(18 Jul 2020, 10:15 pm)Tom wrote Yes, they were both Stratas.

No emergency tickets issued, but I was just thinking the drivers were pocketing the money for no good reason.

Thanks for clearing up.

That's exactly what they were doing, if you didn't get an emergency ticket then how do you know the money is going towards Nexus..

(18 Jul 2020, 11:54 pm)ThomasBooth123 wrote Blue bird I was on today had no ticket manchine

which service

Here’s a couple of observations from the first day of GCT operating the 23 service

The 13:13 left the Galleries left 5 minutes late.

The 13:47 at Wrekenton came 5 minutes early and went straight past the stop without waiting for any potential passengers.

Also I’m sure I saw on here that Enviro 200MMC buses were to be used on these services but both were Bluebirds.


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The correct allocation is Bluebirds

In their defence, it can be very difficult to get the 23 back to the Galleries on time. I often found that the late running was nearly always caught up on the short Lansbury Drive runs.

That being said, leaving 5mins early from a compulsory timing point is Traffic Commissioner territory.

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(20 Jul 2020, 12:57 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Here’s a couple of observations from the first day of GCT operating the 23 service

The 13:13  left the Galleries left 5 minutes late.

The 13:47 at Wrekenton came 5 minutes early and went straight past the stop without waiting for any potential passengers.

Also I’m sure I saw on here that Enviro 200MMC buses were to be used on these services but both were Bluebirds.


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Doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

Breadvans on the 81/82 appear to be a recurring theme now, as do buses with Not in Service on the blind...

Nexus aren't remotely interested.

(21 Jul 2020, 8:11 am)LeeCalder wrote Doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

Breadvans on the 81/82 appear to be a recurring theme now, as do buses with Not in Service on the blind...

Nexus aren't remotely interested.

If Nexus are not interested and everyone gets referred to Nexus in regards to contract complaints.  Could the Bus Appeals Body not be of use in this case. Do they still exist. I know they were fantastic in dealing with a complaint for me many years ago.

(21 Jul 2020, 9:25 am)ifm001 wrote If Nexus are not interested and everyone gets referred to Nexus in regards to contract complaints.  Could the Bus Appeals Body not be of use in this case. Do they still exist. I know they were fantastic in dealing with a complaint for me many years ago.

I think Nexus should take a more serious role in dealing with things like this, and not just with regards to GCT but other contractors. Yes the big 3 are known to have drivers do the same thing, but the fact that the drivers are being tracked and can be dealt with if they miss bus stops, or run early helps the majority of them stay in line and not do what they like. If there were financial penalties for the contractors it might produce a better service for everyone, even if it's still little vans run by GCT on the 23.

(21 Jul 2020, 9:52 am)deanmachine wrote I think Nexus should take a more serious role in dealing with things like this, and not just with regards to GCT but other contractors. Yes the big 3 are known to have drivers do the same thing, but the fact that the drivers are being tracked and can be dealt with if they miss bus stops, or run early helps the majority of them stay in line and not do what they like. If there were financial penalties for the contractors it might produce a better service for everyone, even if it's still little vans run by GCT on the 23.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020...tents/made

Just shared it elsewhere in the forum. It will be interesting to see what impact (if any), it has on incidents like the ones described above.

(21 Jul 2020, 8:11 am)LeeCalder wrote Doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

Breadvans on the 81/82 appear to be a recurring theme now

81/82/83/84/85/86 are allocated solos, run off 37/73 & 558, with the odd streetlite thrown on.  Breadvans  are NOT a recurring theme.

Sunday allocation is Enviro only.

(20 Jul 2020, 10:36 pm)6049 wrote In their defence, it can be very difficult to get the 23 back to the Galleries on time. I often found that the late running was nearly always caught up on the short Lansbury Drive runs.

That being said, leaving 5mins early from a compulsory timing point is Traffic Commissioner territory.

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It did make the time up by the time it got to Wrekenton from The Galleries and looked empty.


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(21 Jul 2020, 2:29 pm)park5354 wrote 81/82/83/84/85/86 are allocated solos, run off 37/73 & 558, with the odd streetlite thrown on.  Breadvans  are NOT a recurring theme.

Sunday allocation is Enviro only.

It appears to be mainly Enviro 200 MMC's to me, certainly noticed a lot of Breadvans on these services, I even photographed one the other day on the 84 (then 82), and another running around showing NIS!

