(20 Nov 2015, 8:59 pm)mrnut85 wrote Boxing Day services in Tyne and Wear are subsidised by Nexus as there is no economical viability in operating services on this day

Not all Boxing Day services are subsidised by Nexus. Only some are, and this number seems to reduce year on year.

Indeed; this year we will see Go North East services, which have previously been subsidised, operated on a commercial basis! How come Go North East can see a commercial opportunity when the usual operator, Arriva, seemingly cannot?

I honestly can't understand how one operator manages to make a nice profit out of operating some services on a Boxing Day, and increases their PVR year on year to improve services, yet the other two big boys seem to struggle.

Don't bother trying to travel on SC buses on Boxing day again lol

(21 Nov 2015, 9:51 am)idiot wrote Don't bother trying to travel on SC buses on Boxing day again lol

Why?

(21 Nov 2015, 6:43 am)Dan wrote Not all Boxing Day services are subsidised by Nexus. Only some are, and this number seems to reduce year on year.

Indeed; this year we will see Go North East services, which have previously been subsidised, operated on a commercial basis! How come Go North East can see a commercial opportunity when the usual operator, Arriva, seemingly cannot?

I honestly can't understand how one operator manages to make a nice profit out of operating some services on a Boxing Day, and increases their PVR year on year to improve services, yet the other two big boys seem to struggle.

Shame they couldn't have the 35A travel all the way to Heworth.....

(21 Nov 2015, 11:10 am)Michael wrote Shame they couldn't have the 35A travel all the way to Heworth.....

As in previous years, the Sunderland - Castletown - Downhill section of that service is secured.

The usual 'extension' of the service from Town End Farm and Boldon is secured by Nexus anyway, so they are responsible for deciding whether there is demand to provide that service.

(21 Nov 2015, 11:42 am)Dan wrote
As in previous years, the Sunderland - Castletown - Downhill section of that service is secured.

The usual 'extension' of the service from Town End Farm and Boldon is secured by Nexus anyway, so they are responsible for deciding whether there is demand to provide that service.

So not all of GNE's services are ran commercial this year?

Would be nice of GNE to just run at least 1 bus hourly to Heworth.... shame NEXUS have control over that.....


Edit: It just sounded like you said all of the GNE services were going to be ran commercial this year.

(21 Nov 2015, 11:45 am)Michael wrote So not all of GNE's services are ran commercial this year?

Would be nice of GNE to just run at least 1 bus hourly to Heworth.... shame NEXUS have control over that.....

No - I should have been clearer in my previous post by stating 'some'. The Arriva North East 44 and 45 services to Dinnington are a prime example of a service being secured by Nexus on Boxing Day in previous years, but this year will be operated on a commercial basis (morphed into Go North East's Q3 service). I'd suggest that the demand is likely to be there given that NUFC are playing at home.

Perhaps in the future Go North East will operate the extension to Heworth commercially - there'd be nothing stopping them from doing it, but given that it's usually secured by Nexus on evenings and Sundays, I can't see there being sufficient demand to supply this service (especially if Nexus thinks that too!) Each year has seen a new commercial risk taken by Go North East: last year it was extending the 4 from Fallowfield Way to Houghton-le-Spring (via Fencehouses) once per hour, which has notably been continued this year, and this year sees Boxing Day services go to places such as Bishop Auckland, Cramlington and Sacriston, which hasn't been done in a very long time.

(21 Nov 2015, 12:01 pm)Dan wrote No - I should have been clearer in my previous post by stating 'some'. The Arriva North East 44 and 45 services to Dinnington are a prime example of a service being secured by Nexus on Boxing Day in previous years, but this year will be operated on a commercial basis (morphed into Go North East's Q3 service). I'd suggest that the demand is likely to be there given that NUFC are playing at home.

Perhaps in the future Go North East will operate the extension to Heworth commercially - there'd be nothing stopping them from doing it, but given that it's usually secured by Nexus on evenings and Sundays, I can't see there being sufficient demand to supply this service (especially if Nexus thinks that too!) Each year has seen a new commercial risk taken by Go North East: last year it was extending the 4 from Fallowfield Way to Houghton-le-Spring (via Fencehouses) once per hour, which has notably been continued this year, and this year sees Boxing Day services go to places such as Bishop Auckland, Cramlington and Sacriston, which hasn't been done in a very long time.

