(11 Jan 2015, 7:10 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Doesn't that sort of contradict what you said in this post?

(11 Jan 2015, 6:53 pm)tyresmoke wrote I did indeed, and I would hazard a guess that you'll be correct as end to end passengers are always going to go with a direct service, passengers between Bishop Auckland & Durham may think about switching though if a superior service is offered.
Of course for regular commuters, the service which offers the most flexibility (and more importantly, price) will always win.

It's interesting to find there is a £5 difference between similar offerings between the Wear Valley area & Newcastle though, with the weekly Pronto saver priced at £22.50 as opposed to Arriva's offering at £17.40. GNE will always win the battle between Durham & Newcastle based on frequency alone, never mind the numerous connections available such as Metrocentre's regular shuttle buses. However the prices are fairly competitive with the Arriva weekly at £17.40 and GNE's Angel saver just £17.00. The connections required at each end of the region would depend on which one the passengers would purchase I would suggest as nobody (or not many) would realistically just travel from Durham Bus Station to Eldon Square and back each day.

(11 Jan 2015, 7:15 pm)Dan wrote If the journey time was six minutes difference Bishop Auckland - Newcastle, Go North East could definitely consider it a threat... But when it's 25? Can you see commuters forking out an extra £4.70 to have an increased journey time of 25 minutes - just so they can use power sockets and Wi-Fi - especially when it involves a connection in Durham?

(11 Jan 2015, 9:13 pm)aureolin wrote See, I completely agree with what you're saying about GNE always winning the battle between Durham and Newcastle on frequency alone, but it beggars the question of why the X2 is kept in it's present form? I'd say it would make more sense to keep the X12 as a standalone service, with added layover at either end to improve reliability. To replace the X2, run two of the 6's through to Newcastle as an X6, providing the same limited stop service between Durham & Chester le Street, but then non-stop to Gateshead (or even Newcastle) via the A1? It would probably even result in a reduction in PVR?

(11 Jan 2015, 9:13 pm)aureolin wrote See, I completely agree with what you're saying about GNE always winning the battle between Durham and Newcastle on frequency alone, but it beggars the question of why the X2 is kept in it's present form? I'd say it would make more sense to keep the X12 as a standalone service, with added layover at either end to improve reliability. To replace the X2, run two of the 6's through to Newcastle as an X6, providing the same limited stop service between Durham & Chester le Street, but then non-stop to Gateshead (or even Newcastle) via the A1? It would probably even result in a reduction in PVR?



Just to query the price, as I think I missed your reply the other night when we were discussing. The comparison was the North East all zones ticket, but the Durham District is valid on the 6 to Bishop, and the X2 to Newcastle, priced at £17.40? I hadn't realised it was valid on the 6 until I checked mind.

But to answer the question, perhaps commuters are willing to pay more for a considerably quicker service? X21 has needed an increase in peak time frequency recently, which tells it's own story, and a flip of the coin - the X2 is pretty much bare between Durham and Newcastle. I can't believe for one minute that nobody commutes from Durham to Newcastle...

(11 Jan 2015, 9:52 pm)Tom wrote Maybe the 6 could be reduced to every 15 minutes?

This would then allow for a more consistent service to Hollymoor and Cockfield. As at present you have a service at 35 and 00 which isn't very consistent.
So you could have a service every 30 minutes to Cockfield, and a service every 15 minutes to Bishop Auckland. Then you would have the Cockfield ones extended to Newcastle, serving University Hospital, Chester-le-Street and then non-stop to Newcastle. For example:

Cockfield                -- 15 --  45
West Auckland:      13 28 43 58
Bishop Auckland:    36 51 06 21
Spennymoor:         50 05 20 35
New Inn:               06 21 36 51
Durham:               11 31 41 01
Chester-le-St:        -- 50  --  20
Newcastle:            -- 17  --  47 (via A1)

(11 Jan 2015, 9:54 pm)aureolin wrote I don't think you could reduce the 6 judging by what I've seen. The loadings are still rather high for the current 12 minute frequency, and that's with Pulsars allocated. 

