North East Buses

The daily larger than usual gap on the 21 has gone out,

(23 Jul 2022, 2:25 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]The daily larger than usual gap on the 21 has gone out,

Is it a larger gap than usual though if this has been daily for weeks/months. Personally I think "We are currently experiencing the same massive gaps between busses on the 21 as we have for a long time now, but don't worry we aren't going to tell you about them in advance like all other services because that would mean admitting how woefully inept we are, good luck." Sounds far better.

Do they not put the (through the day) cancellations on the 21 up, and say "larger gap" when there's disruption, because they advertise it as a 'turn-up and go' service between Newcastle and Chester, at least on the PDF timetable?

(23 Jul 2022, 4:15 pm)F114TML wrote [ -> ]Do they not put the (through the day) cancellations on the 21 up, and say "larger gap" when there's disruption, because they advertise it as a 'turn-up and go' service between Newcastle and Chester, at least on the PDF timetable?

They put a list of planned ones but it’s normally double that at least. It’s become a chronically unreliable service. It’s worse then when Huntley was in charge

(23 Jul 2022, 4:15 pm)F114TML wrote [ -> ]Do they not put the (through the day) cancellations on the 21 up, and say "larger gap" when there's disruption, because they advertise it as a 'turn-up and go' service between Newcastle and Chester, at least on the PDF timetable?

It’s not in Durham, though, with the result that we stood like utter twits, waiting for the phantom 21 that, according to the app, was working its way down Front Street, this morning. No twitter acknowledgement of that gap. It was only after searching for it on bus times that I realised that we had been duped.

(23 Jul 2022, 4:51 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]It’s not in Durham, though, with the result that we stood like utter twits, waiting for the phantom 21 that, according to the app, was working its way down Front Street, this morning. No twitter acknowledgement of that gap. It was only after searching for it on bus times that I realised that we had been duped.

This happened to me waiting for the 28b on low fell. Checked the arrival time on the bus stop on the appt said 10 minutes. Had 2 pints in the Gateshead arms went out with minut to spare. No sign. Checked app again no sign of bus. checked a bus stop at sainsburys and i sware to god it had change from green satellite to a gray color, which i found out after complaining to GNE means its not tracking and its just the timetable time thats showing.... and it was on the cancelation list.... i just handnt looked.  Ended up steaming and just managed to catch the next one!

(23 Jul 2022, 4:15 pm)F114TML wrote [ -> ]Do they not put the (through the day) cancellations on the 21 up, and say "larger gap" when there's disruption, because they advertise it as a 'turn-up and go' service between Newcastle and Chester, at least on the PDF timetable?

The Traffic Commissioner has rules for turn up and go services such as  there must be six or more journeys in 60 minutes. Also the interval between consecutive services should not exceed 15 minutes. 
Go North East are failing on both measures and dissatisfied passengers should be informing the Traffic Commissioner so that the so called competent persons named on the operators licence are held to account.

(23 Jul 2022, 6:44 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote [ -> ]The Traffic Commissioner has rules for turn up and go services such as  there must be six or more journeys in 60 minutes. Also the interval between consecutive services should not exceed 15 minutes. 
Go North East are failing on both measures and dissatisfied passengers should be informing the Traffic Commissioner so that the so called competent persons named on the operators licence are held to account.

How many passengers know the traffic comissioner even exists, or how to contact them, though?

We genuinely do need a charter for passengers that protects them and recompenses them, within reason.

Say I’m travelling to Durham with LNER. If they cancel my train or delay me excessively, I get a refund, or if it’s the last train, alternative travel, I’m protected by a national framework.

If I have a day ticket or an annual/weekly/monthly the 21 is cancelled to Durham or I’m waiting an hour or if my last bus is cancelled…I get zip and that has to change.

We have multi billion £ PLCs and others taking the piss out of passengers, happily clawing tax payers money in but abandoning people.

(23 Jul 2022, 6:44 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote [ -> ]The Traffic Commissioner has rules for turn up and go services such as  there must be six or more journeys in 60 minutes.  Also the interval between consecutive services should not exceed 15 minutes. 
Go North East are failing on both measures and dissatisfied passengers should be informing the Traffic Commissioner so that the so called competent persons named on the operators licence are held to account.

There probably is according to the scheduled cancellation list.
However that doesn't take in to account each of those 'unexpected' cancellations that are happening day in/day out due to 'traffic' or 'breakdowns'.

It's hard to prove that those unexpected cancellations are actually expected and would take a wiley detective, with excellent investigative skills to uncover it.

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(23 Jul 2022, 9:50 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]We genuinely do need a charter for passengers that protects them and recompenses them, within reason.

Say I’m travelling to Durham with LNER. If they cancel my train or delay me excessively, I get a refund, or if it’s the last train, alternative travel, I’m protected by a national framework.

