(01 Jun 2025, 1:06 pm)Aaron21 wrote Why would you run the X16 to Wooler peak only when it was never that. It's a contract. Same as the 777. This is what kinda annoys me about these "service suggestions" is that people are doing this for the benefit of what "THEY" want to see and not what the customer wants. So what if the 777 isn't getting as many passenger as other service. Doesn't mean it should be withdrawn. Same could be said about a few others services that shouldn't be around but I dont see you doing the same to them

The X16 is already peak time only during the week? Happy to be corrected but I believe the contract is still seperate from the X16 aswell as the old 710 aswell. Arriva just put a bid in that merged it with the X16 which saved costs of duplicating the Morpeth to Newcastle part. 

Also as someone else said the 777 is lucky if they're carrying one passenger person per run. The routes completely dead and my money is paying for the thing I'm allowed to have a view on it. 

I know they're subsidised this was about using the BSIP to increase the frequency of Alnwick to Morpeth and giving the two services North of there a faster service at the same time? Apart from the loss of the 777 and the 2 people who use it, there's virtually no negatives at all, I can think of.

(01 Jun 2025, 2:32 pm)Storx wrote Also as someone else said the 777 is lucky if they're carrying one passenger person per run. The routes completely dead and my money is paying for the thing I'm allowed to have a view on it. 

Interesting. Used many 777s have you?

Some Arriva suggestions for the routes in East Durham to hopefully make the best use of their resources, but also offer punctual network links and improvements for customers.

22: Service reduced to every 60 minutes, although service 23 will be returned to Sunderland to continue two buses per hour via Easington Colliery & service X22 will serve Shotton Colliery for all journeys, aswell as faster buses to Sunderland & Durham on services X22/X24. This service will no longer operate between Peterlee and Sunderland on an evening, with this segment transferred to new service 239.

22A: Service reintroduced between Peterlee and Durham to ensure there continues to be two buses per hour going via Wheatley Hill & Thornley (Mon - Sat Daytimes). This service will serve Oakerside & Pennine Drive in Peterlee opposed to via Burnhope Way to compensate the reduction in frequency on service 24.

23: Service reintroduced between Hartlepool and Sunderland with a 60 minute frequency throughout. Combining with the 22/24/X22/X24 to offer three buses per hour along common sections of route. The short journeys will be discontinued, with additional buses available on service 24/X24 between Hartlepool and Peterlee.

24: Service reduced to every 60 minutes, with the introduction of service X24 allowing the continuation of two buses per hour along common sections during the day.

239: Service reintroduced Monday to Saturday evenings to reflect DCC contract journeys between Sedgefield and Peterlee, but also to make better use of resources to ensure buses are not laying over for long periods of time at Peterlee, with an extension onto Sunderland replacing service 22 journeys.

- Journeys to Sunderland will replace evening journeys on service 22.
- Reintroduce an hourly evening frequency to Sunderland.

(Sedgefield | Fishburn | Trimdon | Wingate | Shotton Colliery | Acre Rigg Schools | Peterlee | Easington Colliery | Easington Village | Dalton Park | New Seaham | Ryhope | Grangetown | Sunderland)

X12: Service reduced to every 60 minutes throughout the route, with improved services X13/X22 complimenting frequencys across the route.

- Service will serve Fishburn opposed to Teesside Park.
- Service will run alongside service X22 to continue two buses per hour between Sedgefield and Middlesbrough.
- Service will be combined with service X13 to continue two buses per hour between Sedgefield and Durham, with an improved frequency onwards to Newcastle.

X13: New service that will combine with service X12 to offer two buses per hour between Newcastle, Durham and Sedgefield. This service will additionally serve Fishburn, which was an original proposal by Arriva, opening up new links to Durham & Newcastle, and also reinstating links to Darlington.

- Service will be combined with service X12 to offer two buses per hour between Newcastle and Sedgefield.
- Service will reinstate links between Sedgefield, Newton Aycliffe and Darlington.
- Service will offer new faster links to Darlington from Newcastle and Durham.
- Service will operate hourly Monday to Saturday Daytimes.

