(20 Nov 2014, 11:09 am)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Does any one know where deptford mpds are today

(20 Nov 2014, 10:57 am)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Ok if it does whats the point in having a branded bus just youse any thing on it

(20 Nov 2014, 4:09 pm)Marcus wrote Well....the X66 is nearly always packed, and I guess you could say it's one of GNE's most revenue-earning services. I think it needs a brand through which it can be identifiable, really.

(20 Nov 2014, 4:15 pm)Tom wrote The X66 actually probably isn't one of the most revenue earning services, as most of the passengers are OAPS, or already have a pass. 

(20 Nov 2014, 4:17 pm)Marcus wrote Most times when I'm on it (normally my primary connection from G'head to the MetroCentre) a lot of kids get on and hand over ten pound notes, etc.

I'd say it easily takes in about £20+ in cash fares every time it leaves either point.

(20 Nov 2014, 4:20 pm)Tom wrote Think £20 is pushing it to be honest. Maybe on some, but not all. 

(20 Nov 2014, 4:21 pm)Marcus wrote Fair point, there are some runs that I've been on only left Gateshead with about 15 people on. During the middle of the day, I'd say it's lucky if 10 get on at MetroCentre!

(20 Nov 2014, 10:23 am)Michael wrote , well ya knar i want to know the changes, its a bit unfair that they're only putting the results online and not the proposed changes, even if they're just to look at! 

I'd rather look at the proposed changes and email them my concerns etc 

(20 Nov 2014, 10:29 am)Andreos1 wrote If they're wanting to make changes, based on the opinions of a small minority - let them get on with it.

Sunderland isn't a market that is dominated by GNE and I am sure someone else will quite happily snaffle up those passengers who end up loosing out.
Either way, there will be changes in Sunderland in 6 months time (there never is a settled set of routes). You might be able to get to that session!

I do agree with you though.

(20 Nov 2014, 10:33 am)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Well ok then could 5337/8 transfer to deptford for work on 35 releasing 4945/6 away

(20 Nov 2014, 10:34 am)Michael wrote The 29 has survived for a while! =P

(20 Nov 2014, 10:36 am)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote On another note 555-559 have not been repainted since 2010 they need a repaint could tynedale get mini solos or survive with mpds for now

(20 Nov 2014, 10:37 am)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Ah ok on lasers 53 regs have not 4945/6

(20 Nov 2014, 10:42 am)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote How long till 51 reg bendys go on x40 and be replaced by 57 reg artics with something new on x66

(20 Nov 2014, 10:44 am)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Whats going on 128 as 4847 is past out

(20 Nov 2014, 10:48 am)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote I may answer my question on 128 if 9 gets an update soon 5274 could go on 128 if percys pvr 3 like i said before 5247-49 on 9 and some thing for deptford

(20 Nov 2014, 10:57 am)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Ok if it does whats the point in having a branded bus just youse any thing on it

(20 Nov 2014, 1:47 pm)Andreos1 wrote 4992 was struggling this morning.
Having to change down a gear on even the slightest of inclines.

Dread to think what it will have been like on Leazes Bowl, Gilesgate Bank or Houghton Cut.

(20 Nov 2014, 4:09 pm)Marcus wrote Well....the X66 is nearly always packed, and I guess you could say it's one of GNE's most revenue-earning services. I think it needs a brand through which it can be identifiable, really.

(20 Nov 2014, 5:07 pm)Dan wrote Because it's been a commercial success.

Service 26 carried very few passenger numbers prior to those service changes in January, but the loadings on service 29 are very healthy now. It goes to show that the evolving market showed demand for a through route to Doxford Park from North Sunderland, and indeed showed demand to justify a combined 10 minute frequency from Sunderland to Doxford Park!

Service changes are often thought to be 'pointless', and a number of enthusiasts on this forum alone use it as a basis for criticism. Why? Service changes are often formed on the basis of what has already been requested by customers, and they are then well planned to be commercially viable from a team with umpteen amount of years experience doing this... Customers don't always benefit from service changes as some runs of services with low use are sometimes chopped, but I'd suggest that most customers do benefit from changes on the majority of occasions. Whether it's faster journey times, new links being created, or later journey times being implemented...

• Stanley's "Northern" branded Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne 3876 (W186 SCU) into corporate livery, a repaint postponed from the summer due to being on long-term VOR.
  
