(09 Aug 2014, 8:31 pm)aureolin wrote I'm not sure I quite understand the intended route, or if it's a Sunday/bank holiday only service? Agree with what you say about the 265 though. Boro-Durham is pretty well covered with the X1 too, although could do with a doubling in frequency for the X1 segment Mon-Fri daytime.

I'd love to see GNE go head to head with Arriva on the X1 route, but think the logistics of it would present a problem. Having the furthest (main) depot south as Chester le Street, to me, was always a sign of intent when it came to areas they were interested in serving.

(09 Aug 2014, 8:56 pm)Kuyoyo wrote BIB: One problem that GNE would have is simply - Arriva have the contract with Durham University, so any attempt against the X1 by GNE would probably fall flat on its face for now.

Unfortunately, unless the University could increase their funding for the service somewhat (which is what allowed the increase of the service to every 30 minutes during the day back in 2005, and as well the introduction of evening and Sunday services at the same time), I can't see Arriva introducing additional daytime X1s apart from the upcoming weekday peak journeys that Stockton are working using the vehicle that presently spends its day running 13 trips from Stockton to Hartburn.

(09 Aug 2014, 8:56 pm)Kuyoyo wrote BIB: One problem that GNE would have is simply - Arriva have the contract with Durham University, so any attempt against the X1 by GNE would probably fall flat on its face for now.

(09 Aug 2014, 9:04 pm)Jimmi wrote Please tell me that MPDs are not working them peak time runs!

There's also slight timing changes to the X1/X2 from the same date.

The most I've seen on the new 6 is 3 passengers and often has either 1 or no passengers every other time I've seen it.

(09 Aug 2014, 9:23 pm)col87 wrote Well GNE need to do something for the Teesside area or else they need to change there name since Teesside is also a big part of the north east. The X11 as well as other suggustions i have put could all work if they wanted to try.

(09 Aug 2014, 9:23 pm)col87 wrote Well GNE need to do something for the Teesside area or else they need to change there name since Teesside is also a big part of the north east. The X11 as well as other suggustions i have put could all work if they wanted to try.

(10 Aug 2014, 10:56 am)DaveyBowyer wrote It would be good if GNE extended the short Coasters to Blyth every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime. It would provide new local links and give 6 buses per hour from Go North East on the Whitley Bay to Blyth corridor.

(09 Aug 2014, 9:23 pm)col87 wrote Well GNE need to do something for the Teesside area or else they need to change there name since Teesside is also a big part of the north east. The X11 as well as other suggustions i have put could all work if they wanted to try.

(10 Aug 2014, 12:03 pm)Michael wrote Remember when GNE went against Stagecoach in North Sunderland...
That didn't work out well at all..

Why?

Stagecoach already had the 3,4,13 and 16 every 10 mins to North Sunderland....

36 started at every 10 mins
Dropped to every 12
Withdrawn and replaced by the 36/36A - half hourly?
they were then withdrawn and replaced by the X36

Have to say Stagecoach owned them in that area...

Why would GNE risk making loads of new routes in area's which are heavily used by Stagecoach/Arriva, especially with services being every 10 mins

(10 Aug 2014, 10:59 am)Tom wrote Yes I agree.

(10 Aug 2014, 12:37 pm)aureolin wrote I think you've got to pick and choose your fights. In the case of the 36, it was the wrong fight to choose. X84/X85 and the X7 on the other hand were two correct fights to pick, and they've arguably won as a result of taking that initial risk.

A lot is said about the OK1. A lot of it, in my opinion, was the fact it provided next to no connections either side. Despite GNE's network largely being based on a 'hub and spoke' model. Why would folk change from using Arriva's X1, when they probably need to complete their journey by making a connection on to an Arriva service at either end of the route. Perhaps Arriva's X2/X24 suffers the same fate in Tyne and Wear? There are no connections for the X2 north of Pity Me, so unless you live along the route, you're on a hiding to nothing.

(10 Aug 2014, 1:44 pm)Michael wrote very much but do u not think they knew that before they even launched it?

(10 Aug 2014, 1:44 pm)Michael wrote very much but do u not think they knew that before they even launched it?

(10 Aug 2014, 1:48 pm)aureolin wrote Nah. I remember at the time there was a huge sense of arrogance around it. Along the lines of going in and under cutting Stagecoach would mean passengers would flock to the 36.

(10 Aug 2014, 1:52 pm)Dan wrote I seem to recall there being a promotional event of sorts at Stagecoach's depot at the Wheatsheaf?

(10 Aug 2014, 1:52 pm)Dan wrote I seem to recall there being a promotional event of sorts at Stagecoach's depot at the Wheatsheaf?

(10 Aug 2014, 2:25 pm)aureolin wrote Yeah that's what I mean. Picture of the ex-MD dishing out timetables outside of the front doors of Stagecoach. I honestly don't know what they were thinking of then.

(10 Aug 2014, 1:46 pm)Dan wrote I don't think they'd have launched the 36 if they they knew they were going to be fighting a losing battle.

I really think they originally thought they stood quite a high chance of doing well, what with new buses being purchased and "lowest fare guarantees" being promoted. To my memory, it did on the first day or week when everyone could get on for free...

(10 Aug 2014, 4:14 pm)Tom wrote Come up with a good way to make the 71 and 265 interworking work.

Service 38 will operate every 20 minutes.
Service 71 will operate hourly from Chester-le-Street to Seaham.
Service 202 will extend to Sunderland via the X7 route.
Service 238 will be withdrawn.
Service 265 will be slightly retimed.

(10 Aug 2014, 4:20 pm)Michael wrote Maybe a different route from the X7?, Grangetown area has loads of routes, maybe using the 38 route?

(10 Aug 2014, 4:21 pm)Tom wrote No because then it wouldn't work - it'd mess up my plan to interwork at Peterlee with the 208.
It'd be combined with the X7 to provide a increased frequency.

(10 Aug 2014, 4:24 pm)Michael wrote Ah right!

What are the numbers like on the 238?

(10 Aug 2014, 4:31 pm)Tom wrote Busier on the 38 section of the route, and fair beyond Seaham. Hence it would help the 71.

(10 Aug 2014, 4:14 pm)Tom wrote Come up with a good way to make the 71 and 265 interworking work.

Service 38 will operate every 20 minutes.
Service 71 will operate hourly from Chester-le-Street to Seaham.
Service 202 will extend to Sunderland via the X7 route.
Service 238 will be withdrawn.
Service 265 will be slightly retimed.

(10 Aug 2014, 4:20 pm)Michael wrote Maybe a different route from the X7?, Grangetown area has loads of routes, maybe using the 38 route?

(10 Aug 2014, 4:42 pm)marxistafozzski wrote Would that put the 265 back under Chesters control or would you 71 move to Peterlee...

I don't see the point of the 202 going to Sunderland, even on the X7 route, GNE once proposed merging the 61 and 38 but that was treat like a wet fart by people in Murton and what do you propose for services on Dene House Road as would lose there service(238)...

As for the 265/71, it could possibly work if marketed right, again a few years ago there was talk of a frequency increase to every half hour Interworking with the 13/14


It would quite a bit to the journey as it, would it work by running to Hendon then follow Stagecoach's 11 up Holmeside