(08 Dec 2023, 6:16 pm)garym67 wrote How about the X30/X31 actually turning up when they are meant to? The reliability is appalling and must be one of the worst performing routes with frequent gaps in the service. Was hoping it might be better after the strikes but no, this week has been as bad as ever.

(08 Dec 2023, 8:36 pm)L469 YVK wrote If the 6/12 could be sorted to interwork again......extending the X30 to Lanchester in place of the 6 and a long layover at Stanley for the X31 (with same bus used for vans / reliefs from Consett) would be the better idea.

Something like
X31 (STY > NCL) - X30 (NCL > LAN) - X30 (LAN > NCL) - X31 (NCL < STY)

Then that sorts the reliability issues out with a decent layover in Lanchester and a long layover / remote relief in Stanley. And......it sorts the Ellison Road issue out too with no other routes depending on it! From what I've heard tonight with the HMRC/DSS moves from the 3x Offices (Tyneview, Longbenton, Washington).......the X10 won't get any quieter with the latter with people travelling into Newcastle from nearby areas, and will need more suitable vehicles if frequency increased or X9 re-introduced.

So if the X30/X31 change was made.......
- 6336-40 - Consett - X30/X31 (PVR 4 + 1 spare)
- 6341-55 - Riverside - X9/X10 (PVR 7)** & X21 (PVR 8)**

** Spares would consist of 6377 or B9TL's with E400's taking priority on X9/X10.

(08 Dec 2023, 10:01 pm)Storx wrote Driver cancellations are the problem for the X30/X31 rather than time keeping, I believe.

For the 12 though if there's no plans for that or the 57 to ever be upped in frequency again, you'd probably be better merging the 12 and 57 as one super route. If I've worked it out it should be around a 168 minute round trip so would be a PVR 6, which is a reduction of 1 (currently 7). Could move E200MMC's back to Riverside and allocate them on that and the X66 and give a much needed improvement for both.

The 57 sitting around for 20 minutes or so in Newcastle, as it does now, is bad timetabling. Would also give a direct link from Newcastle Business Park to Gateshead and beyond.

(09 Dec 2023, 10:09 am)L469 YVK wrote Doesn't sound a bad idea to be honest.

However, something needs done with Consett's interworking patterns, as the E400's would be way more suited elsewhere where the extra muscle is needed.

A single fleet of E400 covering both the X10 & X21 at Riverside would sort a number of issues out including not having the same vehicles getting a daily hammering down the A19, plus would allow the TVT B9TL's to be parked up on Sundays with E400s covering the Sunday 10/10A/10B boards.

(13 Dec 2023, 1:16 am)logidoodah wrote Here are my GNE Gateshead changes if I were to overhaul the lot... 
If a service is not mentioned expect it not to change. 
Please see this map for a diagram.

(13 Dec 2023, 1:16 am)logidoodah wrote Here are my GNE Gateshead changes if I were to overhaul the lot... 
If a service is not mentioned expect it not to change. 
Please see this map for a diagram.
...

(27 Dec 2023, 11:17 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Seen as there is BSIP money floating about...

This is the opportunity to create bus routes and make other routes faster....

We all love a debate about Hadrian Park (sigh) and Wiltshire Drive (sigh)

But the current format supported by Nexus on an evening and Sunday is not working (41A and 351 impartiular) with an add on of the 342

The area needs a revamp in terms of "public money" aka the tax payer which means we have a fantastic opportunity to do a trial and error
My thoughts also include to use the Coast Road Corridor agreement and the ability to create using "smart ticketing plus" a new quicker and faster brand of ticket for Nexus to promote

If we concentrate on Sunday and  evening scenarios as an example of bus services not passenger usage to keep it simple.

My thoughts is to abolish the service 41A on an evening but reinvest the cost savings into another bus...

We have experts on this page who will look into costings and bus usage etc...

My thoughts is operate start a bus service say outside Haymarket bus station go via St Mary Place past civic then at Sandyford turn right and
go past the student accommodation towards byker bridge turn left through Byker High Street and pass chilli Road metro Station and Walkergate metro to Wallsend visit Wallsend Metro Station then operate the 41A to Wiltshire Drive and a one route round the loop and up to Asda Benton round Holystone then visit Northumberland Park and down via Cobalt past the Middle Engine Lane Police Station or silverlink to link with the (Stagecoach 22 hint) then up round the haridan Park loop and operate a 41A route to Mullen Road round the loop again of Wiltshite drive to wallsend and back to haymarket

The 41a secured service could be removed

The 351 secured service could be incorporated

A new ticket of say Nexus secured plus could be created meaning any ticket purchased on a secured service can enable the passenger to get off and use a faster bus to get to the destination

Like a transfer however bus to metro or bus to bus  but for no additional cost.

