(14 Jan 2014, 4:31 pm)gtomlinson Wonder if GNE would fancy this if Arriva stepped out.

There does seem to be an element of more bother than worth. For places en-route served by train, it would be a no brainer to jump on Thomas the Tank Engine for me

(14 Jan 2014, 4:45 pm)G-CPTN Haydon Bridge has trains that pass through every hour but only stop alternately (ie every two hours) - likewise Bardon Mill, Brampton and Wetheral.

There are also rural dwellings between the stations that are served by the 685.

(17 Feb 2014, 10:38 pm)mattdw92 One piece of information which about this years Stagecoach Order which has entered the public domain is the confirmation of short-term step-ins 27766/67 on the 685, which will be replaced by buses with "coach style seating, seatbelts and wifi" in the coming year."

In the same article in the Hexham Courant today, Arriva are looking to replace the Omnicity vehicles which have leather seats with fabric seating - and that they are looking at the options in terms of handrails and whether seatbelts can be fitted.

(17 Feb 2014, 10:40 pm)mattdw92 From Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire Thread:

(17 Feb 2014, 11:23 pm)G-CPTN The alterations to the 685 vehicles was discussed at a recent NCC Area Committee meeting in response to complaints received from passengers.
The leather seats afforded little purchase for passengers when the buses negotiated the twisty sections of the route. Previous (coach) vehicles had moquette seats and seatbelts, and the current vehicles had neither. Of course the current vehicles are low-floor to comply with disabled access regulations.

The Stagecoach representative announced that they would be introducing NEW vehicles later in the year, fitted with seatbelts (and wifi).

The Arriva guy was subjected to criticism that they, too, were not providing NEW vehicles, and it was my opinion that Arriva will simply recover the existing vehicle seats and fit seatbelts - leaving the criticism of poor ride quality (as mentioned, the previous (unreliable) vehicles were to coach specification rather than buses).

(17 Feb 2014, 11:26 pm)tyresmoke Does the poor ride quality not translate onto the E300s too or is it just an anti-Arriva stance?
I don't disagree that a route like the 685 needs coaches though.

(10 Jul 2014, 7:44 pm)Tom Something I've noticed recently about pricing on the 685. It differs between the two operators.
For example,
Stagecoach - £4.75 Hexham to Newcastle
Arriva - £5.40 Hexham to Newcastle
Stagecoach - £3.25 Heddon to Newcastle
Arriva - £3.40 Heddon to Newcastle

(10 Jul 2014, 8:22 pm)G-CPTN I don't pay (concessionary pass), but a friend who travels between Hexham and Corbridge will not use the Arriva service as it costs more than GNE (and there's five per hour versus the one Arriva/Stagecoach).

(10 Jul 2014, 8:26 pm)Tom Stagecoach are £1.85 from Hexham to Corbridge - a bit of a rip off if you ask me. Are GNE £1.50?

(10 Jul 2014, 7:44 pm)Tom Something I've noticed recently about pricing on the 685. It differs between the two operators.

For example,
Stagecoach - £4.75 Hexham to Newcastle
Arriva - £5.40 Hexham to Newcastle

Stagecoach - £3.25 Heddon to Newcastle
Arriva - £3.40 Heddon to Newcastle

(12 Jul 2014, 4:36 pm)G-CPTN A Stagecoach short midibus (Solo?) seen @ 2pm-ish leaving Brampton for Carlisle showing service 685.

I don't know whether it ran through from Hexham/Haydon Bridge or 'started' from Brampton.

Would they schedule a small midibus on the whole of the route? (Carlisle to Newcastle to Carlisle)

Maybe it was a replacement for a breakdown?

(12 Jul 2014, 4:43 pm)Kuyoyo Stagecoach run 'short' 685 journeys between Carlisle and Brampton. Their new Solo SR (47921) is for use on there. That is the reason Stagecoach's 685s are split into 3 sections rather than the 2 Arriva split theirs into.

(12 Jul 2014, 4:54 pm)G-CPTN Interesting, - thank-you.

Edited to add:-
Stagecoaches own timetable:-

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/PdfUploads/Timetable_47965_685%20%28Carlisle%29.pdf

shows the 2pm-ish journeys from Brampton are operated by Arriva . . .

(11 Jul 2014, 7:58 am)eezypeazy Under Competition Act rules, operators are not allowed to meet and discuss their fares in order to 'set' a fare - that would be 'collusion' and they'd end up in prison!

They are allowed to accept each other's return tickets and to recharge each other appropriate reimbursement, but are not allowed to discuss or set a return fare - again, that would be collusion.