(Newcastle | Gateshead | Low Fell | Birtley | Chester-le-Street | Framwellgate Moor | Durham | Durham University | Bowburn | Coxhoe | Fishburn | Sedgefield | Newton Aycliffe | North Road | Darlington)

X22: Service will be reduced to every 60 minutes throughout, although will extend to Sunderland via Easington Village and New Seaham, aswell as extended back to Middlesbrough, ensuring there continues to be two buses per hour between Sedgefield and Middlesbrough.

Evening journeys that start from Sedgefield will be renumbered 239, although Sunday journeys will continue as normal.

- All journeys extended to Middlesbrough.
- All journeys extended to Sunderland via Easington Village & New Seaham.
- All journeys will serve Shotton Colliery.

(Middlesbrough | Stockton | North Tees Hospital | Thorpe Thewles | Sedgefield | Fishburn | Trimdon | Wingate | Shotton Colliery | Burnhope Way | Peterlee | Easington Village | New Seaham | Ryhope Village | Grangetown | Sunderland)

X24: New fast service that will reintroduce some quick links.

- Up to every 60 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)
- Limited stop between Peterlee and Hartlepool, calling only at key stops.
- Offer faster buses between Durham, Peterlee & Hartlepool
- Peak journeys extend to Framwellgate Moor during term time.

(Durham | Sherburn Road | Sherburn Hill | B1283 | Haswell Plough | Haswell | Shotton Colliery | Burnhope Way | Peterlee | Horden | Blackhall Rocks | Crimdon | Hart Station | University Hospital | Hartlepool Marina)

(27 Jul 2025, 11:12 pm)S830OFT wrote Some Arriva suggestions for the routes in East Durham to hopefully make the best use of their resources, but also offer punctual network links and improvements for customers.

22: Service reduced to every 60 minutes, although service 23 will be returned to Sunderland to continue two buses per hour via Easington Colliery & service X22 will serve Shotton Colliery for all journeys, aswell as faster buses to Sunderland & Durham on services X22/X24. This service will no longer operate between Peterlee and Sunderland on an evening, with this segment transferred to new service 239.

22A: Service reintroduced between Peterlee and Durham to ensure there continues to be two buses per hour going via Wheatley Hill & Thornley (Mon - Sat Daytimes). This service will serve Oakerside & Pennine Drive in Peterlee opposed to via Burnhope Way to compensate the reduction in frequency on service 24.

23: Service reintroduced between Hartlepool and Sunderland with a 60 minute frequency throughout. Combining with the 22/24/X22/X24 to offer three buses per hour along common sections of route. The short journeys will be discontinued, with additional buses available on service 24/X24 between Hartlepool and Peterlee.

24: Service reduced to every 60 minutes, with the introduction of service X24 allowing the continuation of two buses per hour along common sections during the day.

239: Service reintroduced Monday to Saturday evenings to reflect DCC contract journeys between Sedgefield and Peterlee, but also to make better use of resources to ensure buses are not laying over for long periods of time at Peterlee, with an extension onto Sunderland replacing service 22 journeys.

- Journeys to Sunderland will replace evening journeys on service 22.
- Reintroduce an hourly evening frequency to Sunderland.

(Sedgefield | Fishburn | Trimdon | Wingate | Shotton Colliery | Acre Rigg Schools | Peterlee | Easington Colliery | Easington Village | Dalton Park | New Seaham | Ryhope | Grangetown | Sunderland)

X12: Service reduced to every 60 minutes throughout the route, with improved services X13/X22 complimenting frequencys across the route.

- Service will serve Fishburn opposed to Teesside Park.
- Service will run alongside service X22 to continue two buses per hour between Sedgefield and Middlesbrough.
- Service will be combined with service X13 to continue two buses per hour between Sedgefield and Durham, with an improved frequency onwards to Newcastle.

X13: New service that will combine with service X12 to offer two buses per hour between Newcastle, Durham and Sedgefield. This service will additionally serve Fishburn, which was an original proposal by Arriva, opening up new links to Durham & Newcastle, and also reinstating links to Darlington.

- Service will be combined with service X12 to offer two buses per hour between Newcastle and Sedgefield.
- Service will reinstate links between Sedgefield, Newton Aycliffe and Darlington.
- Service will offer new faster links to Darlington from Newcastle and Durham.
- Service will operate hourly Monday to Saturday Daytimes.

