Lee Wardle has posted the following on the Tyne and Wear Bus Enthusiasts Facebook group.

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancs are holding at Open Day on Saturday May 24th between 10:00 & 16:00 at Carlisle (Willowholme). Amongst the Stagecoach buses I have managed to arrange are ex First Volvo Royale 16235 from Gilmoss, Volvo B6 30339 from Kilmarnock will be making it's debut after restoration back to Stripes, Ribble branded Dennis Trident 18156 from Chorley as well as buses from Busways, Glasgow (Megabus), Manchester and Wrexham (Bluebird ex First). There will also be buses from our other depots at Kendal, Lillyhall and Morecambe. Preserved buses will also be in attendance and the majority of them will be used on the free shuttle service.

If anybody needs more details or would like a copy of the proposed timetable to plan which buses you want to ride, Lee has asked that people contact him directly.

(09 May 2014, 8:35 pm)aureolin wrote Lee Wardle has posted the following on the Tyne and Wear Bus Enthusiasts Facebook group.




If anybody needs more details or would like a copy of the proposed timetable to plan which buses you want to ride, Lee has asked that people contact him directly.

I'll be going there - 0945 685 there, 1707 one back.

(09 May 2014, 8:38 pm)Tom wrote I'll be going there - 0945 685 there, 1707 one back.

You're keen I'm thinking train one way and bus the other. I was grumbling earlier about the thought of all that time spent on either an Enviro or Omnicity.

I've also updated the NEB calendar entry.

(09 May 2014, 8:43 pm)aureolin wrote You're keen I'm thinking train one way and bus the other. I was grumbling earlier about the thought of all that time spent on either an Enviro or Omnicity.

I've also updated the NEB calendar entry.

Only reason is a £4.00 return is great value. Maybe the train both ways could be a better option though? I don't mind the Enviros, but let's hope I get 4653 or a Pulsar on the return. Unless I get the 1754 one and change at Hexham onto a GNE bus.

(09 May 2014, 8:48 pm)Tom wrote Only reason is a £4.00 return is great value. Maybe the train both ways could be a better option though? I don't mind the Enviros, but let's hope I get 4653 or a Pulsar on the return. Unless I get the 1754 one and change at Hexham onto a GNE bus.

I don't mind either, but I'm thinking about the total journey time.

(09 May 2014, 8:51 pm)aureolin wrote I don't mind either, but I'm thinking about the total journey time.

Yeah especially them not having Free Wi-Fi etc.

Just a wild crazy thought...

I have a Family and Friends Railcard.
Happy to have people tagging along - £11.50. return for an adult and £3.30 for an under 16.

At this stage, there are no guarantees I will be going, but...

(09 May 2014, 8:58 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Just a wild crazy thought...

I have a Family and Friends Railcard.
Happy to have people tagging along - £11.50. return for an adult and £3.30 for an under 16.

At this stage, there are no guarantees I will be going, but...

I'll tag along at least on the way there if you don't mind. Won't pass as an under 16 like.

(09 May 2014, 9:00 pm)aureolin wrote I'll tag along at least on the way there if you don't mind. Won't pass as an under 16 like.

A single using the railcard is £10.25 mind.

Crazy fares on the train as soon as you're an adult. I was getting advance child singles for £2 each way last summer.

Sticking to Arriva there and back - free M-Ticket!

(09 May 2014, 9:08 pm)Dan wrote Crazy fares on the train as soon as you're an adult. I was getting advance child singles for £2 each way last summer.

Sticking to Arriva there and back - free M-Ticket!

Ooh aye I forgot about that! I might do the same.

(09 May 2014, 9:08 pm)Dan wrote Crazy fares on the train as soon as you're an adult. I was getting advance child singles for £2 each way last summer.

Sticking to Arriva there and back - free M-Ticket!

So what time buses are you getting? 0745 or whatever it is?

(09 May 2014, 9:08 pm)Dan wrote Crazy fares on the train as soon as you're an adult. I was getting advance child singles for £2 each way last summer.

Sticking to Arriva there and back - free M-Ticket!

Ooh aye I forgot about that! I might do the same.

Funny how Omnicities become more comfortable for that length of time when they're free.

(09 May 2014, 9:10 pm)aureolin wrote Ooh aye I forgot about that! I might do the same.

I'd originally considered the train but I wasn't paying crazy fares esp. when I could have bought a North West Explorer and used some of the buses over there too. Obviously the M-Ticket came along and I was pretty much decided on what I was doing!

(09 May 2014, 9:10 pm)Tom wrote So what time buses are you getting? 0745 or whatever it is?

Aye, and probably the 1600ish one back from Carlisle - or the one before that if I get bored or whatever.

Depends if I buy a Stagecoach day ticket over there - would like to sample some of the E200s but it depends how I feel on the day!

