(19 Jan 2023, 9:01 pm)nova347 wrote Got on 5437 on the 20/20A the other day and I got on at homeside and when the driver changed he complained about having this bus the other day and then again that day and it couldn't go over 30 and it didn't, I think the highest it reached was maybe 31 at a push going down a hill. He said he put it on the sheet but that's not going to do anything.

5429 is the same be lucky if it gets up to 25-30 pritty scary pulling out onto the A690 heading to durham from west rainton just seemed to be so much lag and waiting for the engine to rev up (thank god there will be traffic lights there soon) , seems like the majority of deptfords streetlights seem to be faulty in one way or another now this could be down to budget constraints , lack of serviceable buses for next day or a slap dash attitude of it will get fixed when it fails.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(23 Jan 2023, 9:22 pm)Theboyle92 wrote 5429 is the same be lucky if it gets up to 25-30 pritty scary pulling out onto the A690 heading to durham from west rainton just seemed to be so much lag and waiting for the engine to rev up (thank god there will be traffic lights there soon) , seems like the majority of deptfords streetlights seem to be faulty in one way or another now this could be down to budget constraints , lack of serviceable buses for next day or a slap dash attitude of it will get fixed when it fails.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I remember someone saying GNE will only fix things when they're totally broke. 

GNE 15 Plate Streetlites are relatively good it tends to be a couple drifters and a lot of the prince bishops.

(23 Jan 2023, 9:56 pm)Unber43 wrote I remember someone saying GNE will only fix things when they're totally broke. 

GNE 15 Plate Streetlites are relatively good it tends to be a couple drifters and a lot of the prince bishops.

Some of them are pritty nippy and smooth same as a couple of versas but getting on one is as rare as a blue moon it mustn’t look good to passengers when buses are crawling up hills and struggling, had 3942 the other day and for a bus on a 05 plate it puts a lot if newer buses to shame for comfort and acceleration, be interesting to see what happens when this new 1st use check system comes into play at all depots using the android device im led to believe that is the same defect is picked up 3 times it sends a warning to someone, could be the start of seeing buses pulled off the roads.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(23 Jan 2023, 10:22 pm)Theboyle92 wrote Some of them are pritty nippy and smooth same as a couple of versas but getting on one is as rare as a blue moon it mustn’t look good to passengers when buses are crawling up hills and struggling, had 3942 the other day and for a bus on a 05 plate it puts a lot if newer buses to shame for comfort and acceleration, be interesting to see what happens when this new 1st use check system comes into play at all depots using the android device im led to believe that is the same defect is picked up 3 times it sends a warning to someone, could be the start of seeing buses pulled off the roads.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

3942 pulls like a train, the only thing missing is working heaters. 

One of the Prince Bishops Streetlites was receiving a new engine last week but didn't note which one it was.

The Versas are also hit and miss. 8331 is still in go slow mode weeks after being reported for the same issue.

I am unsure if there is still a shortage in spare parts or a delay in getting them but 7128 is still awaiting a new alternator at Volvo.

I personally see Deptfords standards as slipping again. When I first started nearly everything had an emissions related fault then these were repaired and buses were kept generally well serviced with faults fixed (dare I say it, quite quickly) and now we seem to be back to the broken buses again. The thing is, no matter how low a fare is, if a bus constantly breaks down and a passengers journey is disrupted then the wider issue is going to be that passengers will walk away. Yes a bus may be 'serviceable' but ultimately when it breaks I would imagine its going to be more costly and a detriment to passengers.

(23 Jan 2023, 9:22 pm)Theboyle92 wrote 5429 is the same be lucky if it gets up to 25-30 pritty scary pulling out onto the A690 heading to durham from west rainton just seemed to be so much lag and waiting for the engine to rev up (thank god there will be traffic lights there soon) , seems like the majority of deptfords streetlights seem to be faulty in one way or another now this could be down to budget constraints , lack of serviceable buses for next day or a slap dash attitude of it will get fixed when it fails.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hello - I can remember years ago that Houghton Cut hill onto the A690 being a nightmare for some buses. There were I think ex-London Dennis Dart buses on the X35 that were horrific, it was relief when you were on the level again. 

The Scania’s used to be quite good when they were younger. 

I don’t like the Streetlites, the rattles are horrific. I think the Drifters are the better ones, not many rattles on them and they have good heaters but the Prince Bishops vehicles are very bad for rattles. This is my bug with buses, rattles. I can remember Optare buses with the florescent light tubes being the culprit and it wouldn’t stop until it pulled away. Dennis buses with the hand rails and it seems to be the handle of the emergency door on the Streetlite. Also some of them have an engine sound with a terrible high pitch squeal. The Versa buses seem to suffer less with the rattles. 

