None of 6308-6314 out on X20s today. All streetlites bar one decker 6089.

(11 Feb 2025, 11:31 am)Adrian wrote The Centrelink scheme was late 90s, so it was a completely different world back then. Metrocentre was booming at the time, and indeed it was a regular feat to see those Centrelink Scanias full to the brim. It's the kind of scheme that we need to see more of, very much in the same way as guided busways have taken off towards Leigh, in Cambridge and in Luton.

That's the problem though isn't it.  These schemes cost a fortune, take forever and by the time they are implemented the world has moved on and they are huge white elephants which are largely deserted, much like the Felling bypass buslane that was also mentioned previously.  Sees a handful of buses an hour (if they are even running) at the expense of a lane of traffic.  The last thing we need is more public money wasted on pointless infrastructure that isn't used because things move on.

We see the same with bus technology.  Huge fanfare for the hybrids early 2010s - GNE and SNEs knackered within little over a decade.  The expense of the gas buses - ditto, bit over 10 years and rip it all out.  Largley all replaced by older, diesel vehicles which still work and didnt have half of the upfront public cost (the gas buses at least I am sure were part public funded).

(11 Feb 2025, 12:37 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote That's the problem though isn't it.  These schemes cost a fortune, take forever and by the time they are implemented the world has moved on and they are huge white elephants which are largely deserted, much like the Felling bypass buslane that was also mentioned previously.  Sees a handful of buses an hour (if they are even running) at the expense of a lane of traffic.  The last thing we need is more public money wasted on pointless infrastructure that isn't used because things move on.

We see the same with bus technology.  Huge fanfare for the hybrids early 2010s - GNE and SNEs knackered within little over a decade.  The expense of the gas buses - ditto, bit over 10 years and rip it all out.  Largley all replaced by older, diesel vehicles which still work and didnt have half of the upfront public cost (the gas buses at least I am sure were part public funded).

Nah, the Felling Bypass bus lane is good. Opening another lane of regular traffic wouldn't do anything. It's used by 5 services constantly, so i'd hardly say it was a waste. Just look at the Western Bypass extension, it's mostly complete and the traffic jams haven't changed in the slightest. One more lane bro.

(11 Feb 2025, 3:46 pm)deanmachine wrote Nah, the Felling Bypass bus lane is good. Opening another lane of regular traffic wouldn't do anything. It's used by 5 services constantly, so i'd hardly say it was a waste. Just look at the Western Bypass extension, it's mostly complete and the traffic jams haven't changed in the slightest. One more lane bro.

With the Western By-Pass, I'd argue the congestion continues because the flow of traffic hasn't changed. There are too many junctions between Birtley (A1231) and Swalwell (A694) which means localised traffic tends to impede long-distance traffic, and that hasn't been rectified despite the 'improvements' that have been made. In the 80s (or early 90s), a bypass to the Western By-Pass was actually proposed to segregate the two, but nothing came to fruition. That's probably what should have happened over last ten years or so, but instead the Highways Agency opted for narrower lanes and a 50mph speed restriction. A missed opportunity really.

Edit:

(11 Feb 2025, 12:37 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote That's the problem though isn't it.  These schemes cost a fortune, take forever and by the time they are implemented the world has moved on and they are huge white elephants which are largely deserted, much like the Felling bypass buslane that was also mentioned previously.  Sees a handful of buses an hour (if they are even running) at the expense of a lane of traffic.  The last thing we need is more public money wasted on pointless infrastructure that isn't used because things move on.

We see the same with bus technology.  Huge fanfare for the hybrids early 2010s - GNE and SNEs knackered within little over a decade.  The expense of the gas buses - ditto, bit over 10 years and rip it all out.  Largley all replaced by older, diesel vehicles which still work and didnt have half of the upfront public cost (the gas buses at least I am sure were part public funded).

Your mileage may vary but I wouldn't exactly call 13 bph a 'handful' or 'deserted'.

(11 Feb 2025, 12:31 pm)LVK 404L wrote None of 6308-6314 out on X20s today.  All streetlites bar one decker 6089.

Serious point here.

I know the B5TL's are far from perfect...but considering StreetLites (Cummins) handled the 45/46/47 okay, would they not be better doing this if the Cobalt's end up with the Angel StreetDecks.....

- 6101-07 - X20 (keep in corporate as could also be used on 56 if needed)

- 6108-15 - 16/16A

- 6116-17 - Spares (TBD)

- 6308-14 - X45 (PVR 5) + 2x spare

The X-Lines blue undercoat would be perfect for some MetroCentre XLines branding and they'd only be on the road Mon-Sat with E400MMCs doing the Sunday boards as now (whatever interworking pattern that is).

Would also help Consett out massively not needing to throw ex GAG/London stock out on the X45 or be short of low height deckers for the X30s/X70s.

Could also be upseated too (with tables removed) which would come in handy on matchdays or busy shopping periods at the MetroCentre!

