Just checked my Megabus travel arrangements.

On Tues 8th July, I'm doing West Yorkshire.
Depart Newcastle at 0625 and Arrive in Leeds around 0920. Just in time for the day ticket to become valid.
Return departs Leeds at 22:05 and arriving into Newcastle at 00:40.
Total Cost £2.50

On Wednesday 16th July, I'm doing Manchester
Depart Newcastle at 0530 and arriving into Manchester at 09:15, again just in time for the day tickets to become valid.
Return departs Manchester at 21:00 and arriving into Newcastle at 00:40.
Total Cost £0.50

So my two day trips away cost £3.00 where as it would have cost me around £80 in petrol.


And on top of that, I've got my trip to the Peterborough Rally on Sunday by train.
Depart Newcastle 06:50 Arrive in Peterboroughski at around 09:00.

Return
Depart Peterboroughski at 20:18 and arrive in Newcastle around 22:30.

Total cost for this is £25.40 in standard class.

Also in the upcoming weeks in the car I'm off to the West Riding Running Day on the 13th July, Sandtoft Gathering on the 27th July, Glasgow on the 28th July (For Commonwealth games) and a weekend up in Scotland to attend the SVBM Open Weekend (Both days) followed by a day trip to Edinburgh on the Monday.

(01 Jul 2014, 9:39 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Sounds good to me.

Maybe something like this for you and aureolin?

0625 Newcastle to Leeds 0920 (Megabus)
#110 1000 Leeds to Wakefield 1031 (Arriva)
#184 1105 Wakefield to Castleford 1137 (Arriva)
#189 1202 Castleford to Leeds 1235 (Arriva)
Lunch/Break
#757 1357 Leeds to Bradford Airport 1433 (Yorkshire Tiger)
#747 1510 Bradford Airport to Bradford Interchange 1551 (Yorkshire Tiger)
#X6 1655 Bradford Interchange to Leeds 1740 (First)
National Express - 1800 Leeds to Newcastle 2115 - However, this is £17 for a single.

Or, you could get the train at 1845 (arr. 2020) for £21?

Bit too early being at Newcastle before half 6. Bit complicated too. I'd rather just book there and back and work out the rest in between.

I never really plan my trips with in the other areas as your never know what is going to turn up.

Only certain places I plan my trips if I want to get around places and see everything or get on a certain irregular service.

Also the 0625 Megabus stops at Sunderland at 0700.

Hadn't thought about it when booking the Tickets, but is it possible to get on the Megabus in Sunderland even though I have selected to get on it in Newcastle, Surely it doesn't make much difference does it.

(04 Jul 2014, 3:56 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Hadn't thought about it when booking the Tickets, but is it possible to get on the Megabus in Sunderland even though I have selected to get on it in Newcastle, Surely it doesn't make much difference does it.

I'd imagine that you could get off before Newcastle at Sunderland, but I doubt you'd be allowed to get on at a different stop... I've always wanted to try it but haven't wanted to risk being refused travel.

(04 Jul 2014, 4:03 pm)Dan wrote I'd imagine that you could get off before Newcastle at Sunderland, but I doubt you'd be allowed to get on at a different stop... I've always wanted to try it but haven't wanted to risk being refused travel.

Do what I would do, next time you see a MegaBus driver, just pop over and ask him

(04 Jul 2014, 4:03 pm)Dan wrote I'd imagine that you could get off before Newcastle at Sunderland, but I doubt you'd be allowed to get on at a different stop... I've always wanted to try it but haven't wanted to risk being refused travel.

I reckon it would be doable on the way back, as for going I don't think i'll risk it as i'll be down £10 otherwise for both Journeys, Guess i'll just have to stop at my Dads, and then get a Taxi from his into Newcastle on the Morning.

Edit: I could get the 4 at 05:30 from Washington Galleries to Heworth, then get the Metro from there. Or I could get the 58 at 05:30 from around the corner from where my Dad lives into Newcastle.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopi...roats.html

Does anyone think they would be able to beat this 16yr old from Suffolk.
Lands End to John O'Groats in 4 days using service buses (rather than coaches)!

He came through the North East - using the x93, x10 and x15 between Scarbrough and Berwick.

(05 Jul 2014, 11:55 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopi...roats.html

Does anyone think they would be able to beat this 16yr old from Suffolk.
Lands End to John O'Groats in 4 days using service buses (rather than coaches)!

He came through the North East - using the x93, x10 and x15 between Scarbrough and Berwick.

