(13 Feb 2026, 11:05 pm)tyresmoke wrote Should save about 10 minutes on a circuit by the ‘81’ part not having to serve Hunters Hill, which should be enough to ensure it’s reliable on the 4 hour round trip.

(14 Feb 2026, 3:04 pm)tvd wrote So, who is it that actually plans any new routes and timetable changes, is it one person or a team working together?
Are they people who know the area very well, or is it done by the same staff who will also do the same for Arriva operations everywhere else in the country?  Would the local depot manager have any say whatsoever?

(14 Feb 2026, 10:50 am)I’m Superman wrote Everyone losing their mind before they even see the timetable is mad. I have seen a draft internally that was shared with the trade union and extra runtime is everywhere, including some of the layovers at Marske are significant enough to have a nap in. People jumping to conclusions need to calm down.

A question I asked our rep that nobody seems to have even considered on here is yet to be answered. Maybe I'm cynical but getting everything back Boro, including the Sunday 3 by interworking the 62 feels like an agenda for something else. I might be wrong though.

(14 Feb 2026, 9:16 am)IStorx wrote Not sure there mind, on paper maybe, but on paper and reality are two different things. Seems to be around 1 hour 45 minutes for the whole route, but then there's Dixon Bank and Marton Road which are an absolute nightmare at the best of times, especially with the summer coast traffic.

I'd be pretty pissed if I'm waiting for a bus from Redcar to Marske Estate and it's 15 minutes late because it got stuck there.

And that's before some roadworks in Redcar, or what not - you'd have to expect some somewhere by the sheer length of the route.

(11 Jan 2026, 5:28 pm)Storx wrote Talking about Heworth, there badly needs to be some serious discussion about how to serve Central Station coming from the South.

Since the Northumberland Line has opened, it hasn't half opened up my eyes how diabolical the links are to pretty much everywhere which isn't the Metrocentre.

Changing at Gateshead for one stop, isn't the answer either as it's a huge inconvience and nor is walking 15 minutes from John Dobson Street inbound either. It's very different 

The ironic thing is already do a loop which has a bus stop nearby at the High Level Bridge but we've got an obsession of terminating everything at a bus station or the middle of nowhere which imo isn't needed for turn up and go services like the 21, 56, 58, X1 etc.

They could easily do something like:


Which would give links to every part of Newcastle ie. someone who works at the new HMRC, can get on the bus outside for Low Fell rather than having to trail across half of Newcastle, similar for Central the opposite way.

(14 Feb 2026, 3:04 pm)tvd wrote So, who is it that actually plans any new routes and timetable changes, is it one person or a team working together?
Are they people who know the area very well, or is it done by the same staff who will also do the same for Arriva operations everywhere else in the country?  Would the local depot manager have any say whatsoever?

(14 Feb 2026, 5:47 pm)220631612 wrote Your arguement doesn’t make any sense as there’s already much longer routes in existence. I don’t see you petitioning for the  X4, X12, X14, X15, X18, X93/4 to be sliced because they’re too long… 

(14 Feb 2026, 7:52 pm)Storx wrote None of those routes are comparable at all though, they're rural routes along country roads mostly with very little road traffic and end to end journeys exists, X12 aside and that thing in unreliable as an understatement at the Birtley side (or used to be)

It's not the length which is the issue, it's the lack of through journeys at the Redcar side and a serious bottle neck (Dixon Bank area) on the route with no regulation point for the Redcar operated vehicles. It's all good saying there's time to have a nap at Marske but the bus has to get there first.

The Redcar to Middlesbrough is a good move tho imo. 

The 57/57A is horrific for it (but the timetable is tight) and so are all the Blyth routes because of their interworking but credit to the ground staff they regulate them well at Blyth Bus Station so it's not an issue (there's no option for this here on Redcar operated boards).

(14 Feb 2026, 9:29 pm)tyresmoke wrote But if they have 15-20 min sit up at Marske then where’s the issue? That should be enough to cover most delays! Anything beyond that would destroy most services…

(15 Feb 2026, 7:11 am)Mrobisdave4554 wrote All this fuss about the 81? Delays, layovers whatever.  Why not simply leave alone something that isn't, as things stand, broken but soon could be under the proposed new timetable. Service 81 provides a very important link not only between the two principal towns en route but to the estates it serves at either end.
Yes, consideration is being given to allow for delays, extra running time - nothing worse here when drivers have to sit and wait at the numerous timing points - but why so? Leave well alone is what I say.

(15 Feb 2026, 1:01 pm)robisdave4554 wrote Think I can see through that now. Correct me if I'm wrong please.  Presently it works with a 2 vehicle requirement and a fact, given my experience of it, timings aren't exactly generous. Increasing extra resources to the present model wouldn't be economically viable therefore we're getting the changes.

(Yesterday, 5:37 pm)Nerd4321 wrote https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/revisions-to-ticket-acceptance-on-services-306-and-308

This was good while it lasted

(Yesterday, 6:41 pm)L469 YVK wrote Why do the timetables still seem to be coordinated? Quite a poor show from GNE, Arriva & NECA.

