(21 Apr 2020, 1:22 pm)JP6004 wrote Maybe the frequency has dropped because there isn't the demand there once was. If the demand was there back then and now, the link would have continued. And the numbers have only dropped because majority of people can use 20 to complete their full journey. Its quicker than 35 is on the sunderland to Houghton section.

As Spock said, the needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few

That's defiantly one of the points, of why its been downgraded but also because the Scania Euro 5 upgrade contract said, as previously said they needed to stay in Sunderland because of this, and the only route to get all of them on was was the 35 - after all the other routes were upgraded,however it should be upgraded once Deptford gets the Streetlites from the Red Kite... whether that's Streetlites or another kind of bus.

(21 Apr 2020, 1:33 pm)Michael wrote That's defiantly one of the points, of why its been downgraded but also because the Scania Euro 5 upgrade contract said, as previously said they needed to stay in Sunderland because of this, and the only route to get all of them on was was the 35 - after all the other routes were upgraded,however it should be upgraded once Deptford gets the Streetlites from the Red Kite... whether that's Streetlites or another kind of bus.

Yes had the original plans gone ahead the citaros would of been on the 35 with the laser L94 going to the 20. Just a culmination of circumstance that lead to the 35 being downgraded. The contract with Sunderland council was a bit crap as buses couldn't be replaced until after the 5yrs. Unlike the agreement with STC and the omnicities. They can be moved before contract expires if new euro 6 buses are purchased for the route

(21 Apr 2020, 1:22 pm)JP6004 wrote  Maybe the frequency has dropped because there isn't the demand there once was. If the demand was there back then and now, the link would have continued. And the numbers have only dropped because majority of people can use 20 to complete their full journey. Its quicker than 35 is on the sunderland to Houghton section.

As Spock said, the needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few

Exactly. I'm one person and I don't use the service now. 
I'd imagine there are many more who are elastic and have the choice and given the option of driving or taxiing there, or sitting on an old, infrequent bus and then having to change, particularly on a cold, wet windy day - I'd hazard a guess as to what the majority would do.

The point has been made many times about the 20 being quicker from Houghton - Sunderland.
Except the majority of the people living in the Houghton DH4 or DH5 postcodes don't live in the town centre or on the 20 route, therefor rendering its journey time compared to the 35 pretty pointless, if you live on part of the 35 route and can't now get to places you need to go - unless you change buses.

(21 Apr 2020, 3:32 pm)Andreos1 wrote Exactly. I'm one person and I don't use the service now. 
I'd imagine there are many more who are elastic and have the choice and given the option of driving or taxiing there, or sitting on an old, infrequent bus and then having to change, particularly on a cold, wet windy day - I'd hazard a guess as to what the majority would do.

The point has been made many times about the 20 being quicker from Houghton - Sunderland.
Except the majority of the people living in the Houghton DH4 or DH5 postcodes don't live in the town centre or on the 20 route, therefor rendering its journey time compared to the 35 pretty pointless, if you live on part of the 35 route and can't now get to places you need to go - unless you change buses.

But that cant be helped when the council stipulated that the L94 had to remain in service at Sunderland. Id imagine they would of gone long ago, same as green arrow. But that route is now prospering even with Xline routes to Newcastle and gateshead.
Perhaps people will be inclined to use the 35 when 15 reg vehicles with all the mod cons are allocated

(21 Apr 2020, 3:37 pm)JP6004 wrote But that cant be helped when the council stipulated that the L94 had to remain in service at Sunderland. Id imagine they would of gone long ago, same as green arrow. But that route is now prospering even with Xline routes to Newcastle and gateshead.
Perhaps people will be inclined to use the 35 when 15 reg vehicles with all the mod cons are allocated

But they knew what they were getting when they signed the agreement for the mods. It's not as if it was a surprise that suddenly sneaked up on them after the event.
I was mentioning contract restrictions on here as soon as the council funding was brought up, so I'd hazard a guess that the big cheeses had some idea. 

Fingers crossed the newer vehicles do make a positive impression. I really hope the numbers stack up and not too much damage has been done.

(20 Apr 2020, 8:23 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Is the 35 one of the most downgraded routes in the network?  I remember when it was the Laser with new Mercs....can't remember now but did the downgrade to Solars coincide with the loss of the Shields section, or something else?  Presume the route that remains is (in normal times - not re Covid) not lucrative hence the downgrade if so?

Remember you posting this but just thought the 6/M6/M7/M8 (Old 43/44) has to beat the 35 in terms of downgrades. It's had so many changes in terms of buses, none of them positive, but it's also had a massive downgrade in the timetable aswell from a service that used to be every 15 minutes (43/44) and always quite a flagship route (one of the early brands) to now all over the place and some of the communities have just lost some of the connections altogether. Tanobie -> Newcastle and Durham for example.

