Your first suggestion was done when the Lime services were first introduced. The bus operated from Sunderland to Stanley as an X8 and then continued from Stanley to Castleside as an 8. The X8 was withdrawn and service 8 was revised to operate between Castleside and Chester-le-Street.

66 has been done too. Used to stop at all stops on Dunston Road when it operated via the A1.

(26 Jun 2016, 6:37 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote 8. Castleside - consett - Flint hill - Annifield plain - stanley - beamish - chester le street - washington art centre - washington - waterview park - casletown - sunderland.
This service will join the 8 and 16 together using a pvr of 11.
5284 - 92 + 5333-35. These vehicles will feature wifi and provide a comfortable ride.
5336 will be spare.
16. Stanley - Sacriston - durham.
This service will be reduced to every 30 minutes using a pvr of 4. ( 5395- 98).
5399 - 5407. Used for the 78 given a new name with 5401 being in the brand with 5408 red.
Vehicles to form the x7 allocation will come from this service suggestion.
66. Metrocentre - all stops to metrocentre.
This service will operate a 10 minute frequency using 4x new double deck vehicles allowing 5391-94 to move to Peterlee for the x7.

Why fix things that aren't broken? 

The Coast & Country services seem to manage fine as they do with Streetlites, and the Durham Diamond likewise with the Citaros (minus the reliability problems that they're plagued with). The latter services saw massive changes only last October to help with reliability issues with the Stanley-based services. The 8/78 saw new buses in May last year, with customers reaping the benefits that the Streetlites give them. Why remove the Streetlites as the stock for the 8, with passengers expecting the added luxuries that come with said stock, and put Citaros in their place? I hope you'd be able to source the investment for the Citaros to have their seats re-trimmed at the least, and be able to provide a business case to at least make the ''comfortable ride'' come close to the Streetlites for customers.

Why reduce the Stanley-Durham corridor to every 30 minutes? It's a busy section of the 16/16A, with standees at times. Why rebrand the 78? Why even separate the 8/78 from each other? 

As for 5391-5394 on the X7. Goodness me.

In my opinion streetlites wouldnt cope on the X7,the route of the X7 would probably kill the engines i the end,and probably.reduce the life expectancy of the vehicles,not to mention that passengers would end up standing,personally just leave things the way they are

(26 Jun 2016, 7:14 pm)R852 PRG wrote Why fix things that aren't broken? 

The Coast & Country services seem to manage fine as they do with Streetlites, and the Durham Diamond likewise with the Citaros (minus the reliability problems that they're plagued with). The latter services saw massive changes only last October to help with reliability issues with the Stanley-based services. The 8/78 saw new buses in May last year, with customers reaping the benefits that the Streetlites give them. Why remove the Streetlites as the stock for the 8, with passengers expecting the added luxuries that come with said stock, and put Citaros in their place? I hope you'd be able to source the investment for the Citaros to have their seats re-trimmed at the least, and be able to provide a business case to at least make the ''comfortable ride'' come close to the Streetlites for customers.

Why reduce the Stanley-Durham corridor to every 30 minutes? It's a busy section of the 16/16A, with standees at times. Why rebrand the 78? Why even separate the 8/78 from each other? 

As for 5391-5394 on the X7. Goodness me.

Actually every 20 minutes.
Personaly 5391-94 would cope fine on the x7 as alike the x3,x4 streetlites do

(26 Jun 2016, 9:46 pm)V514DFT wrote In my opinion streetlites wouldnt cope on the X7,the route of the X7 would probably kill the engines i  the end,and probably.reduce the life expectancy of the vehicles,not to mention that passengers would end up standing,personally just leave things the way they are

I agree with this and Marcus's post above.
The X7 wouldn't bring out the publicised fuel efficiency in the Streetlites, Non stop for most of the route would be torture to a small Eco-Voith and a small 4 Cylinder Cummins, One could argue that the 8/78 have non stop runs, Though at least they can get there breath back on the slow stop start sections etc

