Latest contract awards - Nexus 39/81-84/85-86/135-136
Latest contract awards - Nexus 39/81-84/85-86/135-136
(13 May 2020, 9:07 pm)Malarkey ohh how I remember the days of Arriva operating what is now the 81/82 as the M3 in 2014, I specifically remember them operating through Barmston/Biddick several minutes early and then spending nearly 10 mins sitting at The Galleries heading towards Birtley, can see similar with GCT going forward and I do think they win a lot of contracts from the big 3 three year on year as they stipulate they'll use new fuel efficient buses, whereas if they matched what another operator was going to use vehicle wise then I think the latter would then keep the contract.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/14400906258/in/album-72157649335867148/
(13 May 2020, 9:07 pm)Malarkey ohh how I remember the days of Arriva operating what is now the 81/82 as the M3 in 2014, I specifically remember them operating through Barmston/Biddick several minutes early and then spending nearly 10 mins sitting at The Galleries heading towards Birtley, can see similar with GCT going forward and I do think they win a lot of contracts from the big 3 three year on year as they stipulate they'll use new fuel efficient buses, whereas if they matched what another operator was going to use vehicle wise then I think the latter would then keep the contract.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/14400906258/in/album-72157649335867148/
(13 May 2020, 9:07 pm)Malarkey ohh how I remember the days of Arriva operating what is now the 81/82 as the M3 in 2014, I specifically remember them operating through Barmston/Biddick several minutes early and then spending nearly 10 mins sitting at The Galleries heading towards Birtley, can see similar with GCT going forward and I do think they win a lot of contracts from the big 3 three year on year as they stipulate they'll use new fuel efficient buses, whereas if they matched what another operator was going to use vehicle wise then I think the latter would then keep the contract.I can see GCT being the bane of the GNE driver's lives at the Galleries on a night. 50A is due in on stand C at xx:27 and out at xx:29, either 81 or 82 is in at xx:30 and out at xx:32, then the 85 is in xx:32 and out at xx:34.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/14400906258/in/album-72157649335867148/
(13 May 2020, 9:07 pm)Malarkey ohh how I remember the days of Arriva operating what is now the 81/82 as the M3 in 2014, I specifically remember them operating through Barmston/Biddick several minutes early and then spending nearly 10 mins sitting at The Galleries heading towards Birtley, can see similar with GCT going forward and I do think they win a lot of contracts from the big 3 three year on year as they stipulate they'll use new fuel efficient buses, whereas if they matched what another operator was going to use vehicle wise then I think the latter would then keep the contract.I can see GCT being the bane of the GNE driver's lives at the Galleries on a night. 50A is due in on stand C at xx:27 and out at xx:29, either 81 or 82 is in at xx:30 and out at xx:32, then the 85 is in xx:32 and out at xx:34.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/14400906258/in/album-72157649335867148/
(13 May 2020, 9:34 pm)streetdeckfan A new vehicle isn't necessarily a better vehicle from a passengers perspective though. I'd much rather have a 5 year old GNE Streetlite than a brand new base spec E200
Do GCT spec the likes of WiFi and USB on their new vehicles?
(13 May 2020, 11:10 pm)Andreos1 Aye, remember them having it for a year or two. Might be wrong, but I'm sure GNE then made it commercial for a bit, before they then said it wasn't sustainable and got Nexus to fund it again.
(13 May 2020, 9:34 pm)streetdeckfan A new vehicle isn't necessarily a better vehicle from a passengers perspective though. I'd much rather have a 5 year old GNE Streetlite than a brand new base spec E200
Do GCT spec the likes of WiFi and USB on their new vehicles?
(13 May 2020, 11:10 pm)Andreos1 Aye, remember them having it for a year or two. Might be wrong, but I'm sure GNE then made it commercial for a bit, before they then said it wasn't sustainable and got Nexus to fund it again.
(14 May 2020, 11:25 am)Adrian I'd agree with that, but only a mere 3% weighting of the bid is around 'enhanced customer experience' - which gives some indication of how little Nexus values these extra features. You could have the fastest Internet connection in the world, reclining seats and a sauna on board, but it would still only achieve a maximum of 3% of the weighting.I never thought about NSA (which is a first for me
One thing that is rarely mentioned is the impact on effectively taking away next stop announcements from a service. I wonder if Nexus (or an operator for a commercial service) carry out any kind of equality impact assessment on this, as it would be interesting to see what the perceived impact is... comes back to making travel attractive, doesn't it?
). 
(14 May 2020, 11:25 am)Adrian I'd agree with that, but only a mere 3% weighting of the bid is around 'enhanced customer experience' - which gives some indication of how little Nexus values these extra features. You could have the fastest Internet connection in the world, reclining seats and a sauna on board, but it would still only achieve a maximum of 3% of the weighting.I never thought about NSA (which is a first for me
One thing that is rarely mentioned is the impact on effectively taking away next stop announcements from a service. I wonder if Nexus (or an operator for a commercial service) carry out any kind of equality impact assessment on this, as it would be interesting to see what the perceived impact is... comes back to making travel attractive, doesn't it?
