Have Southern Vectis ordered some Yutong DDs? Passed one in unbranded two-tone green livery which looked like the shades they use on the A19 earlier.

An agreement must have been made woth Stagecoach for the Shields depot to be used as base for some of the THV buses.

Spotted in the top shed alongside the stored Open Top SNE tridents

Are Economic open top 14669

And Busways 413 Scania Decker.

(Willkinson Travel of South Shields have akso used the bottom open area as a base for a few years now)

Unsure if any other THV vehicles are there, or stored at other SNE depots.

The DfT have opened up a consultation titled 'A railway fit for Britain's future' this morning. They're seeking views on proposals to reform Britain's railways.
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultati...ins-future

Consultation runs from today until 23.59 on Tuesday 15th April. 

Consultation description
We are seeking views on new policies to be included in the forthcoming Railways Bill, which will enable the establishment of Great British Railways (GBR). GBR will be a single directing mind that will run our rail infrastructure and passenger services in the public interest.

The overall aim of these proposed reforms is to provide a railway that works better for both passengers and taxpayers across Great Britain. They also include:

• the establishment of a new passenger watchdog
  
• reform of fares and online retail of tickets
  
• a new statutory role for devolved leaders in governing, managing, planning and developing the rail network
  
• streamlining processes and reducing regulatory burdens to empower GBR to to deliver the best service for railway users
  
• ensuring the private sector continues to play a key role, including a statutory duty for GBR to promote rail freight
  

Services Safeguarded
 
With the help of cash boost from the Bus Service Improvement Plan, we will continue to fund a number of bus services across our region ?
 
These include:
 
- Services 17/18 in Darlington until March 2026
- Services 6/6A in Darlington and Stockton until March 2026
- Services 1&2 in Redcar and Cleveland until March 2026
- Service RP1 Riverside Park, in Middlesbrough, until March 2026
- Services X40/X41 for Wynyard until March 2026
- Service 101 serving Teesport until August this year
- Tees Flex until August this year
- Service 16 in Darlington until August this year [website however states March 2026]
- Services 3&4 in Darlington from April to March 2026
- Service 29 in Middlesbrough from April to March 2026
- Service 3 in Redcar and Cleveland from April to March 2026
 
Plenty of work is continuing with bus operators on the above and a number of other routes, so watch this space ?

For more information ➡️ https://orlo.uk/wRWaO

Seeing as this now appears to have well and truly developed legs, I've created a new thread to discuss the ongoing potential of Industrial Action at Go North East. 

Chronicle Report: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...g-31022860

Go North East buses facing strike vote in row on safety and treatment of staff

Union Unite has issued a strongly-worded statement after a number of rows between staff and management at Go North East, which has depots in Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham

More than 1,000 workers at public transport firm Go North East could be balloted on strike action after a row with the firm over safety and treatment of staff.

Unite the Union say drivers and engineers at depots in Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham have been threatened with dismissal, suspended and sent home from work when health and safety issues are raised.

Safety issues, including CCTV now working on the top floor of double decker buses, have been raised by staff and the union says that members of staff who had raised health and safety concerns were sent home from work with some of them given final written warnings. Unions also allege that the company’s higher standard buses are being sent to the North West, where its parent group Go Ahead has recently won a major contract.

The threat of a strike will concern commuters after a strike on Go North East buses in 2023 caused huge disruption and damage to the regional economy.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Go North East has a track record of appalling management practices but it has plumbed new depths with this latest reign of terror that has seen workers, including union reps, forced to sign paperwork under threats of dismissal. We have members who have been threatened with dismissal or forced to resign due to such Dickensian working practices and despite attempts by our reps and officers to find a way forward, such a vindictive approach to the workforce has left little choice but to consult with our membership on next steps.”

The 2023 industrial action on Go North East cost the region an estimated £10m as people were unable to get to work, school and college, and medical appointments. Drivers, engineers and other staff at Go North East staged seven weeks of strike action from late September, including a continuous five-week walkout, before a deal was struck in a pay dispute.

A Go North East spokesperson said: “Go North East is committed to ensuring the highest safety standards at all times. Recently, we introduced safety briefings for drivers to reinforce best practices, for example to ensure that double deck buses are not driven on routes with low bridges in case it leads to bridge strikes. Safety standards of this nature are essential for protecting our passengers.

“Over 99% of drivers supported this but a very small number of drivers (seven out of 1300) initially declined to sign up to the safety standards or provide assurances that they would adhere to these safe ways of working. In accordance with our established procedures, these drivers were temporarily suspended. However, the issue was resolved, and the suspensions lifted.”

Go North East is one of the region’s main public transport operators, with the company saying that around 175,000 journeys are made on its buses each day.

Who writes these comments for the company? "Recently, we introduced safety briefings for drivers to reinforce best practices, for example to ensure that double deck buses are not driven on routes with low bridges in case it leads to bridge strikes" - I'd say it's little more than best practice to avoid hitting a bridge!

Anyone know why the bygone era has gone completely to pot?

