(19 Dec 2024, 9:07 pm)PH - BQA wrote RTT showing the following services cancelled today:

1217 Newcastle to Ashington
1300 Ashington to Newcastle
1847 Newcastle to Ashington
1930 Ashington to Newcastle
1949 Newcastle to Ashington
2030 Ashington to Newcastle
2216 Newcastle to Ashington

The above would mean that there's a 2.5 hour gap in trains to Newcastle from Ashington between 1900 and 2130, and that the last train of the day is also cancelled. Reasons given are issues with crew on each of them as far as I can tell. Anyone know if this is correct? Seems reasonably poor for week 1 of running the service.

It’s a typical pattern of cancellations on the Durham coast line. I still think the Northern region should be split , snd we go back to Regional Railways NE.  I don’t know if it’s true, but I feel Northerm have a heavy emphasis on Leeds and Manchester.

(19 Dec 2024, 11:35 pm)Economic505 wrote It’s a typical pattern of cancellations on the Durham coast line. I still think the Northern region should be split , snd we go back to Regional Railways NE.  I don’t know if it’s true, but I feel Northerm have a heavy emphasis on Leeds and Manchester.

Even worse today, 14 trips cancelled across the day (or 23% of the total service). 

0600 Ashington to Newcastle (first train of the day)
1046 Newcastle to Ashington
1130 Ashington to Newcastle
1417 Newcastle to Ashington
1459 Ashington to Newcastle
1511 Newcastle to Ashington
1600 Ashington to Newcastle
1646 Newcastle to Ashington
1730 Ashington to Newcastle
1749 Newcastle to Ashington
1830 Ashington to Newcastle
1917 Newcastle to Ashington
2015 Newcastle to Ashington
2130 Ashington to Newcastle

Northern really aren't giving the potential passengers of this the best impression of the service, if this line had been opened in the south I feel like they'd have moved heaven and earth to ensure there were minimal trips cancelled in the first week.

more of a bus person than a train person but i do know the NL is a 30 minute frequency. however with that being said, the missus lives in moorside estate (northumberland park) and can see the train lines from her bedroom window

the other day were getting ready to go somewhere and noticed 2 trains, both newcastle bound, in the space of 10-15 minutes. would this be some form of late running or dead running out of service train.

just curious and a bit thrown off when i seen it.

(24 Dec 2024, 8:00 pm)lewisparker1509 wrote more of a bus person than a train person but i do know the NL is a 30 minute frequency. however with that being said, the missus lives in moorside estate (northumberland park) and can see the train lines from her bedroom window

the other day were getting ready to go somewhere and noticed 2 trains, both newcastle bound, in the space of 10-15 minutes. would this be some form of late running or dead running out of service train.

just curious and a bit thrown off when i seen it.

Realtime trains should have your answer. 
Whack in the date and time and it will give you the information you need. 

But... If you're in the bedroom, the missus is getting changed and you're  looking at trains... something isn't quite right.

(24 Dec 2024, 11:40 pm)Andreos1 wrote Realtime trains should have your answer. 
Whack in the date and time and it will give you the information you need. 

But... If you're in the bedroom, the missus is getting changed and you're  looking at trains... something isn't quite right.

At least, as far as we know anyway, he hasn't succumbed to the temptation of making bus noises whilst in the bedroom of his significant other....

Nnnnnnnngggggnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggnnnnnnnnnnnnnmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

(25 Dec 2024, 8:43 am)MurdnunoC wrote At least, as far as we know anyway, he hasn't succumbed to the temptation of making bus noises whilst in the bedroom of his significant other....

Nnnnnnnngggggnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggnnnnnnnnnnnnnmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

'Do that thing where you're an Olympian with the Voith gear box for me again darling'

Hexham - Middlesbrough should be 4 cars most of the time rather than the Ashington Line

(27 Dec 2024, 1:21 pm)Unber43 wrote Hexham - Middlesbrough should be 4 cars most of the time rather than the Ashington Line

It is very rare they put 4 car on Ashington Line, normally a 2 car 158.

Looking today, not a 4 car in sight!

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/...59?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

(25 Dec 2024, 8:43 am)MurdnunoC wrote At least, as far as we know anyway, he hasn't succumbed to the temptation of making bus noises whilst in the bedroom of his significant other....

Nnnnnnnngggggnnnnnnnnnnnnnnngggggnnnnnnnnnnnnnmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Here it is for anyone wanting a decent fix 

https://youtu.be/-5Akkc_6HXQ?feature=shared

Some fast running with B741GCN in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6XN8nxMskA&pp=ygUHQjc0MUdDTg%3D%3D

(27 Dec 2024, 10:28 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Some fast running with B741GCN in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6XN8nxMskA&pp=ygUHQjc0MUdDTg%3D%3D

Would have been about 30 years ago, I got the X88 off the Metrocentre for the first time.
No idea which Olympian it was, but it absolutely flew down the Western Bypass and dropped me off in no time.

It was that good, I wanted to go back and do it all over again straight away.

(28 Dec 2024, 6:22 am)Andreos1 wrote Would have been about 30 years ago, I got the X88 off the Metrocentre for the first time.
No idea which Olympian it was, but it absolutely flew down the Western Bypass and dropped me off in no time.

It was that good, I wanted to go back and do it all over again straight away.

Your first time should always be memorable, with no time for pillow talk and a cigarette afterwards.

(27 Dec 2024, 1:42 pm)citaro5284 wrote It is very rare they put 4 car on Ashington Line, normally a 2 car 158.

Looking today, not a 4 car in sight!

