Following on from our already established Go North East and Stagecoach North East Service Suggestions threads, I invite you all to come up with some Arriva North East suggestions also. I'm sure there must be one or two services out there we think we could improve!

Recently, I have noticed terrible reliability on the X15 and X18, more often the X18. I mean, this is understandable due to the length of the route, but something should be done. I have a suggestion to try and minimize the disruption to these services.

Service X15 will continue to operate in its current form. However, the timetable should be amended so there is a longer layover time at each end to improve reliability.

Service X18 will continue to operate via its current route to Alnwick, but will now operate to Berwick via the X15 route to improve frequency in this area. A new X17 service should be introduced to operate from Alnwick to Berwick via the current X18 route but will service Boulmer and Howick. This will also replace the current 472 route. They will connect at Alnwick, but this is not guaranteed.

What do you guys think?

Now in the Newcastle area we have various services going deep into the heart of Northumberland to Carlise and to the Scottish Borders to Berwick etc, so here is my suggestion, not fussed on who would operate the service, but I thought it would be suitable to put in here as Arriva operate to these areas and it would make sense for them to operate the services.

Here are my Suggestions

Sunderland to Carlisle - Hourly
Sunderland to Scarborough - 2-3 times a day early mornings/evenings
Sunderland to Berwick/Alnwick with a view to an extension to Edinburgh possibly - Hourly
Newcastle to Hartlepool via Heworth - Washington - Houghton le Spring -Peterlee and Middlesbrough - Half Hourly

I would hate to travel on a service bus to Edinburgh. It's bad enough travelling on a 60 mile, two-and-a-quarter hour journey between Newcastle and Carlisle. Travelling to Edinburgh would be double that (plus however long it takes to get from Sunderland to Newcastle (or Gosforth Park if using the A1); it would be absolute hell. By the time it reached Berwick I would wondering why I got on this bus; by the time it reached Ayton, Eyemouth or Cockburnspath I would be suicidal.

However, I do agree that Sunderland should have better long-distance access.

(24 Jul 2013, 9:50 pm)AdamY wrote I would hate to travel on a service bus to Edinburgh. It's bad enough travelling on a 60 mile, two-and-a-quarter hour journey between Newcastle and Carlisle. Travelling to Edinburgh would be double that (plus however long it takes to get from Sunderland to Newcastle (or Gosforth Park if using the A1); it would be absolute hell. By the time it reached Berwick I would wondering why I got on this bus; by the time it reached Ayton, Eyemouth or Cockburnspath I would be suicidal.

However, I do agree that Sunderland should have better long-distance access.

Yeah Edinburgh was a bit much, just a thought on a new link.

Sunderland to Berwick would be ok using this route.

Sunderland Interchange - Queen Alexandra Bridge - A19 via Heworth Bypass Nonstop to Gateshead - Newcastle Haymarket - Then Normal Route to Berwick with a few adjustments to make the service quicker.

To Carlisle would be Sunderland Interchange - Queen Alexandra Bridge - A19 Direct to MetroCentre via Washington Galleries and The Angel of the North then follow GNE Service 10 to Hexham then 685 to Carlisle

I think the Newcastle to Hartlepool link would work, minus the detour to Middlesbrough. Didn't the old X5 run that route? I think it'd work on two fronts:- increase of frequency between Newcastle and Houghton Le Spring, and an increase of frequency between Heworth and Washington.

SERVICE X51 (MONDAY - SUNDAY ALL DAY EVERY 60 MINUTES) SERVING: NEWCASTLE >>> REGENT CENTRE >>> MORPETH BUS STATION - PEGSWOOD STORES - LONGHIRST - ULGHAM - WIDDRINGTON STATION - HADSTON RED ROW - BROOMHILL - AMBLE FORUWAYS - WARKWORTH - ALNMOUTH STATION - ALNMOUTH ARGYLE STREET - ALNWICK BUS STATION

