(30 Jul 2014, 4:22 pm)aureolin wrote Current Nexus contract list (as of 27th July 2014) is attached to this post.

Thanks for sharing.

Something I've spotted straight away. It would appear that the minimum spec for Compass Community Transport's 37 board is a Euro 5 vehicle with capacity of 16, yet the board Gateshead Central Taxis have won for the 37 and 73 requires 3x Euro 5 vehicles with a capacity of 49. Seems bizarre how one operator can be contracted for 16 and one for 49 - i.e. 3x the capacity!

Also noted that the M2/M2A requires a Euro 4 vehicle for the Nexus funded runs. I'd assume these would be Sunday journeys, given that Arriva operate on an evening, with GNE running Concord-Heworth commecially. Both the MPDs and Cadets are Euro 3 vehicles, so I wonder if either a) GNE are just taking the hit here, or b) that information is wrong?

(30 Jul 2014, 6:00 pm)aureolin wrote Something I've spotted straight away. It would appear that the minimum spec for Compass Community Transport's 37 board is a Euro 5 vehicle with capacity of 16, yet the board Gateshead Central Taxis have won for the 37 and 73 requires 3x Euro 5 vehicles with a capacity of 49. Seems bizarre how one operator can be contracted for 16 and one for 49 - i.e. 3x the capacity!

7102    37,8X    Compass Community Tpt    1    L1605    29/05/2011    25/07/2015    Wholly secured
7614    37,73    Central Taxis Gateshead    3    L4905    27/07/2014    22/07/2017    Wholly secured

Also noted that the M2/M2A requires a Euro 4 vehicle for the Nexus funded runs. I'd assume these would be Sunday journeys, given that Arriva operate on an evening, with GNE running Concord-Heworth commecially. Both the MPDs and Cadets are Euro 3 vehicles, so I wonder if either a) GNE are just taking the hit here, or b) that information is wrong?

7598    M2,M2A    Go Northern    1    L2304    01/06/2014    30/05/2015    Partially secured

The contract for services 37/73 certainly originally stipulated the use of vehicles with a minimum capacity of 49, with Euro 4 vehicles, to my memory... Clearly Compass has submitted a non-conforming bid which has been accepted due to the lower cost for Nexus. I'd assume this is why the contract only lasts for one year with CCT, but three with GCT. Bizarre, nevertheless...

MPDs 603-606 and Cadets 8247/48, 8251-55 and 8260 are all Euro 4 vehicles. Although fitted with Euro 3 engines when new, they have had Eminox modifications to make them Euro 4. Indeed, all of Washington's fleet is Euro 4 or Euro 5. I have stated in the past that the overwhelming majority of Go North East's fleet is a minimum of Euro 4, thanks to Eminox modifications, with only a few vehicles being less than that, at Euro 2 or 3.

(30 Jul 2014, 6:06 pm)Dan wrote The contract for services 37/73 certainly originally stipulated the use of vehicles with a minimum capacity of 49, with Euro 4 vehicles, to my memory... Clearly Compass has submitted a non-conforming bid which has been accepted due to the lower cost for Nexus. I'd assume this is why the contract only lasts for one year with CCT, but three with GCT. Bizarre, nevertheless...

MPDs 603-606 and Cadets 8247/48, 8251-55 and 8260 are all Euro 4 vehicles. Although fitted with Euro 3 engines when new, they have had Eminox modifications to make them Euro 4. I have stated in the past that the overwhelming majority of Go North East's fleet is a minimum of Euro 4, thanks to Eminox modifications, with only a few vehicles being less than that, at Euro 2 or 3.

Looks to me like the Compass contract is an existing one running from 2011 Dan... Not sure where they fit in to the schedule?

(30 Jul 2014, 6:11 pm)tyresmoke wrote Looks to me like the Compass contract is an existing one running from 2011 Dan... Not sure where they fit in to the schedule?

They're the peak time 'extras' that they operated previously too (which fits in with it being an already established contract) - GCT took over GNE's run on service 37. Now that it interworks with service 73, it requires 3 vehicles in total.

