(17 Aug 2014, 3:24 pm)Andreos Constantopolous Of course it inconveniences the operator (as well as the passenger) - that is why the penalty fare is put in force by taxi operators.
The vehicle has to be taken out of service, cleaned, disinfected etc - whilst a replacement vehicle is sourced and dropped into place (with potentially a replacement driver at the wheel - possibly starting a shift earlier than planned, leading to problems further into his/her shift once hours are up).

Then there is any associated admin to complete for lost mileage etc

The inconvenience for the operator is massive.

(17 Aug 2014, 2:52 pm)Dan There's only so much I can say before we repeatedly cover the same ground and the debate gets a bit lifeless, but what I will say, is that you compare the above situation to taxis.

If you, on average, spend £80 to use taxis each month, and you happen to be sick once, you'd have to fork out the £30 penalty fare regardless of whether it was your fault because you'd consumed too much alcohol, or because of a genuine surprise illness which came about. What's the difference between that and on the bus?

(17 Aug 2014, 3:37 pm)Dan I covered vehicles being taken out of service and the associated costs with another vehicle travelling light to the nearest point to the depot where that route serves in my post.

Buses are cleaned every night. Being done in the middle of the day isn't too much of a problem... Although the clean may not be as extensive, adding a little bit of disinfectant isn't too difficult. Replacement driver? Go North East has plenty of leading drivers for that - they wouldn't start their shift earlier than planned. I'm sure it'll work similarly with other bus operators too. The associated admin with lost mileage would be treated the same way as any other issue which causes lost mileage. I'm sure it's not too difficult...

I stand by what I said - very little inconvenience to the operator, and it's more so passengers that are inconvenienced. Penalty charges for the above would make up for any inconvenience to the operator, anyway...

(17 Aug 2014, 3:40 pm)Robert Buses are a lot easier to clean and wont cost £30. Taxis have carpet flooring meaning more resources have to be used to clean the mess up.

(17 Aug 2014, 3:50 pm)mrnut85 Stagecoach don't have 'leading drivers'

(17 Aug 2014, 4:46 pm)Dan Not really what I was getting at though... How much the penalty cost is doesn't matter.


If they don't have something similar, Stagecoach (UK?) are rather foolish indeed. I know at Sunderland, supervisors often double up as drivers to cover mileage, as I'm friends with two of them...

EDIT: In fact, I know Lincoln has/had leading drivers - so I'm guessing it's just South Shields rather than Stagecoach UK...

(17 Aug 2014, 5:16 pm)mrnut85 I think you'll find its a North East thing, I've worked at Stagecoach for 12 years so don't try and act like you know more than me. Stagecoach have Duty Managers that are in charge of allocating buses making sure buses are on time etc. Next we have Deputy Duty Managers who deal with Twitter, complaints, phone calls ect. The DDM can be used as a driver but this is in an extremely urgent requirement IE if all spare drivers and union are already on the road. Spare drivers are on specific rotas just like the rota I am on, we have 05:00 - 13:30 09:30 - 18:10 and 14:30 - 17:30 and the late shift rota has 15:00 - 24:00.

(17 Aug 2014, 5:19 pm)aureolin So what you're saying is that they have something similar...

(17 Aug 2014, 5:20 pm)mrnut85 No, if I was saying that I would've said 'stagecoach have something similar' but I didn't

(17 Aug 2014, 5:16 pm)mrnut85 I think you'll find its a North East thing, I've worked at Stagecoach for 12 years so don't try and act like you know more than me. Stagecoach have Duty Managers that are in charge of allocating buses making sure buses are on time etc. Next we have Deputy Duty Managers who deal with Twitter, complaints, phone calls ect. The DDM can be used as a driver but this is in an extremely urgent requirement IE if all spare drivers and union are already on the road. Spare drivers are on specific rotas just like the rota I am on, we have 05:00 - 13:30 09:30 - 18:10 and 14:30 - 17:30 and the late shift rota has 15:00 - 24:00.

(17 Aug 2014, 5:19 pm)aureolin So what you're saying is that they have something similar...

(17 Aug 2014, 5:27 pm)Dan Now, now... This isn't a game of "Who knows the most", so don't turn it into that...

All I'm saying is that two of my family friends at Sunderland who are supervisors (clearly it might be a different title as you've gained this wisdom through working for the company for twelve years) are usually out and about in the City Centre making sure things are on time. You see similar at Blackett Street in Newcastle. You'll find these individuals at any events. When there were concerts at the Stadium of Light, these individuals guided people to the Wheatsheaf bus stop to get them home. There's a group of around five of them, and they're also found at the air show each and every year.

Stagecoach North East: 22082 / NK54BHA by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

These members of staff also double up as revenue protection staff, so they really do have a lot of variety and there's no set job that they do.

There have been times where they've gone out to cover mileage in another vehicle, as a result of a breakdown or something similar. Sunderland services are cross-city, so if there's a breakdown in the South of Sunderland, these individuals often take a vehicle to the North side of Sunderland and continue the service.



I think that's the polite way of putting it - because I think it works slightly different at Sunderland to what it does at South Shields...

What I've described above entails some of the duties of a leading driver, so Stagecoach definitely have something similar...

(17 Aug 2014, 5:38 pm)mrnut85 They don't double up as revenue protection, they are revenue protection that provide assistance at events such as the airshow. I'm not trying to make it a who knows more but one thing I hate is enthusiasts who try to tell bus company employees they are wrong are certain subjects. I'm not saying that is what you have tried with me but I have seen it myself and it really pisses me off.

(19 Aug 2014, 2:53 pm)Andreos Constantopolous Has anyone been to Greggs today?

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/bakery-giant-greggs-targeted-hackers-7637726

(19 Aug 2014, 2:53 pm)Andreos Constantopolous Has anyone been to Greggs today?

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/bakery-giant-greggs-targeted-hackers-7637726

(20 Aug 2014, 7:53 pm)aureolin Nexus discussion forums close - http://www.nexus.org.uk/live-discussion-forum