Carlisle to Newcastle 685

[route101]

I'm looking at doing the full route from Carlisle to Newcastle. I noticed Stagecoach have double deckers. I'm a bit confused with the operations as Arriva also run on the 685. From downloading the 685 timetable, I see the route is hourly. On google maps it shows short workings to Hexham and Brampton. I would like to travel on Stagecoach for chance of a decker.

Has anyone used this route recently?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Looking at doing the full route from Carlisle to Newcastle. I noticed Stagecoach have double decker's. Bit confused with the operations. Arriva also run on the 685. From downloading the 685 timetable, the route is hourly. On google maps it shows short workings to Hexham and Brampton. Would like to travel on Stagecoach for chance of a decker.

Anyone used this route recently?

The 685 is a long standing joint route between Carlisle and Newcastle. Stagecoach North West do 2 boards whilst Arriva North East do 3 boards on an hourly frequency. Stagecoach journeys are

0605 0705 1115 1215 1615 1715 ex Carlisle
0845 0945 1345 1445 1845 1945 ex Newcastle

The other long journeys are Arriva with Omnicities and Pulsars. Stagecoach do short journeys between Carlisle and Brampton, and Go North East run deckers on the X84/5 from Hexham to Newcastle. All are covered by an Explorer North East ticket.

 

[route101]

The 685 is a long standing joint route between Carlisle and Newcastle. Stagecoach North West do 2 boards whilst Arriva North East do 3 boards on an hourly frequency. Stagecoach journeys are

0605 0705 1115 1215 1615 1715 ex Carlisle
0845 0945 1345 1445 1845 1945 ex Newcastle

The other long journeys are Arriva with Omnicities and Pulsars. Stagecoach do short journeys between Carlisle and Brampton, and Go North East run deckers on the X84/5 from Hexham to Newcastle. All are covered by an Explorer North East ticket.

Thanks for the info.

Looking at doing this journey one way, with train on way back.

 

[DanNCL]

Stagecoach trips operating the full route usually use specially branded ADL E400MMCs. Occasionally another decker or a single deck E300 may appear instead.

Stagecoach trips operating only between Carlisle and Brampton usually use specially branded Optare Solos.

Arriva trips usually use specially branded Scania OmniCities:

Go North East use ADL E400MMCs on the X84/X85 between Newcastle and Hexham.

If using an Explorer North East ticket I'd recommend taking a Stagecoach 685 from Carlisle to Hexham, stopping in Hexham for a break, then taking the Go North East X84/X85 for the rest of the journey to Newcastle. The Arriva OmniCities are not in the best condition and are probably best avoided if possible.

Go North East also operate the 10 between Hexham and Newcastle, but I wouldn't recommend the 10 as it's considerably slower than the alternatives.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Stagecoach trips operating the full route usually use these ADL E400MMCs:
View attachment 99965
Occasionally another decker or a single deck E300 may appear instead.

Stagecoach trips operating only between Carlisle and Brampton usually use these Optare Solos:
View attachment 99969

Arriva trips usually use these Scania OmniCities:
View attachment 99968

Go North East use these ADL E400MMCs on the X84/X85 between Newcastle and Hexham:
View attachment 99970

(all photos from Google)

If using an Explorer North East ticket I'd recommend taking a Stagecoach 685 from Carlisle to Hexham, stopping in Hexham for a break, then taking the Go North East X84/X85 for the rest of the journey to Newcastle. The Arriva OmniCities are not in the best condition and are probably best avoided if possible.

Go North East also operate the 10 between Hexham and Newcastle, but I wouldn't recommend the 10 as it's considerably slower than the alternatives.

The Arriva 685 boards are now almost exclusively Daf Pulsars. I guess that they're less likely to break down that the Omnicities which is important given the length of the route.

The X84/X85 e400mmc are better than Stagecoach spec so would recommend having a break (and Hexham is a lovely town).

 

[route101]

Stagecoach trips operating the full route usually use these ADL E400MMCs:
View attachment 99965
Occasionally another decker or a single deck E300 may appear instead.

