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(15 Dec 2023, 4:59 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Just don't see the point of the service.
(15 Dec 2023, 11:05 pm)Andreos1 wrote Trying to think about this 777 and comparing it to the GAG 777.Or......it's called 777 after the Boeing 777 aircraft. And the old shuttle before the Metro extension was called the M77.
Is this the only number to be re-used by two operators whilst the other has been long gone?
Is this the first Northumbria route to operate with a traditionally County Durham prefix?
(15 Dec 2023, 5:31 pm)Ambassador wrote The Airport have been pushing hard for better links as part of their growth plans (linked to employment) - I wonder if this one of the reasons BSIP are supporting it
(16 Dec 2023, 9:29 am)L469 YVK wrote Or......it's called 777 after the Boeing 777 aircraft. And the old shuttle before the Metro extension was called the M77.
(15 Dec 2023, 5:09 pm)mb134 wrote You may not, but evidently the council do?
This creates many direct links that didn't exist previously, and may even supply a new service to some places depending on the route it takes.
The one thing I'd like to have seen would be an extension to Great Park from Kingston Park at that end.
(16 Dec 2023, 11:16 am)Storx wrote Depends which way it's going though.
Could be Morpeth - Kirkley Hall - Ponteland - Airport - Kingston Park and supported by Nexus aswell for all we know.
Kirkley Hall is inaccessible pretty much, note the 35 is getting changed aswell. The old similar route used to be bolted onto the end of 35 boards - see: http://travelnortheast.co.uk/downloads/b...r-Kirk.pdf
(16 Dec 2023, 12:38 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote It might go through prestwick and dinnington, i cant think of anymore possibilities. How busy was the GNE 42A when it ran on this section?
(16 Dec 2023, 1:12 pm)Storx wrote Not too sure on the 42A, tbh could be anything lets be honest. Might be just a two hourly service, or a shorter service ie Cramlington to there with an daily extension etc, similar the 44. Just have to see tbh.The 42A was always dead through Dinnington and Prestwick whenever I used it from Wallsend to Kingston Park, but that was largely (not exclusively though) on Sundays. Can't imagine passenger numbers were great though considering the section has been cut out.
(16 Dec 2023, 1:56 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote The 42A was always dead through Dinnington and Prestwick whenever I used it from Wallsend to Kingston Park, but that was largely (not exclusively though) on Sundays. Can't imagine passenger numbers were great though considering the section has been cut out.Dinnington to Kingston Park on the 42a could often get quite busy. Mainly people shopping at Tesco, and with Aldi opening at Kingston Park, it would give the people of Dinnington additional reason to use the service.
BusmanT said it's frequent and every day, but maybe that's not for the full route. It will be interesting to see the route and timetable.
(16 Dec 2023, 1:12 pm)Storx wrote Not too sure on the 42A, tbh could be anything lets be honest. Might be just a two hourly service, or a shorter service ie Cramlington to there with an daily extension etc, similar the 44. Just have to see tbh.
(16 Dec 2023, 2:30 pm)mb134 wrote Realistically with the service number 777 it's clearly a service designed to serve the airport above anything else. To do that properly it's going to need to be more frequent than 2 hourly, and it definitely isn't just going to be a daily extension.
For it to be useful I'd think you'd need something starting pretty early in the morning and finishing pretty late into the night, and operate at least hourly.
(16 Dec 2023, 8:36 pm)L469 YVK wrote Wonder with changes registered for the 1 & 2 could indicate the X21 / X22 routes changing back between Bedlington and Newcastle? With the 2 going back to serving Red House Farm to retain the Bedlington Station link.
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(16 Dec 2023, 11:21 pm)Thomas12 wrote Assume the changes will be related to the consultation they had out a few weeks ago, with the 35/X21 interworking and a revised route in NewbigginIf Nedderton is kept on the X21, how will the timetables be robust enough to increase running time & layover?
(17 Dec 2023, 9:06 am)L469 YVK wrote If Nedderton is kept on the X21, how will the timetables be robust enough to increase running time & layover?
Working it out based on the X21 getting ex Newbiggin (if re-routed via Hartford Road):
1hr Ash > NCL
58m NCL > Ash
That would only leave 7 minutes layover in Morpeth (35) and 9 minutes in Newcastle taking into account the extra 5 minutes each way via Nedderton. Whereas via Hartford Road, would leave 9 minutes in Newcastle and 17 minutes in Morpeth, which would come in very handy during the peaks.
Saturdays, PVR would need increased from 14x to 15x vehicles if X21 kept via Nedderton.
Also on Sundays, would leave no scope to increase running times without a long layover in Morpeth.
(17 Dec 2023, 9:30 am)Storx wrote The running time is shorter...?The whole reason why the loop will likely be in place (subject to consultation) is so that running times can be increased. Effectively, the time saved interworking the X21 & 35 via the loop will be re-invested elsewhere in both routes.
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.18566...?entry=ttu
The X21/35 are combined effectively doing that loop now. Rather that the X21 doing:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.18566...?entry=ttu
(17 Dec 2023, 10:53 am)L469 YVK wrote The whole reason why the loop will likely be in place (subject to consultation) is so that running times can be increased. Effectively, the time saved interworking the X21 & 35 via the loop will be re-invested elsewhere in both routes.
(17 Dec 2023, 3:08 pm)mb134 wrote Yes - so why would they swap the routes of them in Bedlington if they've identified the solution to late running as looping Newbiggin?That won't allow sufficient time alone to be added to journeys though to help keep things robust. Ashington to Newcastle on the current X21 route but via Hartford Road instead would need at least 60 minutes outbound and 58 minutes inbound. Effectively the 'old' X21 and X31/X32 route, one time only needing around 52 minutes on that stretch.
(17 Dec 2023, 3:49 pm)L469 YVK wrote That won't allow sufficient time alone to be added to journeys though to help keep things robust.
(17 Dec 2023, 5:05 pm)mb134 wrote Sitting for 17 minutes in Morpeth and 9 in Haymarket each cycle is massively overkill, given time is being put back into the routes.
Ultimately Arriva have consulted on a change to the route in Newbiggin and Newbiggin alone, not a pointless change in Bedlington. I think it's more than safe to assume that will be the only change to the route.
(17 Dec 2023, 6:46 pm)L469 YVK wrote Don't forget either that Sundays & Bank Holidays also seem to be plagued with reliability issues.
