North East Buses

Full Version: Disruptions and driver shortages
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(02 Jul 2022, 5:24 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]Sunday 3rd July 

2 X21's in a row Cancelled from Bishop Auckland - 14:00 | 15:00

2 8's in a row Cancelled from Sunderland - 18:00 | 18:57

2 16/16A in a row Cancelled from Durham - 18:13 | 18:43

3 28B's in a row Cancelled from Newcastle/Kimblesworth - 18:10 | 19:10 | 20:10 

2 35A's in a row Cancelled from Heworth - 14:33 | 14:53

3 55's in a row Cancelled from Sunderland/Peterlee (the last 3) - 16:05 | 17:05 | 18:05

2 78's in a row Cancelled from Sunderland - 15:00 | 16:00

2 93's in a row Cancelled from Gateshead - 07:08 | 08:08

Of this list:

16 - 18:43 did run
35A - both 14:33 and 14:53 did run
55 - 18:05 (last bus) did run
78 - 15:00 did run

Several of the cancelled 60s not listed here also ran, presumably along with many other journeys initially listed.


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(03 Jul 2022, 6:09 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Of this list:

16 - 18:43 did run
35A - both 14:33 and 14:53 did run
55 - 18:05 (last bus) did run
78 - 15:00 did run

Several of the cancelled 60s not listed here also ran, presumably along with many other journeys initially listed.

There probably needs to be some tweaking of the process to update the website, as I notice some of the journeys (15.00 #78 and 18.43 #16) have been removed from the list, yet the other two examples are still listed.

Having the list can be a useful reference point, but I guess it loses any effectiveness it has, if it turns out to be incorrect.
(03 Jul 2022, 6:09 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Of this list:

16 - 18:43 did run
35A - both 14:33 and 14:53 did run
55 - 18:05 (last bus) did run
78 - 15:00 did run

Several of the cancelled 60s not listed here also ran, presumably along with many other journeys initially listed.


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You can't plan a journey on the basis that your scheduled to be cancelled bus home might run after all, though, Dan.
(03 Jul 2022, 7:06 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]You can't plan a journey on the basis that your scheduled to be cancelled bus home might run after all, though, Dan.


No - bang on.

As Adrian says, this list ought to be gospel… and whilst it’s initially put out as a worst-case scenario, every effort goes into covering the journeys contained within it right until the moment they run, and this information needs to be updated accordingly on the website.

All that said, hopefully the list is no longer a thing within the next few weeks…

Main point of my reply above was just to highlight that efforts did go into covering some of those consecutive journey cancellations, and it wasn’t quite as bad in reality as the OP had indicated (whether updated on the website or not).


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(03 Jul 2022, 7:24 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]No - bang on.

As Adrian says, this list ought to be gospel… and whilst it’s initially put out as a worst-case scenario, every effort goes into covering the journeys contained within it right until the moment they run, and this information needs to be updated accordingly on the website.

All that said, hopefully the list is no longer a thing within the next few weeks…

Main point of my reply above was just to highlight that efforts did go into covering some of those consecutive journey cancellations, and it wasn’t quite as bad in reality as the OP had indicated (whether updated on the website or not).


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Just because your cutting services and freeing drivers doesn't mean there will still be cancelled lists. Percy Main had a ton of free and drivers since the changes and still seen some cancelled journeys
(03 Jul 2022, 9:00 pm)Aaron21 wrote [ -> ]Just because your cutting services and freeing drivers doesn't mean there will still be cancelled lists. Percy Main had a ton of free and drivers since the changes and still seen some cancelled journeys

It's the school holidays, that's why. No doubt after the 6 weeks then it'll all start again.
(03 Jul 2022, 9:00 pm)Aaron21 wrote [ -> ]Just because your cutting services and freeing drivers doesn't mean there will still be cancelled lists. Percy Main had a ton of free and drivers since the changes and still seen some cancelled journeys

Have they really had a tonne of free drivers though? Surely not considering the extra work in Washington and the addition of Q3 to Percy Main. 

And you say it’s seen cancelled journeys - they are fairly rare from Percy Main relative to other depots.
(03 Jul 2022, 10:49 pm)Thomas12 wrote [ -> ]Have they really had a tonne of free drivers though? Surely not considering the extra work in Washington and the addition of Q3 to Percy Main. 

And you say it’s seen cancelled journeys - they are fairly rare from Percy Main relative to other depots.


Precisely. Percy Main had more work put back in compared to what they lost back in March (in addition to what you mentioned, also Toon Tour), and have comfortably operated additional contract work such as cruise ship shuttle buses, with almost no lost mileage.


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I got the 28b home last night. Expected it to be packed as previous 3 canceled. Not a sole on... just me and the crocodile .
(04 Jul 2022, 10:47 am)Rob44 wrote [ -> ]I got the 28b home last night. Expected it to be packed as previous 3 canceled.  Not a sole on... just me and the crocodile .

That probably means lost passengers.    I wonder how many of those will come back when normal service is resumed.
I assume once GNE are being paid to run these services they will mysteriously acquire some drivers
A 1 Hour Gap in the 56 today
Seems to be a lot of gaps across services today.
(04 Jul 2022, 10:47 am)Rob44 wrote [ -> ]I got the 28b home last night. Expected it to be packed as previous 3 canceled.  Not a sole on... just me and the crocodile .
I wouldn't want to be on it either if I thought someone was going to bring a crocodile on board...
(04 Jul 2022, 5:58 pm)missedbus wrote [ -> ]I wouldn't want to be on it either if I thought someone was going to bring a crocodile on board...

