(03 Sep 2014, 6:22 pm)Robert wrote Do 3832 and 3833 have 1 seat more or 1 seat less than the other olympians? Certain its less but according to the Go North East fleet list its 1 more...

Less as they don't have the additional seat near the front?

(03 Sep 2014, 7:04 pm)Tom wrote Less as they don't have the additional seat near the front?

Aye, thats what i thought aswell. Just had to get the seat numbers of the buses i was on today then we can monitor the loadings before sending a complaint into the school about the bus been too cramped.

(03 Sep 2014, 7:32 pm)Robert wrote Aye, thats what i thought aswell. Just had to get the seat numbers of the buses i was on today then we can monitor the loadings before sending a complaint into the school about the bus been too cramped.

The Lolynes are bigger aren't they?

(03 Sep 2014, 7:34 pm)Tom wrote The Lolynes are bigger aren't they?

They allow for one extra standee - so no, not really.

(03 Sep 2014, 3:40 pm)Dan wrote When pulling away for the first time in a while, yes.

Common of a lot of Volvo B10BLEs.

Fan belts slipping. Used to be an awful problem on B10Ms too

(02 Sep 2014, 10:06 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote It looked like it was the local populous who were complaining.
Not about the service, but the size of the vehicles squeezing through an estate.


Saw the signs tonight as I was driving home from Sainsburys.
The roundabout behind Matalan is closed on the 5th (if I remember right). So the likes of the 4 and 50 will need to be diverted and will be unable to serve retail park stops.

The same problem has occurred today and the Facebook comments have been the polar opposite to yesterday. Allegedly, the cars had been parked deliberately to make it very tricky for the bus to get through today - we'll see what happens tomorrow. There has been a request to use AV in both directions and it needs to happen fairly quickly as there seems to be a bit of a problem brewing.

I'm not blaming the FPF either as I appreciate the AV freedom party is a seperate entity altogether !!!

(03 Sep 2014, 7:58 pm)busman101 wrote The same problem has occurred today and the Facebook comments have been the polar opposite to yesterday. Allegedly, the cars had been parked deliberately to make it very tricky for the bus to get through today - we'll see what happens tomorrow. There has been a request to use AV in both directions and it needs to happen fairly quickly as there seems to be a bit of a problem brewing.

I'm not blaming the FPF either as I appreciate the AV freedom party is a seperate entity altogether !!!

Guessing those who are parking idioticly dont rely on the bus so they will do anything to force gnes hand. Shame because those who need it are likely to loose out!!

(03 Sep 2014, 7:58 pm)busman101 wrote The same problem has occurred today and the Facebook comments have been the polar opposite to yesterday. Allegedly, the cars had been parked deliberately to make it very tricky for the bus to get through today - we'll see what happens tomorrow. There has been a request to use AV in both directions and it needs to happen fairly quickly as there seems to be a bit of a problem brewing.

I'm not blaming the FPF either as I appreciate the AV freedom party is a seperate entity altogether !!!

Haven't seen the comments on there today and with FB being down, may not get a chance.

Certainly an interesting one and one to keep an eye on.

Could it be these? http://houghton-le-spring.cylex-uk.co.uk...24369.html

One of the drivers said that the quaylink buses are ment to be getting new buses

(04 Sep 2014, 12:19 pm)Philly rf wrote One of the drivers said that the quaylink buses are meant to be getting new buses.

So soon?

On 18 July 2010 operations transferred to Go North East under a five-year contract.
On 10 August 2010, new Optare Versa single-deckers were introduced to the route.

The electric buses didn't last long and it's hardly an arduous route.

Nexus have uploaded the new 700/701 timetable for the new uni year from the 13th September...

Same as last year's route and every 15 mins, it will no longer serve Roker, as its term time...

701 will run half hourly from 9ish till 2pm and then not run till 7pm, where it will run half hourly again.

http://www.nexus.org.uk/sites/default/fi...130914.pdf

Speaking to a few drivers today, the problem in fence houses is with a couple on grange avenue parking 1 car on the left side and the other on the opposite side a little way infront but leaving only a tiny gap inwhich buses squeeze through. Petty to say the least.

(04 Sep 2014, 2:23 pm)nk55 wrote Speaking to a few drivers today, the problem in fence houses is with a couple on grange avenue parking 1 car on the left side and the other on the opposite side a little way infront but leaving only a tiny gap inwhich buses squeeze through. Petty to say the least.

