(25 May 2024, 12:15 pm)tLewispark1509 wrote I am aware and full accept bus times isn't 100% reliable, but it doesn't fully cancel out the fact sometimes it is reliable, which is why I have contacted the operator to confirm. 99% of the time, both the operator and Nexus have confirmed the tracking was correct (nothing specifically mentioned, I mean in general). I'm mostly referring to BusTimes showing buses being indisputably late and going the wrong way. For example the 18A service the other morning when it didn't operate until 8.50.
I've also been told by a few Walkergate drivers that GNE are on their last warning with the 317s. By default it will go back to Stagecoach unless another operator puts a bid in for it. GCT aren't allowed to operate it (as in March 2023, GCT put the lowest bid in, but Nexus gave it back to Stagecoach in fears GCT wouldn't run it properly), and Arriva will probably not even want to run it. It would be nice to see smaller yet more reliable operators to run it, like JH for example.
That’s not how contracts work…it wouldn’t just go back to Stagecoach by default, it would be retendered. It’s also a load of rubbish that GCT wouldn’t be allowed to operate the service, especially considering they were awarded the 335/351/359 with the same PVR.
GNE are hardly going to be on a final warning when they pretty much operate every service (albeit some delayed) and even if so why would a Stagecoach driver know this?
The 18A example was a one off, probably caused by a breakdown. This could happen to any operator in reality.