Could be someone else, but this appears to be his Wikipedia userpage;

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Adam_mugliston

I noticed his name as an editor then his hobbies down as bus and train times.

(05 Jul 2014, 11:55 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopi...roats.html

Does anyone think they would be able to beat this 16yr old from Suffolk.
Lands End to John O'Groats in 4 days using service buses (rather than coaches)!

He came through the North East - using the x93, x10 and x15 between Scarbrough and Berwick.

I would like to have a bloody good go one day, dunno if I could do it in 4 days, but I could do it considerably cheaper as well...Free through England and however much it costs to go through Scotland...

I tried something in 2009 for charity where I was to visit every Premier League ground in 1 week using public transport, all was going well when half way through day 2, I nearly got knocked out in Leeds Station when some idiot decided to run right through me, Both Northern and Arriva had given me and a friend complimentary tickets for use on all there services in Yorkshire and the North West, when I picked myself up I couldn't find the folder, so lost all my tickets and travel arrangements and was told someone casually strolled by picked up the folder and fucked off...Not very good thieves as my wallet stuffed with money, Camcorder and digital camera were still there...That absolutely devastated me

Todays outing:
1117 - 7 Newton Aycliffe - Ferryhill (1513)
1141 - 56 Ferryhill - Durham (2810)
1242 - 20A Durham - Sunderland (4991)
1517 - 61 Sunderland - Dalton Park (8326)
1614 - 24 Dalton Park - Peterlee (1470)
1644 - 21 Peterlee - Newton Aycliffe (2833)

Saturdays outing:
0947 - 7 Newton Aycliffe - Durham (1516)
1110 - X24 Durham - Metrocentre (7477)
1343 - 100 Metrocentre - Newcastle (22068)
1446 - 21 Newcastle - Durham (3875?)
1652 - 7 Durham - Newton Aycliffe (1521)

(07 Jul 2014, 7:21 pm)Jimmi wrote Todays outing:
1117 - 7 Newton Aycliffe - Ferryhill (1513)
1141 - 56 Ferryhill - Durham (2810)
1242 - 20A Durham - Sunderland (4991)
1517 - 61 Sunderland - Dalton Park (8326)
1614 - 24 Dalton Park - Peterlee (1470)
1644 - 21 Peterlee - Newton Aycliffe (2833)

Saturdays outing:
0947 - 7 Newton Aycliffe - Durham (1516)
1110 - X24 Durham - Metrocentre (7477)
1343 - 100 Metrocentre - Newcastle (22068)
1446 - 21 Newcastle - Durham (3875?)
1652 - 7 Durham - Newton Aycliffe (1521)

Yeah, 3875 was out on 21s on Saturday. Saw it on it's way to Newcastle around 14:00.

(07 Jul 2014, 7:45 pm)Marcus wrote Yeah, 3875 was out on 21s on Saturday. Saw it on it's way to Newcastle around 14:00.

That will have been the one I got then.

On Sunday I went to the bus rally in Peterborough.

Canny day down at the Peterborough Rally. Although only about 25 buses and coaches attending, it was suprisingly decent. Vehicles were kept busy on the shuttle which included a run of about 2 miles down the A1 Southbound. Also although tired when arriving in Peterborough in the morning, I was wide awake by the time I got to the rally site after travelling upstairs on the open top Lodekka from Stagecoach down Dual carriageways at 40mph.

Vehicles travelled on are as follows (Using some codes).
Codes:
PBS - Peterborough Bus Station
NVR - Wansford Nene Valley Railway Station &
RAL - Rally Site at Sacrewell Farm.

Routes were as follows.
301 - Peterborough Bus Station - Sacrewell Farm (Hourly)
302 - Sacrewell Farm - Wansford NVR - Wansford Village - Sacrewell Farm (Every 15 mins)
303 - Combination of 301/302 and ran at Start and end of Rally.

1 - 303 - PBS to RAL - Bristol Lowdekka / ECW - JAH552D - Stagecoach in Peterborough
2 - 302 - RAL to NVR - Leyland Olympian / ECW - D125FYM - Morley's
3 - 302 - NVR to RAL - Volvo Olympian / Alexander Royale - N125YRW - Diamond Coaches
4 - 302 - RAL to NVR - ADL Enviro 400 - YX63LKE - First Eastern Counties
5 - 302 - NVR to RAL - ADL Enviro 400 - YX63LKE - First Eastern Counties
6 - 302 - RAL to NVR - Leyland Titan PD3 / East Lancs - FTF702F - Dews Coaches
7 - 302 - NVR to RAL - AEC Routemaster / Park Royal - CUV213C - A1 Bus Company
8 - 302 - RAL to NVR - Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini - AD14DBL - Delaine Buses
9 - 302 - NVR to RAL - Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini - AD14DBL - Delaine Buses
10 - 302 - RAL to NVR - Bristol RE / ECW - NBD311F - United Counties
11 - 302 - NVR to RAL - Bristol RE / ECW - GCL349N - Eastern Counties (once ran for Catch a Bus in South Tyneside)
12 - 303 - RAL to PBS - Bristol Lowdekka / ECW - JAH552D - Stagecoach in Peterborough

