(31 May 2016, 5:07 pm)Tom wrote GCT aren't as bad as people make out are they? 

I had my first ride on a Bluebird on the R4 today and it was a nice clean bus, canny drivers and they even have the radio on! Can't fault them to be honest.

I couldn't fault my journey if I'm honest. There was still confusion from a few customers unable to use their Key cards, but the driver was more than happy to politely explain it to them.

Oh and my journey was 50p cheaper too!

(31 May 2016, 5:05 pm)Adrian wrote I had my first ride on SL16YPE this morning, as it operated the 83A from Heworth to Chester-le-Street. I was pleasantly surprised by the ride quality actually, and for a Streetlite, there's barely a rattle out of it. I'd recommend it to anyone who hasn't yet had this.

Give it time to go over a few potholes to loosen things up a bit! 

I wonder how many passengers are affected by BuzzFares no longer being valid on the 68 (and 83A, 937 and 93A)?

(31 May 2016, 5:10 pm)Dan wrote Give it time to go over a few potholes to loosen things up a bit! 

I wonder how many passengers are affected by BuzzFares no longer being valid on the 68 (and 83A, 937 and 93A)?

Well according to the GNE site, they still run the 68... lol

(31 May 2016, 5:10 pm)Dan wrote Give it time to go over a few potholes to loosen things up a bit! 

I wonder how many passengers are affected by BuzzFares no longer being valid on the 68 (and 83A, 937 and 93A)?

There were only two of us on board for most of my journey. There's usually around 10. I wasn't reading too much into it though, and putting it more down to being the day after a bank holiday + half term.

I do think that Nexus need to do more around secured services no longer accepting Buzzfare, Megarider, etc. Perhaps having an arrangement similar to what the Arriva 82/83s had for the entire route, along with through-ticketing connecting to/from the 4.

It's an aim and objective of Nexus to encourage people to choose public transport over their own cars, and I really feel that decisions such as this are counter to that objective.

I have not really had any problems the few times I have used GCT. Hoping to try the StreetLite out on Thursday, I've found the WF StreetLite's to be better than the DF examples, at least based on the one Dales & District have.

(31 May 2016, 5:15 pm)Adrian wrote I do think that Nexus need to do more around secured services no longer accepting Buzzfare, Megarider, etc. Perhaps having an arrangement similar to what the Arriva 82/83s had for the entire route, along with through-ticketing connecting to/from the 4.

I wonder if that's why they've reduced the single fare? Assuming that's the ticket you bought earlier, anyway!

(31 May 2016, 5:23 pm)Dan wrote I wonder if that's why they've reduced the single fare? Assuming that's the ticket you bought earlier, anyway!

Single fare. The driver had said that £2.80 is the maximum fare that they have on their ETM, for that particular route. 

It'd be a round the houses trip, but £2.80 is not bad for Heworth to Chester-le-Street!

(31 May 2016, 5:28 pm)Adrian wrote Single fare. The driver had said that £2.80 is the maximum fare that they have on their ETM, for that particular route. 

It'd be a round the houses trip, but £2.80 is not bad for Heworth to Chester-le-Street!

Is it still £3.30 from the Galleries on GNE too?

(31 May 2016, 5:30 pm)Tom wrote Is it still £3.30 from the Galleries on GNE too?

Yeah. I think the £2.85 fare to Ayton or Lambton on the 50 from Chester-le-Street may apply, but it's £3.30 through to the Galleries.

On the 8 it's £2.85 as far as Glebe, and then the next fare stage is £3.30, which takes you to the Galleries and as far as the A1231 sliproad.

(31 May 2016, 5:33 pm)Adrian wrote Yeah. I think the £2.85 fare to Ayton or Lambton on the 50 from Chester-le-Street may apply, but it's £3.30 through to the Galleries.

On the 8 it's £2.85 as far as Glebe, and then the next fare stage is £3.30, which takes you to the Galleries and as far as the A1231 sliproad.

Pretty expensive then for a few miles!

(31 May 2016, 5:07 pm)Tom wrote GCT aren't as bad as people make out are they? 

I had my first ride on a Bluebird on the R4 today and it was a nice clean bus, canny drivers and they even have the radio on! Can't fault them to be honest.

Hope they have paid for a PRS licence to play music in public.

(31 May 2016, 6:14 pm)park5354 wrote Hope they have paid for a PRS licence to play music in public.

Most drivers use earphones

Perhaps if GNE thought a little more about passengers and took a bit rough with the smooth Dan instead of purely thinking of profits Nexus wouldn't be providing this service and you thinking that Nexus should look at ticket options...

