(29 Aug 2025, 6:37 pm)Storx wrote There's also the big problem that barely no-one lives in Durham City Centre, no-one lives in Sunderland City Centre and no-one lives in Houghton Centre so who's it exactly an express for?

imo it needs to go beyond Sunderland or Durham at either end and extend to another town giving them a link to Sunderland and/or Durham depending which end you pick.

Stuff like the X20 in Northumberland is a good example for that, if it only done Ashington to Newcastle, ignoring the train for now, I'd imagine it would be mostly dead aswell, but it gains it passengers giving people from the likes of Lynemouth etc a fast link to Newcastle. The GNE X21 is arguably another one, for similar reasons but towards Bishop instead. 

The 9 or 24 would be the obvious routes using existing routes since they head North of the water and would give a direct express Durham to Stadium of Light link which is quite poor currently without a long walk really without going back on thereself like the now 14 does.

I agree that it needs.to extend past Sunderland. remember when it was first introduced in  97/98, the X20 was Durham - Sunderland - Shields all limited stop and inter worked at Durham with X50 Durham - Washington - Shields.

Those passengers are still out there and could be beneficial to start again at the beginning.

(29 Aug 2025, 6:47 pm)LVK 404L wrote I agree that it needs.to extend past Sunderland. remember when it was first introduced in  97/98, the X20 was Durham - Sunderland - Shields all limited stop and inter worked at Durham with X50 Durham - Washington - Shields.

Those passengers are still out there and could be beneficial to start again at the beginning.

Yeah that's my thoughts aswell. Obviously finding where the flows is key but there's enough to the North of the water where people might want to be, least then it's giving people direct links to places they might want to be. 

I know the 9 doesn't go to many places where people probably want to be but that's the route I'd look at, you'd even get the bonus of reducing the PVR down by one so it's actually a win cost wise aswell so why not try it, it'd still have 9 minutes layover time each end aswell which is more than reasonable with a 81 minute running time end to end. It's arguably better than the 9 sitting around for 25 minutes doing nothing. Efficiencies and all that which people bang on about.

Also side note, looks like the X20 is interworking with the 65 now instead of the 20, just noticed it's flipping stands between D/E which is the 65 stand with a fantastic 2 minute layover at Seaham so I'm sure that'll be keeping on time.

(29 Aug 2025, 3:31 pm)DH9 wrote What were the rumoured changes?

Via Langley Park after Lanchester, then 14/X20 route to Durham.

(29 Aug 2025, 6:37 pm)Storx wrote There's also the big problem that barely no-one lives in Durham City Centre, no-one lives in Sunderland City Centre and no-one lives in Houghton Centre so who's it exactly an express for?

imo it needs to go beyond Sunderland or Durham at either end and extend to another town giving them a link to Sunderland and/or Durham depending which end you pick.

Stuff like the X20 in Northumberland is a good example for that, if it only done Ashington to Newcastle, ignoring the train for now, I'd imagine it would be mostly dead aswell, but it gains it passengers giving people from the likes of Lynemouth etc a fast link to Newcastle. The GNE X21 is arguably another one, for similar reasons but towards Bishop instead. 

The 9 or 24 would be the obvious routes using existing routes since they head North of the water and would give a direct express Durham to Stadium of Light link which is quite poor currently without a long walk really without going back on thereself like the now 14 does.

no body wants to go to the stasium of light though.... as proved by the attendance on tuesday!

what we need back for Sunderland to sort the mess out and I am happy for it to be an hourly secured service is for reinstatement of the 139 140 its an hourly loop

I would adjust it slightly to save time - Say Ryhope Road - Grangetown go via Asda Leechmere then through the estate to Ryhope missing out Ryhope Green

if that would get it to be under an hour it links many estates hospital Dox international

and allow it to run in evening and sunday too

(30 Aug 2025, 6:59 am)Rob44 wrote no body wants to go to the stasium of light though.... as proved by the attendance on tuesday!

I can't say nothing, I didn't even bother watching it on the TV. Knew what was coming, can't stand cup games at home.

Tbf mid-week games are always way quieter. We shall see what it's like today.