You can tell Volvo make good vehicles because you don’t get any of these rattles from what I’ve noticed. 

Also I noticed a post earlier about the public ripping the leather on the headrests. It’s nice to have a full headrest but maybe it should be done in moquette, then if some idiot rips it, it’s probably easier to repair than the leather.

Thanks.

(24 Jan 2023, 10:15 am)morritt89 wrote 3942 pulls like a train, the only thing missing is working heaters. 

One of the Prince Bishops Streetlites was receiving a new engine last week but didn't note which one it was.

The Versas are also hit and miss. 8331 is still in go slow mode weeks after being reported for the same issue.

I am unsure if there is still a shortage in spare parts or a delay in getting them but 7128 is still awaiting a new alternator at Volvo.

I personally see Deptfords standards as slipping again. When I first started nearly everything had an emissions related fault then these were repaired and buses were kept generally well serviced with faults fixed (dare I say it, quite quickly) and now we seem to be back to the broken buses again. The thing is, no matter how low a fare is, if a bus constantly breaks down and a passengers journey is disrupted then the wider issue is going to be that passengers will walk away. Yes a bus may be 'serviceable' but ultimately when it breaks I would imagine its going to be more costly and a detriment to passengers.

Had 8335 the other day no emissions light warm cab and fast bus completely agree with standards slipping i would rather take one of the x20 citaros parked up at the back of the depot than a streetlight anyday, just seems to be a make do bodge job repairs at deptford at the minute and thats if they bother to fix buses.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The backs of some of their buses are literally pitch black. Any idea why they don't wash their buses on a daily basis or why they get so dirty?

Noticed yesterday that one of the X21 B5s was absolutely manky on the back, except for a clean patch right in the middle of the engine door and the window. Looked as if a funny shaped vinyl had been removed

(24 Jan 2023, 10:15 am)morritt89 wrote 3942 pulls like a train, the only thing missing is working heaters. 

One of the Prince Bishops Streetlites was receiving a new engine last week but didn't note which one it was.

The Versas are also hit and miss. 8331 is still in go slow mode weeks after being reported for the same issue.

3943 is the dodgey one of the 3, there is something always up with it it broke down 3/4 times in one day a while ago. And its loud, very loud.  

I remember I was in Park lane where the 35 stands and I heard it from the other side of Park Lane it was on the 39(A/B?)

---

(24 Jan 2023, 4:26 pm)itsadam wrote The backs of some of their buses are literally pitch black. Any idea why they don't wash their buses on a daily basis or why they get so dirty?

I have no idea, but its the worst I've seen in ages.

(24 Jan 2023, 4:26 pm)itsadam wrote The backs of some of their buses are literally pitch black. Any idea why they don't wash their buses on a daily basis or why they get so dirty?

(24 Jan 2023, 5:22 pm)Unber43 wrote 3943 is the dodgey one of the 3, there is something always up with it it broke down 3/4 times in one day a while ago. And its loud, very loud.  

I remember I was in Park lane where the 35 stands and I heard it from the other side of Park Lane it was on the 39(A/B?)

---

I have no idea, but it’s the worst I've seen in ages.

I would say it’s down to the grit on the road, most cars I’ve noticed are also like this unless you get an owner who takes massive pride in their car. If you’re on the road all day when it’s like this weather wise with ice and rain by the end of the day the vehicle will be dirty. The roads are wet, plus with the grit and so on.

I’m not sure about the washing of them but I don’t know if it can be done in the cold weather due to the icy conditions unless the wash is indoors. In London the depots or garages as they call them tend to have the wash facility inside.

(24 Jan 2023, 3:01 pm)Theboyle92 wrote Had 8335 the other day no emissions light warm cab and fast bus completely agree with standards slipping i would rather take one of the x20 citaros parked up at the back of the depot than a streetlight anyday, just seems to be a make do bodge job repairs at deptford at the minute and thats if they bother to fix buses.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapat

As a passenger, I would take the Citaros over any GNE single decker especially over an streetlite.

---

(24 Jan 2023, 11:19 am)Jonathan93102 wrote Hello - I can remember years ago that Houghton Cut hill onto the A690 being a nightmare for some buses. There were I think ex-London Dennis Dart buses on the X35 that were horrific, it was relief when you were on the level again. 

The Scania’s used to be quite good when they were younger. 