(Newcastle | Gateshead | Low Fell | Birtley | Chester-le-Street | Framwellgate Moor | Durham | Durham University | Bowburn | Coxhoe | Fishburn | Sedgefield | Newton Aycliffe | North Road | Darlington)

X22: Service will be reduced to every 60 minutes throughout, although will extend to Sunderland via Easington Village and New Seaham, aswell as extended back to Middlesbrough, ensuring there continues to be two buses per hour between Sedgefield and Middlesbrough.

Evening journeys that start from Sedgefield will be renumbered 239, although Sunday journeys will continue as normal.

- All journeys extended to Middlesbrough.
- All journeys extended to Sunderland via Easington Village & New Seaham.
- All journeys will serve Shotton Colliery.

(Middlesbrough | Stockton | North Tees Hospital | Thorpe Thewles | Sedgefield | Fishburn | Trimdon | Wingate | Shotton Colliery | Burnhope Way | Peterlee | Easington Village | New Seaham | Ryhope Village | Grangetown | Sunderland)

X24: New fast service that will reintroduce some quick links.

- Up to every 60 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)
- Limited stop between Peterlee and Hartlepool, calling only at key stops.
- Offer faster buses between Durham, Peterlee & Hartlepool
- Peak journeys extend to Framwellgate Moor during term time.

(Durham | Sherburn Road | Sherburn Hill | B1283 | Haswell Plough | Haswell | Shotton Colliery | Burnhope Way | Peterlee | Horden | Blackhall Rocks | Crimdon | Hart Station | University Hospital | Hartlepool Marina)

Edited slightly

Not sure I agree with any of this if I had to be honest, it's just complicated and reducing frequencies across the board. Personally I'd rather have a slower 30 minute service than a faster hourly service as if I miss that service then it's a very long wait.

You've also reduced the only bus between Durham and Teesside down to hourly, if anything I'd be looking at increasing the X12 to every 20 minutes not vice versa. 

Personally I'd look at messing around with all the short and pretty useless subsidised services in that and use BSIP to extend to be more useful, something like:



which ends up with an hourly:
X58: Durham to Hartlepool via Sherburn (Fast)
59: Durham to Sedgefield via Trimdon
60: Hartlepool to Sedgefield via Trimdon

54: Spennymoor to Stockton via Sedgefield, Wynyard and Billingham
55: Durham to Darlington via Spennymoor, Coundon and Shildon

X7: Darlington to Spennymoor via Ferryhill and Chilton (Limited stop from Newton Aycliffe to Darlington)
X8: Darlington to Peterlee via Newton Aycliffe and Sedgefield (Limited stop from Newton Aycliffe to Darlington)
X9: Stockton to Peterlee via Sedgefield

113, 99, 8, 8A, 59, 35A, 239, X22, X40, X41 - All withdrawn.

They're all subsidised services, or are in the evening at least, and would massively improve connections across that area rather than a lot of short buses going from here and everywhere, admit it'd be an increase in PVR but it's where BSIP should be used imo. The X8/X9 are just restoring the old X21/X22 but merged with the 8 so it doesn't sit there like a sore thumb. These were commercial until reletively recent so the demand must be there.

ie some of the new links:
Durham to Hartlepool fast link
Sedgefield to Hartlepool
Sedgefield to Darlington
Wynard to Sedgefield and Spennymoor
Shildon to Durham
Lots of places to Amazon Bowburn
Sedgefield to Spennymoor
East Spennymoor to Durham
Newton Aycliffe to Darlington fast link
Darlington to Peterlee
Coundon to Durham, 2 bus per hour

Some sizable communities there.

Some suggestions for services in Cleveland & North Yorkshire.

X2 - Service extended to Loftus & Easington. Journeys between Redcar and Marske will run directly via Coast Road with all journeys also calling into Skelton Asda.

(Middlesbrough | Dormanstown | Redcar | Marske | Saltburn | Hob Hill Lane | Skelton | Skelton Asda | Brotton, Whitecliffe Centre | Carlin How | Skinningrove | Liverton Mines | Loftus | Easington)

- Service will operate every two hours, although combining with service X3 will offer a bus every 60 minutes along common sections.
- Service will replace services 1/2.
- Local links between Redcar and Marske replaced by extended service 62.

