(27 Dec 2019, 2:29 pm)S813 FVK wrote As an FYI to the above: the basic format timetables are now on the GNE website.

(27 Dec 2019, 2:49 pm)Michael wrote Looks like the 21, will still run every 7 minutes between Newcastle and Chester, but only half a hour between Chester and Durham, working with the X21 -


Both from Chester:

21: 50 and 20
X21 - 43 58 13 28


So it provides a service of every 7/8 mins, between Chester and Durham... 13, 20, 28, 43, 50 and 58

(27 Dec 2019, 2:59 pm)cbma06 wrote Wonder if any angels be going into xlines?


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(27 Dec 2019, 2:55 pm)JP6004 wrote 21 timetable seems strange....same frequency as now but only 2 services continuing to Durham, rest terminating at chester.
Still think they should of had 21 every 15mins to Durham and X21 every 15mins and removed the chester shorts

(27 Dec 2019, 3:11 pm)Jimmi wrote Problem with that idea is Chester - Newcastle is the busier end of the route so would be daft to cut the frequency of that section of the route.

More people tend to opt for X21 if travelling further than Chester-le-Street so makes sense to increase that in my eyes, only downside is those in Birtley and some stops in Low Fell now being cut to half hourly to/from Durham, would imagine they'll have the X21 observing all stops between Durham and Chester to make up for the loss of the 21.

(27 Dec 2019, 3:11 pm)Jimmi wrote Problem with that idea is Chester - Newcastle is the busier end of the route so would be daft to cut the frequency of that section of the route.

More people tend to opt for X21 if travelling further than Chester-le-Street so makes sense to increase that in my eyes, only downside is those in Birtley and some stops in Low Fell now being cut to half hourly to/from Durham, would imagine they'll have the X21 observing all stops between Durham and Chester to make up for the loss of the 21.

(27 Dec 2019, 3:22 pm)Stanleyone wrote I believe that is the case with X21 serving all stops south of CLS, probably now opening the discussion about true express services.

(27 Dec 2019, 3:29 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Well, I'm glad someone else brought that up so Dan can't complain that it was me this time!

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(27 Dec 2019, 3:10 pm)Michael wrote Looks like:

309 - Every 20 minutes - Newcastle to Bylth
310 - Every 20 minutes - Newcastle to North Shields
311 - Every 20 minutes - Newcastle to Hadrian Park

Combines for a service between Newcastle Haymarket and Battle Hill Berwick Drive every 6/7 minutes.

(27 Dec 2019, 3:35 pm)NewcastleOne wrote Well at least I got the 308.

(27 Dec 2019, 3:36 pm)Dan wrote If Arriva had any sense, they'd reduce the frequency of their 306/308 to the same equivalent, then they'd stop carrying fresh air along the Coast Road...

(27 Dec 2019, 3:33 pm)Dan wrote I'd imagine that was a tongue in cheek remark in reference to your previous moans, rather than raising it himself!

(27 Dec 2019, 3:56 pm)Michael wrote Hence why they've dropped the 57 in that section too, looks like its gone from a busy section to not as used.... peoples travel patterns are changing.

(27 Dec 2019, 4:02 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I don't know what you're talking about.
He brought up a valid point, one that I had never considered until today!

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(27 Dec 2019, 4:06 pm)Dan wrote What do you think will be operating the X21 from the end of January?

Hope there won't be another type of bus with a different set of seats operating the X21!

(27 Dec 2019, 4:03 pm)Dan wrote I'd say since Stagecoach started operating services between Cobalt & Newcastle that customers are just more thinly spread between all three operators now, such that the main players on the Coast Road (Go North East and Arriva) are taking a bit of a hit, running fuel-hungry double-deck buses around, carrying single figures worth of passengers, outside of peak times.

The withdrawal of the 57, the introduction of the 311, and the revised frequency of the 309/310/311, will see customers on Go North East's services distributed between the three services more evenly. It won't prevent the issues that Arriva are having, and there'll be times where Go North East misses out on discretionary travellers as a result (Arriva will have more of a chance of picking up these people if running a more frequent service), but in my view there probably aren't enough discretionary travellers to warrant Arriva to continue with their existing frequency, and a marginal reduction in frequency on their equivalent routes would be sensible.

It's really not in the best interests of Go North East having buses running round carrying fresh air - and really doesn't do anything to help our issues with congestion and air quality in Newcastle City Centre either!

(27 Dec 2019, 4:06 pm)Dan wrote What do you think will be operating the X21 from the end of January?

Hope there won't be another type of bus with a different set of seats operating the X21!

(27 Dec 2019, 4:14 pm)Michael wrote Obviously its going to be Versa's on the X21 from end of January!

