North East Buses

(24 Mar 2014, 7:35 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]What are Stagecoach going to use on the 15 and 35? The darts aren't Euro4, are they?

Likely awarded on a "best value" basis - probably with the Euro3 Darts

(24 Mar 2014, 6:27 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]As far as I know - yes it does. Appears that the funding is jointly provided by Northumberland and Cumbria, of which Cumbria have pulled their part. So it looks very much like there will be no AD122 this summer, unless some funding can be found to provide a limited service.

There was something on Radio Newcastle tonight re the AD122, but didn't catch the full story.
Had a quick look on google, but nothing jumped out either way.

(24 Mar 2014, 7:48 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]There was something on Radio Newcastle tonight re the AD122, but didn't catch the full story.
Had a quick look on google, but nothing jumped out either way.

Cumbria Council ending it's support. Route under threat


http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/subsidy-cut...-1.1123940

There was also something on Look North around half-an-hour ago stating that funding for the charity which supports Hadrian's Wall is being slashed. Nothing specifically mentioned about the AD122, but local businesses fear that their trade will suffer as a result.

Here is the supporting news article (courtesy of BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-26712711

Up for tender from July with Nexus are

37/73 Doxford Park - Coach Road - Sunderland
Mon-Sat daytime - Euro 4 - PVR 3
38C Sunderland - Tunstall Bank
Evening & Sunday - Euro 4 - PVR 1
88 Lukes Lane - South Shields
Mon-Sun evening - Euro 4 - PVR 4
96/96A Metrocentre - Lobley Hill
Mon-Sun evening - Euro 4 - PVR 1
135/136 Sunderland - Hylton Circulars
Mon-Sat evening, Sunday - Euro 4 - PVR 2
515/558 Heworth - Hebburn/Seaburn
Mon-Sun daytime (515 not Sun) - Euro 4 - PVR 2
643 Metrocentre - Watergate Estate
Mon-Sat daytime - Euro 4 - PVR 1
size restriction due to small estate roads
R3/R4/R6 Clara Vale - Blaydon - Rowlands Gill local services
Mon-Sun all day - Euro 4 - PVR 3

Plus around 40 miscellaneous workings boards (mainly schools & works services I understand)

(31 Mar 2014, 12:22 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Up for tender from July with Nexus are

37/73 Doxford Park - Coach Road - Sunderland
Mon-Sat daytime - Euro 4 - PVR 3
38C Sunderland - Tunstall Bank
Evening & Sunday - Euro 4 - PVR 1
88 Lukes Lane - South Shields
Mon-Sun evening - Euro 4 - PVR 4
96/96A Metrocentre - Lobley Hill
Mon-Sun evening - Euro 4 - PVR 1
135/136 Sunderland - Hylton Circulars
Mon-Sat evening, Sunday - Euro 4 - PVR 2
515/558 Heworth - Hebburn/Seaburn
Mon-Sun daytime (515 not Sun) - Euro 4 - PVR 2
643 Metrocentre - Watergate Estate
Mon-Sat daytime - Euro 4 - PVR 1
size restriction due to small estate roads
R3/R4/R6 Clara Vale - Blaydon - Rowlands Gill local services
Mon-Sun all day - Euro 4 - PVR 3

Plus around 40 miscellaneous workings boards (mainly schools & works services I understand)

Very interesting, will be good to see who wins those.
Still got the 18 and 32/32A to be awarded too.

(31 Mar 2014, 2:47 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Very interesting, will be good to see who wins those.
Still got the 18 and 32/32A to be awarded too.

Not awarded means the contracted journeys have remained commercially operated by Stagecoach.

(31 Mar 2014, 12:22 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Up for tender from July with Nexus are

37/73 Doxford Park - Coach Road - Sunderland
Mon-Sat daytime - Euro 4 - PVR 3
38C Sunderland - Tunstall Bank
Evening & Sunday - Euro 4 - PVR 1
88 Lukes Lane - South Shields
Mon-Sun evening - Euro 4 - PVR 4
96/96A Metrocentre - Lobley Hill
Mon-Sun evening - Euro 4 - PVR 1
135/136 Sunderland - Hylton Circulars
Mon-Sat evening, Sunday - Euro 4 - PVR 2
515/558 Heworth - Hebburn/Seaburn
Mon-Sun daytime (515 not Sun) - Euro 4 - PVR 2
643 Metrocentre - Watergate Estate
Mon-Sat daytime - Euro 4 - PVR 1
size restriction due to small estate roads
R3/R4/R6 Clara Vale - Blaydon - Rowlands Gill local services
Mon-Sun all day - Euro 4 - PVR 3

Plus around 40 miscellaneous workings boards (mainly schools & works services I understand)

Heard anything more from this?

(10 Apr 2014, 6:11 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Heard anything more from this?

Not yet Tom. Think the tender is still open for submissions at present? We'll probably find out closer to the time.

One I missed is the 79/79A, which has been awarded to Compass CT again.
TB503/504/529 have all gone to Eurocab too.

Just out of interest, who does everyone think will get the ''Quaylink'' contract next year?

(13 Apr 2014, 9:34 am)Tom wrote [ -> ]Just out of interest, who does everyone think will get the ''Quaylink'' contract next year?

Not sure as it requires 9 buses and known NEXUS they will want Euro 6, not sure if independent companies could afford that.

I would think GNE will order new buses for it next year to keep it

I would like Stagecoach or Arriva to get it but no sure what they will run on it

(13 Apr 2014, 9:40 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]Not sure as it requires 9 buses and known NEXUS they will want Euro 6, not sure if independent companies could afford that.

I would think GNE will order new buses for it next year to keep it

I would like Stagecoach or Arriva to get it but no sire what they will run on it

If Arriva got it they'd probably buy new Versas or Streetlites. I'd like to see Arriva get it though this time.