X3 - Service extended to Loftus & Easington from Lingdale. Journeys between Redcar and Marske will run directly via Coast Road, with all journeys also calling into Skelton Asda.

(Middlesbrough | Dormanstown | Redcar | Marske | Saltburn | Hob Hill Lane | Skelton Asda | North Skelton | Skelton | Skelton Green | Boosbeck | Lingdale | A171 | Moorsholm | A171 | Liverton Mines | Loftus | Easington)

- Service will operate every two hours, although combining with service X2 will offer a bus every 60 minutes along common sections.
- Service will replace services 1/2.
- Local links between Redcar and Marske covered by extended service 62.

X5 - Service 5A renumbered & adjusted as an express between Middlesbrough and Guisborough.

5 - Journeys will no longer serve Liverton Mines, with this link maintained by services X2/X3. This will help ensure buses run exactly every 30 minutes across the full length of the route (ie. improved punctuality)

5A - Service renumbered as service X5 & will run limited stop between Guisborough and Middlesbrough calling at the same stops as service X93. This will allow for two fast buses p/h between Middlesbrough & Guisborough.

28 - Service extended to Redcar & Marske via the 81 route.

62 - Service extended back to Marske & New Marske via the current X2 route, additionally serving Alnwick Close. All journeys will run via Aske Road up to every 30 minutes.

81 - Service fully replaced by extended service 28.

TVCA 1/2 - Services withdrawn & replaced by extensions on services X2/X3, which will help maintain all current connections that are available.

Whitby/NYCC suggestions.

94 - Summer only. Service will run between Sleights, Whitby, Hawsker, Robin Hoods Bay, Fylingthorpe, Peasholm Park & Scarborough up to every 60 minutes, combining service X94/95 together. This change would make use of the X94s current 45 minute layover, allowing a PVR reduction of 1 by using this time to run to Sleights & back opposed to using the bus from the 95. This route will no longer serve the estates in Whitby & instead operate directly via Mayfield Road to Ruswarp, with service 97 covering the local section in Whitby.

The morning & evening journeys to & from Middlesbrough will run as service X94.

95 - Winter only. Service will run between Sleights, Whitby, Hawsker, Fylingthorpe & Robin Hoods Bay on a reduced 90 minute frequency, although will no longer serve the estates in Whitby & instead operate directly via Mayfield Road to Ruswarp, with service 97 covering the local section in Whitby. The extension to Robin Hoods Bay helps to ensure there are additional buses available during the winter months outside of the hourly X93.

The school journeys on the 323 that this service currently interworks with, would be adjusted to interwork with either the 96 or 97 contract instead, allowing service 94/95 to operate throughout the day without any gaps in the timetable.

Additional buses continue to be available between Whitby and Sleights, including the 96/840 & Esk Valley Line Trains.

96 - Service will no longer serve Eskdale, with this link available on hourly service 97. This service will continue to serve Sainsbury's offering cross-town links for the villages on the route.

97 - New service that will replace the Park and Ride service at Whitby Abbey, but also help offer some easy to use links around the Town, aswell as replace service 95 from going to Sainsbury's & service 96 going to Eskdale.

(Whitby Abbey | Green Lane | Whitby Sainsbury's | Eskdale | Whitby Harbour | Whitby Bus Station | Kirkwood Close | Byland Road | Castle Park | Love Lane | Whitby West Cliff | St. Hilda's Terrace | Whitby Bus Station | Whitby Abbey)

Fare suggestions for the X4/X93 - to accept all train tickets for the full length of each route opposed to just Scarborough To Whitby & Whitby to Saltburn due to the infrequency of the train service to Whitby.

It would also be nice if North East Explorer tickets could be accepted on all Northern Trains in the North East to offer better value for money & better integrated transport links. If that is not possible, a bus only explorer for £10 & bus, metro, ferry & train explorer for £20, with local tickets such as Tyne and Wear Day Ticket helping to keep the tickets affordable for those travelling more locally...

(12 Oct 2025, 10:18 am)S830OFT wrote Some suggestions for services in Cleveland & North Yorkshire.

X2 - Service extended to Loftus & Easington. Journeys between Redcar and Marske will run directly via Coast Road with all journeys also calling into Skelton Asda.

