North East Buses

5 have been delivered. 3 out in service two sitting at the depot. The new 3 Mercedes Setras or however you say them are arriving tomorrow

(09 Apr 2021, 6:35 pm)MichealAaron wrote [ -> ]5 have been delivered. 3 out in service two sitting at the depot. The new 3 Mercedes Setras or however you say them are arriving tomorrow

The three currently in service are YX21RUA, YX21RUC and YX21RUH. All used on services 37/73 yesterday.

Gateshead Central Taxis have won the contract for the Sunderland Nightingale Hospital shuttle. Unsure of start date, it was announced in Martijns video this afternoon.

Is there a link to the video

(15 Apr 2021, 5:24 pm)Micheal Aaron Parker wrote [ -> ]Is there a link to the video

https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...2742457742

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(15 Apr 2021, 5:15 pm)morritt89 wrote [ -> ]Gateshead Central Taxis have won the contract for the Sunderland Nightingale Hospital shuttle. Unsure of start date, it was announced in Martijns video this afternoon.

Ugh,

Makes me wonder what there going to use. As the only thing they have spare is the deckers

Gateshead Central Taxis take over the Go North East/Jh Coaches SNS service free the 19th of April

Would hazard a guess that they use ADL Enviro 200MMCs on it. However it may be in their best interests to behave (running to timetable, turning up, running the correct route etc.) when operating this high profile contract. Bet they won't do as good of a job as JH/GNE.

Just have to wait and see. Makes me wonder if there gonna use single deckers or double deckers

I thought it was more of a shuttle for the fact that the 56 couldn't go past? When the road opens back up it seems odd to have a Nexus route effectively competing with a commercial route.

Connector shuttle from Washington's Concord Bus Station is the shuttle bus for the 56, wouldn't be suprised if the 56 is routed along there when the road reopens. Where as the Metro Shuttle links it to Heworth whilst the Sunderland Shuttle serves the likes of Castletown on its way to Nightingale. Giving the amount of local vaccination centres I'm amazed the Sunderland shuttle is still running, wonder if they are reducing the timetable on it.... not that GCT understands how a timetable works.

(16 Apr 2021, 12:19 pm)Micheal Aaron Parker wrote [ -> ]Just have to wait and see. Makes me wonder if there gonna use single deckers or double deckers

Based on the loading I have seen, a car will be big enough!

(16 Apr 2021, 10:15 pm)busmanT wrote [ -> ]Based on the loading I have seen, a car will be big enough!

Don't give them any ideas! [emoji6][emoji1]

Just picturing a Skoda Octavia taxi pulling into Park Lane Interchange

(16 Apr 2021, 10:15 pm)busmanT wrote [ -> ]Based on the loading I have seen, a car will be big enough!

Are people still using the vaccine centres?
Everyone I know, including myself, got their vaccine at the GP or pharmacy

Around my area, the vaccines are being given at the Langdale Centre which is a council facility in my old middle school which is being used by local GPs as the vaccination hubs. I wouldn't be suprised if all shuttle services are withdrawn within the next month or two and the 50/56 re-routed to serve until the vaccinations reach a minimal level.

(16 Apr 2021, 10:17 am)Micheal Aaron Parker wrote [ -> ]Gateshead Central Taxis take over the Go North East/Jh Coaches SNS service free the 19th of April

Wonder why

(17 Apr 2021, 5:52 am)GNE6312 wrote [ -> ]Wonder why

The service came out to tender again and Gateshead Central Taxis were a lot cheaper.


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(16 Apr 2021, 10:34 pm)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]Are people still using the vaccine centres?
Everyone I know, including myself, got their vaccine at the GP or pharmacy

Yes, it was fairly busy when I got mine done there.

(17 Apr 2021, 5:57 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]The service came out to tender again and Gateshead Central Taxis were a lot cheaper.


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Shock

Well the running of the SNS got off to a good start, Solo SR YJ18DLE has expired near Nightingale.

(19 Apr 2021, 9:16 am)Rapidsnap wrote [ -> ]Well the running of the SNS got off to a good start, Solo SR YJ18DLE has expired near Nightingale.

What else is running on the SNS?

(19 Apr 2021, 10:19 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]What else is running on the SNS?

