North East Buses

Now there's a novel idea? Equipping Arriva buses with radios! Wouldn't that be a good idea? Same with the Sapphire spec vehicles being cleaned everyday. Why just Sapphire?

Am hoping that when the 5/5a go Sapphire later in the year we lose this 'window' where ccertain trips lose ttime and stay that way? Granted there are the inevitable running delays but I though the revised timings would accommodate that? Am presently on a 5a working which arrived at MBS late and as a result left directly in front of the following 5 trip, meaning buses running in tandem when it might have seemed sensible, given the time of day (mid morning) to send the 5a out "light" in an attempt to put it back on schedule? I'm just the passenger and we see things from a different point of view.

Ex Hospital Shuttle Bus 2835 has now been repainted into standard livery (although they haven't removed single fare from the window.)

(14 May 2014, 2:58 pm)jaimz13 wrote [ -> ]do they normally use dafs on X3A just that i saw one today couldn't see fleet number

Just about anything seems to appear on X3/X3As (except double deckers obviously!) (and minibuses hopefully!). One day it was five buses all of different types!

(14 May 2014, 3:39 pm)robisdave15 wrote [ -> ]So add to that list the fact that Redcar have 2 of their B7's working on 81/81a's which kinda defeats the objective of providing them with 6 of these to run the X93. OK we've had the argument before about the need for rotation etc, etc but we're now approaching peak season with all the attendant blurb and people aren't gonna be impressed if they can't get on, or a seat!

Especially as prior to last year it would be the summer service running by now.

(14 May 2014, 3:39 pm)robisdave15 wrote [ -> ]So add to that list the fact that Redcar have 2 of their B7's working on 81/81a's which kinda defeats the objective of providing them with 6 of these to run the X93. OK we've had the argument before about the need for rotation etc, etc but we're now approaching peak season with all the attendant blurb and people aren't gonna be impressed if they can't get on, or a seat!

81/81a only thing Redcar can really use deckers on to make sure they are fixed before sending them to Whitby.

Yep I get that argument but we're at peak season, or should have been, and we have 6 somewhat suspect and decidedly scruffy internally, 12 year old deckers to meet a demanding PVR of 8 vehicles. The 46xx Scanias which are an ideal addition/substitution are soon to be sans Redcar, that's leaves us in the hands of the dreaded Temsas! P'raps we'll see them offering reduced fares to them that have to stand?

Going on from that we're now sat on a "dreaded Temsa - 4718 - which is full of cigarette smoke inside because its driver chose to sit smoking at the wheel while waiting for his 1930 departure! I thought smoking was banned st MBS and on Arriva buses but obviously not ? I'd complain but whats the point? ArrIva don't give a stuff!

(17 May 2014, 6:40 pm)robisdave wrote [ -> ]Going on from that we're now sat on a "dreaded Temsa - 4718 - which is full of cigarette smoke inside because its driver chose to sit smoking at the wheel while waiting for his 1930 departure! I thought smoking was banned st MBS and on Arriva buses but obviously not ? I'd complain but whats the point? ArrIva don't give a stuff!

I know what you mean. Today I decided to fit in a few Arriva journeys, and on the 64, the driver pulled in at 11:53 for the 12:00 departure from the Arnison Centre, and then while we all stood with our shopping, practically with broken backs, he chose to sit on the step and read the newspaper as well as light up a couple of fags. Left five minutes late.

(17 May 2014, 6:47 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]I know what you mean. Today I decided to fit in a few Arriva journeys, and on the 64, the driver pulled in at 11:53 for the 12:00 departure from the Arnison Centre, and then while we all stood with our shopping, practically with broken backs, he chose to sit on the step and read the newspaper as well as light up a couple of fags. Left five minutes late.

The 64 always stops where that step is so other buses can use the stand, such as the 14 and 42.

(17 May 2014, 7:02 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]The 64 always stops where that step is so other buses can use the stand, such as the 14 and 42.

I know that, I was just commenting on how he was sitting smoking on the step of the bus.

(17 May 2014, 7:03 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]I know that, I was just commenting on how he was sitting smoking on the step of the bus.

