(20 Nov 2015, 8:59 pm)mrnut85 wrote Boxing Day services in Tyne and Wear are subsidised by Nexus as there is no economical viability in operating services on this day

(21 Nov 2015, 9:51 am)idiot wrote Don't bother trying to travel on SC buses on Boxing day again lol

(21 Nov 2015, 6:43 am)Dan wrote Not all Boxing Day services are subsidised by Nexus. Only some are, and this number seems to reduce year on year.

Indeed; this year we will see Go North East services, which have previously been subsidised, operated on a commercial basis! How come Go North East can see a commercial opportunity when the usual operator, Arriva, seemingly cannot?

I honestly can't understand how one operator manages to make a nice profit out of operating some services on a Boxing Day, and increases their PVR year on year to improve services, yet the other two big boys seem to struggle.

(21 Nov 2015, 11:10 am)Michael wrote Shame they couldn't have the 35A travel all the way to Heworth.....

(21 Nov 2015, 11:42 am)Dan wrote
As in previous years, the Sunderland - Castletown - Downhill section of that service is secured.

The usual 'extension' of the service from Town End Farm and Boldon is secured by Nexus anyway, so they are responsible for deciding whether there is demand to provide that service.

(21 Nov 2015, 11:45 am)Michael wrote So not all of GNE's services are ran commercial this year?

Would be nice of GNE to just run at least 1 bus hourly to Heworth.... shame NEXUS have control over that.....

(21 Nov 2015, 12:01 pm)Dan wrote No - I should have been clearer in my previous post by stating 'some'. The Arriva North East 44 and 45 services to Dinnington are a prime example of a service being secured by Nexus on Boxing Day in previous years, but this year will be operated on a commercial basis (morphed into Go North East's Q3 service). I'd suggest that the demand is likely to be there given that NUFC are playing at home.

Perhaps in the future Go North East will operate the extension to Heworth commercially - there'd be nothing stopping them from doing it, but given that it's usually secured by Nexus on evenings and Sundays, I can't see there being sufficient demand to supply this service (especially if Nexus thinks that too!) Each year has seen a new commercial risk taken by Go North East: last year it was extending the 4 from Fallowfield Way to Houghton-le-Spring (via Fencehouses) once per hour, which has notably been continued this year, and this year sees Boxing Day services go to places such as Bishop Auckland, Cramlington and Sacriston, which hasn't been done in a very long time.

(20 Nov 2015, 8:02 pm)Adrian wrote It's comical that two principal operators, between them, can't come up with even the most basic level of service for Teesside. It plays right into the hands of the pro-regulation argument imo.

(21 Nov 2015, 12:10 pm)Michael wrote It would be good if they did take a risk one year, the one thing what annoys me is though is that the bigger bus companies seem to be worrying more about profits than the passengers and where people need to be.... Arriva is the biggest example of that. 

Its good that GNE are expanding their services on boxing day and hopefully this increases every year.

(21 Nov 2015, 12:30 pm)citaro5284 wrote Can they not go into Sunderland then Metro to Heworth?

It annoys me that some people have nee idea what goes on behind the scenes to get things like this sorted but are often quick to criticise but hey ho, thats the way of the world I guess.

(21 Nov 2015, 12:42 pm)Michael wrote They could use the metro, its not very reliable though..........

I wasn't just criticizing GNE though?, i was just saying that sometimes bus companies put profits first....... Arriva is biggest example.... only time i mentioned GNE was when i said: Its good that GNE are expanding their services on boxing day and hopefully this increases every year.


We don't know how much goes on in the background but why can't people have a opinion the subject and have their say?

(21 Nov 2015, 12:51 pm)citaro5284 wrote Surely if the Metro is not reliable that is not any bus companies fault, so why should they operate a service just in case the Metro breaks down?

I never mentioned GNE at all.....

Nothing stopping people having their say, however you assume it is all about profits - how do you know that, and simply you dont.  Boxing Day currently is staffed by volunteers, the more services you run, the more staff you need, and quite a large proportion of staff like to have the Christmas and New Year off with their families, so actually finding the staff to cover the work can sometimes be more tricker than you think.

(20 Nov 2015, 8:59 pm)mrnut85 wrote Boxing Day services in Tyne and Wear are subsidised by Nexus as there is no economical viability in operating services on this day

(21 Nov 2015, 12:58 pm)Michael wrote I'm not the only one who has mentioned about profits. 

In all honesty... why can't they have a better system.. where they have drivers working boxing day - and they change every year.

Example: 50 from Deptford work one year, the next 50 work the year after and so on...its not the best example.

(20 Nov 2015, 8:51 pm)DanPicken wrote Or South Shields their only serving Biddick, Whiteleas and Jarrow and E2/6 leaving others busless relying on hourly 5 or half- Hourly 88. Feel sorry for anyone South of Sunderland/ Seaham left busless while other places have plenty.

(21 Nov 2015, 11:09 am)Michael wrote Why?

(23 Nov 2015, 3:18 pm)markydh wrote There's plenty of demand. Newcastle buses are usually packed on Boxing Day!

(23 Nov 2015, 3:43 pm)Michael wrote Sunderland's can get quite busy to. 

Wouldn't be surprised if the E2/E6 are operated by E400's on boxing day.

I think Stagecoach should of tired to put the X34 on to, even it only ran hourly - maybe 11am-4pm.... although it depends on driver numbers or if the service would make a profit.

(23 Nov 2015, 4:57 pm)citaro5284 wrote Should have gone to sleep then 

(20 Nov 2015, 8:51 pm)DanPicken wrote Or South Shields their only serving Biddick, Whiteleas and Jarrow and E2/6 leaving others busless relying on hourly 5 or half- Hourly 88. Feel sorry for anyone South of Sunderland/ Seaham left busless while other places have plenty.

(23 Nov 2015, 6:39 pm)Cock Robin wrote The only way is ethics.

(20 Nov 2015, 1:12 pm)Michael wrote Stagecoach have started to put their Christmas info on the site:

Note its different on all the links for services - so here are the separate links for the area's: (No timetables for last buses on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve)


Hartlepool - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/tis-service-update-details.aspx?id=7585
Teeside - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/tis-service-update-details.aspx?id=7584
Newcastle - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/tis-service-update-details.aspx?id=7583
Sunderland - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/tis-service-update-details.aspx?id=7591
South Shields - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/tis-service-update-details.aspx?id=7590