(21 Jul 2014, 7:28 pm)Dan wrote Running times are tight? Where's aureolin with his 'achievable timetable' line when you need him?

I am aware that management of all of the "big three" read this forum, and perhaps it'd be a good idea for management to get involved. It was a general statement about drivers (not just South Shields drivers, so don't take offence), and it comes from a disgruntled customer - I know others living on Newcastle Road who are sick and tired of the E2 at the moment too. Several Sunderland drivers are family friends, and I know many of the older drivers who work there, are not motivated. They can't wait to leave Stagecoach, but they feel they can't at the moment for financial reasons. Whenever they can, they try and get regulated - they don't try and make up time any more. I could say the same about ANE and GNE drivers too.

Other Sunderland - South Shields routes, with timings just as tight (if not tighter), are coping with the works on the Wearmouth Bridge much better than the Economic services are.

As someone who lives right next to the Wearmouth Bridge (and therefore someone who sees the level of traffic regularly), the works are not causing too much trouble - certainly not to allow for buses to be running 20 minutes late.

Drivers running early to get an extended break at an out of the way terminus or running late to get regulated - it has gone on for years.
Management know it goes on and aren't naive to it.
AVL and CCTV are often advertised as being for the benefit of the passenger, but can be used for other reasons...

Drivers can also contribute to the success (or opposite) of a route which is popular (or not) amongst their colleagues by utilising a range of techniques.

Passengers are often the ones to loose out and despite some of them being annoying, frustrating or rude, they keep those drivers in a job.