well details regarding Bus Services in the North West is now coming online.

Yet again there will be special Christmas Day Buses running in Merseyside and Special Timetables will be in affect on Boxing day/ New Years Day

Merseytravel are going to post a Detailed List and Timetables online on November 21st

What are the Buses like near you?

(15 Nov 2013, 1:49 pm)Terence Price wrote well details regarding Bus Services in the North West is now coming online.

Yet again there will be special Christmas Day Buses running in Merseyside and Special Timetables will be in affect on Boxing day/ New Years Day

Merseytravel are going to post a Detailed List and Timetables online on November 21st

What are the Buses like near you?

Nothing on Xmas Day and New Years day, skeleton services on boxing day, early finishes on 24th and 31st, and lots of Saturday and Sunday services

(15 Nov 2013, 2:49 pm)aureolin wrote Nothing on Xmas Day and New Years day, skeleton services on boxing day, early finishes on 24th and 31st, and lots of Saturday and Sunday services

Is it normally Saturday Service between the 27th-2nd Jan(excluding 1st Jan of Course), with services getting back to normal on the 3rd Jan

Just looked at Merseytravel website and they put the booklet back until tomoz!

Normally this is what happens up here:

MERSEYSIDE:

24th December: Normal Service but Buses finish at around 8pm
25th December: only Merseytravels free services run, they start at around 12pm and finish at around 6pm
26th December: Special Bus Timetables in operation, some services run whereas some dont, overall Buses start at around 8am and finish at around 7pm
27th December: Normal Friday Service
28th December: Normal Saturday Service
29th December: Normal Sunday Service
30th December: Normal Monday Service
31st December: Normal Tuseday Service with Buses finishing around 8pm
1st January: Special Timetables in operation, some services run whereas some dont, overall Buses start around 9am and finish around 6:30pm
2nd January: Saturday Service
3rd January: Normal Service Resumes

GREATER MANCHESTER:

24th December: Normal Service but Buses finish around 8pm
25th December: only Service running is the special Manchester city Centre - Manchester Airport Bus
26th December: Special Timetables in operation some Buses run whereas others dont, overall Buses start around 9am and finish around 8pm
27th December: Normal Friday Service
28th December: Normal Saturday Service
29th December: Normal Sunday Service
30th December: Normal Monday Service
31st December: Normal Tuseday Service but Buses finish around 8pm
1st January: Special Timetables in Opertation, some routes run whereas others dont, overall Buses start around 10am and finish around 7pm
2nd January: Saturday Service
3rd January: Normal Service resumes

Stagecoach buses will be revised, as follows: (North East)

Tuesday 24 December - Saturday timetables, but finishing around 1800 – 1830.
Wednesday 25 December - No service
Thursday 26 December - A limited skeleton service will be operated, between approx 1000 - 1800.
Friday 27 December - Saturday timetables.
Saturday 28 December - Normal Saturday timetables.
Sunday 29 December - Normal Sunday timetables.
Monday 30 December - Saturday timetables.
Tuesday 31 December - Saturday timetables, but finishing around 1800 – 1830.
Wednesday 1 January - No service
Thursday 2 January - Normal services resume

Go North East -
Christmas Eve – Tuesday 24 December Buses will operate a Saturday service with last departures between 1800 and 1900.

Christmas Day – Wednesday 25 December Buses do not operate on Christmas Day.

Boxing Day – Thursday 26 December - Special services

Friday 27 and Saturday 28 December - Buses will be operating a Saturday service on these days.

Sunday 29 December - Buses will operate a Sunday service

Monday 30 December - Buses will operate a Saturday service

New Years Eve – Tuesday 31 December - Buses will operate a Saturday service with last departures between 1800 and 1900

New Years Day – Wednesday 1 January 2014 - Buses do not operate on New Years Day

Thursday 2 until Friday 3 January 2014 - Buses will operate a Monday to Friday service.

Any journeys which operate on school days only will not operate.
Saturday 4 January 2014 - Normal services resume