).
(13 May 2020, 9:34 pm)streetdeckfan A new vehicle isn't necessarily a better vehicle from a passengers perspective though. I'd much rather have a 5 year old GNE Streetlite than a brand new base spec E20018/19 plate Fiats and 20 plate Mercs and ADL200MMC all have USB ports on them.
Do GCT spec the likes of WiFi and USB on their new vehicles?
(13 May 2020, 9:34 pm)streetdeckfan A new vehicle isn't necessarily a better vehicle from a passengers perspective though. I'd much rather have a 5 year old GNE Streetlite than a brand new base spec E20018/19 plate Fiats and 20 plate Mercs and ADL200MMC all have USB ports on them.
Do GCT spec the likes of WiFi and USB on their new vehicles?
(14 May 2020, 3:33 pm)park5354 18/19 plate Fiats and 20 plate Mercs and ADL200MMC all have USB ports on them.
NO Wifi on any vehicle.
As 81/82/83/84 & 85/86 have to have a capacity of 36, then Solos or streetlites will be used.
(14 May 2020, 3:33 pm)park5354 18/19 plate Fiats and 20 plate Mercs and ADL200MMC all have USB ports on them.
NO Wifi on any vehicle.
As 81/82/83/84 & 85/86 have to have a capacity of 36, then Solos or streetlites will be used.
(13 May 2020, 9:34 pm)streetdeckfan A new vehicle isn't necessarily a better vehicle from a passengers perspective though. I'd much rather have a 5 year old GNE Streetlite than a brand new base spec E200Don't forget that Washington's Solos do not have USB ports. WiFi and NSAs only.
Do GCT spec the likes of WiFi and USB on their new vehicles?
(13 May 2020, 9:34 pm)streetdeckfan A new vehicle isn't necessarily a better vehicle from a passengers perspective though. I'd much rather have a 5 year old GNE Streetlite than a brand new base spec E200Don't forget that Washington's Solos do not have USB ports. WiFi and NSAs only.
Do GCT spec the likes of WiFi and USB on their new vehicles?
(14 May 2020, 4:15 pm)streetdeckfan Genuinely surprised that they spent the extra on the USB ports!They're likely all from dealer stock - especially to get them in service that quickly.
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(14 May 2020, 4:15 pm)6049 Don't forget that Washington's Solos do not have USB ports. WiFi and NSAs only.
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(14 May 2020, 5:57 pm)tyresmoke They're likely all from dealer stock - especially to get them in service that quickly.
(14 May 2020, 4:15 pm)6049 Don't forget that Washington's Solos do not have USB ports. WiFi and NSAs only.
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(14 May 2020, 5:57 pm)tyresmoke They're likely all from dealer stock - especially to get them in service that quickly.
(14 May 2020, 6:53 pm)streetdeckfan I get that they may not have had the highest spec vehicles on the route already, but my point was the age of a vehicle doesn't necessarily dictate how good it is from a customer perspectiveThe E200's are probably Dawson Rentals motors to be honest
That'll probably explain it, It would be very out of character for GCT to spend money on something that they're not contractually obliged to buy (and even then, they aren't exactly known for that either!)
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(14 May 2020, 6:53 pm)streetdeckfan I get that they may not have had the highest spec vehicles on the route already, but my point was the age of a vehicle doesn't necessarily dictate how good it is from a customer perspectiveThe E200's are probably Dawson Rentals motors to be honest
That'll probably explain it, It would be very out of character for GCT to spend money on something that they're not contractually obliged to buy (and even then, they aren't exactly known for that either!)
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(14 May 2020, 6:53 pm)streetdeckfan I get that they may not have had the highest spec vehicles on the route already, but my point was the age of a vehicle doesn't necessarily dictate how good it is from a customer perspective
(14 May 2020, 6:53 pm)streetdeckfan I get that they may not have had the highest spec vehicles on the route already, but my point was the age of a vehicle doesn't necessarily dictate how good it is from a customer perspective
(14 May 2020, 8:04 pm)park5354 Collected from Sheffield, I believe, and they were originally white.That would make sense - Dawson’s are at Hellaby near Rotherham, just round the corner from CT Plus depot. There is a Plaxton repair/sales centre at Anston too of course.
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(14 May 2020, 8:04 pm)park5354 Collected from Sheffield, I believe, and they were originally white.That would make sense - Dawson’s are at Hellaby near Rotherham, just round the corner from CT Plus depot. There is a Plaxton repair/sales centre at Anston too of course.
