(22 Jan 2022, 10:12 am)busmanT wrote I still can't see any mention on the Go North East website of this going back to normal, I would have expected GNE to tell its passengers rather than Nexus

(22 Jan 2022, 9:13 am)busmanT wrote I can't see any mention of this on the Go North East website - all alterations are shown as until further notice.

(22 Jan 2022, 10:16 am)Dan wrote Go North East hasn't told its passengers because they aren't reverting back to normal timetables from this date.

(11 Feb 2022, 4:09 pm)Michael wrote PB0002032/152
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD 46 (46, 46A) Newcastle Featherstone Grove


Effective date is 27 Mar 2022

(12 Feb 2022, 5:08 pm)L469 YVK wrote I wonder what the above changes will present? Would the 43/44/45 not be better going to Single Decks and going to a 6/6/7 frequency running every 20 mins each (like the 309/310/311 do)? Would give a more even service between the 43/45 from Lockey Park .

(12 Feb 2022, 7:12 pm)Storx wrote I'm not sure they need more services along there. 20 mins seems a bit overkill for both Dinnington bits and I don't believe it would reduce the PVR, potentially increase it though because of the interworking patterns.

44/45 PVR 5 with 30 min run time each all with a 7 minute layover.

(12 Feb 2022, 9:40 pm)L469 YVK wrote It would increase PVR but would give more even headway between the 43 & 45 in Wideopen, 13/7 as opposed to an oddball 30 minute service running amongst a 15 minute frequency provided by the 43. 

So frequency would be
Dinnington 44/45 - Every 7-13 mins
Wideopen Travellers Rest 43/45 - Every 7-13 mins
North Gosforth & Gosforth Park 43/44/45 - Every 6-7 mins

Although I suppose my argument is invalid to some extent given that GNE went the opposite way on the Rowlands Gill corridor by making the 47/47A an oddball amongst the X45/X46.

(13 Feb 2022, 12:47 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Are the 306/308 both double decker routes now?

I'll be using the 306 this week (finally using Arriva, having not done so in around 16 years) and I'm hoping for a Pulsar (Streetlites rattle too much). What is usually on the 52/54?

(13 Feb 2022, 1:12 pm)L469 YVK wrote 52/54 are normally Streetlites. 306 is a mix of everything although single deck on paper

(13 Feb 2022, 1:12 pm)L469 YVK wrote 52/54 are normally Streetlites. 306 is a mix of everything although single deck on paper

---

To be honest, the current Saturday PVR of both the 306 & 308 is already 14x with the 308 having a tight layover in Blyth.

Interworking and reducing the main frequency to every 20 mins each would reduce the PVR by 22-23%. And keeping the 306 out of Battle Hill would be a win/win for both operators. GNE having Battle Hill - Newcastle in full with Arriva providing a 'solid' 10 minute service between Billy Mill and Station Road rather than having the 308 sitting in front taking the brunt. Not forgetting the 308 & 309 working more in sync rather than against each other.

(13 Feb 2022, 6:51 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote I'm avoiding StreetLites where possible, so hoping 52, 54, 306 and 685 don't have them on when I go out this week. Pulsars are the best. The StreetLites look good from the outside.

(11 Feb 2022, 4:09 pm)Michael wrote PB0002032/341
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD X9 (X9) Blyth Newcastle

PB0002032/337
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD X10 (X10, X11) Blyth Newcastle

PB0002032/458
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD 51 (51A, 51) Newcastle Whitley Bay

PB0002032/459
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD 52 (52) Ashington Newcastle

PB0002032/450
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD 308 (308, 306) Blyth Newcastle

PB0002032/340
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD 53 (53) Cramlington North Shields

PB0002032/457
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD 54 (54) Whitley Bay Newcastle

PB0002032/11
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD X7 (X7) Blyth Newcastle

PB0002032/252
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD X8 (X8) Blyth Newcastle