Services Operating - Boxing Day services 2013
2A / 2C Washington – Sunderland - 20 mins
4 - Heworth - Galleries - Fallowfield Way - 20 mins
9 - Jarrow - Boldon - Sunderland - 30 mins
10A / 10B - Newcastle - Metrocentre - Rockwood Hill / Prudhoe - 15 mins
20 - Sunderland – Durham -30 mins
21 - Newcastle - Chester-le-Street – Durham - 10 mins (To Durham 30 mins)
26 - Sunderland – Downhill - 30 mins
27 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Jarrow - South Shields - 20 mins
35B / 35C - South Shields - Sunderland - Low Moorsley/South Hetton - 30 mins
42 - Sunderland - Hollycarrside – Silksworth - 15 mins
43 / 44 - Newcastle - Metrocentre - Dipton/Stanley - 30 mins
47 - Newcastle - Metrocentre - Blackhall Mill – Consett - 30 mins
49 / 49B - Gateshead - Metrocentre – Winlaton - 15 mins
51 / 52 - Gateshead - Heworth – Wrekenton - 30 mins
53 / 54 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Saltwell Park circular - 20 mins
56 - Sunderland - Hylton Castle - Concord – Newcastle - 20 mins
58 - Heworth - Newcastle - Hadrian Park - 15 mins
60 - Sunderland - Ryhope – Seaham -30 mins
88 - Lukes Lane - Hebburn - Jarrow - South Shields - 30 mins
97 - Newcastle - Bensham - Whickham – Metrocentre - 30 mins
309 - Blyth - Whitley Bay - Billy Mill - Coast Road - Newcastle. Not serving Cobalt Park - 30 mins
310 - North Shields - Hadrian Park - Coast Road – Newcastle - 30 mins
X1 - Easington Lane - Houghton-le-Spring - Galleries - Newcastle - 20 mins
X31 - Lanchester - Stanley - Gateshead – Newcastle - Hourly
X40 - Great Park - Gosforth - Newcastle
X50 - Newcastle - Metrocentre
X66 - Gateshead - Metrocentre 10 mins


Arriva - Don't open so other Companies operate their services :p

Not sure which companies are running what services..

(21 Nov 2013, 10:44 am)Michael wrote Stagecoach buses will be revised, as follows: (North East)

Tuesday 24 December - Saturday timetables, but finishing around 1800 – 1830.
Wednesday 25 December - No service
Thursday 26 December - A limited skeleton service will be operated, between approx 1000 - 1800.
Friday 27 December - Saturday timetables.
Saturday 28 December - Normal Saturday timetables.
Sunday 29 December - Normal Sunday timetables.
Monday 30 December - Saturday timetables.
Tuesday 31 December - Saturday timetables, but finishing around 1800 – 1830.
Wednesday 1 January - No service
Thursday 2 January - Normal services resume

Go North East -
Christmas Eve – Tuesday 24 December Buses will operate a Saturday service with last departures between 1800 and 1900.

Christmas Day – Wednesday 25 December Buses do not operate on Christmas Day.

Boxing Day – Thursday 26 December - Special services

Friday 27 and Saturday 28 December - Buses will be operating a Saturday service on these days.

Sunday 29 December - Buses will operate a Sunday service

Monday 30 December - Buses will operate a Saturday service

New Years Eve – Tuesday 31 December - Buses will operate a Saturday service with last departures between 1800 and 1900

New Years Day – Wednesday 1 January 2014 - Buses do not operate on New Years Day

Thursday 2 until Friday 3 January 2014 - Buses will operate a Monday to Friday service.

Any journeys which operate on school days only will not operate.
Saturday 4 January 2014 - Normal services resume

Services Operating - Boxing Day services 2013
2A / 2C Washington – Sunderland - 20 mins
4 - Heworth - Galleries - Fallowfield Way - 20 mins
9 - Jarrow - Boldon - Sunderland - 30 mins
10A / 10B - Newcastle - Metrocentre - Rockwood Hill / Prudhoe - 15 mins
20 - Sunderland – Durham -30 mins
21 - Newcastle - Chester-le-Street – Durham - 10 mins (To Durham 30 mins)
26 - Sunderland – Downhill - 30 mins
27 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Jarrow - South Shields - 20 mins
35B / 35C - South Shields - Sunderland - Low Moorsley/South Hetton - 30 mins
42 - Sunderland - Hollycarrside – Silksworth - 15 mins
43 / 44 - Newcastle - Metrocentre - Dipton/Stanley - 30 mins
47 - Newcastle - Metrocentre - Blackhall Mill – Consett - 30 mins
49 / 49B - Gateshead - Metrocentre – Winlaton - 15 mins
51 / 52 - Gateshead - Heworth – Wrekenton - 30 mins
53 / 54 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Saltwell Park circular - 20 mins
56 - Sunderland - Hylton Castle - Concord – Newcastle - 20 mins
58 - Heworth - Newcastle - Hadrian Park - 15 mins
60 - Sunderland - Ryhope – Seaham -30 mins
88 - Lukes Lane - Hebburn - Jarrow - South Shields - 30 mins
97 - Newcastle - Bensham - Whickham – Metrocentre - 30 mins
309 - Blyth - Whitley Bay - Billy Mill - Coast Road - Newcastle. Not serving Cobalt Park - 30 mins
310 - North Shields - Hadrian Park - Coast Road – Newcastle - 30 mins
X1 - Easington Lane - Houghton-le-Spring - Galleries - Newcastle - 20 mins
X31 - Lanchester - Stanley - Gateshead – Newcastle - Hourly
X40 - Great Park - Gosforth - Newcastle
X50 - Newcastle - Metrocentre
X66 - Gateshead - Metrocentre 10 mins


Arriva - Don't open so other Companies operate their services :p

Not sure which companies are running what services..