The worst I had was a sour faced woman driving the 5A which was running about 5 minutes late then when we got to Newton Aycliffe Town Centre she got out the bus for a fag and played with her phone for another 5 minutes, meaning the service ended up running over 10 minutes late, then when we got to Harrowgate Hill roundabout I saw the X66 I wanted to catch go past so I then kicked right off with her, so I ended up waiting 20 minutes in the rain

(17 May 2014, 7:10 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]The worst I had was a sour faced woman driving the 5A which was running about 5 minutes late then when we got to Newton Aycliffe Town Centre she got out the bus for a fag and played with her phone for another 5 minutes, meaning the service ended up running over 10 minutes late, then when we got to Harrowgate Hill roundabout I saw the X66 I wanted to catch go past so I then kicked right off with her, so I ended up waiting 20 minutes in the rain

I think a lot of Arriva Durham's older drivers have continued on with the firm having been employed during United's tenure (in my opinion, I think United, although before my time, were an excellent company, and I prefer the name United to Arriva), but a lot of the younger drivers are probably just doing it because they want extra money for further education etc, while I think a lot of the middle aged drivers can be quite rude.

I don't want to sound hypocritical, but a lot of the slightly more overweight Arriva drivers have been ignorant with me in the past. A few that are the exact opposite have even pulled the ticket out of the machine for me. In my opinion, the ex-United drivers are the best ones.

I don't know what it's like at Darlington or Stockton, but that's what I think of Arriva Durham's drivers. I'm glad I got that off my chest

(17 May 2014, 7:21 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]I think a lot of Arriva Durham's older drivers have continued on with the firm having been employed during United's tenure (in my opinion, I think United, although before my time, were an excellent company, and I prefer the name United to Arriva), but a lot of the younger drivers are probably just doing it because they want extra money for further education etc, while I think a lot of the middle aged drivers can be quite rude.

I don't want to sound hypocritical, but a lot of the slightly more overweight Arriva drivers have been ignorant with me in the past. A few that are the exact opposite have even pulled the ticket out of the machine for me. In my opinion, the ex-United drivers are the best ones.

I don't know what it's like at Darlington or Stockton, but that's what I think of Arriva Durham's drivers. I'm glad I got that off my chest

Most of the Darlington drivers are alright, especially the Sapphire ones, but there are a few awful ones. My least favourite Darlington driver makes all the OAPs put their pass on the card reader the correct way up, makes everyone sit until the bus has completely stopped and he always looks and sounds like he's been slapped repeatedly with a wet fish. I swear this driver has something against me, I had him on the old 8A and I was about to board the bus because I thought he was ready but he very angrily shouted "WAIT!" then eventually got on the bus. I wanted to get off this bus at Newton Aycliffe Tesco because I was going to catch Scarlet Band Service 16 because I didn't want to walk home in the pouring rain, so then I rang the bell then he drove past the stop then stopped just before the roundabout and he angrily spouted that he did not stop there (even though he did) he didn't open the doors whilst he spouted this argument, then he did open the doors and I had to step in the mud and frantically run for the 16 which had pulled in behind. This experience left me badly shaken, I never left the house for days and I was scared of getting on a bus for about a fortnight.

(17 May 2014, 7:57 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Most of the Darlington drivers are alright, especially the Sapphire ones, but there are a few awful ones. My least favourite Darlington driver makes all the OAPs put their pass on the card reader the correct way up, makes everyone sit until the bus has completely stopped and he always looks and sounds like he's been slapped repeatedly with a wet fish. I swear this driver has something against me, I had him on the old 8A and I was about to board the bus because I thought he was ready but he very angrily shouted "WAIT!" then eventually got on the bus. I wanted to get off this bus at Newton Aycliffe Tesco because I was going to catch Scarlet Band Service 16 because I didn't want to walk home in the pouring rain, so then I rang the bell then he drove past the stop then stopped just before the roundabout and he angrily spouted that he did not stop there (even though he did) he didn't open the doors whilst he spouted this argument, then he did open the doors and I had to step in the mud and frantically run for the 16 which had pulled in behind. This experience left me badly shaken, I never left the house for days and I was scared of getting on a bus for about a fortnight.

I know how you feel about being scared. The way some let little sly remarks out are just asking for an argument. If you read one of my comments about an incident in the GNE Chester Travel Shop in the Customer Services Thread in the Bus Management & Infrastructure Forum, you'll see just how bad customer service gets with major bus companies. With that incident I didn't dare go in, haven't been back since, but surely employees can't just treat customers like that. They should be grateful they're in a job.

(17 May 2014, 8:06 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]I know how you feel about being scared. The way some let little sly remarks out are just asking for an argument. If you read one of my comments about an incident in the GNE Chester Travel Shop in the Customer Services Thread in the Bus Management & Infrastructure Forum, you'll see just how bad customer service gets with major bus companies. With that incident I didn't dare go in, haven't been back since, but surely employees can't just treat customers like that. They should be grateful they're in a job.

I wanted to drag him out the cab and smash his face into the timetable.

I had him a few years later on Service 8 and he was insistent that this lass hadn't pressed the bell (she had) and I think she told him to f**k off.

