North East Buses

So much negativity for them. Give them a chance. Gne can't run the rough with the smooth...

(18 May 2020, 9:17 am)idiot wrote [ -> ]So much negativity for them. Give them a chance. Gne can't run the rough with the smooth...

I'd like to think they'd have been prepared having been awarded such an extensive network of contracts.

(17 May 2020, 10:33 pm)N1cholas wrote [ -> ]Must say the E200MMCs look smart in those colours

I agree. For such a dull livery, the E200MMC really suits it, but I think that is more about the bus.

Showbus had a handful of Trent Barton's E200MMCs two years ago, and they all looked fantastic in striking colourful brands. 

(17 May 2020, 11:59 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]I'm guessing the large gap on service 83 on Sundays is caused by temporary timetables from Go North East because of COVID-19?

I've checked BusTimes website and they do indicate that there is a 19.50 departure from the Galleries on Sunday evenings on service 83: https://bustimes.org/services/83-washing...2020-05-24

I don't think the timetable on the Nexus website is a temporary one though, more so a mistake? GCT ran at least one of those runs not listed in the timetable on the 83.

(18 May 2020, 8:32 am)LeeCalder wrote [ -> ]First 82 of the evening didn't serve Barley Mow, and the second didn't run at all (or took a magical mystery tour through Birtley).

At least two 85's ran through Ayton instead of Oxclose, and the 86 was serving Waterview Park all evening.

Good start.

I wonder if they've gone straight up Fell Bank and straight along past the Tavistock etc? What times did the missing ones depart Birtley?

A nice scenic detour on the 85/86 too! 

(18 May 2020, 9:17 am)idiot wrote [ -> ]So much negativity for them. Give them a chance. Gne can't run the rough with the smooth...

I don't understand the comparison with GNE? People are reporting what they've seen on the first night of operation, which they're more than entitled to do. It doesn't need to be measured against another operator.

(18 May 2020, 9:34 am)LeeCalder wrote [ -> ]I'd like to think they'd have been prepared having been awarded such an extensive network of contracts.

Agree with this. I don't think anybody can say that they're not 'well rehearsed' in running Nexus contracts, given how many they appear to operate now. Some of their routes are awful (by Nexus design - not GCT!), so I'd hope there's a good route learning practice in place...

(18 May 2020, 9:53 am)Adrian wrote [ -> ]I don't think the timetable on the Nexus website is a temporary one though, more so a mistake? GCT ran at least one of those runs not listed in the timetable on the 83.

I don't know the Washington IndiGo network but when I said temporary timetable I was referring to the commercial daytime journeys operated by Go North East, is the 83 normally every 2 hours during the daytime? From what I've seen Nexus has been displaying the timetables for the temporary service levels on their website.

If going off the times displayed on BusTimes then the 19.50 journey from Washington does actually exist on a Sunday but has mistakenly been omitted from Nexus' timetable.

Quite a few peed off punters looking at facebook. Also saw that someone wanted to pay contactless, was refused as they don't have contactless ticket machines and had to pay £3 for a £2.30 since they're operating a no change policy as well.

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(18 May 2020, 11:08 am)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]I don't know the Washington IndiGo network but when I said temporary timetable I was referring to the commercial daytime journeys operated by Go North East, is the 83 normally every 2 hours during the daytime? From what I've seen Nexus has been displaying the timetables for the temporary service levels on their website.

If going off the times displayed on BusTimes then the 19.50 journey from Washington does actually exist on a Sunday but has mistakenly been omitted from Nexus' timetable.

81-84 all operate two hourly on emergency timetable. This keeps an hourly service across the joint sections of the route

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(18 May 2020, 11:31 am)6049 wrote [ -> ]Quite a few peed off punters looking at facebook. Also saw that someone wanted to pay contactless, was refused as they don't have contactless ticket machines and had to pay £3 for a £2.30 since they're operating a no change policy as well.

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Incorrect.  Drivers should be giving change, if they have it,  but drivers are NOT given a float.

(18 May 2020, 5:00 pm)park5354 wrote [ -> ]Incorrect.  Drivers should be giving change, if they have it,  but drivers are NOT given a float.

Don't shoot the messenger. Only relaying what the complaint on facebook stated

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(18 May 2020, 5:00 pm)park5354 wrote [ -> ]Incorrect.  Drivers should be giving change, if they have it,  but drivers are NOT given a float.

This used to be an issue on the 83A. Haven't used it for a long time, but more often than not I'd be let on for free, because the driver would have no change of £5 for a £3.20 journey.

(18 May 2020, 5:00 pm)park5354 wrote [ -> ]Incorrect.  Drivers should be giving change, if they have it,  but drivers are NOT given a float.

If the company doesn't provide a float but are required to give change, then shouldn't they be sourcing their own? I know many well-prepared drivers at larger operators tend to provide their own float, over and above the company allocated float.

Don't GCT use Ticketer machines?
I'd imagine it would be relatively simple for them to set up contactless payments, so I'd imagine it's purely down to the ~2-3% transaction fee that they're not taking them.

First 82 of the day, and the incorrect route taken in Barley Mow, missing out bus stops.

One of which someone was at.

First two days and we’ve had a no-show, and three take an incorrect route.

(18 May 2020, 8:01 pm)LeeCalder wrote [ -> ]First 82 of the day, and the incorrect route taken in Barley Mow, missing out bus stops.

One of which someone was at.

First two days and we’ve had a no-show, and three take an incorrect route.

Not to be funny, but did you honestly expect it to be any different?

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(18 May 2020, 7:22 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]If the company doesn't provide a float but are required to give change, then shouldn't they be sourcing their own? I know many well-prepared drivers at larger operators tend to provide their own float, over and above the company allocated float.

GNE drivers get £20 as you know, I tend to carry £5-£10 extra depending on how much I've been dipping into it at the coffee machine

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(18 May 2020, 8:03 pm)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]Not to be funny, but did you honestly expect it to be any different?

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No I didn’t. But what different should that make to a regular passenger.

Try telling that to Val stood at the bus stop waiting for it.

So, not to be funny, but the service should be reliable regardless.

(18 May 2020, 8:14 pm)LeeCalder wrote [ -> ]No I didn’t. But what different should that make to a regular passenger.

Try telling that to Val stood at the bus stop waiting for it.

So, not to be funny, but the service should be reliable regardless.

Exactly my point. The fact is GCT are well known for doing this time and time again, and yet they keep getting awarded contracts.

Either Nexus really don't care about passengers, or there's some backroom dealings going on, and the cynic in me suspects it's probably a mixture of the two

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(18 May 2020, 7:39 pm)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]Don't GCT use Ticketer machines?
I'd imagine it would be relatively simple for them to set up contactless payments, so I'd imagine it's purely down to the ~2-3% transaction fee that they're not taking them.

Haven't been on one of their buses in a while but it's likely they may have the Ticketer machines that don't facilitate contactless payments.

(18 May 2020, 8:25 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Haven't been on one of their buses in a while but it's likely they may have the Ticketer machines that don't facilitate contactless payments.

I thought all Ticketer machines were smart card/contactless enabled

(18 May 2020, 8:40 pm)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]I thought all Ticketer machines were smart card/contactless enabled

They can scan concession passes and the like but not Contactless (the one's I'm talking about).

(18 May 2020, 7:39 pm)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]Don't GCT use Ticketer machines?
I'd imagine it would be relatively simple for them to set up contactless payments, so I'd imagine it's purely down to the ~2-3% transaction fee that they're not taking them.

correct.