(31 Mar 2022, 8:07 pm)peter wrote Not sure if it's been mentioned but the 95 in Whitby is changing from 24th April, presumably associated with NYCC contract changes

(03 Apr 2022, 12:18 pm)tyresmoke wrote Lealholm end was up for tender from this date. Not sure who has won it yet.

Interestingly the extra buses for the top end of the X18 has been won under contract by Travelsure this summer.


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(03 Apr 2022, 12:18 pm)tyresmoke wrote Lealholm end was up for tender from this date. Not sure who has won it yet.

Interestingly the extra buses for the top end of the X18 has been won under contract by Travelsure this summer.


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(03 Apr 2022, 12:44 pm)peter wrote The X18 is an odd one, unless Travelsure are getting a new vehicle especially, will presumably be operated by an E200!

Mentioned it elsewhere in the Northumberland tenders thread, the X18 will also no longer serve Boulmer now served by the 418.

(03 Apr 2022, 8:49 pm)countydurhambuses wrote Travelsure is running an X18 themselves Arriva still running X18 North

(05 Apr 2022, 8:03 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Could I get a day ticket on a scholars bus? My only local Arriva service is a scholars, would it be possible to get adult tickets in that if needed?

(05 Apr 2022, 8:08 pm)tyresmoke wrote Arriva don’t generally run commercial schools around here (no doubt someone will correct me now!) they’re usually under contract to someone else in the NE.
The only one I can think of which might be is the Durham one (865?).


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(06 Apr 2022, 9:03 am)RMF1254 wrote Arriva run some school services in the Killingworth and Seaton Burn areas, including 652/654/656/693/695/698 I think. They are on the Nexus website.

(23 May 2022, 9:35 am)Storx wrote Must say a very contrasting post to other companies in the North East taking the blame for their issues rather than blaming the football, lower passenger numbers, Covid and whatever else isn't their fault.

Also credit for actually doing something about it even knowing it's not ideal reducing frequencies but personally I'd prefer that than it might be, it might be running but it's okay as we told you 12 hours in advance so it's not our problem you have to wait an extra hour for a bus.

(23 May 2022, 10:40 am)Jimmi wrote Must say action probs should've been taken sooner at Darlington as its been an absolute mess of an operation throughout much of this, looked like I drove past many customers stood waiting for the 5 towards Darlington that wasn't running on Saturday (although may have just been late running, didn't check).

Funny thing is, to some (myself included) the temporary X66 timetable is argubly an improvement, despite the longer journey time, its balanced out with a higher frequency to many although at the loss of service to Lingfield Point & Haughton Road.

(23 May 2022, 2:58 pm)Storx wrote Aye I've heard Darlington haven't been to clever. Not sure what's gone so wrong at both Darlington and Durham bar rather ironically they're the two depots which have always been the worst even before Covid especially fleet presentation.

No doubt there's serious problems behind the scenes which we aren't aware of which seem to blight GNE aswell where there's all sorts of morale issues being leaked constantly especially from Consett which is one of the worst depots. The other 5 Arriva depots have generally done well especially Ashington, Stockton and Redcar don't believe there's been any issues with them 3 at all. For balance Percy Main and Hexham at GNE are the same.

I was thinking the X66 might've been popular for some for those reasons mind, must admit I don't know the route too well but I'd much rather have a slightly longer 20 minute service than a faster 30 minute service.

(23 May 2022, 2:58 pm)Storx wrote Aye I've heard Darlington haven't been to clever. Not sure what's gone so wrong at both Darlington and Durham bar rather ironically they're the two depots which have always been the worst even before Covid especially fleet presentation.

No doubt there's serious problems behind the scenes which we aren't aware of which seem to blight GNE aswell where there's all sorts of morale issues being leaked constantly especially from Consett which is one of the worst depots. The other 5 Arriva depots have generally done well especially Ashington, Stockton and Redcar don't believe there's been any issues with them 3 at all. For balance Percy Main and Hexham at GNE are the same.

