I don't why the 354 wasn't just registered as the 356 if doing practically the same route?

The 356 is well known like what the 317 is.

(01 Jun 2023, 8:17 am)Michael wrote PB0003954/1390 Registered
GO NORTH EAST LIMITED
Route: Newcastle, Haymarket Bus Station to Forest Hall, Medway- Mead Crescent via South Gosforth
Service number: 355
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 03 Sep 2023

PB0003954/1389 Registered
GO NORTH EAST LIMITED
Route: North Shields, Bedford Street to Newcastle, Haymarket Bus Station via Billy Mill, Shiremoor, Backworth, Killingworth
Service number: 354
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 03 Sep 2023



CSV:


New Service
Monday to Saturday

Not many details.

Wow no Sunday service registration

We can slightly confirm the 354 is the 53 route after Shiremoor

(31 May 2023, 6:32 pm)MurdnunoC wrote And who knows?

A registration for a 352 and 353 might show up tomorrow.....

I note that there is now a registration for a 352 and 353.

352 - Newcastle to Cramlington:
https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...ls/610736/

353 - North Shields to Cramlington:
https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...ls/610737/

(01 Jun 2023, 9:38 am)Dan wrote I note that there is now a registration for a 352 and 353.

352 - Newcastle to Cramlington:
https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...ls/610736/

353 - North Shields to Cramlington:
https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...ls/610737/

Based on this, I'm assuming all of the 352-354 services will be hourly, but combine to create a half hourly service on common sections (e.g North Shields-Killingworth, Killingworth-Cramlington, Newcastle-Killingworth).

(01 Jun 2023, 9:38 am)Dan wrote I note that there is now a registration for a 352 and 353.

352 - Newcastle to Cramlington:
https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...ls/610736/

353 - North Shields to Cramlington:
https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...ls/610737/

Well, what do you know?

Quelle surprise.

So if both the 353 and 354 are going to North Shields, that means no service to Whitley Bay anymore, only one left to be announced now, 351 come on down, and yes 354 is pretty much the old 356, man these new route numbers are a blast from the past, they do make me feel rather old

Wonder if the "51" will be tendered? Given the elements is covered by Commercial replacement services? Or Amend other Tendered routes to cover the key un-served roads perhaps?

I see the 355 is Monday to Saturday , the other Services is just "New Service" - So 352-354 MAYBE 7 days?

(01 Jun 2023, 2:12 pm)gc802002 wrote Wonder if the "51" will be tendered? Given the elements is covered by Commercial replacement services? Or Amend other Tendered routes to cover the key un-served roads perhaps?

I see the 355 is Monday to Saturday , the other Services is just "New Service" - So 352-354 MAYBE 7 days?

I reckon the 51 will most likely end up tendered.

Bit of a hard & rock what Nexus and operators decide to do with it. IMO, Wiltshire Drive would be better with a stable commercial service as part of the exisitng Coast Road network (service 307) rather than an 'oddball' tendered service.

However:
- Hadrian Park would have to be dropped / picked up by another service. Some passengers might not like the alternative service.

- How lucrative is Hadrian Park for GNE? Could mean lost revenue.

- 309 reliability would suffer as it would either be a 14/6 or 13/7 split between Middle Engine Lane and Mullen Road, meaning the 309 would carry the brunt towards Newcastle. Furthermore, Station Road North would be reduced to a 20 minute service from a 10 minute service.

(01 Jun 2023, 2:12 pm)gc802002 wrote Wonder if the "51" will be tendered? Given the elements is covered by Commercial replacement services? Or Amend other Tendered routes to cover the key un-served roads perhaps?

I see the 355 is Monday to Saturday , the other Services is just "New Service" - So 352-354 MAYBE 7 days?

I think Stagecoach do the current 54 evenings and Sundays under Nexus contract.

(01 Jun 2023, 2:12 pm)gc802002 wrote Wonder if the "51" will be tendered? Given the elements is covered by Commercial replacement services? Or Amend other Tendered routes to cover the key un-served roads perhaps?