I don’t like the Streetlites, the rattles are horrific. I think the Drifters are the better ones, not many rattles on them and they have good heaters but the Prince Bishops vehicles are very bad for rattles. This is my bug with buses, rattles. I can remember Optare buses with the florescent light tubes being the culprit and it wouldn’t stop until it pulled away. Dennis buses with the hand rails and it seems to be the handle of the emergency door on the Streetlite. Also some of them have an engine sound with a terrible high pitch squeal. The Versa buses seem to suffer less with the rattles. 

You can tell Volvo make good vehicles because you don’t get any of these rattles from what I’ve noticed. 

Also I noticed a post earlier about the public ripping the leather on the headrests. It’s nice to have a full headrest but maybe it should be done in moquette, then if some idiot rips it, it’s probably easier to repair than the leather.

Thanks.

When it comes to the Drifters:
5369 - Can’t Change Gears
5370 - Slow AF
5371 - N/A - Offroad getting new engine. 
5372 - Painfully Slow Up Hills + Warm
5373 - Brakes are dodgy
5374/75/76 - All pretty good

Was on the 20A and 8329 was NIS in front and it just kept stopping randomly, nothing to do with the driver i think, like it would just be going along like normal and then it would just slow down till it stopped, it happened like 3 times between the Barnes oneway and University Metro, the driver put the hazards on as it just kept randomly stopping in the middle of the road.

(24 Jan 2023, 6:11 pm)nova347 wrote As a passenger, I would take the Citaros over any GNE single decker especially over an streetlite.

As a passenger, Citaros are probably at the bottom of the list for GNE's single deckers for me. If the seats had padding to them, they'd probably be near the top!

Preferred single decker for me would probably be the E200s, as long as it's not a short journey as the seats are too soft.
Second choice would be one of the upgraded Streetlites, Third would be a Versa (they've grown on me), Fourth would be the Yutongs (they feel too cheap, and they feel top heavy), then the B7s. Those seats are not far off the Citaros in uncomfortableness

(24 Jan 2023, 6:48 pm)streetdeckfan wrote As a passenger, Citaros are probably at the bottom of the list for GNE's single deckers for me. If the seats had padding to them, they'd probably be near the top!

Preferred single decker for me would probably be the E200s, as long as it's not a short journey as the seats are too soft.
Second choice would be one of the upgraded Streetlites, Third would be a Versa (they've grown on me), Fourth would be the Yutongs (they feel too cheap, and they feel top heavy), then the B7s. Those seats are not far off the Citaros in uncomfortableness

The issue with me with the Versas is the interior of the ones especially at Depford are soo dingy and all the plastic interior stuff on the windows looks like they've been stained it it looks horrible though I haven't been on a Quaycity one so they might be different. I like the E200s. Haven't been on a Yutong in ages. But the Citaros will always be the best to me.

(24 Jan 2023, 6:48 pm)streetdeckfan wrote As a passenger, Citaros are probably at the bottom of the list for GNE's single deckers for me. If the seats had padding to them, they'd probably be near the top!

Preferred single decker for me would probably be the E200s, as long as it's not a short journey as the seats are too soft.
Second choice would be one of the upgraded Streetlites, Third would be a Versa (they've grown on me), Fourth would be the Yutongs (they feel too cheap, and they feel top heavy), then the B7s. Those seats are not far off the Citaros in uncomfortableness

I've never had a bad experience of a Citaro, and I've been on have been well padded I find the seats extremely comfortable. Streetlites imo they're hit and miss the Saltwell Park ones are absolutely awful its like sitting on rocks, however 8342 there are 4 seats which were repadded and they're unbelievable comfortable. Versas have nice seats., pretty comfy but everything else about them are awful. Solos are pretty comfy too except the Old Optare Solos they used to have (699/700 etc). E200 I like. StreetLite leathers one are quite hard.

As for deckers G2's are normally a lot more comfy than a lot of the streetdecks, except the newer ones.

(24 Jan 2023, 4:26 pm)itsadam wrote The backs of some of their buses are literally pitch black. Any idea why they don't wash their buses on a daily basis or why they get so dirty?

Bus wash isn't operational below freezing. Too many ice related problems.

Problem does seem to be worse this year due to the prolonged -0 temperatures overnight.

And it's not just GNE. One of Belmont's ALX 400s passed us in the traffic jams through Durham, yesterday. Approaching us, it looked to be gleaming, but the sides and back were filthy. Clearly it had been hand washed at the front so the driver could see where he was going and that was that.

It seems every East Durham Explorer is missing a lot of side panels down the side. 

Do the drivers just hit things on the route often?