Stagecoach trips operating only between Carlisle and Brampton usually use these Optare Solos:
View attachment 99969

Arriva trips usually use these Scania OmniCities:
View attachment 99968

Go North East use these ADL E400MMCs on the X84/X85 between Newcastle and Hexham:
View attachment 99970

(all photos from Google)

If using an Explorer North East ticket I'd recommend taking a Stagecoach 685 from Carlisle to Hexham, stopping in Hexham for a break, then taking the Go North East X84/X85 for the rest of the journey to Newcastle. The Arriva OmniCities are not in the best condition and are probably best avoided if possible.

Go North East also operate the 10 between Hexham and Newcastle, but I wouldn't recommend the 10 as it's considerably slower than the alternatives.

Yes, hoping for a double decker.

Explorer North East ticket is valid on Stagecoach and GoNortheast I take it?

Yes, perhaps I will take a break in Hexham.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yes, hoping for a double decker.

Explorer North East ticket is valid on Stagecoach and GoNortheast I take it?

Yes, perhaps I will take a break in Hexham.

Explorer North East is valid on Stagecoach on the 685 (and on Carlisle locals), Stagecoach North East, Go North East, Arriva North East and the T&W Metro. More detail here https://networkonetickets.co.uk/tickets/explorer/ - it's a brilliant ticket

 

[DanNCL]

Yes, hoping for a double decker.

Explorer North East ticket is valid on Stagecoach and GoNortheast I take it?

Yes, perhaps I will take a break in Hexham.

Valid on all of the buses mentioned, although it's not valid on trains west of Blaydon.

 

[RELL6L]

Stagecoach double deckers are not guaranteed, I think the requirement revolves around schools and it may be less likely in school holidays. Neither board was a decker today for example and both the branded E400s were off the road today. The second board (07.05 etc) looks a better bet for a decker normally. Its harder to follow on BusTimes because the Stagecoach 685 timetable is missing, you have to look on the vehicles section and work out what has gone on. I do believe some Arriva journeys were deckers for a bit but this seems to have stopped. Well worth a break at Hexham, Corbridge is also very nice.

 

[darloscott]

Stagecoach double deckers are not guaranteed, I think the requirement revolves around schools and it may be less likely in school holidays. Neither board was a decker today for example and both the branded E400s were off the road today. The second board (07.05 etc) looks a better bet for a decker normally. Its harder to follow on BusTimes because the Stagecoach 685 timetable is missing, you have to look on the vehicles section and work out what has gone on. I do believe some Arriva journeys were deckers for a bit but this seems to have stopped. Well worth a break at Hexham, Corbridge is also very nice.

Believe the Arriva double decker run was the 1245 ex Newcastle as it hit a school on the return. Now the schools are finished for the summer there won’t be a need for one.

 

[rg177]

Arriva usually throw a mix of DAF Pulsars, Sapphire-spec Enviro 400s and Omnicities onto the 685.

Amusingly the 685 branded Omnicities appear more on the 306 and the 306 branded Pulsars appear more on the 685...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Arriva usually throw a mix of DAF Pulsars, Sapphire-spec Enviro 400s and Omnicities onto the 685.

Amusingly the 685 branded Omnicities appear more on the 306 and the 306 branded Pulsars appear more on the 685...

I think the pair of Sapphire spec Pulsars released from Durham to Darlington (and looking a bit scruffy externally) are fairly common on there.

So you've a targeted livery (courtesy of Ray Stenning) and publicity but that Arriva has decided that the buses that carry it are no longer up to the job so a mix of liveries and vehicles appear at random. Meanwhile, Go North East has put on new deckers on the X84/5 that are very well appointed. To say there's a gulf is understating it!

 

[rg177]

I think the pair of Sapphire spec Pulsars released from Durham to Darlington (and looking a bit scruffy externally) are fairly common on there.

So you've a targeted livery (courtesy of Ray Stenning) and publicity but that Arriva has decided that the buses that carry it are no longer up to the job so a mix of liveries and vehicles appear at random. Meanwhile, Go North East has put on new deckers on the X84/5 that are very well appointed. To say there's a gulf is understating it!

It's just an Arriva North East issue in general.

My local routes are the Coast Road corridor and the gulf between the 306 and 309/310/311 is often huge.

