The problem is that the X10 fits the route profile of both a coach & bus.

Anything bigger than a 53 seater = bye bye Eldon Square which didn't work well the last time.

And given that both the X9/X10 carried good loads and probably would again if the X9 was re-introducted, deckers are the only option.

Unless GNE went to every 20 minutes using Plaxton Panther LE's, but that would take the PVR to over 10x vehicles and the load numbers would need to be consistently good.

Only other way a sustainable decker operation could happen would be through fleet rotation with a combined fleet working the likes of the X21 and preferably also the 10/10A/10B/12. Basically 1 hard day on the A19 followed by easier days doing the above.

All the ADLs return to the leasing company on Monday

(31 May 2025, 3:25 pm)logidoodah wrote Literally the easiest thing to do (without changing the vehicle rotation around) is to just buy Plaxton Panther LEs. These work really well around Scotland, have no boarding issues, are basically a coach and service bus combined. 

And bonus they fit in Eldon Square too, think back to when they trialled one back in 2019(?). 

And bonus bonus they won't lose the route (and vehicles) with franchising as it is well outside of the area from south of Peterlee!

Alternatively offer to route swap with Stagecoach or Arriva as both of them would be interested as both have more stable networks in Tyneside & Teeside. Of which GNE definitely does not!

Yeah honestly don't disagree at all. They'd be perfect for the route and offer a service which is well above what it is now aswell with the bonus of sorting out the reliability issues.

(31 May 2025, 4:33 pm)L469 YVK wrote The problem is that the X10 fits the route profile of both a coach & bus.

Anything bigger than a 53 seater = bye bye Eldon Square which didn't work well the last time.

And given that both the X9/X10 carried good loads and probably would again if the X9 was re-introducted, deckers are the only option.

Unless GNE went to every 20 minutes using Plaxton Panther LE's, but that would take the PVR to over 10x vehicles and the load numbers would need to be consistently good.

Only other way a sustainable decker operation could happen would be through fleet rotation with a combined fleet working the likes of the X21 and preferably also the 10/10A/10B/12. Basically 1 hard day on the A19 followed by easier days doing the above.

I'm not sure Eldon Square was the real issue last time round; the serious issue was the vehicles, as they had the interdecks on which have horrendously steep steps, well above a normal coach nvm Panther LE's. They were never appropiate for the route. Stagecoach tried them in North Scotland until they were scrapped very quickly aswell due to complaints over the same problems.

If the coaches are full and they're not making money then they're doing something very wrong, I'd imagine there's much more potential for growth as I can tell you with confidence I'd never use the X10 with a conventional bus on; if they had a coach on I could be tempted though if I needed to head down there since the trains are appalling.

if a coach cannot fit in Eldon Square could it fit in Haymarket?

(31 May 2025, 6:32 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote if a coach cannot fit in Eldon Square could it fit in Haymarket?

Is there actually an issue with coaches bar the really long interdeckers, which are hopeless anyway? Arriva and GoNorthEast have both ran coaches into it over the years.

(31 May 2025, 7:06 pm)Storx wrote Is there actually an issue with coaches bar the really long interdeckers, which are hopeless anyway? Arriva and GoNorthEast have both ran coaches into it over the years.

move the bus station locations after all it is cheaper for a bus to depart from Haymarket than Eldon Square

(31 May 2025, 7:53 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote move the bus station locations after all it is cheaper for a bus to depart from Haymarket than Eldon Square

Sorry was talking about Eldon Square there but Haymarket has had coaches with the 518 etc back in the day aswell tbf. 

I know this is a bit off topic from this but Newcastle badly needs a decent coach station or at least some reasonable place as the National Express coach station is a complete dive and miles out of the way and John Dobson Street is completely unacceptable imo and has nothing bar a post. Whatever the solution is, is probably where the X10 really should be leaving from since it's long distance aswell. It's something that's never really spoke about, pretty much every other city in the country including Sunderland, has a much better coach station than Newcastle. Mind it wouldn't take much as a basic bus shelter would be better that what we've got right now.