Just looking at the List above for the GNE Services on Boxing Day, And I have had a few Ideas, I'll use Washington as an Example here as I live in the Area.

So in Washington there are quite a few Areas without a Service on Boxing Day which Include: Rickleton/Ayton/Oxclose/Blackfell/Brady Square/Barmston Court and Barmston.

So why not have a few Services Extend there Routes to Serve these Areas, Even if it's just at an Hourly Frequency.

Example:

4 - Heworth - Galleries - Fallowfield Way - Harraton - Rickleton - Ayton - Lambton - Galleries - Heworth - 20 mins

2C - Normal Service to Harraton via Rickleton/Ayton and Lambton to The Galleries

56 - Normal Route to Fire Station next to Sulgrave then Via Barmston/Washington Village/Glebe/Washington Galleries and Oxclose/Blackfell, then onto Concord where it would resume it Normal Route to Newcastle

Or Alternatively - You could have the Independents like Classic and Stanley Travel operate Shuttle Services around the Affected areas of Washington

(21 Nov 2013, 8:26 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Just looking at the List above for the GNE Services on Boxing Day, And I have had a few Ideas, I'll use Washington as an Example here as I live in the Area.

So in Washington there are quite a few Areas without a Service on Boxing Day which Include: Rickleton/Ayton/Oxclose/Blackfell/Brady Square/Barmston Court and Barmston.

So why not have a few Services Extend there Routes to Serve these Areas, Even if it's just at an Hourly Frequency.

Example:

4 - Heworth - Galleries - Fallowfield Way - Harraton - Rickleton - Ayton - Lambton - Galleries - Heworth - 20 mins

2C - Normal Service to Harraton via Rickleton/Ayton and Lambton to The Galleries

56 - Normal Route to Fire Station next to Sulgrave then Via Barmston/Washington Village/Glebe/Washington Galleries and Oxclose/Blackfell, then onto Concord where it would resume it Normal Route to Newcastle

Or Alternatively - You could have the Independents like Classic and Stanley Travel operate Shuttle Services around the Affected areas of Washington

No idea what happened there - but here is my reply...

Something needs to be done.
For a town the size of Washington, to receive that level of service is in a word - poor.

It will be interesting to see the numbers getting on/off at Galleries Interchange, particularly with so few services running and a lot of it being duplicated (Sunderland - Fatfield and Fatfield - Galleries).

I dont understand why they cant put a bus on to Murton, even if it was only to one per hour, it would only need one vehicle to run it, quite a few Corridors in County Durham gets a service on Service on Boxing Day(Chester, Durham, Stanley and Consett), why not Murton, it makes sense to me, I have heard people grumble about it for years now.

With how commercial Christmas has become now, I am surprised that Boxing Day services arent run on a Bank Holiday schedule, the last few years I have been to Sunderland or Newcastle and there seems to be the same numbers out as a Sunday and Bank Holiday as there is always a game of football somewhere

Hi all, more news online from this end!

Christmas Day Bus Timetables are now online!

http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/promotion...202013.pdf

Also A brief summery of the Christmas Period is also online! Including Details of North West Vichale Restore Trusts special Bus Service!

http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/promotion...rvices.pdf

So ACE and Stagecoach on 10X/194X/195X then - a bit of variety.

Not happy about Arriva St Helens running a Saturday service on 23/24 December - still in work on those days. Still thankful it's not a Sunday service as I wouldn't get there lol.

(22 Nov 2013, 4:50 pm)St Helens Rider wrote So ACE and Stagecoach on 10X/194X/195X then - a bit of variety.

Not happy about Arriva St Helens running a Saturday service on 23/24 December - still in work on those days. Still thankful it's not a Sunday service as I wouldn't get there lol.

I have not a clue why they doing a Saturday timetable but its daft! i can see services like the 320 and 620 being jam packed all day.

I think its a disgrace we have no bus services on two days of the year and early finishes in on Xmas Eve & NYE in the 21st Century.

