(08 Aug 2013, 5:51 pm)gtomlinson wrote Anyone know whats running the Ashes 500/501 and 502?

500 is from Durham Rail station to the Emirates
501 is from Lambton Park and Ride to the Emirates
502 is from Chester Le Street to the Emirates

In the past it was always a mixture of Yellow Deckers and Tridents/Presidents - to the Park n Ride at Lambton Estate anyway.
Guessing it will be the few Yellow Deckers which are left and the Northern Tridents/Presidents that work it over the weekend.

The Floaters Mill at Bournmoor is always a good spot for a pint (or several) in the beer garden, with plenty of the buses passing to and fro.

If I remember right, a few single deckers were chucked into the mix for the railway station jobs. Suppose they can easily swap if demand is higher at one place than the other.

Obviously the 78 can't be a decker, but hopefully the 71 will be worked by something bigger than the OK MPD

(08 Aug 2013, 5:51 pm)gtomlinson wrote Anyone know whats running the Ashes 500/501 and 502?

500 is from Durham Rail station to the Emirates
501 is from Lambton Park and Ride to the Emirates
502 is from Chester Le Street to the Emirates

I'm going to get photos of 'em on Saturday, and I'll make a note on here of all the workings I see.

(08 Aug 2013, 4:39 pm)CatsFast101 wrote With all due respect, is this conversation best suited to the bygone era?

haha, you killed that conversation dead in one fell swoop :p

(08 Aug 2013, 6:51 pm)Andreos1 wrote

(08 Aug 2013, 4:39 pm)CatsFast101 wrote With all due respect, is this conversation best suited to the bygone era?

haha, you killed that conversation dead in one fell swoop :p

Whoops, sorry it was just I know some people like things contains to specific threads like service suggestions etc. etc.

(08 Aug 2013, 6:38 pm)Andreos1 wrote

(08 Aug 2013, 5:51 pm)gtomlinson wrote Anyone know whats running the Ashes 500/501 and 502?

500 is from Durham Rail station to the Emirates
501 is from Lambton Park and Ride to the Emirates
502 is from Chester Le Street to the Emirates

In the past it was always a mixture of Yellow Deckers and Tridents/Presidents - to the Park n Ride at Lambton Estate anyway.
Guessing it will be the few Yellow Deckers which are left and the Northern Tridents/Presidents that work it over the weekend.

The Floaters Mill at Bournmoor is always a good spot for a pint (or several) in the beer garden, with plenty of the buses passing to and fro.

If I remember right, a few single deckers were chucked into the mix for the railway station jobs. Suppose they can easily swap if demand is higher at one place than the other.

Obviously the 78 can't be a decker, but hopefully the 71 will be worked by something bigger than the OK MPD

Can the Durham Railway Station bus be double decker isn't there a bridge at the train station. I can't remember if the bus would need to go under the bridge? Come to think of it I think the bus stop is before the bridge isn't? I'm from Durham and the train station layout has escaped my mind anyways. I would imagine the 71 may just get SPD's or Renowns, not sure they'd put Deckers on it but I would think (and hope) they'd avoid MPD's! Will the Durham Railway bus pick up at the bus station? it hasn't been said that it will but I cant help but think they are missing a trick with the possibilities of connecting onto a whole variety of arriva and other GNE buses that terminate at Durham.

Yeah, the bus stops and turning circle is on the side before the bridge (south).
Wonder how many potential passengers are lured into waiting taxis in the station foyer?

The 71 is quite often a decker. 2-3 times a week.

8263 on the X40
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9468182882/

FAB56 4943 Encountered a few problems today

A.) Was severely late resulting in it skipping out Gateshead and going via Central Motorway before rejoining it's normal route at the bottom of Sheriffs Hill.

B.) Broke down at Q.E. Hospital, with either a Water or Fuel Leakage in which it sat at the Q.E. for a good 10 Minutes before the driver continued on "Not In Service", I assume the Driver attempted to back on time or go to back to the Depot.

Photo 1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9465403005/
Photo 2: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9465403811/
Video: http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9465402015/

The 502 will be operated by ok way 571, due to it being ideal size for chester train station, 500 will be dd operated from the train station non stop to the riverside and probably be about 6 buses layover is taken outside the old county hospital, prior to the rush & the 501 will also be dd worked and about 8 buses.

6038 has been 571s replacement on the 18s today.

Have GNE posted anything about the Jolly Drovers roundabout at Leadgate being closed?

