(22 Oct 2013, 6:29 am)Michael wrote Facebook message about the proposed North Sunderland changes...

Hi everyone! I don't who is aware, but Go North East are proposing to withdraw the 36/36A service. They are justifying this by proposing to increase the 26 to a 20 min service. Fine if you don't need to go over the Alexandra Bridge for work, hospital, shopping or leisure. The consultation forms haven't been available on the 36/36A even though I have asked several drivers. In the end, I e-mailed a request for a number of the forms be sent to my home address so I could distribute them among the 36/36A passengers. They sent me 12!!! So if you care about our bus services, if not for yourself, then maybe for a relative or neighbour who relies on them, contact them on Facebook or www.simplygo.com. We only have till 30 Oct to have our views heard. Please fight to keep our bus links.

I have to agree iv'e used the 26/36/36A last few days i haven't seen any on their.

Update: Guess who's liked it? - Yes of course its.... Ian Hignett likes this.

I've used the 36/36A a few times to get to Interviews at the Enterprise Park etc, and there is literally nobody using it from my experience of using it. Even a few weeks back when I was on a training course at Ingeus on Fawcett Street, I would hop on it upto Park Lane if I couldn't be bothered to walk or if it was Raining, and again nobody on it, minimum of at least 5 Passengers or Less on all occasions. So I can see why GNE are proposing to Withdraw it. As for the 26 I can't comment as I have never used the Service.

On the flip side I can't see why the Person is complaining about a loss Service when you have Stagecoach operating Services 3/4 and 13 Every 10 Minutes in and around the Areas the 36/36A Serves. Plus they could quite easily get on the 73 which goes over the Alexandra Bridge.

Haven't used my personal key card for a while now I have a corporate thingybob and surprised to get an email from GNE offering

'25% off any 7 or 28 day buzzfare bought on simplygo.com before 13th November'

So a 2 zone 28 day for 61.12 isn't bad at all

(22 Oct 2013, 2:50 pm)gtomlinson wrote Haven't used my personal key card for a while now I have a corporate thingybob and surprised to get an email from GNE offering

'25% off any 7 or 28 day buzzfare bought on simplygo.com before 13th November'

So a 2 zone 28 day for 61.12 isn't bad at all

I only got 10% on mine..!

(22 Oct 2013, 11:20 am)Greg in Weardale wrote And in my more limited use of X36 it's intermediate loadings are lower than those of X3.

(22 Oct 2013, 11:40 am)Andreos1 wrote Speaking of the x36, the one I saw arriving into Newcastle had 2 people on.

These have hit the nail on the head. The X3 is a lot busier than the X36. The difference is though the X36 will replace the 36/36A around Southwick, Witherwack, Red House, Downhill. An increase in a failing service (X36) allows them to get rid of the 36/36A around these areas and axe to X3. The X36 can serve local residents City Centre-North Sunderland and those who want to go from Sunderland-Newcastle/Gateshead/Heworth/Boldon. The 36/36A is failing and the X36 needs a boost, it's a win in GNE eyes. Obviously the people who lose their Newcastle bus between Sunderland-Fulwell-Boldon. Another point is that GNE will be hoping a bus direct to Newcastle City Centre will have a USP over stagecoach.

(22 Oct 2013, 4:11 pm)Dan wrote I only got 10% on mine..!

Yeah I got 15% off!

Just posting the full Fleet changes from the Fleet allocation list

5369 - 5374 new vehicles received but not yet in service
5358 - 5368 new vehicles in service at Washington
4956 4957 4958 4959 4960 8216 Washington to Chester le Street
4964 4965 Washington to Deptford
4966 Washington to Gateshead
4912 4913 Washington to Stanley
4914 Deptford to Stanley
6031 Stanley to Gateshead
6015 6042 Stanley to Winlaton
3874 3875 6036 Stanley to Chester le Street
3887 3888 3889 Chester le Street to Stanley
4983 4984 4985 4986 4987 withdrawn from Chester le Street
4822 4824 4825 4863 4867 8158 8202 8204 8208 8217 8218 8230 8240 sold but awaiting collection

Anyone noticed how the new customer service hours are 7am-7pm? Think that's a lot better indeed!

(22 Oct 2013, 5:52 pm)Dan wrote Anyone noticed how the new customer service hours are 7am-7pm? Think that's a lot better indeed!

I noticed they said good morning a tad early this morning but i was half a sleep XD

It is much better but they still should shut the wall on a night.

I noticed that the "Pronto" colour on the fleet allocation list has changed to Dark blue background and light green writing

(22 Oct 2013, 4:11 pm)Dan wrote I only got 10% on mine..!

Can't encourage the riff raff too much

GNE's New Depot - Photo By Flickr User LVNW
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85045832@N07/10426872005/

Nice size.

There'll be some good vantage points from where the British Airways call centre is at Newcastle Business Park

I absolutely hate that patterned cladding effect

(21 Oct 2013, 8:50 pm)busman101 wrote Going to check in the morning though to make sure I don't need a trip to Specsavers !

Good news GTM - clocked another Waggonway when out and about today and the 25% off at Beamish message is now on the back window of the bus

(22 Oct 2013, 2:21 pm)gtomlinson wrote Course they will, they can hop on the 20 or the 71/78 (buy a Buzzfare) and its an easy connection

Are you reading my mind !

(22 Oct 2013, 8:17 pm)busman101 wrote Are you reading my mind !

I should get Buzzfare commission.

Pleased about Beamish, think they should push that link more.