The 306 can turn out anything from 51 reg Geminis that sound like dying lawnmowers to Sapphire Enviro 400s branded for the 44/45 to Streetlites branded for the 52. The latter routes are all quite consistently 63 reg B9s that have been refurbished with tables. The exception is usually during the week when one board is usually an Omnidekka as required.

 

[David Verity]

It's just an Arriva North East issue in general.

My local routes are the Coast Road corridor and the gulf between the 306 and 309/310/311 is often huge.

The 306 can turn out anything from 51 reg Geminis that sound like dying lawnmowers to Sapphire Enviro 400s branded for the 44/45 to Streetlites branded for the 52. The latter routes are all quite consistently 63 reg B9s that have been refurbished with tables. The exception is usually during the week when one board is usually an Omnidekka as required.

Seems Arriva no longer consider the Scanias reliable enough to be trusted with several round trips to Carlisle - and Stagecoach have debranded their Enviro MMCs. Looks as though the brand isn't worth fighting for any more.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Seems Arriva no longer consider the Scanias reliable enough to be trusted with several round trips to Carlisle - and Stagecoach have debranded their Enviro MMCs. Looks as though the brand isn't worth fighting for any more.

Sadly, a recognition of the travails of both firms. Arriva haven't been bothered to invest and/or livery up vehicles that can manage the route whilst Stagecoach have got the vehicles but they've been debranded ahead of repainting their "local" scheme that has no local connection at all.

 

[cnjb8]

I think Arriva North East are sitting on a lot of potential First South West style expansion in Northumberland, but they are a mess right now

 

[route101]

Done the trip today. Took train from Carlisle to Newcastle and worked my way back.

Took the x85 from Newcastle to Hexham. Spent a few hours in Hexham and took 685 to Carlisle.

Disappointing to see stagecoach putting out e300s on the 685. I thought there was route branded deckers for the route.

Bought the north east explorer on Stagecoach app. GoNorthEast wasn't sure of the ticket but let me on.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Bought the north east explorer on Stagecoach app. GoNorthEast wasn't sure of the ticket but let me on.

That's always a risk. Despite the ticket being quite well publicised, I seem to run into more issues when using it than other multi operator tickets. One way of mitigating the risk is to try and buy the ticket from a Metro station, if convenient. I've noticed that while bus drivers get very suspicious of rival bus operators' tickets, they are much less suspicious of them when on Metro stock. I genuinely have no idea why this is.

Mind, it's hilarious you did this today, because In a rather bizzare coincidence, I actually (roughly) did the reverse of your journey! I got the first Stagecoach 685 from Newcastle to Carlisle, and returned from Carlisle by train (I did continue to Dumfries using the 79 service, and didn't break in Hexham, but other than that pretty much the same). I had one of the E300s too and it was rather empty for much of the route, but filled up nicely past Haltwhistle and especially through Brampton. The peripheral location of its railway station seems to push the town's residents towards the bus.

At the risk of making you envious, I do think the westbound journey is slightly better than the eastbound. The section between Haltwhistle and Brampton has some stunning views on a clear day, with the North Pennines, the northernmost hills of the Lake District, and even across to Solway Firth to mighty Criffell.

 

[markymark2000]

That's always a risk. Despite the ticket being quite well publicised, I seem to run into more issues when using it than other multi operator tickets. One way of mitigating the risk is to try and buy the ticket from a Metro station, if convenient. I've noticed that while bus drivers get very suspicious of rival bus operators' tickets, they are much less suspicious of them when on Metro stock. I genuinely have no idea why this is.

Completely unrelated to the area but I have had this issue with operators refusing me onboard because 'thats an arriva ticket', it isn't, it's a council multi operator ticket which you sell and accept, it just so happens that I purchased it on an Arriva bus.

This sort of thing is made easier if you get a ticket from a ticket machine as some tickets then replace the operator logo with the logo of the ticket (Merseytravel Solo logo prints on the top instead of the operator. 1Bws similarly does that).

 

[route101]

That's always a risk. Despite the ticket being quite well publicised, I seem to run into more issues when using it than other multi operator tickets. One way of mitigating the risk is to try and buy the ticket from a Metro station, if convenient. I've noticed that while bus drivers get very suspicious of rival bus operators' tickets, they are much less suspicious of them when on Metro stock. I genuinely have no idea why this is.