If I have a day ticket or an annual/weekly/monthly the 21 is cancelled to Durham or I’m waiting an hour or if my last bus is cancelled…I get zip and that has to change.

We have multi billion £ PLCs and others taking the piss out of passengers, happily clawing tax payers  money in but abandoning people.

I agree and have said as much in the past. 

The shit show we've seen recently merely reinforces and confirms that something needs done to regulate something that some may say is being ran by cowboys.

(23 Jul 2022, 9:50 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]We genuinely do need a charter for passengers that protects them and recompenses them, within reason.

Say I’m travelling to Durham with LNER. If they cancel my train or delay me excessively, I get a refund, or if it’s the last train, alternative travel, I’m protected by a national framework.

If I have a day ticket or an annual/weekly/monthly the 21 is cancelled to Durham or I’m waiting an hour or if my last bus is cancelled…I get zip and that has to change.

We have multi billion £ PLCs and others taking the piss out of passengers, happily clawing tax payers  money in but abandoning people.

Absolutely. I don't think it needs to be as extreme as delay repay, as it'd be a minefield to manage and I'd imagine a lot would be put down to 'factors outside of our control'. But I'd agree there needs to be protection for last buses of the day, but again unlike the railways, you can't get in contact with anyone after 5pm on a Friday.

The short notice cancellations has excelled itself for tomorrow: cancelling journeys that no longer exist in the timetable!

It looks like the entirety of the X1 and 4 cancellations list is based on the pre-24th July timetable (see attached). Others may be the same, but I've not checked, as I was only trying to plan what to avoid for tomorrow.

(23 Jul 2022, 11:02 pm)Adrian wrote [ -> ]The short notice cancellations has excelled itself for tomorrow: cancelling journeys that no longer exist in the timetable!

It looks like the entirety of the X1 and 4 cancellations list is based on the pre-24th July timetable (see attached). Others may be the same, but I've not checked, as I was only trying to plan what to avoid for tomorrow.

They must have spotted their mistakes as I see they are right now.

No 4 from Houghton between 11.26 and the 13.56 today, then again between the 14.26 and 16.26. Shameful.

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(24 Jul 2022, 8:59 am)Adrian wrote [ -> ]No 4 from Houghton between 11.26 and the 13.56 today, then again between the 14.26 and 16.26. Shameful.

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Another omnishambles brought to you by Don't Go North East.

(24 Jul 2022, 8:59 am)Adrian wrote [ -> ]No 4 from Houghton between 11.26 and the 13.56 today, then again between the 14.26 and 16.26. Shameful.

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That is a disgrace.

Ive got a question. the following journeys are canceled on the 28b today

Go North East 28B:

From Newcastle 17:10
From Kibblesworth 12:43

I think this interworks with the 28? My question though is what happens to the bus and the driver who would get to Newcastle at 1240 to run the now canceled 28b to kibblesworth. Do they put it nOT IN SERVICE and drive to the depot?

(24 Jul 2022, 9:28 am)Rob44 wrote [ -> ]Ive got a question. the following journeys are canceled on the 28b today

Go North East 28B:

From Newcastle 17:10
From Kibblesworth 12:43

I think this interworks with the 28? My question though is what happens to the bus and the driver who would get to Newcastle at 1240 to run the now canceled 28b to kibblesworth. Do they put it nOT IN SERVICE and drive to the depot?

When I've seen it in the past, both the inbound and outbound journey havent operated, but only one of the trips listed.

Importantly, I think both of those services are now fully secured by Durham County Council, so make sure you report the non-running to them directly.

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(24 Jul 2022, 11:08 am)Adrian wrote [ -> ]When I've seen it in the past, both the inbound and outbound journey havent operated, but only one of the trips listed.

Importantly, I think both of those services are now fully secured by Durham County Council, so make sure you report the non-running to them directly.

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Yes that make sense i suppose . it looks like the 28 from chester le street is canceled at 1605 meaning the 1710 28b is cancelked back to kibbkls worth. but how come the 1815 28b back to town isnt canceled as that should be the bus that does the previuos service? Or am i getting confused?

Well that started from today I think and only a coiple of cancelations so alot better than noramal

Nearly all the cancellations were from Washington which I'm sure Dan mentioned was the only depot to not be overstaffed or similar, however since this morning a few Riverside cancellations have been added.

Monday 25th July 

X1 - From Newcastle 16:56, 17:08, 17:20,

50 - 17:05, 17:35, 18:05 2 hour wait

56 - From Newcastle 14:42, 14:57 (45 Min Wait)

60 - From Parkside 07:20, 07:33, 08:55, 09:08, (2x 36 min waits)

Overall, not really bad, there is still a fair few cancellations from Washington several in a row and some from other depots, nothing really major coming from anywhere except Washington and Deptford with a few services cancelled in a row. 

Welcome to the BBC's new TV show.... Cancelwatch.

(24 Jul 2022, 4:06 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Welcome to the BBC's new TV show.... Cancelwatch.

