(30 Jun 2022, 7:51 pm)omnicity4659 wrote They did that in the West of England between Cityfox Taxis and First, as a "last mile" sort of thing. No idea if it's still a thing as Cityfox were the sorts who'd fiddle sheets.

(06 Jul 2022, 10:03 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote If you were to merge the 74 & 684, what would be the most opitmal route?
I've got an idea but i'm not sure about it.

(07 Jul 2022, 6:02 am)omnicity4659 wrote I can't see a merged route working? It would work as well as merging the 27 and the 309. Too many communities would lose out along both routes.

New 20 + 65.xlsx (Size 13.07 KB | Downloads 25)

(12 Jul 2022, 11:41 pm)User2613 wrote The upcoming changes got me thinking about whether there was any way to merge the 204 into other routes in a bid to save drivers. It is also a bit of a random route that appears to serve no purpose beyond getting people on a bus to Durham so they can get another bus to where they actually want to be.

The only GNE routes that head in the same rough direction are the 65 and the 20. So I had a play around and this is what I came up with. A new 20/20A and a new 65/65A. I have based this on the frequencies/routes once the upcoming changes take place while also trying to maintain all of the links that exist currently.

The 20/20A do take longer than currently but it was my view that that would just make the x20 a more justified express.

I've done a rough mock up of the basic timetable premise and routes. Id be interested to hear people's thoughts.

(12 Jul 2022, 11:58 pm)Unber43 wrote I like it, however couldn't you just extend the 65 to Sunderland hourly, to make it every 30 mins with the X6, with an added 2 PVR, however I do love all 4 routes, just not to interwork.

(12 Jul 2022, 11:41 pm)User2613 wrote The upcoming changes got me thinking about whether there was any way to merge the 204 into other routes in a bid to save drivers. It is also a bit of a random route that appears to serve no purpose beyond getting people on a bus to Durham so they can get another bus to where they actually want to be.

The only GNE routes that head in the same rough direction are the 65 and the 20. So I had a play around and this is what I came up with. A new 20/20A and a new 65/65A. I have based this on the frequencies/routes once the upcoming changes take place while also trying to maintain all of the links that exist currently.

The 20/20A do take longer than currently but it was my view that that would just make the x20 a more justified express.

I've done a rough mock up of the basic timetable premise and routes. Id be interested to hear people's thoughts.

(12 Jul 2022, 11:08 pm)Echolima07 wrote ASX_Terranova what would be the route it would take to go from Hill Street in Corbridge, to the Robin Hood in on the Military Road?
Also in reality it takes more than four minutes to get from Hexham Bus Station to St Andrew’s Cemetery during the day.
Depending on the traffic light sequence on Loosing Hill and Priestpopple it can sometimes take 1-2 minutes just to get out of the bus  station.

(14 Jul 2022, 1:00 pm)F114TML wrote Not a conventional suggestion but would there be much of a market for later evening runs leaving Newcastle on the X10, even if they only went as far as Peterlee?

I'm suggesting it for entirely selfish reasons - an 11pm departure I'd personally find quite useful; 8.20 last bus seems a bit rediculous to me, considering the last train is some 85 minutes later.

(14 Jul 2022, 4:38 pm)col87 wrote I would question  if after 7PM it really needs to serve Dalton Park as well as all shops are closed by then and it really only the cinema and McDonald’s and Morrisons still open and it’s unlikely anyone from Newcastle or Middlesbrough will be going though to watch a movie or get the weekly shopping especially at that time.  

I think it needs splitting back into the X9 and X10 as well.

(14 Jul 2022, 1:00 pm)F114TML wrote Not a conventional suggestion but would there be much of a market for later evening runs leaving Newcastle on the X10, even if they only went as far as Peterlee?

I'm suggesting it for entirely selfish reasons - an 11pm departure I'd personally find quite useful; 8.20 last bus seems a bit rediculous to me, considering the last train is some 85 minutes later.

(15 Jul 2022, 3:12 am)Unber43 wrote X39 Doxford Park - A690 - Sunderland 

Peak time, 07:00-11:00 & 16:10-18:30, even 30 mins. 

It can run off school routes.

(15 Jul 2022, 9:46 am)F114TML wrote Isn't that just this?
https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/Timetables/North%20East/Sunderland/NE_SunderlandX1Timetable2021July.pdf

(15 Jul 2022, 3:12 am)Unber43 wrote X39 Doxford Park - A690 - Sunderland 

Peak time, 07:00-11:00 & 16:10-18:30, even 30 mins. 

It can run off school routes.

(15 Jul 2022, 7:23 pm)F114TML wrote And? GNE have 2 route 41s, and until recently there were 2 33s.

(15 Jul 2022, 9:53 am)Unber43 wrote Maybe, but ive never seen the X1 busy, the 55 has always been busier.

(15 Jul 2022, 9:18 pm)Economic505 wrote The X1has easily outlived the 55. Another case of good SNE route planning.

(15 Jul 2022, 9:26 pm)Unber43 wrote Maybe GNE should plan the 55 like the X1 peak times only

(15 Jul 2022, 9:44 pm)DeltaMan wrote GNE has a pretty pathetic footprint in Sunderland if truth be told. They've always been the "out of town" operator with the odd inner city route like the 39 nowadays.

The reason the X1 has survived and expanded is because you can get from virtually any part of Sunderland to Doxford with one bus change on a cheap Megarider ticket. That is unbeatable.

(17 Jul 2022, 11:24 am)ASX_Terranova wrote Which of the following direct links would be more useful.

A: Barley Mow, Portobello, Birtley & Lamesley to Team Valley then express to Newcastle.
B: Grange Villa, Newfield, Pelton Fell & Chester-Le-Street then onto Newcastle.
C: Washington to Chester-Le-Street via Lambton, Ayton & A1M (Soon to Disappear)
D: Washington to Team Valley via A1 then express to Newcastle
E: Waldridge Park to Gateshead & Newcastle 

Notes:
A or D could replace 91 (Team Valley - Newcastle)
B could replace 703D
B, C & D could be merged very easily with a PVR of 2 if Hourly.
E could replace 701D

(17 Jul 2022, 1:45 pm)Andreos1 wrote A & D would be the most sustainable and popular imo.
I reckon they would go a long way in attracting people from their cars (assuming frequency, journey times and price are competitive to the equivalent car journey).