It would be good if they did take a risk one year, the one thing what annoys me is though is that the bigger bus companies seem to be worrying more about profits than the passengers and where people need to be.... Arriva is the biggest example of that. 

Its good that GNE are expanding their services on boxing day and hopefully this increases every year.

(20 Nov 2015, 8:02 pm)Adrian wrote It's comical that two principal operators, between them, can't come up with even the most basic level of service for Teesside. It plays right into the hands of the pro-regulation argument imo.

Totally agree. If Delta and Robson could I don't see why they can't.

(21 Nov 2015, 12:10 pm)Michael wrote It would be good if they did take a risk one year, the one thing what annoys me is though is that the bigger bus companies seem to be worrying more about profits than the passengers and where people need to be.... Arriva is the biggest example of that. 

Its good that GNE are expanding their services on boxing day and hopefully this increases every year.

Can they not go into Sunderland then Metro to Heworth?

It annoys me that some people have nee idea what goes on behind the scenes to get things like this sorted but are often quick to criticise but hey ho, thats the way of the world I guess.

(21 Nov 2015, 12:30 pm)citaro5284 wrote Can they not go into Sunderland then Metro to Heworth?

It annoys me that some people have nee idea what goes on behind the scenes to get things like this sorted but are often quick to criticise but hey ho, thats the way of the world I guess.

They could use the metro, its not very reliable though..........

I wasn't just criticizing GNE though?, i was just saying that sometimes bus companies put profits first....... Arriva is biggest example.... only time i mentioned GNE was when i said: Its good that GNE are expanding their services on boxing day and hopefully this increases every year.


We don't know how much goes on in the background but why can't people have a opinion the subject and have their say?

We are also very quick to judge he metro, automatically using the word 'unreliable' to describe it. The chances are, when they say that there is low rail adhesion, there is actually low rail adhesion and it isnt just an excuse.

(21 Nov 2015, 12:42 pm)Michael wrote They could use the metro, its not very reliable though..........

I wasn't just criticizing GNE though?, i was just saying that sometimes bus companies put profits first....... Arriva is biggest example.... only time i mentioned GNE was when i said: Its good that GNE are expanding their services on boxing day and hopefully this increases every year.


We don't know how much goes on in the background but why can't people have a opinion the subject and have their say?

Surely if the Metro is not reliable that is not any bus companies fault, so why should they operate a service just in case the Metro breaks down?

I never mentioned GNE at all.....

Nothing stopping people having their say, however you assume it is all about profits - how do you know that, and simply you dont.  Boxing Day currently is staffed by volunteers, the more services you run, the more staff you need, and quite a large proportion of staff like to have the Christmas and New Year off with their families, so actually finding the staff to cover the work can sometimes be more tricker than you think.

(21 Nov 2015, 12:51 pm)citaro5284 wrote Surely if the Metro is not reliable that is not any bus companies fault, so why should they operate a service just in case the Metro breaks down?

I never mentioned GNE at all.....

Nothing stopping people having their say, however you assume it is all about profits - how do you know that, and simply you dont.  Boxing Day currently is staffed by volunteers, the more services you run, the more staff you need, and quite a large proportion of staff like to have the Christmas and New Year off with their families, so actually finding the staff to cover the work can sometimes be more tricker than you think.

I'm not the only one who has mentioned about profits. 

In all honesty... why can't they have a better system.. where they have drivers working boxing day - and they change every year.

Example: 50 from Deptford work one year, the next 50 work the year after and so on...its not the best example.

(20 Nov 2015, 8:59 pm)mrnut85 wrote Boxing Day services in Tyne and Wear are subsidised by Nexus as there is no economical viability in operating services on this day

That's not true. Most of Stagecoach's Newcastle services have been commercial for a couple of years!

(21 Nov 2015, 12:58 pm)Michael wrote I'm not the only one who has mentioned about profits. 

In all honesty... why can't they have a better system.. where they have drivers working boxing day - and they change every year.

Example: 50 from Deptford work one year, the next 50 work the year after and so on...its not the best example.

Other service sector industries manage to get staff together on Boxing Day.
I reckon there will be a chunk of those taxi drivers, shop staff, stewards at the match and bar staff who are at work, but also have families.

It isn't nice working Boxing Day. Been there and done it.
However I knew I was working in a job that could have resulted in me going in.