You can joke all you like till you have a 2 hour wait for a 50, or a 45 minute wait at market street when its raining. 

Or the Queue for the X1 leaves eldon square

At least Nexus and DCC will get a few quid back from the 25 and 28 cancellations.

To their credit they’ve managed to cancel a 28 that doesn’t actually exist (assume they meant 28B at 19.35)

(24 Jul 2022, 4:54 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]At least Nexus and DCC will get a few quid back from the 25 and 28 cancellations.

To their credit they’ve managed to cancel a 28 that doesn’t actually exist (assume they meant 28B at 19.35)

Hopefully people using those services will make enough noise to the local authority that is contracting them out.

Cancellations list looks a bit confusing with two sets of cancellations listed for tomorrow for some services e.g.

Monday 25th July



X-lines X1 | X1A: 

From Newcastle: 08:00, 08:30,12:53,14:53,16:33,17:53, 10:13 Commences Washington Galleries 10:45,10:53 Commences Washington Galleries 11:25, 13:53 Commences Washington Galleries 14:25, 14:13 Terminates Washington Galleries 14:45, 20:00 Washington Galleries 20:28, 21:00 Commences Service Washington Galleries 21:28.
From Washington Galleries: 07:29, 09:33.
From Peterlee: 09:24,13:24,11:24 Terminates Washington Galleries 12:10, 12:24 Terminates
Washington Galleries 13:10, 16:28 Terminates Washington Galleries 17:13.
From Easington Lane: 07:30. 15:21, 19:00

and, further down the page

Monday 25th July



X-lines X1 | X1A: 

From Newcastle: 07:35 11:35,15:37,16:19, 16:56, 17:08, 17:44, 19:25, 19:55, 22:00,, 12:11 Terminates at Washington Galleries 12:45, 12:59 Terminates at Washington Galleries 13:33, 13:11 Terminates at Washington Galleries 13:45, 14:23 Terminates at Washington Galleries 14:57, 14:47 Commences Service at Washington Galleries 15:22, 15:11 Commences Service at Washington Galleries 15:46, 15:23 Commences Service at Washington Galleries 15:58, 16:07 Commences Service at Washington Galleries 16:42,



From Peterlee: 13:38, 14:38, 18:00, 18:30, 13:14 Terminates at Washington Galleries 14:03, 15:20 Terminates at Washington Galleries 16:09,



From Dalton Park: 12:56 Commences Service at Washington Galleries 13:39, 13:56 Terminates at Washington Galleries 14:39, 17:19 Commences Washington Galleries 18:01,



From Easington Lane: 14:19,15:49, 20:59, 22:59, 10:19 Terminates at Washington Galleries 10:51, 14:43 Terminates at Washington Galleries 15:15, 20:29 Commences Service at Washington Galleries 20:56,

Presumably only one lot are the correct cancellations, but who knows which.

(21 Jul 2022, 7:29 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Why would they? Go North East will be over-staffed from 24 July.

The only site that won't be is Washington, and drivers from other depots will be loaned to assist to minimise lost mileage here.

There's still over 100 pre-planned cancellations from depots other than Washington. 

Does Go North East consider not having enough drivers to cover 100 journeys as "over-staffing", or is this more twaddle from the spin machine?

(24 Jul 2022, 6:55 pm)omnicity4659 wrote [ -> ]There's still over 100 pre-planned cancellations from depots other than Washington. 

Does Go North East consider not having enough drivers to cover 100 journeys as "over-staffing", or is this more twaddle from the spin machine?

How many staff does that 100 journeys equate to? How many spare drivers are carried to allow for sickness? What percentage sickness is budgeted for compared to the sickness rate now? 
You can be overstaffed on paper, but if your sickness rate is high, that's going to lead to missing journeys. You don't notice if a supermarket is missing some staff; you might have to queue longer at the till, but that's all. If someone doesn't turn up to drive a bus, it doesn't go out, and you notice that straight away.

The cancellations since the changes haven't really been that bad, other than a few services cancelled after each other, but what about the 60 odd contracts GNE have won? 

I think it might have been 61 either school contracts or all contracts together, they will need roughly about 80 drivers for all these, services are still being cancelled from all depots if not most. Where are they going to find the drivers are they going to be able to get 80 drivers, although I'd imagine services like the 83A & 92 will be operated by a bus before it goes into the actual daily services.

(24 Jul 2022, 9:45 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]The cancellations since the changes haven't really been that bad, other than a few services cancelled after each other, but what about the 60 odd contracts GNE have won? 

I think it might have been 61 either school contracts or all contracts together, they will need roughly about 80 drivers for all these, services are still being cancelled from all depots if not most. Where are they going to find the drivers are they going to be able to get 80 drivers, although I'd imagine services like the 83A & 92 will be operated by a bus before it goes into the actual daily services.

It’s literally been a day and we all know the publicised changes vs the actual changes are a whole other thing…