(05 Jan 2016, 2:06 pm)scania driver wrote Constant shuffling of the pack ! Every six or so months just as the punters are getting "used" to things its all thrown in the mix under the auspicies of making services more reliable and listening to what customers want. Want we want is consistency. When I was first introduced (OK this is a few years ago) we had in East Cleveland what I would call a complete bus service. Services ran between Redcar and Lofus with connections to Lingdale and Saltburn; and through fares. The whole thing ran like clockwork. Then there was the services between Loftus and Middlesbrough with extensions to Whitby. Again it ran like clockwork and hey they used to have to duplicate services on a weekend to cope with demand. OK so I reminise (and dream probably) but what do we have now with this continual tinkering in what is, in essence, the objective of saving money and resources. Take for example the recent shuffling of services X66/67 to remove service 6. It's got little to do with what customers want.

On another theme, and one I've wanting to bring to the table for a while. For my sins I'm living in Hartlepool at present with all my friends etc in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Darligton (Arrivaland) I was amazed to find there was/is no direct (fast) between Pool and Darlington; 3 hours either way via either Peterlee or Durham is unthinkable. Then there is the cost factor isn't there? We know Stagecoach NE hold sway across here so we have 2 fares if I want to go to Darlington, or face the ordeal of travelling Arriva via the aforementioned points on a Day Ticket, same going to Redcar, Saltburn or Whitby. Yes we have the Explorer tickets but that only shaves a couple of quid of the cost and does nothing re the time involved. All I'll say is roll on the day I can draw my pension.

(05 Jan 2016, 2:06 pm)scania driver wrote Constant shuffling of the pack ! Every six or so months just as the punters are getting "used" to things its all thrown in the mix under the auspicies of making services more reliable and listening to what customers want. Want we want is consistency. When I was first introduced (OK this is a few years ago) we had in East Cleveland what I would call a complete bus service. Services ran between Redcar and Lofus with connections to Lingdale and Saltburn; and through fares. The whole thing ran like clockwork. Then there was the services between Loftus and Middlesbrough with extensions to Whitby. Again it ran like clockwork and hey they used to have to duplicate services on a weekend to cope with demand. OK so I reminise (and dream probably) but what do we have now with this continual tinkering in what is, in essence, the objective of saving money and resources. Take for example the recent shuffling of services X66/67 to remove service 6. It's got little to do with what customers want.

On another theme, and one I've wanting to bring to the table for a while. For my sins I'm living in Hartlepool at present with all my friends etc in Middlesbrough, Redcar and Darligton (Arrivaland) I was amazed to find there was/is no direct (fast) between Pool and Darlington; 3 hours either way via either Peterlee or Durham is unthinkable. Then there is the cost factor isn't there? We know Stagecoach NE hold sway across here so we have 2 fares if I want to go to Darlington, or face the ordeal of travelling Arriva via the aforementioned points on a Day Ticket, same going to Redcar, Saltburn or Whitby. Yes we have the Explorer tickets but that only shaves a couple of quid of the cost and does nothing re the time involved. All I'll say is roll on the day I can draw my pension.

(05 Jan 2016, 7:35 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Above comment promotes unnecessary use of the no-quibble money back guarantee. 

Not like you could claim as temporary shuttle services and other factors that are not Arriva issues, mean that the claim would be rejected.

It makes the forum look silly with remarks like that, in my opinion.

(05 Jan 2016, 2:39 pm)GX03 SVC wrote The shuttle bus X12 should have really been numbered as temporary route - 112. This avoids confusion to passengers, which will be wanting to go to either Durham and Newcastle, and also reinforces the fact that it isn't a Max service.

The no-quibble money back guarentee is open to misuse, and has been. Promoting misuse (as a few posts up) on a public forum is embarrassing to members and bus companies alike.

(05 Jan 2016, 7:45 pm)Adrian wrote Could either of you point me in the direction of the terms and conditions of the 'no-quibble money back guarantee' please? Given that I've asked Arriva for it previously, and they've told me there aren't any, I'm not sure where this 'other factors that are not Arriva issues' comes from? Of course, it's a line you'd expect to see in a set of terms and conditions...

I took the original remark was a tongue in cheek comment, on the back of previous discussions around such a daft guarantee system being in place. Not a promotion of misuse.


I'd argue the shuttle bus has been provided for the benefit of the company, rather than the passengers. It'd cost a lot more to add resource to the full route to accommodate, so a shuttle bus remains the cheapest option.

(06 Jan 2016, 2:07 pm)palatine3833 wrote The service has been provided to benefit the passengers as it is a method to keep the service 'on time'.  I personally don't see a reason as to why it was needed as the X12 could have simply followed the diversion which the 21 is following.  However, for once, Arriva has planned for the worst case scenario which I sincerely doubt anyone will compliment them on.  By adding extra resources into the route to allow it to operate normally would involve a significant layover at some location which would mean a temporary timetable change for a 4 month period which (in my opinion) isn't beneficial for passengers.

(06 Jan 2016, 2:07 pm)palatine3833 wrote The service has been provided to benefit the passengers as it is a method to keep the service 'on time'.  I personally don't see a reason as to why it was needed as the X12 could have simply followed the diversion which the 21 is following.  However, for once, Arriva has planned for the worst case scenario which I sincerely doubt anyone will compliment them on.  By adding extra resources into the route to allow it to operate normally would involve a significant layover at some location which would mean a temporary timetable change for a 4 month period which (in my opinion) isn't beneficial for passengers.