There's never been less than a 7-8 minute core service either joint (including in this case) or by a single operator along the Coast Road.

Yes there's cost challenges - but this was an opportunity for all parties to work together and think outside the box - restructuring routes and making change for the better!

Arriva have the advantage of Blyth depot - GNE have the advantage of Percy Main depot and to an extent, a depot at the Newcastle end of the route (Riverside). Queue the church bells & tumbleweed with Kim's PR stunts and never ending pledge to franchise.

Major let down from all involved.

(Yesterday, 7:34 pm)Superman wrote Only one of those parties ended the agreement by the sounds of it.

As soon as that notice was served, competition law immediately takes over and prevents any discussions of that kind. 

Fingers arguably can only point to one organisation of the three involved.

(Yesterday, 8:28 pm)L469 YVK wrote I'm still very surprised Arriva haven't taken advantage of BSIP like GNE & Stagecoach did for the 56, 21 and 1.....unless they're waiting for more new buses to turn up to prevent a s***show at the detriment of the wider operation perhaps.

(9 hours ago)Storx wrote They did. The X16, 43 and 57A are either fully or partially BSIP funded.

(9 hours ago)Nerd4321 wrote 777 & 419 & 434 are the same i believe. Least one company can actually use it to expand and work with a network unlike upping a service that carries Ghosts half the time "cough 21 & 1 cough"

(8 hours ago)Storx wrote Yeah they are, the 415, 460 and X30 are aswell. Infact there's funding on the X8 aswell with the later boards - forgot about that one.

Not sure if there's anything over the Hexham area though, can't think of anything that way. 

Agreed it's much better use of money though, might aswell try something new than subsidising an already frequent route. Let's be honest the average joe isn't going to avoid a bus because it's every 15 minutes rather than every 12 minutes, unless they really are weird.

(8 hours ago)Nerd4321 wrote Its what confused me so much. Arriva pushed with this funding and have done well with it. Extra bus to Ashington replacing what was the morning & evening 52 journeys. 43 now going to Morpeth every 30. Giving residents in Morpeth a direct link to Airport instead of having to get the metro from Regent or Newcastle (if your that odd). The 415/460 Giving people links on a Saturday to do shopping, Giving people the opportunity to vist Wallington Hall & extending the 434. All works well

But what to Stagecoach & GNE do. Let's up the frequency on a route cause we can. The 21 & 1 now carry a lot of dust now due to the fact they run every 7 minutes and most the time end up following the other bus anyway. 

Ive been in town most days to see three 1s together or two 21s together. Like did it really need a every 7 minute frequency. Like i cant suspect a lot of people are using the 21 between Newcastle & Chester 6 days a week and the 1 between Coach Lane & the West end

(8 hours ago)Storx wrote Aye totally agreed to be honest; not going to lie I've always been surprised they haven't curtailed some of the 21's shorter than Chester Le Street. They're really not busy at that end of the route, especially beyond Birtley Morrisons, but the Low Fell section probably does deserve the more frequent service. With CLS depot shut, you could arguably turn them anywhere now really. Ironic because the housing 2 streets behind have a token hourly service Mon - Sat Daytimes to Newcastle. 

The 1 is one hell of an annoying route imo; used to live on it at the far end of Heaton when I was at uni and it just takes forever stopping at every bus stop (used to walk to the Coast Road like a few others did) - which causes the stacking, it is very busy though tbf. The route probably does warrant being 8 buses an hour though; just not sure why the tax payer is paying for it though. A student isn't going to not use it either way.

Very surprised the route hasn't had electrics though considering where it goes, I'd imagine the residential streets in Heaton would massively appreciate them as the Diesel E400's aren't quiet outside your door 16 times an hour and I'm not someone who is generally bothered by stuff like that (have a flight path here).

(8 hours ago)Nerd4321 wrote The 1 is an odd route which I agree with you with it stopping absolutely everywhere. Take Newcastle as a prime example 

Central Station, Grainger Street, Market Street, Pilgrim Street, John Dobson Street. The 1 is the only bus route to serve Market Street & Pilgrim Street. It stops at the top of Market Street then stop round the Corner at Pilgrim Street. It confused me so much and it feels like everyone wants to be off at every single stop. I did the 1 from Heaton to Newcastle. I believe we stopped at every single stop. This was a Saturday as well which was did stump me a bit. Like id understand for a Monday to Friday morning or evening but not in the middle of the day on a Saturday

(8 hours ago)Storx wrote Aye totally agreed to be honest; not going to lie I've always been surprised they haven't curtailed some of the 21's shorter than Chester Le Street. They're really not busy at that end of the route, especially beyond Birtley Morrisons, but the Low Fell section probably does deserve the more frequent service. With CLS depot shut, you could arguably turn them anywhere now really. Ironic because the housing 2 streets behind have a token hourly service Mon - Sat Daytimes to Newcastle. 

(9 hours ago)Storx wrote They did. The X16, 43 and 57A are either fully or partially BSIP funded.