Newcastle Upon Tyne buses.

[83G/84D]

I am going to Newcastle for a few days and was wondering where in and around Newcastle the best spots are to watch the buses.

I understand Arriva & Stagecoach are the main operators but are there any smaller bus operators?

Any help with locations to visit and bus companies to see appreciated. I will be using public transport to get around.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I am going to Newcastle for a few days and was wondering where in and around Newcastle the best spots are to watch the buses.

I understand Arriva & Stagecoach are the main operators but are there any smaller bus operators?

Any help with locations to visit and bus companies to see appreciated. I will be using public transport to get around.

The main companies are Stagecoach, Arriva and Go North East! Others who run in are Stagecoach Cumberland but there are relatively few smaller operators - they're confined to schools and tendered routes (like Phoenix Taxis) and a number are even in Nexus livery.

Best locations to spot are the linked bus stations at Haymarket (mainly Arriva) and Eldon Square (mainly Go NE). Head down to the end of Northumberland Street towards Monument and there's more Go NE and most Stagecoach services

 

[Statto]

The exit junction from Haymarket is also the entrance/exit junction to Eldon Square, so that spot might be worth going to, & get the best of both worlds, yep Greys Monument about 5-10 minute walk from Eldon Square/Haymarket where you'll see Stagecoach & more GNEs.

 

[Tetchytyke]

The main operators are Stagecoach (who operate the Newcastle city services), Arriva (services into north Northumberland and North Tyneside), and Go Ahead (services to west Northumberland, Gateshead, County Durham and North Tyneside).

The best place for Stagecoach buses is either at the top end of Gallowgate, by St James Metro station, or by the Monument on Blackett Street. You could also wait by St Mary's Church, opposite Haymarket metro on St Mary's Place, as you'll get all the Arriva and GNE buses into Haymarket bus station as well as the Stagecoach buses heading north.

You could also spot on Percy Street, on the west side opposite the circular car park, as you'll get everything going into Eldon Square bus station and everything coming out of
Haymarket bus station. I'd normally suggest around Central Station, by the Catholic cathedral, too (mostly Go Ahead with some Stagecoach) but the building work on Neville Street seems to playing havoc with the buses.

The best place for Go-Ahead buses is Gateshead metro interchange, as not everything from Gateshead makes it across the bridge.

 

[83G/84D]

Thanks for the replies, your help is appreciated.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A similar request for information for best places etc for Middlesbrough & Stockton-on-Tees.

TIA.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Thanks for the replies, your help is appreciated.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A similar request for information for best places etc for Middlesbrough & Stockton-on-Tees.

TIA.

Stockton - High Street by Market Hall (Shambles)
Middlesbrough - Pavement by mini roundabout opposite bus station (opposite the U shaped central part

Hang around bus station itself taking photos and the Securitate will show a commendable lack of charm.

 

[83G/84D]

Stockton - High Street by Market Hall (Shambles)
Middlesbrough - Pavement by mini roundabout opposite bus station (opposite the U shaped central part

Hang around bus station itself taking photos and the Securitate will show a commendable lack of charm.

Thanks for the advice, I had trouble with a jobsworth jumped up security freak when I was last at Buchanan St bus station Glasgow!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I don't know much about busses, but I can tell you that the service through Jesmond passed from one of the big operators (Stagecoach probably) last year to a private operator who uses ex-Edinburgh single decker busses. The same operator runs ex-Edinburgh double deckers for a University of Northumbria shuttle.

Also, the highly publicised hybrid single-decker busses on the Newcastle-Gateshead cross-river 'Quaylink' services were quietly retired in 2010 and are now operated by a variety of diesel-engined vehicles. Subsidy for these is to be withdrawn altogether later this year.

 

[Kuyoyo]

Stockton - High Street by Market Hall (Shambles)
Middlesbrough - Pavement by mini roundabout opposite bus station (opposite the U shaped central part

Hang around bus station itself taking photos and the Securitate will show a commendable lack of charm.

The security staff in Middlesbrough are fine with people standing outside the BBC Radio offices and around the edge of the ramps. It's people trying to phoro inside the compound that they are claiming down on, especially since the fatal accident in October 2011.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The security staff in Middlesbrough are fine with people standing outside the BBC Radio offices and around the edge of the ramps. It's people trying to phoro inside the compound that they are claiming down on, especially since the fatal accident in October 2011.

That's the area I was alluding to - stand outside the BBC offices and you're fine. Going onto the central apron is understandably frowned upon and also people have been known to be rightly admonished for walking onto the ramps.

It's when people have walked onto the loading areas where they've been a bit heavy handed. However, no issue in standing by the ramps (I.e. Standing on Newport Road and looking up the downramp)

I do sometimes despair when some enthusiasts run out into the road to get a shot, or use flash photography! Nothing is worth endangering themselves or others.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I don't know much about busses, but I can tell you that the service through Jesmond passed from one of the big operators (Stagecoach probably) last year to a private operator who uses ex-Edinburgh single decker busses. The same operator runs ex-Edinburgh double deckers for a University of Northumbria shuttle.

Also, the highly publicised hybrid single-decker busses on the Newcastle-Gateshead cross-river 'Quaylink' services were quietly retired in 2010 and are now operated by a variety of diesel-engined vehicles. Subsidy for these is to be withdrawn altogether later this year.

Subsidy being withdrawn but Go NE are replacing, at least in part? Kevin Carr has already highlighted this!!

 

[Robertj21a]

That's the area I was alluding to - stand outside the BBC offices and you're fine. Going onto the central apron is understandably frowned upon and also people have been known to be rightly admonished for walking onto the ramps.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think the security staff operated outside their jurisdiction in their early days (10+ years ago ?) and the reputation stuck. They certainly tried to tell me that I couldn't stand outside that BBC building on the opposite side of the road and photograph buses exiting the bus station. I pointed out to them that I was quite within my rights to photograph from any public place. The guy went off with a '....I'll call the police....' but, needless to say, nothing ever happened.

They've been much as you describe on more recent visits.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Subsidy being withdrawn but Go NE are replacing, at least in part? Kevin Carr has already highlighted this!!

They're a bit quiet on the details though. Are Go just going to run the Q1 and Q2 commerically, with roughly the same service as at present? I suppose they already have the drivers and the Versas.

I did like the point scoring about the Quality Partnership though

 

[ChathillMan]

GNE will be running the daytime commercially and I understand the rest of it is by deminimus

 

[Segedunum]

I don't know much about busses, but I can tell you that the service through Jesmond passed from one of the big operators (Stagecoach probably) last year to a private operator who uses ex-Edinburgh single decker busses. The same operator runs ex-Edinburgh double deckers for a University of Northumbria shuttle.

Ah yes, the 33 from Pilgrim Street to Hollywood Avenue run by Kingsley's. It's run by either the Lothian Dart or an MCV Evolution in their own livery.