(18 Jun 2025, 4:12 pm)Dan wrote Yes, both operating commercially… Something of a rarity these days!

That's good news.

Glad to see a company taking a risk.

What will be allocated to the routes?

Good to see some commercial competition going on to be honest! Think there's more scope especially if GNE don't pull their socks up! GNE proved that in their prime with the X84/X85 when Arriva lost their way with the 685.

If Northstar could get their hands on some quality used or leased B9TL / E400MMC (although only a short term solution to test the waters), they could cause serious trouble to GNE!

Even an hourly 604 (with additional peak journeys) could give some competition with the 10/10A/10B/12 on the Tyne Valley corridor.

(18 Jun 2025, 6:52 pm)L469 YVK wrote Good to see some commercial competition going on to be honest! Think there's more scope especially if GNE don't pull their socks up! GNE proved that in their prime with the X84/X85 when Arriva lost their way with the 685.

If Northstar could get their hands on some quality used or leased B9TL / E400MMC (although only a short term solution to test the waters), they could cause serious trouble to GNE!

Even an hourly 604 (with additional peak journeys) could give some competition with the 10/10A/10B/12 on the Tyne Valley corridor.

I’m sure that Dan will correct me if I’m wrong but I think Northstar’s current commercial priorities lie in filling in the gaps where service is poor  or old routes have been abandoned, rather than tit for tat competition.

(18 Jun 2025, 6:58 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I’m sure that Dan will correct me if I’m wrong but I think Northstar’s current commercial priorities lie in filling in the gaps where service is poor  or old routes have been abandoned, rather than tit for tat competition.

There are a lot of gaps that need filling, but independent commerical operations may struggle without universal ticketing. 
Also Is it time to start a Northstar Suggestions Thread?

(18 Jun 2025, 7:31 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote There are a lot of gaps that need filling, but independent commerical operations may struggle without universal ticketing. 
Also Is it time to start a Northstar Suggestions

T””tickets which are funded by the North East Combined Authority (NECA)'s Bus Service Improvement Plan will be sold on services X22 and X43, and multi-operator day tickets purchased on other operators' services will also be valid for travel.”

(18 Jun 2025, 4:12 pm)Dan wrote Yes, both operating commercially… Something of a rarity these days!

Great to hear! It's a shame more don't do this, instead of their whole operation being based on secured service contracts.

(18 Jun 2025, 7:31 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote There are a lot of gaps that need filling, but independent commerical operations may struggle without universal ticketing. 
Also Is it time to start a Northstar Suggestions Thread?

No - there's already a Fictional Service Ideas thread.

(18 Jun 2025, 4:12 pm)Dan wrote Yes, both operating commercially… Something of a rarity these days!

You know me it’s something I’ve been involved in in the past … and I really hope these work for you!
Introducing new commercial services in the current world is a huge risk but they’re done at the lowest cost so I can’t see why they won’t work. The X22 in particular is a neglected corridor that you should be able to build on!

(18 Jun 2025, 2:31 pm)Aaron21 wrote https://northstarbus.co.uk/news/article.php?id=36

X22 making a return and a new X43

Didn't the original X22 start at Durham (Not forgetting The original l X22 was actually ,South Shields to MetroCentre )

(19 Jun 2025, 3:52 am)Retro Nero wrote Didn't the original X22 start at Durham (Not forgetting The original l X22 was actually ,South Shields to MetroCentre )

Sorry, I meant to say "The Original Original X22( Early 1990s ) ,,,

(19 Jun 2025, 4:12 am)Retro Nero wrote Sorry, I meant to say "The Original Original X22( Early 1990s ) ,,,

It did, yes, except on Sundays when it just started at Chester

I 100% mean it, I wish you all the best Dan.

(19 Jun 2025, 3:52 am)Retro Nero wrote Didn't the original X22 start at Durham (Not forgetting The original l X22 was actually ,South Shields to MetroCentre )

Yes, although originally it was only a small number of journeys that ran to/from Durham running via Belmont, West Rainton and Great Lumley then Chester-le-Street to Metrocentre, most journeys just ran CLS - Metro though. X22 later just became much the same route as the 21 (pre Arnison Centre diversion) between Durham & Birtley then direct via the A1.

(18 Jun 2025, 6:52 pm)L469 YVK wrote Good to see some commercial competition going on to be honest! Think there's more scope especially if GNE don't pull their socks up! GNE proved that in their prime with the X84/X85 when Arriva lost their way with the 685.

If Northstar could get their hands on some quality used or leased B9TL / E400MMC (although only a short term solution to test the waters), they could cause serious trouble to GNE!

Even an hourly 604 (with additional peak journeys) could give some competition with the 10/10A/10B/12 on the Tyne Valley corridor.