(09 May 2014, 9:12 pm)Dan wrote I'd originally considered the train but I wasn't paying crazy fares esp. when I could have bought a North West Explorer and used some of the buses over there too. Obviously the M-Ticket came along and I was pretty much decided on what I was doing!

Can you use the day tickets on the Stagecoach ones?
Might just get a £5 day ticket to save me money.

(09 May 2014, 9:11 pm)aureolin wrote Funny how Omnicities become more comfortable for that length of time when they're free.

Say all you want about the leather seats on those Omnis, it will still be better than the omnicity with a massive hump I had to sit on from Whitby to Middlesbrough last year on the X93.

(09 May 2014, 9:12 pm)Dan wrote I'd originally considered the train but I wasn't paying crazy fares esp

And East Coast don't go there do they

(09 May 2014, 9:12 pm)Dan wrote I'd originally considered the train but I wasn't paying crazy fares esp. when I could have bought a North West Explorer and used some of the buses over there too. Obviously the M-Ticket came along and I was pretty much decided on what I was doing!

I'm worried you think £11 return to Carlisle is crazy! (if you have a 16-25; its £17 if you don't)

Over 2hrs on the 685 is crazy to me!

(10 May 2014, 1:05 pm)gtom wrote I'm worried you think £11 return to Carlisle is crazy! (if you have a 16-25; its £17 if you don't)

Over 2hrs on the 685 is crazy to me!

Anything is crazy when compared to an equivalent journey which is free!

(10 May 2014, 1:08 pm)Dan wrote Anything is crazy when compared to an equivalent journey which is free!

Is this Free Offer still available with Arriva, if so what Zone is it for the 685 between Newcastle/Carlisle, Might as well sort my Ticket now.

(10 May 2014, 1:19 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Is this Free Offer still available with Arriva, if so what Zone is it for the 685 between Newcastle/Carlisle, Might as well sort my Ticket now.

Nope - it's not Catch The Bus Week anymore. Was only available for a week from the week after I posted it on here.

(10 May 2014, 1:21 pm)Dan wrote Nope - it's not Catch The Bus Week anymore. Was only available for a week from the week after I posted it on here.

If I do go, I'll just get an Explorer, not really fussed about paying £9.60 or whatever it is to go down Carlisle for the Day

I'll get the 0945 or 1045 685, ex-Newcastle - whichever one most people on here decide to go on.

I'm up for a City bash too; the Cumberland Infirmary is a good place for shots of the buses coming in and going out.

Probably leave on the 1607 - I can't justify myself being at Carlisle for any longer, especially considering that I go there 5 days a week!!

Day ticket is £2.90; quite a bargain if you intend to milk it. Can also use it on Stagecoach Gold on Wigton Road where you can connect with a 61/61A.

(2 and a half hours on an Omnicity is absolutely daft if you ask me)


Sean

I wasn't going to go, but I shall see how my funds are after my weekend in Scotland. Just checked my work times and I don't start till 5pm. So chances are I might be able to get accross to the rally and leave by 3pm.

Thinking if I do to the Open Day Next Weekend, that i'm going to get an Explorer and get on the 08:24am Northern Rail Service to Carlisle, which would get me into Carlisle for 09:57am. Rather than getting the 08:45am 685 from Newcastle and arriving into Carlisle at 10:56am, Resulting in an Hour of the Day being wasted in my Opinion. Any Ideas on if I would have to Reserve a Seat or can I simply just get on the Train if I have a Valid Explorer Ticket.

(17 May 2014, 2:12 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Thinking if I do to the Open Day Next Weekend, that i'm going to get an Explorer and get on the 08:24am Northern Rail Service to Carlisle, which would get me into Carlisle for 09:57am. Rather than getting the 08:45am 685 from Newcastle and arriving into Carlisle at 10:56am, Resulting in an Hour of the Day being wasted in my Opinion. Any Ideas on if I would have to Reserve a Seat or can I simply just get on the Train if I have a Valid Explorer Ticket.

Explorers aren't valid on trains except for the Newcastle-Sunderland runs.

(17 May 2014, 2:16 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Explorers aren't valid on trains except for the Newcastle-Sunderland runs.

You can use them as far as Blaydon on the Newcastle - Carlisle line.

(17 May 2014, 2:16 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Explorers aren't valid on trains except for the Newcastle-Sunderland runs.

Well that's no good is it, how many people would actually use the Train between Newcastle and Sunderland though on a Daily Basis, Metro obviously being excluded from this Debate.

(17 May 2014, 2:21 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Well that's no good is it, how many people would actually use the Train between Newcastle and Sunderland though on a Daily Basis, Metro obviously being excluded from this Debate.

If I lived in Sunderland and needed to travel to Metrocentre on a daily basis, I'd always opt for the train as it only takes around 40 minutes compared to around 70 mins by bus.