Disruptions and driver shortages
Disruptions and driver shortages
(17 Sep 2021, 10:08 pm)Malarkey I finished work at 8pm and got my usual 309 into Newcastle without issue getting into Eldon Square at around 20:35 just missing the 21 departure around this time due to Percy Main's very slow drivers changes as always at New York the driver thereafter being in James May mode into town knowing he/she will leave town on the 310 on time, does not help those needing a connecting service.
As has been the case since Tuesday the 20:45 (21) was cancelled which would be the one i'd usually get home, I knew at this point the next one was 21:00 with a 28B at the same with both cancelled at this point the next bus was the X21 at 21:15 by which time I decided to get a Taxi as I did want to wait any longer as did a number other potential passengers, there was around 20 people waiting when I got into Eldon Square by the time I decided to leave there was 6 left waiting, one bloke was going to get a 21 to Chester-Le-Street and then from there the 8 to Stanley, I advised him to go up the top and wait for one of the expresses as would get home quicker.
I personally think it is quite shocking that whilst I understand there is so called "Driver Shortage" that it is unacceptable for the operator to allow so many services to be cancelled along one corridor in the late evening, more so when you 52,000 Mags watching Newcastle at home this evening against Leeds, how are they getting home this evening I wonder?
(17 Sep 2021, 10:35 pm)Adrian I'm more surprised that we haven't seen the implementation of a reduced/emergency timetable by operators yet, reducing some of the high frequency services to allow some staff to be used as 'hot spares' to cover short-notice sickness etc. It would feel like a better solution than the current firefighting.
(17 Sep 2021, 10:08 pm)Malarkey I finished work at 8pm and got my usual 309 into Newcastle without issue getting into Eldon Square at around 20:35 just missing the 21 departure around this time due to Percy Main's very slow drivers changes as always at New York the driver thereafter being in James May mode into town knowing he/she will leave town on the 310 on time, does not help those needing a connecting service.
As has been the case since Tuesday the 20:45 (21) was cancelled which would be the one i'd usually get home, I knew at this point the next one was 21:00 with a 28B at the same with both cancelled at this point the next bus was the X21 at 21:15 by which time I decided to get a Taxi as I did want to wait any longer as did a number other potential passengers, there was around 20 people waiting when I got into Eldon Square by the time I decided to leave there was 6 left waiting, one bloke was going to get a 21 to Chester-Le-Street and then from there the 8 to Stanley, I advised him to go up the top and wait for one of the expresses as would get home quicker.
I personally think it is quite shocking that whilst I understand there is so called "Driver Shortage" that it is unacceptable for the operator to allow so many services to be cancelled along one corridor in the late evening, more so when you 52,000 Mags watching Newcastle at home this evening against Leeds, how are they getting home this evening I wonder?
(17 Sep 2021, 10:35 pm)Adrian I'm more surprised that we haven't seen the implementation of a reduced/emergency timetable by operators yet, reducing some of the high frequency services to allow some staff to be used as 'hot spares' to cover short-notice sickness etc. It would feel like a better solution than the current firefighting.