(22 Oct 2013, 7:56 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote GNE's New Depot - Photo By Flickr User LVNW
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85045832@N07/10426872005/

Thank's ive ask a few times for updates, it looks good so far it, looks like it will open on time.

(22 Oct 2013, 5:52 pm)Dan wrote Anyone noticed how the new customer service hours are 7am-7pm? Think that's a lot better indeed!

Good move by them.

(22 Oct 2013, 8:23 pm)gtomlinson wrote I should get Buzzfare commission.

Pleased about Beamish, think they should push that link more.

You've already had a discount code !!!

GNE Connections 4 Coffee Bike is in Houghton tomorrow - there'll be a special cup waiting for Andreos1 or any other member of the Fencehouses massive who like owt for nowt !

(22 Oct 2013, 8:36 pm)Michael wrote Thank's ive ask a few times for updates, it looks good so far it, looks like it will open on time.

New depot should be complete by Xmas, some office staff will move in first, buses end of January.

(22 Oct 2013, 11:40 am)Andreos1 wrote Speaking of the x36, the one I saw arriving into Newcastle had 2 people on.

Curious to see the PR spin to see how many forms have been distributed and returned after the shambles that was the Coaster consultation.

Haven't been home much over the last week, but yet to get my Connecections 4 timetable that was promised to houses on route.
250yds from a bus stop obviously doesn't class as on route.
Will give them a few days to get it sorted, so will keep an open mind until then.

The timetable on connections4 is exactly the same as the M1 was, not sure everyone would need a new timetable leaflet, but there are certainly some information leaflets out there as I saw some with a poster in a shop at Shiney Row

(22 Oct 2013, 9:17 pm)busmanT wrote New depot should be complete by Xmas, some office staff will move in first, buses end of January.

(22 Oct 2013, 9:28 pm)busmanT wrote The timetable on connections4 is exactly the same as the M1 was, not sure everyone would need a new timetable leaflet, but there are certainly some information leaflets out there as I saw some with a poster in a shop at Shiney Row

They would need a new leaflet because the M1 does not exist. It' be like giving them timetable for the 301 instead of the 1

(21 Oct 2013, 9:20 am)Dan wrote We need to come up with ideas for 8306-09 now, don't we? I guess having such a massive upgrade for the 39 just didn't stack up.

How about 8306 to 8309 & 8319 on the 39?

(22 Oct 2013, 9:36 pm)JP6004 wrote They would need a new leaflet because the M1 does not exist. It' be like giving them timetable for the 301 instead of the 1

I saw the new 4 timetable on the buses yesterday, point I was making is that passengers don't need to get a new timetable as the times are the same.

(21 Oct 2013, 4:45 pm)tyresmoke wrote Can anyone explain why I saw X9/X10 B9TL 6044 in Gateshead interchange at 1610 with Scholars 141 on the screen? This would be Walbottle Campus - Newbiggin Hall - but it appears (from VOSA) that Arriva run this one!?

The afternoon 141 is run by Gateshead - Nexus move the school services around between operators and, in my experience, VOSA don't always show all the route numbers on their site.

(21 Oct 2013, 6:14 pm)Wellsey18 wrote Any news on the citylink versas? Are they arriving after the streetlites, cause wasn't it mentioned they were coming in october

An enthusiast, who was on a visit to Optare last Friday, told me that all 14 Citylink Versa are almost complete, so we can still expect them before the end of the month.

(22 Oct 2013, 9:28 pm)busmanT wrote The timetable on connections4 is exactly the same as the M1 was, not sure everyone would need a new timetable leaflet, but there are certainly some information leaflets out there as I saw some with a poster in a shop at Shiney Row

Whether people need a new timetable is open to debate, but GNE are the ones stating they would be distributing leaflets.
Where in Shiney were they?

Speaking of the 4, unsure whether the smell is from the engines or the brake pads etc, but a few are smelling rough.

Very impressed with the power/acceleration on them.
One seemed to be having problems with its doors today - didn't note fleet number as I walked alongside it earlier on.

(22 Oct 2013, 8:48 pm)busman101 wrote GNE Connections 4 Coffee Bike is in Houghton tomorrow - there'll be a special cup waiting for Andreos1 or any other member of the Fencehouses massive who like owt for nowt !

Ah cheers.
Shame I will be waking up in DH4 7 (as I have done when not sleeping over at the hospital) tomorrow.
Pretty sure Fencehouses is DH4 5. You will have to double check with the Fencehouses massive tomorrow.

May pop over at some point tomorrow for my special cup if I get a chance. Where will the coffee bike be?
Will be sure to wave and gesture in your general direction

(22 Oct 2013, 2:21 pm)gtomlinson wrote Course they will, they can hop on the 20 or the 71/78 (buy a Buzzfare) and its an easy connection

haha, aye they could - what was the line about no connections? :p

Without knowing the fares for the previous x22, it would be interesting if anyone had details for the price of a return on the x22 from the places mentioned previously to the Metrocentre versus a 2 zone buzzfare.

(22 Oct 2013, 9:37 pm)busmanT wrote How about 8306 to 8309 & 8319 on the 39?

I've thought that.. don't see why 8319 is suddenly classed as a spare part. 8320-8324 allocate to the 61 with 8306-8309/8319 allocate to the 39. However, I don't think the 61 suits SimpliCity brand at all. Also, I don't think 39/42/61 should all be SimpliCity. To be honest I think the 42 should be given a new brand, I think it's a bit too bland and vague. I think it would be good as a company livery though if it was slightly reworked.