(02 May 2014, 9:38 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote I'm confused how would Services 7 and X21 etc coming from Darlington and Bishop Auckland enter the Main Bus Station, would they have go up Sutton Street and around and down to Enter, as there is no Left Turn into the Bus Station if they were to continue down the Road as they do now towards the Roundabout which will obviously be Removed.

Depends on traffic light set up.....

2 way lights
use Sutton Street then back under viaduct through the new junction and into bus station as you suggest...

3 way lights
carry on to junction as normal and then simply turn right as no oncoming traffic....

Mostly effects buses coming in via Nevilles Cross
Arriva 7,43,46,48,49 services & GNE pronto x21.
Looks like lights on exit junction leaving bus station.
All Very interesting!

Durham bus station plan 'only a first draft'

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11...raft__39_/

No hasty solutions
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive...solutions/

Bus station plea
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive...tion_Plea/

(09 May 2014, 1:44 pm)Jimmi wrote No hasty solutions
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive...solutions/

Bus station plea
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/archive...tion_Plea/

"In actual fact since the refurbishment a few years ago the existing station has been clean, comfortable, well-equipped with information, and the presence of staff has kept it peaceful and orderly."

1) Displays regularly display "refer to timetable", and do not show services in order of departure time.
2) The bus station is covered in buckets every time we have heavy rain.
3) The entrance is practically a smoking shelter, and stinks.
4) The rear entrance is also a smoking area, and stinks.
5) I'd hardly call metal benches comfortable.
6) What presence of staff? Surely they'd be enforcing the breaches of the smoking ban in the entrance way if there was a presence.

(09 May 2014, 8:17 pm)aureolin wrote "In actual fact since the refurbishment a few years ago the existing station has been clean, comfortable, well-equipped with information, and the presence of staff has kept it peaceful and orderly."

1) Displays regularly display "refer to timetable", and do not show services in order of departure time.
2) The bus station is covered in buckets every time we have heavy rain.
3) The entrance is practically a smoking shelter, and stinks.
4) The rear entrance is also a smoking area, and stinks.
5) I'd hardly call metal benches comfortable.
6) What presence of staff? Surely they'd be enforcing the breaches of the smoking ban in the entrance way if there was a presence.

There was no buckets the other day when it was raining, which lead to wet floors and there was no wet floors either.

Each door leads to a smoking area.

Staff are present... for 5 seconds then they disappear into that cubby hole next to stand A.

I have heard a few stories about things going on in Durham bus station.

(09 May 2014, 8:44 pm)Jimmi wrote There was no buckets the other day when it was raining, which lead to wet floors and there was no wet floors either.

Each door leads to a smoking area.

Staff are present... for 5 seconds then they disappear into that cubby hole next to stand A.

I have heard a few stories about things going on in Durham bus station.

They must have repaired the roof then. Was a problem for years, but I've not really had to use the bus station as of late, since the bus I now use services Millburngate bridge.

Yes. Staff tend to hide in that cupboard, and ignore the smoking problem. The main entrance is covered by the smoking ban, as confirmed by the council. They just appear reluctant to do anything about it. Why would they, when drivers are easier targets.

I've heard stories, but also witnessed a few. I used to work shifts so I'd be in the bus station any times between 8pm-10pm on a night. Worst one I've seen is a bloke clearly off his face on drugs, walking round covered in blood, pestering people for money.

(09 May 2014, 8:49 pm)aureolin wrote They must have repaired the roof then. Was a problem for years, but I've not really had to use the bus station as of late, since the bus I now use services Millburngate bridge.

Yes. Staff tend to hide in that cupboard, and ignore the smoking problem. The main entrance is covered by the smoking ban, as confirmed by the council. They just appear reluctant to do anything about it. Why would they, when drivers are easier targets.

I've heard stories, but also witnessed a few. I used to work shifts so I'd be in the bus station any times between 8pm-10pm on a night. Worst one I've seen is a bloke clearly off his face on drugs, walking round covered in blood, pestering people for money.

Last time I was in Durham when it was raining, there was a puddle. Wasn't bad but still unacceptable if you ask me.
Mind, that must have been late last year...

(09 May 2014, 8:49 pm)aureolin wrote They must have repaired the roof then. Was a problem for years, but I've not really had to use the bus station as of late, since the bus I now use services Millburngate bridge.