Give it a rest man

(19 Jun 2025, 4:44 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Give it a rest man

Finally someone else agrees

(19 Jun 2025, 4:44 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Give it a rest man

This is an open forum, if we can't even have a discussion about things, then what's the point? 

Northstar are clearly looking at gaps left behind by the big operators and it's encouraging to see!

(19 Jun 2025, 6:19 pm)L469 YVK wrote This is an open forum, if we can't even have a discussion about things, then what's the point? 

Northstar are clearly looking at gaps left behind by the big operators and it's encouraging to see!

You haven't identified a gap though, have you?

All you've done is suggest another service on a corridor already served by anywhere from three to seven buses per hour whilst fantasising about the kind the buses you'd like to see allocated.

You could have just said "Well done, Dan. Hope it goes well", but you've, yet again, attempted to turn this open forum into a vehicle where realistic discussion is drowned out by your imaginary ramblings.

Keep it real.

(19 Jun 2025, 6:35 pm)MurdnunoC wrote You haven't identified a gap though, have you?

All you've done is suggest another service on a corridor already served by anywhere from three to seven buses per hour whilst fantasising about the kind the buses you'd like to see allocated.

You could have just said "Well done, Dan. Hope it goes well", but you've, yet again, attempted to turn this open forum into a vehicle where realistic discussion is drowned out by your imaginary ramblings.

Keep it real.

GNE are getting caught red handed!

The Tyne Valley (Low Prudhoe, Crawcrook, Ryton and Stella) hasn't had a fast service since the 604/11 were withdrawn, nor a direct link to Newcastle Business Park and even more so given that the 12 now only runs every 30 minutes.

GNE have p****d around with one of their flagship services, only increasing it to every 12 minutes as of late......not forgetting the aging B9TLs and engineering issues.

Passengers along the Tyne Valley corridor have always been appreciative of experienced local drivers giving a good service and Northstar could easily so that.

In fact with the fare caps and gap between single operator / multi operator ticketing reducing, commercial opportunities if carefully executed will become more viable.

If Northstar couldn't sustain an evening or Sunday service for instance, that multi operator ticket will work fine on a GNE service running at those times, whilst benefiting from a more convenient Northstar service at other times.

(19 Jun 2025, 10:02 pm)L469 YVK wrote GNE are getting caught red handed!

The Tyne Valley (Low Prudhoe, Crawcrook, Ryton and Stella) hasn't had a fast service since the 604/11 were withdrawn, nor a direct link to Newcastle Business Park and even more so given that the 12 now only runs every 30 minutes.

GNE have p****d around with one of their flagship services, only increasing it to every 12 minutes as of late......not forgetting the aging B9TLs and engineering issues.

Passengers along the Tyne Valley corridor have always been appreciative of experienced local drivers giving a good service and Northstar could easily so that.

In fact with the fare caps and gap between single operator / multi operator ticketing reducing, commercial opportunities if carefully executed will become more viable.

If Northstar couldn't sustain an evening or Sunday service for instance, that multi operator ticket will work fine on a GNE service running at those times, whilst benefiting from a more convenient Northstar service at other times.

The quality of service (or lack thereof) provided by Go North East in the Tyne Valley is a topic which should be confined to GNE section of the forum as Northstar do not currently operate services in the area.

The solutions you propose belong in the Fictional Services thread, because that's what they are at this stage, works of fiction.

Back on topic, there's been a very positive reaction on local Facebook groups where NorthStar seemed to have managed the social media really well. Very organic using colleagues and shares etc

Cheap but very effective marketing

Genuinely pleased as punch for you Dan, hope to see you in North Tyneside some day

It's great to see small operators filling gaps in the market whereas the big boys seem to be keeping with the same old rather than trying something new (and shrinking networks as well for that matter).

I note previous comments and questions regarding Durham and Chester Le Street expresses to the Metrocentre. Wasn't there also a similar service operated by Arriva (possibly started at Bishop Auckland) ?

(20 Jun 2025, 5:52 pm)morritt89 wrote It's great to see small operators filling gaps in the market whereas the big boys seem to be keeping with the same old rather than trying something new  (and shrinking networks as well for that matter).

I note previous comments and questions regarding Durham and Chester Le Street expresses to the Metrocentre. Wasn't there also a similar service operated by Arriva (possibly started at Bishop Auckland) ?

Theres been a few variations of the Metrocentre 'Durham' expresses with  random destinations.

Fishburn and Broomside probably being the most obscure places to appear on the blinds.

