(25 Jul 2015, 4:14 pm)GX03 SVC wrote The reason why I chose X41/X42 is because the X31/32/33 used old buses and was a confusing network. You also suggest ripping out NSAs, refurbishing Sapphire buses to MAX and modifying buses to have buggy bays, which will leave passengers complaining about a lack of seats...?

My posts are a bit scattered so here's it all in one post.

• Sapphire X21/X22 rebranded as Sapphire Express X41/X42 - No timetable or route changes. Nine new Enviro400s which will...
  
• Displace 7501-7509 to upgrade routes 35/35A to Sapphire and a 10-minute frequency, refurbishing 1579-1581 to Sapphire if needs be.
  
• Overall, passenger satisfaction will rise with the introduction of a full new (and 2014) X41/X42 fleet and upgraded quality on the 35/35A which currently have a mix of non-WiFi ex-London DLAs and WiFi Wright StreetLites.
  

Actually, the changes would entail the following:

- Re-introducing a simple 15 minute core frequency Monday to Saturday daytime with quick links from Newbiggin, Ashington, Stakeford, Bedlington and Newcastle using the most direct route (current X21 route to Bedlington then X22 route from there to Newcastle).

- Improve reliability reducing gaps (20 minutes by the time the time difference between the X21 and X22 is taken into account from Stakeford and Bedlington) and having a simple 15 minute frequency with 4 buses per hour Monday to Saturday daytime improving reliability and customer satisfaction.

- Improving the stock used on Sapphire X31 / X32 with 7x 14 reg vehicles, 1x 09 reg vehicle and 3x of the best of 57 plate vehicles all to Sapphire spec with free wi-fi, plug sockets, NSAs , buggy bays on all vehicles as standard.

- Speeding up journey times on X31 / X32 omitting Polwarth Drive and Brunton Park stops Monday to Saturday daytime.

- Reducing pressure on the X20 due to the faster and technically more frequent journeys between Ashington and Newcastle

- Dedicated team of drivers for all Monday to Saturday daytime journeys on services X31 / X32.

- Improving reliability on all three services.

- X33 would be downgraded to MAX spec with normal Arriva livery but would keep free wi-fi and plug sockets. Seats would be re-trimmed with Arriva logo on headrests and NSAs and screens ripped out. X33 would use 5x E400s.

- New evening and Sunday service for North Seaton provided by service X33.
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This is what the service would look like between Ashington and Newcastle Monday to Saturday daytime:

- X20 (could be MAX?) = Current route every 60 minutes with journeys to Alnwick.

- SAPPHIRE X31 / X32 every 15 minutes combined serving Newbiggin, North Seaton (X32), Wansbeck Hospital (X31), Ashington, Stakeford Half Moon, Bedlington Station, Bedlington Red Lion, Hartford Road, A1068 then limited stop to Newcastle calling at the Regent Centre, Gosforth Brandling Arms and Barras Bridge (NCL only). PVR = 11x Sapphire Spec E400s.

- Arriva (MAX Spec) X33 every 30 minutes serving Ashington, Ashington Park, Briardene, Stakeford Ashington Dr, Wansbeck Glendale Ave, Guide Post, Bedlington Glebe Road, Nedderton, A1068, Brunton Lane then limited stop to Newcastle only calling at, Polwarth Drive, Regent Centre, Gosforth Brandling and Barras Bridge (NCL only).

And this is what the service would look like between Ashington and Newcastle during evenings and Sundays:

- SAPPHIRE X31 every 60 minutes serving Newbiggin, Wansbeck Hospital, Ashington, Stakeford Half Moon, Bedlington Station, Bedlington Red Lion, Hartford Road, A1068, Brunton Lane then limited stop to Newcastle only calling at, Polwarth Drive, Regent Centre, Gosforth Brandling and Barras Bridge (NCL only).

- Arriva (MAX Spec) X33 every 60 minutes serving North Seaton Demesne, Ashington, Ashington Park, Briardene, Stakeford Ashington Dr, Wansbeck Glendale Ave, Guide Post, Bedlington Glebe Road, Nedderton, A1068, Brunton Lane then limited stop to Newcastle only calling at, Polwarth Drive, Regent Centre, Gosforth Brandling and Barras Bridge (NCL only).

- The combined frequency with the X31 / X33 will be 'approximately' every 30 minutes from Ashington, Bedlington (either Glebe Road or Red Lion) and between A1068 and Newcastle.

- The combined PVR of the X31 / X33 and 35 would be 7x 14 reg SAPPHIRE spec E400s.