(27 Dec 2020, 5:57 pm)L469 YVK wrote 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.

6085 hasn't been at Deptford in months, 6084 only came back to cover for refurbs. 6086 is the spare.

(27 Dec 2020, 6:06 pm)deanmachine wrote 6085 hasn't been at Deptford in months, 6084 only came back to cover for refurbs. 6086 is the spare.

On a PVR of 11, 6087-97 would provide that with 6098 acting as spare.

That then leaves 6084, 85, and 86. Them along with 6099 if Consett's PVR remained the same would either provide 3x XLines vehicles + 1x spare (alongside 2x of 6341-51) or all 4x with 3x E400MMC's spare (out of 6341-51).

Most sensible allocation would be the X31 as that would keep the vehicles on the X45/X46/X47 a similar age (2017, 2019, 2020). Plus the bike network would be covered at least half hourly by the X30/X70/X71.

Spotted this on the NEXUS site:

A1/A2/A3
Newcastle - Byker/Walker/South Heaton
Operated by Go North East
Service withdrawn 31/12/2020

(30 Dec 2020, 6:27 pm)Michael wrote Spotted this on the NEXUS site:

A1/A2/A3
Newcastle - Byker/Walker/South Heaton
Operated by Go North East
Service withdrawn 31/12/2020

Asda have withdrawn all of their free bus services.

(30 Dec 2020, 6:33 pm)Jimmi wrote Asda have withdrawn all of their free bus services.

Ah right, Thanks for the additional information.

(30 Dec 2020, 6:33 pm)Jimmi wrote Asda have withdrawn all of their free bus services.

To be fair the Asda at Byker has a very good service for those locally in North Tyneside without needing a free service.

At least it will free up a few Solo SR's to be allocated elsewhere where needed.

(30 Dec 2020, 6:48 pm)Malarkey wrote To be fair the Asda at Byker has a very good service for those locally in North Tyneside without needing a free service.

At least it will free up a few Solo SR's to be allocated elsewhere where needed.

Not sure if anything will be freed up particularly as it only needs 1 Solo and it operates peak time journeys on the 19 both before and after

Termporary service reductions from 16th January now available for viewing:
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/temporary-...16-january

Don't know the area well but, if demand warranted it, could the X70/X71 not be extended to Shotley Bridge to replace the X46?

(12 Jan 2021, 5:59 pm)L469 YVK wrote Don't know the area well but, if demand warranted it, could the X70/X71 not be extended to Shotley Bridge to replace the X46?

In theory it could. 
How it would work in reality, not sure.

(12 Jan 2021, 5:59 pm)L469 YVK wrote Don't know the area well but, if demand warranted it, could the X70/X71 not be extended to Shotley Bridge to replace the X46?

Be easier to just run the normal Sunday timetable all week tbh.

(12 Jan 2021, 8:09 pm)Andreos1 wrote In theory it could. 
How it would work in reality, not sure.

Longer term demand though, will the X45/X46 warrant on average (10/20) a 15 minute Consett to Newcastle service?

You could terminate the X5/X15 at Consett with the X70/X71 doing a loop instead. Might be very tight if they interworked with the X30 and or X31.

(17 Dec 2020, 4:44 pm)Andreos1 wrote Having left it too late to get involved and buy my shares from Gateshead Councils white paint and traffic light supplier AND GNE's bus paint supplier, I'm going for it and will be buying some shares in ANE's raw meat supplier.
http://www.passengertransport.co.uk/2011...-raw-meat/

Hopefully any posts from the summer onwards are from the Maldives and will relate to the state of public transport there.
Obviously funded by the success of my raw meat shares in the preceding 6 months.

Probably a bit late to suggest a wee investment in Pork Futures?

(15 Jan 2021, 11:30 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Probably a bit late to suggest a wee investment in Pork Futures?

I held off in the end, both in raw meat shares and Pork Futures. 
Glad I did, with the 21 extension mysteriously not coming to fruition and ANE cancelling their meat carcass orders.

I’ve just noticed the current timetables for 12-min frequency services such as 4, 20, X1 haven’t been simplified to every 15 minutes, they just drop a journey every hour. E.g. 00, 12, 36, 48. It’s not even the same journey each hour. It’s a bit naff that this isn’t made more clear, a 24 min gap is a long time to wait in the cold.

