(30 Aug 2014, 8:57 am)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Left The Galleries bang on time, infact it was 4 Minutes early.

That'll be because the driver hates it so much he just wants his runs on it over and done with as soon as possible.

Not sure how long they've been working for, but service 689 now has Next Stop Announcements too.

(30 Aug 2014, 8:57 am)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Left The Galleries bang on time, infact it was 4 Minutes early.

Completely different to the Citaro then! That seemed to run late a lot. See what happens as the day goes on. Either way, still doubt it will be any good.

(30 Aug 2014, 9:25 am)56everyday wrote That'll be because the driver hates it so much he just wants his runs on it over and done with as soon as possible.

I didn't enjoy 10 minutes on 5375 when it was on the X66 I'd hate to spend nearly 2 hours on it from Consett to Sunderland.

Just hope Arriva's are better.

5375 NL63 XBF Go North East Drifter Wright Streetlite on the 8 to Stanley by North East Transport Photos, on Flickr

(30 Aug 2014, 10:32 am)Tom wrote 5375 NL63 XBF Go North East Drifter Wright Streetlite on the 8 to Stanley by North East Transport Photos, on Flickr

Thanks Tom.

(30 Aug 2014, 10:39 am)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Thanks Tom.

Looks to be that stupid driver who asks where we are going when boarding the school bus on a morning. I so feel like giving him a sarcastic response but i know what'd happen, thats for sure!

(30 Aug 2014, 11:29 am)Robert wrote Looks to be that stupid driver who asks where we are going when boarding the school bus on a morning. I so feel like giving him a sarcastic response but i know what'd happen, thats for sure!

I think I recognise him too. A while back I just felt like getting on an X30 from Stanley Bus Stn to the Royal Hotel (could have walked, I know, but it was a President ). When I got on and said where I was going he went 'you lazy sod'. I sort of laughed it off, but felt a bit put down.

(30 Aug 2014, 11:32 am)Marcus wrote I think I recognise him too. A while back I just felt like getting on an X30 from Stanley Bus Stn to the Royal Hotel (could have walked, I know, but it was a President ). When I got on and said where I was going he went 'you lazy sod'. I sort of laughed it off, but felt a bit put down.

There was this one we got that would always have a laugh with us all the time! I dont know if you have travelled on the 44 or 44A before but does Durham Road spring to mind? (the 78 goes along there too but turns off just before the stops im on about and goes along Hollyhill Gardens etc). Never see him now so im guessing he either just doesnt get allocated to that board much or has retired although he didnt look like he was that old (didnt have grey hair or anything). Anyway, back to the original intention of the post which is Durham Road . I usually get off at the 2nd stop (Stanley direction) but i can get off either depending on how quick i want to get home. Anyway, we usually stop at the first stop and as soon as i alert the driver of me wanting him to stop he just blurts out 'you lazy thing' (and other things). We then have a convo before getting off and it just makes my day that some drivers are actually nice rather than been miserable buggers and just want to get their shift over and done with as quickly as possible and not really showing any enthusiasm.

I guess it's worth noting that buses are starting to gain white "go!" stickers on their ETMs, which instructs passengers to place their smartcards where it is located.

This means that the trial without external card readers has seemingly been successful, and all buses in the fleet will now lose their external card readers.

(30 Aug 2014, 3:41 pm)Dan wrote I guess it's worth noting that buses are starting to gain white "go!" stickers on their ETMs, which instructs passengers to place their smartcards where it is located.

This means that the trial without external card readers has seemingly been successful, and all buses in the fleet will now lose their external card readers.

Yes noticed this on 5264 today - but they still can't but their passes in the right place.

(30 Aug 2014, 3:47 pm)Tom wrote Yes noticed this on 5264 today - but they still can't but their passes in the right place.

They should keep the readers as people are forced to hold their pass when scanning it. The process that ANE use on the TGX200 with the CT passes takes ages as holders can simply put their pass on the ETM and leave it lying there thus taking longer.

(30 Aug 2014, 4:53 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote They should keep the readers as people are forced to hold their pass when scanning it. The process that ANE use on the TGX200 with the CT passes takes ages as holders can simply put their pass on the ETM and leave it lying there thus taking longer.

You get a hell of a lot less rejects with the TGX200's though compared to the ERG's. I've used both and thats one advantage of the TGX200's for me! Not many others admittedly...

It's lunatic to have invested in the external card readers and then dispense with them. They are much quicker and easier to use.