(Middlesbrough | Dormanstown | Redcar | Marske | Saltburn | Hob Hill Lane | Skelton | Skelton Asda | Brotton, Whitecliffe Centre | Carlin How | Skinningrove | Liverton Mines | Loftus | Easington)

- Service will operate every two hours, although combining with service X3 will offer a bus every 60 minutes along common sections.
- Service will replace services 1/2.
- Local links between Redcar and Marske replaced by extended service 62.

X3 - Service extended to Loftus & Easington from Lingdale. Journeys between Redcar and Marske will run directly via Coast Road, with all journeys also calling into Skelton Asda.

(Middlesbrough | Dormanstown | Redcar | Marske | Saltburn | Hob Hill Lane | Skelton Asda | North Skelton | Skelton | Skelton Green | Boosbeck | Lingdale | A171 | Moorsholm | A171 | Liverton Mines | Loftus | Easington)

- Service will operate every two hours, although combining with service X2 will offer a bus every 60 minutes along common sections.
- Service will replace services 1/2.
- Local links between Redcar and Marske covered by extended service 62.

X5 - Service 5A renumbered & adjusted as an express between Middlesbrough and Guisborough.

5 - Journeys will no longer serve Liverton Mines, with this link maintained by services X2/X3. This will help ensure buses run exactly every 30 minutes across the full length of the route (ie. improved punctuality)

5A - Service renumbered as service X5 & will run limited stop between Guisborough and Middlesbrough calling at the same stops as service X93. This will allow for two fast buses p/h between Middlesbrough & Guisborough.

28 - Service extended to Redcar & Marske via the 81 route.

62 - Service extended back to Marske & New Marske via the current X2 route, additionally serving Alnwick Close. All journeys will run via Aske Road up to every 30 minutes.

81 - Service fully replaced by extended service 28.

TVCA 1/2 - Services withdrawn & replaced by extensions on services X2/X3, which will help maintain all current connections that are available.

Whitby/NYCC suggestions.

94 - Summer only. Service will run between Sleights, Whitby, Hawsker, Robin Hoods Bay, Fylingthorpe, Peasholm Park & Scarborough up to every 60 minutes, combining service X94/95 together. This change would make use of the X94s current 45 minute layover, allowing a PVR reduction of 1 by using this time to run to Sleights & back opposed to using the bus from the 95. This route will no longer serve the estates in Whitby & instead operate directly via Mayfield Road to Ruswarp, with service 97 covering the local section in Whitby.

The morning & evening journeys to & from Middlesbrough will run as service X94.

95 - Winter only. Service will run between Sleights, Whitby, Hawsker, Fylingthorpe & Robin Hoods Bay on a reduced 90 minute frequency, although will no longer serve the estates in Whitby & instead operate directly via Mayfield Road to Ruswarp, with service 97 covering the local section in Whitby. The extension to Robin Hoods Bay helps to ensure there are additional buses available during the winter months outside of the hourly X93.

The school journeys on the 323 that this service currently interworks with, would be adjusted to interwork with either the 96 or 97 contract instead, allowing service 94/95 to operate throughout the day without any gaps in the timetable.

Additional buses continue to be available between Whitby and Sleights, including the 96/840 & Esk Valley Line Trains.

96 - Service will no longer serve Eskdale, with this link available on hourly service 97. This service will continue to serve Sainsbury's offering cross-town links for the villages on the route.

97 - New service that will replace the Park and Ride service at Whitby Abbey, but also help offer some easy to use links around the Town, aswell as replace service 95 from going to Sainsbury's & service 96 going to Eskdale.

(Whitby Abbey | Green Lane | Whitby Sainsbury's | Eskdale | Whitby Harbour | Whitby Bus Station | Kirkwood Close | Byland Road | Castle Park | Love Lane | Whitby West Cliff | St. Hilda's Terrace | Whitby Bus Station | Whitby Abbey)

Fare suggestions for the X4/X93 - to accept all train tickets for the full length of each route opposed to just Scarborough To Whitby & Whitby to Saltburn due to the infrequency of the train service to Whitby.

