(12 Aug 2019, 9:56 pm)JM03 wrote

What would operate these boards, TVTs or corp Gemini 1s?

Would either be be any corporate spare B9TL (6043, 6044, 6048, 6084) or a TVT branded B9TL.

(07 Aug 2019, 12:57 pm)V514DFT wrote While your at it renumber the 49C to 49B,its 1 thing thats annoyed me for a while,that its numbered 49/49A/49C

I might be wrong here but I think the A in 49A is for the Anti-Clockwise part of the route, while the 49C is for the Clockwise part of the route. That's why I think they use A and C, instead of A and B. I'm sure this was the case for the old Silver Arrows Sunderland - Washington services 2A and 2C. This numbering used to annoy me too until someone explained it.

(16 Aug 2019, 1:21 am)Washingtonian wrote

I might be wrong here but I think the A in 49A is for the Anti-Clockwise part of the route, while the 49C is for the Clockwise part of the route. That's why I think they use A and C, instead of A and B. I'm sure this was the case for the old Silver Arrows Sunderland - Washington services 2A and 2C. This numbering used to annoy me too until someone explained it.

This system was also used several years ago in North Shields when local circular services 83A and 83C existed. Makes sense.

(16 Aug 2019, 1:21 am)Washingtonian wrote

I might be wrong here but I think the A in 49A is for the Anti-Clockwise part of the route, while the 49C is for the Clockwise part of the route. That's why I think they use A and C, instead of A and B. I'm sure this was the case for the old Silver Arrows Sunderland - Washington services 2A and 2C. This numbering used to annoy me too until someone explained it.

There aren't circular parts to the route.  Historically, when they were all in existence together:-

49 Gateshead to Winlaton (via Blaydon and Black Lane)

49A Gateshead to Winlaton (via Blaydon and Gibside View)

49B Gateshead to Winlaton (via Blaydon, Hazel Road and Parkhead Estate South)

49C Gateshead to Winlaton (via Clasper Village, Wellington Road, Blaydon, then 49B route)

49C ran Evenings and Sundays more regularly, when there was no 95/95A or 64.

(23 Aug 2019, 5:18 pm)S830OFT wrote Small suggestion for services 55 & X20

55: Revised to observe all stops between Sunderland and Barnes Park. This service is clearly not 'Express' services, therefore it makes sense to observe all stops.

The frequency of this service will be reduced to every 60 minutes, although combined with service 55X can offer an every 30 minutes service on sections of the route.

This service will no longer serve Doxford International, and will instead serve East Herrington & Herrington Burn. Services 55A & 55X will continue in their current route form, although will observe all stops between Sunderland and East Herrington, this follows changes to service X20.

55A: This service will have an additional later journey in both directions, this will offer more choice to passengers who wish to travel to or from Doxford International, aswell as benefit residents of Easington Collirey & Horden who use this service to access their place of employment or education.

55X: Revised to operate hourly in both directions, aswell as additionaly serve Hetton Downes to offer a faster alternative service to Sunderland opposed to the 35/35A.

Evening journeys will operate throughout the route, with the resource used from service 35A redirected to offer an additional bus to Low Moorsley.

X20: Revised to only serve Barnes Park, Durham Road College, Durham Road Shops & The Board Inn between Sunderland and East Herrington.

This service will also call into Doxford International, this replaces services 20 & 55, aswell as operate during Evenings and Sundays...

Doxford International:
The regular direct daytime link to Peterlee & Hartlepool will be lost, although workers can continue to use services 55A & 55X, which will be slightly revised to facilitate workers at Doxford International.

The introduction of service X20 will allow workers to travel direct to Durham, without the need to change buses which will benefit those wanting to get to work or back home as quick as possible.

(23 Aug 2019, 5:32 pm)cbma06 wrote Can’t see that happening, passengers on the southern section having to go through Herrington burn/Hetton downs to get to Sunderland, also losing the doxford international section which is well used from the passengers who get the 55/55X, if the x20 goes via doxford International there might as well renumber the service as it won’t be an express service, it’s an express service with a normal service faster than the express version, if it’s not broke then leave it alone


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Doxford International will still have the 55X at an hourly frequency, aswell additional journeys on the 55A...