(02 Feb 2021, 8:07 pm)James101 wrote I’ve just noticed the current timetables for 12-min frequency services such as 4, 20, X1 haven’t been simplified to every 15 minutes, they just drop a journey every hour. E.g. 00, 12, 36, 48. It’s not even the same journey each hour. It’s a bit naff that this isn’t made more clear, a 24 min gap is a long time to wait in the cold.

How is it naff if it meets the demand? Check timetable then you wont have to wait in the cold 

(02 Feb 2021, 8:07 pm)James101 wrote I’ve just noticed the current timetables for 12-min frequency services such as 4, 20, X1 haven’t been simplified to every 15 minutes, they just drop a journey every hour. E.g. 00, 12, 36, 48. It’s not even the same journey each hour. It’s a bit naff that this isn’t made more clear, a 24 min gap is a long time to wait in the cold.

And what about those of us who have a half hourly service even during normal times.
I suspect we just die

(02 Feb 2021, 8:12 pm)JP6004 wrote How is it naff if it meets the demand? Check timetable then you wont have to wait in the cold 

I’m sure buses every 15 minutes meets demand. There is zero demand for buses to run on a 12-12-24-12 frequency, at different times each hour. Nowhere in the press release for the timetables is this odd frequency mentioned. In all my years of bus travel I’ve never seen something similar not had anyone on this forum noticed it, who usually notice any GNE activity in excruciating detail. Why on Earth would anybody even think the check every single journey when they’ve had turn up & go for decades? Even if they check the new timetable to learn they can catch the xx:34 to get to town at xx:05 - oh heck the xx:34 runs at 10am but not 11am. 

Turn up at the stop and 12 minutes has become 15, no worries, there’s a pandemic, 12 has become 24? I’ll get a taxi back, ta. 

The ‘bus is a bus, be grateful it’s even there’ attitude is tiresome. It’s either a public service, then it’s ran purely functionally - or it’s a privatised system, provide a decent service or don’t be surprised when your customers don’t come back.

I think GNE get a lot of unfair scrutiny on this forum - Stagecoach seem to coast on by and Arriva are running buses literally in another operator’s livery and drop random journeys daily. GNE have done a lot right in the new leadership, this just seems a basic ball drop.

---

(02 Feb 2021, 8:46 pm)streetdeckfan wrote And what about those of us who have a half hourly service even during normal times.
I suspect we just die

I think you’ve missed the point.

The occasional gap in frequency does get a mention in the press release:
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/temporary-...16-january

“There may, however, be gaps of up to 24 minutes between some journeys so please check the timetable using the link below.”

(02 Feb 2021, 11:13 pm)S813 FVK wrote The occasional gap in frequency does get a mention in the press release:
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/temporary-...16-january

“There may, however, be gaps of up to 24 minutes between some journeys so please check the timetable using the link below.”

Thanks - I didn’t see that. I went to this page which is the big link from the home page. Easy to see how most customers would miss the page you link to also

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/coronavirus/

(02 Feb 2021, 11:13 pm)S813 FVK wrote The occasional gap in frequency does get a mention in the press release:
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/temporary-...16-january

“There may, however, be gaps of up to 24 minutes between some journeys so please check the timetable using the link below.”

I guess it ultimately depends on what people take "some journeys" to mean. I'd take it as one or two per day, not once an hour. 

I think it would have been far easier if they just made it a 15 minute blanket frequency - though it's somewhat understandable if this would have taken too long to schedule (From my understanding this is what Arriva did, and why their changes were only implemented yesterday in comparison. Pros and cons to both imo).

(02 Feb 2021, 8:46 pm)streetdeckfan wrote And what about those of us who have a half hourly service even during normal times.
I suspect we just die

Or check the timetable and plan your day to avoid the certain death caused by a timetable change.

Y'know in the same way you shouldn't step out in front of traffic or touch things that say 'Don't touch'

(03 Feb 2021, 12:17 pm)Ambassador wrote Or check the timetable and plan your day to avoid the certain death caused by a timetable change.

Y'know in the same way you shouldn't step out in front of traffic or touch things that say 'Don't touch'

Hang on, people actually plan their days and don't just walk to the bus stop and hope for the best?