PB0002032/266
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD 57 (57, 57A) Ashington North Shields

PB0002032/153
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD 55 (55) Newcastle Forest Hall

PB0002032/152
Variation ARRIVA NORTHUMBRIA LTD 46 (46, 46A) Newcastle Featherstone Grove


Effective date is 27 Mar 2022

(22 Feb 2022, 3:50 pm)citybus1979 wrote https://www.nexus.org.uk/consultation/item/changes-bus-services-newcastle-and-north-tyneside

(24 Feb 2022, 12:20 am)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Arriva must be commercially tactical here and I believe the Blyth and Newcastle link may operate at a loss for the next few years for a very specific  reason

CAMBOIS

Think about it Cambis is getting a huge Giga Factory being built its like a Nissan Factory or Amazon factory on a large scale employing thousands- do you think Arriva will want to maintain services and cash in on increased workers and passengers?


Best example I can give is look at Amazon at Follingsby Park

Dan and the Team at GNE have worked endlessly to create additional services including short routes to Washington and Heworth to connect with other services creating a discreet shuttle service bus incorporating a normal bus service

This Giga Plant in Cambois near Blyth is absolutely  huge massive and you think Arriva don't want to cash in on this?

Remove a service its open for competition to step in  keep it twig it and possibly run it at a loss for a few years (with long term revenue potential)  is in the longer term financially viable

Another issue regarding  Battlehill is residents prefer to use 306 and GNE 309 as its "quicker"

On paper you are saving 3mins by going direct along the coast Road towards Newcastle. For 3 minutes you are missing conncections to a bingo approx 8 bus stops including outside a shopping centre (Lidl shops etc )

To save 3 minutes as someone said I think it's about 5 personally in return for picking say 10 passengers heading towards Newcastle so say £2 a head  and creating competition with GNE services


Think about it keep the service running through  Battlehill because if you don't you give monopoly away of an area and we have seen what happens when services have a monopoly  they bite little by little making a 10 min service to a 12 min service to a 15min service to a 20 min service then a 30min service

Think about it keeping competition  on service routes keeps bus routes

Think about it

(24 Feb 2022, 12:57 am)Bazza wrote As DB are desperate to get rid of Arriva I’m not sure they would be interested in any long term gains especially if if means short to medium term losses.

(24 Feb 2022, 1:28 am)Cobalt271 wrote What you are implying there makes little sense - it is local Depot/Network Management which changes routes & timetables and not senior management relating to DB.

(24 Feb 2022, 11:15 am)L469 YVK wrote 308, it looks like the short journeys will terminate at the Silverlink as opposed to Billy Mill. Makes sense as the drivers can then just boot it up the A19 light back to Blyth.

Arriva must have some confidence keeping the Monday-Friday 306 & 308 frequency at every 15 minutes. Unless that will change when operations eventually move to Blyth?

(23 Feb 2022, 11:43 pm)Storx wrote Looks like the Traveline site has been updated with the new timetables for Arriva so far I can see:

X7 - Serving Amersham Drive all day now, last bus 23:10, no other changes

X8 - Last bus 20:40 out of Newcastle, now does the X9 route from Cramlington to Blyth

X9 - Last bus 22:35 out of Newcastle, now does the X8 route from Cramlington to Blyth

(24 Feb 2022, 12:12 pm)L469 YVK wrote So if I'm right, the "new" X9 does the current X8 route to Shankhouse roundabout then via High Pit following the "current" X9 route to Newcastle?

Then the "new X8" does the current X9 route to Shankhouse then via Durham Road following the "current" X8 route to Newcastle?

These are actually a really positive set of changes to be honest and got to give Arriva credit where it's due. Only criticism is that they should drop the "X" from the X8 and renumber to something like the 367.

Or.....renumber the X7 and X8 to 367/368 (still marketing as limited stop where appropriate) and that would give a clean network of actual 'X' routes from Blyth, them being the X9 & X10/X11