https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/x85-farewe...GTI0CjD7XM


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https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/x85-farewe...MkB5CTIkD4


Anyone have any timings for when the Solar will be operating?

Is it just me that thinks this is a little… odd?

Is it just me that thinks this is a little… odd?

I feel like its odd too, just seems really random and out of the blue..feels like its more for the ethusiasts than the actual passengers....

I feel like its odd too, just seems really random and out of the blue..feels like its more for the ethusiasts than the actual passengers....

That’s because it is - the event doesn’t really have any affiliation with Go North East, it’s just promoted as something to do on the company’s website. An event by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.

It isn’t being promoted on GNE’s social media channels as it’s not a customer event, nor something that could be described as a family event.


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https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/x85-farewe...MkB5CTIkD4


Anyone have any timings for when the Solar will be operating?

Didn't someone post the exact same thread before you?


https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showt...p?tid=3770


Why don't you check before posting?

Great idea to celebrate the downgrading of a service!

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Great idea to celebrate the downgrading of a service!

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The next time I lose something, I might celebrate that too.

Didn't someone post the exact same thread before you?


https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showt...p?tid=3770


Why don't you check before posting?

It was a accident, i am so sorry/s

Are the vintage buses going to be free to ride on then?

Are the vintage buses going to be free to ride on then?

Presumably so as the drivers are volunteers and the vehicles are not to be used for profit or reward.

Presumably so as the drivers are volunteers and the vehicles are not to be used for profit or reward.

I'm confused how this is going to work. This makes no sense, providing free travel on the X85.

I'm confused how this is going to work. This makes no sense, providing free travel on the X85.

That’s why it’s not being promoted as such to the general public.

I'm confused how this is going to work. This makes no sense, providing free travel on the X85.

I agree that the event makes no sense as it is essentially celebrating the loss of a service - whether it was well used or not. For me, it's like going for a score of 101 or more at the end of Bullseye, then failing, and Jim Bowen coming out and showing you what you could have won. 

It's not that confusing how the event is going to work:

Gilbert and his preservationist pals are providing buses to operate on the route at the times stated on the website. Presumably there will be something stated in the insurance policy of each vehicle that prohibits the vehicle being used for purposes of 'hire or reward' which means money can not be taken otherwise the insurance will be invalidated if proven to be the case. 

It does actually make a little bit of sense. If you're not going to be making money on the service after Saturday anyway, then losing a few quid here and there on a few journeys isn't going to significantly affect the bottom line.

That’s why it’s not being promoted as such to the general public.

In fairness I'm not sure that's why. I could imagine it's more of the why am I standing at a bus stop for 60 minutes when my bus is cancelled and your running old buses to Hexham issue which for someone with little interest in buses isn't exactly an outrageous view.

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/x85-farewe...MkB5CTIkD4


Anyone have any timings for when the Solar will be operating?

I am hoping that's so you can avoid it?

---

Is it just me that thinks this is a little… odd?

I mean. It's nice and that, but it's hardly an historic route.
Starting to wonder if this sort of idea (and subsequent publicity) could have helped sustain it longer term and ensure that they didn't have to rely on tables, WiFi and paint jobs (titivating) to make it sustainable.

Unless the tables, WiFi and titivating did work - but it was just the fall guy with the X9/10 debacle.

I am hoping that's so you can avoid it?

---

I mean. It's nice and that, but it's hardly an historic route.
Starting to wonder if this sort of idea (and subsequent publicity) could have helped sustain it longer term and ensure that they didn't have to rely on tables, WiFi and paint jobs (titivating) to make it sustainable.

Unless the tables, WiFi and titivating did work - but it was just the fall guy with the X9/10 debacle.

I'm guessing that is the case, but they didn't even give it a chance to work, barely a full year.

I'm guessing that is the case, but they didn't even give it a chance to work, barely a full year.

Short termism innit?

Short termism innit?

I guess the amount they'll lose from downgrading the X84 and killing the X85 is less than the amount they would lose keeping the coaches around.

I guess the amount they'll lose from downgrading the X84 and killing the X85 is less than the amount they would lose keeping the coaches around.

It's alright my taxes will be keeping it running instead. I'm not sure why there's so many buses running around Hexham as it is when every other town in Northumberland has nothing of the sort.

It's a place that badly needs a DRT system (or a few taxis) running to all the random routes like the 683, 686, 687 and soon to be 684 since they'd be able to use Ovingham Bridge. It would arguably be a better service anyway (connecting to the train stations for onward travel to Newcastle).

It's alright my taxes will be keeping it running instead. I'm not sure why there's so many buses running around Hexham as it is when every other town in Northumberland has nothing of the sort.

It's a place that badly needs a DRT system (or a few taxis) running to all the random routes like the 683, 686, 687 and soon to be 684 since they'd be able to use Ovingham Bridge. It would arguably be a better service anyway (connecting to the train stations for onward travel to Newcastle).

Berwick, Alnwick, Cramlington and Morpeth have their own lesser advertised town networks, roughly the same as Hexham's.

Berwick:

• B1: Ramparts-Berwick-Tweedmouth
  
• Hoppa: Berwick-Prior Park-Tweedside
  

Alnwick:

• T01: Barrasdale-Alnwick-St James Estate-Shilbottle-Amble
  

Cramlington:

• 58: East Hartford-Beacon Hill-Cramlington-East Cramlington
  
• 57/57A and X9 also provide into-town links.
  

Morpeth:

• T1A/T1B/T1C: Morpeth-estates
  
• 2 provides a Kirkhill and Stobhillgate into-town link
  

I think that the same brand and similar route numbers gives the impression that there's a tonne of buses running around Hexham and nowhere else, but only one or two services actually seem to stay within a couple of miles of the town centre.

Everything else could be compared with the X14 up to Rothbury from Morpeth or the 470/473 out to Wooler from Alnwick.

Does anyone have a list of vehicles running on Saturday? Also which vehicles will run at which time.

Might try and make this event.

Charles

As an enthusiast I look forward seeing such events and possibly get rides on interesting vehicles. It seems to me that nobody can do anything these days without some sort of negative comments. Good luck to those people running running these buses.

As an enthusiast I look forward seeing such events and possibly get rides on interesting vehicles. It seems to me that nobody can do anything these days without some sort of negative comments. Good luck to those people running running these buses.

Well said!

I'm just sorry that I'm not in the area and won't be able to partake of a ride or two.

Very much looking forward to Saturday's X85 Farewell Event, hopefully it will be a success.

As an enthusiast I look forward seeing such events and possibly get rides on interesting vehicles. It seems to me that nobody can do anything these days without some sort of negative comments. Good luck to those people running running these buses.

I agree, GNE get critiqued for pretty much everything they do, by me too. 

However it seems Arriva/SC don't get much, might be because quite a lot of GNE staff are on here, and they are the 'prominent' bus company in the NE and all their purchases etc.

How many years has service X85 been running for?


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How many years has service X85 been running for?


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It launched in September 2013, so just over 8 years.

It launched in September 2013, so just over 8 years.

God I'm getting old...Feels much more recent!

God I'm getting old...Feels much more recent!

I was thinking 2016 tbh. 

Amazing how much a route fell. But tbh whennever I was going to Hexham, I would pick the X85/X84 over the train, I just thought they were nicer tbh.