(11 Feb 2025, 11:31 am)Adrian wrote The Centrelink scheme was late 90s, so it was a completely different world back then. Metrocentre was booming at the time, and indeed it was a regular feat to see those Centrelink Scanias full to the brim. It's the kind of scheme that we need to see more of, very much in the same way as guided busways have taken off towards Leigh, in Cambridge and in Luton.

See I'm not sure there's much scope for guided busways in the North East since most our traffic issues are in urban areas and there's not space for them. The Metro objectively does everything else.

Centrelink though could've easily just been a bus lane along Askew Road though, it's basically all it does anyway and there's ample space for 3 lanes along there if required similar to the Felling Bypass one which I don't mind. Mind speaking of that area I'd love to see Bensham Road bus gated from Coatsworth Road into Gateshead. There's no reason why cars should be driving along there bar cutting the corner off going via Askew Road. It would massively boost buses in that area from being jammed in traffic.

(11 Feb 2025, 4:23 pm)MurdnunoC wrote With the Western By-Pass, I'd argue the congestion continues because the flow of traffic hasn't changed. There are too many junctions between Birtley (A1231) and Swalwell (A694) which means localised traffic tends to impede long-distance traffic, and that hasn't been rectified despite the 'improvements' that have been made. In the 80s (or early 90s), a bypass to the Western By-Pass was actually proposed to segregate the two, but nothing came to fruition. That's probably what should have happened over last ten years or so, but instead the Highways Agency opted for narrower lanes and a 50mph speed restriction. A missed opportunity really.

imo the big problem with that is a lot of the traffic is local traffic heading to Team Valley / Metrocentre / Gateshead / Newcastle / Sunderland (via A1231) or what not. If you bypasses the A1 further West it would be a bit of a white elephant since who's realistically going to be using it? There's only 20k or so vehicles North of Morpeth and that's assuming that they're not local, there's just not much long distance traffic.

Not to mention the tunnel is much quicker for anyone from the A189 corridor in SE Northumberland anyway.

(11 Feb 2025, 3:46 pm)deanmachine wrote Nah, the Felling Bypass bus lane is good. Opening another lane of regular traffic wouldn't do anything. It's used by 5 services constantly, so i'd hardly say it was a waste. Just look at the Western Bypass extension, it's mostly complete and the traffic jams haven't changed in the slightest. One more lane bro.

Southbound morning rush hour and northbound evening are both infinitely better than previously in my experience - particularly southbound since the stretch south of team valley has opened up.  I regularly use it at various times including peaks and though I am probably jinxing myself here, havent had any significant issues for a long while now.  Biggest issue I regularly encounter on A1 now is around Stamfordham Road down to the bridge at Scotswood.

(11 Feb 2025, 5:23 pm)Storx wrote See I'm not sure there's much scope for guided busways in the North East since most our traffic issues are in urban areas and there's not space for them. The Metro objectively does everything else.

Centrelink though could've easily just been a bus lane along Askew Road though, it's basically all it does anyway and there's ample space for 3 lanes along there if required similar to the Felling Bypass one which I don't mind. Mind speaking of that area I'd love to see Bensham Road bus gated from Coatsworth Road into Gateshead. There's no reason why cars should be driving along there bar cutting the corner off going via Askew Road. It would massively boost buses in that area from being jammed in traffic.


imo the big problem with that is a lot of the traffic is local traffic heading to Team Valley / Metrocentre / Gateshead / Newcastle / Sunderland (via A1231) or what not. If you bypasses the A1 further West it would be a bit of a white elephant since who's realistically going to be using it? There's only 20k or so vehicles North of Morpeth and that's assuming that they're not local, there's just not much long distance traffic.

Not to mention the tunnel is much quicker for anyone from the A189 corridor in SE Northumberland anyway.

You mean the ones who can't use buses to do the journey (not through choice, but because there are no buses as an alternative) , so use the car instead?

Genuinely amazes me that the top brass don't look at those traffic jams or the places we see road investment and think 'oooh, there's some potential customers'.

(11 Feb 2025, 5:23 pm)Storx wrote Centrelink though could've easily just been a bus lane along Askew Road though, it's basically all it does anyway and there's ample space for 3 lanes along there if required similar to the Felling Bypass one which I don't mind. Mind speaking of that area I'd love to see Bensham Road bus gated from Coatsworth Road into Gateshead. There's no reason why cars should be driving along there bar cutting the corner off going via Askew Road. It would massively boost buses in that area from being jammed in traffic.

Centrelink could have easily been a bus link through the remnants of St Cuthbert's Village from Cuthbert Street/School Street to Mulgrave Terrace/Prince Consort Road using the existing access roads, with a new crossroads straight into Gateshead Interchange. 

That way, it would have been more accessible to buses coming in from the south west/west towards Gateshead, avoiding both Askew Road and Bensham Road. It probably would have decreased the journey time of the X66 too.

