(14 Aug 2016, 8:40 am)Jamie M wrote Timings probably have something to do with this. Calling control and depots to work out what to accept and not accept is a time consuming process - maybe providing drivers with a flyer of what to accept and not to accept depending on the route would be helpful.

I understand where your coming from, But this driver was stood outside having his Cig while talking to me at the same time.
Once I was aloud on the bus we were sat in Eldon Square for a good 7 Mins before we left.
In this case he would've had a lot of time to do what GX03 posted.

(14 Aug 2016, 9:41 am)South Tyne Lad wrote I understand where your coming from, But this driver was stood outside having his Cig while talking to me at the same time.
Once I was aloud on the bus we were sat in Eldon Square for a good 7 Mins before we left.
In this case he would've had a lot of time to do what GX03 posted.

The issue isn't subjective to the stop you're at - there needs to be a simple standardised solution that can take no more than seconds to use. It doesn't matter whether you're at Blackhall Mill with 35 minutes of spare time or West Rainton with no overlay, this should not be an issue.

(14 Aug 2016, 6:28 am)LeeCalder wrote Managing Director?

Chain of command, Lee.

The Managing Director of a company employs others to manage staff in individual departments... You'll often have supervisors, managers and then senior managers to get to, before you hit director level.

In this instance; feedback could be sent to Go North East's Managing Director, but I would expect that he'd pass it on to the relevant senior manager...

(14 Aug 2016, 9:45 am)Jamie M wrote The issue isn't subjective to the stop you're at - there needs to be a simple standardised solution that can take no more than seconds to use. It doesn't matter whether you're at Blackhall Mill with 35 minutes of spare time or West Rainton with no overlay, this should not be an issue.

Yeah I don't think that the boarding point should be used as a weapon to further 'attack' the driver.

It has previously been discussed how there are so many ticketing options available it is difficult to learn them all, I do appreciate that the ticket in question is fairly simple though, so I wouldn't be surprised if drivers rely on the ticket machine which will allow them to search for all ticket types that are valid on that service. However, since the driver was outside of the bus on a minibreak (which I would say the driver was more than entitled to given that the bus was sat in the bus station for a further 7 minutes after boarding), he didn't have the ticket machine to check to see if the ticket was valid, hence the issue. I'm not saying what happened was right, a ticket which is as simple as it is should never have any issues, but after finding out more information about the incident, I am starting to understand why the incident happened.

(14 Aug 2016, 8:40 am)Jamie M wrote Timings probably have something to do with this. Calling control and depots to work out what to accept and not accept is a time consuming process - maybe providing drivers with a flyer of what to accept and not to accept depending on the route would be helpful.

Through the radio, where you can get a response in seconds? 

I boarded a GNE vehicle last year at Regent Centre with a scratchcard where I had won free travel, and the driver radioed Control asking if they're valid and what ticket he should issue, within a minute, and he issued a ticket when stationary after he had got a reply.

(14 Aug 2016, 9:41 am)South Tyne Lad wrote I understand where your coming from, But this driver was stood outside having his Cig while talking to me at the same time.
Once I was aloud on the bus we were sat in Eldon Square for a good 7 Mins before we left.
In this case he would've had a lot of time to do what GX03 posted.

Thats happened to me before at Eldon Square on the old 74A i had to get one of the people from eldon Square to double check and he told the driver the ticket i had was valid for travel

(14 Aug 2016, 9:51 am)Dan wrote Chain of command, Lee.

The Managing Director of a company employs others to manage staff in individual departments... You'll often have supervisors, managers and then senior managers to get to, before you hit director level.

In this instance; feedback could be sent to Go North East's Managing Director, but I would expect that he'd pass it on to the relevant senior manager...

I have been told to direct complaints to the managing director in the past, if you do not get a decent response off the customer service team. Therefore I will continue to do so.

Oh, and by the way - it's A Level.

(13 Aug 2016, 10:06 pm)LeeCalder wrote I rang up a few weeks ago regarding a spillage at the back of 6011 which had been left to become mouldy, and it stunk.

I rang the customer services, but the bloke for some reason couldn't seem to understand that the bus needed cleaning internally, and everything I said was just responded too with "yeah".

He evidently couldn't care less, and the bus still has the same sh*t at the back of it.

I remember the Northern Counties olymians their upstairs window were covered in mould

(14 Aug 2016, 11:04 am)LeeCalder wrote Oh, and by the way - it's A Level.

Without wishing to get too far away from Go North East's latest news and discussion - what is A-Level?

(14 Aug 2016, 12:11 pm)Dan wrote Without wishing to get too far away from Go North East's latest news and discussion - what is A-Level?

