(18 Jun 2016, 8:44 am)palatine3833 wrote I would question that, since they are judging their passenger numbers on the ticket machine data.  This works but only to a certain extent.  If 30 people board at Blackhall Mill, but only 2 of them buy single/returns to the Business Park and the other 28 have passes, what method do GNE (or any other company for that matter) have of determining when they alight the bus?  Or do they just assume they all went to Newcastle?

(18 Jun 2016, 12:54 pm)Dan wrote Feel free to question it - but how do you know that Go North East are measuring passenger numbers between two locations on ticket machine data alone?

The news page refers to the real-time information system fitted to each bus which has allowed the company to build more realistic and achievable timetables - but I see no mention of how the company gathered their information regarding passenger numbers.

For all you or I know, Go North East could have allocated a resource to stand at Newcastle Business Park to record how many people were alighting at these stops. If this was done over a few days/weeks, the company could get an average figure for how many passengers are alighting at Newcastle Business Park over the course of the day. I am not suggesting that this has been done, but it is a possibility, and a way in which the 28 passes could have been captured.

(18 Jun 2016, 1:20 pm)JP6004 wrote They could also use the key cards to show travel patterns...
Say someone gets on at blackhall mill and only travels to Blaydon and gets 49 to winlaton. GNE would be able to see that they got off at Blaydon based on the fact they scanned their pass on the 49 at Blaydon.
Based on this method they would be able to determine who gets on at Blackhall Mill and who gets off at the Business Park by seeing who re-scans their pass from the same point going back toward BHM

Edit: Same goes for day and week paper tickets

(18 Jun 2016, 1:22 pm)Dan wrote Yep - you've hit the nail on the head!

I am sure Go North East would not put a precise figure out on the public domain if it was not correct.

(18 Jun 2016, 7:12 pm)Ambassador wrote Didn't GNE say on Facebook the decision was made based on ticket machines?

Now that of course could be a over enthusiastic GNE Facebook employee

(19 Jun 2016, 1:24 pm)Michael wrote Currently on 5327 and it seems to be having a few problems, it came past Park Lane and wasn't getting any power then decided to stop completely so the driver had to re-set the bus.

Seems to be ok now for the time-being.

(19 Jun 2016, 2:21 pm)Ryan99 wrote Try going on 5302 it's #broken

(19 Jun 2016, 5:10 pm)EL1TE wrote True fact!!

(19 Jun 2016, 2:21 pm)Ryan99 wrote Try going on 5302 it's #broken

(19 Jun 2016, 5:10 pm)EL1TE wrote True fact!!

(19 Jun 2016, 5:36 pm)Ryan99 wrote It's horrid

(19 Jun 2016, 7:27 pm)thetravelman wrote

I've been down to Port of Tyne at Royal Quays this afternoon to see the Disney Magic cruise ship again for its second visit here to the North East.\

Whilst there we noticed various coaches bringing guests back to the ship from their day trips away exploring the North East. However where we were and where the coaches were coming in, I wasn't able to get any photos.

Anyway I did notice GNE were doing a shuttle bus, the one I saw was a corporate liveried Solar. Again it was bringing guests right into the docking area of the Disney Magic.

Does anyone know where these GNE shuttles were taking guests to and from, I know the various coaches that were there were taking people to places such as, Alnwick Castle, Beamish Museum, Roman Wall and York.

Anyone else been down there today?

(19 Jun 2016, 7:32 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote There was 13 coaches at beamish today

(19 Jun 2016, 6:23 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Isn't 5302 the See It Do it with the bells that don't work?

(20 Jun 2016, 3:27 pm)S813 FVK wrote 5246 is the final vehicle to be branded for Whey Aye Five 0 services 50 and 5: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/27695094062/

(20 Jun 2016, 3:27 pm)S813 FVK wrote 5246 is the final vehicle to be branded for Whey Aye Five 0 services 50 and 5: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/27695094062/

(20 Jun 2016, 3:30 pm)Kuyoyo wrote My one nitpick here - it looks out-of-place with the location of the front registration plate compared to the others, being the only ex-Cobalt Connect one not to have it relocated back to its original location on the bumper.

(20 Jun 2016, 5:53 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Has 4911 returned to service as on the fleet list its in full service

(20 Jun 2016, 6:03 pm)Dan wrote No - there's no Volvo B10BLEs in service at Deptford any more.

4911 was withdrawn on 2nd June 2016.