Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - March 2014

[Tom]

As the shuttle bus doesn't appear to have been organised BY Go North East and instead by a local community group in Hebburn working with Go North East, I'd have assumed that this shuttle bus would be free to use.

As originally posted by Liam:
https://m.facebook.com/hebburnandmidtyne...2259534753

How far in advance do VOSA registrations have to be submitted? Think it is around 50 days, isn't it? If so, they'll have to be submitting that registration fairly promptly if it is going to be taking fares.

Is it a temporary service?

[BJ10VUS]

My thought on that tag line is if anybody falls when the bus is stopping then they've been advised to remain seated.

Yeah, I agree with you, but it's displayed on the screens and on notices posted throughout the vehicles, it shouldn't have to be said. It isn't said on other routes such as the 4, 56 or 58.

[Davey Bowyer]

There are several female drivers running the GNE buses from Hexham.

At Percy Main depot, there are four to my knowledge.

[Tom]

At Percy Main depot, there are three to my knowledge..

Yeah, I know of three, and that's it.

[G-CPTN]

Dilston Bridge (near Corbridge) is closed until July for major strengthening works.

All but one of the bus services between Hexham and Corbridge (and Newcastle and Carlisle) use Dilston Bridge and will instead use the A69 'bypass'.

To cater for passengers between Hexham and Corbridge a shuttle bus (Howard Snaith) is operating FOC alternating between the ends.

GNE aren't exactly happy (with it being free and taking passengers between Hexham and Corbridge) though very few passengers are using the shuttle for end-to-end journeys - it is only hourly whereas passengers normally have 5 buses an hour each way - which are still running end to end. It's only those passengers between Hexham and Dilston and Corbridge and Dilston that need the service.

To have two shuttles running independently would be twice the cost.

Just saying that neither GNE or Arriva (or Stagecoach) were awarded the contract - understandable really as Arriva and Stagecoach would have had to service from Newcastle or Carlisle and GNE would have had an advantage being based in Hexham.

Howard Snaith is using a minibus temporarily (?) based in Hexham with a local driver.

Makes sense, really . . .

[Davey Bowyer]

I have a lot of fond memories of GNE and Coastline since I was only a little boy:

- Services 325 and 325 and the Lance Wright 320's in old Coastline colours.
- Going full circle on the 326 with my Dad.
- ECW's on the 308 in Coastline colours.
- Riding on a ELC Lolyne on the 326 when I was 6. The driver was lovely and even showed me all the bells and whistles including back then, the CCTV screen in the cab.
- The introduction of Volvo Olympians on the 308.
- The old Easy Access 1998 livery.
- The Optare Excels.
- Driver changeovers on Verne Road.
- Launch of the Cobalt Clipper and Scania Omnicitys back in 2007.
-Turn up and go with 300, 305, 325 and 326.
- Optare Excels being replaced by 8201 to 8212 in 2005.
- Launch of the Centurion brand.
- Launch of the Volvo B9TL on the Cobalt Clipper.
- AND most importantly, the good old controller and the radio.