There are files on there that are returning 404 errors when you try and view them.

Very sad news coming out of DCA (Ronald Reagan Airport) with a ERJ-145 and a Blackhawk Helicopter colliding seconds after ATC instructed flight 5342 from Wichita Kanas, to change runways and land on runway 33 (shortest runway at DCA) commonly used for Embraer Jets. 

With these events the response was quick and urgent however it was soon seen as a recovery incident not a rescue operation, with ambulance staying unmoved for hours as the search went on. Companies, People, Groups give there thoughts to the incident. However one man was more focused on the blame of Biden, Obama, Butigeig, Diversity, not the cuts he just forced through within his first 10 days in office (this is going to be a long 4 years), incuding marching out a senior office in FAA as he had fined SpaceX in the years previous, or the firing of 100 safety personal. 

Just coming out that the DCA ATC Tower only had 1 operator missing two more, was this down to the cuts which Trump imposed (Ofc not, nothings his fault its anyone else)

Very Sad day for America, the deadliest crash in over 20 years, its a time to come together but not to blame, or suggest conspiracy theories.

So lets, let the NTSB do its job and hope it never happens again. 67 PEOPLE DIED they were everyone's VIP.

https://new.newcastle.gov.uk/news/2025/p...bus-routes

Split into 4 plans, I can only see the road plan for East End.

- New Bridge street bus stop near Manors moved further back from crossing, with the removal of the on street parking to ensure the bus lane functions. 
- Bus lane extended from Byker bridge to Byker roundabout, removal of a crossing there to widen the road allowing it to go the run length, with a Pelacan crossing added. 
- Shields Road Morrisons road-about removed and replaced with traffic lights, with the existing pelican crossing slightly further up removed.

All makes sense, however removing that roundabout near Morrisons seems a bold move.

We're planning service changes in North Tyneside, Newcastle and south east Northumberland, set to launch on Sunday 23 March 2025.

We're encouraging our passengers to share their views on these proposed changes to the bus network. Feedback received will help us refine our plans, ensuring local travel needs are met as effectively as possible.


https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/share-your...h-tyneside




Some contracts have been confirmed too:

54 Newcastle-Whitley Bay: Evening/Sunday Nexus contract service from Stagecoach

342 Wallsend-Kingston Park: We will take over the operation of this service from Gateshead Central Taxis.


With the X78 - Going back to Stagecoach - The contract for this service has been awarded to Stagecoach, who will operate the service from this date.




-------


But couldn't do on a online survey for Sunderland/South Tyneside?

North East Combined Authority multi-modal ticket increases are on the agenda at Cabinet today.

"In addition to the introduction of the NECA adult single bus fare cap, the following BSIP fare caps
are proposed for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 December 2025: 
• The £1 single fare and £3 daily cap for people aged 21 be retained at the existing price points. This is estimated to cost £14.5m for April to December 2025;
• Adult multi-modal daily caps to be adjusted to £5 for Durham (from £4), £6 for Northumberland (from £5), £6.80 for Tyne and Wear (from £6), and £7.50 for the entire  North East CA area (from £6.80).
Cabinet is asked to approve the revised levels of these fare caps, at an estimated cost of £4.4m for April to December 2025."

Source: 14.4 - Page 15 - https://www.northeast-ca.gov.uk/download...y-2025.pdf

It's really disappointing to see these fares raised so soon after the tickets were launched, but I think their hands have been somewhat forced by the single-fare cap being raised, and then refusing to fully support the difference (per other MCAs). Durham at £4 is currently cheaper than two singles. 

I'd have actually liked to see some proper forecasting on fare increases, or a commitment to cap the %, instead of this almost reactive annual process that we've experienced in the commercial world. The Northumberland ticket being £6 or the Regionwide ticket now being £7.50 suddenly doesn't sound as attractive!

The same report also highlights how significant BSIP funding has become, and what it's costing us: "Secured bus services, where BSIP funding significantly augments existing levy-funded budgets. 47% of secured bus mileage in the North East is funded by BSIP revenue funding, at a cost of approximately £16 million per annum. This equates to 12% of the total bus network being reliant on BSIP revenue funding."

More worryingly, there's a highlighted risk of funding beyond 2025-26. The report states:

"Whilst BSIP funding has been confirmed until March 2026, funding from that point onwards is less clear:
• Post-BSIP revenue funding for buses is currently under consideration by the Government.
• The Government’s forthcoming Spending Review is expected to address the problem.
• It is also possible, but far from certain, that the discussion becomes related to single settlement and/or CRSTS2.
• There may be some residual BSIP revenue funds to rollover further into 2026-27, subject to DfT approval."

Not only does this present a risk for the future of the BSIP multi-modal tickets; originally this was a two-year arrangement (2023-25, albeit a lengthy delay to actually launch them), so this is effectively the first annual extension, but it also presents a cliff-edge for a lot of services. I think as we've seen with the minute the £2 cap was raised, some operators won't think twice about swinging the axe about.