Doesn't matter, I was making a bit of a joke.

The link you posted was GCSE

(14 Aug 2016, 11:04 am)LeeCalder wrote I have been told to direct complaints to the managing director in the past, if you do not get a decent response off the customer service team. Therefore I will continue to do so.

Oh, and by the way - it's A Level.

Why don't you contact the bus appeals body if your (or other persons) complaints aren't being resolved

(14 Aug 2016, 3:12 pm)ifm001 wrote Why don't you contact the bus appeals body if your (or other persons) complaints aren't being resolved

Bus Users? Because they're as much use as a wet paper bag.

(14 Aug 2016, 4:47 pm)Adrian wrote Bus Users? Because they're as much use as a wet paper bag.

Not necessarily. I've only had to refer to them once, but it was well worth the contact at the time.

I've found Blackhall Mill is a great place to be able to speak with Riverside and Stanley drivers due to the huge overlay, but are there any good places to be able to speak to CLS or other depot's drivers whilst still 'in service'?

(13 Aug 2016, 10:07 pm)L469 YVK wrote Maybe the driver didn't have his or her fare stage programmed correctly (either human or technical error). Was it definitely the same stop? Only think I can think off is that GNE are putting a bit of a levy on top with it being a slightly quick service than the 1. Arriva used to do that with a now defunct well known express service (R.I.P) on the Coast Road with some of the fares from Whitley Bay / Preston Grange areas being more expensive than the usual regular stopping service.

Shortly after the x21 started to serve the cannon I caught it to chester-le-street and had always previously paid £4.70 return on the 21.  I was charged £5.90 return.   I contacted gne to check if this was correct afterwards and they said it was a mistake and should have been the same as the 21 fare. The next time I caught it about a week later I paid £4.70 return.

(14 Aug 2016, 8:47 am)S813 FVK wrote When my dad worked for GNE, he had a sticker (I think other drivers would have had this too) that he stuck on a file which listed most (if not all) of the different ticket types.

He still has the file with the sticker on (albeit a bit worn) but it would be good if they could have something similar now (if they don't already):

I'd forgotten all about this - it was about a year back when I had issues on a Q1/2 (can't remember which). Anyway, had a chat on with the driver about the issue and after a moment, she pulled out a little official handbook. 
It had a load of information relating to ticketing and she was able to clarify it was an error with the ETM and that was the issue - not my ticket.
Without that little book, she wouldn't have known what was up.

I have no idea if the book is standard issue or not. I haven't needed to refer or signpost a driver since and it hasn't cropped up in any conversations elsewhere.

It was nowhere near the size of the almost 30 page booklet GNE published for passengers, but it certainly took a moment or two for her to find the information she needed.

I don't particularly want to write to the MD. They tend to get answered by the same person anyway and the Customer Service Manager would be more useful (then again maybe they're the problem)

It's catch 22. I can't Boycott GNE (unless I drive) because they have a monopoly. So I'll accept the bad service, not bother contacting customer services again and let others know what a poor service it is from the office, that's more damning in my eyes.

Anyway probably going OT, but I really scratch heads at the GNE office seeming to forget they are a service provider and yes they do need to be accountable

Ambassador wrote Anyway probably going OT, but I really scratch heads at the GNE office seeming to forget they are a service provider and yes they do need to be accountable

They are providing public transport, but this is a private company - they aren't accountable for much if they have no desire to be - which they don't if they have no competition.

It's the same with my broadband provider, it's a truely awful service which slow and unreliable. Since there is no competition and the service works (to some dire extent) they will not operate any changes since I cannot swap to other providers without swapping residence - such is true with monopolies. Morals and ethics don't count for much.

If the business was state owned, then yes, things would be different given it wouldn't just be structured around a savage money making business - it would be a public service business - actually aimed at providing a decent service no matter the turnover.

(14 Aug 2016, 7:20 pm)Jamie M wrote They are providing public transport, but this is a private company - they aren't accountable for much if they have no desire to be - which they don't if they have no competition.

It's the same with my broadband provider, it's a truely awful service which slow and unreliable. Since there is no competition and the service works (to some dire extent) they will not operate any changes since I cannot swap to other providers without swapping residence - such is true with monopolies. Morals and ethics don't count for much.

If the business was state owned, then yes, things would be different given it wouldn't just be structured around a savage money making business - it would be a public service business - actually aimed at providing a decent service no matter the turnover.

