(25 Oct 2015, 1:37 pm)Lm2606 wrote What bus will then become the spare?
I don't know. The service is as fine as it is. The layover at Blyth always gets the service back on track, in my opinion.
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(25 Oct 2015, 1:15 pm)NK53 TKT wrote I always use the X9 to get to Cramlington, even though it takes longer BECAUSE it avoids the A19. That would annoy me and the people in Beacon Hill would have no bus to Newcastle. The rest I like
(25 Oct 2015, 8:37 pm)NK53 TKT wrote Mad a route is either branded or not branded, least if there's no WiFi you get the seats that you sink into
(27 Oct 2015, 2:32 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Or you get a bus that may have seats that you can sink into, but can't get on as there is a wheelchair/buggy/trolley/seat hogging idiot in the wheelchair/pushchair space.
What the 35 needs is a high capacity double deck vehicle with separated wheelchair and pushchair spaces.
(26 Dec 2015, 5:15 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Boxing Day service from Blyth Depot between 0800 and 1900ish:
X21 (PVR = 2):
- Every 60 mins between Ashington and Newcastle. Same route as X21 to Bedlington then X22 to Newcastle
X10/X11 (PVR = 5):
- Every 60 mins each serving normal routes between Blyth and Cramlington then 43 route between Cramlington and Newcastle
X14 (PVR = 3):
- Every 60 mins serving same route as 35 to Morpeth then normal route from there to Newcastle
306/308 (PVR = 8):
- Normal Sunday service (almost) but all boards provided by Blyth Depot
Will add to this later.
(26 Dec 2015, 5:48 pm)GX03 SVC wrote X21/X22 both operate every 30 minutes combined along normal routes curtailed at Ashington and interworking.
35 operates as a stand alone route.
X14 runs half-hourly between Morpeth and Newcastle.
X7 operates along normal route providing a link to Seaton Delaval Interworks with X10 which operates via Wide Open.
Service X18 operates between Alnwick and Morpeth only along usual route, but Interworks with 35 and passengers loaded onto a waiting X14, this ensures that delays in Newcastle don't cause knock-on effects to service 35.
(26 Dec 2015, 6:31 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Passengers would have to change in Morpeth from a 35 or X18 onto the X14. The 35 and X18 would interwork.If you're operating this all from one depot, I think drivers from all three would be needed, I imagine these timetables will be tight. A Blyth driver who has been shown the route once isn't going to know where to make up time as well as a Jesmond or Ashington driver would, who drive the route day in day out.
What I'm going to do later is try and time the following boards:
- X10 / X11 / 44/ 45
- 35 / X14
- X18
The 306, 308 and X7 would be no issue to run on Boxing Day. It's the other routes and although a near enough Sunday service could be justified in the future and more depots opening, costs initially have to be kept to a minimum and that includes keeping one depot open. Drivers from Jesmond and Ashington could also apply for overtime if not enough drivers from Blyth were available.
(26 Dec 2015, 7:26 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Services 1 and 2 have to run on Boxing Day too. The 1 between Blyth and Ashington and the 2 between Morpeth and Blyth is just like the 35 in terms of demand.
(26 Dec 2015, 9:13 pm)tyresmoke wrote I expect that if we are to start doing a limited Boxing Day service, it would work from one single depot just like Yorkshire operate their services.
(26 Dec 2015, 9:44 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Ashington depot - as they have the highest spec vehicles (Sapphire) which can be used on MAX routes.Was thinking Ashington was far more logical than Blyth, as they also have a higher number of high capacity vehicles if needed.Far better location wise as well.
35/X18 - PVR 4 - 3x MAX X20 B7s and 1x Sapphire X21/X22 E400 - interworks at Morpeth, providing short Alnwick-Morpeth service. As one X20 B7 will be at Alnwick, a Sapphire E400 will cover that vehicle.
X21/X22 - PVR 4 - 4x Sapphire X21/X22 E400 - interworks at Ashington with no service to Newbiggin
121 - PVR 1 - 1x Arriva MPD - providing shuttle bus between Ashington and Wansbeck Hospital
X10 - PVR 4 - 4x Sapphire X21/X22 E400 - X10 extended to Ashington via Bebside and 1 route, also runs via Wide Open.
X7 - PVR 2 - 2x Sapphire X21/X22 E400
X14 - PVR 4 - 4x Sapphire X21/X22 E400 - Every 30 minutes
2 - PVR 2 - 2x Arriva MPD
In total:-
15x Sapphire Enviro400s
3x MAX X20 B7s
3x Arriva MPDs
(17 Jan 2016, 9:08 pm)Andreos1 wrote Trying to look at how links between Guisborough and Saltburn can be improved - not the easiest.
The only thing I can think of, is an extension of the X3A, which involves re-routing the service in Skelton.
Rather than the current Saltburn - Skelton - Asda - Skelton -Saltburn; I would re-route it as Saltburn - Asda - Skelton - Guisborough. It would use the bypass to Asda, then High St, Coniston Road, Marske Lane, A173, Guisborough.