(12 Jun 2015, 7:41 pm)citaro5284 wrote I think the problem would be should Stagecoach match Arriva or should Arriva match Stagecoach.....
Given that Arriva have been the only ones to make major changes to the route (with Stagecoach then following suit) and the fact they run 4 out of the 6 vehicles on the route, I'd imagine they'd have to make the first move.
Conversely, Stagecoach in Cumbria (Carlisle especially) have been money saving mad recently, what with ordering the new Optare Solo SRs in favour of the Enviro 200s and giving a pretty nasty blow to their drivers with regards minibus T&Cs. Therefore it may not be as easy as I'd like to think.
(12 Jun 2015, 7:47 pm)Dan wrote To stick my two penneth in - I've often been the only person travelling from Hexham to Newcastle on afternoons and evenings, when using the 685. On all other occasions, it hasn't reached double figures.
Can only imagine this is going to get worse in the future, should Go North East increase the level of work in the Hexham area...
The Carlisle end of the route does very well, however. Had the misfortune of needing to stand on a number of occasions for the first 20-30 minutes of the route..! The more regular frequency at this end of the route (provided by Stagecoach) only provides evidence of this...
With regards to evenings Dan, do you think Arriva's X85 may have contributed to this? Seeing as it's the only 'true' express route (omitting Heddon and Horsley unlike GNE's X85) I think it may have taken passengers back.
Should the route become MAX/Sapphire this could increase the benefits to passengers such as nicer seating [admittedly you can't really beat GNE's overall seating IMO] and Wifi or even plug sockets (to then become more favourable over GNE?).
However prices would have to come down also as I think this is the biggest factor.
Regarding the Carlisle end of the route, from what I've seen it's consistently busy all day. It's a slight shame it only goes to Brampton though; if it were to go to Hexham it'd be much easier (but then you can't really stick Solos on that!!).
(12 Jun 2015, 7:50 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Tottaly agree with you! Though the double decker couldn't be VDL SB300 Wright Gemini 2s as there totally not suited to this route,
Enviro 400s with uprated engines would be the best choice, Even better if any dealer stock Volvo B9TLs were for up for grabs ( Doubt it though )
Scania omnicites will be fit for another 10 years if Arriva give them a full overhaul from the chassis up, converting them to MAX in the process.
MAX would probably be the most likely
Also get 1415 from Belmont to Jesmond to act as a spare to save the Belmont kerfuffle
and im sure I read somewhere that Arriva are converting it to MAX standard
That's very fair then. Just as long as X-reg clapped out DAFs don't make it onto the route!
I also agree with regards to the Omnicities if they had a full refurbishment/overhaul.
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