It would also be nice if North East Explorer tickets could be accepted on all Northern Trains in the North East to offer better value for money & better integrated transport links. If that is not possible, a bus only explorer for £10 & bus, metro, ferry & train explorer for £20, with local tickets such as Tyne and Wear Day Ticket helping to keep the tickets affordable for those travelling more locally...

Arriva don't run the 96 anymore  route 21 as that

(12 Oct 2025, 12:48 pm)Bob5666 wrote Arriva don't run the 96 anymore  route 21 as that

Not sure the people on the 5 at the bottom end would thank you either, having been cut to 3bph now down to just 2? They’ve already added Swans Corner into the X93 …

I respect some council funds would probably have to be used but imo:

27/28: Direct along A172 from James Cook to Nunthorpe, extended from Stokesley to Nunthorpe Hall direct doing a loop around Stokesley  / Great Ayton (Both Hourly)
29: No Changes
30: Middlesbrough to Fulford Way via 29 route (Every 30 Minutes)
X5: Current 28, running express between Marton Shops and Middlesbrough extended to Liverton Mines via 5a route (Hourly)
X6: Same as above, extended to Redcar via 81 route (Hourly)
5: New shorts between Swans Corner and Middlesbrough (Every 15/30 Minutes)
63: No Changes (Dropped to Every 15 Minutes)

29/30: Every 15 Minutes Combined
29/30/63: Every 7.5 Minutes Combined along Linthorpe Road
5A/81/28A: Withdrawn
63/64/64A: Every 7.5 Minutes, Eston to Middlesbrough

... would provide a much better service round there, I'm sure the hospital links for those who don't have them would be appreciated aswell albeit it's not exactly the quickest route. The bus service is truely awful around the A172 near Nunthorpe considering how many houses have been put up lately and I'm sure it's just the start aswell with increased services for the North Yorkshire towns where the council funds will probably be needed.

Some Northumberland suggestions.

1: Extended to Alnwick, operating via the current X20 route between Widdrington and Alnwick. The short journeys are withdrawn & will operate as an extension on hourly service X30 instead between Blyth and Ashington only. The service will no longer serve Cresswell, with this link available on service X20.

Frequency:
Hourly - Monday to Saturday Daytimes only.

Nexus Bus 19: This service will be extended to Ashington via the existing funded section on service 57A, operating directly to Bedlington Station via A189 & then onto Ashington.

43/43A: Extended to Blyth from Cramlington with service 43 operating via the current X10 route via Newsham Farm & New 43A operating via the current X11 route between Cramlington and Blyth via Northburn. Journeys to Morpeth are transferred to services 57/57A.

Frequency:
43 - Every 30 minutes Daytimes | Every 60 minutes Evenings
43A - Every 30 minutes Daytimes | Every 60 minutes Evenings

44/45: These services will exclusively interwork with service 43/43A at Haymarket using the new EV Double Deckers.

57/57A: Services will operate to Morpeth after Cramlington opposed to Ashington, replacing service 43. Connections between Cramlington and Ashington will continue to be available on services X20/X30 & extended Nexus service 19.

No other changes or changes to current frequency.

57 - Every 60 minutes Mon - Sat Daytimes only.
57A - Daily Every 60 minutes.

X10/X11: Services withdrawn & replaced by the rerouting of service 43/43A & services X20/X30 additionally calling at Cramlington.

X20: Service will only run between Widdrington Station and Newcastle. Service will call into Cresswell for select journeys & Cramlington Manor Walks for all journeys. This service will also be revised to operate during Evenings & Sunday's to offer faster journey times.

(Widdrington Station | Cresswell * | Ellington | Lynemouth | Wansbeck Hospital | Ashington | North Seaton | Cramlington | Non-stop | Regent Centre | Newcastle)

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes Daily, including Evening. Journeys to Cresswell will only operate every two hours on Evenings & Sunday's, similar to current service 1.

X22: General service frequency reduced to every 30 minutes, with additional journeys operating for weekday peak times.

X30: Service will operate a revised route, starting at Ashington, then running alongside the 1 route to Bebside Interchange, then joining the current peak route onto Blyth & Newcastle.

Service revised to operate into Cramlington Manor Walks, then direct to Regent Centre for all journeys.

