(21 Dec 2020, 7:14 pm)Michael wrote Martjin in his live update tonight:


83/84 - extended to Peel retail park

10/10A/10B - extended to Tyne Valley retail park

Small number of changes to the 6 on the afternoon

The 21 changes will NOT go ahead - due to a number of factors, the move of the bus station and the bridge closure

None of the changes add extra buses to their PVR's.

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7 minutes 45 seconds: https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...6353664715

Pleasing to see the extension to the Retail Parks. Particularly as Peel has had a bit of a regeneration away from DIY and carpet shops. 

Got to pull up the 21 extension line though. 
The bridge closure and bus station development were known well before the registration was made. Why use that as a reason to not extend it?

(21 Dec 2020, 7:27 pm)Andreos1 wrote Pleasing to see the extension to the Retail Parks. Particularly as Peel has had a bit of a regeneration away from DIY and carpet shops. 

Got to pull up the 21 extension line though. 
The bridge closure and bus station development were known well before the registration was made. Why use that as a reason to not extend it?

Skipped forward in the link Michael sent and it seems like maybe there was concerns at depot level over it. Maybe a case of head office not factoring in fully about delays/congestion? You’d have thought that would be all checked first before a route registration was made though.

(21 Dec 2020, 7:27 pm)Andreos1 wrote Pleasing to see the extension to the Retail Parks. Particularly as Peel has had a bit of a regeneration away from DIY and carpet shops. 

Got to pull up the 21 extension line though. 
The bridge closure and bus station development were known well before the registration was made. Why use that as a reason to not extend it?

I wouldn't be surprised if an objection was raised at using public funds (i.e CBSSG) to compete in a time of national crisis?
Suspect underlying reasoning here.

So I take it 6118-21 will remain as is for a bit longer?

I don't think we'll have a stable PVR to go off for Consett depot until the summer once things (hopefully) start returning to some sort of normality.

What have loads been like on the X30/X31? I can't see the X45/X46/X47 being reduced in the future. My two pence would be the X31 getting dropped with a simple 15 minute Sunniside - Newcastle service (X30/X70/X71) via Whickham & Dunston or Lobley Hill & Gateshead.

Would be a P.I.T.A if needing to travel from Stanley to Gateshead but could work on timings betwen the 8 & X21 to provide a quick(ish) journey from Stanley. The X32 could still operate at peak times perhaps using a misc working.

Realistically, it's probably not worth the hassle of them extending the 21 to Brandon at the minute, if it was me I'd wait to see what crack is in the New Year with a view to launching it in Spring when things start to pick up again, assuming we're not in Tier 69 by then.

(21 Dec 2020, 8:45 pm)Drifter60 wrote Skipped forward in the link Michael sent and it seems like maybe there was concerns at depot level over it. Maybe a case of head office not factoring in fully about delays/congestion? You’d have thought that would be all checked first before a route registration was made though.

(21 Dec 2020, 8:58 pm)RobinHood wrote I wouldn't be surprised if an objection was raised at using public funds (i.e CBSSG) to compete in a time of national crisis?
Suspect underlying reasoning here.

I've not long watched it back (very rarely watch the videos they put on) and the line about the depot fb pages and concerns were interesting to hear.

Wonder what they were? Just relating to the bridge and bus station or other things?
It is pleasing to hear they're appearing to listen to the concerns at depot level, but concerning that it got this far before doing so and acting on the concerns.

(22 Dec 2020, 10:55 am)Andreos1 wrote I've not long watched it back (very rarely watch the videos they put on) and the line about the depot fb pages and concerns were interesting to hear.

Wonder what they were? Just relating to the bridge and bus station or other things?
It is pleasing to hear they're appearing to listen to the concerns at depot level, but concerning that it got this far before doing so and acting on the concerns.

I wonder if it was a case of it looking good and doable in principal, but once everything had been finalised there were some unforeseen issues

(22 Dec 2020, 11:20 am)streetdeckfan wrote I wonder if it was a case of it looking good and doable in principal, but once everything had been finalised there were some unforeseen issues

From what Msrtijn said it was a combination of the upcoming works at Durham Bus Station along with works on a Bridge but didn't mention which one would assume somewhere between Durham and Brandon. 

The extension to Brandon also resulted in a PVR increase to which their isnt enough Streetdecks to cover so from feedback given from Depot Ops at CLS it was scrapped for now and to be reviewed in 2021.

The changes are starting to be announced, with pieces being released on the Retail Park extensions to the 10B and 83/84:
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/new-year-n...-2-january
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/go-north-e...-2-january

Of course a release with all of the changes together will likely follow.

