From April 11th the majority of the service 1 and 2 minibus work is being amalgamated into the big bus rota as all services return to pre covid levels. Apart from a couple of mini buses to be retained for service 58 it seems the rest will be going the journey to be replaced by conventional buses from elsewhere. Any ideas where these will come from and what they will be?

(31 Mar 2021, 12:59 pm)Driver9*** wrote From April 11th the majority of the service 1 and 2 minibus work is being amalgamated into the big bus rota as all services return to pre covid levels. Apart from a couple of mini buses to be retained for service 58 it seems the rest will be going the journey to be replaced by conventional buses from elsewhere. Any ideas where these will come from and what they will be?

I'd imagine buses freed up from other depots as a result of 'permanent' service cuts (compared to pre-Covid levels).

(31 Mar 2021, 12:59 pm)Driver9*** wrote From April 11th the majority of the service 1 and 2 minibus work is being amalgamated into the big bus rota as all services return to pre covid levels. Apart from a couple of mini buses to be retained for service 58 it seems the rest will be going the journey to be replaced by conventional buses from elsewhere. Any ideas where these will come from and what they will be?

Been told you guys are to receive 6 Pulsars, where from is anyone's guess.

Will there be any longer term changes at Blyth once social distancing allows?

(31 Mar 2021, 12:59 pm)Driver9*** wrote From April 11th the majority of the service 1 and 2 minibus work is being amalgamated into the big bus rota as all services return to pre covid levels. Apart from a couple of mini buses to be retained for service 58 it seems the rest will be going the journey to be replaced by conventional buses from elsewhere. Any ideas where these will come from and what they will be?

Hopefully those god awful solos can go the journey. Apparently 1401/2 have been withdrawn

(31 Mar 2021, 8:34 pm)GNE6312 wrote Hopefully those god awful solos can go the journey. Apparently 1401/2 have been withdrawn

No doubt end up at Ashington to join 2809, 2812 and 2813 constantly off the road. All 3 being off today and it's not unusual, 2809 being by far the worst out the 3, to withdraw 1800/1801.

(31 Mar 2021, 8:34 pm)GNE6312 wrote Hopefully those god awful solos can go the journey. Apparently 1401/2 have been withdrawn

I'd imagine the darts will be first to go, apart from one or two kept for service 58.

With 7609/10 gone back to Durham and 1401/2 plus the minibus withdrawls we'd need at least ten vehicles to get back to pre covid levels.

(01 Apr 2021, 10:07 am)Driver9*** wrote I'd imagine the darts will be first to go, apart from one or two kept for service 58.

With 7609/10 gone back to Durham and 1401/2 plus the minibus withdrawls we'd need at least ten vehicles to get back to pre covid levels.

BIB: seeing how the timetables are now on-line for the Northumbria division, it appears most depots won't be returning to pre-COVID levels.

For Blyth, the changes are:
1: Remaining every 30 minutes between Blyth and Wansbeck Hospital, hourly onwards to Widdrington Estate.
2: Remaining every 30 minutes
308: Returning to every 15 minutes Monday to Friday daytime, every 20 minutes on a Saturday as now and half hourly on Sunday daytimes (interworking with the 306 in Newcastle(. Evenings will remain hourly
X7/X8/X9: All back to normal
X10/X11: Back to every 10 minutes combined Monday to Friday, but staying every 15 minutes combined on a Saturday and half hourly combined on a Sunday
X16: The Newcastle-Morpeth section appears to have been axed so looks likely to remain Blyth operated off the end of the 2.

(01 Apr 2021, 10:34 am)Kuyoyo wrote BIB: seeing how the timetables are now on-line for the Northumbria division, it appears most depots won't be returning to pre-COVID levels.

For Blyth, the changes are:
1: Remaining every 30 minutes between Blyth and Wansbeck Hospital, hourly onwards to Widdrington Estate.
2: Remaining every 30 minutes
308: Returning to every 15 minutes Monday to Friday daytime, every 20 minutes on a Saturday as now and half hourly on Sunday daytimes (interworking with the 306 in Newcastle(. Evenings will remain hourly
X7/X8/X9: All back to normal
X10/X11: Back to every 10 minutes combined Monday to Friday, but staying every 15 minutes combined on a Saturday and half hourly combined on a Sunday
X16: The Newcastle-Morpeth section appears to have been axed so looks likely to remain Blyth operated off the end of the 2.

Really? Quite sensible by Arriva for a change, but obviously means the end of most of the minibuses.

So X8 is going back to a 30 minute service instead of an Hour

(01 Apr 2021, 10:34 am)Kuyoyo wrote BIB: seeing how the timetables are now on-line for the Northumbria division, it appears most depots won't be returning to pre-COVID levels.

