(10 Nov 2018, 1:41 pm)park5354 wrote 5377-84 need repainting.  Different shades of orange have been used on touch ups, some had every 10 mins on them, but frequency was reduced to 12 mins, and only the 0 was removed on some or 10 on others leaving a gap in branding, I think only one had 12 applied.

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Really cannot see the point of repainting 4949 from poppy to corporate, since it will be withdrawn in 1 year.  Should have been left as poppy and allocated to Green Arrow as replacement for 4944, or repainted as a Green Arrow.

I don't think anyone should really be against making vehicles look smart. A year is a long time for a vehicle to look scruffy for. If it was painted green arrows then it would mean one less epare vehicle or having to then brand the euro 4 into corp on top of that... which then means more money on paint.

4899 or which ever was the last renown was on an absolute state for the last few months and all it required was a lick of paint.

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(10 Nov 2018, 1:22 pm)Michael wrote Drifter, Saltwell Park and Connections 4  brands, still look brand new, so i think they'll wait another year before those go in for repaint now.

Venture was also redone last year too.


Only 2 routes which need doing are the FAB 56 and Cobalt Clipper.... Cobalt Clipper would look decent in Black and Silver branding.

Not sure I would agree with the Mercs. 
Looked pale and washed out for a while in my opinion. Definitely think they have lost their original sheen over the last 5 years. 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...836604731/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/ten6083/29...QmQ-xwWLkk

Due to severe delays the service X5 will not be operating from Hartlepool at 15:32, the service will commence from Hart Station around 15:51

 

 We're sorry, but the X5 from Hartlepool at 15:32 is not operating due to a vehicle defect.  The service will start on time from Hart Station.  For customers in Hartlepool, the following service X5 will be operating on time

 


Both from gne twitter. 
Any ideas which one it is? 
Delays or a vehicle defect?

I saw 658 this morning and the rear number and destination is quite small, hope it’s not going to be standard.


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(10 Nov 2018, 9:20 am)Dan wrote It's being used on a Private Hire today for the Royal British Legion.

Thanks Dan

Do limited stop services from Gateshead to Eldon Square have a set route or does the driver have the option to go either way (either via John Dobson Street or Blackett Street)

Also the same for non stop services from Newcastle to Metrocentre, are they free to go either via Askew Road West and Team Street or via Derwentwater Road and Clockmill Road, or do some routes officially go one way and some the other?

Are we any closer to seeing 6167 & 6171 enter service?, seems like they've been here ages now.

(11 Nov 2018, 10:40 am)Michael wrote Are we any closer to seeing 6167 & 6171  enter service?, seems like they've been here ages now.

Of the two, 6167 is closer. Think it was being re-trimmed on Friday.

(11 Nov 2018, 10:44 am)Dan wrote Of the two, 6167 is closer. Think it was being re-trimmed on Friday.

One of them had no seats at all. Just the skeleton casing.

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(11 Nov 2018, 10:45 am)Jamie M wrote One of them had no seats at all. Just the skeleton casing.

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Yes, that was 6167.

Go North East: 6167 / YN56FFG by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

The seat cushions are removed at Saltmeadows and re-trimmed (with any seat cushions being renewed if required). The bus is usually then stored at Riverside and scheduled for a deep clean. By the time that has been done, the team of trimmers have usually done all of the seats and the bus returns to Saltmeadows for the cushions to be fitted to the seats.

6171, if I recall correctly, was fully paint-prepped on Friday... So probably in the spray booth on Monday.

(11 Nov 2018, 10:44 am)Dan wrote Of the two, 6167 is closer. Think it was being re-trimmed on Friday.

Thanks, which depot are they heading too?

(11 Nov 2018, 10:49 am)Michael wrote Thanks, which depot are they heading too?

These two are going to be allocated to Chester-le-Street, for use on Park View scholars services, which require extra capacity.

(11 Nov 2018, 10:50 am)Dan wrote These two are going to be allocated to Chester-le-Street, for use on Park View scholars services, which require extra capacity.

Are Chester losing any buses becuase of the Omnidekka's?

When is the new solos due for 700 ?

(11 Nov 2018, 7:00 pm)Citaro5326 wrote When is the new solos due for 700 ?