(11 Jan 2015, 9:54 pm)aureolin wrote I don't think you could reduce the 6 judging by what I've seen. The loadings are still rather high for the current 12 minute frequency, and that's with Pulsars allocated. 

(11 Jan 2015, 9:58 pm)Jimmi wrote I got on the 6 from New Inn to Croxdale last week on 7464 and there was no seats downstairs and was a fair few on upstairs too.

(11 Jan 2015, 9:58 pm)Jimmi wrote I got on the 6 from New Inn to Croxdale last week on 7464 and there was no seats downstairs and was a fair few on upstairs too.

(11 Jan 2015, 10:04 pm)aureolin wrote I seem to recall it being reduced from 10 to 12 minutes, for the same reason as GNE are doing with the 56. If they had the vehicle resource from the X2 as an interworking pattern, they could probably up it to 10 minutes again, with two an hour continuing to Newcastle as a new X6 service. I'd say it would have to work to allow for X12 passengers to still connect on to it at Durham Bus Station though, with through-fares being available. 

(11 Jan 2015, 10:04 pm)aureolin wrote I seem to recall it being reduced from 10 to 12 minutes, for the same reason as GNE are doing with the 56. If they had the vehicle resource from the X2 as an interworking pattern, they could probably up it to 10 minutes again, with two an hour continuing to Newcastle as a new X6 service. I'd say it would have to work to allow for X12 passengers to still connect on to it at Durham Bus Station though, with through-fares being available. 

(11 Jan 2015, 9:49 pm)Andreos1 wrote The northbound trains are heaving on a morning. The 072x EC is often crowded to the point standees are down the carriage.

It begs the question as to how they get in to Durham in the first place.

(12 Jan 2015, 3:22 pm)ArrivaNE_7522 wrote That is nice!!! When and where is the launch???

(12 Jan 2015, 3:41 pm)cbma06 wrote Whats the difference between MAX spec and Sapphire spec? except the livery.

(12 Jan 2015, 3:44 pm)ArrivaNE_7522 wrote Max doesn't have power sockets and next stop announcements. Doesn't have drivers in special uniform either.

(12 Jan 2015, 3:01 pm)tyresmoke wrote Stockton Depot have received the first Pulsar refurbished for MAX services X12/X2 - 1443 (NK10CFF) is back out in service on the 17A between Middlesbrough & Stockton this afternoon.
As posted in rare workings thread it should work the 1510 from Middlesbrough, 1556 return from Stockton and then the 1650 X17 Middlesbrough to Kingsmead.


Arriva North East 1443 NK10CFF


Arriva North East - MAX Pulsar Interior

(12 Jan 2015, 3:50 pm)tyresmoke wrote Apart from Darlington where the next stop announcements are starting to appear, just to muddy the waters a little!

(12 Jan 2015, 3:52 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote That looks absolutely brilliant.

(12 Jan 2015, 4:13 pm)Dan wrote Must say that the Pulsars suit the MAX base livery much more than the OmniCitys. The interior looks a lot better than the ghastly green (as per the OmniCitys), too.

(12 Jan 2015, 4:13 pm)Dan wrote Must say that the Pulsars suit the MAX base livery much more than the OmniCitys. The interior looks a lot better than the ghastly green (as per the OmniCitys), too.

(12 Jan 2015, 3:44 pm)ArrivaNE_7522 wrote Max doesn't have power sockets and next stop announcements. Doesn't have drivers in special uniform either.

(12 Jan 2015, 4:43 pm)MrPottski wrote Uniforms are on order!

(12 Jan 2015, 4:49 pm)ArrivaNE_7522 wrote What do the Max uniforms look like?

(12 Jan 2015, 4:57 pm)mb134 wrote I don't know if I've picked this up correctly, so can someone please correct this if it's wrong
Are most Arriva services going to be under some kind of brand from now on, be it MAX Sapphire or high frequency route branded? It just seems like a large majority of services are seeing upgrades or branding.