The Citaros are built to last, And would easily do out a few more years without problem. And a 10.7l engine does come in handy when on the fast sections

(26 Jun 2016, 9:46 pm)V514DFT wrote In my opinion streetlites wouldnt cope on the X7,the route of the X7 would probably kill the engines i the end,and probably.reduce the life expectancy of the vehicles,not to mention that passengers would end up standing,personally just leave things the way they are

Not sure how the passengers would end up standing considering that they have more seats than the Citaro's currently used but I can't say I'd want a bus that goes a fair amount of the A19 that is limited to 50mph, it's bad enough going down the stretch the Arriva X21 serves on the EcoCitys. Mind people say about the StreetLite's going down the A19, but Arriva send their Sapphire X3/X4 along similar sorts of roads between Middlesbrough and Redcar and they seem to handle it fine, although they are a tad slow. Can't say I'd fancy one on the X7 though, mind I don't fancy having them for a short journey on the X66.

(26 Jun 2016, 9:46 pm)V514DFT wrote In my opinion streetlites wouldnt cope on the X7,the route of the X7 would probably kill the engines i  the end,and probably.reduce the life expectancy of the vehicles,not to mention that passengers would end up standing,personally just leave things the way they are

I agree, the X7 is a route where buses, like Citaro's need to be allocated on a daily bases... Anything else i think they would struggle.

Not sure what GNE will go with when the Citaro's to a certain age although thats a while away..

(26 Jun 2016, 9:57 pm)Jimmi wrote Not sure how the passengers would end up standing considering that they have more seats than the Citaro's currently used but I can't say I'd want a bus that goes a fair amount of the A19 that is limited to 50mph, it's bad enough going down the stretch the Arriva X21 serves on the EcoCitys. Mind people say about the StreetLite's going down the A19, but Arriva send their Sapphire X3/X4 along similar sorts of roads between Middlesbrough and Redcar and they seem to handle it fine, although they are a tad slow. Can't say I'd fancy one on the X7 though, mind I don't fancy having them for a short journey on the X66.

Didnt know that a streetlite had more seats than citaro,i just presumed passengers would stand with it being an 'X' service,in personal experience ive never used the X7,so apologies for that

No part of the A19 south of the tunnel to Thirsk is limited to 50mph

(27 Jun 2016, 12:18 pm)GMitchelhill wrote No part of the A19 south of the tunnel to Thirsk is limited to 50mph

I was referring to the StreetLite's, not the A19. I badly worded that last post.

I think that the days of 'heavy duty' single and double deck buses are becoming numbered. When the call beckons for 6043-6048 to be replace, I think it will be highly likely to see StreetDecks replacing them. Although not ideal vehicles, they seem to do the job OK and only time will tell.

The same goes for Streetlites continuing the discussion and although they have a small engine, it doesn't necessarily mean that they'll prove unreliable over long distances. Looking at Arriva's Enviro 400s out of Ashington Depot, with the exception of 7501-7505 which had hard lives before going to Ashington, the majority of them have proven themselves particularly the Euro 5 examples (7528 - 7534 in particular).

Bit of crazy suggestion here but 40/41 extend to percy main,loop round through east howdon,then howdon then rejoin its normal route