Along with a quite full, and non-socially distanced 20-plate breadvan operating the 85 on a few occasions.

It will be interesting to see how passenger numbers on the 23 are effected by the change of operator, now that a 'proper' bus isn't being used as such?

It's a bit GNE 35a missing out part of the section regularly. A friend of mine give up reporting it.

(21 Jul 2020, 3:17 pm)idiot wrote It's a bit GNE 35a missing out part of the section regularly. A friend of mine give up reporting it.

What section of the 35A?

(20 Jul 2020, 12:57 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Here’s a couple of observations from the first day of GCT operating the 23 service

The 13:13  left the Galleries left 5 minutes late.

The 13:47 at Wrekenton came 5 minutes early and went straight past the stop without waiting for any potential passengers.

Also I’m sure I saw on here that Enviro 200MMC buses were to be used on these services but both were Bluebirds.


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Oh, and just to add to the comments surrounding the 23's running early yesterday, a photograph has emerged online of the service running 9 minutes early in Birtley this afternoon.

Dear me.

(21 Jul 2020, 2:49 pm)TEN 6083 wrote It did make the time up by the time it got to Wrekenton from The Galleries and looked empty.


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Having done the 23, I struggle to believe that it made it's time up without missing out some part of the route. I stand to be corrected of course but in my experience it's tight and I'm no slouch. If you were on it and it did, my apologies.

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(21 Jul 2020, 3:22 pm)deanmachine wrote What section of the 35A?

Before Castletown. Friend of mine used to work at the jumping place.

One of the new breadvans was parked up at Concord about half 7 so assuming it was out on the 80s again last night

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(29 Jul 2020, 12:08 am)6049 wrote One of the new breadvans was parked up at Concord about half 7 so assuming it was out on the 80s again last night

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Yep, 20-plate on the 85

Was anything ever said about the fire on the 168 a couple of weeks back? 
No idea which vehicle was involved, but it looked a wreck.

(29 Jul 2020, 10:20 pm)Andreos1 wrote Was anything ever said about the fire on the 168 a couple of weeks back? 
No idea which vehicle was involved, but it looked a wreck.

SF14HAE, and has been scrapped.  Useful parts have been stripped for re use.

Loved the allocation for the u tonghit

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Blue Minivan Was on 8 tonghit

(30 Jul 2020, 10:04 pm)ThomasBooth123 wrote Loved the allocation for the u tonghit

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Blue Minivan Was on 8 tonghit

Did you manage to catch the reg at all and what time was this? Thanks

(03 Aug 2020, 12:14 pm)TBS1235 wrote Did you manage to catch the reg at all and what time was this? Thanks

Was a 61

(03 Aug 2020, 12:14 pm)TBS1235 wrote Did you manage to catch the reg at all and what time was this? Thanks

FRZ

Are GCT implementing social distancing?

The 333 just passed me along North Shields front with a canny few aboard - certainly looked more than 15 (which is what I believe other operators are limiting their minibuses to).

Has anyone noticed if GCT been duplicating any scholars runs? Are they getting support from any other operators?

(07 Sep 2020, 8:45 pm)Adrian wrote Has anyone noticed if GCT been duplicating any scholars runs? Are they getting support from any other operators?

GCT are not running any dupes.

854am is duped by JH coaches

No idea how true this is but a fellow parent whos child go's to the same school as my son has said that theres 1 specific 335 that doesnt turn up,think its the one round about 3pm (ish) that he said,like said no idea how true it is or if its even true at all,i very rarely use it myself,last time i did use it was back in May,and even then it was a different time and was also going in the other direction,anywho apart from that i had a little suggestion
What about scrapping the 319 to Jarrow and either extending the 333 or 335?

(19 Sep 2020, 8:43 am)V514DFT wrote No idea how true this is but a fellow parent whos child go's to the same school as my son has said that theres 1 specific 335 that doesnt turn up,think its the one round about 3pm (ish) that he said,like said no idea how true it is or if its even true at all,i very rarely use it myself,last time i did use it was back in May,and even then it was a different time and was also going in the other direction,anywho apart from that i had a little suggestion
What about scrapping the 319 to Jarrow and either extending the 333 or 335?

I'd rather see the 9 extended back through the tunnel like it always was with the 26 extended to Lukes Lane. It's doable now since the 9 has been cut to every 30 minutes and the 26 gives better links to places rather the circular route of the 9 and replaces the utterly pointless H2.