(31 May 2025, 8:22 pm)Storx wrote Whatever the solution is, is probably where the X10 really should be leaving from since it's long distance aswell.

The following services are all longer distance than the X10, and are operated from a bus station without issue:

685, X12, X15, X16, X18, X20, X74

Not sure why the X10 is any different to the above?

(31 May 2025, 10:42 pm)PH - BQA wrote The following services are all longer distance than the X10, and are operated from a bus station without issue:

685, X12, X15, X16, X18, X20, X74

Not sure why the X10 is any different to the above?

Nature of the route? 

Not sure any of the above have routes as intense as the X10.

---

(31 May 2025, 8:22 pm)Storx wrote Sorry was talking about Eldon Square there but Haymarket has had coaches with the 518 etc back in the day aswell tbf. 

I know this is a bit off topic from this but Newcastle badly needs a decent coach station or at least some reasonable place as the National Express coach station is a complete dive and miles out of the way and John Dobson Street is completely unacceptable imo and has nothing bar a post. Whatever the solution is, is probably where the X10 really should be leaving from since it's long distance aswell. It's something that's never really spoke about, pretty much every other city in the country including Sunderland, has a much better coach station than Newcastle. Mind it wouldn't take much as a basic bus shelter would be better that what we've got right now.

The 685 managed OK in Eldon Square when it was coach operated didn't it?

(31 May 2025, 10:42 pm)PH - BQA wrote The following services are all longer distance than the X10, and are operated from a bus station without issue:

685, X12, X15, X16, X18, X20, X74

Not sure why the X10 is any different to the above?

Personally I'd argue some of those probably should be coaches aswell, especially the X15/X18 which run North of Alnwick. It wouldn't work really without splitting it off from their routes South of Alnwick though but that's another thread but don't see why it couldn't work it the X16 and the dead 777 resources were used for it. Alnwick to Newcastle probably deserves 2 BPH with one only stopping at Morpeth Bus Station and would help the Ashington issues aswell since these are the two which are killing buses every few years aswell. 

These routes are no different to the X's out of Edinburgh which are the only routes which get into their bus station. See: https://bustimes.org/stops/6200600744

(31 May 2025, 11:11 pm)Andreos1 wrote The 685 managed OK in Eldon Square when it was coach operated didn't it?

Yeah I think so, from what I can remember anyway.

(31 May 2025, 5:23 pm)Storx wrote Yeah honestly don't disagree at all. They'd be perfect for the route and offer a service which is well above what it is now aswell with the bonus of sorting out the reliability issues.


I'm not sure Eldon Square was the real issue last time round; the serious issue was the vehicles, as they had the interdecks on which have horrendously steep steps, well above a normal coach nvm Panther LE's. They were never appropiate for the route. Stagecoach tried them in North Scotland until they were scrapped very quickly aswell due to complaints over the same problems.

If the coaches are full and they're not making money then they're doing something very wrong, I'd imagine there's much more potential for growth as I can tell you with confidence I'd never use the X10 with a conventional bus on; if they had a coach on I could be tempted though if I needed to head down there since the trains are appalling.

They are still used on the X6x services between Aberdeen and Peterhead/Fraserbrough.

Just a quick scan on bustimes showed they were out yesterday

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/sblb-54247
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/sblb-54248
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/sblb-54249

(01 Jun 2025, 5:36 am)citaro5284 wrote They are still used on the X6x services between Aberdeen and Peterhead/Fraserbrough.

Just a quick scan on bustimes showed they were out yesterday

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/sblb-54247
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/sblb-54248
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/sblb-54249

Aye different route it was literally North Scotland, on the X99. Was absolute hell on about them.

https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/new...sm-204716/

Arguably even worse than down here.