Haven't seen him in a while so hopefully he got the sack

The problem exists largely because there is a complete lack of on route inspection these days and in the case of Arriva, a toothless complaints procedure and the drivers know this? As I've said before Arriva CS get 10 working days to cobble together a response and most peopie are bored with hearing the excuses. What, for example, would have been the best I could have hoped for had I chose about the smoking carry on tonight? Absolutely nothing apart from a pack of lies about the driver being "spoken to". No suspension, no nothing, they aren't do that because the union would probably intervene and then they are that short of drivers we just have to put up with the way things are. Thank god we are getting Sapphire on one of routes I use the most and thank god I don't care much for the seaside? My clothes still reek of smoke and my a**e aches for travelling on a Temsa !

I've noticed (not naming depot, drivers or route) that there are a small number of drivers who drive very slowly. Now in that sense, I don't mean by sticking to the speed limit or driving to the conditions (weather, traffic e.t.c). I mean by doing 20-25 in a 30 and 30 in a 40 where the conditions clearly allow more. Now if the bus is quiet and or early, then fine. But when progress needs to be made not by flooring it but keeping up with time and driving to the conditions, then it becomes an issue that shouldn't be happening. That could be someones conenction missed or a whole running board in tatters. Aw, and eco driving is a load of rubbish too. Running to time and keeping to time safely, legally and carefully whilst not being ridiculously slow or boyracing and making reasonable progress is more important than green credentials.

(17 May 2014, 10:08 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote [ -> ]I've noticed (not naming depot, drivers or route) that there are a small number of drivers who drive very slowly. Now in that sense, I don't mean by sticking to the speed limit or driving to the conditions (weather, traffic e.t.c). I mean by doing 20-25 in a 30 and 30 in a 40 where the conditions clearly allow more. Now if the bus is quiet and or early, then fine. But when progress needs to be made not by flooring it but keeping up with time and driving to the conditions, then it becomes an issue that shouldn't be happening. That could be someones conenction missed or a whole running board in tatters. Aw, and eco driving is a load of rubbish too. Running to time and keeping to time safely, legally and carefully whilst not being ridiculously slow or boyracing and making reasonable progress is more important than green credentials.

No doubt hoping that if they can get late enough they can miss a run out.

(17 May 2014, 7:57 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Most of the Darlington drivers are alright, especially the Sapphire ones, but there are a few awful ones. My least favourite Darlington driver makes all the OAPs put their pass on the card reader the correct way up, makes everyone sit until the bus has completely stopped and he always looks and sounds like he's been slapped repeatedly with a wet fish. I swear this driver has something against me, I had him on the old 8A and I was about to board the bus because I thought he was ready but he very angrily shouted "WAIT!" then eventually got on the bus. I wanted to get off this bus at Newton Aycliffe Tesco because I was going to catch Scarlet Band Service 16 because I didn't want to walk home in the pouring rain, so then I rang the bell then he drove past the stop then stopped just before the roundabout and he angrily spouted that he did not stop there (even though he did) he didn't open the doors whilst he spouted this argument, then he did open the doors and I had to step in the mud and frantically run for the 16 which had pulled in behind. This experience left me badly shaken, I never left the house for days and I was scared of getting on a bus for about a fortnight.

There used to be a Loftus driver always told people to sit down til the bus pulled up. Haven't noticed him lately. Don't know if he's left or calmed down now!
I would think drivers would get annoyed by these notices telling people not to get up til the bus stops. If everyone did that the buses would never run to time. Stupid as well when half the time people are having to stand anyway (and some seats are not within reach of a bell).

(17 May 2014, 8:14 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]I wanted to drag him out the cab and smash his face into the timetable.

I had him a few years later on Service 8 and he was insistent that this lass hadn't pressed the bell (she had) and I think she told him to f**k off.

Haven't seen him in a while so hopefully he got the sack

There's a well known Stockton driver I'm surprised is still in a job. Once threatened to fill me in for taking his photo. I put a complaint in at the time. Tall, often wears dark glasses.

Being common practice among a few of them for years but them that's not unique to the bus industry, wherever you go there are backsliders that make the joh harder for everyone else.
With regard to Arriva what I said about lack of route inspectors plays a roll in this sort of behaviour.

(18 May 2014, 8:33 am)robisdave wrote [ -> ]Being common practice among a few of them for years but them that's not unique to the bus industry, wherever you go there are backsliders that make the joh harder for everyone else.
With regard to Arriva what I said about lack of route inspectors plays a roll in this sort of behaviour.

