(19 Jul 2020, 10:27 pm)Ambassador wrote I could get upgrading Quaylink. It’d be peak MG GNE. Press releases about key city centre touristy route (that nobody really uses aside office staff who can’t face a walk up dean street or twirlies) getting a great new upgrade for this absolutely not key city centre link. Bus equivalent of a new cycle lane down Durham Rd...

(20 Jul 2020, 8:34 am)big mac wrote To add to that on evenings and Sundays now the Q1/2 don't even serve the very place that the brand is named after, the quayside. It's "bigged up" as the Quaylink but only does a Gateshead-Gateshead circular at certain times.
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I remember when NEXUS were going to pull this service and GNE made a big song and dance about them taking the route over commercially ( integrating with the orbit i think).  I even read somewhere that they were promoting that if nexus couldn't run 2 routes how would they run the WHOLE TYNE AND WEAR NETWORK.  now the "QUAY LINK" as mentioned above doesn't even go to the Quay after 7pm!! 

(20 Jul 2020, 9:24 pm)L469 YVK wrote Just realised......6308-6314 are three year old in September. Are they due a service from Volvo or internally? (not sure how bus servicing intervals work)

If so, it actually makes sense them moving now and they'll get a "fresh start" on the X21 and hopefully any defects picked up after being hammered on the X9 & X10 will get resolved.

(20 Jul 2020, 9:39 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Would that not have been done through Wrightbus?

(17 Jul 2020, 9:02 pm)L469 YVK wrote Well, based on the X45 serving Blackhall Mill, Chopwell and High Spen with the X47 withdrawn, this is how I would personally allocate the new and existing fleet as follows for the XLines double deck routes as well as the Angel 21 (Also including Tyne Valley Ten & Crusader for reference in terms of spare ratios etc)

Potential Service Change Samples

X31/X46 - Interworking
Consett (X46): 00:05
Newcastle (X46): 01:08
Newcastle (X31): 01:15
Stanley (X31): 01:53
Stanley (X31): 02:00
Newcastle (X31): 02:39
Newcastle (X46): 02:45
Consett (X46): 03:45

X45 - Standalone and running via Blackhall Mill, Chopwell and High Spen
Consett (X45): 00:05
Newcastle (X45): 01:23
Newcastle (X45): 01:30
Consett (X45): 02:45

X30/(X70/X71) - Interworking
Consett (X70): 00:52
Newcastle (X70): 01:53
Newcastle (X30): 02:00
Stanley (X30): 02:38
Stanley (X30): 02:45
Newcastle (X30): 03:24
Newcastle (X70): 03:30
Consett (X70): 04:27

X46/X70/X71 (Consett Town Centre to Newcastle every 15 minutes either via Metrocentre or Sunniside) - Not interworking but demonstrating common frequency
Consett Depart: 05 | 25 | 35 | 52
Newcastle Arrive: 08 | 23 | 38 | 53
Newcastle Depart: 00 | 15 | 30 | 45
Consett Arrive: 15 | 27 | 45 | 55

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Allocation Summary for Depots

Consett PVRs (Total PVR of 26x with 3x spare)
- X5/X15 - 4x Wright StreetDeck
- X30/(X70/X71) - 8x ADL E400MMC
- X31/X46 - 8x Wright StreetDeck
- X45 - 6x Wright StreetDeck

Hexham PVRs (Total PVR of 5x with 1x spare)
- X84/X85 - 5x Wright StreetDeck

Riverside PVRs - Including Hexham TVTs (Total PVR of 37x with 5x spare)
- 10/10A/10B - 16x Volvo B9TL
- 26/27 - 14x Volvo B9TL
- X9/X10 - 7x Volvo B11R

Washington PVRs (Total PVR of 14x with 1x spare)
- X1 - 14x Wright StreetDeck

Chester Le Street PVRs (Total PVR of 23x with 3x spare)
- 21 - 8x Wright StreetDeck & 7x Volvo B5TL
- X21 - 8x ADL E400MMC
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Depot Breakdowns