Yes. Staff tend to hide in that cupboard, and ignore the smoking problem. The main entrance is covered by the smoking ban, as confirmed by the council. They just appear reluctant to do anything about it. Why would they, when drivers are easier targets.

I've heard stories, but also witnessed a few. I used to work shifts so I'd be in the bus station any times between 8pm-10pm on a night. Worst one I've seen is a bloke clearly off his face on drugs, walking round covered in blood, pestering people for money.

Not quite fixed, leaking the other day but no buckets.

Yes I love getting smoke blown in my face when waiting for a bus on stand A.

Sadly since the No. 7 now terminates at the Bus Station I unfortunately have no choice.

Well then... This just tops whatever we've discussed in the past...
https://flic.kr/p/oBt18P

On a related note, the 24 used the wrong stand today - but there was absolutely no reason for it at all. I'm not sure whether the driver made an innocent mistake or what, but I couldn't believe it when he used the 20 stand instead of two stands up...

(03 Aug 2014, 8:54 pm)Dan wrote Well then... This just tops whatever we've discussed in the past...
https://flic.kr/p/oBt18P

On a related note, the 24 used the wrong stand today - but there was absolutely no reason for it at all. I'm not sure whether the driver made an innocent mistake or what, but I couldn't believe it when he used the 20 stand instead of two stands up...

Seeing as it's impossible to reverse into the bus station, I'm assuming the driver has driven the wrong way. Very dangerous considering no other drivers would be expecting a bus driving towards them when they enter the bus station...

(03 Aug 2014, 9:04 pm)aureolin wrote Seeing as it's impossible to reverse into the bus station, I'm assuming the driver has driven the wrong way. Very dangerous considering no other drivers would be expecting a bus driving towards them when they enter the bus station...

Unless he was in a stand and reversed out (but he would still be causing a hazard departing).

Slightly off topic, but someone sent me an email of an x7 seemingly doing a u-turn on Stockton High St.

Not sure if I saved the pic - will try and find it when next on laptop.

(03 Aug 2014, 9:09 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Slightly off topic, but someone sent me an email of an x7 seemingly doing a u-turn on Stockton High St.

Not sure if I saved the pic - will try and find it when next on laptop.

Yes it was our commercial manager who took the pic. Surprised to see how far it's got!

(03 Aug 2014, 9:10 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yes it was our commercial manager who took the pic. Surprised to see how far it's got!

Appreciate Stockton High St is reputedly the widest in England - but not wide enough for a Citaro to clear it in one go!

I was part of a few people to get it on that specific email, but didn't forward it on.
No idea if the others did or not.

(03 Aug 2014, 9:04 pm)Tom wrote Unless he was in a stand and reversed out (but he would still be causing a hazard departing).

How would they have managed to reverse out of a stand and end up facing that direction though? They'd have still had to drive the wrong way in the bus station. They'd have also had the problem of how they plan to get the bus from that position to either out of the bus station or into a stand. Trying to exit onto the roundabout via the entrance would be reckless.

(03 Aug 2014, 9:14 pm)aureolin wrote How would they have managed to reverse out of a stand and end up facing that direction though? They'd have still had to drive the wrong way in the bus station. They'd have also had the problem of how they plan to get the bus from that position to either out of the bus station or into a stand. Trying to exit onto the roundabout via the entrance would be reckless.

Yes I suppose - absolutely ludicrous!

(03 Aug 2014, 9:09 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Slightly off topic, but someone sent me an email of an x7 seemingly doing a u-turn on Stockton High St.

Not sure if I saved the pic - will try and find it when next on laptop.

Buses were going all sorts of strange ways and mauvers yesterday, I saw a Stagecoach bus try to turn round on the south end of the high street yesterday just outside where Poundworld and Officers Club is seemingly doing a three point turn in the high street.

(03 Aug 2014, 9:18 pm)Jimmi wrote Buses were going all sorts of strange ways and mauvers yesterday, I saw a Stagecoach bus try to turn round on the south end of the high street yesterday just outside where Poundworld and Officers Club is seemingly doing a three point turn in the high street.

That was because of Stockton Council and their decision to close the central section of the High Street for 3 days while the Riverside Festival took place (of which, there was next-to-nothing taking place on the High Street this year), leaving everything to pot.

(03 Aug 2014, 9:26 pm)Kuyoyo wrote That was because of Stockton Council and their decision to close the central section of the High Street for 3 days while the Riverside Festival took place (of which, there was next-to-nothing taking place on the High Street this year), leaving everything to pot.