For Blyth, the changes are:
1: Remaining every 30 minutes between Blyth and Wansbeck Hospital, hourly onwards to Widdrington Estate.
2: Remaining every 30 minutes
308: Returning to every 15 minutes Monday to Friday daytime, every 20 minutes on a Saturday as now and half hourly on Sunday daytimes (interworking with the 306 in Newcastle(. Evenings will remain hourly
X7/X8/X9: All back to normal
X10/X11: Back to every 10 minutes combined Monday to Friday, but staying every 15 minutes combined on a Saturday and half hourly combined on a Sunday
X16: The Newcastle-Morpeth section appears to have been axed so looks likely to remain Blyth operated off the end of the 2.

Wouldn't surprise me if the Monday to Friday services eventually got cut back slightly once social distancing allows. Not a suggestion as such but in theory, Arriva could save 16x buses by doing the following:

1 & 2:
- As is (post 11th Apr 2021) but Morpeth to Kirkhill section becomes part of service 2.

35:
- No longer operates between Newbiggin Seacrest Road and Woodhorn.

43:
- Reduced to half hourly and route changed between Dudley and Cramlington via Fern Drive, Annitsford and High Pit and Northumbrian Way. One per hour continues to Morpeth.

43A:
- Half hourly. Same route as 43 to Seaton Burn then via A1068 & Beacon Hill to Cramlington. One journey per hour continues to Blyth via High Pit, South Beach and Amersham Road.

51A:
- Extended to Marden Estate via Northumberland Park Metro, New York Road, Murton Village, Rake Lane and Preston Grange Morrisons.

306/308:
- Monday to Saturday service reduced to every 20 minutes each and every 10 minutes combined. 306 no longer serves Battle Hill Drive and no longer operates between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay. Evening service reduced to hourly after approximately 8:30pm (7:30pm Saturdays & Sunday). Sunday daytimes still every 30 minutes each and every 15 minutes combined.

X6:
- Withdrawn.

X7:
- Same route but increased to every 20 minutes Mondays to Saturdays.

X8:
- Withdrawn.

X9:
- Every 30 minutes, same route as current X8 between Blyth and Cramlington then same as X10/X11 to Newcastle.

X10/X11:
- Reduced to every 30 minutes each or up to every 15 minutes combined in Newsham. Will combine with the X9 up to every 10 minutes between Parkside and Newcastle.

X14/X15/X18:
- Re-timed so combined to run up to every 20 minutes between Morpeth and Newcastle. X16 withdrawn.

X19/X21/X22:
- X21/X22 reduced to every 30 minutes each or up to every 15 minutes combined.
- X21 reduced to hourly between Ashington and Newbiggin. Will also terminate at Cresswell Arms instead of Seacrest Road.
- Some Monday to Friday morning & afternoon journeys will still operate half hourly between Ashington and Newbiggin.
- X19 introduced. Newbiggin Cresswell Arms to Wansbeck Hospital via Woodhorn then same route as X20 to Newcastle with combined 30 minute frequency alongside X20.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
PVR Pre-Covid19 *only affected services with PVR changes, others remain same = 82x
Jesmond (20):
X16 = 2x
43 = 7x
306(x6) = 8x
51/51A = 3x
Blyth (47):
X7/X8/X9 = 14x
X10/X11 = 13x
1 = 5x
2 = 5x
308 = 10x
Ashington (15):
X21/X22 = 15x

Potential PVR post-Covid19 = 66x
Jesmond (16)-4:
43 = 5x
306/308 = 7x
51/51A = 4x
Blyth (38)-9:
X7 = 7x
X9/X10/X11 = 13x
1 = 4x
2 = 4x
43A = 4x
306/308 = 6x
Ashington (12)-3:
X19/X21/X22 = 12x

(01 Apr 2021, 7:12 pm)L469 YVK wrote Wouldn't surprise me if the Monday to Friday services eventually got cut back slightly once social distancing allows. Not a suggestion as such but in theory, Arriva could save 12x buses by doing the following:

1 & 2:
- As is (post 11th Apr 2021) but Morpeth to Kirkhill section becomes part of service 2.

35:
- No longer operates between Newbiggin Seacrest Road and Woodhorn.

43:
- Reduced to half hourly and route changed between Dudley and Cramlington via Fern Drive, Annitsford and High Pit and Northumbrian Way. One per hour continues to Morpeth.

43A:
- Half hourly. Same route as 43 to Seaton Burn then via A1068 & Beacon Hill to Cramlington. One journey per hour continues to Blyth via High Pit, South Beach and Amersham Road.

51A:
- Extended to Marden Estate via Northumberland Park Metro, New York Road, Murton Village, Rake Lane and Preston Grange Morrisons.

306/308:
- Monday to Saturday service reduced to every 20 minutes each and every 10 minutes combined. 306 no longer serves Battle Hill Drive and no longer operates between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay. Evening service reduced to hourly after approximately 8:30pm (7:30pm Saturdays & Sunday). Sunday daytimes still every 30 minutes each and every 15 minutes combined.