Actually, that brings me on to something I hate about the new timetable designs, the whole 'turn up and go' thing is one of the worst things I've ever seen.

To me, timetables aren't just about what time you get on a bus, but when it gets to the destination, it's all well and good walking to the bus stop and only waiting a few minutes, but what if I have to connect to a half hourly service? Am I expected to just guess what time I have to get to the bus stop and hope I don't just miss a bus?

Sure, they can say 'well use the journey planner', to which I say 'no'. I trust my scheduling abilities over the journey planner , there's been many a time when I've checked and there's 'no journeys', but when I look at the timetables myself there are several options.

(03 Feb 2021, 3:01 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Actually, that brings me on to something I hate about the new timetable designs, the whole 'turn up and go' thing is one of the worst things I've ever seen.

Good job (as you have just pointed out) you only have a half-hourly service, so that decision won't affect you. 

(03 Feb 2021, 3:04 pm)Dan wrote Good job (as you have just pointed out) you only have a half-hourly service, so that decision won't affect you. 

Christ Daniel, I thought I was the sarky one!

(03 Feb 2021, 3:01 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Hang on, people actually plan their days and don't just walk to the bus stop and hope for the best?

In a pandemic when it’s essential only travel. Yes. And that pandemic is the only reason we have these temporary timetables that seem to be causing you no actual problems.

(02 Feb 2021, 8:07 pm)James101 wrote I’ve just noticed the current timetables for 12-min frequency services such as 4, 20, X1 haven’t been simplified to every 15 minutes, they just drop a journey every hour. E.g. 00, 12, 36, 48. It’s not even the same journey each hour. It’s a bit naff that this isn’t made more clear, a 24 min gap is a long time to wait in the cold.

Maybe clever marketing from the company really. They’ve said they’re largely maintaining the 12 minute frequency but there will be some gaps of up to 24 minutes; means that for decent portions of the day there still is a ‘turn up and go’ frequent service.

However, it’s not great for the journey that follows a gap of 24 minutes! Could lead to busy journeys and social distancing is either hard to practice or they end up leaving passengers behind. I’m sure I’ll be reassured that this hasn’t happened, however. 

I imagine the actual reason, is they’ve just withdrawn certain driver schedules and didn’t want the effort of retiming the other driver boards. I believe the same has happened on the Stanley M routes, one M is just missing, others not retimed. Suppose it’s a limited time only move.

(04 Feb 2021, 8:13 pm)Drifter60 wrote Maybe clever marketing from the company really. They’ve said they’re largely maintaining the 12 minute frequency but there will be some gaps of up to 24 minutes; means that for decent portions of the day there still is a ‘turn up and go’ frequent service.

However, it’s not great for the journey that follows a gap of 24 minutes! Could lead to busy journeys and social distancing is either hard to practice or they end up leaving passengers behind. I’m sure I’ll be reassured that this hasn’t happened, however. 

I imagine the actual reason, is they’ve just withdrawn certain driver schedules and didn’t want the effort of retiming the other driver boards. I believe the same has happened on the Stanley M routes, one M is just missing, others not retimed. Suppose it’s a limited time only move.

I don't believe the M7 is running at all, if memory serves. I definitely agree with it being drivers duties. They don't have to redraw every drivers duties, just simply start allocating that shift and that one bus board again. Hey presto. Full service. No need to get union validation again as the duties in full have already been checked. Just waiting to be commenced again.

Not making a thread just for this so its going here:

------------

Coaster 1A and 1B at Gateshead Interchange from 15 February
15th Feb - 30th Mar

Affected routes:
Coaster 1A
Coaster 1B
From 15 February, Coaster services 1A and 1B towards Whitley Bay will move to Stand H.

This change will be in place until futher notice.

From the GNE site.

(05 Feb 2021, 5:36 pm)Michael wrote Not making a thread just for this so its going here:

------------

Coaster 1A and 1B at Gateshead Interchange from 15 February
15th Feb - 30th Mar

Affected routes:
Coaster 1A
Coaster 1B
From 15 February, Coaster services 1A and 1B towards Whitley Bay will move to Stand H.

This change will be in place until futher notice.

From the GNE site.

Don't they already use H so they get onto Jackson Streeet then High Street. According to nexus they do.