Will affect the Sunderland and Dipton/Burnopfield services and there will be quite a hefty diversion
https://www.twitter.com/DurhamRPU/media/grid?idx=4


edit: Heres another one. Will affect Arriva too https://www.twitter.com/DurhamRPU/media/grid?idx=3

(08 Aug 2013, 10:05 pm)Andreos1 wrote Have GNE posted anything about the Jolly Drovers roundabout at Leadgate being closed?

Will affect the Sunderland and Dipton/Burnopfield services and there will be quite a hefty diversion
https://www.twitter.com/DurhamRPU/media/grid?idx=4


edit: Heres another one. Will affect Arriva too https://www.twitter.com/DurhamRPU/media/grid?idx=3

Yes its on the gne website, no info about the A167 at chester moor yet though.

'Highwayman' Scania 4967 is currently on the X9, due to leave Middlesbrough at 0900.

Timetables for the changes for 1st September is starting to be uploaded.

Plenty of the Barmy Army getting off the 8.23 into Durham this morning, but no sign of the buses.
The entrance to the old hospital was coned off, presumably ready for the shuttle buses when they turn up.

4949 also on the X9, 1100 from Middlesbrough.

Update from Durham Cricket ground at 10.55.
Lots of Yellow Buses on the 500 and 501 and I noticed one Northern Trident but did not wait long enough to see the full allocation for today. Loadings on the 500 and 501 are very good. The 500 and 501 are both coming in from direction of Lumley Castle and as they are coming in rather fast the roundabout into the cricket ground is not good for photos due to speed of the buses. I would suggest going to the bus stopping point near the coach park for photos.
The 502 has been allocated MPD No 571 (as advised by NK55). Lots of people got off the 08.55 train but no one boarded the 502 bus so the 09.00 run did not take place. The 09.30 ran with about 5 OAP customers and the 10.00 was about half full.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98641142@N08/9469233517/
Normal services on the 71 and 78 are running to time but traffic is now backing up on Ropery Lane so expect delays on the afternoon runs.
If you know of any coach drivers coming to the Cricket Ground please let them know that the VOSA Enforcement van is on site.

Looks smart, Wonder if this a spare to X84/X85?, Wonder if the other's will branded or Go Northen?

No timetable online yet for the X84/X85 but rest of the changes are... Wonder how often these will run?


X39 seems to be under Cobolt Clipper brand.

Yeah, I said 5229 would go ''Northern'' - I guess 5230-33 will go Yellow.

(09 Aug 2013, 2:31 pm)W179SCU wrote Yeah, I said 5229 would go ''Northern'' - I guess 5230-33 will go Yellow.

I hope not, i hope both services are Northen, horrible seen a yellow scania.. tbh i don't think these services will last to long.

If branded i'm thinking they would be de-branded when next set of changes kick in, if needed, probleys 6 months after they start due to low number's, i hope i'm proved wrong.

506 is on X3/X36 cycles today. At Park Lane now on the short X3

(09 Aug 2013, 2:33 pm)Michael wrote

(09 Aug 2013, 2:31 pm)W179SCU wrote Yeah, I said 5229 would go ''Northern'' - I guess 5230-33 will go Yellow.

I hope not, i hope both services are Northen, horrible seen a yellow scania.. tbh i don't think these services will last to long.

If branded i'm thinking they would be de-branded when next set of changes kick in, if needed, probleys 6 months after they start due to low number's, i hope i'm proved wrong.

I have a feeling that these services won't do too well, but I hope they do! If they advertise the services well, then they could be successful!

Also, blue omnicity on 17. Should leave Wallsend for Benton ASDA at 16:12, and Wallsend for Whitley Bay at 16:54.

Hexham is gonna have 5 services from Septemeber.

10 - 30 mins
684 -hourly
74 - 2 hours
X84/X85 - Can see them being hourly

Do they really need that many?

(09 Aug 2013, 3:04 pm)Michael wrote Hexham is gonna have 5 services from Septemeber.

10 - 30 mins
684 -hourly
74 - 2 hours
X84/X85 - Can see them being hourly

Do they really need that many?

The 684 will be withdrawn as far as I know?

(09 Aug 2013, 3:05 pm)W179SCU wrote

(09 Aug 2013, 3:04 pm)Michael wrote Hexham is gonna have 5 services from Septemeber.

10 - 30 mins
684 -hourly
74 - 2 hours
X84/X85 - Can see them being hourly

Do they really need that many?

The 684 will be withdrawn as far as I know?

Not sure i can't remember the VOSA changes list no information on the service changes for it to be withdrawn.

These start on the 8th September.