(20 Nov 2015, 8:51 pm)DanPicken wrote Or South Shields their only serving Biddick, Whiteleas and Jarrow and E2/6 leaving others busless relying on hourly 5 or half- Hourly 88. Feel sorry for anyone South of Sunderland/ Seaham left busless while other places have plenty.

Hourly 5?

Who is operating that on boxing day as I can't find it?

Stagecoach in sunderland's offer has also been operated fully commercially the last few years, as has Newcastle's (except for the 7).

(21 Nov 2015, 11:09 am)Michael wrote Why?

Passenger demand! Not a high enough level of service.

There's plenty of demand. Newcastle buses are usually packed on Boxing Day!

(23 Nov 2015, 3:18 pm)markydh wrote There's plenty of demand. Newcastle buses are usually packed on Boxing Day!

Sunderland's can get quite busy to. 

Wouldn't be surprised if the E2/E6 are operated by E400's on boxing day.

I think Stagecoach should of tried to put the X34 on to, even it only ran hourly - maybe 11am-4pm.... although it depends on driver numbers or if the service would make a profit.

(23 Nov 2015, 3:43 pm)Michael wrote Sunderland's can get quite busy to. 

Wouldn't be surprised if the E2/E6 are operated by E400's on boxing day.

I think Stagecoach should of tired to put the X34 on to, even it only ran hourly - maybe 11am-4pm.... although it depends on driver numbers or if the service would make a profit.

Should have gone to sleep then 

(23 Nov 2015, 4:57 pm)citaro5284 wrote Should have gone to sleep then 

, don't worry i did, i fell a sleep while doing this bloody ethics form for uni!

The only way is ethics.

(20 Nov 2015, 8:51 pm)DanPicken wrote Or South Shields their only serving Biddick, Whiteleas and Jarrow and E2/6 leaving others busless relying on hourly 5 or half- Hourly 88. Feel sorry for anyone South of Sunderland/ Seaham left busless while other places have plenty.

Go north east 60 serving full Seaham route Boxing Day not just harbour but now up to parkside

(23 Nov 2015, 6:39 pm)Cock Robin wrote The only way is ethics.

What on earth are you talking about?!?!?

(20 Nov 2015, 1:12 pm)Michael wrote Stagecoach have started to put their Christmas info on the site:

Note its different on all the links for services - so here are the separate links for the area's: (No timetables for last buses on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve)


Hartlepool - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/tis-servic...px?id=7585
Teeside - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/tis-servic...px?id=7584
Newcastle - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/tis-servic...px?id=7583
Sunderland - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/tis-servic...px?id=7591
South Shields - https://www.stagecoachbus.com/tis-servic...px?id=7590

The timetables for last buses on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve and the Boxing day services has been uploaded on to the above links.

20% off ny direct debit for smart card! Better than two days added? I think so.

Temporary westbound closure of St.Lukes Road, affecting Service 11

From Monday 30 November 2015, for a period of approximately 4 weeks, St.Lukes Road will be closed to westbound traffic to enable sewer construction.

Last Updated: 27 November 2015 11:27 AM

These works will prevent Service 11 buses from operating westbound along the section of St.Lukes Road between Front Road and Quarry View bus termini.

During the periods of the closures, westbound Service 11 buses will be diverted from Westmoor Road via Front Road and Fordfield Road to the Quarry View terminus.

The route of eastbound buses should be unaffected by this closure.

During these works, there will be occasions when traffic will be controlled by temporary lights, and this may cause some localised delays.

Notwithstanding our best efforts to keep your buses moving, Stagecoach would like to apologise for any inconvenience, delays or disruptions these temporary works may cause.

Services Affected: 10, 11

Originally Posted: 27 November 2015 11:26 AM

Changes to Service X63 from Monday 11 January 2016
23 Dec 2015
Recently, increasing levels of traffic congestion have affected the punctuality and reliability of your Service X63 during Monday to Friday peak times.

Whilst the completion of major highways schemes will assist these difficulties in the longer term, we need to take action now to ease these problems, and to offer customers a more reliable service.

As a result, a number of Monday to Friday morning trips will run earlier, and the afternoon timetable is changed after 1500, with buses during this period running at 20 minute intervals.

Although there will be slightly fewer journeys operating, the remaining trips will be more reliable, with the timetable being more “robust” and better able to combat the increasing levels of traffic congestion.

New timetable: https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.ama...016JAN.pdf