(26 Dec 2022, 12:07 am)Andreos1 You sure it wasn't a short notice cancellation? Breakdown? Driver shortage? 
Could explain why the bus didn't turn up.

(26 Dec 2022, 6:53 am)MurdnunoC No. The Clifford Copter mentioned problems with the Metro due to industrial action, but not the buses.

(26 Dec 2022, 10:30 am)Andreos1 He's alive!

What a duo those two were.

"We want customers to tell us about services that are not performing well enough, and we have a dedicated customer service support line to help with this. Regarding late cancellations, we post our cancellations list online via social media and our website daily. Our app can also be used for real time information on our services."

(05 Jan 2023, 10:31 am)Unber43 https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/go-north-east-bus-cancellations-25863923 

I saw this and I read it and one thing caught my eye, 


However the customer support line doesn't help when there are early or late cancellations Monday-Friday as they're only open 9-5, and all day Saturday and Sunday when there is no one to help

(13 Jan 2023, 6:13 pm)BusLoverMum North East bus chief admits to underestimating driver shortage

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/arriva-bus-driver-shortage-cancellations-25971958#ICID=Android_ChronicleNewsApp_AppShare

(15 Jan 2023, 1:01 pm)Thomas12 The agency drivers at Arriva are absolutely horrendous, probably worse than the ones on the Metro Replacement. Couple of incidents I have noticed over the last week.

Was on the 306 last week and the driver was appalling (I'm assuming it was an agency driver as they had no Arriva uniform) - in 30 minutes he went passed the stop when someone had pressed the bell twice (and didn't stop when told), ignored someone with their hand out at a bus stop, and was constantly breaking harshly. Not exactly the service you want to provide. 

Witnessed one of them on Gosforth High Street at the Brandling Arms drive past someone with their hand out. 

And they obviously haven't been route trained properly either - one on the 55 last night made about 3 errors with the route. 

Sooner they are gone the better - especially as I don't usually find the Arriva Northumbria drivers bad at all.

(15 Jan 2023, 1:01 pm)Thomas12 The agency drivers at Arriva are absolutely horrendous, probably worse than the ones on the Metro Replacement. Couple of incidents I have noticed over the last week.

(16 Jan 2023, 6:37 pm)RobinHood They are the same drivers.

I suspect Arriva don't want to use them longer than they need to either - they are likely more expensive overall.

However, the business is clearly trying to respond to the issues they are facing. An agency driver is better than no driver in the current climate, surely.

(26 Jan 2023, 5:22 am)DeltaMan Fair play to GNE for not having a single planned journey cancellation for the last few days.

(26 Jan 2023, 5:30 am)Dan Contrary to what The Chronicle would have you believe, GNE is fully staffed (albeit over-staffed in some locations and under-staffed at Riverside). Cancellations have been minimal for weeks and most days have had no cancellations for the past week or so.


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(26 Jan 2023, 9:22 am)Rob44 I know bus driving is different but when one of our other sites at work is short on staff and we are " over staffed" myself or colleges have to move there to keep it running for the good of the customers.  Could this not be done in GNE case..... looking at the route ran by riverside i think i could do them without and route learning ( we except the 12 as that's to complicated) so surely a experienced bus driver could do the same?

(26 Jan 2023, 10:42 am)Dan This already happens (and is incentivised by GNE) but it is voluntary-based and not mandated.


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(01 Feb 2023, 1:02 am)Ambassador Cancelling the 22.26 ex ES Angel today was a true master stroke, on behalf of the Uber and private cab industry.

Top class stuff