(11 Jan 2022, 10:19 pm)Storx wrote I respect that there's shortages but the 82 cancellations from Birtley tomorrow are totally unacceptable especially when there's no cancellations on the 4 at the same time.

08:05
08:35
09:10
09:40
10:10
10:40
11:10
11:40
12:10

That's pretty much unusable. So well for using the bus if you need to.

Looks like it's been updated now. 07:05 and 13:40 also axed, but the 11:40 will start from the Galleries (so also axed, if you live on route before that point)

This again highlights the inflexibility of scheduling. The 85 is running pretty much all day, at a higher frequency, without disruption, yet the 82 is as much use as a chocolate teapot today. 

Washington looks like it's taking a beating in terms of sickness.

(11 Jan 2022, 10:19 pm)Storx wrote I respect that there's shortages but the 82 cancellations from Birtley tomorrow are totally unacceptable especially when there's no cancellations on the 4 at the same time.

08:05
08:35
09:10
09:40
10:10
10:40
11:10
11:40
12:10

That's pretty much unusable. So well for using the bus if you need to.

So as well as not being able to get a bus  TO Birtley (due to the route the 82 takes), the residents of Blackfell Way and the like now can't get a bus FROM Birtley. Unless they happen to hit on the few boards which actually are running.

(11 Jan 2022, 12:03 am)Ambassador wrote Standing upstairs and drivers ignorance to it isn't really anything new. It's hard to find a 21 that doesn't have folk sitting on stairs or tables on a match day once it hits Low Fell. On the old 724 the conductor used to charge you half the price if you were standing upstairs

Yes, pre-pandemic, there were often people standing on stairwells and upstairs on the 21 on a Sunday morning. And definitely no free seats.

(08 Jan 2022, 4:46 pm)mb134 wrote And? As a driver that isn't their problem.

Put a "Bus Full" display on, as many ANE buses I saw today did, and direct any complaints to customer services.

Arriva's capacity control is really good atm, like when they had a pulsar on the X7 school run they only let it get to 6 standing and fully seated before bus fulling, I also saw an Ashington express bus full with none (,or verry few) standees which is atm a good decision.

Good use of the bus full signs is made on the 64. Though despite the halving of the service, that's only at peak times, now, as people have all but given up on it if they have to pay.

Watford on Saturday is now sold out at SJP. Hopefully there'll have been a lessons learned from last weekend and a plan in place.

(13 Jan 2022, 9:44 am)Adrian wrote Watford on Saturday is now sold out at SJP. Hopefully there'll have been a lessons learned from last weekend and a plan in place.

I understand the X1 has a planned duplicate. No other services reached capacity last Saturday (and indeed the reported example from last weekend did not fully reach the vehicle's standee capacity either - the duplicate is mainly being planned out of concern for Covid, with so many customers ignoring guidance on wearing masks).

I'm not sure what other lessons can be learned though - it's quite a pessimistic personal view, but you can chuck as much resource you like at Saturday, but it'll result in cancellations next week instead. There are no winners right now, and I'd imagine it's difficult to choose who the losers are when working with such limited resource, within the constraints of scheduled and inflexible shifts.

(13 Jan 2022, 12:53 pm)Dan wrote I understand the X1 has a planned duplicate. No other services reached capacity last Saturday (and indeed the reported example from last weekend did not fully reach the vehicle's standee capacity either - the duplicate is mainly being planned out of concern for Covid, with so many customers ignoring guidance on wearing masks).

I'm not sure what other lessons can be learned though - it's quite a pessimistic personal view, but you can chuck as much resource you like at Saturday, but it'll result in cancellations next week instead. There are no winners right now, and I'd imagine it's difficult to choose who the losers are when working with such limited resource, within the constraints of scheduled and inflexible shifts.

Surely the shifts are inflexible due to legislation and the need to run scheduled services. 

Are GNE looking at ways of changing the drivers working conditions to make them less inflexible?  If so, will that not just exacerbate the morale and retention problems?

(11 Jan 2022, 10:25 pm)Dan wrote Believe at least some of these have been covered. Website should be updated in the morning if the process works as it should do..!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I know Stanley Travel helped out on the 47 yesterday (Wednesday 12th January 2022)

(13 Jan 2022, 7:15 pm)V514DFT wrote I know Stanley Travel helped out on the 47 yesterday (Wednesday 12th January 2022)

They’re covering two Consett duties daily at present.

A-line and JH also helping out with ad-hoc work. Predominantly Washington this week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(13 Jan 2022, 9:30 pm)Dan wrote They’re covering two Consett duties daily at present.

