Go North East

[tbtc]

Newcastle Busways was Slatyford depot whilst City Busways was Byker though they shared the same burgundy trim on their cadmium yellow and white livery; eventually, they both adopted Newcastle Busways. Why? Don't know

I quite like the distinction - in the way that I miss the days of vehicles having depot codes on the front of the bus (used to be common at various operators but pretty rare these days)

Back on topic here.... We look at the territories in a certain way but this has changed over time. It might seem that Northumbria/Arriva operations in the Tyne Valley were on a limb. However, it wasn't always the case. Before the Metro came along, the boundaries were different and there were many route swaps at that time. So places like Heddon or Throckley or Newbiggin Hall were firmly United until they were transferred to the PTE - see photo

Bristol VR no. APT819W @ Newcastle, c.1980 [slide 8081]

Eastern Coachworks bodied Bristol VR no. APT819W is seen as United fleet no. 819 at Marlborough Street bus station, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, c.1980. It features individual seating.

www.flickr.com

Ah! That makes sense - the 22 and X82 feel like an oddity in the "Busways" empire - what is otherwise a pretty compact "metro" operator (well, the Ponteland services aren't exactly short distance either, but you know what I mean) - but I've only just twigged why the X84/X85 are numbered to fit in with the X82 as well as with the 685

(since we are talking bus routes in Hadrian's Wall territory - the person who came up with the AD122 as a route number deserves a pint!)

Meanwhile, what was a Northern service, 306 Newcastle to Tynemouth transferred to United in 1981; I don't know what other services changed around that time but the boundaries were certainly redrawn. Even after that, places like Prudhoe was still firmly United. So what is regarded as traditional areas of operation for Go Ahead, Busways or Arriva to the north of the Tyne are very different to 50 years ago.

It feels a bit Game Of Thrones, all these shifting powers!

(I did try searching for an up to date map to refresh my memory and found this - https://newcastletransport.info/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Network-Map-Dec-2020.pdf - a bus map of Newcastle, Wallsend and Jesmond - plus Wickham too - but this appears to be Australia rather than Tyneside!)

As an aside, before dereg, the Hexham - Prudhoe - Newcastle (601/2 now 10) actually interworked with the X25/X26 to Blyth so there was a really odd link!

That seems guaranteed to cause delays (but reminds me of the days when Kelvin Central merged the Cumbernauld - Glasgow services with the Glasgow - East Kilbride services to deal with closing the depot at EK)

The 685 is another odd story. United had a depot at Carlisle until 1969 and so operated the predecessor (34? as well as other services from that side of Carlisle) from there and Hexham. When Carlisle passed to Ribble, so did their share of the route, eventually passing to Cumberland in 1986.

When Arriva sold the Hexham depot to Go Ahead, the reason that GA didn't go for the 685 was (as it was explained to me) that Peter Huntley wanted sole control of the routes that he had so he could market them as he wished. So Arriva instead retained their share from the 685 and moved it to Jesmond depot. Of course, Go Ahead subsequently introduced the competitive X85

Interesting - cheers - it felt odd that they'd not included the 685 in the deal, but that explanation makes sense - can only guess what weird and wonderful branding GNE would have come up with if they had full control of the service.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Ah! That makes sense - the 22 and X82 feel like an oddity in the "Busways" empire - what is otherwise a pretty compact "metro" operator (well, the Ponteland services aren't exactly short distance either, but you know what I mean) - but I've only just twigged why the X84/X85 are numbered to fit in with the X82 as well as with the 685

Not certain what the rationale was but I suspect that the PTE wanted to balance the reductions from the Metro introduction. A good shot here (credit to photographer) shows Northern operating the 306 to Tynemouth, taken in 1981 so not long before it was taken over by United. It might have been just to put the Heddon and Newbiggin Hall routes under one operator (PTE) or that Slatyford lost some work so United lost its West Road services, and in recompense, it gained the 306 and perhaps a few other bits from Northern General?

Northern General Transport 3321 (ENL354C) - 1981

Northern General's Alexander bodied Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1, 3321 (ENL354C), pictured in Newcastle on service 306 to Tynemouth in 1981, not long before its withdrawal from service the same year. Originally new to Northern's Tyneside Omnibus Co subsidiary in 1965 as their fleet number 54, the...

www.flickr.com

I might be wrong but the Ponteland/Darras Hall services might have been something to do with the purchase of Armstrongs im 1973 by the PTE, the name then being used with Galley Coaches for the coach unit, of which Go Ahead now has a vehicle painted up in Armstrong Galley colours.