(Ashington | Bedlington Station | Bebside Interchange | Cowpen Shops | Blyth | Newsham | Cramlington Manor Walks | Nonstop | Regent Centre | Newcastle Haymarket)

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes Daily, including Evenings & Sunday's.

- Cramlington will lose their direct X10/X11, but will gain services X20/X30, alongside the X9 offering four express buses p/h into Newcastle excluding the X8.

- New connections from Great North Road, Wideopen & Dudley to Blyth.

- New connections from Whitley Bay & North Tyneside to Morpeth, whilst the Ashington link is retained on Nexus Bus 19 which would be extended using the current 57A's funded section.

- X30 extension to Ashington will help improve connections & ensure there continues to be two buses p/h to Blyth, combined with now hourly service 1.

(Yesterday, 9:25 pm)S830OFT wrote Some Northumberland suggestions.

1: Extended to Alnwick, operating via the current X20 route between Widdrington and Alnwick. The short journeys are withdrawn & will operate as an extension on hourly service X30 instead between Blyth and Ashington only. The service will no longer serve Cresswell, with this link available on service X20.

Frequency:
Hourly - Monday to Saturday Daytimes only.

Nexus Bus 19: This service will be extended to Ashington via the existing funded section on service 57A, operating directly to Bedlington Station via A189 & then onto Ashington.

43/43A: Extended to Blyth from Cramlington with service 43 operating via the current X10 route via Newsham Farm & New 43A operating via the current X11 route between Cramlington and Blyth via Northburn. Journeys to Morpeth are transferred to services 57/57A.

Frequency:
43 - Every 30 minutes Daytimes | Every 60 minutes Evenings
43A - Every 30 minutes Daytimes | Every 60 minutes Evenings

44/45: These services will exclusively interwork with service 43/43A at Haymarket using the new EV Double Deckers.

57/57A: Services will operate to Morpeth after Cramlington opposed to Ashington, replacing service 43. Connections between Cramlington and Ashington will continue to be available on services X20/X30 & extended Nexus service 19.

No other changes or changes to current frequency.

57 - Every 60 minutes Mon - Sat Daytimes only.
57A - Daily Every 60 minutes.

X10/X11: Services withdrawn & replaced by the rerouting of service 43/43A & services X20/X30 additionally calling at Cramlington.

X20: Service will only run between Widdrington Station and Newcastle. Service will call into Cresswell for select journeys & Cramlington Manor Walks for all journeys. This service will also be revised to operate during Evenings & Sunday's to offer faster journey times.

(Widdrington Station | Cresswell * | Ellington | Lynemouth | Wansbeck Hospital | Ashington | North Seaton | Cramlington | Non-stop | Regent Centre | Newcastle)

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes Daily, including Evening. Journeys to Cresswell will only operate every two hours on Evenings & Sunday's, similar to current service 1.

X22: General service frequency reduced to every 30 minutes, with additional journeys operating for weekday peak times.

X30: Service will operate a revised route, starting at Ashington, then running alongside the 1 route to Bebside Interchange, then joining the current peak route onto Blyth & Newcastle.

Service revised to operate into Cramlington Manor Walks, then direct to Regent Centre for all journeys.

(Ashington | Bedlington Station | Bebside Interchange | Cowpen Shops | Blyth | Newsham | Cramlington Manor Walks | Nonstop | Regent Centre | Newcastle Haymarket)

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes Daily, including Evenings & Sunday's.

- Cramlington will lose their direct X10/X11, but will gain services X20/X30, alongside the X9 offering four express buses p/h into Newcastle excluding the X8.

- New connections from Great North Road, Wideopen & Dudley to Blyth.

- New connections from Whitley Bay & North Tyneside to Morpeth, whilst the Ashington link is retained on Nexus Bus 19 which would be extended using the current 57A's funded section.

- X30 extension to Ashington will help improve connections & ensure there continues to be two buses p/h to Blyth, combined with now hourly service 1.

Must say I'm generally quite negative bus wise but even I think these are quite brutal especially the X10/X11 changes and don't really see the point in the X20 changes either.

Personally if you want to reduce Blyth expresses I'd do.