A-line and JH also helping out with ad-hoc work. Predominantly Washington this week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Which duties? Are they covering the same duties next week?

Do these services run the same as when operated by Go North East in terms of tickets being issued and valid for travel? The same ticket options and Go North East logo on them if they are printed on another operators bus?

(13 Jan 2022, 10:23 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Which duties? Are they covering the same duties next week?

Do these services run the same as when operated by Go North East in terms of tickets being issued and valid for travel? The same ticket options and Go North East logo on them if they are printed on another operators bus?

The Spare CLS ticket machine is JH's and the Spare Consett ( i think there is two) is Stanley Travel's.

(14 Jan 2022, 12:02 pm)Omega54 wrote The Spare CLS ticket machine is JH's and the Spare Consett ( i think there is two) is Stanley Travel's.

Would it be the better option to stick with the normal X-lines or get a Stanley Travel replacement? Can all GNE tickets be purchased and used for travel on these buses?

(14 Jan 2022, 12:42 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Would it be the better option to stick with the normal X-lines or get a Stanley Travel replacement? Can all GNE tickets be purchased and used for travel on these buses?

They all have GNE Ticket Machines, so I'd imagine so. Well when I was on the Aline ones they could. However I am not so sure about the weekly tickets with the stickers I don't see them having them available to the drivers to give to the customers.

(14 Jan 2022, 12:51 pm)Omega54 wrote They all have GNE Ticket Machines, so I'd imagine so. Well when I was on the Aline ones they could. However I am not so sure about the weekly tickets with the stickers I don't see them having them available to the drivers to give to the customers.

For Consett I'll be getting a GNE All Zones, but I don't know if Stanley Travel will be running the same duties next week and even if they are the X-lines bus might be the better option.

I might go to Whitley Bay instead, but I'm not sure which bus is the best or if the Metro is better. 308 is the quickest bus, Metro is quickest mode, GNE is the cheapest (£4, compared to Arriva £4.70 I think). Local buses in Whitley Bay are operated by Arriva rather than GNE though, for the most part. The Pulsars on the 306 look good, but 306 is the same journey time as GNE.

(14 Jan 2022, 1:15 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote For Consett I'll be getting a GNE All Zones, but I don't know if Stanley Travel will be running the same duties next week and even if they are the X-lines bus might be the better option.

I might go to Whitley Bay instead, but I'm not sure which bus is the best or if the Metro is better. 308 is the quickest bus, Metro is quickest mode, GNE is the cheapest (£4, compared to Arriva £4.70 I think). Local buses in Whitley Bay are operated by Arriva rather than GNE though, for the most part. The Pulsars on the 306 look good, but 306 is the same journey time as GNE.

Atleast GNE are getting companies to cover their services.

Tbh, it gives those company much needed revenue aswell

(14 Jan 2022, 2:01 pm)Omega54 wrote Atleast GNE are getting companies to cover their services.

Tbh, it gives those company much needed revenue aswell

How is the revenue being worked out? Are the fares going to each operator instead of GNE or is GNE paying each operator a set amount to cover their services? 

I'm not sure if to go to Consett or Whitley Bay. A-Line's tracking isn't working for some reason (but works for GNE services), which A-Line bus is which on the GNE fleet list? Could A-Line sell GNE tickets on their own works services as they have GNE ticket machines?

(14 Jan 2022, 2:11 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote How is the revenue being worked out? Are the fares going to each operator instead of GNE or is GNE paying each operator a set amount to cover their services? 

I'm not sure if to go to Consett or Whitley Bay. A-Line's tracking isn't working for some reason (but works for GNE services), which A-Line bus is which on the GNE fleet list? Could A-Line sell GNE tickets on their own works services as they have GNE ticket machines?

First part I obviously don't know. And I don't think it matters to anyone bar the bus companies itself. 

I haven't been on a-line bus without it covering GNE route so idk about the tracking. I don't think which AlIne bus it is matter I think A-Line have 5-7 machines which they use. 

Aline Couldn't sell GNE tickets as they would been a journey have to have route info, trip number.

There isn't a 78, from Consett to Sunderland, Sunderland to Consett for over 3 hours. And it says From Castleside : However with it running as sunday timetable surely that is wrong. 

Seems like the X1 17:50 (second one after the game) is cancelled which is just excellent.

X72 seems to be running every 2 hours from Stanley after 5pm. 