I've seen worse on the last 638 from the town when that used to run!  Big Grin
(04 Jul 2022, 6:24 pm)Adrian wrote [ -> ]I've seen worse on the last 638 from the town when that used to run!  Big Grin

From the town?
(04 Jul 2022, 7:02 pm)Rob44 wrote [ -> ]From the town?

Sunderland, it used to go via the world to Crawcrook.
(04 Jul 2022, 5:58 pm)missedbus wrote [ -> ]I wouldn't want to be on it either if I thought someone was going to bring a crocodile on board...
I'm sure the GNE centenary book mentions that they used to carry livestock on buses, but stopped sometime during the 1940s. Though it seems unlikely they've ever carried a crocodile on any of their buses. An inflatable one, maybe, but definitely not a live one!
(04 Jul 2022, 7:03 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Sunderland, it used to go via the world to Crawcrook.

Ahhhh when you said town i thought you ment newcastle!.. I knew the route was ryton - sunderland as used to visit my grandparents every saturday with my mam in Winlaton.  Bring back the 633!
(04 Jul 2022, 12:32 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]I assume once GNE are being paid to run these services they will mysteriously acquire some drivers

I did notice a GNE advert pop up on my facebook yesterday, offering a £750 welcome bonus for existing licence holders.  I'm sure the current workforce will be over the moon with that!
(03 Jul 2022, 6:09 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Of this list:

16 - 18:43 did run
35A - both 14:33 and 14:53 did run
55 - 18:05 (last bus) did run
78 - 15:00 did run

Several of the cancelled 60s not listed here also ran, presumably along with many other journeys initially listed.


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But passengers will plan their journey based on the list!!

I suspect that, conversely, there will be journeys cancelled that aren't on the list.
17:08, 17:38, 17:53 - 3 PEAK TIME 56's cancelled from Newcastle
Arrived at Park Lane on the X20 at 18:58 to find 20 vehicles parked up, several blocking stops - 21 if you include broken down 5401. very few drivers around, those who were looked bemused and were taking photos of the scene on their phones.

Never seen anything like that..
(05 Jul 2022, 7:45 pm)54APhotography wrote [ -> ]Arrived at Park Lane on the X20 at 18:58 to find 20 vehicles parked up, several blocking stops - 21 if you include broken down 5401. very few drivers around, those who were looked bemused and were taking photos of the scene on their phones.

Never seen anything like that..


That doesn’t mean to say there was 20 journeys not running at that time.

A driver may have done an extra journey before or after their main duty, but chosen to clock off at Park Lane rather than the depot. As they’ve helpfully ran another journey which would have otherwise been cancelled, the depot won’t insist that they bring the bus back to the depot and that will be sorted later in the evening.

I was at Park Lane at 18:20 and just six buses were parked up, none blocking stands.


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I didn't say there were 20 journey cancellations. There was however no spaces on in the stabling areas within and without the bus station, Prince Bishops streetlites were littered around the stands, two mercs also not at stands they ought to have been. the difference of 38 minutes in our passing obviously saw a build up of vehicles and nowhere for them to stable. The reaction and bewilderment of the drivers around the zebra crossing was telling.
(05 Jul 2022, 7:45 pm)54APhotography wrote [ -> ]Arrived at Park Lane on the X20 at 18:58 to find 20 vehicles parked up, several blocking stops - 21 if you include broken down 5401. very few drivers around, those who were looked bemused and were taking photos of the scene on their phones.

Never seen anything like that..
Should of grabbed a photo
(05 Jul 2022, 7:56 pm)54APhotography wrote [ -> ]I didn't say there were 20 journey cancellations. There was however no spaces on in the stabling areas within and without the bus station, Prince Bishops streetlites were littered around the stands, two mercs also not at stands they ought to have been. the difference of 38 minutes in our passing obviously saw a build up of vehicles and nowhere for them to stable. The reaction and bewilderment of the drivers around the zebra crossing was telling.

Its the same at CLS, they just dump spare buses on South Burns. 
I'm presuming taking a bus back to the depot could mean going over a drivers max hours?
(05 Jul 2022, 7:49 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]That doesn’t mean to say there was 20 journeys not running at that time.

A driver may have done an extra journey before or after their main duty, but chosen to clock off at Park Lane rather than the depot. As they’ve helpfully ran another journey which would have otherwise been cancelled, the depot won’t insist that they bring the bus back to the depot and that will be sorted later in the evening.

I was at Park Lane at 18:20 and just six buses were parked up, none blocking stands.


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(05 Jul 2022, 8:02 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]Should of grabbed a photo
I would have but the 61 was at the stand and ready to go. mind you would need a drone to get the full lot in..
(05 Jul 2022, 8:09 pm)54APhotography wrote [ -> ]I would have but the 61 was at the stand and ready to go. mind you would need a drone to get the full lot in..

Would you really want to take a photo in park lane anyway, its a dingey mess.
(05 Jul 2022, 8:30 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote [ -> ]Would you really want to take a photo in park lane anyway, its a dingey mess.
Atleast its not a wind tunnel...today anyways