(31 May 2016, 7:39 pm)idiot wrote Perhaps if GNE thought a little more about passengers and took a bit rough with the smooth Dan instead of purely thinking of profits Nexus wouldn't be providing this service and you thinking that Nexus should look at ticket options...

You could argue the same of any operator, though, idiot.

Gateshead Central Taxis have no commercially operated work at all. It's all secured by Nexus. One could argue that they could be using these tender opportunities to gain experience in the market before plunging into the world of commercial work - but that hasn't happened. They're not taking the risk nor taking the rough with the smooth.

We've seen Go North East take on secured services on a commercial basis time and time again recently. I touched upon the potential reasons for this in another thread. We had the Quaylink last year, and the 33 in Sunderland is a more recent example of a secured service being operated commercially, with the 29 in Gateshead being an upcoming example in July.

The above services all probably breakeven or even possibly make a small profit. There are some services which will never do that - and that is the responsibility of the local authority to fund it, if deemed 'socially necessary'.

Managed to capture GCTs new WF Streetlite on the 68 today, https://www.flickr.com/photos/140662069@...ed-public/

The driver on the 592 tonight was very pleasant not oftern i give praise to this operator but there staff are now more positive.

The white ADL Enviro200 is on the 593 this evening.

(20 Jun 2016, 4:49 pm)Dan wrote The white ADL Enviro200 is on the 593 this evening.

Im sure there pleased to have that then there white vans

Can service 592 run 10 minutes early

(21 Jun 2016, 5:29 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Can service 592 run 10 minutes early

No.

1 minute early, 5 minutes late.

Anything else is outside of the traffic commissioner's guideline of 'on time'.

(21 Jun 2016, 5:29 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Can service 592 run 10 minutes early

Why? People will be waiting based on the timetable information.

(21 Jun 2016, 5:31 pm)Adrian wrote Why? People will be waiting based on the timetable information.

I have to leave 15 minutes early to catch it as it comes 10 minutes before its due and sometimes ternamates at fullwell grange if no one is on board.

(21 Jun 2016, 5:35 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote I have to leave 15 minutes early to catch it as it comes 10 minutes before its due and sometimes ternamates at fullwell grange if no one is on board.

If you have some examples, then contact Nexus about it. Check the timetables online first, to make sure your times are right.

(21 Jun 2016, 5:35 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote I have to leave 15 minutes early to catch it as it comes 10 minutes before its due and sometimes ternamates at fullwell grange if no one is on board.

If it's terminating at Fulwell Grange you must be requiring to use that last couple of minutes of route from Seaburn Metro to Gladstone St. This is served every 10 mins by SNE services 23 isn't it, so why do you need to leave 15 mins early. Fair enough the bus should not be stopping short of its route but there are other options available to you. Apologies if I sound harsh but as a manager responsible for ensuring my staff can have adequate transport to and from work I would not authorise you to leave early for your reason.

(22 Jun 2016, 8:03 pm)ifm001 wrote If it's terminating at Fulwell Grange you must be requiring to use that last couple of minutes of route from Seaburn Metro to Gladstone St. This is served every 10 mins by SNE services 23 isn't it, so why do you need to leave 15 mins early. Fair enough the bus should not be stopping short of its route but there are other options available to you. Apologies if I sound harsh but as a manager responsible for ensuring my staff can have adequate transport to and from work I would not authorise you to leave early for your reason.

I use it now and then from a range of places and intend to use it as it saves the hassle of 2 buses

(22 Jun 2016, 8:46 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote I use it now and then from a range of places and intend to use it as it saves the hassle of 2 buses

Yes but the point you make about having to leave earlyin order to catch the bus means if you are only using it on an as hoc basis between Seaburn and Roker, does not warrant a valid reason to "finish early" when there is a more regular bus available to and from same place. 

For example if you board the bus at Downhill or somewhere to travel to Roker I doubt the driver will terminate at The Grange as you would already be on it. But if you try to get on at Seaburn Metro to go the last few stops and the bus has gone off route at The Grange then yes that is a valid complaint.

Just speaking to the driver on the 23, and he says the StreetLite has been involved in a smash "with an Optare" and the Optare looks like it might be written off.

Yx61bju is on the 73.
Hope there isnt a van on 592

Does anyone know a phone number for GCT, just my grandma is going to complain about the 643 not turning up

(05 Jul 2016, 12:56 pm)NK53 TKT wrote Does anyone know a phone number for GCT, just my grandma is going to complain about the 643 not turning up

The address, number and everything are googlable.