Mind, it's hilarious you did this today, because In a rather bizzare coincidence, I actually (roughly) did the reverse of your journey! I got the first Stagecoach 685 from Newcastle to Carlisle, and returned from Carlisle by train (I did continue to Dumfries using the 79 service, and didn't break in Hexham, but other than that pretty much the same). I had one of the E300s too and it was rather empty for much of the route, but filled up nicely past Haltwhistle and especially through Brampton. The peripheral location of its railway station seems to push the town's residents towards the bus.

At the risk of making you envious, I do think the westbound journey is slightly better than the eastbound. The section between Haltwhistle and Brampton has some stunning views on a clear day, with the North Pennines, the northernmost hills of the Lake District, and even across to Solway Firth to mighty Criffell.

Yes, that section of the A69 is great. Love this part of England.

I took the 1054 Northern Class 158 from Carlisle to Newcastle.

Was a 64 plate E300 on the 685, 1540 from Hexham to Carlisle.

I bought the NE Explorer on the Stagecoach app.

I do want to go back and do the routes out to Alston.

 

[David Verity]

Done the trip today. Took train from Carlisle to Newcastle and worked my way back.

Took the x85 from Newcastle to Hexham. Spent a few hours in Hexham and took 685 to Carlisle.

Disappointing to see stagecoach putting out e300s on the 685. I thought there was route branded deckers for the route.

Bought the north east explorer on Stagecoach app. GoNorthEast wasn't sure of the ticket but let me on.

Double deckers appear only on journeys which convey pupils to and from Hexham schools. The brandings have been removed so I am informed. Stagecoach had two liveried E300s on the service before double decks were needed. Both Arriva and Stagecoach appear to have lost interest in pushing the brand.

 

[route101]

Double deckers appear only on journeys which convey pupils to and from Hexham schools. The brandings have been removed so I am informed. Stagecoach had two liveried E300s on the service before double decks were needed. Both Arriva and Stagecoach appear to have lost interest in pushing the brand.

A shame, such a scenic route!

 

[chiltern trev]

The Arriva branded Omnicities have become too unreliable for the 685 and have not been seen for several months. They disappeared at lockdown 1, briefly reappeared between lockdowns 1 and 2. So now it is Pulsars. The Arriva double decker, E400, only appears during school times for the 1245 ex Newcastle as it is needed for the return journey from Carlisle.

The Stagecoach MMCs 11157 and 11158 have lost the text and route number branding in the last 2 weeks but retain the green add-on. According to Workington Heritage Group newsletter I received this week, one of 11157 and 1158 is going on a summer holiday to Kendal depot to help out the opentops on the 599 Bowness <> Grasmere.

The Arriva double decker working appeared about 2 years ago due to the number of school children using the service increasing. Stagecoach saw the same at schools in time into Hexham and school's out time from Hexham which co-incided with the Stagecoach number 2 board. So a 55 reg Trident appeared as that was all Carlisle depot had ( about 5 or 6 of them) and inevitably the long route took it toll so the MMCs appeared being the last 2 of a batch of 20 - the other 18 going into Morecambe.

Stagecoach branded coach seated 2*E300 SN64 reg 27141 and 27142 which were brought new for the route. When 11157 appeared on the route, one of the SN64s (27141) got repainted back into standard Stagecoach livery. The other route branded SN64 (27142) stayed on the route as 11158 went on a 1 year diversion via Stagecoach in Stockport for various technology trials. 27142 or an E400 is the first choice backup to the MMCs - after that you get 27141 or a MAN E300.

There is also 47921 Solo route branded which does the Brampton short workings.

If you look up the timetable via a north east focussed traveline (or similar), the Arriva timetable is shown (with the full route Stagecoach) but not the Brampton short workings.

To get the full route and short workings you need to use the Stagecoach Carlisle website or Cumbria County Council which then show 2 versions, one for the full route and one for everything between Brampton and Carlisle.

As an aside, any developer submitting on Carlisle City Council planning who uses a remote person (non Cumbrian) always gets the 685 bus route info wrong because they find the Arriva timetable. And as they are not local they don't know any better and so don't know what they have missed!!!


Edit - 24 July. MMC 11158 out on the route today now in the local livery. Also E400 19145.

11157 being repainted into local livery.