I see the 355 is Monday to Saturday , the other Services is just "New Service" - So 352-354 MAYBE 7 days?

Aa noted in Michael's comment in #29 above, 354 and 355 are Monday-Saturday. The CSV for 352 and 353 shows them as Monday-Friday.

(01 Jun 2023, 2:12 pm)gc802002 wrote Wonder if the "51" will be tendered? Given the elements is covered by Commercial replacement services? Or Amend other Tendered routes to cover the key un-served roads perhaps?

I see the 355 is Monday to Saturday , the other Services is just "New Service" - So 352-354 MAYBE 7 days?

Isn’t the evening and Sunday service on the current 53 already secured by Nexus?
and perhaps the 52 as well.

(01 Jun 2023, 4:38 pm)busmanT wrote Isn’t the evening and Sunday service on the current 53 already secured by Nexus?
and perhaps the 52 as well.

52 is from Cramlington to Killingworth, was paid by Nexus as extension when GNE scrapped the 42 ironically. 

53 is fully and has been forever since the old 343/344 days as they used to have to have the Darts on instead of the Vario's as I believe all Nexus contracts were low floor at the time. The 810/811/442/10/11/12 (whatever number that week) were the same.

Not sure about Sunday daytimes though.

(01 Jun 2023, 3:16 pm)L469 YVK wrote I reckon the 51 will most likely end up tendered.

Bit of a hard & rock what Nexus and operators decide to do with it. IMO, Wiltshire Drive would be better with a stable commercial service as part of the exisitng Coast Road network (service 307) rather than an 'oddball' tendered service.

However:
- Hadrian Park would have to be dropped / picked up by another service. Some passengers might not like the alternative service.

- How lucrative is Hadrian Park for GNE? Could mean lost revenue.

- 309 reliability would suffer as it would either be a 14/6 or 13/7 split between Middle Engine Lane and Mullen Road, meaning the 309 would carry the brunt towards Newcastle. Furthermore, Station Road North would be reduced to a 20 minute service from a 10 minute service.

so with all the above, pointless really faffing on with any of that just to serve Wiltshire Drive....

(01 Jun 2023, 4:45 pm)Storx wrote 52 is from Cramlington to Killingworth, was paid by Nexus as extension when GNE scrapped the 42 ironically. 

53 is fully and has been forever since the old 343/344 days as they used to have to have the Darts on instead of the Vario's as I believe all Nexus contracts were low floor at the time. The 810/811/442/10/11/12 (whatever number that week) were the same.

Not sure about Sunday daytimes though.

The 343/344 was always a Metrorider, occations when the Mercedes Minibuses when i was growing up, dont forget though, there was a spell where Classic Coaches had the 343/344 which had solos on it, would of been around 2006/2007ish, the 344 didnt last much longer after that as by 2009 it was gone, then the 343 was withdrawn in 2010

Quick question,
Why did GNE drop the 19, seems like they could have taken it on again commerically and just amended its route if needed?

(01 Jun 2023, 6:55 pm)V514DFT wrote The 343/344 was always a Metrorider, occations when the Mercedes Minibuses when i was growing up, dont forget though, there was a spell where Classic Coaches had the 343/344 which had solos on it, would of been around 2006/2007ish, the 344 didnt last much longer after that as by 2009 it was gone, then the 343 was withdrawn in 2010

Ah that's a long time ago, can remember them on the 810/811 aswell. Believe they all had the same allocation pretty much. Can't remember Classic having though, I was always waiting for the 10 and the 343, 10 and 337 all came pretty much at the same time and the destination display light was always broken on the VxxxDNL Darts and Vario's so it was just guessing half the time.

Weirdly I miss the Vario's and Metrorider's and don't know why, they were crap but had character unlike the dull Solo's. Must've been around 2006/7 when the remaining ones were withdrawn when the W1 and W2 were upgraded to Darts and the 10/11/12/343/344 got the Vario's whether they were an upgrade is a debate.