(30 Aug 2014, 6:06 pm)Greg_in_Weardale wrote It's lunatic to have invested in the external card readers and then dispense with them. They are much quicker and easier to use.

But a great deal of customer confusion is caused when the external readers aren't working.

Removing the external readers should mean that, as the ETM does not have to communicate with the external card reader, these problems no longer exist.

Absolute waste of money. Will increase boarding times and they'll have to modify the driver's protection screen so passes can actually be placed on the machine reader.

They've only had them four years! No wonder they have to cut services if they waste money like this. How many thousands of pounds have these external readers cost?

(30 Aug 2014, 6:12 pm)Greg_in_Weardale wrote Absolute waste of money. Will increase boarding times and they'll have to modify the driver's protection screen so passes can actually be placed on the machine reader.

They already have had that done as the ticket machine needs to be exposed for that reason just incase the external reader isnt working.

(30 Aug 2014, 6:20 pm)Robert wrote They already have had that done as the ticket machine needs to be exposed for that reason just incase the external reader isnt working.

No, it's very difficult to put passes on the machine reader on some GNE buses when the external reader isn't working. The only gap is the space to take a ticket and there's very little room to put the pass/key card on top.

(30 Aug 2014, 6:16 pm)Greg_in_Weardale wrote They've only had them four years! No wonder they have to cut services if they waste money like this. How many thousands of pounds have these external readers cost?

The readers have proved to be unreliable so the decision has been made to withdraw them. The amount of times the communication fails between the ETM and the reader is pretty high.

There is no point continuing with them if they are failing. The easy option is to remove them so the passes are put on top of the ETM, like the majority of other bus companies up and down the country, and have there dwell times increased?

(30 Aug 2014, 6:27 pm)citaro5284 wrote The readers have proved to be unreliable so the decision has been made to withdraw them. The amount of times the communication fails between the ETM and the reader is pretty high.

There is no point continuing with them if they are failing. The easy option is to remove them so the passes are put on top of the ETM, like the majority of other bus companies up and down the country, and have there dwell times increased?

Agreed - I think the record for how many times the external reader has failed for my Key Card was five times.

(30 Aug 2014, 6:29 pm)Marcus wrote Agreed - I think the record for how many times the external reader has failed for my Key Card was five times.

You've counted how many times the external reader has failed?

(30 Aug 2014, 6:27 pm)citaro5284 wrote The readers have proved to be unreliable so the decision has been made to withdraw them. The amount of times the communication fails between the ETM and the reader is pretty high.

There is no point continuing with them if they are failing. The easy option is to remove them so the passes are put on top of the ETM, like the majority of other bus companies up and down the country, and have there dwell times increased?

Will the removal of the machines impact on the taxpayer money GNE received in order to purchase/install them initially?

(30 Aug 2014, 6:27 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote No, it's very difficult to put passes on the machine reader on some GNE buses when the external reader isn't working. The only gap is the space to take a ticket and there's very little room to put the pass/key card on top.

Well all of the Stanley vehicles i have been on have clearly had a modification done to be able to place the cards on the reader. Plenty of space aswell. Must lack this across the fleet.

(30 Aug 2014, 6:31 pm)Tom wrote You've counted how many times the external reader has failed?

It's kind of hard to forget a driver glaring at you and all the old folk twisting on, isn't it?

(30 Aug 2014, 6:27 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote No, it's very difficult to put passes on the machine reader on some GNE buses when the external reader isn't working. The only gap is the space to take a ticket and there's very little room to put the pass/key card on top.

The majority of the cabs of vehicles in the North Division have already been modified. A number of the vehicles in the fleet already had these cut-outs when they were new (this applies to the Citaros new in 2010 onwards, and possibly a few others buses too).

(30 Aug 2014, 6:38 pm)Marcus wrote It's kind of hard to forget a driver glaring at you and all the old folk twisting on, isn't it?

I've had plenty glare at me in a bad manor - divint count 'em though

(30 Aug 2014, 6:39 pm)Tom wrote I've had plenty glare at me in a bad manor - divint count 'em though

I had one slap his thigh in annoyance when I stuttered the destination.

(30 Aug 2014, 6:33 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Will the removal of the machines impact on the taxpayer money GNE received in order to purchase/install them initially?

How much taxpayers money did GNE get for the readers alone?

(30 Aug 2014, 6:40 pm)Marcus wrote I had one slap his thigh in annoyance when I stuttered the destination.

That's a bit bad like - did you complain?