(25 Jan 2023, 6:41 pm)Unber43 wrote It seems every East Durham Explorer is missing a lot of side panels down the side. 

Do the drivers just hit things on the route often?

I wouldn’t be surprised, some of the streets they have to go down look like killers, I’m surprised more 60s don’t get into accidents.

(25 Jan 2023, 9:47 pm)ALavery wrote I wouldn’t be surprised, some of the streets they have to go down look like killers, I’m surprised more 60s don’t get into accidents.

But now the 65 is on the rota for the newer drivers, compared to the 60s which have more senior drivers. I've been on the 65 a lot and the route is tight in a lot of places, not to mention especially before the 65 went back to hourly the timing were always tight. 

One common incident I hear about with the 65s is at Durham where drivers miscalculate the road, whether that's knocking their mirror off or when pulling into the stand they crash into a bus already parked.
Below are just a few incidents that I photos of which my friend had sent me, with no doubt many more occurred. I will say the 65s do get a lot of bricks/rocks thrown through their windows, not as much so lately but in the past, it has happened really often.

(25 Jan 2023, 10:06 pm)nova347 wrote But now the 65 is on the rota for the newer drivers, compared to the 60s which have more senior drivers. I've been on the 65 a lot and the route is tight in a lot of places, not to mention especially before the 65 went back to hourly the timing were always tight. 

One common incident I hear about with the 65s is at Durham where drivers miscalculate the road, whether that's knocking their mirror off or when pulling into the stand they crash into a bus already parked.
Below are just a few incidents that I photos of which my friend had sent me, with no doubt many more occurred. I will say the 65s do get a lot of bricks/rocks thrown through their windows, not as much so lately but in the past, it has happened really often.

Not being funny, but if they're still miscalculating the road by the time they're out driving passengers, they should have their licenses revoked!

What are the procedures after a driver crashes? Like, let's say they go around a corner and hit a car as that 65 did in the post before what happens? Like is there a certain number of strikes needed before a driver has crashed too much and gets sacked?

(25 Jan 2023, 10:12 pm)nova347 wrote What are the procedures after a driver crashes? Like, let's say they go around a corner and hit a car as that 65 did in the post before what happens? Like is there a certain number of strikes needed before a driver has crashed too much and gets sacked?

If the driver's at fault, then IMO it should be a zero tolerance policy. One at fault accident and you're out.

(25 Jan 2023, 10:16 pm)streetdeckfan wrote If the driver's at fault, then IMO it should be a zero tolerance policy. One at fault accident and you're out.

Can GNE really afford that atm tho?

Also shouldn't it depend on the severity, for example there was a bus scrapped the side of the bus station on the island scrapped it and broke a panel, or would it be just careless fast driving which caused the issue, what about badly parked cars and the buses are attempting to turn and hits the side of a car?

Would all of these just be dismissal?

(25 Jan 2023, 10:16 pm)streetdeckfan wrote If the driver's at fault, then IMO it should be a zero tolerance policy. One at fault accident and you're out.

It must be great being perfect

(25 Jan 2023, 10:11 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Not being funny, but if they're still miscalculating the road by the time they're out driving passengers, they should have their licenses revoked!

But aren't all crashes miscalculations, humans arent  perfect. They might just pull into a stop a tiny bit too early hitting another bus mirror, unless its like completely reckless driving where they deserve their licenses revoked.

---

(25 Jan 2023, 10:16 pm)streetdeckfan wrote If the driver's at fault, then IMO it should be a zero tolerance policy. One at fault accident and you're out.

Ive seen loads of drivers who have crashed and I've seen the a few days/weeks later.

(25 Jan 2023, 10:20 pm)Unber43 wrote Can GNE really afford that atm tho?

Also shouldn't it depend on the severity, for example there was a bus scrapped the side of the bus station on the island scrapped it and broke a panel, or would it be just careless fast driving which caused the issue, what about badly parked cars and the buses are attempting to turn and hits the side of a car?

Would all of these just be dismissal?

Can GNE really afford to have bad drivers? I can't imagine their insurance is happy with all these accidents.
Don't forget most insurance policies require that they are notified of any accident even if there's no claim being made. Failure to do so can result in their policy being cancelled.

If a driver is incapable of driving into a bus station, a place designed to fit large vehicles, without hitting anything, then they shouldn't be driving a vehicle that large.

A driver should be able to judge whether they can get around a badly parked car, if they can't then they shouldn't be driving a vehicle that large.

(25 Jan 2023, 10:20 pm)Unber43 wrote Can GNE really afford that atm tho?

