(18 Nov 2015, 5:59 pm)Adrian wrote Yet the two other large operators in the region can provide a large commercial operation? Doesn't sound right to me...
I appreciate that every single service is not viable for Boxing Day, but even an hourly frequency on some of the top money routes, would be a whole lot better than nothing.
(18 Nov 2015, 4:58 pm)RRA219X wrote I seem to recall being told that in order to make it financially viable for us to run a Boxing Day service, taking into account the operating costs and significant wage supplements for working that day, every driver would have to cash in approx £500. Not going to happen...
(18 Nov 2015, 8:58 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Most of Arriva's services have long rural runs, though. More expensive to run for a smaller return. Their services into Sunderland were mentioned upthread but, iirc, they come from 2 different depots. I've also never been on a Peterlee-Sunderland run that's packed, even on a Saturday, when there's a match on.
(18 Nov 2015, 9:27 pm)MrPottski wrote To be honest, it's about time they weren't so profit driven. It's one day, give something back to the customers for christs sake!
(18 Nov 2015, 9:29 pm)Adrian wrote Not familiar with those particular services, but the 7 for example is always really busy. Then there's the X12, and I'm surprised the uni haven't had a word about having that running.
North of the Tyne, and I'm surprised they're not providing services from the likes of Tynemouth, Blyth, Morpeth, Ashington, etc, for the Newcastle match? Not to mention the huge shopping day that it is for intu Eldon Square & Metrocentre?
(18 Nov 2015, 5:59 pm)Adrian wrote Yet the two other large operators in the region can provide a large commercial operation? Doesn't sound right to me...
I appreciate that every single service is not viable for Boxing Day, but even an hourly frequency on some of the top money routes, would be a whole lot better than nothing.
(18 Nov 2015, 9:27 pm)MrPottski wrote To be honest, it's about time they weren't so profit driven. It's one day, give something back to the customers for christs sake!
(20 Nov 2015, 8:48 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Agree about the statement regarding being run by the Unions. Here is an example and this is NOT ALL DRIVERS by the way, but a very small minority:
Driver goes deliberately slow and makes no safe or legal effort to keep the service running to time.
Arriva: Lead driver or reserve sent out, driver rarely faces action, management dare to implenent intervention measures in the event of the unions jumping in and do nothing more than send out a message asking drivers to run to time.
GNE: Driver monitored closely, very active control room, driver sent for redemial training if needed, clear zero tolerance message sent out warning drivers of the consequences of deliberately 'toading'.
(18 Nov 2015, 5:59 pm)Adrian wrote Yet the two other large operators in the region can provide a large commercial operation? Doesn't sound right to me...
I appreciate that every single service is not viable for Boxing Day, but even an hourly frequency on some of the top money routes, would be a whole lot better than nothing.
(20 Nov 2015, 11:59 pm)Stuartphin1639 wrote One of the members on here work for Darlington depot which is operated by Arriva and will probably agree with me here, there's quite a few drivers at Darlington that go slow, yeah they've maybe had a accident or 2 or a incident, but the people higher up in Darlington depot are complete k***s, it feels that if you sneeze the wrong way you'll end up getting suspended or sacked, there's one driver that got suspended the other day for not knowing a route, so basically if any Darlington service is running late it's because there probably doing the job by the book, no point in rushing around its just a excuse for you to end up sacked or suspended, there's 101 reasons for being late but none for being early
(21 Nov 2015, 8:15 am)citaro5284 wrote And NUFC are helping towards the cost of the later services with the match being on later.....Newcastle doing that, really surprises me.
http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20151120/...70_5153010
(21 Nov 2015, 12:50 pm)Andreos1 wrote Newcastle doing that, really surprises me.
Glad to see they took some sort of initiative in doing so.
However, I struggle to see how they need to do it.
How can an operator not make a profit on their routes, with a decent proportion of the 52k using each of the services?
Ditto the Metro, where there will be a number of passengers on a Magpie Mover through the season ticket scheme or one of the Nexus/Network Ticketing offers. 
(21 Nov 2015, 12:54 pm)citaro5284 wrote But looking at their press release they are paying for extra services (bus and Metro) which would not normally be there on a Boxing Day night. I cannot see why they should not pay for something they want.
(21 Nov 2015, 12:54 pm)citaro5284 wrote But looking at their press release they are paying for extra services (bus and Metro) which would not normally be there on a Boxing Day night. I cannot see why they should not pay for something they want.So without the funding, those additional services, wouldn't make a profit? Bearing in mind the proportion of the 52k who will be using public transport...