(31 May 2025, 8:22 pm)Storx wrote Sorry was talking about Eldon Square there but Haymarket has had coaches with the 518 etc back in the day aswell tbf. 

I know this is a bit off topic from this but Newcastle badly needs a decent coach station or at least some reasonable place as the National Express coach station is a complete dive and miles out of the way and John Dobson Street is completely unacceptable imo and has nothing bar a post. Whatever the solution is, is probably where the X10 really should be leaving from since it's long distance aswell. It's something that's never really spoke about, pretty much every other city in the country including Sunderland, has a much better coach station than Newcastle. Mind it wouldn't take much as a basic bus shelter would be better that what we've got right now.

You'd have to demolish half of M&S and the Eldon Square multi storey and combine the two bus stations together. Absolutely something that should be done to make a station suitable for Newcastle, but it's not going to happen.

(31 May 2025, 11:26 pm)Storx wrote Personally I'd argue some of those probably should be coaches aswell, especially the X15/X18 which run North of Alnwick. It wouldn't work really without splitting it off from their routes South of Alnwick though but that's another thread but don't see why it couldn't work it the X16 and the dead 777 resources were used for it. Alnwick to Newcastle probably deserves 2 BPH with one only stopping at Morpeth Bus Station and would help the Ashington issues aswell since these are the two which are killing buses every few years aswell. 

These routes are no different to the X's out of Edinburgh which are the only routes which get into their bus station. See: https://bustimes.org/stops/6200600744


Yeah I think so, from what I can remember anyway.

I travelled on the x18 last Friday afternoon, it came into Morpeth packed, some got off and it left Morpeth virtually full. A coach would have been useless, no luggage space on board, no easy access and probably slower loading. The Enviro 400MMC was perfectly fine and comfortable enough for a speedy run down the A1, plus  a double decker on those routes is great for viewing the superb Northumbrian countryside. Arriva seem to have got it right here, just a shame Ashington lost some MMCs to Redcar / Whitby.

(01 Jun 2025, 9:32 am)RMF1254 wrote I travelled on the x18 last Friday afternoon, it came into Morpeth packed, some got off and it left Morpeth virtually full. A coach would have been useless, no luggage space on board, no easy access and probably slower loading. The Enviro 400MMC was perfectly fine and comfortable enough for a speedy run down the A1, plus  a double decker on those routes is great for viewing the superb Northumbrian countryside. Arriva seem to have got it right here, just a shame Ashington lost some MMCs to Redcar / Whitby.

Difference being is that with Arriva Norhumbria's Ashington operation, the fleet can easily be rotated about. 

Easy day on the X21/35 or X22 then a harder day on the X14/X15/X16/X18/X20.

Their E400 Classics bought in 2014-15 didn't do a bad job and were in no worse state than when GNE's 6043-48 came off the Tyne Tees Xpress after 5 years of service.

Ashington's MMCs 7541-52 as a whole have been alright, and probably had less trouble then some 'newer' StreetDecks in the North East.

GNE's issue with the X10 is that there's no fleet rotation. It's either all or nothing with 6352-55 and 6377. GNE need one single XLines fleet at Riverside covering both the X10 & X21 with a combined PVR of 12x. One hard day on the A19 then two easier days on the X21.

It's evident that E400MMC can be released from Consett for this if GNE reduce Whickham and Dunston back to half-hourly, which is more than sufficient and still double the pre November 2019 capacity when the X30 and peak X97 were single deck operated.

(31 May 2025, 11:11 pm)Andreos1 wrote Nature of the route? 

Not sure any of the above have routes as intense as the X10.

How exactly is the intense nature relevant to them using Eldon Square/Haymarket compared to a coach station?

The post I was replying to said that the X10 should use a coach station due to it being long distance, nothing about how intense it was.

(01 Jun 2025, 9:26 am)deanmachine wrote You'd have to demolish half of M&S and the Eldon Square multi storey and combine the two bus stations together. Absolutely something that should be done to make a station suitable for Newcastle, but it's not going to happen.

