(20 Apr 2026, 7:48 pm)Malarkey wrote Bet it was Greatly Crap Taxis, sorry I mean Gateshead Central Taxis who were up next.

Doubt it, they don't have any double deckers.

(20 Apr 2026, 9:24 am)Michael wrote Confirmation on VOSA of GNE taking over the 700/701 from the 27th April

PB0003954/1493
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 701N St Peters Campus St Peters Campus

PB0003954/1492
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 700N Sunderland Interchange Sunderland Interchange

Thats 6950, 6187 & 6188 staying on abit longer then ...

(20 Apr 2026, 8:05 pm)F114TML wrote Doubt it, they don't have any double deckers.

Maybe JH Coaches?

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(20 Apr 2026, 8:31 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote Thats 6950, 6187 & 6188 staying on abit longer then ...

I wonder if GNE will put 6160 & 6161 back on the 700/701 if they are still branded for Sunderland Connect?

My money would be on JH for the Sunderland Connect services. They did have the 701 a while ago previously anyway.

Do JH still do the university open day shuttles?

(21 Apr 2026, 6:37 am)morritt89 wrote My money would be on JH for the Sunderland Connect services. They did have the 701 a while ago previously anyway.

Do JH still do the university open day shuttles?

I remember JH having the 701 previously. Used to see it when I was volunteering at the National Glass Centre for a week back then. That's why I thought of them, as well as the fact they've got loads of deckers and when the schools break up in July they will be available, with only the 933 and 941 running in the holidays I believe.

(20 Apr 2026, 9:05 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Maybe JH Coaches?

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I wonder if GNE will put 6160 & 6161 back on the 700/701 if they are still branded for Sunderland Connect?

They are now with an overall advert.
With it being an emergency contract until July, unbranded DDs may be allowed.

(21 Apr 2026, 6:37 am)morritt89 wrote My money would be on JH for the Sunderland Connect services. They did have the 701 a while ago previously anyway.

Do JH still do the university open day shuttles?

Think Northstar were in the running for the contract but unsure where they placed.

(21 Apr 2026, 8:03 am)Retro Nero wrote They are now with an overall advert.
With it being an emergency contract until July, unbranded DDs may be allowed.

The adverts are only vinals so should peel off to reveal the blue undernaeth

(21 Apr 2026, 6:37 am)morritt89 wrote My money would be on JH for the Sunderland Connect services. They did have the 701 a while ago previously anyway.

Do JH still do the university open day shuttles?

Yes, they do. I have seen them quite a few times on open days

(21 Apr 2026, 10:21 am)TheClumsyPineapple wrote Yes, they do. I have seen them quite a few times on open days

Risky giving it to a small operator. Better to give it to SNE, as they operate the bulk of the town services.

(20 Apr 2026, 7:48 pm)Malarkey wrote Bet it was Greatly Crap Taxis, sorry I mean Gateshead Central Taxis who were up next.

Let's hope not!!!!!!!

Sent from my SM-S931B using Tapatalk

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(20 Apr 2026, 8:05 pm)F114TML wrote Doubt it, they don't have any double deckers.

Probably not but they hire buses for fun

Sent from my SM-S931B using Tapatalk

(20 Apr 2026, 9:24 am)Michael wrote Confirmation on VOSA of GNE taking over the 700/701 from the 27th April

PB0003954/1493
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 701N St Peters Campus St Peters Campus

PB0003954/1492
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 700N Sunderland Interchange Sunderland Interchange

Go North East will take over operation of the Sunderland Connect network (services 700 and 701) on an interim basis from Monday 27 April 2026.


https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/sunderland-connect

The timetables for the Arriva service changes in May are available to view on the website through the timetable page and changing the date to 11th May for those interested

(21 Apr 2026, 6:37 am)morritt89 wrote My money would be on JH for the Sunderland Connect services. They did have the 701 a while ago previously anyway.

Do JH still do the university open day shuttles?

If it's from the last bid and not GoNorthEast

It's either Northstar, Stagecoach or Gateshead Central Taxis as they were the other 3 bidders.

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/N...40138-2025

(24 Apr 2026, 7:04 am)Storx wrote If it's from the last bid and not GoNorthEast

It's either Northstar, Stagecoach or Gateshead Central Taxis as they were the other 3 bidders.

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/N...40138-2025

Interesting. Thanks for that. Hope it's Northstar or Stagecoach.

(24 Apr 2026, 9:38 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote Interesting. Thanks for that. Hope it's Northstar or Stagecoach.

Aye, can't see it being Stagecoach mind, can't see why they'd need a random 3 month grace period - especially when they've just lost work in Newcastle and supposedly have too many drivers as it is.

Northstar / GCT who knows, there's the July contracts coming up which will free drivers for GCT but there's also the school holidays which will free buses for Northstar so could be either really.

(24 Apr 2026, 10:12 am)Storx wrote Aye, can't see it being Stagecoach mind, can't see why they'd need a random 3 month grace period - especially when they've just lost work in Newcastle and supposedly have too many drivers as it is.

Northstar / GCT who knows, there's the July contracts coming up which will free drivers for GCT but there's also the school holidays which will free buses for Northstar so could be either really.

Good points. School holidays would only make Northstar available temporarily of course, unless they acquire more buses or lose contracts by September. 

It would be good to see Northstar run it from a passenger and enthusiast point of view, Stagecoach from an enthusiast point of view. Probably end up being GCT, everything is always GCT!