(20 Nov 2015, 8:48 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Arriva: Lead driver or reserve sent out, driver rarely faces action, management dare to implenent intervention measures in the event of the unions jumping in and do nothing more than send out a message asking drivers to run to time.
(24 Nov 2015, 12:26 pm)GX03 SVC wrote An Ashington driver was suspended the other day for "deliberately running the service late" when he was running 35 minutes late on the X20.That's different. The management were wrong on this instance. Deliberate late running isn't such a problem on longer and less frequent routes and late running is more down to the traffic conditions. It's more of a problem on the more frequent routes. 35 mins late on the X20 is very noticable. But running 15 minutes late on the X21/X22/X10/X11/308 and any others isn't very noticable. These can be easily be regulated owing to their frequency. And to be fair, Ashington depot isn't such a problem and I've only experienced one late runner from there for such reason. It's another certain depot beginning with a B where I've noticed a small minority of drivers not making an effort.
The driver took over the bus 10 minutes late, the headlights were rubbish, all he could see was pitch black and the reflections from the window, an Eddie Stobart lorry was attempting to turn around causing another 15 minute delay. The depot manager then un-suspended him when they saw that he was telling the truth.
Driver rarely faces action, eh?!
(24 Nov 2015, 12:26 pm)GX03 SVC wrote An Ashington driver was suspended the other day for "deliberately running the service late" when he was running 35 minutes late on the X20.
The driver took over the bus 10 minutes late, the headlights were rubbish, all he could see was pitch black and the reflections from the window, an Eddie Stobart lorry was attempting to turn around causing another 15 minute delay. The depot manager then un-suspended him when they saw that he was telling the truth.
Driver rarely faces action, eh?!
(24 Nov 2015, 4:55 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote That's different. The management were wrong on this instance. Deliberate late running isn't such a problem on longer and less frequent routes and late running is more down to the traffic conditions. It's more of a problem on the more frequent routes. 35 mins late on the X20 is very noticable. But running 15 minutes late on the X21/X22/X10/X11/308 and any others isn't very noticable. These can be easily be regulated owing to their frequency. And to be fair, Ashington depot isn't such a problem and I've only experienced one late runner from there for such reason. It's another certain depot beginning with a B where I've noticed a small minority of drivers not making an effort.
(24 Nov 2015, 4:59 pm)mb134 wrote I could point out some drivers from that depot who are late (at least 5 minutes) pretty much every time I get on their bus. There are common themes, driving at 15-20 in a 30, taking forever to pull away from stops (as in not even attempting to pull away for quite a while after the passenger boards), being VERY hesitant, taking forever with the ticket machine etc.
So, it seems while they punish drivers who aren't intentionally running late, they let others get away with it.
(24 Nov 2015, 5:26 pm)Jimmi wrote Do drivers at other Arriva depots tend to wait for passengers to sit down before pulling away from a stop like most of Darlington depot's drivers tend to do? Although it was typical the one driver I've had recently that didn't do this was the one I had on the 5 to Darlington yesterday where I had to climb over someone's dog which was sat in the middle of the bloody aisle. [emoji34]
(24 Nov 2015, 5:26 pm)Jimmi wrote I can't see how you think deliberate late running is not as big as problem on a frequent route rather than just limited frequency services, I'd sharp notice late running on the 7 which has a 15 minute frequency. I know it's obviously worse on the likes of the X20 but still.
Do drivers at other Arriva depots tend to wait for passengers to sit down before pulling away from a stop like most of Darlington depot's drivers tend to do? Although it was typical the one driver I've had recently that didn't do this was the one I had on the 5 to Darlington yesterday where I had to climb over someone's dog which was sat in the middle of the bloody aisle. [emoji34]
(24 Nov 2015, 6:23 pm)tyresmoke wrote Company policy dictates that you should wait for all passengers to be seated or securely standing before moving away. Of course when you are running late you will often find drivers pulling away before this, putting themselves at (admittedly low) risk of action being taken should anything happen. That's why some drivers will stick to the rules, especially if they are on a disciplinary tight rope should we say.That's absolutely fine. The problem isn't with drivers who run late by:
Late running occurs every day on every service, however there is clearly a divide between certain depots that is obvious when you see statistics across various services. Anything above 5 minutes late is counted as late on our statistics and counts against a drivers punctuality stats. I myself have dropped about 10% in the last few months... Purely because of the amount of roadworks on our route, I just can't be bothered any more pushing to try and stay on time when there's 3 or 4 sets of temporary lights where you can lose 2-3 minutes each time.