Bus registration details
Registration numberPB0003954/1386
Licence NumberPB0003954
Variation number0
StatusNew
Service number .SF3, SF3
Service type Normal Stopping
Start point Newcastle
Finish point Chester-le-Street
ViaGateshead, Low Fell
Date received 24 May 2023
Effective date 10 Jun 2023
End date 10 Jun 2023
Supported by subsidies? In Part
Local authorities covered by routeDurham County Council
Nexus (Tyne & Wear)
TAOs covered by route North East of England

thats strange...SF3..

(24 May 2023, 5:20 pm)Michael wrote Bus registration details
Registration numberPB0003954/1386
Licence NumberPB0003954
Variation number0
StatusNew
Service number .SF3, SF3
Service type Normal Stopping
Start point Newcastle
Finish point Chester-le-Street
ViaGateshead, Low Fell
Date received 24 May 2023
Effective date 10 Jun 2023
End date 10 Jun 2023
Supported by subsidies? In Part
Local authorities covered by routeDurham County Council
Nexus (Tyne & Wear)
TAOs covered by route North East of England

Going to hazard a guess that it's in aid of the Sam Fender gig at St James' Park that night.

(24 May 2023, 5:46 pm)Jimmi wrote Going to hazard a guess that it's in aid of the Sam Fender gig at St James' Park that night.

Subsidies though?

There is also an SF1 and an SF2 going North of Newcastle

(24 May 2023, 6:00 pm)ifm001 wrote There is also an SF1 and an SF2 going North of Newcastle

https://www.nexus.org.uk/concerts


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Must say whichever clown thought it was appropriate to have a gig at the St James at the same time as the Stadium of Light really needs questions asked. I'm sure Sam Fender could've done another weekend, Beyonce less so, so why I'm picking on Newcastle.

Good on them for prioritising Sunderland since there's no Metro's to South Shields, Sunderland or the Airport from Newcastle that night. Feel sorry for people working mind.

(24 May 2023, 9:20 pm)Storx wrote Must say whichever clown thought it was appropriate to have a gig at the St James at the same time as the Stadium of Light really needs questions asked. I'm sure Sam Fender could've done another weekend, Beyonce less so, so why I'm picking on Newcastle.

The Metro's will be absolute carnage especially if they don't bother running extra trains from Sunderland.

Blame should be the other way round as Sam Fender was announced (publicly at least) first, it's P!nk that night, Beyoncé was last night.

Either way, not ideal having two events of such a size on the same night.

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(24 May 2023, 9:28 pm)Jimmi wrote Blame should be the other way round as Sam Fender was announced (publicly at least) first, it's P!nk that night, Beyoncé was last night.

Either way, not ideal having two events of such a size on the same night.

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Apologies meant P!nk, I'm sure it would've been in planning months ahead though.

I never understand why they don't run extra trains (Northern or even LNER as they're cleared) from Sunderland which are the length of Sunderland's platform - should be able to get a good 7/8 car in and run them direct to Newcastle would shift a massive amount of people, even known they'd have to walk to Sunderland with the Metro's shuttling between Heworth and Sunderland only - believe they can turn around at Heworth.

Go North East SF3 timetable will start at 22.00 running every 10 minutes from Newcastle Market Street to Chester-le-Street until 00.40

On the nights the extra 306 journeys operate, would the following boarding policy not make sense for the 23:00 307, 23:15 308 and 23:45 309 with joint ticketing in place? Obviously would need Nexus/GNE/Arriva staff to check travel intentions.

23:15 - 308
- From Haymarket, St Mary's Place and Civic Centre, NO passengers to board who intend to alight at any point along the Coast Road except St Peter's / Holy Cross

23:00 307 & 23:45 - 309
- From Haymarket, St Mary's Place and Civic Centre, NO passengers to board who intend to alight at any point between Newcastle and Middle Engine Lane Bingo except Station Road & Mullen Road (and Hadrian Park in the case of the 307).

that's overcomplicating things and will ultimately cause problems between passengers and staff

there'll be plenty of seats for everyone.

I would defineltly be worried if I was trying to get home that night on any service tbh

(31 May 2023, 9:28 am)Unber43 wrote I would defineltly be worried if I was trying to get home that night on any service tbh

Why, it's only Sam Fender who is bang average. It's no different to a match day bar it's a weekend so a larger chunk of people will likely stay out.