Aye no arguments, it's a shame there was never a third bus station built in the area where Worswick with all the Tyne Bridge services moved into it, with space for coaches aswell. Would help having less buses travelling all around Newcastle for absolutely no benefit and open space at Eldon Square for the likes of the 70's to the West End.

Obviously that boat has sailed now though. 

(01 Jun 2025, 9:32 am)RMF1254 wrote I travelled on the x18 last Friday afternoon, it came into Morpeth packed, some got off and it left Morpeth virtually full. A coach would have been useless, no luggage space on board, no easy access and probably slower loading. The Enviro 400MMC was perfectly fine and comfortable enough for a speedy run down the A1, plus  a double decker on those routes is great for viewing the superb Northumbrian countryside. Arriva seem to have got it right here, just a shame Ashington lost some MMCs to Redcar / Whitby.

Replied to this here - https://northeastbuses.co.uk/showthread.php?tid=503&pid=318423#pid318423

Don't want to derail this thread as it's not related to GoNorthEast, at all.

(27 May 2025, 11:20 am)Retro Nero wrote Permanently at Sunderland Depot, I believe it is no longer a lease vehicle due to the two accident damage it has occurred, so the company have now purchased it.
And with the 56s in line for an upgrade to new ADLs this vehicle is being allocated to the 56.

---

682 is now at Sunderland Depot,

9037 seems to of left the fleet, alongside some of the other loans.

(03 Jun 2025, 6:35 pm)Michael wrote 9037 seems to of left the fleet, alongside some of the other loans.

Yes, change of plan apparently, returned to the lease company after all. Consett and Washington, still have a some for a few more weeks.

(03 Jun 2025, 6:57 pm)Retro Nero wrote Yes, change of plan apparently, returned to the lease company after all. Consett and Washington, still have a some for a few more weeks.

It was always planned to return to the lease company...

(03 Jun 2025, 8:51 pm)Liam Hall wrote It was always planned to return to the lease company...

Removed from the latest company fleet list at

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/fleet-list

Oddly, this now includes the entire allocation of Arriva's Blyth depot !!

(03 Jun 2025, 8:59 pm)N391OTY wrote Removed from the latest company fleet list at

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/fleet-list

Oddly, this now includes the entire allocation of Arriva's Blyth depot !!

Yeah, that's so you can track Arriva's buses along the coast road on the GNE app

Caught 6973 on the 27, today. Not saying it's a boneshaker but the upper deck emergency exit alarm went off and the driver had to come up and secure it. My own delicate derriere has just about recovered from the hard seats.

Noticed for the first time today that 6318 has an old style (Amber) Destination Display fitted , never noticed before

8321 is at Deptford now. Passed it on the 36, had to double take!

(17 Jun 2025, 3:16 pm)F114TML wrote 8321 is at Deptford now. Passed it on the 36, had to double take!

It's a floating vehicle while some of the fleet get a corporate repaint ( Drifters and East Durhams)

6356 small fire on the X10
https://fb.watch/Aio3ATSrui/

Looks like 6321 replaced 6356 on X10, with 6952 taking over from 6321 on the 21.

(18 Jun 2025, 11:46 am)Arriva7446 wrote 6356 small fire on the X10
https://fb.watch/Aio3ATSrui/

3/4 of the Enviros are currently VOR, the X21 Streetdecks seem to be the stop gap. 

Really need something more sutiable, surely cost wise the amount of issues with buses that run on that route its wise to invest.

(18 Jun 2025, 1:05 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote 3/4 of the Enviros are currently VOR, the X21 Streetdecks seem to be the stop gap. 

Really need something more sutiable, surely cost wise the amount of issues with buses that run on that route its wise to invest.

They're nearing 5 years old, nothing has been lasting that long on the X10, and they still haven't learned.