This is why i miss my childhood where there was a bus to everywhere,Forest Hall(my neighbourhood) had 3 buses to Whitley Bay 343,344,355 and then GNE 323 to North Shields from Killingworth and the 319 to Sunderland,now it has no buses to Whitley Bay(directly anyway)leaving residents no choice but to buy a day ticket for a change from 53 to the 54 or 53 to the 51 or gne 42 then the 11

(14 Aug 2016, 8:21 pm)V514DFT wrote This is why i miss my childhood where there was a bus to everywhere,Forest Hall(my neighbourhood) had 3 buses to Whitley Bay 343,344,355 and then GNE 323 to North Shields from Killingworth and the 319 to Sunderland,now it has no buses to Whitley Bay(directly anyway)leaving residents no choice but to buy a day ticket for a change from 53 to the 54 or 53 to the 51 or gne 42 then the 11

Use to love the 343 all the way to Morpeth from Whitley Bay.....it was like a day trip as they use to put Leyland Leopards on it as well.

(14 Aug 2016, 8:47 pm)citaro5284 wrote Use to love the 343 all the way to Morpeth from Whitley Bay.....it was like a day trip as they use to put Leyland Leopards on it as well.

I used to have the 524 to Bolden Asda using anything from a MPD to a Olympian, 527 to Newcastle Pilgrim Street ( Then changed to the 57 and was cut back to Wardley a few years after that ) Using Optare Excels and Volvo B10BLEs later using the Scania L94UBs.
528 to South Shields and Monkton Lane, The home of the Cadets when new, And the 544 which went to Jarrow and Horsley Hill using the Ceatano Compass bodied Darts.

I now have only the 88/88A with them dreaded Versa's, My link to Bolden Asda is in the form of a non-recognisable TaxiBus with the last one from the Asda being at 16:33.
No direct bus to Heworth or Newcastle City Centre, And no bus to Horsley Hill which for me would come in extremely handy if it was still here today.

(14 Aug 2016, 8:47 pm)citaro5284 wrote Use to love the 343 all the way to Morpeth from Whitley Bay.....it was like a day trip as they use to put Leyland Leopards on it as well.

I remember the metroriders,later replaced by darts on 343 and 344 and 355 until the renowns entered service(i was 6 then) on 355,there was a frequent bus to Killingworth and Whitley,it was absolutely terrific

(14 Aug 2016, 9:42 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote  And the 544 which went to Jarrow and Horsley Hill using the Ceatano Compass bodied Darts.

.

If you go back to 2006 the 544 was Heworth / Horsley Hill.  South Leam / Brock also had the 542 Jarrow / Boldon Asda which was very handy, and for a limited time the A5 free Asda bus operated by Stagecoach which normally produced 16432. Nowt exotic like that running around these parts anymore.

(14 Aug 2016, 8:08 am)GX03 SVC wrote Confusion?! 

If I got refused on a bus because my multi-operator ticket was printed on another operator's ticket stock I'd ask them what would does their multi-operator ticket look like...

Surely, they'd know what CAT, Explorer, Rover are..........and what they're valid on. 

And with GNE, would a quick call through to Control do much harm asking if it's valid or not? Instead, the driver threatened the passenger with refusal of boarding the vehicle the next time he sees them...

As aforementioned in the post I made, to which you replied, I stated that bus drivers at Chester-le-Street generally expect to receive a bus ticket when a customer shows a previously purchased ticket to travel, and not a Metro ticket. Irrespective of the validity. At no point did I say that the driver was right for doing what he did, I merely attempted to explain how confusion may have arisen and the subsequent dispute came to fruition. Drivers are not robots; they can and will make errors, just like any other human beings, and it's clear that in this instance, the driver was adamant that South Tyne Lad's ticket was not valid for travel, on the basis that it was a ticket that he'd purchased at a Tyne & Wear Metro station.

I've no doubt that drivers are well aware of what the Nexus CAT, North East Explorer and any other multi-operator tickets are valid for travel on, but on this occasion, the driver was of the understanding that the ticket was invalid for travel. Regardless of the validity of the ticket, drivers at Chester-le-Street will generally see more Nexus CATs printed on bus ticket rolls than produced from ticket machines on the Tyne & Wear Metro. As will be the case at other depots based in County Durham, and not in Tyne & Wear.

At the end of the day, he was permitted travel. And the rather idle ''threat'', if it can really be called that, of not being permitted to travel in a future instance of having the passenger on board his vehicle (which, for the record, is incredibly unlikely to happen. The chances of the driver seeing South Tyne Lad in the future and recognising him as the person he nearly refused travel for attempting to board with what he thought was an invalid ticket, is very slim indeed) is nothing to lose sleep over.

Let's move on, and not clog up a key news thread with this. Nothing more to say on the matter.

