbered 23 and operate Every 20 Minutes to Throckley - Newcastle - Wallsend - Whitley Bay, operation would pass to Stagecoach North East. 
  
• Go North East Service 1 MetroCentre - Gateshead - Newcastle would merge with Go North East Service 307 maintaining existing frequencies of both Services.
  
• Stagecoach North East 32/32A extended from Walkergate via Wallsend and merged with Go North East Service 41/41A to Hadrian Park providing improved Cross-City-Connections accross North Tyneside, alternatively Stagecoach Service 40 would merge with Go North East 41/41A, operation would pass to Stagecoach North East.
  
• Go North East Drivers made available from above changes would transfer depots to support frequency increases to Go North East Services that were decreased during Covid-19 and have not returned back to them and remain operating at an unsustainable and unreliable "Minimum Service Level", would also have option to transfer to Stagecoach due changes of services at Percy Main Depot. 
  

(18 Aug 2024, 9:34 pm)Malarkey wrote Newcastle BSIP Improvements Ideas

• Go North East Services 352/354/355 Withdrawn as routes duplicated by Stagecoach's 37/38 & 62/63 and Arriva X7/X8, Stagecoach X63 extended from Killingworth to Whitley Bay replacing the 354, Service X63 would remain operated by Stagecoach.
  
• Stagecoach North East Services X24/X34 have an Evening & Sunday timetable introduced, both services would operate Hourly.
  
• Arriva North East Service 47 & Go North East Service "H" merged together to form one route with a frequency of Every 20 Minutes connecting Newcastle General, RVI & Freeman Hospital, service would no longer be NHS Staff Only and the public would be allowed to use the service also by showing proof of Hospital Appointment for free, Service would be Re-Tendered.
  
• Additional Outbound & Return Journey's on Peter Hogg's X74 leaving Jedburgh at 12:13 and Newcastle at 15:30.
  
• Go North East Service 684 and Stagecoach Service X82 merged together to provide a Service 30 Minutes from Newcastle to Hexham Monday to Saturday, Go North East Service 684 Withdrawn, Stagecoach 685 still operates Sunday shorts as it does now, Service would be Re-Tendered. 
  
• Go North East Service 1 Whitley Bay - Newcastle merged with Stagecoach North East Service 22, Existing Service 22 would continue to operate Throckley - Newcastle - Wallsend - Cobalt Every 20 Minutes, Go North East Service 1 would be re-numbered 23 and operate Every 20 Minutes to Throckley - Newcastle - Wallsend - Whitley Bay, operation would pass to Stagecoach North East. 
  
• Go North East Service 1 MetroCentre - Gateshead - Newcastle would merge with Go North East Service 307 maintaining existing frequencies of both Services.
  
• Stagecoach North East 32/32A extended from Walkergate via Wallsend and merged with Go North East Service 41/41A to Hadrian Park providing improved Cross-City-Connections accross North Tyneside, alternatively Stagecoach Service 40 would merge with Go North East 41/41A, operation would pass to Stagecoach North East.
  
• Go North East Drivers made available from above changes would transfer depots to support frequency increases to Go North East Services that were decreased during Covid-19 and have not returned back to them and remain operating at an unsustainable and unreliable "Minimum Service Level", would also have option to transfer to Stagecoach due changes of services at Percy Main Depot.