Just had a drive down to see what all the fuss was about.
What got me, was the cars double parking - one on the part of the path for cars, the other on the road.
Granted, there wasn't much space elsewhere to park.

The parking situation you mentioned on Grange Ave, was also evident on AV. Had to give way to a van.

Mind, these Cadets may be too small after all!
Followed one up towards Lumley at 4ish and there was no room for anymore standees, never mind seats.
Passed two deckers heading down the hill that were NIS and presumably had been on scholars just a short while previous.

(04 Sep 2014, 12:19 pm)Philly rf wrote One of the drivers said that the quaylink buses are ment to be getting new buses

Considering the contract is up for renewal soon then yes, they probably are getting new buses. Or as said a few weeks ago, the services may be axed by Nexus.

(04 Sep 2014, 2:23 pm)nk55 wrote Speaking to a few drivers today, the problem in fence houses is with a couple on grange avenue parking 1 car on the left side and the other on the opposite side a little way infront but leaving only a tiny gap inwhich buses squeeze through. Petty to say the least.

Well GNE need to get the police out, as if it's difficult to get a bus through it's obstruction.

(04 Sep 2014, 3:27 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote What got me, was the cars double parking - one on the part of the path for cars, the other on the road.
Granted, there wasn't much space elsewhere to park.

Strictly speaking, there is no entitlement to park a vehicle on the 'highway' (this includes any public road) and a police officer can take action if the vehicle constitutes an 'obstruction' in their opinion (though it would be up to a court to decide if the motorist questioned the 'ticket'.

If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine.

If the bus operator lodged a complaint with the police it would be up to the police to decide if the obstruction was deliberate and wilful (though, of course, the police might decide they didn't have adequate resources to deal with this).
A better course of action might be to approach the County Highways department:-

http://www.durham.gov.uk/Pages/Service.a...viceId=550

and:- http://www.durham.gov.uk/pages/Service.a...viceId=551

and also the council officer responsible for public transport services:- sustainabletransport@durham.gov.uk , pointing out the difficulty of operating the designated service.

It would be a lot easier for GNE to pull the service out of there, and run the service along the main road. if passengers are local residents whinge then their should talk to their neighbours who live in the area where the cars etc... are parked. GNE have pulled their bus services out before in other areas due to the lack of getting through the roads with cars parked.

(04 Sep 2014, 4:05 pm)G-CPTN wrote Strictly speaking, there is no entitlement to park a vehicle on the 'highway' (this includes any public road) and a police officer can take action if the vehicle constitutes an 'obstruction' in their opinion (though it would be up to a court to decide if the motorist questioned the 'ticket'.
If the bus operator lodged a complaint with the police it would be up to the police to decide if the obstruction was deliberate and wilful (though, of course, the police might decide they didn't have adequate resources to deal with this).
A better course of action might be to approach the County Highways department:-

http://www.durham.gov.uk/Pages/Service.a...viceId=550

and:- http://www.durham.gov.uk/pages/Service.a...viceId=551

and also the council officer responsible for public transport services:- sustainabletransport@durham.gov.uk , pointing out the difficulty of operating the designated service.

Trying not to be pedantic, but it is on the Tyne & Wear side of Fencehouses

I believe the police have been involved in the past.
No idea what was said or done at the time, but it appears it hasn't made much of a difference.

The main stretch of road in the estate is wide enough for two cars to pass, with part of the pavement set aside for parked vehicles.
The problem seems to arise, when a car parks parallel to the one on the path.
The problem arises in the other parts - which by virtue of a one way system, is part of the route.
When the houses were built in the 50's/60's - the main thorough fare was AV. It isn't any more.

If the council were to put double yellows along the road, then the traffic wardens would have a field day.
Whose interest would it be to paint the lines?
Certainly not the residents who live there.
Definitely the bus operators.
Emergency services?

It is a difficult one.

Sorry about the geographical ignorance - I assumed it would be Durham (my cousin grew up near Fencehouses - Rainton Bridge).

Double yellows take many months (and a cost of about £10,000 for a traffic order) - so you are unlikely to get much action there (though the local parish council might be sympathetic).

(04 Sep 2014, 4:10 pm)cbma06 wrote It would be a lot easier for GNE to pull the service out of there, and run the service along the main road.