(23 Dec 2020, 11:32 am)S813 FVK wrote The changes are starting to be announced, with pieces being released on the Retail Park extensions to the 10B and 83/84:
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/new-year-n...-2-january
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/go-north-e...-2-january

Of course a release with all of the changes together will likely follow.

Other than the 6 changing times by a few minutes from Eldon Square in the afternoon peak to avoid stand clashes, there are no other changes.

(23 Dec 2020, 11:32 am)S813 FVK wrote The changes are starting to be announced, with pieces being released on the Retail Park extensions to the 10B and 83/84:
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/new-year-n...-2-january
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/go-north-e...-2-january

Of course a release with all of the changes together will likely follow.

Wait, so will the NSAs say “This is the Tyne Valley Ten 10B service to Tyneview Retail Park”? 

That’s long.

Articles about the 10b and 83/84 changes are now on the GNE site

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(23 Dec 2020, 12:42 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Wait, so will the NSAs say “This is the Tyne Valley Ten 10B service to Tyneview Retail Park”? 

That’s long.

If my syllable counting skills are correct, that's still two syllables shorter than the X21's old "This is the castles express x21 service to bishop Auckland"

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(23 Dec 2020, 12:29 pm)Dan wrote Other than the 6 changing times by a few minutes from Eldon Square in the afternoon peak to avoid stand clashes, there are no other changes.

Fairs, but would still expect to see some sort of acknowledgement on the website about it, particularly when a comparison of the timetables reveals that the journeys are being retimed to run about 5 minutes earlier throughout. I trust the notification of the change will all be in hand.

(23 Dec 2020, 12:57 pm)streetdeckfan wrote If my syllable counting skills are correct, that's still two syllables shorter than the X21's old "This is the castles express x21 service to bishop Auckland"

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The doesn’t sound as much of a tongue twister.

(23 Dec 2020, 12:42 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Wait, so will the NSAs say “This is the Tyne Valley Ten 10B service to Tyneview Retail Park”? 

That’s long.

No, it will remain as 'Low Prudhoe' as now.

(23 Dec 2020, 12:59 pm)S813 FVK wrote Fairs, but would still expect to see some sort of acknowledgement on the website about it, particularly when a comparison of the timetables reveals that the journeys are being retimed to run about 5 minutes earlier throughout. I trust the notification of the change will all be in hand.

Given the insignificance of the changes to service 6, there will be no article for this. Dedicated articles for the actual big (and positive) stories have been posted.

Revised printed timetables will be made available on-board buses, and of course the app and website have shown the new timetables for service 6 for a number of weeks.

(23 Dec 2020, 2:15 pm)Dan wrote No, it will remain as 'Low Prudhoe' as now.


Given the insignificance of the changes to service 6, there will be no article for this. Dedicated articles for the actual big (and positive) stories have been posted.

Revised printed timetables will be made available on-board buses, and of course the app and website have shown the new timetables for service 6 for a number of weeks.

Insignificance to whom? The people inconvenienced by the changes and the knock on effect that it may have with shift patterns or connecting buses?
Or just the insignificance to the operator? 

Howay man Dan, you're better than that.

(23 Dec 2020, 2:23 pm)Andreos1 wrote Insignificance to whom? The people inconvenienced by the changes and the knock on effect that it may have with shift patterns or connecting buses?
Or just the insignificance to the operator? 

Howay man Dan, you're better than that.

I'd anticipate journey planners, website timetables, apps, printed literature and posters on buses being sufficient for the majority of passengers on that route, given that peak-time passenger numbers are still severely impacted by COVID-19.

Of course a separate article could have been done to mention this, but when there's so much more information going out to passengers at the moment (both of these retail park stories, changes to bus times over the festive period, as well as a lot of other information), it runs the risk of being "too much".

As a washington resident, i'm glad about 83/84 changes.
Just wish they could have tried to serve teal farm, waterview park & coach road estate though

Appreciate there is no point putting a press release out for the sake of 1 service change, but could it not even be acknowledged under the 'service updates' banner on the website? If it can be done for the 10s I fail to see why the same couldn't be done for the 6, however minor the change may seem.

(23 Dec 2020, 2:28 pm)Dan wrote I'd anticipate journey planners, website timetables, apps, printed literature and posters on buses being sufficient for the majority of passengers on that route, given that peak-time passenger numbers are still severely impacted by COVID-19.

Of course a separate article could have been done to mention this, but when there's so much more information going out to passengers at the moment (both of these retail park stories, changes to bus times over the festive period, as well as a lot of other information), it runs the risk of being "too much".