I was thinking the X66 might've been popular for some for those reasons mind, must admit I don't know the route too well but I'd much rather have a slightly longer 20 minute service than a faster 30 minute service.

(23 May 2022, 8:02 pm)Jimmi wrote Before the introduction of the X67, the X66 ran on a 20 minute frequency with its current route (not serving Hartburn).

For me at least its this temporary timetable (and previous 20 min frequency on X66) was easier for Travel options as it was easier to connect to/from Aycliffe services whereas with the X67 by the time I reach and change in Darlington Town Centre, I can usually get the X66 15 mins behind and connect with the same bus as the previous X67 would. The numbers down North Road and along Whinfield Road are much better than what the X67 takes along Haughton Road, only seems to carry light loadings to the in-between stops once you factor out those that just get on in Darlington Town Centre and board whichever of the X66/X67 that turns up first.

(23 May 2022, 8:14 pm)tyresmoke wrote Redcar are majorly struggling with vehicle availability… 5 boards missing today but it has been as high as 9 recently. Plenty of drivers, though (despite me pinching them regularly!), in fact lots of drivers sat around with no bus…


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(27 May 2022, 4:22 pm)Rob44 wrote changes f9or north tyneside and newcastle from 5th June. Looks like the 44 and 45 will only have 1 bus per hour to toon and another bus in that hour if they fancey going to toon via dininngton!

(27 May 2022, 4:42 pm)peter wrote As with Darlington it's a temporary timetable changes due to driver shortages.

The 43 will be reduced to every 20 minutes Newcastle to Cramlington

The 44/45 will be revised to run a combined every 20 minute frequency. One bus an hour will go out to Dinnington as a 44 back to Newcastle as a 45, another will go out to Dinnington as a 45 back to Newcastle as a 44 and the last will go in and out as a 44. So the 44 still has two buses an hour, but now a 40/20 split rather than every 30 minutes, the 45 like you say will have one bus but passengers do have the option of catching the outbound bus that will go back inbound as a 44.

Full details here: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/temporary-changes-to-timetables-in-north-east

(27 May 2022, 4:46 pm)Rob44 wrote So basically a sunday service 7 days a week with a few early buses ( hopefully)

(27 May 2022, 8:21 pm)Shrek wrote I heard a month ago that Go Ahead had been pushing other companies to make cuts that would save Arriva/Stagecoach money that would also help GNE when they made their huge cuts. Basically they're hoping other companies making cuts will save their own bad PR. This was one of the moves they'd been pushing for. Very clever by GNE management. Make other areas suffer so you can maximise profits. I respect and hate your management in equal degree.

(27 May 2022, 8:21 pm)Shrek wrote I heard a month ago that Go Ahead had been pushing other companies to make cuts that would save Arriva/Stagecoach money that would also help GNE when they made their huge cuts. Basically they're hoping other companies making cuts will save their own bad PR. This was one of the moves they'd been pushing for. Very clever by GNE management. Make other areas suffer so you can maximise profits. I respect and hate your management in equal degree.

(27 May 2022, 8:21 pm)Shrek wrote I heard a month ago that Go Ahead had been pushing other companies to make cuts that would save Arriva/Stagecoach money that would also help GNE when they made their huge cuts. Basically they're hoping other companies making cuts will save their own bad PR. This was one of the moves they'd been pushing for. Very clever by GNE management. Make other areas suffer so you can maximise profits. I respect and hate your management in equal degree.

(28 May 2022, 12:17 pm)L469 YVK wrote To give Arriva some credit, the evening timings of the 43/44/45 departures at xx:05, xx:25 and xx:25 are a sensible move with a 20 min core frequency and a 20/40 split with the 43/45 to Wideopen.

I've had my fair share of digs with Arriva but they're starting to get things right in Northumbria especially with the X8/X9 route swap between Blyth & Shankhouse. If they keep their fleet tidy (but not OTT), get rid of the deadwood services with some handy links created (i.e X8 replaced by X7 and a sister service to the 43) and push the post 11pm departures to Blyth & Ashington back more towards 23:20-23:30ish, they'd be on a winner without a great deal of effort or cost.