(30 Aug 2025, 6:59 am)IRob44 wrote no body wants to go to the stasium of light though.... as proved by the attendance 

For being a clever clogs and a funny frcker, you should write an essay on GnE Sunderland timetable variations since 1986. For each service, write 1000 words. Reduce the word count by 70, for every major trophy NUFC have won in the last 70 years. Increase the word count by 7000 fie every day Isak is held hostage by Saudi Arabia!

Lets not turn this thread into an arguement about Football, this is why im glad im a non-supporter when it comes to Football

PB0003954/801
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 20 (20A) Durham (or Framwellgate Moor) Sunderland

PB0003954/1203
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 9 Jarrow Sunderland

PB0003954/735
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 8 (8A) Sunderland Stanley

PB0003954/733
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 4 Houghton-le-Spring Heworth

PB0003954/779
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 56 Newcastle Sunderland

PB0003954/1137
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 57 Wardley Newcastle

PB0003954/686
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 58 (X58, 58A) Newcastle Heworth, Wardley or Follingsby Amazon

PB0003954/777
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 60 Parkside Sunderland

PB0003954/1459
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 62 (62A) Doxford International Pennywell


PB0003954/1165
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 61 (861) Peterlee / Murton Sunderland / Pennywell

PB0003954/351
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 27 South Shields Newcastle

PB0003954/1168
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X20 Sunderland Durham

PB0003954/1287
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 28 (28B, 29) Chester-le-Street Newcastle

PB0003954/809
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 34 Waldridge Park Ouston

PB0003954/1484
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 14 Durham Langley Park

PB0003954/1453
Cancellation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 50S Chester-le-Street Durham

(12 Sep 2025, 7:12 pm)Michael wrote PB0003954/801
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 20 (20A) Durham (or Framwellgate Moor) Sunderland

PB0003954/1203
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 9 Jarrow Sunderland

PB0003954/735
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 8 (8A) Sunderland Stanley

PB0003954/733
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 4 Houghton-le-Spring Heworth

PB0003954/779
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 56 Newcastle Sunderland

PB0003954/1137
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 57 Wardley Newcastle

PB0003954/686
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 58 (X58, 58A) Newcastle Heworth, Wardley or Follingsby Amazon

PB0003954/777
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 60 Parkside Sunderland

PB0003954/1459
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 62 (62A) Doxford International Pennywell


PB0003954/1165
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 61 (861) Peterlee / Murton Sunderland / Pennywell

PB0003954/351
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 27 South Shields Newcastle

PB0003954/1168
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X20 Sunderland Durham

PB0003954/1287
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 28 (28B, 29) Chester-le-Street Newcastle

PB0003954/809
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 34 Waldridge Park Ouston

PB0003954/1484
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 14 Durham Langley Park

PB0003954/1453
Cancellation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 50S Chester-le-Street Durham

I believe services 9 & 56 are just a stand change in Park Lane..9 is moving to stand Q.  and 56 to stand F..
X20 is a more Direct and Limited Stop between Sunderland and Durham Only no longer to Langley Park.
61 is being withdrawn from the section of Pennywell and Sunderland City Centre.
20A reintroduce to Daytime timetable

(12 Sep 2025, 9:02 pm)Retro Nero wrote I believe services 9 & 56 are just a stand change in Park Lane..9 is moving to stand Q.  and 56 to stand F..
X20 is a more Direct and Limited Stop between Sunderland and Durham Only no longer to Langley Park.
61 is being withdrawn from the section of Pennywell and Sunderland City Centre.
20A reintroduce to Daytime timetable

Ye, looks like the proposed changes they asked about are going ahead although its almost like the changes would happen before the proposals appeared.... as they went through the replies, quick and then sent them off to VOSA within 1 week of it closing....

Does that mean I’m still taking a mystery tour through ryhope and hendon… :,)

Is it known yet what the 14 will interwork with, or is it standalone

(13 Sep 2025, 2:18 pm)V514DFT wrote Is it known yet what the 14 will interwork with, or is it standalone

The proposed timetables suggest it's interworking with the 50 (which also has more running time).

(13 Sep 2025, 2:56 pm)missedbus wrote The proposed timetables suggest it's interworking with the 50 (which also has more running time).

Makes sense, my worry was it was going to get tagged onto the 65

(13 Sep 2025, 2:56 pm)missedbus wrote The proposed timetables suggest it's interworking with the 50 (which also has more running time).