Also shouldn't it depend on the severity, for example there was a bus scrapped the side of the bus station on the island scrapped it and broke a panel, or would it be just careless fast driving which caused the issue, what about badly parked cars and the buses are attempting to turn and hits the side of a car?

Would all of these just be dismissal?

Hitting an island in a bus station is punishment territory mind, that island could've been a person in a different place and is very poor driving. Poorly parked cars then it's the person who parked the car at fault imo. Dismissal maybe not but it's not excusable.

(25 Jan 2023, 10:41 pm)nova347 wrote But aren't all crashes miscalculations, humans arent  perfect. They might just pull into a stop a tiny bit too early hitting another bus mirror, unless its like completely reckless driving where they deserve their licenses revoked.

---

Ive seen loads of drivers who have crashed and I've seen the a few days/weeks later.

Similar with wing mirrors, that could've been a pensioner who was standing too close to the curb and potentially a fatal. Not excusable either.

I'm not one who likes slagging driver's off but if you start letting people off left right and centre then what is the limit, when someone is killed? when a bus ends up in a tree injuring everyone on board?

Bus driving has been appalling recently to the stage to dangerous lately, I don't exactly appreciate 2T vehicles cutting corners going 50 mph and nearly being wiped out like I was the other week in the car with someone else or some car in the opposite direction making a mistake and pulling out in front of a bus and the bus just pulling out anyway and being inches from wiping them out which we would've no doubt been involved in aswell. Utterly ridiculous. I respect there's a shortage but it feels like they're letting anyone literally behind the wheel lately, it's just a matter of time there's a fatal accident up here. I did see there's been a nasty accident in Sunderland with Stagecoach today though.

(25 Jan 2023, 11:05 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Can GNE really afford to have bad drivers? I can't imagine their insurance is happy with all these accidents.
Don't forget most insurance policies require that they are notified of any accident even if there's no claim being made. Failure to do so can result in their policy being cancelled.

If a driver is incapable of driving into a bus station, a place designed to fit large vehicles, without hitting anything, then they shouldn't be driving a vehicle that large.

A driver should be able to judge whether they can get around a badly parked car, if they can't then they shouldn't be driving a vehicle that large.

Honestly it could be that as a user said the 65 has quite new drivers driving it, maybe more senior ones could have been better.

However 65 crashes seem to happen a tonne. You can see by just looking at the buses. 

Speaking on decals being replaced are GNE still ordering new ones as a few been missing for months.

---

Hetton-Le-Hole seem buse station can get quite tight especially when deliveries are being dropped off and their is an X1 waiting to head to Newcastle. But I dont think there were any major issues when 35 Citaros which are 12m crashed.

I think we've all been on buses where drivers have taken the turns too quickly and had to brake sharply or just got to close to cars for comfort

As well we've seen a lot of agency drivers and they're terrifying as seen on the 900 replacement service, but I dont think there were many accidents when it came to them, but im not sure

---

(25 Jan 2023, 9:47 pm)ALavery wrote I wouldn’t be surprised, some of the streets they have to go down look like killers, I’m surprised more 60s don’t get into accidents.

Tbf the 60/61/65 all are quite tight routes. 

But the 96 is extremely tight, the X71 can be in some areas.

(25 Jan 2023, 11:05 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Can GNE really afford to have bad drivers? I can't imagine their insurance is happy with all these accidents.
Don't forget most insurance policies require that they are notified of any accident even if there's no claim being made. Failure to do so can result in their policy being cancelled.

If a driver is incapable of driving into a bus station, a place designed to fit large vehicles, without hitting anything, then they shouldn't be driving a vehicle that large.

A driver should be able to judge whether they can get around a badly parked car, if they can't then they shouldn't be driving a vehicle that large.

Most big companies will be self insured up to a point - certainly for panel damage and wing mirrors I imagine.

Think some of the posts here are a bit harsh - drivers are human at the end of the day and mistakes/misjudgements can and do happen.  Increased traffic, street furniture, the size of modern mirror arms, pressure off passengers, pressure off the company, fatigue etc will all take their toll.

(26 Jan 2023, 1:11 pm)Chris 1 wrote Most big companies will be self insured up to a point - certainly for panel damage and wing mirrors I imagine.

Think some of the posts here are a bit harsh - drivers are human at the end of the day and mistakes/misjudgements can and do happen.  Increased traffic, street furniture, the size of modern mirror arms, pressure off passengers, pressure off the company, fatigue etc will all take their toll.

But I'd imagine they'd still have the clause around reporting accident damage even without a claim as insurance companies use that to assess risk?