SERVICE X52 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 60 MINUTES) SERVING: NEWCASTLE >>> REGENT CENTRE >>> MORPETH BUS STATION - PEGSWOOD HEALTH CENTRE - PEGSWOOD STORES - LONGHIRST - ULGHAM - WIDDRINGTON STATION - FELTON - SHILBOTTLE - ALNWICK BUS STATION

SERVICE X53 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 90 MINUTES, BUSES WILL CONTINUE FROM SERVICE X51 OR X52 EVERY 3 HOURS ON BOTH ROUTES) SERVING: ALNWICK BUS STATION - WARENFORD - BELFORD - BEAL HOLY ISLAND END RD - HAGGERSTON CASTLE - SCREMERSTON WAR MEMORIAL - BERWICK GOLDEN SQUARE - BERWICK BUS STATION

SERVICE X54 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 90 MINUTES) SERVING: THE CURRENT X18 ROUTE BETWEEN ALNWICK AND BERWICK VIA THE COAST

SERVICE X55 (EVENINGS AND SUNDAYS EVERY 120 MINUTES) SERVING: THE CURRENT X15 ROUTE BETWEEN NEWCASTLE AND ALNWICK THEN THE NEW X54 ROUTE BETWEEN ALNWICK AND BERWICK VIA THE COAST

SERVICE X56 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 60 MINUTES) SERVING: NEWCASTLE >>> REGENT CENTRE >>> MORPETH >>> ASHINGTON >>> NORTH SEATON >>> WANSBECK HOSPITAL THEN THE CURRENT X20 ROUTE TO AMBLE

SERVICE X57 (MONDAY TO SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 60 MINUTES / EVENINGS AND SUNDAYS EVERY 120 MINUTES) SERVING: THE CURRENT X14/154 ROUTE BETWEEN NEWCASTLE AND THORPTON

Any Arriva routes to be introduced in South Tyneside mainly

501 South Shields to Sunderland via Sea Front, Whitburn and Seaburn
competing with Stagecoach E1

505 South Shields to Gateshead/Newcastle, via Chichester, District Hospital, Whiteleas, Boldon Asda, Heworth. competing with GNE 5 in parts

510/511 South Shields to Jarrow, via New Crown, Horsley Hill, Nook, Hospital, Whiteleas, Biddick Hall, Simonside, Low Simonside, competing with Stagecoach 10/11

518 South Shields to Brockley Whins Metro, Via Chichester, Stanhope Road and Simonside, competing with Stagecoach 18

527 South Shields to Newcastle, via Tyne Dock, Jarrow, Hebburn and Heworth, competing with GNE 27

535 South Shields to Sunderland, via Cleadon and Fulwell,competing with GNE 35

555 South Shields to Morpeth, via Westoe, Harton Nook, Hospital, John Reid Road, Simonside, Jarrow, Tyne Tunnel, Cramlington,, New Service

Like the 555 Idea, but the rest would never happen

555 would have to be re numbered due to quorum shuttle..

heres my idea


bring back the 56 under a new route

North shields - Meadowell - Howdon (then up Churchill street) - Battle Hill - Benton Asda - Four lane ends - West moor - Killingworth east bailey the 63 way and into the bus station

Sunderland need more Arriva routes as its a Sunderland Company... 2 routes isn't good enough, really i don't know how arriva would fit more buses in Sunderland as GNE/Stagecoach have it mostly covered)


100 - (Not sure on what numbers have used for the NE) -

Sunderland - Fawcett Street - Southwick - Tesco (Theirs a turning circle their) - Castletown - (Would turn at the dr's) - Every 30 mins

101 - Grangetown - ASDA - Southmoor school - Sunderland - Wheatchef - Seaburn - Roker - Every 30 mins.

I think it's the dead mileage that put Arriva off trampling on SC/GNE territory, when it's possible their services may not be successful.

That said, it's interesting having Grangetown as a terminus and I'd like to see Arriva expand further into Sunderland. I know Stagecoach's 10 terminates at Grangetown, but this is at the Queen Alexandra public house rather than the small off-shot bus road thing, where I assume your proposed 101 service would terminate.

