(22 Aug 2021, 6:49 pm)omnicity4659 wrote [ -> ]The mock-up of the livery I've seen is on a StreetDeck, however I've since heard rumours of other double deckers being used instead.Idk what else they would use, unless they displace a set of G2's for Streetdecks.
(22 Aug 2021, 12:41 pm)N1cholas wrote [ -> ]Maybe if some notices were put up on buses noting the service changes like they did years ago, maybe just maybe the word would spread, a brief explanation of the changes for people to see on the bus would be cheaper than the novels being printed and it would be their for all to see, with the changes around the local area for each depot specifically with a bit more detail than the services out of that depots operating area, not all pensioners have internet access and some think the web is something spiders make, putting the passenger information on board buses would be cheap, easy to change and be very beneficial to all passengerThat service change book is one of the strangest ones I’ve ever seen, the front bit comes across like a corporate presentation dished out at the end of the year to staff and shareholders. I bet if customers noticed it on board they still might not take one.
(22 Aug 2021, 9:54 pm)))Wybus wrote [ -> ]That service change book is one of the strangest ones I’ve ever seen, the front bit comes across like a corporate presentation dished out at the end of the year to staff and shareholders. I bet if customers noticed it on board they still might not take one.
I don’t know why they didn’t just do a service changes leaflet, that actually focuses on the service changes including the title on the front. All that positive spin at the front probably doesn’t mean much when you get into the back and find your service is either reduced in frequency or withdrawn
(22 Aug 2021, 10:14 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote [ -> ]Assuming you actually find a bus that has any of them on board...I think there have been a grand total of two people finding one reported on here despite the hot air around these changes being fully supported by printed material. I finally did manage to get hold of one today - when the driver of a Voltra gave me their dog-eared copy as they hadn't seen any on the buses and there were of course none on theirs. This was after asking the driver of another service (which I won't identify) who was great and had a look for me and was really vocal (un-prompted other than me asking if they had a service change leaflet) about what they viewed as a disgraceful lack of customer info on board the vehicles. I was surprised they were so critical of the company, but can fully understand why given the multiple examples on here of being being unable to source either the changes booklet or any of the timetables - and they know they will be the ones getting it in the neck off the customers in less than a fortnight. Add to this that even the website still shows the old pdfs (if any at all) for some services (after changing the date) and from the outside looking in this does seem an amateurish attempt by GNE to communicate some fairly huge network changes.
(23 Aug 2021, 4:28 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]Not withstanding all that, there have been some pretty major last minute changes following further consultation with local authorities. Bearing in mind these changes have been known about at local authority officer level for some six months, and, contrary to comments on social media, there has been a massive amount of consultation with local authorities, politicians and other stakeholders, these changes were only being requested AFTER the registrations were submitted, Go North East is doing a pretty damn good job during trying times. It’s peak holiday season with many colleagues needing to cancel their holidays just to get this information out to customers in good time, as well as work bloody long (12-16 hour) days (and won’t get paid for these extra hours nor likely get the time back).
(22 Aug 2021, 10:14 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote [ -> ]Assuming you actually find a bus that has any of them on board...I think there have been a grand total of two people finding one reported on here despite the hot air around these changes being fully supported by printed material. I finally did manage to get hold of one today - when the driver of a Voltra gave me their dog-eared copy as they hadn't seen any on the buses and there were of course none on theirs. This was after asking the driver of another service (which I won't identify) who was great and had a look for me and was really vocal (un-prompted other than me asking if they had a service change leaflet) about what they viewed as a disgraceful lack of customer info on board the vehicles. I was surprised they were so critical of the company, but can fully understand why given the multiple examples on here of being being unable to source either the changes booklet or any of the timetables - and they know they will be the ones getting it in the neck off the customers in less than a fortnight. Add to this that even the website still shows the old pdfs (if any at all) for some services (after changing the date) and from the outside looking in this does seem an amateurish attempt by GNE to communicate some fairly huge network changes.
(23 Aug 2021, 4:28 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]Enough posters were printed for every bus in the fleet, and every bus with a next stop announcement TFT monitor is also showing a notice. There are regular social media posts about the upcoming changes, and they have been on the website for weeks. The journey planner on the website/app and “live timetables” were updated back then, and PDFs of the timetables (which are proven to get a very low number of views on the website) are slowly being drip fed through once converted from print format to web format.
Not every timetable has been printed yet (it is peak holiday season across all industries) - those that have are distributed on buses already and are being followed up with subsequent print batches on a weekly basis. Go North East is working with Nexus to try and resurrect racks in bus stations but those discussions are still ongoing.