 

[DunsBus]

Not certain what the rationale was but I suspect that the PTE wanted to balance the reductions from the Metro introduction. A good shot here (credit to photographer) shows Northern operating the 306 to Tynemouth, taken in 1981 so not long before it was taken over by United. It might have been just to put the Heddon and Newbiggin Hall routes under one operator (PTE) or that Slatyford lost some work so United lost its West Road services, and in recompense, it gained the 306 and perhaps a few other bits from Northern General?

Northern General Transport 3321 (ENL354C) - 1981

Northern General's Alexander bodied Leyland Atlantean PDR1/1, 3321 (ENL354C), pictured in Newcastle on service 306 to Tynemouth in 1981, not long before its withdrawal from service the same year. Originally new to Northern's Tyneside Omnibus Co subsidiary in 1965 as their fleet number 54, the...

www.flickr.com

I might be wrong but the Ponteland/Darras Hall services might have been something to do with the purchase of Armstrongs im 1973 by the PTE, the name then being used with Galley Coaches for the coach unit, of which Go Ahead now has a vehicle painted up in Armstrong Galley colours.

That reminds me, there were also service reallocations in Sunderland in late-1981, with a number of joint PTE/Northern services being rationalised. These affected services 127 (Town Centre - Hylton Castle), 128/9 (Town Centre - Town End Farm), 133 (Town Centre - Silksworth) and 135/6 (Hylton Circulars), with the 127/8/9 becoming the full responsibility of the PTE and the 133/5/6 likewise of Northern. The Doxford Park circulars, 139 and 140, remained joint PTE/Northern operations, as did service 537 (Sunderland - South Shields) for a few years ahead of deregulation.

 

[kez19]

This may be an awkward question to ask but I didn't know that GNE had some demonstrators they can use? I thought with bus companies the buses had sat at a depot for a certain amount of time to be sent back?

(credit photographer)

Go North East 9119 / SN64 CTU

- Fleet: 9119 - Reg: SN64 CTU - Operator: Go North East - Route: 50 - Depot: Washington - Livery: Silver - Type: Wright Streetdeck - Bodywork: Wright Streetdeck - Livery New In: Silver - New to/ Year: Wrightbus (demo) / 2014 - Location: Windlass Lane, Washington

www.flickr.com

when you go on Flickr and search for company and 9119 it seems to have been doing the rounds for nearly 6 years (or more)! Any reason why that is? (I know buses can be off road and replacements but does seems strange a demo to be used) -correction if needed

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

This may be an awkward question to ask but I didn't know that GNE had some demonstrators they can use? I thought with bus companies the buses had sat at a depot for a certain amount of time to be sent back?

(credit photographer)

Go North East 9119 / SN64 CTU

- Fleet: 9119 - Reg: SN64 CTU - Operator: Go North East - Route: 50 - Depot: Washington - Livery: Silver - Type: Wright Streetdeck - Bodywork: Wright Streetdeck - Livery New In: Silver - New to/ Year: Wrightbus (demo) / 2014 - Location: Windlass Lane, Washington

www.flickr.com

when you go on Flickr and search for company and 9119 it seems to have been doing the rounds for nearly 6 years (or more)! Any reason why that is? (I know buses can be off road and replacements but does seems strange a demo to be used) -correction if needed

Possibly started off as a demonstrator but is now covering for warranty issues?

 

[kez19]

Possibly started off as a demonstrator but is now covering for warranty issues?

I think I read that in one of the other photos (can't remember which one) but didn't know a demo vehicle would be used (surely bus companies have to be careful of routes that the demos are on?).

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Might also add that Go Ahead did gain some additional Tyne Valley routes when they acquired OK Travel who had won certain routes on tender from Northumbria, of which one was the 684 that was operated from OK's Bishop Auckland depot, running dead.


Although OK had a garage on Team Valley, the Newcastle-Ovingham OK service was operated by Bishop Auckland depot but it wasn't a dead run. The vehicle allocated to the turn ran from Bishop Auckland to Newcastle as X724, running approximately 10 minutes ahead of the 07:40 724 from BA, this ran as far as Chester Moor pick up only then along the chester le street bypass and on to the A1. taking junction 66 back on to the service bus route along the A167 through low fell to gateshead and newcastle as set down only. Once in Newcastle it operated the Ovingham route a few times then formed the 17:03 X724 back to Bishop Auckland. Vehicles used were usually the Daf MB230/Duple 325 coaches D90x EAJ, or the Leyland Tiger/Plaxtons LFT xX, JIJ3737 which was the rebodied LFT6X made a regular appearance on this diagram

 

[kez19]

Asking a possible stupid question, I notice on Flickr that some of their displays seem to be moving around

Sunderland (include via points) - 56 to
56 - Sunderland (include via points)

Is there a reason behind why some of the fleet are displaying a destination one way and on the others another? Is it just the bus company transitioning their destination displays over time than in one go?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Might also add that Go Ahead did gain some additional Tyne Valley routes when they acquired OK Travel who had won certain routes on tender from Northumbria, of which one was the 684 that was operated from OK's Bishop Auckland depot, running dead.