(30 Jul 2014, 6:13 pm)Dan wrote They're the peak time 'extras' that they operated previously too (which fits in with it being an already established contract) - GCT took over GNE's run on service 37. Now that it interworks with service 73, it requires 3 vehicles in total.

Makes sense, cheers

(30 Jul 2014, 6:13 pm)Dan wrote They're the peak time 'extras' that they operated previously too (which fits in with it being an already established contract) - GCT took over GNE's run on service 37. Now that it interworks with service 73, it requires 3 vehicles in total.

I recall that last time GNE didn't have the 37, they put a peak time 137 in direct competition. I wonder if they'll do something similar again, given that there is about 3 runs each way per day that (at least used to) have good loads.

How does nexus set the euro rating? Just odd how 135/136 is Euro 5, 29 is Euro 4 etc.

(30 Jul 2014, 11:17 pm)Drifter60 wrote How does nexus set the euro rating? Just odd how 135/136 is Euro 5, 29 is Euro 4 etc.

The higher the Euro rating, the more expensive the tender price set from bus operators will be (especially if they have to order new vehicles).

So as far as I know, it depends on how cheaply Nexus want the contract to go for. I recall the contract for service 33 in Newcastle going down from Euro 4 to Euro 3, half way through the consultation...

I wonder if GNE will take on the 880? Will increase the paasengers on the X85 too.

Have we heard anything about the NCC contracts yet?

(08 Aug 2014, 2:25 pm)Tom wrote Have we heard anything about the NCC contracts yet?

I've recently requested similar info from NCC (and other councils), as I've provided for Nexus. I'll hopefully have that in a few weeks time, which will let us look ahead at what's coming up.

(08 Aug 2014, 7:35 pm)aureolin wrote I've recently requested similar info from NCC (and other councils), as I've provided for Nexus. I'll hopefully have that in a few weeks time, which will let us look ahead at what's coming up.

They start 1st September if nothing has changed.

I'd like to see GNE take on the 880 - a new ticket similar to the AD122/X85 ticket could be introduced, for example X85 + 880 ticket £7.20 - Should also boost passenger numbers on the X85 too.

If I remember correctly, service 74 (Newcastle-Matfen-Hexham), 79 (Ponteland-Morpeth), 683 (Hexham-Newbrough), 688 (Hexham-Allendale), 689 (Hexham-Consett), 880 (Hexham-Bellingham-Kielder Castle), 882 (Colwell-Hexham) and other various stuff.

I'd like to see GNE retain the 688 and 689, and possibly the 74 as all seem to get decent passenger numbers at times (even the 689, yes!).

(08 Aug 2014, 7:46 pm)Tom wrote They start 1st September if nothing has changed.

I'd like to see GNE take on the 880 - a new ticket similar to the AD122/X85 ticket could be introduced, for example X85 + 880 ticket £7.20 - Should also boost passenger numbers on the X85 too.

If I remember correctly, service 74 (Newcastle-Matfen-Hexham), 79 (Ponteland-Morpeth), 683 (Hexham-Newbrough), 688 (Hexham-Allendale), 689 (Hexham-Consett), 880 (Hexham-Bellingham-Kielder Castle), 882 (Colwell-Hexham) and other various stuff.

I'd like to see GNE retain the 688 and 689, and possibly the 74 as all seem to get decent passenger numbers at times (even the 689, yes!).

Interesting, well ish, that the 689 is a Northumberland Contract but operated by Consett under the Venture name.

http://m.sunderlandecho.com/news/busines...-1-6782637

Not sure it is a major overhaul like...

(14 Aug 2014, 12:23 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote http://m.sunderlandecho.com/news/busines...-1-6782637

Not sure it is a major overhaul like...

Bit late,the changes were ages ago

(14 Aug 2014, 12:25 pm)Michael wrote Bit late,the changes were ages ago

They were.
Presumably someone has been sitting on the press release and it hasn't been published.

Checked the date and it only appeared yesterday.

(14 Aug 2014, 12:27 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote They were.
Presumably someone has been sitting on the press release and it hasn't been published.

Checked the date and it only appeared yesterday.

Typical Sunderland echo... haha

Nice one sided story there. Councillors say it's good, so we'll take that opinion...