(26 Apr 2020, 11:28 am)Storx wrote Remember you posting this but just thought the 6/M6/M7/M8 (Old 43/44) has to beat the 35 in terms of downgrades. It's had so many changes in terms of buses, none of them positive, but it's also had a massive downgrade in the timetable aswell from a service that used to be every 15 minutes (43/44) and always quite a flagship route (one of the early brands) to now all over the place and some of the communities have just lost some of the connections altogether. Tanobie -> Newcastle and Durham for example.

But travel patterns have changed over the years particularly with regards to the 6.

- Stanley and Sunniside to Newcastle is now well served with the X30/X31 every 15 minutes as well as the X70/X71.
- Catchgate and Annfield Plain covered by X30 (albeit slightly limited during Monday to Friday afternoons, I'm sure GNE will rectify this going forward if demand is there).
- A lot of the 6 route between Stanley and Sunniside is covered by the faster X70/X71.

(26 Apr 2020, 11:46 am)L469 YVK wrote But travel patterns have changed over the years particularly with regards to the 6.

- Stanley and Sunniside to Newcastle is now well served with the X30/X31 every 15 minutes as well as the X70/X71.
- Catchgate and Annfield Plain covered by X30 (albeit slightly limited during Monday to Friday afternoons, I'm sure GNE will rectify this going forward if demand is there).
- A lot of the 6 route between Stanley and Sunniside is covered by the faster X70/X71.

I don't know the area that well but didn't they exist when the 43 and 44 was around (West Durham Swift I believe their brand was)? I can't really comment on people using them though was just a reply to has anything had a worse downgrade than the 35.

(26 Apr 2020, 6:12 pm)Storx wrote I don't know the area that well but didn't they exist when the 43 and 44 was around (West Durham Swift I believe their brand was)? I can't really comment on people using them though was just a reply to has anything had a worse downgrade than the 35.

43 and 44 were Diamond
West durham Swift was X70/X71/X30/X31

Loading were great on 43/44 however when more direct services were introduced on the old X43 service (M6 etc) they reduced service to half hourly.

I only used 43/44 between whickham and burnopfield. Or if i was out drinking in town and caught last bus home. Didnt like the route being carved up, but if people travels warranted it then can understand.
But now that citaros reallocated to the 6, theres been no real downgrade other than the fact it's not branded

(26 Apr 2020, 10:07 pm)JP6004 wrote 43 and 44 were Diamond
West durham Swift was X70/X71/X30/X31

Loading were great on 43/44 however when more direct services were introduced on the old X43 service (M6 etc) they reduced service to half hourly.

I only used 43/44 between whickham and burnopfield. Or if i was out drinking in town and caught last bus home. Didnt like the route being carved up, but if people travels warranted it then can understand.
But now that citaros reallocated to the 6, theres been no real downgrade other than the fact it's not branded

Stanley Shuttle was the original brand. Think there was a few variations of the numbering system. 43/43A/44/44B and the like. 
Got my last ride on a Lance on whichever one went to Dipton on the way to Stanley. Destinations non existent and the number scribbled on a piece of paper. That would have probably been just before the 2006 changes when all the repainting was going on and everything was all over the place. 

I think the Marshall Capitals and Dennis Darts had a vinyl logo and corporate livery when they were first introduced on the routes.

(26 Apr 2020, 10:24 pm)Andreos1 wrote Stanley Shuttle was the original brand. Think there was a few variations of the numbering system. 43/43A/44/44B and the like. 
Got my last ride on a Lance on whichever one went to Dipton on the way to Stanley. Destinations non existent and the number scribbled on a piece of paper. That would have probably been just before the 2006 changes when all the repainting was going on and everything was all over the place. 

I think the Marshall Capitals and Dennis Darts had a vinyl logo and corporate livery when they were first introduced on the routes.

Yes Stanley Shuttle seemed to of incorporated the Starfleet emblem [emoji39]

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(26 Apr 2020, 6:12 pm)Storx wrote I don't know the area that well but didn't they exist when the 43 and 44 was around (West Durham Swift I believe their brand was)? I can't really comment on people using them though was just a reply to has anything had a worse downgrade than the 35.

The X30/X31 only used to run hourly and an evening and Sunday (I think) service didn't exist.

(26 Apr 2020, 10:25 pm)JP6004 wrote Yes Stanley Shuttle seemed to of incorporated the Starfleet emblem  [emoji39]

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I've got no idea what that is or means, so I'll just nod and agree!