After all the tax payer Is paying for fresh air to operate so there is no real loss

The inconvenience is changing buses but if it saves 200k a year (hypothetical figure) it's advisable to use a trial and error.

Another criticism is gonna be takes too long to Newcastle City Centre ...tuff... that is what the Nexus Secured plus ticket is designed for to make the journey quicker

City centres don't have supermarket's anymore which is why I suggested to go via Wallsend onto Byker meaning morrisons and Asda BnM home bargains poundland MandS to name a few as well as metro stations links new links to cobalt or quicker ones perhaps as well as new links Wallsend to Palmersville Metro using this service may be quicker than sitting on a metro round the loop

Bus services should be connecting communities not following suit and if the tax payer are picking up the cost we need a vested interest on how to make it better or interesting bit save money in the short and long term and take financial risks too

(28 Dec 2023, 1:03 am)Storx wrote See I'd do the opposite on the Eastern side and send absolutely nothing towards Newcastle with a little mini network like this using the Northumberland Park interchange



Each of those services would run every 30 minutes with the Green and Yellow services being ran with little buses and the purple and pink lines being ran with at least MPD's (the purple doing the full 19 route from Cramlington to North Shields).

With proper through ticketing, the timing's will be similar with the Metro change but the services will be reliable as they're not impacted by the serious traffic issues around Corner House or whatever.

The completely pointless W1/W2 would be withdrawn in the process, with places like Wellfield now having a reasonable interchange to head towards town without doubling back. It would solve most the corridors of I want an x service complaints locally. Marden to NT Hospital in particular and up the Cobalt to Northumberland Park so it's turn up and go unlike now.

Some would complain about forced interchanges but it's called integration in most other countries.

(29 Dec 2023, 1:57 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Has there ever been an express 53 or 54? Would a fast Saltwell Road Service (via Central/Redheugh) get used today?

(28 Dec 2023, 11:37 pm)L469 YVK wrote 'The Metro mini's'

To be honest......this wouldn't be the worst idea in the world! Surely this is what the BSIP should be used for and backed by by TNE.

As you say with through ticketing and proper integration including timetabling, could be onto a winner.

(30 Dec 2023, 10:19 am)RMF1254 wrote No problem with Metro integration, I used it for years until it was ruined by deregulation. The only problem I have is frequency. It’s fine for journeys connecting into a 10 minute frequency Metro but the reverse is the problem. If your connection is half hourly you’re left with a long wait at Wallsend bus station if the train is running late - not the best place to wait at any time. Connecting buses need to be at least every 20 minutes at least which I can’t see happening I’m afraid. Frequency is the only thing that will get people to accept transferring which is what I have observed in Europe.

(30 Dec 2023, 10:19 am)RMF1254 wrote No problem with Metro integration, I used it for years until it was ruined by deregulation. The only problem I have is frequency. It’s fine for journeys connecting into a 10 minute frequency Metro but the reverse is the problem. If your connection is half hourly you’re left with a long wait at Wallsend bus station if the train is running late - not the best place to wait at any time. Connecting buses need to be at least every 20 minutes at least which I can’t see happening I’m afraid. Frequency is the only thing that will get people to accept transferring which is what I have observed in Europe.

(31 Dec 2023, 7:23 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote There is a way we can use integration of forcing passengers to use the metro at stations.

The best example we have is any buses south of tyne terminate at Gateshead  (only services that terminate at Newcastle and Market Street etc... )

Eg:-  21 56 X1 x21 etc ...

Have a deal with Metro where During the tyne bridge disruption  buses terminate and start at Gateshead  the tickets are valid to use the metro to station's Haymarket Momument and central station

Cross services buses like 1 may need to split service  short to medium term this will improve reliability as no doubt there will be massive queues and delays

We often see services terminating at Gateshead if they are running late to get back to timetable

Also bear in mind new trains should be more reliable  and it is a boost to Gateshead town centre with footfall

(31 Dec 2023, 8:31 pm)Unber43 wrote 58 should go through, as whats the point of going say from Windy Nook to come back into Heworth to then go into Newcastle

Its more long distanced.

(31 Dec 2023, 10:01 pm)Unber43 wrote Honestly, the big issue here is cars. We shoudlnt be cutting bus routes, no one can be bothered to change 3 times to get to Newcastle when the car goes direct, park and rides and proper bus routes which reflect customer demands would be much better

(31 Dec 2023, 10:20 pm)Unber43 wrote Durham PVR, was...before COVID.

(31 Dec 2023, 10:45 pm)Unber43 wrote Is that not due to lack of advertising and investment from local authorities