The Northumberland Contracts were due to start on 1st September, but nothing has been released about them?
Has it been extended once again?

(30 Aug 2014, 9:07 pm)Tom wrote The Northumberland Contracts were due to start on 1st September, but nothing has been released about them?
Has it been extended once again?

NCC list attached.

(30 Aug 2014, 9:14 pm)aureolin wrote NCC list attached.

A lot of the Hexham contracts are due to end tomorrow!

(30 Aug 2014, 9:17 pm)Tom wrote A lot of the Hexham contracts are due to end tomorrow!

I would assume that they have been extended again...

(30 Aug 2014, 10:01 pm)tyresmoke wrote I would assume that they have been extended again...

That list only arrived in my mailbox on Friday from NCC. I'll enquire on Monday for a definite answer.

Upcoming Durham County Council tenders. Current contracts all due to expire on the 25th October 2014.







                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                 

Contract  ref	service	days	time of day	Start -  Finish	start	end	operator	Complete/  part of service
3438	21A	M-S	daytime	Peterlee -  Middlesbrough	07/04/2013	25/10/2014	Arriva County  Durham	Part
3439	57A	M-S	daytime	Durham -  Hartlepool	07/04/2013	25/10/2014	Arriva County  Durham	Part
3203	P and R	M-S	daytime	Durham park and  ride	25/10/2009	25/10/2014	Arriva County  Durham	Complete
3206	LVL	M-F	daytime	Lanchester  village link	19/01/2009	25/10/2014	Cooper	Part
2976	Taxibus	M-F	works	South  Derwentside - Taxi Bus	24/02/2008	25/10/2014	Cooper	Part
2982	TB 202/3/  style='display:none'>4	M-S	works	Brackenhill -  Taxis Bus	24/02/2008	25/10/2014	Crake	complete
3450	20	M-S	evening	Houghton le  Spring - Durham	29/07/2013	25/10/2014	Go North East	Part
3369	59	Sun	daytime	Wheatley Hill -  Durham, Arnison Centre	02/12/2012	25/10/2014	Go North East	complete
3258	259	M-S	evening	Durham -  Sherburn	17/04/2011	25/10/2014	Go North East	Part
3259	259	M-S	daytime	Durham Bus  Station - Hi Pittington/Whitesmocks	30/10/2011	25/10/2014	Go North East	Part
3556	116	M-F	daytime	Newton Aycliffe  - Town Service	03/01/2014	25/10/2014	JSB Travel	complete
3112	EDHL	M-Su	daytime	East Durham -  S'land/Teeside Hospitals	01/09/2008	25/10/2014	Scarlet  Band	complete

Gateshead Council's latest budget proposal plans for the withdrawal of funding to Quaylink from the next tender (though it would need to reach agreement with Newcastle over this)

It states Gateshead College is well served and services could be extended to the Baltic (I assume the 93/94)

The impact statement notes the main concern is late night provision to the Quayside and the effect on hotels and potential development

(08 Nov 2014, 10:50 am)gtom wrote Gateshead Council's latest budget proposal plans for the withdrawal of funding to Quaylink from the next tender (though it would need to reach agreement with Newcastle over this)

It states Gateshead College is well served and services could be extended to the Baltic (I assume the 93/94)

The impact statement notes the main concern is late night provision to the Quayside and the effect on hotels and potential development

Isn't it 2015 for the new tender?

I wonder if GNE will keep it on but change the frequency, i think a few people on here said that would be the best option. 

Nexus have very recently put a tender out for the Quaylink service so this is an interesting development

(08 Nov 2014, 3:28 pm)tyresmoke wrote Nexus have very recently put a tender out for the Quaylink service so this is an interesting development

It can only be a short tender surely? Two year deal max I would have thought, since they'll be looking to tie it in with QCS after that...

Wasn't to sure where to put this.

Was at the MetroCentre rather briefly This Afternoon around 3ish, and Ray Parnaby and 2 other Enthusiasts were having a bit of a chit chat, so I went over and said hello, and according to one of those other 2 Enthusiasts (don't know his name) apparently Gateshead Central Taxis have put a Bid in for the Quaylink Contract.

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