Consett
- Wright StreetDeck 6304-6307 - XLines X5/X15
- Wright StreetDeck 6323-6329 - XLines X31/X45/X46
- ADL E400MMC 6336 - XLines Spare
- ADL E400MMC 6337 - XLines Spare
- ADL E400MMC 6338-6345 - XLines X30/(X70/X71)
- ADL E400MMC 6346 - XLines Spare
- Wright StreetDeck 6370-6376 - XLines X31/X45/X46

Hexham
- Wright StreetDeck 6302 - XLines Spare
- Wright StreetDeck 6303 - XLines X84/X85
- Wright StreetDeck 6330-6333 - XLines X84/X85

Washington
- Wright StreetDeck 6301 - XLines Spare
- Wright StreetDeck 6356-6369 - XLines X1

Chester Le Street
- Volvo B5TL 6308-6314 - Angel 21
- Wright StreetDeck 6315-6322 - Angel 21
- Volvo B5TL 6334 - GoNE Spare
- Volvo B5TL 6335 - GoNE Spare
- ADL E400MMC 6347-6354 - XLines X21
- ADL E400MMC 6355 - XLines Spare

Riverside (Incl Hexham B9TLs)
- Volvo B9TL 6001-6007 - Crusader 26/27
- Volvo B9TL 6043-6044 - GoNE Spare
- Volvo B9TL 6045-6047 - Tyne Valley Ten
- Volvo B9TL 6048 - GoNE Spare
- Volvo B9TL 6049-6055 - Crusader 26/27
- Volvo B9TL 6071-6083 - Tyne Valley Ten
- Volvo B9TL 6099 (from PM) - GoNE Spare
- Wright StreetDeck 6377 - XLines Spare
- Volvo B11R - XLines X9/X10

(20 Jul 2020, 9:57 pm)L469 YVK wrote Correct me if wrong (Dan??). Wrightbus would deal with any bodywork but I believe Volvo would deal with any mechanical issues.

---

Looking at the rear of the of 6331, it suggests that the X45/X46/X47 will remain up to every 10 minutes.

Will the X5 & X15 still become X-Lines? If needed would 6096-6099 be allowed to be allocated (depending on long term Fab 56 frequency) or do they have to be on a Newcastle / Sunderland route due to funding for Euro 6 conversions?

(20 Jul 2020, 10:04 pm)Olympian3521 wrote Well I guess the pics of 6331 from Dan put to bed any rumours of the X45 diverting through Blackhall Mill as the X45 X46 And X47 routes are on the inside cove panels. So I wonder what will happen to the X5/15 now or will there be a pvr reduction on the red kite services to enable the X5/15 to go X lines?

(21 Jul 2020, 12:23 am)Michael wrote Spotted this on a reply on Dan's Twitter but I'm not sure what he means by it.

(21 Jul 2020, 4:24 am)Stanleyone wrote X5/X15 pvr is (I believe) to be made up from streetdecks already in the fleet, incorporating yellow in my opinion can only suggest 3 or 4 coming off the angel.

(21 Jul 2020, 12:23 am)Michael wrote Spotted this on a reply on Dan's Twitter but I'm not sure what he means by it.

(21 Jul 2020, 4:58 pm)L469 YVK wrote Does this sound right given the indication that the X45/X46/X47 will remain at their current frequencies?

Hexham:
- 4x NEW ADL E400MMC - XLines X84/X85
- 1x 2014 ADL E400MMC - XLines X84/X85
***1x spare for Hexham***
- 1x 2014 ADL E400MMC - XLines

Riverside (Incl Hexham TVT's):
- Volvo B9TL 6001-6007 - Crusader 26/27
- Volvo B9TL 6045-6047 - Tyne Valley Ten
- Volvo B9TL 6048 - GoNE Spare
- Volvo B9TL 6049-6055 - Crusader 26/27
- Volvo B9TL 6071-6083 - Tyne Valley Ten
- 7x 2015 Volvo B11R Coaches - XLines X9/X10
***5x spares for Riverside (Incl Hexham TVT's)***
- Volvo B9TL 6043-6044 - GoNE
- Volvo B9TL 6048 - GoNE
- Volvo B9TL 6099 (will still be 2x spare at PM for Cobalts) - GoNE
- 1x NEW Wright StreetDeck OM936 - XLines