Not withstanding all that, there have been some pretty major last minute changes following further consultation with local authorities. Bearing in mind these changes have been known about at local authority officer level for some six months, and, contrary to comments on social media, there has been a massive amount of consultation with local authorities, politicians and other stakeholders, these changes were only being requested AFTER the registrations were submitted, Go North East is doing a pretty damn good job during trying times. It’s peak holiday season with many colleagues needing to cancel their holidays just to get this information out to customers in good time, as well as work bloody long (12-16 hour) days (and won’t get paid for these extra hours nor likely get the time back).
It takes roughly half a day to typeset a timetable, and probably another half a day to produce a map. It then takes an hour or two to proof-check the leaflet and its content (depending on how in depth you proof-check the times). Work technically can’t commence until after registrations have been submitted (although were in this instance given the sheer volume of changes), so I will let you do the maths of how many services are changing (and hence how much time this would take to do) vs the 56 days for the registration period.
In my opinion your comments are outlandish and in the main unfounded.
(23 Aug 2021, 7:59 am)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]Why would they request changes be made before the public have been informed?
That would rid them of the opportunity to go to the newspapers and cry about how bad GNE are and how much they care about the people!
If they did that work behind the scenes then the public will never know and they won't get the recognition they 'deserve'
(23 Aug 2021, 4:28 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]How ridiculous.
Whilst not denying that there are a small number of things yet to be done, Go North East are doing way more than other operators would for these service changes. Are Stagecoach and Arriva producing paper timetable leaflets at all?!
A five-figure sum of these booklets were printed and made available on every bus in the fleet. I have mentioned previously that I know of enthusiasts taking not just one but several of these, and I have also spotted them for sale on eBay. It may be that there has also been a genuine higher demand for these than expected and perhaps Go North East ought to have ordered more, but in one breath we’re hearing a general opinion that this booklet is useless and full of corporate drivel, and in the next we’re seeing several comments that they’re difficult to get a hold of, so there’s clearly been some demand for them.
Enough posters were printed for every bus in the fleet, and every bus with a next stop announcement TFT monitor is also showing a notice. There are regular social media posts about the upcoming changes, and they have been on the website for weeks. The journey planner on the website/app and “live timetables” were updated back then, and PDFs of the timetables (which are proven to get a very low number of views on the website) are slowly being drip fed through once converted from print format to web format.
Not every timetable has been printed yet (it is peak holiday season across all industries) - those that have are distributed on buses already and are being followed up with subsequent print batches on a weekly basis. Go North East is working with Nexus to try and resurrect racks in bus stations but those discussions are still ongoing.
Not withstanding all that, there have been some pretty major last minute changes following further consultation with local authorities. Bearing in mind these changes have been known about at local authority officer level for some six months, and, contrary to comments on social media, there has been a massive amount of consultation with local authorities, politicians and other stakeholders, these changes were only being requested AFTER the registrations were submitted, Go North East is doing a pretty damn good job during trying times. It’s peak holiday season with many colleagues needing to cancel their holidays just to get this information out to customers in good time, as well as work bloody long (12-16 hour) days (and won’t get paid for these extra hours nor likely get the time back).
It takes roughly half a day to typeset a timetable, and probably another half a day to produce a map. It then takes an hour or two to proof-check the leaflet and its content (depending on how in depth you proof-check the times). Work technically can’t commence until after registrations have been submitted (although were in this instance given the sheer volume of changes), so I will let you do the maths of how many services are changing (and hence how much time this would take to do) vs the 56 days for the registration period.
In my opinion your comments are outlandish and in the main unfounded.
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(23 Aug 2021, 9:29 am)Adrian wrote [ -> ]Issues aside with the difficulties of finding one (although pleased you finally did!), I have to disagree about the lack of customer info. Every bus I've travelled on over the past week has had the poster up about it, which in my opinion is enough to prompt someone to find out further information. You wouldn't just stick your fingers in your ears and pretend it's not happening, if you couldn't find a booklet on board. You'd either go online (if you can) or you'd give them a call, and I'd hope customer services would be more than willing to post a booklet out for those who cannot get online.
The timetables on the website also work fine, if you change the date to one in the future. This is a much better (and accessible) way of presenting a timetable.
(23 Aug 2021, 4:28 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]Not withstanding all that, there have been some pretty major last minute changes following further consultation with local authorities. Bearing in mind these changes have been known about at local authority officer level for some six months, and, contrary to comments on social media, there has been a massive amount of consultation with local authorities, politicians and other stakeholders, these changes were only being requested AFTER the registrations were submitted, Go North East is doing a pretty damn good job during trying times. It’s peak holiday season with many colleagues needing to cancel their holidays just to get this information out to customers in good time, as well as work bloody long (12-16 hour) days (and won’t get paid for these extra hours nor likely get the time back).