Imagine the reliability of the service if there are issues on the route of the 50, I'd have said it would be been better to interwork it with 16A in Durham.

(14 Sep 2025, 4:00 pm)Malarkey wrote Imagine the reliability of the service if there are issues on the route of the 50, I'd have said it would be been better to interwork it with 16A in Durham.

Then you'd need more remote reliefs / use of the bait room in Stanley as it would push the driving hours with a full 16/16A and 14 interworking.

Plus GNE already heavily use this option for the 6, X30/X31/X32 and some of the X70/X71/X73 boards.

Not forgetting that Consett have been struggling with reliability lately.

(14 Sep 2025, 4:00 pm)Malarkey wrote Imagine the reliability of the service if there are issues on the route of the 50, I'd have said it would be been better to interwork it with 16A in Durham.

The 50 does struggle now at times with timekeeping, but the new timetable allows 6 minutes extra to Durham and 7 minutes extra to South Shields off peak. That means it will take the best part of two hours end to end.
Don't forget that Washington covers the Langley Park section of the X20 on a Sunday so the drivers will already know the route.
A full round trip from South Shields to Langley Park and return will take 5 hours, so 10 buses will be needed.

(14 Sep 2025, 7:52 pm)missedbus wrote The 50 does struggle now at times with timekeeping, but the new timetable allows 6 minutes extra to Durham and 7 minutes extra to South Shields off peak. That means it will take the best part of two hours end to end.
Don't forget that Washington covers the Langley Park section of the X20 on a Sunday so the drivers will already know the route.
A full round trip from South Shields to Langley Park and return will take 5 hours, so 10 buses will be needed.

I've heard from a very reliable source that the 14 will be interworking with the 50, both of which will be operated by Washington, with Washington losing the 8 to Deptford.

Just seen this on the NEXUS site:

Looks like GNE are ending the ToonTour on the 28.10.25 for the winter.



Toon Tour
Newcastle - Gateshead - Newcastle
Operated by Go North East
Service withdrawn
Tuesday, 28 October 2025.

(23 Sep 2025, 10:20 am)Michael wrote Just seen this on the NEXUS site:

Looks like GNE are ending the ToonTour on the 28.10.25 for the winter.



Toon Tour
Newcastle - Gateshead - Newcastle
Operated by Go North East
Service withdrawn
Tuesday, 28 October 2025.

Think that's an error - it ends this weekend, 28 Sept

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/toon-tour-back-2025

19 days till the changes and still nothing on the GNE site....

Yeh I thought that seems late

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The Changes are on the website now. But when I go into the Timetable for X20 it doesn't update. X20 also seems to be stopping a lot more than first said

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(10 Oct 2025, 11:46 am)Swiny1 wrote The Changes are on the website now. But when I go into  the Timetable for X20 it doesn't update.  X20 also seems to be stopping a lot more than first said

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Baffling, seems like they've basically not changed it at all. Just Rainton Bridge.

I know. I can understand the college but still.doesnt seem very express!!!!

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(10 Oct 2025, 1:59 pm)Swiny1 wrote I know. I can understand the college but still.doesnt seem very express!!!!

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So no Number 14 introduced then?

Service X1 (Newcastle – Peterlee): The 07:30 departure from Newcastle will be replaced by the 85A service from Gateshead – Oxclose.

Service 85A (Gateshead - Oxclose): The morning journey will now be started at Gateshead Interchange, it will follow the route of the X1 to Springwell, serving all stops. From Concord to Parsons Road this journey will operate via Blue House Lane.

The afternoon journey will be changed to operate from Pearth Hall Road via Stoney Lane to terminate outside School on Springwell Road.

I think this change is a miss for Commuters from Newcastle on a morning and the service should've still started in Newcastle and terminated at Washington Galleries benefitting both Commuters/Scholars.

(10 Oct 2025, 6:57 pm)L469 YVK wrote So no Number 14 introduced then?

Yes 14 introduced. Apologies I meant stop for college on Bede Bank

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I also don't get the 56 moving over to the side of the bus station for all the Grangetown and Ryhope departures. Much better the 9 coming over near the 24 etc Where departures for Sundetland North go. When I asked about the 56. I was told because they couldn't get round on a night for taxis blocking the road. I can only assume they mean the really late night services or other buses would have the same problems

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