Including Doxford International won't really affect the X20 as the current 'Express section' is between Houghton, Rainton Bridge and Durham, and if operating limited stop throughout you will save journey time, which can go into having the service loop around Doxford International alike the 20...

Service 309:
- New early morning journeys from Whitley Bay Cemetery to Newcastle City Centre on Mondays to Fridays and Saturdays.

- Very small number of early morning journeys between Newcastle and Cobalt Business Park will operate as service 310 via High Farm (Mondays to Fridays only).

- Most journeys re-timed to improve reliability and or better match capacity to demand.

- Improved Monday to Saturday evening frequency with extra journeys between 1900 and 2130. Last journey from Newcastle at 2255 extended to Whitley Bay Cemetery.

- Revised Sunday times to improve reliability.

- New Sunday morning journey from Battle Hill Drive to Newcastle departing at 0656.

- New Sunday morning journey from Newcastle towards Cobalt & Blyth departing at 0725.

- Sunday evening journeys at 1905 and 2050 from Newcastle extended to Blyth.


Service 310:
- Very small number of early morning journeys between Newcastle and North Shields will operate via Cobalt Business Park (Mondays to Fridays only).

- Most journeys re-timed to improve reliability and or better match capacity to demand.

- Improved Monday to Saturday evening frequency with extra journeys between 1900 and 2130. Last journey from Newcastle to North Shields will depart at 2330 (2320 on Sundays).

- Monday to Saturday evening journeys after approximately 2000 will additionally serve Hadrian Park.

- All Sunday journeys will additionally serve Hadrian Park with revised times to improve reliability and better match capacity to demand.

Service 57:

- Journeys after approximately 2000 on Mondays to Saturdays and all day on Sundays will no longer operate between Newcastle and Hadrian Park.

DISCLAIMER: NOT OFFICIAL GNE PUBLICATION - SUGGESTION TIMETABLE ONLY

309310_Passenger Times.pdf (Size 72.48 KB | Downloads 40)

(01 Nov 2019, 6:03 pm)Malarkey wrote A few suggestions.

Cobalt Express X39: 1 additional journey from Newcastle City Centre to Cobalt Business Park at 06:55am, then 2 additional journey's from Cobalt Business Park to Newcastle City Centre in the evening at 17:40pm and 18:10pm.

Cobalt & Coast Service 310: Additionally serves all stops on Cobalt Business Park on an evening after 8pm to increase frequency to Every 30 Minutes after 8pm when the 309 drops down to serving the business park hourly.

Citylink 57: Extended from Hadrian Park to additionally serve Cobalt Business Park during morning and evening peak periods.

(01 Nov 2019, 6:03 pm)Malarkey wrote A few suggestions.

Cobalt Express X39: 1 additional journey from Newcastle City Centre to Cobalt Business Park at 06:55am, then 2 additional journey's from Cobalt Business Park to Newcastle City Centre in the evening at 17:40pm and 18:10pm.

Cobalt & Coast Service 310: Additionally serves all stops on Cobalt Business Park on an evening after 8pm to increase frequency to Every 30 Minutes after 8pm when the 309 drops down to serving the business park hourly.

Citylink 57: Extended from Hadrian Park to additionally serve Cobalt Business Park during morning and evening peak periods.

I'd say that the number of X39 journeys running at the minute is just right, wouldn't be a need for any more unless Sage takes off (but they'll just be filling the void left by Utilitywise).

Although the 310 serving the main Cobalt like the 309 during the evenings would be an ok idea in theory, the frequency wouldn't be exactly combined as the 310 would also have to additionally serve Hadrian Park and High Farm.

In terms of the 57 continuing beyond Hadrian Park to Cobalt during the morning & evening peak periods, it would be quicker for passengers to get off in Battle Hill and change on to the 309.

I'd say the big priorities when the Cobalt & Coast services are next revised (taking into account Sage) would be:

- Streamlining morning frequency

- Slightly improving the evening frequency (2x buses per hour on both service until approx 9-9.30pm then dropping to hourly)

- Improving the Sunday & Bank Holiday reliability

(02 Nov 2019, 8:46 am)L469 YVK wrote

I'd say that the number of X39 journeys running at the minute is just right, wouldn't be a need for any more unless Sage takes off (but they'll just be filling the void left by Utilitywise).