(13 Apr 2014, 9:44 am)Tom wrote [ -> ]If Arriva got it they'd probably buy new Versas or Streetlites. I'd like to see Arriva get it though this time.

It would be a big contract to sustain Jesmond and yeah I reckon they would probably buy Euro6 Streetlites. Possibly even the electric ones like in Milton Keynes!

(13 Apr 2014, 9:45 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]It would be a big contract to sustain Jesmond and yeah I reckon they would probably buy Euro6 Streetlites. Possibly even the electric ones like in Milton Keynes!

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I'd like to see some Versas in the fleet though, I'd have liked to see them on the 306 rather than Streetlites but hey. Arriva are defiantly the ones I want to get it this time though, as the two other big companies have ran it. For some reason, I think there might be some changes to the Quaylink this year. I reckon the Q2 will be extended to Walker Riverside.

Just a quick note to say the ITT for Durham P&R went out this morning, they want 10 Euro6 vehicles this time round. Alongside all of the other contract requirements.

(17 Apr 2014, 9:13 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Just a quick note to say the ITT for Durham P&R went out this morning, they want 10 Euro6 vehicles this time round. Alongside all of the other contract requirements.

When's it up for renewal, in terms of a month?

(17 Apr 2014, 9:22 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]When's it up for renewal, in terms of a month?

Starts 27th October iirc

(17 Apr 2014, 9:32 am)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Starts 27th October iirc

Ah, nice. Still plenty of time for me to get some photos of the current allocation...

I'm not sure who I think will get the contract - Possibly Arriva though, using 10 X Electric Streetlite. I'd like to see them use those on the Quaylink if they got the contract too.

(17 Apr 2014, 5:20 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]I'm not sure who I think will get the contract - Possibly Arriva though, using 10 X Electric Streetlite. I'd like to see them use those on the Quaylink if they got the contract too.

Then all 3 main operators will have a go on it. When you think about it, wouldn't that mean a lot of jobs with Go North East would be lost? Would Arriva use their own drivers? Or, would they be transferred to Arriva? (like they did with the Hexham swaps?)

(17 Apr 2014, 6:09 pm)Marcus wrote [ -> ]Then all 3 main operators will have a go on it. When you think about it, wouldn't that mean a lot of jobs with Go North East would be lost? Would Arriva use their own drivers? Or, would they be transferred to Arriva? (like they did with the Hexham swaps?)

He's talking about the Durham Park & Ride contract first and foremost.

(17 Apr 2014, 6:12 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]He's talking about the Durham Park & Ride contract first and foremost.

When Arriva won the Durham P&R contract in 2009 most of the drivers transferred from Scarlet Band and were protected by TUPE regulations. I think this was a stipulation of the contract and presumably it will still stand.

(17 Apr 2014, 8:02 pm)RGR756V wrote [ -> ]When Arriva won the Durham P&R contract in 2009 most of the drivers transferred from Scarlet Band and were protected by TUPE regulations. I think this was a stipulation of the contract and presumably it will still stand.

Durham P&R operate using dedicated driving staff. If another operator won the contract to operate it, then TUPE would definitely apply. That's if Arriva couldn't (or didn't want to) reassign those staff.

(17 Apr 2014, 8:02 pm)RGR756V wrote [ -> ]When Arriva won the Durham P&R contract in 2009 most of the drivers transferred from Scarlet Band and were protected by TUPE regulations. I think this was a stipulation of the contract and presumably it will still stand.

Sure does Stu, it is mentioned a few times in the contract specification. Easily accessed by anyone registered with NEPO, which if course is open to everyone to register. Can see every big contract on there, obviously I'm only really interested in the public transport ones.

(17 Apr 2014, 9:24 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Sure does Stu, it is mentioned a few times in the contract specification. Easily accessed by anyone registered with NEPO, which if course is open to everyone to register. Can see every big contract on there, obviously I'm only really interested in the public transport ones.

Link here if anyone wants to read.

I wonder if GNE go for it again this time round, given that they probably should have won the tender last time? Got to be an ideal opportunity using their low cost model at Peterlee.

Any news on the NCC contracts as discussed previously a few pages back?

(17 Apr 2014, 10:18 pm)AdamY wrote [ -> ]Any news on the NCC contracts as discussed previously a few pages back?

All current contracts extended until 1st September.

(17 Apr 2014, 10:20 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]All current contracts extended until 1st September.

Just wondering, is the 880 up for contract this year?

Here Tom...

(24 Mar 2014, 6:00 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]The tenders in Northumberland were to start on 7th April, however all existing contracts have now been extended until 1st September.

The routes up for tender were

74 Hexham - Newcastle
79 Ponteland - Morpeth
613 Whittonstall - Hexham
681 Slaggyford - Haltwhistle
683 Hexham - Newbrough
688 Hexham - Allenheads
689 Consett - Hexham
691 Morpeth and Upper Coquetdale "Dial a ride"
693/694 Hexham and Kielder "Dial a ride"
695 Hexham and Blanchland "Dial a ride"
696 Carrshield and Hexham "Dial a ride"
808 Otterburn - Newcastle
880 Bellingham - Hexham
882 Bellingham/Colwell - Hexham
883 Byrness - Hexham
889 Alston - Hexham
915 Otterburn - Kielder - Bellingham
AD122 Hadrians Wall (Newcastle based board)

(02 May 2014, 8:28 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]Here Tom...

Cheers
Knew it was somewhere but couldn't find it. Would like to see companies like Tyne Valley Coaches and other smaller companies win a few contracts, but not sure if Go North East will keep them, which is likely. Only problem is, how will smaller operators get enough buses?