• Deptford's "Silver Arrows" branded Mercedes Citaro 0530N/Mercedes Citaro 5326 (NK58 DWD) for a freshen up silver repaint, which has gone instead of 5323 (for reasons unbeknown to me, as 5323 was out in service today).
  
• Percy Main's "Northern" branded Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6025 (V325 LGC) into corporate livery.
  

(20 Nov 2014, 5:22 pm)Dan wrote Anyway, in an attempt to get some different discussion flowing... The following vehicles have arrived at Saltmeadows for repaint:

• Stanley's "Northern" branded Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne 3876 (W186 SCU) into corporate livery, having returned to service after being on long-term VOR.
  
• Deptford's "Silver Arrows" branded Mercedes Citaro 0530N/Mercedes Citaro 5326 (NK58 DWD) for a freshen up silver repaint, which has gone instead of 5323 (for reasons unbeknown to me, as 5323 was out in service today)
  
• Percy Main's "Northern" branded Volvo B7TL/Plaxton President 6025 (V325 LGC) into corporate livery.
  

(20 Nov 2014, 3:45 pm)Tom wrote When are you going to give it a rest with all of the spamming - it's getting on my nerves. 

(20 Nov 2014, 10:34 am)Michael wrote The 29 has survived for a while! =P

(20 Nov 2014, 11:56 pm)gneasy91 wrote 29 should really termanait at sunderland because ive seen the 29 empty when it gets to boldon i liked to old 26 route lol

(21 Nov 2014, 7:39 am)Tom wrote No it shouldn't. The loadings are actually very good around Downhill and Southwick when I've seen it, but the loadings to Boldon ASDA aren't the best.

(21 Nov 2014, 7:49 am)Dan wrote ..and this is primarily due to the fact there are now five buses per hour between some parts of North Sunderland estates (29 and X36) and Boldon ASDA, and customers opt for the one which comes first more often than not.

Nobody travels from Sunderland City Centre to Boldon ASDA using service 29 due to the fact service 9 does it quicker and it's more frequent.

In the Castletown area, service 29 is very good though. Begs the question why service 26 wasn't as good on this section of the route before - perhaps these customers had contacted Go North East to create a through service onward to Doxford Park, and maybe this is the reason why Go North East made the changes and have grabbed customers back again?

(20 Nov 2014, 5:07 pm)Dan wrote Not everyone will be able to attend the consultation at Park Lane, similar to how in the past, not everyone has had Internet access to be able to give their feedback with online questionnaires...

Truth of the matter is - no one method is the best way of gathering feedback from customers. Cost will always be prohibitive, limiting the company to certain methods. This is a learning curve for the company, and at least they are trying new ways to engage with customers...


Bit of a brash statement...

Sampling techniques do see a small percentage of people questioned, but the view of one of these people is likely to represent the view of a lot of other customers anyway (much like it does in the actual results). If Go North East were only going to receive the same feedback time and time again, day by day, it would have been a pointless exercise and the time of the employees could have been used more effectively doing other jobs.

Thousands of people go through Park Lane having travelled on buses each day. These people primarily use Go North East buses because they almost have the monopoly at that bus station.
If there's going to be a re-jig up of a number of services which go through Park Lane, the best way to catch a lot of customers is to be in Park Lane (where most customers will travel to/from).

There may be service changes every six months, but how do you know that the services in this consultation will be the same as the services affected in the previous consultation? You don't... Service changes only happen due to changes in customer travelling habits; if customers start making alternative arrangements (for whatever reason) and the company is losing custom on a certain service, changes need to be made to attract these customers back (or even new customers).

I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle as it seems nobody is actually listening to the other side of the argument here... Recent posts on this forum have all seemingly suggested that the company doesn't want to hear the views of customers, they've made up their minds already, etc...
Why, therefore, would they hold the consultation? I don't believe that Stagecoach on Teesside held a consultation for their upcoming service changes on Teesside - they simply went ahead and did it.
Can anyone explain why Go North East employees are therefore going to be based in a bus station to collate market research all day, why the company has invited customers to the consultation on their Social Media pages, why the company has gone to the effort of printing notices and pinning them up on Deptford-based buses to attract as many customers to the consultation as possible?

(21 Nov 2014, 1:40 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote 4937 has departed PL with a cloud of smoke coming from the Rear, might have another Engine Bay Fire on our Hands.

(21 Nov 2014, 1:44 pm)Andreos1 wrote Have we got another stalking situation on our hands though?

(21 Nov 2014, 2:16 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Not yet