SF1 - SF3 only exist because the Metro is closed pretty much;

SF1: Green Line North of Newcastle
SF2: Yellow Line North of Newcastle as far as Palmersville
SF3: Yellow / Green Line South of Newcastle, Change at Gateshead - assume crowd control there.
306: Support Yellow Line from Monument which will be slammed as it's doing Monument to Northumberland Park by assuming redirecting people who would be using the Metro at Haymarket onto the SF1/SF2/306 instead of Monument.

Not sure what you're meant to do if you live at Ilford Road or West Jesmond mind.

(31 May 2023, 10:00 am)Storx wrote Why, it's only Sam Fender who is bang average. It's no different to a match day bar it's a weekend so a larger chunk of people will likely stay out.

SF1 - SF3 only exist because the Metro is closed pretty much;

SF1: Green Line North of Newcastle
SF2: Yellow Line North of Newcastle as far as Palmersville
SF3: Yellow / Green Line South of Newcastle, Change at Gateshead - assume crowd control there.
306: Support Yellow Line from Monument which will be slammed as it's doing Monument to Northumberland Park by assuming redirecting people who would be using the Metro at Haymarket onto the SF1/SF2/306 instead of Monument.

Not sure what you're meant to do if you live at Ilford Road or West Jesmond mind.

Would it have made more sense to make the 1 run alongside the 306 as well as that goes to Whitley Bay and servers each station between Monument to Whitley Bay to support both the metro and 306

If the metro goes down on that night...

(31 May 2023, 11:14 am)Busu284 wrote Would it have made more sense to make the 1 run alongside the 306 as well as that goes to Whitley Bay and servers each station between Monument to Whitley Bay to support both the metro and 306

There's probably enough demand along there tbf, remember there's the 22 aswell so there's pretty much 4 buses an hour plus the 12/39/40/62/63 doing bits of it aswell.

I wonder if the 306 might be partially to stop at Sandyford / Cradlewell to get students home in the Jesmond area since there's absolutely nothing serving the place bar 1 bus an hour on the Q3 even known it's a bit of a walk. West Jesmond is one of the busiest Metro stops aswell.

Guessing there might be a few fans from Shields aswell cos Sam Fender is a North Shields lad you know. He doesn't half like banging on about it.

I must say that on a roughly related note, these articles and social media pushes about ‘getting home from the concerts’ for Sam Fender and Pink this weekend are mostly useless. There’s no practical information about timings or last buses etc with the exception of the SF3 bus that nexus is funding. Really wouldn’t it have been an idea to tell people which buses go where for those who might not always use public transport as well as what time the last services are. For instance Sam Fender is due off stage 10:50-11:00 but yet the last bus on the X1 leaves at 10:30 if going to Peterlee, 11pm if going to Houghton or Easington Lane, the 11:30 service only goes to Washington. I get the impression the last buses don’t get listed because it would highlight how woeful some of the services are, to be frank.

I’m sure in times gone by for the Airshow and previous stadium concerts, special extended buses have operated to/from Stadium of Light and Seaburn on the 2/2A, 60 etc. Not sure if these were funded in any way or not, but you’d think operators could run a few extra services on such occasions.

When the concerts happened in 2014/2016 they had special 78/60/42/56/35 services etc from Stadium Of Light surprised they didn't do it for this year tbh

(05 Jun 2023, 2:13 pm)Drifter60 wrote I must say that on a roughly related note, these articles and social media pushes about ‘getting home from the concerts’ for Sam Fender and Pink this weekend are mostly useless. There’s no practical information about timings or last buses etc with the exception of the SF3 bus that nexus is funding. Really wouldn’t it have been an idea to tell people which buses go where for those who might not always use public transport as well as what time the last services are. For instance Sam Fender is due off stage 10:50-11:00 but yet the last bus on the X1 leaves at 10:30 if going to Peterlee, 11pm if going to Houghton or Easington Lane, the 11:30 service only goes to Washington. I get the impression the last buses don’t get listed because it would highlight how woeful some of the services are, to be frank.

I’m sure in times gone by for the Airshow and previous stadium concerts, special extended buses have operated to/from Stadium of Light and Seaburn on the 2/2A, 60 etc. Not sure if these were funded in any way or not, but you’d think operators could run a few extra services on such occasions.