What about the people who get the bus so often they don't need to check the times anymore, I know my bus comes at 15 and 45 past the hour, if it changed to 10 and 40 without me knowing, I'd miss it! (assuming I didn't check the live times, which I don't always do)

(23 Dec 2020, 2:15 pm)Dan wrote No, it will remain as 'Low Prudhoe' as now.


Given the insignificance of the changes to service 6, there will be no article for this. Dedicated articles for the actual big (and positive) stories have been posted.

Revised printed timetables will be made available on-board buses, and of course the app and website have shown the new timetables for service 6 for a number of weeks.

I think any service changes should be published in an article in the website, regardless of how seemingly insignificant they may seem. Why not just do a "service changes from 2nd January" article and list all changes to all services that are happening on that date? The positive changes to the 10 and 83 could still be "bigged up" in that but the minor changes would also be mentioned.

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(23 Dec 2020, 8:09 pm)streetdeckfan wrote What about the people who get the bus so often they don't need to check the times anymore, I know my bus comes at 15 and 45 past the hour, if it changed to 10 and 40 without me knowing, I'd miss it! (assuming I didn't check the live times, which I don't always do)

You’re brave, given how regularly bus times have changed this year!


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(23 Dec 2020, 10:21 pm)Dan wrote You’re brave, given how regularly bus times have changed this year!


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That's you going into a board meeting to change the times of the X21 at Streetdeck Fans expense 

It is good to see an operator responding to changes in where passengers want to travel to. It was recently mentioned elsewhere in the forum that the network still links together places we went in the 80s.

Trouble is we all used to work at the factory and shop on the high street. As working, leisure and shopping destinations become ever more decentralised, network planners need to get more creative.

Perhaps serving new housing developments as they’re built rather than 15 years after the event could be a start?

(23 Dec 2020, 10:21 pm)Dan wrote You’re brave, given how regularly bus times have changed this year!


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Oh yes, all those other times where timetables have changed and GNE didn't communicate it to customers... oh wait!

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/changes-sm...g-lockdown
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/service-in...31-october
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/more-buses...s-saturday
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/further-in...-september
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/increases-...nd-25-july
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/weekend-se...day-4-july
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/service-ch...day-1-june
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/emergency-...rus-crisis

(23 Dec 2020, 10:30 pm)Malarkey wrote That's you going into a board meeting to change the times of the X21 at Streetdeck Fans expense 

You know what, it wouldn't surprise me!

(23 Dec 2020, 2:42 pm)S813 FVK wrote Appreciate there is no point putting a press release out for the sake of 1 service change, but could it not even be acknowledged under the 'service updates' banner on the website? If it can be done for the 10s I fail to see why the same couldn't be done for the 6, however minor the change may seem.

Yes agreed, the fact the changes to the timetable of service 6 hasn’t been referenced explicitly anywhere by Go North East is bad planning. Feels totally unnecessary - “Minor service changes from 4th Jan” article would be more than sufficient and I don’t understand what Go North East have achieved by not doing this.
I’m assuming the school of thought is to make big service changes an article of their own to promote the service more prominently and highlight the *improvements* being made. But as said above, failing a full overview of changes article, why on earth isn’t it included in the service updates “these may affect your journey”?

Well it doesn't look like the 53/54 is going Quayside after all which should see the q1/q2 next upgrade to Quaycity.
Wonder if there will be enough Xlines buses at Consett now or will we continue with the mish mash of various combinations of Red kite deckers, xlines buses that are not xlines, xlines buses that are xlines, and streetlites thrown in for good measure.

I still think they should brand a few Streetlites in the generic Xlines livery. They're the right spec, and would look better from a passenger point of view than a corporate one.
Plus, when they inevitably get used on other routes they'll stand out a bit more

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(27 Dec 2020, 5:34 pm)CookieMonster wrote Well it doesn't look like the 53/54 is going Quayside after all which should see the q1/q2 next upgrade to Quaycity.
Wonder if there will be enough Xlines buses at Consett now or will we continue with the mish mash of various combinations of Red kite deckers, xlines buses that are not xlines, xlines buses that are xlines, and streetlites thrown in for good measure.

Will still be the same at Consett. I don't think we'll know until the summer at least.

If frequencies remain the same after future changes, then shortfall could either be made from:
- 3x or 4x surplus B9TLs from the CityRider or Cobalts (time will tell).
- Entire XLines allocation maxed out with 1x scheduled non XLines working and no XLines spares.
- Sneaky order for extra deckers (unlikely) or perhaps a combination of the above and this until circumstances allow.

Will be interesting to see what comes back from the Deptford B9TL refurbs. Perhaps 6084-86 will be kept until all of the 56's are returned then if going XLines, sent off last.