Although OK had a garage on Team Valley, the Newcastle-Ovingham OK service was operated by Bishop Auckland depot but it wasn't a dead run. The vehicle allocated to the turn ran from Bishop Auckland to Newcastle as X724, running approximately 10 minutes ahead of the 07:40 724 from BA, this ran as far as Chester Moor pick up only then along the chester le street bypass and on to the A1. taking junction 66 back on to the service bus route along the A167 through low fell to gateshead and newcastle as set down only. Once in Newcastle it operated the Ovingham route a few times then formed the 17:03 X724 back to Bishop Auckland. Vehicles used were usually the Daf MB230/Duple 325 coaches D90x EAJ, or the Leyland Tiger/Plaxtons LFT xX, JIJ3737 which was the rebodied LFT6X made a regular appearance on this diagram

I think that might have been the vehicle that allowed breaks to be taken. Certainly, arriving in Newcastle at that time, it was a bit late for the early Ovingham runs! I think two vehicles ran dead from Bishop via the A68 to Corbridge, though they may have subsequently been registered to claim the fuel duty rebate, but the drivers would've need to take breaks so might have been the solution.

 

[kez19]

Any one have ideas what is going on/vehicles? (credit to photographers), are these new vehicles that GNE have acquired (apart from the Plaxton President?)

Go North East - 9063 - YY52LCL - GoNE20210358GoNorthEast

Volvo B7TL - Plaxton President Go North East

www.flickr.com

Go North East - 9054 - YP52CTO - GoNE20210344GoNorthEast

Scania N94UB Omnicity Go North East

www.flickr.com

Go North East - 5504 - YX10EYY - GoNE20210340GoNorthEast

Volvo B7RLE - Wright Eclipse 2 Go North East

www.flickr.com

Go North East: 9055 / YN06JXU

Metrobus' withdrawn Scania N94UB/East Lancs Esteem 6615 (YN06 JXU), which carries Metrobus' original fleet livery, is pictured here at Woodall Services, Sheffield, whilst being transferred on loan to Go North East, to become their fleet number 9055. 28/03/21

www.flickr.com

 

[Andyh82]

They are for additional school services after Easter. The requirement goes up as from April 12th they are both returning to normal schedules on public buses and still running the school extras for social distancing

 

[kez19]

They are for additional school services after Easter. The requirement goes up as from April 12th they are both returning to normal schedules on public buses and still running the school extras for social distancing

aah OK thank you for reply, just intrigued when I seen the pics

 

[RM-Taylor]

Any one have ideas what is going on/vehicles? (credit to photographers), are these new vehicles that GNE have acquired (apart from the Plaxton President?)

Go North East - 5504 - YX10EYY - GoNE20210340GoNorthEast

Volvo B7RLE - Wright Eclipse 2 Go North East

www.flickr.com

East Yorkshire 369/70/71/72 have transferred to GNE

 

[vla50]

Are LX54HAA/HAE permanent in GNE?

 

[cnjb8]

Are LX54HAA/HAE permanent in GNE?

Yes they are

 

[kez19]

I see on Flickr that some of the GNE routes have had a refresh or revamp (possibly)?:

*credit to photographers*

The Loop (was this the 93/94 route?) -(East Gateshead Loop)

Go North East 6155 / LJ62 KOX

- Fleet: 6155 - Reg: LJ62 KOX - Operator: Go North East - Route: 58 - Depot: Riverside - Livery: East Gateshead Loop - Type: Volvo B9TL - Bodywork: Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 - Livery New In: London General - New to/ Year: Go-Ahead LG / 2012 - Location: Sunderland Road, Heworth

www.flickr.com

East Gateshead Rider (58)

Go North East 6149 / LJ62 KBY

- Fleet: 6149 - Reg: LJ62 KBY - Operator: Go North East - Route: 58 - Depot: Riverside - Livery: East Gateshead Rider - Type: Volvo B9TL - Bodywork: Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 - Livery New In: London General - New to/ Year: Go-Ahead LG / 2012 - Location: Wellington Street, Gateshead

www.flickr.com

 

[Andyh82]

Some of these new brands are just too ‘Ray Stenning by Numbers’, rather than anything unique or special it looks like he’s designed them at 4:30 on a Friday

“East Gateshead Rider” - what names did they decline at the brainstorming stage to go with that?

