(19 Feb 2016, 8:10 pm)X8X9X10 wrote Speaking of the X21/X22, is there a reason these aren't MAX services? It seems strange that most of the other intercity services out of Newcastle (to Blyth/Ashington (X20)/Alnwick/etc) are MAX while this service is Sapphire.
I get that the buses have power and next stop announcements which aren't on other Newcastle MAX services but it seems strange to distinguish one route. I could understand if it was the most frequent service to/from Newcastle but there are others as often as this one.
(19 Feb 2016, 8:10 pm)X8X9X10 wrote Speaking of the X21/X22, is there a reason these aren't MAX services? It seems strange that most of the other intercity services out of Newcastle (to Blyth/Ashington (X20)/Alnwick/etc) are MAX while this service is Sapphire.If I personally was to follow GNE's example irrespective of Sapphire or MAX brands, this is how I would have the Northuberland express services bar the X16 specificed:
I get that the buses have power and next stop announcements which aren't on other Newcastle MAX services but it seems strange to distinguish one route. I could understand if it was the most frequent service to/from Newcastle but there are others as often as this one.
(20 Feb 2016, 2:39 pm)BusLoverMum wrote They should do, so long as you're in the right place.There has been history of drivers on the 22/23 and previous service numbers not knowing the ticket and pass options out of County Durham.
I had an arriva driver try to insist a gne issued explorer wasn't valid, once.
(20 Feb 2016, 2:42 pm)Jimmi wrote There has been history of drivers on the 22/23 and previous service numbers not knowing the ticket and pass options out of County Durham.
(20 Feb 2016, 3:06 pm)Jimmi wrote That's the one! Was heading through Newton Aycliffe on-time when it was indicating that it was 20 odd minutes late.
(20 Feb 2016, 3:11 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote The only thing I can think of is that the gps on the ticket machine has failed, as I'm on a 7 into the town now and it's 4 mins early from what it's supposed to arriveIt's been happening all week, it also happened on the 8 when 4658 was allocated. Weirdly it's been the Harrowgate Hill area each time.
(20 Feb 2016, 2:43 pm)DanPicken wrote They wouldn't know because they're based at a depot with only a few services in Tyne and Wear.
(20 Feb 2016, 3:14 pm)Jimmi wrote It's been happening all week, it also happened on the 8 when 4658 was allocated. Weirdly it's been the Harrowgate Hill area each time.
(19 Feb 2016, 8:54 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yup, Arriva NE decided to Sapphire the X21/X22 as an upgrade to one of the busiest commuter services into Newcastle, as it is investment from outside of their own budget whilst Sapphire is/was a pilot project by Arriva UK and DB itself. MAX was designed later by ANE/Yorkshire together to improve longer distance services, and has been implemented on most inter urban services across the two regions now (still being done in Yorkshire) as a great way of growing usage.
(20 Feb 2016, 3:32 pm)Andreos1 wrote If they're in charge of a vehicle which enters an area that has specific ticketing options - then they should know.
It only takes me and you a few moments to identify ticketing options, so why can't drivers do some homework?
Depot staff issue notices. Staff handbooks are issued with content relating to ticketing options.
Yet still there there is ignorance relating to what can and cannot be issued.
(21 Feb 2016, 6:42 pm)tyresmoke wrote Just picking up on this from yesterday... The complexity of the tickets in our area I think is what confuses our drivers. Especially when they come across something they're not familiar with (your home tickets are going to be well known but others may not be) - it's all well and good issuing ticketing guides but if they're not kept up to date then staff will struggle with all of the options available across our network. Not to mention they're often too big to be carrying around. If we had a staff website (or even a phone app!) with all of the information we require it may be easier.
Just at Stockton we sell something daft like 20 different weekly tickets due to the different areas we operate within, not to mention all of the day tickets available. Remembering how to sell all of these on the machines never mind knowing where they are and are not valid takes some learning and I'm not going to pretend that I understand all of them.
For anyone interested the weekly tickets we sell at Stockton are:
Teesside
Teesside & East Cleveland
Easyrider Teesside
Easyrider All Zone
North East
Tyne & Wear Triple 1/2/3+ zone
Durham City
Durham District
Durham County
East Durham Triple 1/2/3+ zone
Darlington Town
Darlington + Aycliffe
Darlington + Tees Valley
X12 Weekly
X12 Durham Uni Weekly
(21 Feb 2016, 7:18 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Yet, if I ask for a North East Arriva day ticket, I get a blank look. I just ask for a £7.70 one, now. I usually keep a stash of Co Durham ones on my phone, as they cost the same as a return to Durham and I'm usually alone and not kid wrangling when I visit there.
(21 Feb 2016, 7:23 pm)tyresmoke wrote Yeah best to ask for it by price! If someone gets on my Sapphire (5/5a from East Cleveland into Middlesbrough) and ask for a "day ticket" they automatically get issued a £5.70 Teesside&EC one - I find if they want something else they usually ask for it.
By the way, it seems I missed some off that original list - we also sell the Durham & Brandon weekly, plus the University tickets have two options also. Taking those into account plus the various triple ticket options I'd reckon our count of weekly tickets is over 30?! And if I can't remember them all, as an enthusiastic member of staff, how is everyone else supposed to manage?