(06 Jan 2016, 7:18 pm)BusLoverMum wrote They might end up having to do that anyway, if the Durham roadworks over the next few months are going to cause delays like the bridge works did. As it is, there's no slack in the timetable - they already took some stops out, recently, as it wasn't keeping time.

(07 Jan 2016, 2:00 pm)Cock Robin wrote Is the X12 diversion in Gateshead the same as that affecting the X10? The X10 I was on Tuesday was only delayed a couple of minutes by the diversion. Then at the interchange the proper X12 AND the X12 shuttle came through - that shouldn't be should it?

(07 Jan 2016, 2:09 pm)Andreos1 wrote Yeah, they're both affected by the same diversion in Gateshead.

(07 Jan 2016, 3:07 pm)Jimmi wrote PB0002032/485 - ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD, 1 ADMIRAL WAY, DOXFORD INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK, SUNDERLAND, SR3 3XP

Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Alnwick and Morpeth given service number X15 effective from 11-Jan-2016. To amend Route and Timetable.

(07 Jan 2016, 7:43 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Bit soon, expect Alnwick and Berwick and Morpeth and Newcastle too, while X14/X18 and possibly X20 will also have variations.

(07 Jan 2016, 7:47 pm)Dan wrote Given the short notice, I would expect that this variation is a diversion due to a road closure or similar?

(07 Jan 2016, 5:50 pm)Cock Robin wrote Don't see why they've had to go to all that trouble then - why not just do the diversion like the X10? Like I say Tuesday the proper X12 actually went through the interchange while I was there! (A Stockton one).

(07 Jan 2016, 8:24 pm)Andreos1 wrote Someone said the Durham 21's had a gap of 45 mins the other day. Whether it is connected to the diversion, who knows.

(07 Jan 2016, 7:47 pm)Dan wrote Given the short notice, I would expect that this variation is a diversion due to a road closure or similar?

(07 Jan 2016, 8:11 pm)peter wrote https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/north-east/updates/Service-X15-A1-Roadworks-Alnwick-South-to-Rashercap/

(07 Jan 2016, 8:13 pm)peter wrote The new timetables for the 28/28A and 29/29A have been released:
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/GetTimetable/?guid=135e0da4-384e-404b-ae12-2bd503e540f3&id=33463&date=160221-160405
https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/GetTimetable/?guid=a018832d-a1c0-4cff-bb5d-736aca074bc4&id=33499&date=160221-160405

• The 1730 27a will now depart at 1735
  
• The 1745 27 will now depart at 1755
  
• The 1800 27a will now depart at 1815
  

• The 1700 27a now runs 5 minutes later at 1705
  
• The 1707 27 now runs 8 minutes later at 1715, as such the 1715 27a now runs at 1725
  
• The 1722 27 now runs 13 minutes later at 1735
  
• The 1745 27 now runs as a 27a replacing the 1730 departure, meaning Cranmore Road and College Road have a gap of 75 minutes between 27s from the town
  

(07 Jan 2016, 11:20 pm)Kuyoyo wrote 27/27a
From Netherfields weekdays:

• The 1730 27a will now depart at 1735
  
• The 1745 27 will now depart at 1755
  
• The 1800 27a will now depart at 1815
  

From Middlesbrough weekdays

• The 1700 27a now runs 5 minutes later at 1705
  
• The 1707 27 now runs 8 minutes later at 1715, as such the 1715 27a now runs at 1725
  
• The 1722 27 now runs 13 minutes later at 1735
  
• The 1745 27 now runs as a 27a replacing the 1730 departure, meaning Cranmore Road and College Road have a gap of 75 minutes between 27s from the town
  

No changes to evening, Saturday or Sunday timetables

(08 Jan 2016, 1:52 pm)scania driver wrote Do all these timetable variations (as opposed to service improvements) come with headache tablets ? No wonder so many passengers are despondent and heaven help the drivers.

(09 Jan 2016, 10:13 am)scania driver wrote All to do with saving money and resources. Arriva have a team someplace whose role must be dedicated to this under the banner heading of "Service Improvements". They want to get out in the real world and listen to the customers. And as I've said before, why no direct (and fast) service/connection between two major connurbations? Namely Darlington and Hartlepool. All to do with politics between operators, nothing to do with providing a service that the customers want.

(09 Jan 2016, 10:13 am)scania driver wrote All to do with saving money and resources. Arriva have a team someplace whose role must be dedicated to this under the banner heading of "Service Improvements". They want to get out in the real world and listen to the customers. And as I've said before, why no direct (and fast) service/connection between two major connurbations? Namely Darlington and Hartlepool. All to do with politics between operators, nothing to do with providing a service that the customers want.

(09 Jan 2016, 10:48 am)scania driver wrote Dan. I'm talking here about a direct service between Hartlepool and DARLINGTON, I know that there are services by Stagecoach to Middlesbrough. Presently the options to get between the two locations are either costly - Stagecoach 1 or 36 to Boro change to Arriva X66/7, costing nearly £13.00 and taking between 90 and 150 mins depending. The other option, to keep the cost down is to travel Arriva to either Peterlee or Durham and change to the respective services. Cost £7.70. Journey and connection times unthinkable. Hopefully my tenure here in Hartlepool will come to and end this year and I can move back to Arrivaland.