 

[kez19]

Some of these new brands are just too ‘Ray Stenning by Numbers’, rather than anything unique or special it looks like he’s designed them at 4:30 on a Friday

“East Gateshead Rider” - what names did they decline at the brainstorming stage to go with that?

Wasn’t the 58 under Citylink if I remember (not local here but sure I was told along lines of that - stand to be corrected regardless)

I’m surprised why hasn’t the other Quaylink brands gone under Quaycity but seems to be there has been a couple refreshers.

Regarding the East Gateshead rider, I’m going to guess the idea is possibly it’s serves areas east of Gateshead?

I’m agreeing here it’s the same with The Loop has it always been known as that than what seems to adding Gateshead to it? On the other hand is the branding to make it appealing to outsiders as well as locals on specifically the route runs? (I don’t know guessing)

 

[Bristol LHS]

”East Gateshead Rider” - what names did they decline at the brainstorming stage to go with that?

Very odd, can’t think of anyone who’d say they lived in ‘East Gateshead’. Sounds like a political constituency rather than a real place. It’s not even geographically accurate in the case of the Loop, which covers areas west of the town, like Bensham and Teams. Very odd, and I say that as someone who generally thinks Martijn Gilbert hasn’t put a foot wrong so far.

 

[kez19]

Very odd, can’t think of anyone who’d say they lived in ‘East Gateshead’. Sounds like a political constituency rather than a real place. It’s not even geographically accurate in the case of the Loop, which covers areas west of the town, like Bensham and Teams. Very odd, and I say that as someone who generally thinks Martijn Gilbert hasn’t put a foot wrong so far.

I'm guessing it should be called the West than the East (lol), I don't know politics in the area but what makes it political if I may ask? (better understanding)

 

[bobslack1982]

Wasn’t the 58 under Citylink if I remember (not local here but sure I was told along lines of that - stand to be corrected regardless)

I’m surprised why hasn’t the other Quaylink brands gone under Quaycity but seems to be there has been a couple refreshers.

Regarding the East Gateshead rider, I’m going to guess the idea is possibly it’s serves areas east of Gateshead?

I’m agreeing here it’s the same with The Loop has it always been known as that than what seems to adding Gateshead to it? On the other hand is the branding to make it appealing to outsiders as well as locals on specifically the route runs? (I don’t know guessing)

The 57 and 58 were both Citylink at one point as they covered a common section between Heworth and Newcastle.

East Gateshead Rider is a bit of a nothing brand in my opinion. Can’t really see how it would appeal to outsiders when it doesn’t go to Newcastle and only covers a circular route. Very strange.

 

[kez19]

The 57 and 58 were both Citylink at one point as they covered a common section between Heworth and Newcastle.

East Gateshead Rider is a bit of a nothing brand in my opinion. Can’t really see how it would appeal to outsiders when it doesn’t go to Newcastle and only covers a circular route. Very strange.

I thought that and thank you for correcting me here being Citylink. The times I visited Newcastle I have seen Citylink more than anything else similar to their other brands (previous), I personally took it as East Gateshead was those areas but at a guess i'll be wrong (lol), I am surprised as to why not use some of the existing brands and jazz them up a bit but it looks like everything is getting an overhaul. I wonder if the Tyne Valley Ten will be next, wonder what that will go under next?

Just to pick up on something you mentioned, at a guess (unless its been previously mentioned and I have forgotten) are the 57/58 circulars similar to the 53/54 as well as the 93/94 for specific areas?

 

[bobslack1982]

I thought that and thank you for correcting me here being Citylink. The times I visited Newcastle I have seen Citylink more than anything else similar to their other brands (previous), I personally took it as East Gateshead was those areas but at a guess i'll be wrong (lol), I am surprised as to why not use some of the existing brands and jazz them up a bit but it looks like everything is getting an overhaul. I wonder if the Tyne Valley Ten will be next, wonder what that will go under next?

Just to pick up on something you mentioned, at a guess (unless its been previously mentioned and I have forgotten) are the 57/58 circulars similar to the 53/54 as well as the 93/94 for specific areas?