(27 Dec 2019, 4:14 pm)Michael wrote Na it doesn't, but GNE need to protect the routes so only way to, is to reduce frequencies.

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Obviously its going to be Versa's on the X21 from end of January!

(27 Dec 2019, 4:28 pm)Stanleyone wrote Looking at the timetable for the 21/X21 I’ve worked out a combined PVR of 28, currently there’s 26 streetdecks at Chester with 2 on order. Having 25 minutes layover in Durham seems a lot.

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Could be a Volvo B9 cascaded from Consett if we receive Streetdecks by that point.

(27 Dec 2019, 4:13 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Was that confirmation that the new StreetDecks will arrive at the end of January?

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(27 Dec 2019, 4:03 pm)Dan wrote I'd say since Stagecoach started operating services between Cobalt & Newcastle that customers are just more thinly spread between all three operators now, such that the main players on the Coast Road (Go North East and Arriva) are taking a bit of a hit, running fuel-hungry double-deck buses around, carrying single figures worth of passengers, outside of peak times.

The withdrawal of the 57, the introduction of the 311, and the revised frequency of the 309/310/311, will see customers on Go North East's services distributed between the three services more evenly. It won't prevent the issues that Arriva are having, and there'll be times where Go North East misses out on discretionary travellers as a result (Arriva will have more of a chance of picking up these people if running a more frequent service), but in my view there probably aren't enough discretionary travellers to warrant Arriva to continue with their existing frequency, and a marginal reduction in frequency on their equivalent routes would be sensible.

It's really not in the best interests of Go North East having buses running round carrying fresh air - and really doesn't do anything to help our issues with congestion and air quality in Newcastle City Centre either!

(27 Dec 2019, 3:20 pm)streetdeckfan wrote This is exactly what I would have done. I personally think the full 21 is a fairly pointless route, like you said, anybody wanting to travel to Durham will pick the X21, it's considerably faster!

It's also great to see the X21 will be running the full route further into the evening again, it was absolutely ridiculous that the last service to Tindale left Newcastle at 3pm, useless for anyone who is using it to commute!

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(27 Dec 2019, 11:33 pm)busmanT wrote I’m surprised that the X21 is still going via Woodhouse Close Estate, I thought it might have gone straight along Watling Road to give a faster journey from West/St Helens than Arriva (I.e. the traditional route)

(27 Dec 2019, 11:33 pm)busmanT wrote I’m surprised that the X21 is still going via Woodhouse Close Estate, I thought it might have gone straight along Watling Road to give a faster journey from West/St Helens than Arriva (I.e. the traditional route)

(27 Dec 2019, 11:48 pm)Jimmi wrote Much more potential to pick up in Woodhouse though, don't see a massive amount get on/off along Walting Road apart from the stops the 5/5A serve, few get off at the edge of Henkowle Estate (South End stop) some of which are people from other areas getting on/off for Aldi and Tindle but still would have been more attractive to people living elsewhere wanting to do shopping at Tindle

(27 Dec 2019, 11:49 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Going off the times, it looks as though they're following the Arriva 6 route. Certainly on the way down at least as its impossible to get from Proudfoot Drive Shops to Tesco in 4 minutes going via Walker Drive/Greenfields Road, it's a push doing it in 4 minutes anyway especially with the traffic.
On the way up it looks as though they'll be cutting out Lusby Crecsent/Weardale Drive as the journey time between Tesco and Hospital is now only 10 minutes, down from 15 minutes.

I would have preferred it to go down Watling Road, but there are quite a few people who travel between Woodhouse and Bishop Bus Station, and I'd imagine GNE would want their money. Plus, the journey time isn't actually that much longer, and can sometimes be a little bit quicker depending on the traffic

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I sometimes get off the 5 there when I can't be bothered to wait for the half an hour for the 6 to arrive.
There's the X1 that goes along there as well, and I do see the odd person getting off there, but far less than what get picked up in Woodhouse.

(28 Dec 2019, 1:18 pm)busmanT wrote But it would offer something different and faster than Arriva, rather than simply copying them!!
and it might attract more passengers from West and St Helens through being faster (plus the added benefit of not having to go around Woodhouse Close).
The 9 minutes allowed from Eden Garage to Tesco looks a little excessive, especially when compared to the 4 minutes thence to Taylor Square - I can see some late running from Bishop to Newcastle.

(27 Dec 2019, 2:55 pm)JP6004 wrote Seems like 4 reduced to 12mins on a Saturday.
21 timetable seems strange....same frequency as now but only 2 services continuing to Durham, rest terminating at chester.
Still think they should of had 21 every 15mins to Durham and X21 every 15mins and removed the chester shorts