IDK why they have the X30/31 on, that is just weird seems as though it is sunday service. Same with the X71/70

EDIT - THese seems to suggest that GNE are running a saturday service, as the 17:50 X1 is the last one to Dalton Park. Which doesn't run.

What on earth is GNE doing.....

(14 Jan 2022, 6:05 pm)Omega54 wrote There isn't a 78, from Consett to Sunderland, Sunderland to Consett for over 3 hours. And it says From Castleside : However with it running as sunday timetable surely that is wrong. 

Seems like the X1 17:50 (second one after the game) is cancelled which is just excellent.

X72 seems to be running every 2 hours from Stanley after 5pm. 

IDK why they have the X30/31 on, that is just weird seems as though it is sunday service. Same with the X71/70

EDIT - THese seems to suggest that GNE are running a saturday service, as the 17:50 X1 is the last one to Dalton Park. Which doesn't run.

What on earth is GNE doing.....

If you look, the cancellations for tomorrow are exactly the same as today, so it's obviously just a mistake.

(14 Jan 2022, 6:16 pm)Thomas12 wrote If you look, the cancellations for tomorrow are exactly the same as today, so it's obviously just a mistake.

Maybe so, but will people who didn't travel on Friday, realise that? Or will they think, Oh they are returning to normal service. 

Also when will these be edited...to which they should be

Ma and Pa Constantopolous popped to the town today. I say popped... 
Their plan was to get a 4 to the Galleries and then an X1 to Newcastle. Almost 3 hours after setting off, they ended up in Newcastle.
The return journey was just under 2 hours. That was using a 21 and a 78.
They had no idea it was a Sunday timetable and only knew after overhearing someone whilst they were waiting for an X1 in a 'mile long queue'.
They're disgruntled pensioners who still have two cars, but thought it would easier getting the bus to and from the town. 
Not sure they're in any rush to get the bus again after todays experience.

(15 Jan 2022, 6:58 pm)Andreos1 wrote Ma and Pa Constantopolous popped to the town today. I say popped... 
Their plan was to get a 4 to the Galleries and then an X1 to Newcastle. Almost 3 hours after setting off, they ended up in Newcastle.
The return journey was just under 2 hours. That was using a 21 and a 78.
They had no idea it was a Sunday timetable and only knew after overhearing someone whilst they were waiting for an X1 in a 'mile long queue'.
They're disgruntled pensioners who still have two cars, but thought it would easier getting the bus to and from the town. 
Not sure they're in any rush to get the bus again after todays experience.

Yeah, but pensioners mean concessionary passes and their opinions count as much as the fresh air secured services allegedly carry.

You should know this by now!!!

(15 Jan 2022, 7:21 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Yeah, but pensioners mean concessionary passes and their opinions count as much as the fresh air secured services allegedly carry.

You should know this by now!!!

I do know they're viewed as nothing more than a nuisance. But these pensioners help fill the daytime runs when they would normally carry nowt but fresh air and can be an efficient form of passing on and sharing gossip amongst a massive range of ages. 

What is it they say about the power of word of mouth?

A great deal of bad sentiment in Sunderland yesterday over the 20, most paid again for a return to Shields on the E buses.

There is a JH coaches president just leaving Durham on the 50, rn.

(16 Jan 2022, 1:17 pm)BusLoverMum wrote There is a JH coaches president just leaving Durham on the 50, rn.

Currently one on the X1 aswell to Dalton park, making it the 14:04 to Newcastle.

(16 Jan 2022, 10:17 am)54APhotography wrote A great deal of bad sentiment in Sunderland yesterday over the 20, most paid again for a return to Shields on the E buses.

Because of the Sunday timetable? Paid again? Where had they come from like? I'll have to ride the 20 at some point.

(16 Jan 2022, 1:34 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Because of the Sunday timetable? Paid again? Where had they come from like? I'll have to ride the 20 at some point.

Yes, because of the Sunday timetable, because joe public doesn't sit on forums and bustimes like..
All the people who use the 20 because they live in Westoe, Harton and Cleadon, the people who paid £6 to Go, and then had to fork out another £4.70 or more for an E bus, then a change to get anywhere near where their journey began..

Haven't seen any Washington and Deptford cancellations posted for a couple of days now, but I notice that the Sunday timetables are still down as being applicable on a Saturday for services out of those depots. 

I wonder if we're expecting a sudden spike of sickness over the weekend, or whether we'll start to see normal service resume?

n.b. most cancellations today are for Consett and Riverside. Although Consett are running a Sunday timetable on some services, Riverside are sticking with a normal Saturday timetable as far as I can see.