X7: Every 30 Minutes | No Changes
X8: Every 30 Minutes | X8 from Newcastle to Annitsford, direct to Cramlington, X9 to Blyth
X9: Withdrawn
X10: Every 30 Minutes | No Changes
X11: Every 30 Minutes | No Changes

42: Every 20 Minutes | Cramlington - Newcastle via Beacon Hill (X9)
43: Every 20 Minutes | Cramlington - Newcastle via High Pit and Northumbria Hospital (X8 route from A19 to Cramlington)
44: Every 20 Minutes | No Changes
45: Every 20 Minutes | No Changes

19: No Changes
57: Every 30 Minutes | 57A Route running direct between Cramlington and Annitford omitting High Pit
58: Every 30 Minutes | Morpeth - Cramlington via 43 Route additionally serving East Hartford

787: Hourly | Blyth - X8 Route to Cramlington - Dudley - Seaton Burn - Dinnington - Prestwick - Newcastle Airport

There's too many Blyth expresses imo and the Great North Road could really do with extra buses which this would help by creating an additional 4 BPH (2 which exist anyway), at the same time giving the new massive development at the West side of Cramlington a better service aswell. The Newcastle Airport link from the direction would actually be useful aswell.

Speeding up the 57 will also help improve the serious timetabling issues on there aswell.

To be honest something has to be done to improve the Newcastle Express services as they just seem so mixed up & just too many buses 'X' coming from Blyth to Cramlington & Newcastle.

The X22 would be a good route to send into Cramlington if the X20/X30 wasn't viable. I wouldn't personally up any frequencys just yet, although it would be nice if the Network could be structured so that connections can be made easily, running times are achievable & people know where each bus actually goes.

Things like the 43 to Cramlington Hospital on a Sunday is just a waste of time & misleads people who may go to use it during the week and find it doesn't go there. Atleast have the same bus going in everyday (57/57A) so it actually makes sense to the typical passenger...

(Yesterday, 10:47 pm)S830OFT wrote To be honest something has to be done to improve the Newcastle Express services as they just seem so mixed up & just too many buses 'X' coming from Blyth to Cramlington & Newcastle.

The X22 would be a good route to send into Cramlington if the X20/X30 wasn't viable. I wouldn't personally up any frequencys just yet, although it would be nice if the Network could be structured so that connections can be made easily, running times are achievable & people know where each bus actually goes.

Things like the 43 to Cramlington Hospital on a Sunday is just a waste of time & misleads people who may go to use it during the week and find it doesn't go there. Atleast have the same bus going in everyday (57/57A)  so it actually makes sense to the typical passenger...

Yeah get that, I get that, tbh the stuff I done above tidies it up a bit into 3 corridors really:
X7/X8 (Orange): Quorum Express
X10/X11 (Pink): Cramlington Express
42/43 (Purple): Cramlington around the world bits



That's it drawn out, to make it a bit clearer and opens decent links to the hospital as it's bloody awful atm.

The X8/X9/X10/X11 do jump around too much imo though and the X9 just sits out like a sore thumb through Gosforth when there's capacity issues on that corridor anyway.

I don't know how feasible it would be to have the X7/X8 interwork at Blyth and 42/43 to interwork either with being able to travel through to promote through links aswell, since the Blyth and Cramlington local town links are bloody awful - Blyth in particular.

problem with interworking services  is if it is delayed on one service it effects the other interworking  services

To be honest, other than maybe the Blyth > Cramlington section of the X8 or some handy little tweaks / refinements, I wouldn't mess around too much with any of the Northumberland network. It's pretty straightforward and to a large extent does the job passengers need it to do, it's fairly simple and makes money.

It's in a much better state than the mess in similar type areas with a myriad of routes going on whatever mystery tour and one going one way with the other going a different despite having the same route number groupings - an example being the X70/X71/X72/X73.

(6 hours ago)L469 YVK wrote To be honest, other than maybe the Blyth > Cramlington section of the X8 or some handy little tweaks / refinements, I wouldn't mess around too much with any of the Northumberland network. It's pretty straightforward and to a large extent does the job passengers need it to do, it's fairly simple and makes money.

It's in a much better state than the mess in similar type areas with a myriad of routes going on whatever mystery tour and one going one way with the other going a different despite having the same route number groupings - an example being the X70/X71/X72/X73.

I agree with that. They need to be vigilant about how the train line might change travel patterns, but at the moment it seems to be a fairly solid network.