Yeah I was there yesterday and there was practically nothing on the high street, did not see the point in closing the high street and cause disruption to services and putting services on a temporary stands which people who aren't from Stockton will not where they are, the X66 drivers didn't seem to have a clue where they going the one I got off dropped us off at the stop where the coaches leave from.

(03 Aug 2014, 9:34 pm)Jimmi wrote Yeah I was there yesterday and there was practically nothing on the high street, did not see the point in closing the high street and cause disruption to services and putting services on a temporary stands which people who aren't from Stockton will not where they are, the X66 drivers didn't seem to have a clue where they going the one I got off dropped us off at the stop where the coaches leave from.

X66 should have been a bit further down from the Express Stop (the temporary stop they used Darlington bound from the start of the High Street work until the south end turning loop was taken out of use).

To put it bluntly, it was a farce - Stagecoach actually revised the way their through services were operating late on Friday afternoon because they were ending up running together on half hourly routes. So, by Saturday morning, only the 59/61 was using the bottom end of the High Street with the 52/58s running down there only for operational reasons (driver changes and layovers when the only accessible laybys at the northern end were full).

(03 Aug 2014, 9:40 pm)Kuyoyo wrote X66 should have been a bit further down from the Express Stop (the temporary stop they used Darlington bound from the start of the High Street work until the south end turning loop was taken out of use).

To put it bluntly, it was a farce - Stagecoach actually revised the way their through services were operating late on Friday afternoon because they were ending up running together on half hourly routes. So, by Saturday morning, only the 59/61 was using the bottom end of the High Street with the 52/58s running down there only for operational reasons (driver changes and layovers when the only accessible laybys at the northern end were full).

Yeah that's the stand the X66 used, it ended up running late with 1616 and an Omnicity running together and mine was almost 20 minutes late and completely full with standees.

(03 Aug 2014, 9:53 pm)Jimmi wrote Yeah that's the stand the X66 used, it ended up running late with 1616 and an Omnicity running together and mine was almost 20 minutes late and completely full with standees.

Yeah, they'll got caught up in the Parade. I did spot them coming into Middlesbrough together at 1225 - 1616 straight to stand to load the OmniCity (4647 I think) pull round after it had left and left empty as the 1230.

(03 Aug 2014, 9:16 pm)Tom wrote Yes I suppose - absolutely ludicrous!

The Pulsar in question lost all of its gears on North Road roundabout and the safest thing to do was to roll it back into the bus station, hence why it was facing the wrong way.

The time in Durham Bus Station is 24:19:00

Also the smokers are stood right next to the door next to stand A so the smoke is blowing through.

(03 Aug 2014, 10:08 pm)palatine3833 wrote The Pulsar in question lost all of its gears on North Road roundabout and the safest thing to do was to roll it back into the bus station, hence why it was facing the wrong way.

How would they tow it back out if it couldn't be repaired away from base though? Don't the Pulsars have to be towed from the rear? It's a bit tight to get it back out the exit to the bus station...

Any developments on Durham Bus Station as of yet? Plans/BluePrints/Newspapers? Or even any inside knowledge?

(26 Aug 2014, 8:20 pm)JoshP wrote Any developments on Durham Bus Station as of yet? Plans/BluePrints/Newspapers? Or even any inside knowledge?

I haven't seen or heard anything but im not from the area so might of missed something.

The issue of buses pulling onto the wrong stands continues as this afternoon service 48 had to pull onto stand B and the driver had to get out of the bus and to shout "anyone for New Brancepeth"

(30 Sep 2014, 9:57 pm)Jimmi wrote The issue of buses pulling onto the wrong stands continues as this afternoon service 48 had to pull onto stand B and the driver had to get out of the bus and to shout "anyone for New Brancepeth"

It was utter chaos yesterday too. 43 was in stand B with layover time, so the 21 was late by the time it got in stand.

X2 was also late and started beeping at the national express coach in stand A. Then as soon as the coach went to reverse out, the X2 pulled in behind the coach, and started letting passengers on/off. Coach couldn't get out and nothing coming in the bus station could get past the X2.

(04 Aug 2014, 4:35 pm)aureolin wrote How would they tow it back out if it couldn't be repaired away from base though? Don't the Pulsars have to be towed from the rear? It's a bit tight to get it back out the exit to the bus station...

Well as it was rolled back into the bus station, it would've been towed out in the normal direction as the front of the bus was facing the roundabout and the rear was facing the normal exit.