I've never ever seen a route inspector or another employee on the bus except the driver. I see a guy in an arriva jacket walking around the town centre (Darlo) with a clipboard marking down something everytime a bus drives past him

And therein is another issue? The usr of these notices clearly is a way of negating claims against falls and stumbles and does put two fold pressure on the drivers? One is the timekeeping point already raised and the other is the 'blame culture' of modern society.

(17 May 2014, 10:08 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote [ -> ]I've noticed (not naming depot, drivers or route) that there are a small number of drivers who drive very slowly. Now in that sense, I don't mean by sticking to the speed limit or driving to the conditions (weather, traffic e.t.c). I mean by doing 20-25 in a 30 and 30 in a 40 where the conditions clearly allow more. Now if the bus is quiet and or early, then fine. But when progress needs to be made not by flooring it but keeping up with time and driving to the conditions, then it becomes an issue that shouldn't be happening. That could be someones conenction missed or a whole running board in tatters. Aw, and eco driving is a load of rubbish too. Running to time and keeping to time safely, legally and carefully whilst not being ridiculously slow or boyracing and making reasonable progress is more important than green credentials.

Think its the same in a lot of jobs these days, they get obsessed with things that don't matter to at the expense of things that do. In my current job (in banking) I get told I an "too business-like"!! They encourage the use of 'buzzwords' like 'fantastic' and accept calling customers 'mate' and 'chief'. Makes me cringe!

(18 May 2014, 8:29 am)Roland Pratt wrote [ -> ]There used to be a Loftus driver always told people to sit down til the bus pulled up. Haven't noticed him lately. Don't know if he's left or calmed down now!
I would think drivers would get annoyed by these notices telling people not to get up til the bus stops. If everyone did that the buses would never run to time. Stupid as well when half the time people are having to stand anyway (and some seats are not within reach of a bell).

I think they'd be happier that the notices are there. If people choose to ignore them, and they end up falling or something because of heavy breaking, then it's their own fault for not adhering to the warning notices. If they weren't there and the same scenario happened, then it'd be a case of guilty until proven innocent for the driver. Not a nice situation to be in.

That's the point I was trying to make, we live in this "blame society" and there are too many that are only to happy to jump on the bandwagon. These notices and CCTV now offer the drivers certain protections and equally the public against bad practice.

(18 May 2014, 8:42 am)aureolin wrote [ -> ]I think they'd be happier that the notices are there. If people choose to ignore them, and they end up falling or something because of heavy breaking, then it's their own fault for not adhering to the warning notices. If they weren't there and the same scenario happened, then it'd be a case of guilty until proven innocent for the driver. Not a nice situation to be in.

Well you might as well ban standing and impose seatbelts. I was on a bus recently which braked sharply and the woman next to me in the window seat smashed her head into the stanchion and there was blood all over. I went head first into a standing passenger and ended up on the floor. The standing passengers came off best!

(18 May 2014, 8:29 am)Roland Pratt wrote [ -> ]There used to be a Loftus driver always told people to sit down til the bus pulled up. Haven't noticed him lately. Don't know if he's left or calmed down now!
I would think drivers would get annoyed by these notices telling people not to get up til the bus stops. If everyone did that the buses would never run to time. Stupid as well when half the time people are having to stand anyway (and some seats are not within reach of a bell).

He did enforce this and every time he was driving the 5/5A it would arrive in Newton Aycliffe 15 minutes late, one time I got on at St. Clare's Church and he'd made an old woman stay sat down and she was quite far back and had one of those trolleys and it was a Prestige and it wouldn't lower and she really struggled to get off the bus.

I think he was driving the "New College" morning Service 7 and he was grabbing the passes out of the students hands and got a good look at each one (surprised he didn't get out a magnifying glass to look at them!) Try explaining that to tutor is the reason your late.

Don't get why they make people sit until the bus stops at the stand but standing is fine. I was a completely full Service 7 one morning and the driver had to brake hard because a lorry had pulled out at The Honest Lawyer and some of the standing passengers fell like skittles.

With regard to the passes I would do exactly that because essentially there is that much fraudulent use. Drivers now have to put relevant weekly tickets in wallets as opposed to handing them to the passenger? Seemingly people had gotten wise to the idea that these could be altered to allow free travel for which the driver would be liable should a revenue check place. Would you like to be liable for £20 just someone doesn't want to pay? And tough luck if the service gets late though this course of action.
As for standing, drivers are told that they must carry the number of passengers as displayed and face possible disciplinary action if they don't. Notices advise passengers to use the grab bars at all times and also common sense says to be award of the situation they find themselves in. Personally I think its quite wrong but this is how it is.