If that stop at Grangetown wasn't so narrow, it would be great to see it put to more use - but is there enough custom in the area for direct buses rather than having to have one or two swaps?

The comment about dead mileage is interesting. Obviously it would be nowhere near the levels that regular services would incur - but the evening Nexus runs that are based out of Belmont and cover Washington/Sunderland, must be quite an amount.

Is there the possibility of some sort of outstation in the Sunderland area like GNE have at Crook, Consett or Peterlee?

Didnt think about dead milage, arriva would find it hard.. would love to see more of their services in Sunderland

Not specifically related to Sunderland, but more to the possibility of an Arriva outstation.

If Arriva were to bid for Lot Three in the QCS proposals, then I suspect that the Classic/TGM depot will probably used as an outstation for some of the North-West Durham services if the bid was won.

(28 Jul 2013, 10:47 am)Andreos1 wrote The comment about dead mileage is interesting. Obviously it would be nowhere near the levels that regular services would incur - but the evening Nexus runs that are based out of Belmont and cover Washington/Sunderland, must be quite an amount.

Is there the possibility of some sort of outstation in the Sunderland area like GNE have at Crook, Consett or Peterlee?

26A is no longer an Arriva Contract (GNE now have it).

They only have M2/M3, and Washington to Belmont is not that far. Similar to GNE running light to South Shields from Gateshead (Metro Centre from 2014).

Ah I didnt realise there had been a change again.

Either way, an empty run from Belmont and back was a canny hike.

The starts from Heworth/Concord aren't just around the corner either.

Which depot does the 23 currently work out of?

(28 Jul 2013, 9:51 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Which depot does the 23 currently work out of?

Belmont (Durham).
If I recall correctly, didn't the 26A run off a 23 when it was operated by ANE rather than GNE? I seem to remember a Solo reverse into the stands at Park Lane and three minutes before it was due, speed round Stockton Rd etc to get to the other side of Park Lane then the driver would wait in the layover at that side before pulling into the stand and departing.

Couldn't say about the 26a running off a 23, but there was a Solo usually running light out of Belmont towards Sunderland on the A690 just after 8pm every night.
If it was heading to Washington, then there would be quicker ways to get there (A1, A195 etc).
If it wasn't a 26a or M2/M3, what else could it have been?

Used to spot it regularly either after a game of football at Soccerena, a trip to Tesco or when heading home after getting off the 19.52 train into Durham.

Yeah, looking at the timetable of the 23 now, it just wouldn't happen like that. It must have worked off something - I just can't imagine Belmont to have a vehicle stuck in the depot all day and then go out to do a 26A on an evening. I can only find two photos of the 26A under Arriva operation (both from myself), but on both occasions were definitely Solos. I can't think of a service operated by Belmont that has the guarantee of a Solo though?

I am sure the 49 usually has Solos?

What does everyone this of this service suggestion?

The 3 is poorly used between Wallsend and the Freeman Hospital, so I have come up with a idea to change this. If they extended it beyond the Freeman Hospital to Wansbeck Hospital via Quorum, Killingworth and Cramlington, this would provide a great number of new links. Residents of Broomfield Avenue would get a better services, and workers from the Freeman Hospital and Quorum would get a direct, frequent service to Wallsend and Ashington.

heres my idea


bring back the 56 under a new route

North shields - Meadowell - Howdon (then up Churchill street) - Battle Hill - Benton Asda - Four lane ends - West moor - Killingworth east bailey the 63 way and into the bus station

Suggestion for a new turn up and go service for the Coast Road through services 306 and 308:

- Service 305 (Sunday Daytime every 30 minutes) serving: The current 308 route between Billy Mill and Newcastle