Although the 310 serving the main Cobalt like the 309 during the evenings would be an ok idea in theory, the frequency wouldn't be exactly combined as the 310 would also have to additionally serve Hadrian Park and High Farm.

In terms of the 57 continuing beyond Hadrian Park to Cobalt during the morning & evening peak periods, it would be quicker for passengers to get off in Battle Hill and change on to the 309.

I'd say the big priorities when the Cobalt & Coast services are next revised (taking into account Sage) would be:

- Streamlining morning frequency

- Slightly improving the evening frequency (2x buses per hour on both service until approx 9-9.30pm then dropping to hourly)

- Improving the Sunday & Bank Holiday reliability

(02 Nov 2019, 8:49 am)Jamie M wrote  Advertising a connecting at battle hill doesn't sound like good business.

Imagine on a windy, rainy, winters day. It's been dark for 3 hours and the quickest way home is to get off one bus and stand in the elements until the other one arrives.  If enough people make that return journey once a day, then a peak time additional bus would solve problems and keep customers sweet.

What's the difference between promoting connections at Battle Hill and promoting them at Chester or Houghton?

(02 Nov 2019, 9:51 am)Andreos1 wrote

What's the difference between promoting connections at Battle Hill and promoting them at Chester or Houghton?

(02 Nov 2019, 12:22 pm)Jamie M wrote I wouldnt say either are much better!

Exactly, they're not.

But in the case of the latter two - they do promote and encourage connections. Not too bad on the days its nice, warm and dry in the summer. Awful any other time of day.

Will there ever be a direct Mon-Fri from Washington to Metrocentre, Here are some of My Ideas

(19 Nov 2019, 5:58 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Here Is Another Idea:
http://asxterranova.home.blog/2019/11/19/bus-enthusiast-idea-no-2-24-24a/

(23 Nov 2019, 10:50 pm)michaelb wrote Service 11 extended to Newcastle to provide a connection from Royal Quays to Newcastle. This will operate via Battle Hill and replace the 57 between Hadrian Park and Newcastle. 
Vehicle Allocation:
57- PVR 6 (5277 & 5293-5297)
11- PVR 10 (Versa or 5231)
Vehicle changes
705 & 709 to Deptford
724 & 725 to Riverside
5238 & 5272-74 to Chester-Le-Street.
5280 & 5281 into Corporate Liverey
8295, 8296, 8304-6 & 8320-24 to Percy Main

(24 Dec 2019, 10:14 am)L469 YVK wrote If GNE reduce the 309 to every 20 minutes, instead of using the C&C services to go toe to toe with Arriva (although still between Station Rd and Newcastle), here is a concept that could fill a gap left in North Tyneside and a very successful concept proven on the Durham / CLS to Newcastle corridor that has yet to be filled by Arriva.

Cobalt & Coast 309:
- Reduced to every 30 minutes.
- 15 minute frequency between Cobalt & Newcastle still provided in conjunction with revised 310.

Cobalt & Coast 310:
- Reduced to every 30 minutes.
- Revised to serve Cobalt Business Park but will omit High Farm and Hadrian Park (for any journeys that run via HP).

Cobalt & Coast 311:
- Increased to every 15 minutes.
- Revised to serve High Farm.

Cobalt & Coast PVR / frequencies:
- 14x Volvo B9TL.
- Interworking pattern from North Shields will be 310-311-311-309-309-311-311-310. All changeovers take place at Buzz Bingo on Middle Engine Lane to comply with driving hours.
- Will combine to run every 7-8 minutes.
- X39 journeys provided by 311 or misc workings in according direction.

X-Lines X38:
- Same route as Arriva 308 between Blyth and Billy Mill then non-stop to Newcastle Haymarket only calling at St Mary's Place.
- Every 20 minutes Monday to Friday with peak time journeys running every 15 minutes.
- Every 30 minutes on Sundays.
- Every 30 minutes during the evenings reducing to hourly after 21:10 departure from Haymarket. Journeys at 19:40 and 20:40 terminate at Whitley Bay Cemetery.

X-Lines X38 PVR:
- 4x B9TL (6114-17) and 2x Mercs from 63 reg batch if Connections 4 is upgraded.
- Mercs refurbished to X-Lines standard including USB ports.

Current PVR (57/309/310) vs New PVR:
- 57/309/310: 25x
- 57/X38/309/310/311: 25x meaning no PVR increase