Isn't that what the non-bus-users want?
What about the passengers - would they be happy?

(04 Sep 2014, 4:36 pm)G-CPTN wrote Isn't that what the non-bus-users want?
What about the passengers - would they be happy?

" and run the service along the main road. if passengers are local residents whinge then their should talk to their neighbours who live in the area where the cars etc... are parked. GNE have pulled their bus services out before in other areas due to the lack of getting through the roads with cars parked."

http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/story/...fds_403246 - I'd imagine it was the 29, so a Versa would have to be used on the 29 for the time being?

(04 Sep 2014, 4:33 pm)G-CPTN wrote Sorry about the geographical ignorance - I assumed it would be Durham (my cousin grew up near Fencehouses - Rainton Bridge).

Double yellows take many months (and a cost of about £10,000 for a traffic order) - so you are unlikely to get much action there (though the local parish council might be sympathetic).

Under the current boundaries, Rainton Bridge is in T&W too!
Lots of people still use Co Durham in addresses, but pay their rates to Sunderland.
Fencehouses is actually split - with part being Durham CC, the other Sunderland.

Agreed, yellow lines are unlikely to happen. Ditto parking permits - after all, it is only the residents who park there.
It isn't the sort of area to attract commuters or shoppers, like some residential areas outside hospitals etc

(04 Sep 2014, 4:41 pm)Tom wrote http://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/story/...fds_403246 - I'd imagine it was the 29, so a Versa would have to be used on the 29 for the time being?

they could temperately move one from deptford, they only needed at night although they are allocated to service 38, i'm sure that could be changed while it gets fixed but i'm sure a versa could be used on the 135/136

(04 Sep 2014, 4:36 pm)G-CPTN wrote Isn't that what the non-bus-users want?
What about the passengers - would they be happy?

If you were a passenger from Houghton to Chester-Le-Street and you get caught up in this estate because of double parked cars etc.. and the bus is delayed by 20 minutes due to this, you wouldn't be happy especially if you have a connection to make at the destination.

I suggest a few people drop an email to the Sunderland City Council's 'City and Neighbourhood' team. They're listed as a contact on this page here - http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1292

"Street Parking
Pavements are constructed and provided for pedestrian use. We have a responsibility to keep the roads and footpaths safe to use.
The Highway Code states that motorists should not park partially or wholly on the footway unless signs permit it. If there are waiting restrictions in place then these extend across the footway and the matter can be dealt with by the Parking Services section of the council. Where there are no waiting restrictions in place then complaints of obstructive parking may be dealt with by the Police.
If you have a query regarding vehicles parking on a pavement please contact City and Neighbourhoods."

It'll probably do GNE a favour if more than just them are complaining about it.

came across this on route one today:

A Go North East bus has crashed into a cemetery in Gateshead, injuring passengers and demolishing about 50 headstones.

The single decker hit a parked car before going through railings into the cemetery in Gateshead, Northumbria Police said.

The Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported that the crash occurred just before 11.05am today, when police received a report that a bus had hit a stationary vehicle before going through railings into a cemetery on Saltwell Road South.


http://www.route-one.net/industry/operat...-cemetery/

(04 Sep 2014, 5:31 pm)cbma06 wrote came across this on route one today:

A Go North East bus has crashed into a cemetery in Gateshead, injuring passengers and demolishing about 50 headstones.

The single decker hit a parked car before going through railings into the cemetery in Gateshead, Northumbria Police said.

The Newcastle Evening Chronicle reported that the crash occurred just before 11.05am today, when police received a report that a bus had hit a stationary vehicle before going through railings into a cemetery on Saltwell Road South.


http://www.route-one.net/industry/operat...-cemetery/

There's been some discussion already here.

5244's front display isn't displaying the number, at least it wasn't today when it was on its way to North Shields, the side and rear displays were still displaying the number, is something faulty with the display or something with programming? Just I've never seen it before, thanks

(04 Sep 2014, 5:58 pm)mb134 wrote 5244's front display isn't displaying the number, at least it wasn't today when it was on its way to North Shields, the side and rear displays were still displaying the number, is something faulty with the display or something with programming? Just I've never seen it before, thanks

Talking of destinations. The destination for Scholars 825 (PM) hasnt been updated and still shows '825 Stanley' rather than '825 Flint Hill' (or whatever it might display).