It takes roughly half a day to typeset a timetable, and probably another half a day to produce a map. It then takes an hour or two to proof-check the leaflet and its content (depending on how in depth you proof-check the times). Work technically can’t commence until after registrations have been submitted (although were in this instance given the sheer volume of changes), so I will let you do the maths of how many services are changing (and hence how much time this would take to do) vs the 56 days for the registration period.
(23 Aug 2021, 2:10 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Surely the aim of the game is to inform non-passenger of these changes too?
Putting leaflets and brochures in places where passengers go, is all well and good - but if they're wanting to increase numbers and use the changes for a positive (rather than cut costs), then those who would be positively affected by these changes - need to know about them.
The people of Catchgate need to know there's a quicker bus to Newcastle. Then, if that's where they are wanting to go, they know there's now a quicker, potentially more attractive alternative.
Ditto for those in Murton and needing to get to Durham and the more frequent offer available.
(23 Aug 2021, 2:26 pm)Adrian wrote [ -> ]I'd say it's probably a different approach to reaching out to those who aren't customers (yet). You'd probably want to market the 'new' network, rather than informing them about changes to a network that they don't currently use. In addition to the good adverts that have been appearing for Xlines and such like, it'd be good to see some traditional communication too, such as leaflet drops, timetables/guides/maps in public areas and so on.
Even for current bus users, there's got to be a better way of making information available. There's nothing at bus stop infrastructure for example, even at bus stations and on the info screens, to advise of the service changes. That is of course somewhat out of the operators hands, but in a 'joined up network' that the politicians so desire, there needs to be more forward thinking in this area.
(23 Aug 2021, 2:20 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]I appreaciate this is personal and close to you but...
Surely this was foreseen? You had to know once the changes were publicised that there'd be immediate feedback (good and bad) and potential changes would be required?
It's peak holiday season, simple solution is don't plan changes at this holiday period or plan better.
Colleagues working through holidays and long days is well...welcome to business in a pandemic I guess. However the decision not to pay them is a choice of appalling management and summarises the whole process and general business attitude of many companies these days, as folk do it out of unreturned loyalty.
For me, I sympathise with the Colleagues at the sharp end but its an obvious failure at the top.
Company sets out mass changes - doesn't plan for mass changes requiring more changes after publicising - lacks resource to implement changes.....root cause? Abject project management - obvious lack of skills within the Team to manage change at any sort of pace.
(23 Aug 2021, 2:49 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Surely killing two birds with one stone is more effecient than killing two, with two different stones?
Existing passengers are informed on the bus, wia a booklet and in bus stations/at stops.
Potential passengers get the same leaflet and are informed instantly of the 'improved' network in their area.
(23 Aug 2021, 3:31 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]There's a reason why the booklet was written in the way it has been - because Go North East are killing two birds with one stone.
There have been comments made about the 'bumph' at the start being excessive, but the same booklet has been distributed via other channels to those who may not necessarily be on buses at the moment. This bit aims to appeal to those people who aren't aware of all the work Go North East has done during the pandemic to invest in its product, and how they are making travel easier. Politically this has been very well received, and Go North East has been told that they've led the way locally with how well these changes have been communicated.
This is being supplemented by additional marketing where there are positive changes (i.e. service 65, with bigger buses, much later journeys, and a new Sunday service).
(23 Aug 2021, 3:52 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Where is this information available? We've been told its on buses and told its in bus stations, but nobody on the forum has apparently seen it.
If they are killing two birds with one stone and distributed via other channels, again - where?
(23 Aug 2021, 12:16 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote [ -> ]Re other operators, yes Stagecoach are producing printed leaflets for service changes and these have been readily available on vehicles for a while (but they also arent upending their network just now). No idea on Arriva.
(23 Aug 2021, 3:56 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]I'm not sure you'd get this level of confirmation of the exact distribution channels of a booklet from other operators, so I don't think I need to say it here either.
I'm glad Go North East are doing something which you think is a good idea - that's all that matters.
(23 Aug 2021, 3:56 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Glad to hear Stagecoach are producing printed timetable leaflets. I've travelled on a few Stagecoach buses in Sunderland recently and haven't seen a single one.
(23 Aug 2021, 4:17 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote [ -> ]Conscious it's getting off topic but as I said it seems to be just new/significantly changed services and as Stagecoach aren't slashing and changing much at the minute, the only one I'm aware of in Sunderland is the 19 - there are certainly printed leaflets for that out there (I would post a photo for you if I knew how!)