Consett:
- 11x NEW ADL E400MMC - XLines X30/X70/X71 & XLines X31
- 1x 2019 ADL E400MMC - XLines X30/X70/X71 & XLines X31
- 6x NEW Wright StreetDeck - XLines X45/X46/X47
- Wright StreetDeck 6328-6333 - XLines X45/X46/X47
- Wright StreetDeck 6306-6307 - XLines X45/X46/X47
- Wright StreetDeck 6302-6305 - XLines X5/X15
***2x spares for Consett***
- 2x 2019 ADL E400MMC - XLines

Chester Le Street:
- Wright StreetDeck 6315-6327 - Angel 21 (service reduced to every 10 mins between Newcastle and Chester Le Street reducing PVR to 13x)
- Volvo B5TL 6308-6314 - XLines X21
- 1x 2013/14 Volvo B5TL - XLines X21
***2x spares for Chester Le Street***
- 1x 2013/14 Volvo B5TL - XLines
- Wright StreetDeck 6301 - GoNE

Washington:
- 14x NEW Wright StreetDeck - XLines X1
***1x spare for Washington***
- 1x NEW Wright StreetDeck - XLines

(21 Jul 2020, 5:27 pm)Storx wrote I'm not sure of the numbers but couldn't they just bin off the 21 between Chester-Le-Street and Durham instead - the fact it's been diverted to the Arnison Centre seems like they're desperate to get numbers up and the X21 now serves every bus stop pretty much doing what the 21 done anyway. I can't imagine there's much demand for Durham to Low Fell and Birtley.

4 buses an hour between Durham and CLS is more than enough with a 15/20 minute service on the X21 at rush hour. 

(21 Jul 2020, 6:22 pm)Andreos1 wrote More if you include the 50.
Dog marking territory imo. Can't see there being enough demand for that sort of frequency beyond peaks, particularly when you take in to account any services from Lanchester, Sacriston etc joining for those last few miles in to Durham. Ditto on the way out.

(21 Jul 2020, 7:00 pm)Storx wrote I did haha. The X21 would be 2 buses an hour and the 50 would be 2 buses an hour but the X21 goes upto every 20 minutes in the morning peak and 15 minutes in the evening if you took away the 21. It feels like they've been trying to kill off the 21 for awhile along there slowly and it's a bit pointless being there at every 30 minutes but get the dog marking to keep Arriva away not that I think they'd dare go there again.

It just seems stupid to decrease the 21 down to every 10 minutes in the core part especially after what happened the last time they done it.

(21 Jul 2020, 7:00 pm)Storx wrote It just seems stupid to decrease the 21 down to every 10 minutes in the core part especially after what happened the last time they done it.

(21 Jul 2020, 9:43 pm)L469 YVK wrote Demand on popular routes like the 21 will naturally fall post Covid19 & Social Distancing so a 10 minute service might be justified. It's not just the 21 though, it's a lot of different services which are going to be affected post Covid19. 

I do reckon GNE will keep the 21 between Durham & Chester for the timebeing  but perhaps space out more evenly with the 50 & X21. If they did however cut the Durham to Chester section out and maintained a 7-8 min frequency between Chester Le Street and Newcastle, the PVR would be 14x vehicles with no tight layovers. That still wouldn't be enough to find the 1x extra StreetDeck needed for the X5 & X15 unless the PVR was reduced to 13x with a tight layover or they terminated the 21 at Market Street or Pilgrim Street.

(21 Jul 2020, 9:43 pm)L469 YVK wrote Demand on popular routes like the 21 will naturally fall post Covid19 & Social Distancing so a 10 minute service might be justified. It's not just the 21 though, it's a lot of different services which are going to be affected post Covid19. 

I do reckon GNE will keep the 21 between Durham & Chester for the timebeing  but perhaps space out more evenly with the 50 & X21. If they did however cut the Durham to Chester section out and maintained a 7-8 min frequency between Chester Le Street and Newcastle, the PVR would be 14x vehicles with no tight layovers. That still wouldn't be enough to find the 1x extra StreetDeck needed for the X5 & X15 unless the PVR was reduced to 13x with a tight layover or they terminated the 21 at Market Street or Pilgrim Street.