Hopefully if the X22 & X43 are a success, maybe we may see an X88 Sunderland - MetroCentre and also maybe what was South Shields Busways M42 , South Shields - MetroCentre or better still VFM Buses, South Shields - MetroCentre (X22) but obviously renumbered.

(20 Jun 2025, 6:37 pm)Retro Nero wrote Hopefully if the X22 & X43 are a success, maybe we may see an X88 Sunderland - MetroCentre and also maybe what was South Shields Busways M42 , South Shields - MetroCentre or better still VFM Buses, South Shields - MetroCentre (X22G) but obviously renumbered.

Why get the bus to the Metrocentre from
Sunderland? I wouldn’t even drive that journey, let alone get a bus. If I ever wanted to go again ( not been for 13 years), I d get the train. The road system around there is dreadful.

(20 Jun 2025, 8:09 pm)Economic505 wrote Why get the bus to the Metrocentre from
Sunderland? I wouldn’t even drive that journey, let alone get a bus. If I ever wanted to go again ( not been for 13 years), I d get the train. The road system around there is dreadful.

100% agree with that, the roads are horrendous, they need sorting out but sadly I think thats not going to happen anytime soon.

(20 Jun 2025, 9:58 am)Ambassador wrote Back on topic, there's been a very positive reaction on local Facebook groups where NorthStar seemed to have managed the social media really well. Very organic using colleagues and shares etc

Cheap but very effective marketing

It goes to show that people are wanting a service that Northstar are going to start to operate.

It will be interesting to see now what GNE does.  Metrocentre expresses havent ran for a number of years and GNE had no intention of running them I would guess.....

Will we see the big bully boys tatics rear their ugly head to try and 'get one over on Dan' - I most certainly hope not!

(20 Jun 2025, 8:48 pm)citaro5284 wrote It goes to show that people are wanting a service that Northstar are going to start to operate.

It will be interesting to see now what GNE does.  Metrocentre expresses havent ran for a number of years and GNE had no intention of running them I would guess.....

Will we see the big bully boys tatics rear their ugly head to try and 'get one over on Dan' - I most certainly hope not!

After 12+ months of lapping up BSIP funding to boost the network with improved frequencies and reinstatement of services previously abandoned, it would be political suicide for Go North East to react to these new commercially operated services, especially after the public support the North East Mayor has given for SMEs.

I hope the commercial team at Go North East has more sense than to show to stakeholders that they will only react commercially because an SME has chosen to reinstate a direct link previously abandoned.

Go North East should consider these services an improvement to the network and an opportunity for local residents on the outskirts of Chester-le-Street to be more likely to use their connecting services because a fast and direct link has been (re-)created.

Any other reaction from Go North East would be purely personal, petty, and out of spite - and of course the irony is that the company only has spare resource due to the loss of a contract that Go North East must have quite fiercely bid for to win back.

(20 Jun 2025, 8:48 pm)citaro5284 wrote It goes to show that people are wanting a service that Northstar are going to start to operate.

It will be interesting to see now what GNE does.  Metrocentre expresses havent ran for a number of years and GNE had no intention of running them I would guess.....

Will we see the big bully boys tatics rear their ugly head to try and 'get one over on Dan' - I most certainly hope not!

It was baffling that the X22 was closed in the first place. I recall there was quite a bit of opposition to this, but GNE at the time felt it was more than acceptable to ask customers to change at Gateshead onto the X66, despite the significant increase in journey time. 

Then you have the Sat/Sun X88 that used to run Washington - Metrocentre. That was well used, even at the time of cancellation, and I could never understand the short-sightedness of doing so.

If there's a reaction from Go North East, I'd say that says more about them than anybody else. Finding the resource to run duplicate services, at the same time they're removing services from elsewhere, would be of very poor taste.

(20 Jun 2025, 9:53 pm)Adrian wrote If there's a reaction from Go North East, I'd say that says more about them than anybody else. Finding the resource to run duplicate services, at the same time they're removing services from elsewhere, would be of very poor taste.

IMO...GNE should have all BSIP funding stripped off them / withdrawn if they go down this route!

(20 Jun 2025, 8:09 pm)Economic505 wrote Why get the bus to the Metrocentre from
Sunderland? I wouldn’t even drive that journey, let alone get a bus. If I ever wanted to go again ( not been for 13 years), I d get the train. The road system around there is dreadful.

It is not the road system it is the drivers... 

For example for work I drive a Extra long wheel base electric van and if we park them in petrol stations we must park them at a petrol pump incase we need to move them quickly (like a tanker ) I had a women asking me I was using the pump... I was no...you can use a I cant use it... but are you sure you dont need to use it ( I just sighed) even the pump operator was laughing...

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Wasnt there a M39 M40 M41 if I remember it was a Leyland Lynx used to operate the service