In fairness the buses are the least of the issues imo.

There's total gaps on how someone from Newcastle is meant to 

• Use the Metro towards Sunderland / South Shields.
  
• Get to West Jesmond / Ilford Road at all
  
• Information for people who aren't at the concerts and are affected
  

and similar at Sunderland for someone needing the Metro there.

Newcastle in particular is a major destination in it's own right and they've effectively just shut the Metro down with no information at all.

(05 Jun 2023, 6:16 pm)Storx wrote In fairness the buses are the least of the issues imo.

There's total gaps on how someone from Newcastle is meant to 

• Use the Metro towards Sunderland / South Shields.
  
• Get to West Jesmond / Ilford Road at all
  
• Information for people who aren't at the concerts and are affected
  

and similar at Sunderland for someone needing the Metro there.

Newcastle in particular is a major destination in it's own right and they've effectively just shut the Metro down with no information at all.

I heard that the Stadium of Light has agreed procedures with Nexus for concerts, so got in first with dates/resources hence why Newcastle seems to get the raw deal on Saturday 10th. But the points you raise are fair enough, it seems like the the bus would be the only options for those areas mentioned - but good luck with that, with presumably no extra resources planned for the regular bus services.

The whole thing just shows how awful the transport infrastructure across Tyne and Wear really is. Two concerts at under 100,000 and they give up

Having seen how Edinburgh Trams handled Springsteen and then how TFGM coped with Elton John, Artic Monkeys and Coldplay across 3 venues on the same night it’s actually embarrassing how badly prepared our network is for an event like this.

Terrifying to think this lot could actually be running the whole show when regional devolution steps in. I think I’d prefer a MG and Roger French combo over NECA and Nexus.

i am so confused, if im in Newcastle when the concerts are on, how do I get out of central newcastle by the metro, it seems every station will be shut?

(06 Jun 2023, 3:54 pm)Unber43 wrote i am so confused, if im in Newcastle when the concerts are on, how do I get out of central newcastle by the metro, it seems every station will be shut?

Go to Gateshead and change or use the SF buses depending where you're going.

bit of a joke tbf

Kind of understand why St James is closed, but monument could be open using different entrances for different platforms surely

(05 Jun 2023, 10:16 pm)Ambassador wrote The whole thing just shows how awful the transport infrastructure across Tyne and Wear really is. Two concerts at under 100,000 and they give up

Having seen how Edinburgh Trams handled Springsteen and then how TFGM coped with Elton John, Artic Monkeys and Coldplay across 3 venues on the same night it’s actually embarrassing how badly prepared  our network is for an event like this.

Terrifying to think this lot could actually be running the whole show when regional devolution steps in. I think I’d prefer a MG and Roger French combo over NECA and Nexus.

I'm not one for jumping to the defence of Nexus, but they're only playing with the hand they're dealt here.

As you well know, we live in a deregulated bus market that is supposed to increase competition. The only problem with that, is when there's a chance to think outside of the box, on the most part it doesn't happen, unless Nexus find a pot of money to throw at it.

I'm a loss as to why when there's sold out gigs at the two biggest stadiums in our region, bus operators by large insist on running their usual evening service. Drifter60 has highlighted above that Fender is due off stage 22.50-23.00, yet that Peterlee bound, and the following Houghton bound X1 would have left before that. That's just one example, but there are many others.

What about Park and Ride services? You've got huge car parks sitting empty most evenings. If the SF1 is running to Kingston Park, surely something could have been worked out with the site management to allow use for park and ride. Same with utilising the Metrocentre, Galleries, Wessington Way, etc.

For me, it highlights yet another reason why we need an integrated network.

Which depot is running the Sam Fender buses? They've practically cancelled the entire timetable for the 21 this evening

(09 Jun 2023, 2:16 pm)itsadam wrote Which depot is running the Sam Fender buses? They've practically cancelled the entire timetable for the 21 this evening

I would of said Riverside, bigger depot and more deckers than other depots.

(09 Jun 2023, 2:19 pm)Michael wrote I would of said Riverside, bigger depot and more deckers than other depots.

That was my first guess. I'm so pi**ed off, they're prioritising Sam Fender. In all fairness, the 21 has been quite bad lately but today's by far the worst it's been.