- Service 306 (Monday - Saturday Daytime every 10 minutes / Evenings and Sundays every 30 minutes) serving: Whitley Bay Town Centre - Cullercoates John Street - Mast Lane - Marden Estate - Broadway - Beach Road - Grand Parade - Percy Park Rd - Mannor Road - Linkskill Terrace - North Shields Christ Church - Preston Road - QA 6th Form - Billy Mill then the current 308 route to Newcastle Haymarket. Buses towards Whitley Bay will serve North Shields Metro and Bedford Street

- Service 308 (Monday - Saturday Daytime every 10 minutes / Evenings and Sundays every 30 minutes) serving: The current 308 route between Blyth and Newcastle

These new services will mean:
- A bus every 5 minutes between Billy Mill and Newcastle Monday to Saturday Daytime
- A bus every 15 minutes between Billy Mill and Newcastle during the Evenings
- A bus every 10 minutes between Billy Mill and Newcastle during Sunday Daytimes
- Battle Hill Drive will no longer be served but a 5 minute frequency will make up for this on the Coast Road. Reliability of both services will be improved as a result
- Less overcrowding on service 308 at peak times through an increased frequency.
- Service 308 would receive an additional 2 Volvo B5LH Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 LH Hybrids to accommodate for an increase of frequency. All of the existing buses including the two new ones would include free Wi-Fi
- Service 306 would receive a new fleet of 10-12 Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse 2's equipped with free Wi-Fi. New buses for service 306 will ensure that the service remains reliable through less breakdowns and also improve consistency with service 308 too. Customer satisfaction would also improve too.
- Service 306 would also benefit from growth by gaining passengers from GNE's Coaster service that only runs every 15 minutes.
- To encourage more patronage on both services, Arriva could new tickets for the Coastliner services
- Zone 1 would include the route between Newcastle and Willington Square.
- Zone 2 would include the rest of the routes but excluding the 308 after Whitley Bay Caravan Park.
- Zone 3 would include between Whitley Bay Caravan Park and Blyth.
- 1 Zone would cost £2.50 for a day, £10 for 1 week, £30 for 1 month and £330 for one year.
- 2 Zones would cost £3.00 for a day, £12 for 1 week, £36 for 1 month and £396 for one year.[/b]
- 3 Zones would cost £3.50 for a day, £14 for 1 week, £42 for 1 month and £462 for one year.

(24 Aug 2013, 3:07 pm)citaro5284 wrote And how much would this cost to operate let alone the cost of 14 new vehicles (2 of them hybrids) and does the Coast Road justify a 5 minute frequency along with GNE and Stagecoach's 38 from the Corner House into Newcastle.

If the 308 ran every 10 mins, and the 306 every 10 mins, and then the 305 from Billy Mill every 30 minutes, would that not mean a bus more frequent than every 5 minutes at certain times within the hour.

I have to say, whilst I enjoy (and laugh) reading some of the suggestions here and also on the GNE/Stagecoach threads about service suggestions, lets all remain in the real world....please

No, the 305 would run on Sunday Daytimes. Do you know how the 21 runs to CLS every 10 minutes then onto Durham every 30 minutes on Sundays, that's how it would work on the Coast Road only on Sunday Daytimes between Billy Mill and Newcastle. It would be something like this from Haymarket on a Sunday :

00 (308BLYTH), 10 (305B.MILL), 20 (306W.BAY), 30 (308BLYTH), 40 (305B.MILL), 50 (306W.BAY)

Service suggestions for Northumerland concerning services X14, X15, X18, X20

- Service X51 (Monday - Saturday Daytime every 120 minutes / Evenings and Sundays every 120 minutes) serving: The current X15 route between Newcastle and Alnwick. Buses will then continue to Berwick via the current X18 route.

- Service X52 (Monday - Saturday Daytime every 120 minutes) serving: The current X15 route between Newcastle and Berwick.

- Service X53 (Monday - Saturday Daytime every 60 minutes / Evenings and Sundays every 60 minutes) serving: The current X18 route between Alnwick and Newcastle.

- Service X54 (Monday - Saturday Daytime every 60 minutes) serving: The current X18 route between Alnwick and Amble. Buses will then serve the current 20 / X20 route between Amble and Ashington / Newcastle.