X6. Hartlepool - castle eden - horden - peterlee - Easington village - Easington lane - murton - dalton park - heworth - wardley.
This service will operate a hourly frequency allowing service x35 to be reverted to an hourly frequency.
This service will additionally replace service 202 to dalton park before providing a direct fast link to heworth for connecting to other services.
This service will allow service 57 to go every 30 minutes with wardley still having 3 buses a hour to heworth.
X7. Middlesbrough - Billingham - peterlee - Easington village - hetton le hole - rainton bridge ( peak times ) - hougton le spring - Doxford international - tunstall bank - ryhope - Grangetown - sunderland interchange.
This service will operate using double deck vehicles and replaces service 923 to Rainton bridge.
This service will replace service x9 also.
This service will also allow service 39 to be revised to every 20 minutes.
X8. Middlesbrough - stockton - norton - wingate - peterlee - Easington village - dalton park - spectrum - seaham - east shore village - ryhope - hollycarside - sunderland.
This service will replace service x7,238,202.
The service will operate every hour between Sunderland and Peterlee but every 2 hours peterlee to middlesbrough.
This service will operate via sunderland estates to give people a service to middlesbrough.
The service will run the same way as arrivas 22 service peterlee to dalton park.
This service will operate using single deck vehicles with peterlee running the long x8 and deptford running the short x8.
X9. Service withdrawn and replaced with x10.
X10 Newcastle - Gateshead - heworth - peterlee - norton - stockton - middlesbrough.
This service will operate every hour but every 30 minutes at peak times and replaces the x9.
The service will additionally serve peterlee bus station although peak journeys wont but will stop on the slip road.
The x6 will provide more buses to Peterlee and a new link to hartlepool.
Service x7 will serve peterlee and will allow connections to Billingham.
Service 265 will additionally serve the estate before seaham mill inn upon the 238 route.
60. This service will operate every 20 minutes.
61 this service will operate every 20 minutes.
Together these services will form a every 10 minute bus service seaham westlea to park lane.
New 62 Sunderland - Grangetown - Ryhope - seaham mill inn - seaton - hall lane - hougton le spring - newbottle - shiney Row - barnwell.
This service will replace the 238 and provide extra buses along the 60 and 61 coridoor.
X35. This service will only operate at peak times along with several early Saturday morning journeys.
The sunday journeys are transferd to service x1 extending to Peterlee.
This will allow a every 30 minute bus to low moorsley on a Sunday.

(27 Jun 2016, 7:52 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote X6. Hartlepool - castle eden - horden - peterlee - Easington village - Easington lane - murton - dalton park - heworth - wardley.
This service will operate a hourly frequency allowing service x35 to be reverted to an hourly frequency.
This service will additionally replace service 202 to dalton park before providing a direct fast link to heworth for connecting to other services.
This service will allow service 57 to go every 30 minutes with wardley still having 3 buses a hour to heworth. 

Goes to Heworth before Wardley??
You have to go through Wardley to get to Heworth if using the most direct route.

What exactly is in Wardley that would make me want to sit on a bus through to there? As there's nothing much to offer at this end of the route

(27 Jun 2016, 8:08 pm)beefcake wrote What exactly is in Wardley that would make me want to sit on a bus through to there? As there's nothing much to offer at this end of the route

Your not a wardley resident that may need the route

Maybe not, but no Wardley resident is going to come all the way to Hartlepool when Newcastle, Metrocentre and Sunderland are all a lot closer

(27 Jun 2016, 8:08 pm)beefcake wrote What exactly is in Wardley that would make me want to sit on a bus through to there? As there's nothing much to offer at this end of the route

(27 Jun 2016, 8:11 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Your not a wardley resident that may need the route

And do you really think more than 2 or 3 people (if that) per day, would use it?

When the Metrocentre and Newcastle are less than half an hour away, I can't see anyone wanting to sit on a bus for almost an hour to Dalton Park, for no where near the amount of choice.

Services suggestion sorry if people have already suggested theses

X10 service revised to run non stop between Newcastle and Middlesbrough this services will run hourly

X36 and X7 withdrawn replaced by a revised X9 which will run Newcastle-Gateshead-Heworth-Bolden-Downhil-Southwick-Sunderland-Seaham-Peterlee-Station Town-Billingham-Norton-Stockton-Middlesbrough this service will run every 30 minutes

X21 Express Newcastle-Bishop Auckland only stopping at Durham this service will still run Every 30 minutes
New service 21A Newcastle-Bishop Auckland replacing the link for the current X21 this service will run Every 15 minutes replacing the 21 to Durham

