(22 Jan 2021, 11:40 pm)L469 YVK wrote I strongly disagree with the Bedlington hub. All of Arriva's services are ran commercially 7 days a week, all day. Washington's services are run during the day only. There's a reason for that because no-one likes the hub and spoke network. There's nothing wrong with the network and imo it's the best network around in the North East as you can get from anywhere in SE. Northumberland to anywhere else in SE. Northumberland with a maximum of 1 change, trying doing that in Washington.

Attempt those changes and once the train comes along you can kiss goodbye to most people because they'll travel to the nearest train station and use that instead.
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A hub-spoke model would actually improve links whilst concentrating on the 'core' routes. More frequent services would run from Ashington & Bedlington to Cramlington which actually has a fairly decent offering in terms of shops, leisure etc. The current X22 is the "weak link" with the Bedlington - Newcastle section carrying the rest of the route.

A hub-spoke would look something like this

X31 every 15 mins: Newbiggin (hourly) - Ashington - Bedlington - Newcastle

Using letters for the rest as unsure of numbers

Route's A&B every 30 mins: Same route as 57 from Ashington to Cramlington then respective routes to Whitley Bay.

Route C every 30 mins: Same route as X22 between Ashington and Bedlington. Then via Nedderton & Nelson Ind Est to Cramlington.

Routes A/B/C would operate on a 10/20 frequency from Ashington and Cramlington with a 15 minute frequency from Bedlington.

And not forgetting the train, the X19 & X20 would provide strong competition too.

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(04 Mar 2021, 7:37 pm)Solar50 wrote An interesting route 6 cylinder Streetdeck 6377 took today down to Whitby and Scarbrough, not a clue of the reason but one to watch!

(04 Mar 2021, 8:05 pm)ifm001 wrote Arriva did used to operate a Summer Sevice from Newcastle to Whitby and Scarborough so perhaps it is an inkling.

(04 Mar 2021, 7:37 pm)Solar50 wrote An interesting route 6 cylinder Streetdeck 6377 took today down to Whitby and Scarbrough, not a clue of the reason but one to watch!

(04 Mar 2021, 8:16 pm)N1cholas wrote A bit of a strange one considering it got to scarbourgh turned around and came back, didnt even stop at a depot down there, maybe a summer service between newcastle and scarbourgh is being planned but who knows, in this climate would it be feasible? maybe someone just fancied a run out

(04 Mar 2021, 9:46 pm)L469 YVK wrote Could they not just be giving East Yorkshire a peek at the OM936 StreetDeck.

(04 Mar 2021, 8:05 pm)ifm001 wrote Arriva did used to operate a Summer Sevice from Newcastle to Whitby and Scarborough so perhaps it is an inkling.

(16 Mar 2021, 10:39 pm)Big O wrote Sorry to bring this up again, but what to people on here prefer the new Streetdecks or the E400MMCs? If anyone was able to detail a case for either that would be much appreciated.

• I personally prefer the look of the StreetDeck over the E400, but I know that's subjective.
  
• Ride quality I think the new StreetDecks have the edge, although the E400 is slightly better than the older batches
  
• Seat wise, I prefer the Civic V3 over the Kiel seats, but once again that's subjective. I prefer a firmer seat, and I find the cushion on the Kiel seats lack support for longer journeys.
  
• As a person of height, I find the E400s low height a bit too low for my liking, so the StreetDeck definitely wins there.
  
• Engine wise, if we're talking the 4 cylinder OM934 engine, then the E400 wins, it's smoother and definitely feels more powerful, but the 6 cylinder OM936 StreetDeck is even better, it's so smooth you can barely tell it's running when you're upstairs, and sounds rather lovely.
  
• Build quality, I think at the moment Wright definitely have the better build quality, although I haven't really used either much recently, so can't say which ones are holding up better.
  
• Spec wise, I think once again the StreetDecks take it, I still find the 240v sockets at the table really useful (if they work), and I find the seat back phone holders actually fit my phone properly!
  

(26 Mar 2021, 9:33 am)Rob44 wrote Surely you mean can holders? I've be refused travel on numerous occasions when I used to get the bus to work and had nipped to Greggs for a sandwich and a coffee..... unless GNE condition of carriage have changed recently??