Some people would have a field day on here back then, moaning about USB Chargers.

(01 Jun 2023, 7:22 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Quick question,
Why did GNE drop the 19, seems like they could have taken it on again commerically and just amended its route if needed?

From what I heard (I'm sure Dan will correct me) the 1 to Metrocentre needing more drivers though I could be wrong

It's worth remembering Wiltshire Drive currently has FOUR GNE buses an hour running through it with the 41A, so it isn't underserved.

The issue is that given how frequent the 307 and 309 are down Station Road, that effectively 'sucks' the Newcastle passengers from the east side of Wiltshire Drive. The West side is mainly better off households, less likely to use Buses, meaning the 51 probably doesn't pick up that many people. So it may well need a tendered solution if a link to Newcastle is needed. I'd maybe run it non-stop all the way to the Corner House, then non stop to the Civic. I don't believe the 51 is part of the QA, so gives users an actually useful express option from parts of North Tyneside largely unserved by commercial operators.

(01 Jun 2023, 7:22 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Quick question,
Why did GNE drop the 19, seems like they could have taken it on again commerically and just amended its route if needed?

Service 19 has always been operated with external funding, firstly from Cobalt Park and subsequently from Northumberland County Council and Nexus.

When the contract came up for renewal this year, Gateshead Central Taxis put in a cheaper tender price than GNE.

(01 Jun 2023, 7:37 pm)Storx wrote Ah that's a long time ago, can remember them on the 810/811 aswell. Believe they all had the same allocation pretty much. Can't remember Classic having though, I was always waiting for the 10 and the 343, 10 and 337 all came pretty much at the same time and the destination display light was always broken on the VxxxDNL Darts and Vario's so it was just guessing half the time.

Weirdly I miss the Vario's and Metrorider's and don't know why, they were crap but had character unlike the dull Solo's. Must've been around 2006/7 when the remaining ones were withdrawn when the W1 and W2 were upgraded to Darts and the 10/11/12/343/344 got the Vario's whether they were an upgrade is a debate.

Some people would have a field day on here back then, moaning about USB Chargers.

Actually you wont believe me when i say there were Metroriders still in service in 2009 and Varios i know one was clinging on in 2011

Classic never ran on the 343/344.

Only services Classic ran around those parts were the 101/350/351.

(01 Jun 2023, 11:05 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Classic never ran on the 343/344.

Only services Classic ran around those parts were the 101/350/351.

Yes they did, 2006/2007

https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/...ts-4165445

(01 Jun 2023, 8:12 pm)DeltaMan wrote It's worth remembering Wiltshire Drive currently has FOUR GNE buses an hour running through it with the 41A, so it isn't underserved.

The issue is that given how frequent the 307 and 309 are down Station Road, that effectively 'sucks' the Newcastle passengers from the east side of Wiltshire Drive. The West side is mainly better off households, less likely to use Buses, meaning the 51 probably doesn't pick up that many people. So it may well need a tendered solution if a link to Newcastle is needed. I'd maybe run it non-stop all the way to the Corner House, then non stop to the Civic. I don't believe the 51 is part of the QA, so gives users an actually useful express option from parts of North Tyneside largely unserved by commercial operators.

The 41 runs via Station Rd, so Wiltshire Drive has 2x41a GNE buses an hour to Hadrian Pk / Wallsend plus the hourly 51. I think what people forget is the 51 does more than just serve Newcastle, people use it to get to ASDA from Wiltshire Drive plus it’s a quick route into Newcastle from Holystone and East Benton Rise / Fallow Park.

What about spinning the 41 and 41a on its head and completely changing the route I think the running board would then become an hourly service route.