(09 Aug 2013, 2:33 pm)Michael wrote

(09 Aug 2013, 2:31 pm)W179SCU wrote Yeah, I said 5229 would go ''Northern'' - I guess 5230-33 will go Yellow.

I hope not, i hope both services are Northen, horrible seen a yellow scania.. tbh i don't think these services will last to long.

If branded i'm thinking they would be de-branded when next set of changes kick in, if needed, probleys 6 months after they start due to low number's, i hope i'm proved wrong.

I hope they all go Northern, but I hope one stays in OK Livery because of the Centenary last year, but I'm doubtful about that, I do see GNE going for a 18 month trial of the X84/X85 much like they did with OK1 again so they can then evaluate the performance of the service better with regards to passenger numbers and if the service is making money or not.

I do think it will last as every time I've been in Newcastle lately, the 74/684 have been full heading towards Hexham, plus GNE may nab some passengers that only go from Newcastle to Hexham, I can't see too many doing the full route to Carlisle on the 685.

Looking at Angel the first bus to Newcastle out of Durham is now 06.10 instead of 05.40 which means there isn't an Angel that arrives in Newcastle before 7am from Durham

Sunday the 23.40 ex Durham to CLS short is dropped so the last one is 23.10 (22.10 to NCL)

I think people will use the X84/X85. If the reliability of the service can be good, unlike the reliability of the 685, it might gain some regular customers.

But people do use the 685 for journeys beyond Hexham, but it is a lot more busier on the Hexham-Newcastle section of the route!

(09 Aug 2013, 3:20 pm)W179SCU wrote I think people will use the X84/X85. If the reliability of the service can be good, unlike the reliability of the 685, it might gain some regular customers.

But people do use the 685 for journeys beyond Hexham, but it is a lot more busier on the Hexham-Newcastle section of the route!

I lived in Brampton through work for 6 months and it was always busy from Brampton up to Carlisle (as Brampton train station, the quicker option is in the middle of nowhere) but I think that some of the 685's may work short between Brampton and Carlisle?

(09 Aug 2013, 3:24 pm)gtomlinson wrote

(09 Aug 2013, 3:20 pm)W179SCU wrote I think people will use the X84/X85. If the reliability of the service can be good, unlike the reliability of the 685, it might gain some regular customers.

But people do use the 685 for journeys beyond Hexham, but it is a lot more busier on the Hexham-Newcastle section of the route!

I lived in Brampton through work for 6 months and it was always busy from Brampton up to Carlisle (as Brampton train station, the quicker option is in the middle of nowhere) but I think that some of the 685's may work short between Brampton and Carlisle?

Yeah, there are short 685's between Brampton and Carlisle provided by Stagecoach in Cumbria.

The thing is with the 74 and 684 is that they serve a fair few communities on their way to Hexham. If the loadings are indeed full when departing Newcastle, then I'd imagine its because people are travelling to Wylam, Ovingham, Stamfordham or Matfen rather than Hexham. I may be wrong though.

According to GNE's website there are going to be four buses an hour operating between Newcastle, Corbridge and Hexahm. That would seem to suggest that the X84/5 are operating at a combined half-hour frequency.

628 is on 39s. Got to Grangetown about 10 mins ago bound for Doxford Park.

If any of the OK Expressway branded vehicles were to stay in that livery, it would have been 5229. That vehicle was the spare one which was branded as the centenary vehicle for OK Motor Services. As we all know, now Northern.

From my small amount of experience on the 74 etc, people use the 10 rather than the 74 if they are wanting to do the full NCL to HEX stretch. Who wouldn't (other than elderly people perhaps)? Plug sockets, WiFi... It provides most customers with what they'd want travelling for that amount of time.

(09 Aug 2013, 4:23 pm)Daniel wrote 628 is on 39s. Got to Grangetown about 10 mins ago bound for Doxford Park.

If any of the OK Expressway branded vehicles were to stay in that livery, it would have been 5229. That vehicle was the spare one which was branded as the centenary vehicle for OK Motor Services. As we all know, now Northern.

From my small amount of experience on the 74 etc, people use the 10 rather than the 74 if they are wanting to do the full NCL to HEX stretch. Who wouldn't (other than elderly people perhaps)? Plug sockets, WiFi... It provides most customers with what they'd want travelling for that amount of time.

Thing is aswell the both take the exact same amount of time to go from Newcastle to Hexham, I'd pick a comfy WiFi Gemini over an MPD any day if I was a passenger, thing is now will the X84/X85 be quicker than the 10/74 and the Stagecoach/Arriva 685