(26 Mar 2021, 9:41 am)Rob44 wrote I had a lid and my sandwich had gone by the time the bus arrived. Maybe the several drivers where just being jobsworths when i tried to board with it. BTW i have never had anything mentioned when i've got on an Arriva service with one?

(26 Mar 2021, 10:33 am)Andreos1 wrote I remember the shambles from a few years back where GNE were handing out free coffees at the bus stops.
If I remember right, there were issues with drivers then not letting passengers on with the very same coffee given to passengers moments earlier.
Drivers were following the instructions they had been given about cups. Yet less than 50yds away, passengers were being told it was OK.

Hopefully those issues have been ironed out and passengers can use the tables/replacement tables, without drivers or on-board stickers saying otherwise.

(26 Mar 2021, 10:39 am)streetdeckfan wrote The GNE conditions of carriage say it's fine to drink a hot drink on board as long as it had a spill resistant lid, which coffee shops has to give you for health and safety reasons.
Hot food isn't allowed though


"Please don’t eat any form of hot food whilst travelling on board our buses and coaches if it
might make the environment unpleasant and unsafe for other customers: we cannot accept
any responsibility for any burns you suffer as a result of you bringing hot food on board.
• Please only drink hot drinks provided that the container is fitted with a spill-resistant safety
lid: we cannot accept any responsibility for any burns you suffer as a result of you bringing
hot drinks on board."

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(26 Mar 2021, 10:55 am)Andreos1 wrote So hot food is allowed then. As long as it doesn't make the environment unpleasant and unsafe

(26 Mar 2021, 11:11 am)cbma06 wrote Hot food always makes the environment unpleasant and unsafe, would you be happy enough if a person boards the bus with a curry or takeaway and have the smell lingering throughout the bus for others, it goes with all hot food, a passenger might have reactions due to the smell etc....


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(26 Mar 2021, 11:59 am)streetdeckfan wrote I'd say a Greggs Pizza or a bacon sandwich is pretty inoffensive when it comes to the smell. 
If it comes down to making the environment unpleasant, then I can think of plenty of cold foods that should be banned!
Bananas for instance, even just the smell makes me gag (and not in the good way either ), or tuna!

(26 Mar 2021, 11:11 am)cbma06 wrote Hot food always makes the environment unpleasant and unsafe, would you be happy enough if a person boards the bus with a curry or takeaway and have the smell lingering throughout the bus for others, it goes with all hot food, a passenger might have reactions due to the smell etc....


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(26 Mar 2021, 1:20 pm)Andreos1 wrote Those killer chips are lethal like. Need asbo's.

Being serious though, I'm in two minds about hot food on public transport. Never mind cold food (tuna sandwiches anyone?)
On long train journeys, some people complain when someone brings a Burger King on the train. But then proceed to buy something from the cafe bar themselves

(26 Mar 2021, 1:20 pm)Andreos1 wrote Those killer chips are lethal like. Need asbo's.

Being serious though, I'm in two minds about hot food on public transport. Never mind cold food (tuna sandwiches anyone?)
On long train journeys, some people complain when someone brings a Burger King on the train. But then proceed to buy something from the cafe bar themselves

(26 Mar 2021, 3:07 pm)cbma06 wrote Those killer chips could cause an accident

Doesn’t help when chips etc.... gets left on the floor and a passenger slips and falls and put a claim in, bananas are the worse to slip on


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(26 Mar 2021, 12:33 pm)Ianthegoon wrote At long last I've discovered someone else who has the same reaction to bananas that I do!

(19 Apr 2021, 8:53 am)Big O wrote Didn’t know where else to put this, but it seems Wright and Scania have collaborated to make a Gemini 3. It will be interesting to see how this pans out.

https://cbwmagazine.com/new-wrightbus-open-toppers-hit-the-roads-in-tokyo/amp/#click=https://t.co/yNuMxMfKxV

Wright seem to be offering a few new products including an Electric Streetdeck for which I believe 60 have been ordered and a single deck Streetdeck. It’s good news to me as I can’t stand ADL vehicles and the constant lauding they get for very average buses.