(23 Nov 2013, 11:07 am)idiot wrote I think its a disgrace we have no bus services on two days of the year and early finishes in on Xmas Eve & NYE in the 21st Century.

I can understand Christmas Day but not New Years Day.

Easter Sunday. Everything is shut (retail wise) by law yet we get a full Sunday service. New Years Day- becoming a big Christmas shopping day and there's generally a home football game on (Sunderland at home this year, Newcastle previous year) - no service at all

(23 Nov 2013, 11:31 am)gtomlinson wrote I can understand Christmas Day but not New Years Day.

Easter Sunday. Everything is shut (retail wise) by law yet we get a full Sunday service. New Years Day- becoming a big Christmas shopping day and there's generally a home football game on (Sunderland at home this year, Newcastle previous year) - no service at all

Yeah I think a similar Skelton service should be run on Boxing Day and New Years Day. Christmas Day no buses is fine a lot of people generally stay in for a traditional Christmas, but News Years Day is different. I've got work and it is always a home game for one of local sides, shops are open etc. some services should be run.

We now have the information for Boxing Day/New Years Day on Merseyside:

http://www.merseytravel.gov.uk/promotion...rvices.pdf

Same as normal then. The usual later finish on the outbound Liverpool compared to everywhere. Also what is so special about South Liverpool and Maghull that they get evening Merseytravel contracts on New Years Day when everywhere else is busless. The taxi's will have a field day looking at this info.

The Football Supporters Federation are bringing this up at their next meeting with plans to ask clubs to move games in areas with no public transport.

If drivers insist they need a day off (in a service industry) why not switch it with Easter Sunday when shops are closed, there's no football and its less damaging

(30 Dec 2013, 2:37 pm)gtomlinson wrote The Football Supporters Federation are bringing this up at their next meeting with plans to ask clubs to move games in areas with no public transport.

If drivers insist they need a day off (in a service industry) why not switch it with Easter Sunday when shops are closed, there's no football and its less damaging

Not all shops are closed on Easter Sunday, I was out and about in Sunderland last easter, I remember Asda being shut though

(30 Dec 2013, 3:36 pm)fozzovmurton wrote Not all shops are closed on Easter Sunday, I was out and about in Sunderland last easter, I remember Asda being shut though

All large shops and shopping centres are closed. Only small shops such as your local Tesco express style are open

The situation is crazy on Merseyside. Severely reduced services on Boxing Day and New Years Day. No problem with New Years Day as the trains are running then but Boxing Day should be a modified Saturday Service. Interesting idea though swapping Easter Sunday with Boxing Day in terms of levels of service.

In this day and age the only day when I think buses aren't required at all is Christmas Day. Every other day some sort of bus is required I do believe, Boxing Day is becoming more and more popular just looking at Flickr streams you can see demand is there for certain service and Go North East run commercial services which must make profit despite higher costs to run them.
New Years Day is another one when I do believe Asda supermarkets are open? At least I believe Peterlee/Seaham are. There's also a premier league match at the Stadium of Light yet there's not buses on, you only have to look at how packed the 56 is on a match day!
I think a GNE Boxing Day style service is required on New Years Day. And I think maybe a increased service is required by all operators on Boxing Day. No buses Christmas Day.

I know people will shout and say bus drivers need a rest too, but at the end of the day certain jobs require certain demands. Hospitality, catering, public services are required on bank holidays etc. Certain jobs require a lot of working away, a lot of working from home out of hours and every job is the same.

(30 Dec 2013, 11:44 pm)CatsFast101 wrote I know people will shout and say bus drivers need a rest too, but at the end of the day certain jobs require certain demands. Hospitality, catering, public services are required on bank holidays etc. Certain jobs require a lot of working away, a lot of working from home out of hours and every job is the same.

The modern world is moving to a 24/7 way of working. People want access to services at extended hours, whether it be the bank, the supermarket, or the transport to get there. It's a culture change that everyone in the service industry is having to go through, as they aim to meet the demands of their customers.

I don't know how driver shifts work or whatever, but I'd imagine operators nowadays bring new recruits in on lesser terms and conditions than long serving staff. I wholeheartedly agree that drivers need a rest too, as does every employee in every company. Why does it have to be on a bank holiday though? There is no legal requirement for an employer to give an employee time off on a bank holiday. Going forward, surely it's got to be a better solution to include it in holiday entitlement instead, and drivers are still getting the said rest, but not necessarily on the day of a bank holiday.

There is also a wider question regarding Sundays. In a lot of areas the Sunday is either minimal or non-existent which given that at certain times of year, daytime in Town/City Centres can be just a busy as a weekday is a bit of a scandal and causes quite a lot of social exclusion for those without their own transport.