My next 2 trips both involve West Yorkshire. Followed by a trip to Manchester the week after.
On Tuesday it be a day of catching the Megabus down and back, and using the Metro Day Rover to go around WY. Got no idea what I'm going to do, but tempted to get some more Breadvans in Halifax. But we see how the day progresses.
On Sunday I'm also off to the West Riding running day in Wakefield, should be some good haulage there, with vehicles such as the prototype Leyland Lynx (C920FMP) and rare (for the UK) Renault PR100 expected to attend.

Yesterday's outing to the Metrocentre with my friends:

15:45 GNE X1 Wrekenton - Gateshead Interchange (6051)
16:00ish GNE X66 Gateshead - Metrocentre (4944)
21:20 GNE X66 Metrocentre - Gateshead (4944 again)
21:39 GNE X1 Gateshead - Wrekenton (6002)

(07 Jul 2014, 10:22 pm)GMitchelhill wrote On Sunday I went to the bus rally in Peterborough.

Canny day down at the Peterborough Rally. Although only about 25 buses and coaches attending, it was suprisingly decent. Vehicles were kept busy on the shuttle which included a run of about 2 miles down the A1 Southbound. Also although tired when arriving in Peterborough in the morning, I was wide awake by the time I got to the rally site after travelling upstairs on the open top Lodekka from Stagecoach down Dual carriageways at 40mph.

Vehicles travelled on are as follows (Using some codes).
Codes:
PBS - Peterborough Bus Station
NVR - Wansford Nene Valley Railway Station &
RAL - Rally Site at Sacrewell Farm.

Routes were as follows.
301 - Peterborough Bus Station - Sacrewell Farm (Hourly)
302 - Sacrewell Farm - Wansford NVR - Wansford Village - Sacrewell Farm (Every 15 mins)
303 - Combination of 301/302 and ran at Start and end of Rally.

1 - 303 - PBS to RAL - Bristol Lowdekka / ECW - JAH552D - Stagecoach in Peterborough
2 - 302 - RAL to NVR - Leyland Olympian / ECW - D125FYM - Morley's
3 - 302 - NVR to RAL - Volvo Olympian / Alexander Royale - N125YRW - Diamond Coaches
4 - 302 - RAL to NVR - ADL Enviro 400 - YX63LKE - First Eastern Counties
5 - 302 - NVR to RAL - ADL Enviro 400 - YX63LKE - First Eastern Counties
6 - 302 - RAL to NVR - Leyland Titan PD3 / East Lancs - FTF702F - Dews Coaches
7 - 302 - NVR to RAL - AEC Routemaster / Park Royal - CUV213C - A1 Bus Company
8 - 302 - RAL to NVR - Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini - AD14DBL - Delaine Buses
9 - 302 - NVR to RAL - Volvo B9TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini - AD14DBL - Delaine Buses
10 - 302 - RAL to NVR - Bristol RE / ECW - NBD311F - United Counties
11 - 302 - NVR to RAL - Bristol RE / ECW - GCL349N - Eastern Counties (once ran for Catch a Bus in South Tyneside)
12 - 303 - RAL to PBS - Bristol Lowdekka / ECW - JAH552D - Stagecoach in Peterborough

My next 2 trips both involve West Yorkshire. Followed by a trip to Manchester the week after.
On Tuesday it be a day of catching the Megabus down and back, and using the Metro Day Rover to go around WY. Got no idea what I'm going to do, but tempted to get some more Breadvans in Halifax. But we see how the day progresses.
On Sunday I'm also off to the West Riding running day in Wakefield, should be some good haulage there, with vehicles such as the prototype Leyland Lynx (C920FMP) and rare (for the UK) Renault PR100 expected to attend.

Wish I could go just to Wakefield just to see the Lynx in attendance. What a beast they were back in the day. Did any of the ones up here get preserved? Shame if not...

(08 Jul 2014, 9:21 pm)aureolin wrote Wish I could go just to Wakefield just to see the Lynx in attendance. What a beast they were back in the day. Did any of the ones up here get preserved? Shame if not...