No - the 57 goes (or went - it’s been a while since I used the bus) from Newcastle to Wardley via Heworth. The 58 used to go from North Tyneside to Heworth. Think they curtailed that so it ran from Newcastle only though. The 57 was originally the Fab 57.

The Tyne valley services could probably do with being upgraded.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Some of these new brands are just too ‘Ray Stenning by Numbers’, rather than anything unique or special it looks like he’s designed them at 4:30 on a Friday

“East Gateshead Rider” - what names did they decline at the brainstorming stage to go with that?

I usually find more to praise with Best Impressions but I do agree with the sentiment. The livery is, of course, very similar to the First schemes in Eastern Counties and South Wales and, unless you're an enthusiast, you're not going to be realising that. However, the brand name is very anodyne, and it's a criticism I have of the replacement of the Fab schemes with the Citylink brand.

That's not to say that there weren't similarly naff ones in the past - Route 19, West Durham Swift, Laser, Street Shuttle - but this one does feel bereft of any distinctiveness

 

[Megafuss]

To be fair to GNE, the 58 is part of the East Gateshead Bus Alliance. So the brand name is not "out there". MG is big on partnership working,.so I wouldn't be surprised if it's a nod to that

 

[Andyh82]

Very odd, can’t think of anyone who’d say they lived in ‘East Gateshead’. Sounds like a political constituency rather than a real place. It’s not even geographically accurate in the case of the Loop, which covers areas west of the town, like Bensham and Teams. Very odd, and I say that as someone who generally thinks Martijn Gilbert hasn’t put a foot wrong so far.

In my opinion far too many long standing brands are being replaced often by much more bland corporate sounding names, or fairly generic names are being replaced by new equally generic names, just different ones.

When it comes due to for a revamp, will even “The Angel” survive?

 

[kez19]

No - the 57 goes (or went - it’s been a while since I used the bus) from Newcastle to Wardley via Heworth. The 58 used to go from North Tyneside to Heworth. Think they curtailed that so it ran from Newcastle only though. The 57 was originally the Fab 57.

The Tyne valley services could probably do with being upgraded.

Understand apologies in terms of 57

May I suggest the Hexham 10 just kidding here!

 

[NorthOxonian]

Understand apologies in terms of 57

May I suggest the Hexham 10 just kidding here!

The 10 service is no laughing matter - the buses that run on it feel distinctly out of date compared to many other routes, without even features like charging which are now standard on virtually all of the longer Go North East routes.

The problem is how you'd upgrade the route. It's not isn't a route which really fits the X-Lines philosophy, because it's less about end to end links, and more about local journeys. It also tends to be quite taxing on the buses which run it because it runs through quite undulating terrain - if anything, the shorter 10A and 10B routes are worse for that. It would be nice to have them become like the 309/310 routes (almost X-Lines standard, but not part of the same brand), but that would not come cheap given the high frequency and long length of these routes - so I don't know what they'll do.

 

[rg177]

No - the 57 goes (or went - it’s been a while since I used the bus) from Newcastle to Wardley via Heworth. The 58 used to go from North Tyneside to Heworth. Think they curtailed that so it ran from Newcastle only though. The 57 was originally the Fab 57.

The Tyne valley services could probably do with being upgraded.

The 57 took over the North Tyneside section from the 58 around the time it received Citaros (some of which had ironically started off on the 58 when it was introduced north of the river in 2008).

It was then gradually run down north of the river with Sunday services being reduced, then evening services being lopped off altogether before the 311 was brought in to make up the shortfall.

For the better to be honest, as the 57 was forever late in rush hour due to Tyne Bridge traffic then would lose even more time on the Coast Road/Corner House section.

The first bus on the 311 now is also 0519 into town as opposed to 0557 on the 57.

 

[kez19]

The 10 service is no laughing matter - the buses that run on it feel distinctly out of date compared to many other routes, without even features like charging which are now standard on virtually all of the longer Go North East routes.

The problem is how you'd upgrade the route. It's not isn't a route which really fits the X-Lines philosophy, because it's less about end to end links, and more about local journeys. It also tends to be quite taxing on the buses which run it because it runs through quite undulating terrain - if anything, the shorter 10A and 10B routes are worse for that. It would be nice to have them become like the 309/310 routes (almost X-Lines standard, but not part of the same brand), but that would not come cheap given the high frequency and long length of these routes - so I don't know what they'll do.

I have never used the 10 service whilst I have visited, but you are right as it goes as far a Hexham, it seems a double decker route, I didn't realise until recently that the X84/X85 seem to be a quick route too (I think its the X84 or X85 that is the quickest to Hexham than the other one including the 10)