(11 Feb 2025, 8:03 pm)Andreos1 wrote You mean the ones who can't use buses to do the journey (not through choice, but because there are no buses as an alternative) , so use the car instead?

Genuinely amazes me that the top brass don't look at those traffic jams or the places we see road investment and think 'oooh, there's some potential customers'.

Yeah can't disagree there, getting around Newcastle / Gateshead at the West side is absolutely appalling by any stretch of the imagination. I don't blame people for driving it tbh.

(11 Feb 2025, 8:17 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Centrelink could have easily been a bus link through the remnants of St Cuthbert's Village from Cuthbert Street/School Street to Mulgrave Terrace/Prince Consort Road using the existing access roads, with a new crossroads straight into Gateshead Interchange. 

That way, it would have been more accessible to buses coming in from the south west/west towards Gateshead, avoiding both Askew Road and Bensham Road. It probably would have decreased the journey time of the X66 too.

Yeah that's true, forgot about the old Cuthbert Estate been a long time since that came down. Could've been the catalyst for a good bus connection through the area aswell. It's pretty crazy that there's been no development there aswell considering how central it is, but that's another thread tbh.

Anyone notice the 317 (on its way to Whitley Bay), the next stop announcement thinks Edward Road is Savory Road

(12 Feb 2025, 4:49 pm)V514DFT wrote Anyone notice the 317 (on its way to Whitley Bay), the next stop announcement thinks Edward Road is Savory Road

Good spot! This has now been corrected

You're very welcome

Looks like 6095 is having problems this morning, its parked up Fawcett Street, when I past, the driver was out of her cab and on the phone.


https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-6095

Not really sure where to ask this, does anyone know what happened to GNE going to a 5 digit fleet number instead of the current 4 digit one? A bit like how stagecoach does it. I’m sure it’s been a while since that was first mentioned.

(14 Feb 2025, 11:00 am)ReDemPTiion wrote Not really sure where to ask this, does anyone know what happened to GNE going to a 5 digit fleet number instead of the current 4 digit one? A bit like how stagecoach does it. I’m sure it’s been a while since that was first mentioned.

I've heard that...
Buses are staying 4 digits but will be 5 digits for Go ahead group reference.

Notice the difference in leadership

https://www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk/ope...-hull-area

(14 Feb 2025, 11:28 am)Retro Nero wrote I've heard that...
Buses are staying 4 digits but will be 5 digits for Go ahead group reference.

Wouldn’t that not be confusing?

(14 Feb 2025, 11:47 am)Ambassador wrote Notice the difference in leadership

https://www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk/ope...-hull-area

Seems they must have an advantage in Yorkshire, having adults in charge and writing their public comms.  Astounding that the approach can be so different within the same group.

(14 Feb 2025, 11:47 am)Ambassador wrote Notice the difference in leadership

https://www.eastyorkshirebuses.co.uk/ope...-hull-area

But Hull is wayyy down south so they have nowhere near as much of that pesky grit to contend with j/k

It is refreshing to see a genuine apology and statement of what is being done to help ease th issue, including, as Arriva did here with the driver shortage, temporarily reducing services to make their appearance at your bus stop a bit more predictable.

Yes and an actually temporiary reduction of services returning to old frequency that must be nice.

Hopefully it will be a bit quicker than 1 year or 18 months or not at all...

Just noticed 6362 has lost its cream headrests and been replaced with Red ones, looks alot better.

most of the X1 Xlines do but this removes wireless chargers

Things must be desperate at Washington. Just spotted 709 out on the 81...... Bet it's cosy!

(14 Feb 2025, 4:31 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote Wouldn’t that not be confusing?

East yorkshire  and North Riding buses still only showing their 3 digit numbers

(16 Feb 2025, 1:44 pm)ian foster wrote East yorkshire  and North Riding buses still only showing their 3 digit numbers

East Yorkshire are only applying the new 5 digit fleet numbers to vehicles either joining the fleet (as per the two Evoras and the upcoming Levantes) or as they are repainted - hence why E400 20778 now carries its new numbers having just been repainted. I'm very much surprised GNE haven't started doing the same.

Got caught up in the sheer amount of traffic behind 5218 today.

Out of Service, driven by an engineer and presumably in limp mode, it was going about 30mph on the A19. 
Surprised there wasn't an accident tbh.

Its wing mirrors were intact. Which was nice to see.

(18 Feb 2025, 1:47 pm)Andreos1 wrote Got caught up in the sheer amount of traffic behind 5218 today.

Out of Service, driven by an engineer and presumably in limp mode, it was going about 30mph on the A19. 
Surprised there wasn't an accident tbh.

Its wing mirrors were intact. Which was nice to see.

5218, as in Wright Solar 5218?

(18 Feb 2025, 4:42 pm)V514DFT wrote 5218, as in Wright Solar 5218?

May have been 5418..