There were some of the ex GNE ones in service around the Peak District a few years back.
No idea if they still are.

Mentioned the operator/vehicles in the bus preservation thread Malarkey started off.

Well Tuesday for me was spent travelling around Yorkshire.

Vehicle log as follows.....

M12 - Newcastle to Leeds BS - Stagecoach De Cymru - 50241 - Van Hool TD927 Astromega
757 - Leeds BS to Leeds Bradford Airport - Yorkshire Tiger - 792 - Optare Versa
737 - Leeds Bradford Airport to Bradford - Yorkshire Tiger - 785 - Scania N94UB Omnicity
Got stuck in a long traffic jam on this one
622 - Bradford Interchange to Bingley - First Bradford - 37055 - Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini
760 - Bingley to Keighley BS - Transdev Keighley & District - 2704 - Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President
500 - Keighley BS to Hebden Bridge - Transdev Keighley & District - 1049 - Volvo B10BLE / Wright Renown
590 - Hebden Bridge to Halifax BS - First Halifax - 69585 - Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse 2
Weather decided to change for the worse and absolutely hoyed it down for the duration of the journey
503 - Halifax TC to Huddersfield BS - First Halifax - 37052 - Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini
314 - Huddersfield BS to Holmfirth BS - First Huddersfield - 30951 - Volvo B7TL / Alexander ALX400
435 - Holmfirth BS to Wakefield BS - Yorkshire Tiger - 627 - VDL SB200 / Plaxton Centro (once ran with Arriva Northumbria)
425 - Wakefield BS to Bradford Interchange - Arriva Yorkshire - 703 - DAF DB250 / Optare Spectra
Train - Bradford Interchange to Leeds
166 - Leeds Station to Leeds BS - Arriva Yorkshire - 1706 - Volvo B5LH / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2
M35 - Leeds BS to Newcastle - Stagecoach De Cymru - 50234 - Van Hool TD927 Astromega

(10 Jul 2014, 12:04 am)GMitchelhill wrote Well Tuesday for me was spent travelling around Yorkshire.

Vehicle log as follows.....

M12 - Newcastle to Leeds BS - Stagecoach De Cymru - 50241 - Van Hool TD927 Astromega
757 - Leeds BS to Leeds Bradford Airport - Yorkshire Tiger - 792 - Optare Versa
737 - Leeds Bradford Airport to Bradford - Yorkshire Tiger - 785 - Scania N94UB Omnicity
Got stuck in a long traffic jam on this one
622 - Bradford Interchange to Bingley - First Bradford - 37055 - Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini
760 - Bingley to Keighley BS - Transdev Keighley & District - 2704 - Volvo B7TL / Plaxton President
500 - Keighley BS to Hebden Bridge - Transdev Keighley & District - 1049 - Volvo B10BLE / Wright Renown
590 - Hebden Bridge to Halifax BS - First Halifax - 69585 - Volvo B7RLE / Wright Eclipse 2
Weather decided to change for the worse and absolutely hoyed it down for the duration of the journey
503 - Halifax TC to Huddersfield BS - First Halifax - 37052 - Volvo B7TL / Wright Eclipse Gemini
314 - Huddersfield BS to Holmfirth BS - First Huddersfield - 30951 - Volvo B7TL / Alexander ALX400
435 - Holmfirth BS to Wakefield BS - Yorkshire Tiger - 627 - VDL SB200 / Plaxton Centro (once ran with Arriva Northumbria)
425 - Wakefield BS to Bradford Interchange - Arriva Yorkshire - 703 - DAF DB250 / Optare Spectra
Train - Bradford Interchange to Leeds
166 - Leeds Station to Leeds BS - Arriva Yorkshire - 1706 - Volvo B5LH / Wright Eclipse Gemini 2
M35 - Leeds BS to Newcastle - Stagecoach De Cymru - 50234 - Van Hool TD927 Astromega

I did the same Yesterday, here is my trip went

06:25 Megabus - Newcastle to Leeds Bus Station - Van Hool Astromega - 50234

10:15 - WYMetro - Leeds Train Station to Bradford Forster Square

10:50 - WYMetro City Shuttle Bus - Forster Square to Bradford Interchange - Plaxton Primo R444 LOT

12:20 - Northern Rail Service - Bradford Interchange to Leeds Train Station

12:50 - Northern Rail Service - Leeds Train Station to Wakefield Westgate Station