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/...59?stp=WVS&show=all&order=wtt

I've noticed that the 4-car trains on the Durham Coast Line is only the runs terminating at Whitby. Any that terminate at Battersby/Nunthorpe/Middlesborough/Thornaby are always 2 cars. I get this often and it took me a while to figure out without RTT. 

However, I believe this service should be every 30 mins (apart from the Limited stop Thornaby - Newcastle ones at peaks) as it honestly gets soo rammed if I was trying to get off at Heworth (in either direction) I would give up as people are already squeezing by the doors to get off in Newcastle in 7 mins time. 

Would be great if they went from Ashington - Middlesborough (and extending to Nunthorpe or Saltburn each every hour). This would greatly improve the cross-tyne connections albeit Northumberland Park should be better served by buses for this to be successful

So to clarify it would be 
Ashington - Middlesborough [including Saltburn extension] (every 60 mins)
Ashington - Hexham [giving links to the Metrocentre] (every 60 mins)
Carlisle - Nunthorpe [including Whitby extension 2 twice a day] (every 60 mins)

*This enables Newcastle - Hexham | Newcastle - Ashington | Newcastle - Middlesborough to all be half hourly

(28 Dec 2024, 6:22 am)Andreos1 wrote Would have been about 30 years ago, I got the X88 off the Metrocentre for the first time.
No idea which Olympian it was, but it absolutely flew down the Western Bypass and dropped me off in no time.

It was that good, I wanted to go back and do it all over again straight away.

I'm JUST old enough to remember the Stagecoach Olympians getting phased out and replaced with E400s. What a time

(17 Jan 2025, 1:34 am)logidoodah wrote I've noticed that the 4-car trains on the Durham Coast Line is only the runs terminating at Whitby. Any that terminate at Battersby/Nunthorpe/Middlesborough/Thornaby are always 2 cars. I get this often and it took me a while to figure out without RTT. 

However, I believe this service should be every 30 mins (apart from the Limited stop Thornaby - Newcastle ones at peaks) as it honestly gets soo rammed if I was trying to get off at Heworth (in either direction) I would give up as people are already squeezing by the doors to get off in Newcastle in 7 mins time. 

Would be great if they went from Ashington - Middlesborough (and extending to Nunthorpe or Saltburn each every hour). This would greatly improve the cross-tyne connections albeit Northumberland Park should be better served by buses for this to be successful

So to clarify it would be 
Ashington - Middlesborough [including Saltburn extension] (every 60 mins)
Ashington - Hexham [giving links to the Metrocentre] (every 60 mins)
Carlisle - Nunthorpe [including Whitby extension 2 twice a day] (every 60 mins)

*This enables Newcastle - Hexham | Newcastle - Ashington | Newcastle - Middlesborough to all be half hourly

Well that’s definitely not going to happen because from December this year, the only through Northern service in any direction at Newcastle will be the bi-hourly Middlesbrough to Newcastle fast, which will extend to and from Carlisle. Everything else will terminate at Newcastle. This means that the larger stations on the coast line will have a train that goes in Metrocentre direction once every two hours. The rest won’t have any at all.

Quite a few comments on an FB post about later trains. A 2315 service on Fridays, Saturdays and mid-week NUFC match evenings would be perfect!

(20 Nov 2024, 1:12 pm)Aaron21 wrote There was rumours that gct had bought Evora for the 351/335/359 but they decided for the mmc insted. It's an odd choice for them to go with small buses but hey ho

(17 Jan 2025, 10:16 am)markydh wrote Well that’s definitely not going to happen because from December this year, the only through Northern service in any direction at Newcastle will be the bi-hourly Middlesbrough to Newcastle fast, which will extend to and from Carlisle. Everything else will terminate at Newcastle. This means that the larger stations on the coast line will have a train that goes in Metrocentre direction once every two hours. The rest won’t have any at all.

All to do with pathing that as the Middlesbrough to Hexham and beyond trains can get through Central without blocking lines.

Same can't be said about Morpeth or Ashington which involves crossing everything so is an inconvenience.

(17 Jan 2025, 4:38 pm)L469 YVK wrote Quite a few comments on an FB post about later trains. A 2315 service on Fridays, Saturdays and mid-week NUFC match evenings would be perfect!

Problem is there's closures on the ECML beyond 12pm North of Heaton for routine maintenance which would need to change for it work. It's been mentioned on another forum.

Noticed driving along Sandy Lane that the X7 (ex 1003 Blyth) didn't seem to be carrying a typical match day load!

(Yesterday, 9:31 pm)L469 YVK wrote Noticed driving along Sandy Lane that the X7 (ex 1003 Blyth) didn't seem to be carrying a typical match day load!

It's been down massively ever since the railway line opened pretty much. Barely anyone on until Avenue Head whenever I've seen them where they start picking up a few people around the Holywell side, then running non stop to Seghill pretty much.

Can't say I'm surprised either, the service has been dire for years. The trains have been crush loads what I've heard after matches aswell for the other side of the coin.

It's noticeable how many people in Seghill are using the 19, in recent times aswell. Guess people are sick of that running whenever it wants if it bothers turning up at all vs the 19 which is pretty much always on time.

(Yesterday, 11:03 pm)Storx wrote It's been down massively ever since the railway line opened pretty much. Barely anyone on until Avenue Head whenever I've seen them where they start picking up a few people around the Holywell side, then running non stop to Seghill pretty much.

Can't say I'm surprised either, the service has been dire for years. The trains have been crush loads what I've heard after matches aswell for the other side of the coin.

It's noticeable how many people in Seghill are using the 19, in recent times aswell. Guess people are sick of that running whenever it wants if it bothers turning up at all vs the 19 which is pretty much always on time.

Seghill needs a station of course haha.