(14 Aug 2025, 8:09 am)S830OFT wrote [ -> ]Another brand new bus in service, this time a white Merc Mellor, WP25ZCZ, which has gone into service on 558s this morning.
Destination display on the new mellor is missing it's route number, and a solo spotted yesterday on the 558 with a paper number on windscreen. Wonder how often the destination is checked/updated.
Service 37 is still showing the old via points from when they last operated the service,
(13 Sep 2025, 5:52 am)Retro Nero wrote [ -> ]Destination display on the new mellor is missing it's route number, and a solo spotted yesterday on the 558 with a paper number on windscreen. Wonder how often the destination is checked/updated.
Service 37 is still showing the old via points from when they last operated the service,
Least they aren't vans though....
after analysing my latest data For Nexus secured services and cost etc.
the T1 T2 T3 are not included so tesco must be funding it however it operates a few minutes less than the M71 I think
(14 Sep 2025, 8:14 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote [ -> ]after analysing my latest data For Nexus secured services and cost etc.
the T1 T2 T3 are not included so tesco must be funding it however it operates a few minutes less than the M71 I think
I haven't seen the T1/T2/T3, having went to see it from using the Bustimes timetable. Definitely keep an eye out for it and get a photo if ever I see it. With the M71 running these days, I don't see it being any use, especially if the buses run close together.
The free Tesco Kingston Park bus does operate, with a white GCT Citroën minibus. Not sure about Saturdays, but definitely on weekdays. Bustimes timetable is correct.
(12 Sep 2025, 5:18 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]Exactly. Strange it doesn't track on the services, and doesn't have a paper destination. Hopefully I'll see the minibus and get a pic too.
(17 Sep 2025, 12:15 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]The free Tesco Kingston Park bus does operate, with a white GCT Citroën minibus. Not sure about Saturdays, but definitely on weekdays. Bustimes timetable is correct.
But today a piece of paper in the front said 40 Gibside...
also saw 3 people board at dinnertime too!
One thing is certain - Gateshead Central Taxis are a complete disgrace and shambles at the minute. They have several missing journeys across their North Tyneside routes on the 19, 35, 350, 351 and 335.
I’m not sure whether it’s a lack of buses or drivers, but either way it needs sorted. And I assume their services in Durham are the same?
(01 Oct 2025, 10:50 pm)NEtransport wrote [ -> ]One thing is certain - Gateshead Central Taxis are a complete disgrace and shambles at the minute. They have several missing journeys across their North Tyneside routes on the 19, 35, 350, 351 and 335.
I’m not sure whether it’s a lack of buses or drivers, but either way it needs sorted. And I assume their services in Durham are the same?
Is that genuine missed journeys, or just not tracking on BusTimes? I think GCT have form for the latter.
If they're genuinely missing that many journeys you need to report them to the Traffic Commissioner.
(02 Oct 2025, 5:26 am)Ianthegoon wrote [ -> ]Is that genuine missed journeys, or just not tracking on BusTimes? I think GCT have form for the latter.
If they're genuinely missing that many journeys you need to report them to the Traffic Commissioner.
They are genuine missing journeys, and when reported to Nexus you get the same response of an operational issue. Nexus don’t seem to really care from what I gather.
When you look on bustimes, you can see the same bus that was operating an earlier service appear on a different route so don’t assume it’s anything to do with breakdowns. Assume either the fleet isn’t big enough, or they don’t have enough drivers.
If NEXUS or Durham can't be bothered, report the issues to NECA and the Traffic Commissioner.
At the very least they are not providing live BODS data, which they are required to by law.
According to Bus Times, as of now there isn't a single vehicle tracking on the R3, R4, R6, 515 nor the 168.
(02 Oct 2025, 10:48 am)DeltaMan wrote [ -> ]If NEXUS or Durham can't be bothered, report the issues to NECA and the Traffic Commissioner.
At the very least they are not providing live BODS data, which they are required to by law.
According to Bus Times, as of now there isn't a single vehicle tracking on the R3, R4, R6, 515 nor the 168.
I know this is the GCT thread, but it's on topic. Do all buses have to provide BODS data, and track on Bustimes? Peter Hogg of Jedburgh has never tracked. When the 131 and 808 merged into the X74 in January last year, I thought it would track, as the 808 nearly always did. As far as I know it's the only registered public service that doesn't track on Bustimes. Presumably it doesn't apply because they are based in Scotland? Likewise will the requirement to have NSAs apply?
(02 Oct 2025, 1:48 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]I know this is the GCT thread, but it's on topic. Do all buses have to provide BODS data, and track on Bustimes? Peter Hogg of Jedburgh has never tracked. When the 131 and 808 merged into the X74 in January last year, I thought it would track, as the 808 nearly always did. As far as I know it's the only registered public service that doesn't track on Bustimes. Presumably it doesn't apply because they are based in Scotland? Likewise will the requirement to have NSAs apply?
I believe it's open to interpretation.
Scots Government have thier own open data laws, which currently don't require live tracking data (although they are looking to change that).
English law states that for the English leg of cross border journeys must be tracked.
So, take your pick!
(02 Oct 2025, 7:29 am)NEtransport wrote [ -> ]They are genuine missing journeys, and when reported to Nexus you get the same response of an operational issue. Nexus don’t seem to really care from what I gather.
When you look on bustimes, you can see the same bus that was operating an earlier service appear on a different route so don’t assume it’s anything to do with breakdowns. Assume either the fleet isn’t big enough, or they don’t have enough drivers.
It's certainly one or the other, been only one bus tracking on the 40/40A/41 in Durham the last few weeks.
I've noticed quite a few instances where a machine is tracking on one service for a few hours, then suddenly nothing is, but then about an hour or so later, that machine is tracking again on a different service, example being a Strata was tracking on the 520 in Houghton but around 13:00 it disappeared and reappeared on the 168 less than an hour later (168 had not tracked prior to this today), seen other extremes such as something tracking on the 71 to be replaced by nothing for a few hours before something else randomly appears which has been tracking on something like the 35 earlier in the day.
I was made aware of a post on a local Facebook group complaining about the reliability of service 35 recently, suggesting that buses weren't turning up or where vans with no clear indication it was running the service.
I think this and the murkiness of City brings to the forefront the ability of Nexus to both award and manage bus contracts, especially with franchising on the horizon.
I notice on the What do they know website there is a submission from somebody asking Nexus for details of how they've managed the revelation that a van was used on the 168 service.
It will be interesting to see what the response is to that as it will reveal how seriously they take supposed breaches of contract.
The 19 on Wednesday none of the Cramlington ones were tracking 7:00 or 8:00 or 9:00 but all ran with YJ18 DLE and YX21 RUJ but I don't know about rest of day
last run of R5 today seemed to of not operated fully and at 1711 the tracking says the bus is in Winlaton Mill and not Rowlands Gill
Q even though the route didnt operate fully and missed the end of the route off they would still be paid for it.
Imagine Betty with a zimmer frame wanting to go 2 stops she will still be waiting for it!
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/ghct-ln20opo
According to the Fawdon Facebook page, they've spoken to a driver of the 35 who's told them the company has taken on 10 new drivers. One assumes they have a driver shortage.
They've also picked up at least 2 new Mellor strata Mercedes minibuses 75 reg