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(15 May 2020, 7:21 am)idiot If only Joe public knew that its because gne can't make enough profit on an evening and that's why the ticket can't be acceptedWell no one is able to make a profit on it which is why Nexus have to secure it, and ticket acceptance appears to have been agreed?
(15 May 2020, 7:21 am)idiot If only Joe public knew that its because gne can't make enough profit on an evening and that's why the ticket can't be acceptedWell no one is able to make a profit on it which is why Nexus have to secure it, and ticket acceptance appears to have been agreed?
(15 May 2020, 8:18 am)6049 Well no one is able to make a profit on it which is why Nexus have to secure it, and ticket acceptance appears to have been agreed?
People wouldn't expect a shop to stay open late if no one used it so the same principle applies to buses.
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(15 May 2020, 8:18 am)6049 Well no one is able to make a profit on it which is why Nexus have to secure it, and ticket acceptance appears to have been agreed?
People wouldn't expect a shop to stay open late if no one used it so the same principle applies to buses.
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(15 May 2020, 8:54 am)Andreos1 If the shop wasn't proving popular, then it might look at a number of different things, including pricing structure and convenience. They certainly wouldn't see taxpayers support to let them stay open later.
If these services aren't proving popular - then the question needs to be asked why.
Is the journey time? The frequency? The timetable? Pricing? Socio-economic factors? Something else?
Once identified, those things need addressing. Just like the owners of the shop should do when they're looking at their business.
I can't see 'keeping it as it is' when it's not working, being too sustainable in the long run.
(15 May 2020, 8:54 am)Andreos1 If the shop wasn't proving popular, then it might look at a number of different things, including pricing structure and convenience. They certainly wouldn't see taxpayers support to let them stay open later.
If these services aren't proving popular - then the question needs to be asked why.
Is the journey time? The frequency? The timetable? Pricing? Socio-economic factors? Something else?
Once identified, those things need addressing. Just like the owners of the shop should do when they're looking at their business.
I can't see 'keeping it as it is' when it's not working, being too sustainable in the long run.
(15 May 2020, 8:54 am)Andreos1 If the shop wasn't proving popular, then it might look at a number of different things, including pricing structure and convenience. They certainly wouldn't see taxpayers support to let them stay open later.
If these services aren't proving popular - then the question needs to be asked why.
Is the journey time? The frequency? The timetable? Pricing? Socio-economic factors? Something else?
Once identified, those things need addressing. Just like the owners of the shop should do when they're looking at their business.
I can't see 'keeping it as it is' when it's not working, being too sustainable in the long run.
(15 May 2020, 8:54 am)Andreos1 If the shop wasn't proving popular, then it might look at a number of different things, including pricing structure and convenience. They certainly wouldn't see taxpayers support to let them stay open later.
If these services aren't proving popular - then the question needs to be asked why.
Is the journey time? The frequency? The timetable? Pricing? Socio-economic factors? Something else?
Once identified, those things need addressing. Just like the owners of the shop should do when they're looking at their business.
I can't see 'keeping it as it is' when it's not working, being too sustainable in the long run.
(15 May 2020, 11:11 am)6049 Having been on the Washington minibuses, the simple reason is they travel between two or three shopping centres and interchanges on indirect routes which serve older populations who don't venture out as much on a night. If they do venture out, they have their pass which does not generate much money in small numbers. Therefore Nexus deem it worthy of support.
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(15 May 2020, 11:11 am)6049 Having been on the Washington minibuses, the simple reason is they travel between two or three shopping centres and interchanges on indirect routes which serve older populations who don't venture out as much on a night. If they do venture out, they have their pass which does not generate much money in small numbers. Therefore Nexus deem it worthy of support.
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(15 May 2020, 11:28 am)Andreos1 And that goes back to my points about what GNE could do to increase bums on seats?Some of the kids do use them, again though the majority have CAT tickets which don't bring in much money as it's subsidised travel as well.
Are younger people not using it, because they're too infrequent? Is it because it's not taking them where they need to be? Is it because taxis in Washington are king? Is it down to the connections or facilities at Concord or the Galleries and the timetables not connecting to other buses?
There's so many factors at play, other than just that it goes between the different shopping centres, indirectly and its handy for the older population getting to the Westwood.
(15 May 2020, 11:28 am)Andreos1 And that goes back to my points about what GNE could do to increase bums on seats?Some of the kids do use them, again though the majority have CAT tickets which don't bring in much money as it's subsidised travel as well.
Are younger people not using it, because they're too infrequent? Is it because it's not taking them where they need to be? Is it because taxis in Washington are king? Is it down to the connections or facilities at Concord or the Galleries and the timetables not connecting to other buses?
There's so many factors at play, other than just that it goes between the different shopping centres, indirectly and its handy for the older population getting to the Westwood.
