(3 hours ago)PH - BQA wrote Hearing that more cuts are on the way in Northumberland, in direct opposition to the "frequency increases" that were floated in one of the recent Arriva statements.

It’s increases where they’re needed and decreases where the Northumberland line has absorbed some of the passengers. The 35 is supposedly going back up to every 15 and X21/22 dropping back down to every 15 combined, which fits about right with the rumours of the X22 being extended up to Newbiggin. The biggest draw with routes around that way now is links to Northumberland Line stations, so expect similar changes in the future with Blyth routes

and everyone said I was talking nonsense that the Northumberland Line was going to affect the Newcastle expresses...

It was always going to happen, only a complete idiot would use the Arriva buses if they live near the railway line (nearby being, at least, a 10 minute walk)

It's just a shame the railway has it's own problems with capacity issues which could be fun tomorrow with Bedlington now being open.

(2 hours ago)Storx wrote and everyone said I was talking nonsense that the Northumberland Line was going to affect the Newcastle expresses...

It was always going to happen, only a complete idiot would use the Arriva buses if they live near the railway line (nearby being, at least, a 10 minute walk)

It's just a shame the railway has it's own problems with capacity issues which could be fun tomorrow with Bedlington now being open.

I always thought there would be changes, but the posts you made always read as if it would finish Arriva in the area which is where I, and I suspect others disagreed with you. It's sensible now that Arriva have data on how the line is going, to make adaptions to the network to suit it. There's potential for growth for them if they do it right.

(2 hours ago)Shrek wrote I always thought there would be changes, but the posts you made always read as if it would finish Arriva in the area which is where I, and I suspect others disagreed with you. It's sensible now that Arriva have data on how the line is going, to make adaptions to the network to suit it. There's potential for growth for them if they do it right.

The issue is that, as per previous, the people running this operation don't know how to get it right. 

The cut to the X22 is expected, they've barely ran for the best part of a year, the X21 is the surprise - and they've made that decision without any data from Bedlington Station. 

Ultimately they've only themselves to blame, the complete mismanagement of drivers and vehicles has put the writing on the wall. The Northumberland Line will, obviously, have taken people away from both services - but I'd think an equal (or larger) amount of people have binned off the bus given the shocking reliability of it.

(2 hours ago)Shrek wrote I always thought there would be changes, but the posts you made always read as if it would finish Arriva in the area which is where I, and I suspect others disagreed with you. It's sensible now that Arriva have data on how the line is going, to make adaptions to the network to suit it. There's potential for growth for them if they do it right.

Ah no, must've overread my posts, never thought it would kill them completely, even known it might've come across like that. 

I've always said the X21/X22 would end up half hourly, always made sense as if you interworked the 1/2 into the routes they'd effectively be every 15 minutes anyway on the important bits rather than them duplicating each other.

Still surprised the 43 isn't going to Blyth yet mind, to deal with the driver changeovers miles away from the depot, even more so with the X30 existing now or some of the expresses being somehow merged into the 43/44/45 corridor.

(2 hours ago)220631612 wrote It’s increases where they’re needed and decreases where the Northumberland line has absorbed some of the passengers. The 35 is supposedly going back up to every 15 and X21/22 dropping back down to every 15 combined, which fits about right with the rumours of the X22 being extended up to Newbiggin. The biggest draw with routes around that way now is links to Northumberland Line stations, so expect similar changes in the future with Blyth routes

35 is just back to where it was 10 years ago though, and they're not doing it properly (insisting on looping Newbiggin, which was a disaster in 2021 when they tried it last time). 

The cuts are also to the 1/2 (route related) if comments from drivers a few weeks ago are anything to go by. 

If you don't live on the 35 route these changes are overwhelmingly negative - and even for 35 passengers they're not great.

(1 hour ago)PH - BQA wrote 35 is just back to where it was 10 years ago though, and they're not doing it properly (insisting on looping Newbiggin, which was a disaster in 2021 when they tried it last time). 

The cuts are also to the 1/2 (route related) if comments from drivers a few weeks ago are anything to go by. 

If you don't live on the 35 route these changes are overwhelmingly negative - and even for 35 passengers they're not great.

The cuts to the 1&2 route wise aren’t as scathing as you might think. It’s just to make operations easier for reliability. If it does happen, the 2 will be coming out of Kirkhill replaced with the X16 again (which is arguably a win) and the 1’s cut back to Wansbeck hospital with an unknown replacement to the estate (although rumours have previously suggested the X22 which is poised to be extended to Newbiggin). Until full details are released it’s pretty much all speculation. However I do think the changes overall will be positive in respect to where the current passenger flows are following the Northumberland Line.

(2 hours ago)PH - BQA wrote The issue is that, as per previous, the people running this operation don't know how to get it right. 

The cut to the X22 is expected, they've barely ran for the best part of a year, the X21 is the surprise - and they've made that decision without any data from Bedlington Station. 

Ultimately they've only themselves to blame, the complete mismanagement of drivers and vehicles has put the writing on the wall. The Northumberland Line will, obviously, have taken people away from both services - but I'd think an equal (or larger) amount of people have binned off the bus given the shocking reliability of it.

I can't comment on the management up there, but I would be shocked if they haven't got good enough modelling to make informed decisions regarding Bedlington Station on what they've got from the stations that are currently open. Whether they use that in the right way is another matter, but they'll have enough data to work with.

(2 hours ago)PH - BQA wrote The issue is that, as per previous, the people running this operation don't know how to get it right. 

The cut to the X22 is expected, they've barely ran for the best part of a year, the X21 is the surprise - and they've made that decision without any data from Bedlington Station. 

Ultimately they've only themselves to blame, the complete mismanagement of drivers and vehicles has put the writing on the wall. The Northumberland Line will, obviously, have taken people away from both services - but I'd think an equal (or larger) amount of people have binned off the bus given the shocking reliability of it.

See I don't think the X21 should exist going forward; it's obvious what's going to happen around Bedlington Station so get rid and replace it with a slow service like the 43 in Stobhill (same issues). 

Something like that:


Would be much more beneficial for a Newcastle Express as it stays away from the areas where the train is, giving a much better service to South Ashington and Newbiggin which is a huge area and is way too slow right now (or non existent evenings / Sundays). There's no need for express buses from Bedlington Station or Ashington Town Centre now.