Wallsend up to Station Road 41 goes via Wiltshire Drive then up to Range along to Asda then a left at the roundabout onto great lime road but a right into Wesley Drive basically through the industrial estate estate placing bus stops as close as possible to create a Palmersville metro station link through the industrial estate and out the other side serve the stops at whitley Road but turn right back to the roundabout then left and a loop round the new estate from there the bus goes via Northumberland Park and down via Cobalt Middle engine lane round Hadrian Park loop then out along Battlehill Drive high farm then back round Wiltshire Drive back to Wallsend

41 goes one way round Asda Northumberland Park cobalt into hadrian Park and 41A does the opposite loop

Immediately this creates a lot of new links especially Shopping to Asda Northumberland Park shops linking Wallsend metro to Palmersville and Northumberland Park metro there is also creating a cobalt link

There is a 335 does part of the route however it ends very early around 6ish however most people finish work after 530 so we would create a evening and Sunday service too

The link to Newcastle from Wiltshire and benton to be lost HOWEVER a ticket can be purchased to be used to connect to a bus to Newcastle call it Coast Road plus ticket for an extra 50p you connect to a Cobalt and Coast route

Making a loop clockwise and anti clockwise

(01 Jun 2023, 9:58 pm)V514DFT wrote Actually you wont believe me when i say there were Metroriders still in service in 2009 and Varios i know one was clinging on in 2011

Nah can remember them actually, Ashington based if I'm right and were stuck on the Freeman route which number has gone with the wind right now, want to say 441 but don't think that's right. Remember loads of people moaning as they quite often got onto the Ashington Expresses which was less than ideal.

Edit: 340, just Googled it - was close enough.

Believe they were down in Darlington aswell, Arriva were really a complete mess back then. The Vario's got withdrawn when the 10/11 got moved to Jesmond and upgraded for full size buses if I remember rightly? That route really has been allover the place, luckily it escaped the place as it would be joining the 51 - 55.

So looking at things, it looks like:
- 352 - Hourly
- 353 - Hourly
- 354 - Hourly
- 355 - Half Hourly

So maybe an interworking pattern like this starting from North Shields?

- 354 - 355 - 355 - 352 - 353
- 353 - 352 - 355 - 355 - 354

Also, if GNE won the evening 54 / 354 tender back from Stagecoach come March and also kept the 352 running during the evening, could give scope for an evening interworking pattern with the 307 & 309? Likewise, Arriva will probably want a more efficient evening interworking pattern with the 306 & 308 rather than the 306 sitting in Tynemouth doing nothing for over 30 minutes.

(01 Jun 2023, 9:58 pm)V514DFT wrote Actually you wont believe me when i say there were Metroriders still in service in 2009 and Varios i know one was clinging on in 2011

This shows how much of the North Tyneside network was ruined in 2010. The 810/811 was the old Hunters bus route until it was absorbed by Arriva. i well rember their collection of Atlanteans and for a shortwhile after de regulation  ex Tyne & Wear PTE scania metropolitans

were the 810/811 not ran by hunters? as seen here http://www.lthlibrary.org.uk/library/PDF-175-1.pdf

(02 Jun 2023, 6:56 am)Storx wrote Nah can remember them actually, Ashington based if I'm right and were stuck on the Freeman route which number has gone with the wind right now, want to say 441 but don't think that's right. Remember loads of people moaning as they quite often got onto the Ashington Expresses which was less than ideal.

Edit: 340, just Googled it - was close enough.

Believe they were down in Darlington aswell, Arriva were really a complete mess back then. The Vario's got withdrawn when the 10/11 got moved to Jesmond and upgraded for full size buses if I remember rightly? That route really has been allover the place, luckily it escaped the place as it would be joining the 51 - 55.

Yeah, and there was the 342 aswell

---

(02 Jun 2023, 8:36 am)ian foster wrote This shows how much of the North Tyneside network was ruined in 2010. The 810/811 was the old Hunters bus route until it was absorbed by Arriva. i well rember their collection of Atlanteans and for a shortwhile after de regulation  ex Tyne & Wear PTE scania metropolitans

Agreed, the network was totally butchered that year