So a question that's been on my mind for a while now. What is allocated to these routes

306 Newcastle to Whitley Bay 
53 Cramlington to North Shields 
57A Cramlington to Whitley Bay 
57 Ashington to Whitley Bay 
X8 Blyth to Newcastle 
X7 Blyth to Newcastle 
52 Newcastle to Cramlington/Ashington 
54 Newcastle to Whitley Bay 

Just wondering as I have never seen a set allocation to these routes. I know a while ago the 52/54 were allocated to Volvo B10BLE Alexander ALX300 so was the 53 as well 

The 306 had the Max Brand Decker's and VDL but that's all I know

(19 Mar 2021, 12:22 pm)MichealAaron wrote So a question that's been on my mind for a while now. What is allocated to these routes

306 Newcastle to Whitley Bay 
53 Cramlington to North Shields 
57A Cramlington to Whitley Bay 
57 Ashington to Whitley Bay 
X8 Blyth to Newcastle 
X7 Blyth to Newcastle 
52 Newcastle to Cramlington/Ashington 
54 Newcastle to Whitley Bay 

Just wondering as I have never seen a set allocation to these routes. I know a while ago the 52/54 were allocated to Volvo B10BLE Alexander ALX300 so was the 53 as well 

The 306 had the Max Brand Decker's and VDL but that's all I know

52/3/4 interwork, should be Streetlites.
57/57A interwork, should be 4 of 1800/1801/2809/2812/2813. 1x evening 57A trip will be a Blyth vehicle, they also have runs on a Sunday.
X7/X8 should be Blyth MAX spec Geminis/Pulsars.
306 should be Jesmond MAX spec Pulsars/B7TLs. 

Just bear in mind that currently capacity will be playing a part in allocation, certain duties which would usually cope fine with a single may demand a decker, which will throw the allocation.

Yea. Its just confusing that Arriva even before all this stuff. Arriva can't seem to allocate buses. It's mad

(19 Mar 2021, 3:05 pm)MichealAaron wrote Yea. Its just confusing that Arriva even before all this stuff. Arriva can't seem to allocate buses. It's mad

X7/X8/X9: 7601 - 7608, 1493, 1501 - 1505
X10/X11: 7611 - 7625
308: 7628 - 7637

Spares: 1497, 7410, 7411, 7490

That's Blyth's if you want the more exact but it'll never be like as they swap things around at Blyth to keep things on time which isn't really a bad thing, better than cutting them short at the Metro Centre or Gateshead like GoNorthEast do sometimes.

(19 Mar 2021, 3:05 pm)MichealAaron wrote Yea. Its just confusing that Arriva even before all this stuff. Arriva can't seem to allocate buses. It's mad

Allocation of the 57/57A is consistent, as are the Blyth MAX routes 95% of the time (in terms of actual spec, anyway). With the X7/X8, as with all Blyth routes, stuff is regulated and swapped at Blyth where needed so this will mix up the allocation throughout the day, as Storx has said.

Jesmond routes are more unpredicatble, if I remember correctly its something to do with limitations of the depot building in terms of parking - essentially stuff kind of has to go out as it was parked, with no huge room to switch things up in the runout.

Or the fact they don't trust the Omnicities to reach Carlisle and therefore kept on local routes like the 2 that were on the 306 the other day.

While on about allocations I not done the whole route so wouldn’t know but any reason why the X4 could not use double deckers.

(22 Mar 2021, 2:44 pm)col87 wrote While on about allocations I not done the whole route so wouldn’t know but any reason why the X4 could not use double deckers.

Railway bridge in Brotton on the current route. 
I'm sure there would be ways and means to tweak the route to avoid the bridge though.

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(22 Mar 2021, 3:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote Railway bridge in Brotton on the current route. 
I'm sure there would be ways and means to tweak the route to avoid the bridge though.

(22 Mar 2021, 3:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote Railway bridge in Brotton on the current route. 
I'm sure there would be ways and means to tweak the route to avoid the bridge though.

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Bit of a detour, but would this (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/The+Quee...579639!3e0) be possible? Avoids the low bridge, goes under what seems like a high enough bridge, and forms a loop via Coach Road.

Only cuts one stop but would likely add a minute or so to the trip.

(22 Mar 2021, 4:21 pm)mb134 wrote Bit of a detour, but would this (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/The+Quee...579639!3e0) be possible? Avoids the low bridge, goes under what seems like a high enough bridge, and forms a loop via Coach Road.

Only cuts one stop but would likely add a minute or so to the trip.

There's another low bridge in Marske however it's 14"3 so stuff like low height E400s would still be able to get under but not the likes of B9TLs.

(22 Mar 2021, 4:21 pm)mb134 wrote Bit of a detour, but would this (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/The+Quee...579639!3e0) be possible? Avoids the low bridge, goes under what seems like a high enough bridge, and forms a loop via Coach Road.

Only cuts one stop but would likely add a minute or so to the trip.

Quite possibly. I've often wondered why it goes through the estate with it being an 'express'. Send it straight up Saltburn Road and the bridge is omitted completely. 
The X3A was extended to go to Brotton and the 5 could easily be diverted in to the estate without too much of an issue.

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(22 Mar 2021, 4:43 pm)Jimmi wrote There's another low bridge in Marske however it's 14"3 so stuff like low height E400s would still be able to get under but not the likes of B9TLs.

Forgot about that one. There's talk of improvement works in the area due to all the new housing and the lack of safe space for pedestrians.

Wondering if the bridge would be replaced as part of the process.

There's the one in Saltburn too. Can't t remember the height of that one, but pretty sure there's a height warning coming in to Saltburn

Saltburn is 15"6
Marske is 14"3 as Jimmi said but for some reason the bridge doesn't actually have height signs on it, just signs leading up to it. Quite possible it maybe higher and has the height signs to deter trucks going that way, I have been under that bridge on a decker before. Alternatively if the bus is too high they can go via Longbeck.