13:20 - WYMETRO Shuttle Bus - Wakefield Westgate Station to Wakefield Bus Station - Optare Solo ST2

14:20 - WYMETRO Shuttle Bus - Wakefield Bus Station to Wakefield Train Station

14:45 - Northern Rail Service - Wakefield Westgate Station to Leeds Train Station

Timed Perfectly to get a Photo of 9133 YJ62 FFB

15:15 - PR1 Leeds City Centre to Elland Road Park and Ride - First B9TL 36276

15:45 - PR1 Elland Road Park and Ride to Leeds City Centre - First B9TL 36278

PR1 on both carried myself and driver and nothing but fresh air, in my opinion the Service should of started when new season starts in a few weeks, this despite being the 3RD week of Operation, and Secondly to Boost Passenger Usage and Improve Connections should Extended to Leeds Bus Ststion.

19:30 - Megabus - Leeds Bus Station to Newcastle - Van Hool Astromega 50234 (Got off in Sunderland) - Was 15 Minutes late due to Traffic, Departed 40 Minutes late as some C*** got off at Wooley Edge for a Burger King to eat en-route to Newcastle and left his Luggage on Board.

22:10 - 56 - 6094 - Park Lane to Concord

22:40 - M2 - Unid Arriva Solo - Concord to Lambton

A trip to the bank turned into an adventure. It went as follows:

10:28 X25 Eighton Banks - Newcastle Blackett Street (4927)
11:10 X85 Newcastle Eldon Square - Corbridge (5229 (if that is the red spare?))
12:04 687 Corbridge - Hexham (558)
12:48 X85 Hexham - Newcastle Eldon Square (5232)
13:55 X25 Newcastle Eldon Square - Eighton Banks (4930)

(11 Jul 2014, 1:54 pm)Adam wrote A trip to the bank turned into an adventure. It went as follows:

10:28 X25 Eighton Banks - Newcastle Blackett Street (4927)
11:10 X85 Newcastle Eldon Square - Corbridge (5229 (if that is the red spare?))
12:04 687 Corbridge - Hexham (558)
12:48 X85 Hexham - Newcastle Eldon Square (5232)
13:55 X25 Newcastle Eldon Square - Eighton Banks (4930)

Yeah 5229 is the red spare at Hexham

Was the X85 quite busy both ways?

(11 Jul 2014, 3:03 pm)aureolin wrote Yeah 5229 is the red spare at Hexham

Was the X85 quite busy both ways?

On 5229 there was about 20 people on from Eldon Square (I never did a headcount so can't give an exact figure). The bus picked up a couple of people and dropped off a couple en route.

On 5232, there was about 10 from Hexham (again, I never did a headcount) but picked up more people through Corbridge and Horsley, taking the figure up to around 15 to Newcastle.

Off to Cockermouth, Workington, Maryport and Whitehaven tomorrow, should be a reasonable trip out on a £10.50 NW Explorer.

If anyone wishes to join me, I'll be at Carlisle Bus Station for 9am ish...

Sadly as I need to do some shopping today (meh!) I will only have until after week come back to get some photos, unless I pop up to Ashington afterwards

Good trip today...

4653 685 Greenhead to Carlisle
1568x (vice Gold) 300 Carlisle to Workington
22609 30 Workington to Whitehaven
15922 300 Whitehaven to Carlisle, including a mystery tour after the Maryport Carnival blocked the road so the bus had to reverse and go another way to Aspatria and then onwards.
1497 685 Carlisle to Greenhead.

Haven't been doing this lately, but may as well do it today given that it's quiet and I will end up having waiting time in between connections...

1357 #9 Monkwearmouth to North Shields - GNE 5247
1448 #1 North Shields to Tynemouth - GNE 6116
1537 #306 Tynemouth to Newcastle - ANE 1419
1640ish #47 Newcastle to Metrocentre - GNE 4978
1720ish #X66 Metrocentre to Gateshead - GNE 5341
1735ish Metro Gateshead to Gateshead Stadium - 4007
1755ish Metro Gateshead Stadium to Stadium of Light - 40

(13 Jul 2014, 1:04 pm)Dan wrote Haven't been doing this lately, but may as well do it today given that it's quiet and I will end up having waiting time in between connections...

1357 #9 Monkwearmouth to North Shields - GNE 5247
1448 #1 North Shields to Tynemouth - GNE 6099

Do you not mean 6116/7, as 6099 is a Deptford Vehicle

(13 Jul 2014, 2:37 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Do you not mean 6116/7, as 6099 is a Deptford Vehicle

God knows why I put 6099.
Yes, 6116.