(24 Apr 2026, 11:14 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote Good points. School holidays would only make Northstar available temporarily of course, unless they acquire more buses or lose contracts by September. 

It would be good to see Northstar run it from a passenger and enthusiast point of view, Stagecoach from an enthusiast point of view. Probably end up being GCT, everything is always GCT!

Can't confirm 100% but think both end in September, but guess if Northstar had the Sunderland services for longer they could just not take the school work which is up for tender instead. I'd assume they'd rather have the Sunderland work (I know I would at least).

tbh it would make sense to get the Sunderland Connect services tendered in July anyway so it's with the rest of the Sunderland work rather than dealing with a seperate tender (like now).

Go North East set to trail a new soccer bus numberd X40

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/matchday-p...-home-game

(Yesterday, 3:31 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Go North East set to trail a new soccer bus numberd X40

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/matchday-p...-home-game

Interesting way of bringing that service number back. Hope it does alright for them.

(Yesterday, 3:31 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Go North East set to trail a new soccer bus numberd X40

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/matchday-p...-home-game

Personally don't see the point of it.

There's already interchange opportunities at Callerton Parkway, Four Lane Ends, Northumberland Park, Seaton Delaval, Ashington, Bebside, Newsham, Regent Centre and people from the likes of Morpeth might aswell use the X14/X15/X16/X18. The times aren't a million miles away. 

I really don't see it's purpose. Just like the P&R that also failed there.

(Yesterday, 4:20 pm)Storx wrote Personally don't see the point of it.

There's already interchange opportunities at Callerton Parkway, Four Lane Ends, Northumberland Park, Seaton Delaval, Ashington, Bebside, Newsham, Regent Centre and people from the likes of Morpeth might aswell use the X14/X15/X16/X18. The times aren't a million miles away. 

I really don't see it's purpose. Just like the P&R that also failed there.

They say its to "ease congestion in the city before & after the match"

(Yesterday, 4:30 pm)Nerd4321 wrote They say its to "ease congestion in the city before & after the match"

Cannot see that happening personally. It's just in the wrong place. 

25 minutes from there on a bus or 29 minutes from Seaton Delaval and Callerton Parkway; 35 minutes from the Blyth stations and 40 minutes from Morpeth (via bus) from the bus stop to give the X40 the best chance on paper.

Just doesn't make sense to use it especially since it's a pain in the arse to get into the car park from the A1, you'd be well on your way into the centre of Newcastle and all the stations above are nearer the door to people's home.

(Yesterday, 4:38 pm)Storx wrote Cannot see that happening personally. It's just in the wrong place. 

25 minutes from there on a bus or 29 minutes from Seaton Delaval and Callerton Parkway; 35 minutes from the Blyth stations and 40 minutes from Morpeth (via bus) from the bus stop to give the X40 the best chance on paper.

Just doesn't make sense to use it especially since it's a pain in the arse to get into the car park from the A1, you'd be well on your way into the centre of Newcastle and all the stations above are nearer the door to people's home.

Problem is the Northumberland Line doesn't seem to have 4 cars on it which is something every council is seem want to happen yet Northern keep giving the same response "we dont have enough"

It seems nobody expected the Northumberland Line to do so well

They are stupid for thinking it but thats a topic for another thread

(Yesterday, 7:19 pm)Nerd4321 wrote Problem is the Northumberland Line doesn't seem to have 4 cars on it which is something every council is seem want to happen yet Northern keep giving the same response "we dont have enough"

It seems nobody expected the Northumberland Line to do so well

They are stupid for thinking it but thats a topic for another thread

Aye that's true mind, it's a shame really. Hopefully can get it started before the new season though. I read somewhere, unsure where it was, but supposedly they've found something to double it up. Believe the units were coming from Scotrail.

Mind even then, surely if you were driving to get a bus you might aswell just walk outside your front door and get the bus direct. By the time you pissed about getting to the Great Park you could've been well on the way to Newcastle anyway. It's not like the service is bad from SE Northumberland really. 

It's different to the Metrocentre where places like Leadgate the service is dire.

(Yesterday, 4:38 pm)Storx wrote Cannot see that happening personally. It's just in the wrong place. 

25 minutes from there on a bus or 29 minutes from Seaton Delaval and Callerton Parkway; 35 minutes from the Blyth stations and 40 minutes from Morpeth (via bus) from the bus stop to give the X40 the best chance on paper.

Just doesn't make sense to use it especially since it's a pain in the arse to get into the car park from the A1, you'd be well on your way into the centre of Newcastle and all the stations above are nearer the door to people's home.

The route map for the X40 shows it going through Cowgate instead of Gosforth, albeit running non-stop. I thought it would go straight from Great Park into Newcastle via Great North Road and Gosforth High Street. Presumably it will take whichever route is quickest and won't necessarily stick to following the route map. Be interesting to see what buses they allocate to it.

(6 hours ago)OrangeArrow49 wrote The route map for the X40 shows it going through Cowgate instead of Gosforth, albeit running non-stop. I thought it would go straight from Great Park into Newcastle via Great North Road and Gosforth High Street. Presumably it will take whichever route is quickest and won't necessarily stick to following the route map. Be interesting to see what buses they allocate to it.

I think it'll be fairly popular with people in Great Park, knowing a lot of people who live there, matchday transport is an issue. The X47 being slow and often heavily delayed through Cowgate and it's various diversions through the city