- Service X55 (Monday - Saturday daytime every 60 minutes) Serving: The current 14 / X14 route between Thorpton and Newcastle.

A suggestion for extending the current zone boundaries.

Would it not be worthwhile to extend the Tyne and Wear Triple Ticket zone to cover the X2's route between Birtley and Newcastle. The Durham District Zone would remain as it is as it does seem to provide good value.

By extending the Tyne and Wear zone it would encourage people from Birtley and Low Fell who are traveling beyond Newcastle to the likes of Regent Centre, Benton Park View, Balliol and Quorum to use the X2 and then Arrivas North Tyneside services as opposed to buying a Network One or Buzzfare and changing at Gateshead or Newcastle city centre onto a metro or bus. Also I'd imagine anything which took passengers off the 21 and on to the X2 would be a bonus for Arriva.

Service suggestions for Northumberland, North Tyneside and Coast Road.

- Service 306 will now operate via the 308 route between Newcastle and Billy Mill. Buses will no longer serve Battle Hill Drive. Buses will then continue as now to Tynemouth but buses towards the Coast will operate via North Shields Metro, Bedford Street and Howard Street rather than Christ Church. Buses towards Newcastle will serve Northumberland Square then continue up Church Way onto Preston Road. From Mannor Road, buses will operate to Whitley Bay via Percy Park Road, Grand Parade, Beach Road, Broadway, Marden Estate, Mast Lane John Street and Whitley Road to Whitley Bay Town Centre. Buses towards North Shields and Newcastle will depart from York Road. Buses will operate the whole of the route every 15 minutes with evening and Sunday journeys operating every 30 minutes.

- Service 308 will continue to operate via the same route and frequency

- NEW Service X38 will operate via the current 308 route between Whitley Bay Town Centre and Billy Mill. Buses will then operate limited stop to St Mary's Place and Haymarket only calling at Norham Road and Willington Square. Buses will operate every 30 minutes during the day with evening and Sunday journeys operating hourly between Whitley Bay Town Centre and Newcastle.

- NEW Services 303 / 304 will operate every 15 minutes combined between Newcastle and Cobalt via the Cobalt Clipper route. Service 303 will continue every 30 minutes to Northumberland Park via West Allotment. Service 304 will continue to Blyth every 30 minutes via New York Road, New York P.O, Rake Lane, Preston Road, Morrisons, Marden Hartington Road, Broadway, Whitley Bay Town Centre then the current 308 route to Blyth. Both services will operate every 30 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays between Newcastle and Cobalt with journeys continuing hourly on both services.

- NEW Service 305 will operate every 15 minutes between Wallsend Metro and Newcastle via High Street East, Rosehill, Tynemouth Road, Ridley Drive, Constington Road, Churchill Street, Hadrian Park then the current 306 route between Battle Hill Drive and Newcastle. Evening and Sunday journeys will operate every 30 minutes.

- These services will provide a bus every 3-4 minutes between Kings Road and Newcastle during the day and a bus every 7-8 minutes evenings and Sundays.

- A bus every 7-8 minutes between Billy Mill and Newcastle during the day and a bus every 15 minutes evenings and Sundays.

- A bus every 7-8 minutes between Battle Hill and Newcastle during the day and a bus every 7-8 minutes evenings and Sundays.

- A bus every 15 minutes between Cobalt and Newcastle during the day and a bus every 30 minutes evenings and Sundays.

- A bus every 10 minutes between Whitley Bay Town Centre and Blyth during the day with regular evening and Sunday Journeys.

- Faster links between Northumberland, North Tyneside and Newcastle.

Arriva currently do not have a link with the Cobalt Business Park from Blyth.
The nearest bus is the 308 but you have to walk from North Tyneside Hospital.
A new service or re-routing the 308 would be ideal. I used to get the Cobalt Clipper 309 but they have cancelled the early bus from Blyth so i am unable to get to work for 7.00am unless I get the 308 and walk up from the hospital.