(21 Jul 2020, 10:06 pm)Storx wrote Social distancing is going to be around until Summer 2021 tho if we're lucky and that's the problem. I really can't see the cut coming from the main section of the Angel. It struggled the last time it was every 10 minutes and that was with full capacity.

The X-Lines won't be waiting til then to be launched. If you wanted to save another bus scrap the X21 between Bishop and West Auckland as it seems to cart around fresh air anyway.

(21 Jul 2020, 7:10 pm)Stanleyone wrote Maybe in the post covid world we find ourselves in, dropping frequency might help maintain headway, there's the 25 going along low fell aswell. Will it do the X21 any harm to stop at Harlow Green bridge and the Canon, might add 2 mins overall.

On the chester to Durham section, have the 50 and X21 run at 15 mins  each and additional X21s for the peak times probably would be enough. But who knows what the future will bring.

(22 Jul 2020, 10:35 am)Ambassador wrote You could easily relieve the pressure on the 21 by reintroducing the old Low Fell shorts  (can't recall what number it operated under when then Go Gateshead did it).

Bus runs every 20 from Newcastle to Harlow Green Bridge - turns under the bridge - and heads back to Newcastle. Takes pressure off longer 21 runs.

Though there'll need to be some forward planning for the major A1 upgrade at the Bowes to Team Valley section - that will drive increased traffic through Low Fell.

(22 Jul 2020, 11:43 am)Andreos1 wrote There was that 'consultation' a few years back, supported by eezypeazy on here. The sample size was ridiculously small, the response even smaller, but GNE jumped on the PR bandwagon and said something about 'listening to the people', when they restored services in the area. 

(22 Jul 2020, 11:43 am)Andreos1 wrote I've said the same for years. 
For a significant period (early 80's/late 90's), they were:
24 - Allerdene
25 - Wrekenton
26 - Barley Mow.
28 - Kibblesworth.
All went as far as Harlow Green (I think the 24 went down Chowdene and back up to Harlow Green off memory). 

In the late 90's/00's, they started to muck around with it and I'd argue that each change they've made, has made things worse. 

Recently, they've relied on extending the 1 or diverting the 25 - rather than have a service, dedicated to what is clearly a market in need of some sort of reliable, frequent alternative.
In some aspects, I can see why extending an existing service would make sense - such as having through passengers, supplement those making short hops. However, the insistence on sending everything they come up with to/from/via Wrekenton seems to be a strange obsession - the only consistency over the years perhaps?

There was that 'consultation' a few years back, supported by eezypeazy on here. The sample size was ridiculously small, the response even smaller, but GNE jumped on the PR bandwagon and said something about 'listening to the people', when they restored services in the area. 

The 29 (with some investment and an increase to frequency), could be an option.
As it stands, it clearly doesn't do the job for commuters. It doesn't need anything other than the timetable to evidence that.

(22 Jul 2020, 2:26 pm)big mac wrote In terms of sending everything to Wrekenton, after the section of route at Waverley Road, there isn't really anywhere much else to go after that, so it makes sense as the only obvious terminus point.

For the survey they did, I remember it was worded in such a way that basically only gave people the choice of either a reduced frequency but a direct service to Newcastle,or maintaining the same frequency but terminating at Gateshead.  So, it was laughable to say the listened to the people, really.

The 29 definitely something that could be used as part of the solution, I'm just not quite sure exactly how in terms of what changes. An extension to Newcastle and an increase in frequency, certainly though.

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(22 Jul 2020, 10:35 am)Ambassador wrote You could easily relieve the pressure on the 21 by reintroducing the old Low Fell shorts (can't recall what number it operated under when then Go Gateshead did it).

Bus runs every 20 from Newcastle to Harlow Green Bridge - turns under the bridge - and heads back to Newcastle. Takes pressure off longer 21 runs.

Though there'll need to be some forward planning for the major A1 upgrade at the Bowes to Team Valley section - that will drive increased traffic through Low Fell.

(22 Jul 2020, 3:56 pm)big mac wrote Was there ever a service that did just Newcastle-Harlow Green?  I can remember ones like the 25,26 etc which have been mentioned here that went to Harlow Green and beyond but not one that ever terminated there.

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