Central Taxis Gateshead SK67 FMY. by Guy Park-Royal, on Flickr
Central Taxis Gateshead YJ64 DYV. by Guy Park-Royal, on Flickr

Looks like one StreetLite and two solos. Im very surprised at that

(19 Apr 2021, 10:57 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote [ -> ]Central Taxis Gateshead SK67 FMY. by Guy Park-Royal, on Flickr
Central Taxis Gateshead YJ64 DYV. by Guy Park-Royal, on Flickr

Thank you, bit of a mix

Aren’t they supposed to be every 20
minutes as I’ve come over to the road near Nightingale and it was half an hour between each one


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(19 Apr 2021, 11:58 am)TEN 6083 wrote [ -> ]Aren’t they supposed to be every 20
minutes as I’ve come over to the road near Nightingale and it was half an hour between each one


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Now they’re just coming within 10 minutes of each other as DYV has went past me 3 times and FMY has just came past 5 minutes after DYV


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(19 Apr 2021, 11:58 am)TEN 6083 wrote [ -> ]Aren’t they supposed to be every 20
minutes as I’ve come over to the road near Nightingale and it was half an hour between each one


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And of course they don't track on bustimes.org and neither GCT nor Nexus have an app that shows their buses

(19 Apr 2021, 5:50 pm)busmanT wrote [ -> ]And of course they don't track on bustimes.org and neither GCT nor Nexus have an app that shows their buses

Yeah I’ve noticed that, could say the same about Scarlet Band as all other operators that run multiple services barring these two can be tracked but that’s for another thread that discussion.


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We've established elsewhere on this forum this evening that certain members of the forum like to 'attack' Gateshead Central Taxis. Others would suggest it's noting operational issues in a bid to provoke discussion on compliance and adhering to legal and/or contractual obligations.

It was noted yesterday that the SNS service, on its first day of operation under Gateshead Central Taxis, suffered a breakdown with an 18-reg Optare Solo. This is unfortunate, but paired with the roadworks near Deptford Terrace, resulted in services running to severe delays all day. Seemingly rather than three buses run the contract as they are contractually bound to do, Gateshead Central ran the service with two buses (a 64-reg Optare Solo and a 67-reg Wright Streetlite). At approximately 17:30, I noticed the Solo and Streetlite running in tandem. That presumably means that there were gaps in service of an hour, rather than the service running every 20 minutes as is scheduled.

The 18-reg Solo was allocated again today so was presumably repaired (hooray!) however it is disappointing to note that the quality of service has vastly reduced now the service is no longer being operated by Go North East (sub-contracted to JH Coaches):

• mini/midibus sized vehicles now being allocated, rather than full-size single-decks, reducing social distancing capabilities (should loadings have warranted larger buses).
  
• vehicles not equipped with vandal screens to protect drivers, and despite this, most drivers are not wearing a face covering (see examples here, here, here, here and here).
  
• vehicles not equipped with hand sanitiser, as they were historically
  
• improper social distancing measures in place between presumed staff members (see examples here and here - I wonder if the other man not driving enjoyed his McDonalds at the front of the bus?)
  

What we don't know for certain is if Gateshead Central Taxis are using any enhanced cleaning measures such as fogging devices, as we know the previous operator of the contract did, providing assurance and comfort of mind to those using the bus to get their vaccination, but I'd suggest this is unlikely.

Elsewhere it was noted that whilst both the 592 and 593 operated yesterday (both departing Doxford Park on time), but the 17:15 journey on service 593 operated in excess of five minutes early heading towards Pallion.

(20 Apr 2021, 6:45 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]It was noted yesterday that the SNS service, on its first day of operation under Gateshead Central Taxis, suffered a breakdown with an 18-reg Optare Solo. This is unfortunate, but paired with the roadworks near Deptford Terrace, resulted in services running to severe delays all day. Seemingly rather than three buses run the contract as they are contractually bound to do, Gateshead Central ran the service with two buses (a 64-reg Optare Solo and a 67-reg Wright Streetlite). At approximately 17:30, I noticed the Solo and Streetlite running in tandem. That presumably means that there were gaps in service of an hour, rather than the service running every 20 minutes as is scheduled.

Had this been the first day GCT had failed to meet expectations, I'd be all for letting a small independent have some time to get stuff right. Reality is they've been absolute cowboys for years now, reportedly running vehicles in unroadworthy states, constantly missing out sections of routes, failing to meet contract spec (the list goes on). 

How these guys get contracts ahead of reputable independents, such as JH, or larger companies is disgusting. With NE local authorities seemingly advocating a race to the bottom (see Northumberland CC with their awards of contracts to companies such as PCL), it makes you wonder why companies such as GNE even bother trying to get folk back onto buses. Constantly rewarding shoddy operation with new contracts will inevitably lead to small companies who hold high standards being pushed out of business and that's unacceptable.