X31 to run on Sundays giving a quick link to Stanley every 30 minutes

47 extended hourly to Consett from Black Hall Mill

Also Sundays journeys on the X10 would run via Stockton-Peterlee-Bolden-Heworth and Gateshead

(29 Jun 2016, 10:36 pm)Ds1197 wrote Services suggestion sorry if people have already suggested theses

X10 service revised to run non stop between Newcastle and Middlesbrough this services will run hourly

X36 and X7 withdrawn replaced by a revised X9 which will run Newcastle-Gateshead-Heworth-Bolden-Downhil-Southwick-Sunderland-Seaham-Peterlee-Station Town-Billingham-Norton-Stockton-Middlesbrough this service will run every 30 minutes

X21 Express Newcastle-Bishop Auckland only stopping at Durham this service will still run Every 30 minutes
New service 21A Newcastle-Bishop Auckland replacing the link for the current X21 this service will run Every 15 minutes replacing the 21 to Durham

X31 to run on Sundays giving a quick link to Stanley every 30 minutes

47 extended hourly to Consett from Black Hall Mill

Also Sundays journeys on the X10 would run via Stockton-Peterlee-Bolden-Heworth and Gateshead

That would take forever...

Both X7 and X9 currently take about 1h20-1h30, your X9 diverting through Sunderland would take well over 2 hours, going on the timing of current and previous services that go between Newcastle and Sunderland.

If I was to suggest anything myself, it would be

X8 Sunderland-Grangetown-Ryhope-New Seaham-Dalton Park-A19-Peterlee-Billingham-Middlesbrough...Half Hourly combined with the X7

Will need to have a good think sometime, I aint had any service suggestions lately 😀

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

(29 Jun 2016, 11:06 pm)MrFozz wrote That would take forever...

Both X7 and X9 currently take about 1h20-1h30, your X9 diverting through Sunderland would take well over 2 hours, going on the timing of current and previous services that go between Newcastle and Sunderland.

If I was to suggest anything myself, it would be

X8 Sunderland-Grangetown-Ryhope-New Seaham-Dalton Park-A19-Peterlee-Billingham-Middlesbrough...Half Hourly combined with the X7

Will need to have a good think sometime, I aint had any service suggestions lately ?

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What about my other services suggestions?

35H Current X35 route
X6 Runs Via Current X35 route between Hartlepool & Peterlee,Then running same route as X21 Into Sunderland
Both Run Hourly PVR 7,On Sundays 35H will replace the current 35A per hour the continues to Peterlee,but will also continue to Hartlepool

X7 Extended Via X36 route into Newcastle,But Runs Non-Stop from Heworth Into Newcastle,Rebranded The Tyne,Wear & Tees Express.
remaining Hourly PVR 5

X8 New Service,running via X7 route Between Sunderland & Peterlee,before running via Current 208 route into Durham,Interworks with 265 At Durham
Both X8 & 265 Hourly PVR 6

X9/X10 Remain the Same

208 Only runs the Short Peterlee - Easington Village trip per hour,PVR 1


- More Simple numbers for Buses In/Out Of Peterlee & Brings the Express services for that area into line (Express buses to Sunderland X7/X8,To Newcastle X9/X10 (Eves + Sun) & To Middlesborough (X7/9)

- Even Quicker buses into Newcastle from Sunderland with X7 missing out Gateshead (Might not save that much time,but at least 5-10 Mins?)

- Bigger buses for X8 & 265 (Maybe Citaros if/when they become available?)

- 35H Brings it into line with the current 35/36 Services between Houghton Le Spring & Sunderland,as well as introduce a Sunday service into Hartlepool from Sunderland

Washington services changes well really number and brand changes
4 still connection4
82/82A renumbered 4A/4B and would join the connections4 brand don't know about 82B maybe 4C

The evening 82/83 journeys renumbered 2E/3E but would still use connections4 buses

85/86 branded indigo Washington

X1 frequency increased between Washington and Newcastle and decreased towards Easington Lane

Slightly revised time on the 50 to give more overlay time at South Shields