X6:
- Withdrawn.

X7:
- Same route but increased to every 20 minutes Mondays to Saturdays.

X8:
- Withdrawn.

X9:
- Every 30 minutes, same route as current X8 between Blyth and Cramlington then same as X10/X11 to Newcastle.

X10/X11:
- Reduced to every 30 minutes each or up to every 15 minutes combined in Newsham. Will combine with the X9 up to every 10 minutes between Parkside and Newcastle.

X14/X15/X18:
- Re-timed so combined to run up to every 20 minutes between Morpeth and Newcastle. X16 withdrawn.

X19/X21/X22:
- X21/X22 reduced to every 30 minutes each or up to every 15 minutes combined.
- X21 reduced to hourly between Ashington and Newbiggin. Will also terminate at Cresswell Arms instead of Seacrest Road.
- Some Monday to Friday morning & afternoon journeys will still operate half hourly between Ashington and Newbiggin.
- X19 introduced. Newbiggin Cresswell Arms to Wansbeck Hospital via Woodhorn then same route as X20 to Newcastle with combined 30 minute frequency alongside X20.
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
PVR Pre-Covid19 *only affected services with PVR changes, others remain same = 82x
Jesmond (20):
X16 = 2x
43 = 7x
306(x6) = 8x
51/51A = 3x
Blyth (47):
X7/X8/X9 = 14x
X10/X11 = 13x
1 = 5x
2 = 5x
308 = 10x
Ashington (15):
X21/X22 = 15x

Potential PVR post-Covid19 = 70x
Jesmond (16)-4:
43 = 5x
306/308 = 7x
51/51A = 4x
Blyth (42)-5:
X7 = 7x
X9/X10/X11 = 13x
1 = 4x
2 = 4x
43A = 4x
306/308 = 10x
Ashington (12)-3:
X19/X21/X22 = 12x

You'll have to look at them again like as you've left Amersham Drive, South Beach (A1061) and High Pitt (North of Village Road) without a bus service at all.

Personally with your 306/51A change. I'd rather see the 57/57A extended from Whitley to Tynemouth and restore part of the old 325/326 which was abandoned by GNE years ago. Could even integrate the 58 in which is a total waste of time with it running East Hartford - Tynemouth only. Send the 52 back upto Ashington as there's more likely demand for a service from up there down to Killingworth and Quorum rather than Seaton Valley and Whitley. Plus Monkseaton and Seaton Valley would much rather have a service down to the coast rather than Ashington.

The 51A should do a loop around the new houses in Backworth imo instead.

(01 Apr 2021, 8:48 pm)Storx wrote You'll have to look at them again like as you've left Amersham Drive, South Beach (A1061) and High Pitt (North of Village Road) without a bus service at all.

Personally with your 306/51A change. I'd rather see the 57/57A extended from Whitley to Tynemouth and restore part of the old 325/326 which was abandoned by GNE years ago. Could even integrate the 58 in which is a total waste of time with it running East Hartford - Tynemouth only. Send the 52 back upto Ashington as there's more likely demand for a service from up there down to Killingworth and Quorum rather than Seaton Valley and Whitley. Plus Monkseaton and Seaton Valley would much rather have a service down to the coast rather than Ashington.

The 51A should do a loop around the new houses in Backworth imo instead.

43A would replace the Northern part of the current X9 so still a service where you mentioned but hourly.

I get your point about the 51A/57/57A/58 but, the 51A suggestion would be a suitable tender to replace the 359 and bring in extra funding for Arriva some if not all of the route secured by Nexus. The 54 has the Backworth section mostly if not fully covered there or thereabouts.

---

Just did further workings. Miscalculated the 308 at Blyth as being 10x rather than 6x so that would be a PVR reduction of 16x vehicles, not 12x.

(01 Apr 2021, 9:08 pm)L469 YVK wrote 43A would replace the Northern part of the current X9 so still a service where you mentioned but hourly.

I get your point about the 51A/57/57A/58 but, the 51A suggestion would be a suitable tender to replace the 359 and bring in extra funding for Arriva some if not all of the route secured by Nexus. The 54 has the Backworth section mostly if not fully covered there or thereabouts.

---

Just did further workings. Miscalculated the 308 at Blyth as being 10x rather than 6x so that would be a PVR reduction of 16x vehicles, not 12x.

Yeah that's a fair point with the 51A. Ngl I was thinking how to get better monies worth with the 58 as I know that's subsidised aswell so the money saved there could be paid for the evening 57A's - I know it's currently been subsidised by Seaton Valley Parish Council. Plus you'd get money from Nexus every other day when the Metro goes down as you'd have it covered from Tynemouth -> West Monkseaton and they quite often terminate it at Monkseaton due to being able to turn trains around.