(15 Aug 2016, 1:13 am)alibill_36 wrote If you go back to 2006 the 544 was Heworth / Horsley Hill.  South Leam / Brock also had the 542 Jarrow / Boldon Asda which was very handy, and for a limited time the A5 free Asda bus operated by Stagecoach which normally produced 16432. Nowt exotic like that running around these parts anymore.

I remember way back, when Wear Buses had the Asda Boldon bus. They generally used an ECW Olympian on it.

(15 Aug 2016, 3:08 am)R852 PRG wrote

As aforementioned in the post I made, to which you replied, I stated that bus drivers at Chester-le-Street generally expect to receive a bus ticket when a customer shows a previously purchased ticket to travel, and not a Metro ticket. Irrespective of the validity. At no point did I say that the driver was right for doing what he did, I merely attempted to explain how confusion may have arisen and the subsequent dispute came to fruition. Drivers are not robots; they can and will make errors, just like any other human beings, and it's clear that in this instance, the driver was adamant that South Tyne Lad's ticket was not valid for travel, on the basis that it was a ticket that he'd purchased at a Tyne & Wear Metro station.

I've no doubt that drivers are well aware of what the Nexus CAT, North East Explorer and any other multi-operator tickets are valid for travel on, but on this occasion, the driver was of the understanding that the ticket was invalid for travel. Regardless of the validity of the ticket, drivers at Chester-le-Street will generally see more Nexus CATs printed on bus ticket rolls than produced from ticket machines on the Tyne & Wear Metro. As will be the case at other depots based in County Durham, and not in Tyne & Wear.

At the end of the day, he was permitted travel. And the rather idle ''threat'', if it can really be called that, of not being permitted to travel in a future instance of having the passenger on board his vehicle (which, for the record, is incredibly unlikely to happen. The chances of the driver seeing South Tyne Lad in the future and recognising him as the person he nearly refused travel for attempting to bought with what he thought was an invalid ticket, is very slim indeed) is nothing to lose sleep over.

Let's move on, and not clog up a key news thread with this. Nothing more to say on the matter.

If drivers expect a bus ticket, tell me how I always either get a dirty look or refused entry when I show my Arriva-issued Explorer when I board a GNE bus?!

(15 Aug 2016, 9:02 am)GX03 SVC wrote

If drivers expect a bus ticket, tell me how I always either get a dirty look or refused entry when I show my Arriva-issued Explorer when I board a GNE bus?!

You have to appreciate the scope of travel here. I will see a GNE ticket 99% of the time being handed to me; 9 hours a day, 6 days a week. I know where to look for the validity and date, and anything abnormal will stand out. You hand me an Arriva Ticket (I've had two in a year) and I need to refocus on the date, validity etc, which are all in a different place to how I expect it. That's the confusion, and it takes time to scan it with my eyes as I'm not used to seeing them.

Hand me a Metro ticket, and it needs really checking. You would not believe the amount of people who will try and board with a Metro-only ticket.

Then I may get an Explorer issued by Weardale or another independent; all with the correct info, but not what I'm used to.

Its a bit like writing in a diary all year, then in the last week the days on the page are printed the wrong way round. Would you just carry on regardless, or take a second to scan the page, find out where you should be writing and adapt?

Bear in mind that if a driver allows you travel on something that doesn't look right, and an inspector gets on, hes potentially in trouble. Hes going to check every ticket, to ultimately protect his job.

jeffman has hit the nail on the head, imo. Drivers may not be feeling p*ssed off you've boarded with another operator's ticket but are merely trying to make sure it is valid. Even if a driver does look at you in a dodgy way I wouldn't let it bother you...!

(14 Aug 2016, 10:16 pm)V514DFT wrote I remember the metroriders,later replaced by darts on 343 and 344 and 355 until the renowns entered service(i was 6 then) on 355,there was a frequent bus to Killingworth and Whitley,it was absolutely terrific

And don't forget the good old 44! No traffic jams, slip roads or anything, just like s***e of a shovel up and down the Coast Road to and from the Town. Off peak loadings average but peak time + loads on Saturday mornings were cracking!

(15 Aug 2016, 3:44 pm)L469 YVK wrote And don't forget the good old 44! No traffic jams, slip roads or anything, just like s***e of a shovel up and down the Coast Road to and from the Town. Off peak loadings average but peak time + loads on Saturday mornings were cracking!

I never really got to use the 44,i used it once and found it excellent,its amazing when you look at now compared to 10 years ago,even dudley is missing out in a way yeah they have the 43 which is every 15 mins But 10 years ago they had the 40,41 42/42A/42B,43/43A/43B and a gne bargain bus but not sure which one