Dan said next few months, so early 2019.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...h-15406110

I already pay to park at work thank you...... almost £20 per week!

If there was a direct bus to where I work I may consider change my mode of transport but it at least 2 buses for me.... and the cost of the 3 mile journey 380 each way ( single tickets)!!!

(12 Nov 2018, 4:33 pm)Rob44 wrote https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...h-15406110

I already pay to park at work thank you...... almost £20 per week!

If there was a direct bus to where I work I may consider change my mode of transport but it at least 2 buses for me.... and the cost of the 3 mile journey 380 each way ( single tickets)!!!

I knicked this off the article. 

 
Evidence has shown that a 10% decrease in bus speeds can reduce patronage by 10% or more, especially when increased congestion leads to increased variability in journey times.

I wonder what sort of statistical evidence exists to show how a decrease in bus fares can increase patronage? 
Then couple it up with the direct buses you mention... 

5482 has now been repainted and that the 7 Ex BlueStar Citaros done

(12 Nov 2018, 8:13 pm)Andreos1 wrote I knicked this off the article. 


I wonder what sort of statistical evidence exists to show how a decrease in bus fares can increase patronage? 
Then couple it up with the direct buses you mention... 

to be fare you cant have a direct bus to everywhere.... but the price of using the bus has risen dramatically in my view When you are trying to get people to leave the car there needs to be a major compensation for have to wait in the cold for the bus, get on and find its full of  out of control kids then when you get off you find your connecting bus has just left.  For me me that would be no more and 3 quid per day, ideally less tbh!

(13 Nov 2018, 9:40 am)Rob44 wrote to be fare you cant have a direct bus to everywhere.... but the price of using the bus has risen dramatically in my view When you are trying to get people to leave the car there needs to be a major compensation for have to wait in the cold for the bus, get on and find its full of  out of control kids then when you get off you find your connecting bus has just left.  For me me that would be no more and 3 quid per day, ideally less tbh!

But for what kind of journey would you be making for £3? A commute between Middlesbrough and the Metrocentre? A commute between Barmston and Washington Galleries?

You can't even park your car in a lot of city centres for more than an hour or two for less than £3.

(13 Nov 2018, 9:40 am)Rob44 wrote to be fare you cant have a direct bus to everywhere.... but the price of using the bus has risen dramatically in my view When you are trying to get people to leave the car there needs to be a major compensation for have to wait in the cold for the bus, get on and find its full of  out of control kids then when you get off you find your connecting bus has just left.  For me me that would be no more and 3 quid per day, ideally less tbh!

Prices have increased beyond inflation, whilst the convenience of direct buses has slowed down. 
Whilst agreeing 'something' needs to be done, I do think the operators need to look at their offer and see what they can do to improve things in the interim.
It's pointless LA's spending x amount to improve things, if the inconvenience and expense of travelling on bus still exists.

My journey to work is from near team valley up to qe hospital. 160 on bus to valley then 220 from valley to hospital.

you are correct Dan -but Go north east seem to me, from the artical to want to use the stick route of increase prices for motorist and not use the carrot of making public transport more cheap.

also in my car I can listen to music, be guaranteed a seat, be guaranteed my car will turn up, choose who I share my car with etc etc. Its all about making an alternative to car travel as cheap as possible and more convenient ( in my view) others may have different priorities . £3 just seemed an amount per day that would get me out of my car and on to public transport.... but I would still need my car as I sometimes start at 6am and finish at midnight so buying a weekly/monthly/yearly ticket wouldn't help me at all either.

(13 Nov 2018, 11:20 am)Rob44 wrote My journey to work is from near team valley up to qe hospital. 160 on bus to valley then 220 from valley to hospital.

you are correct Dan -but Go north east seem to me, from the artical to want to use the stick route of increase prices for motorist and not use the carrot of making public transport more cheap.

also in my car I can listen to music, be guaranteed a seat, be guaranteed my car will turn up, choose who I share my car with etc etc. Its all about making an alternative to car travel as cheap as possible and more convenient ( in my view) others may have different priorities . £3 just seemed an amount per day that would get me out of my car and on to public transport.... but I would still need my car as I sometimes start at 6am and finish at midnight so buying a weekly/monthly/yearly ticket wouldn't help me at all either.

Fares are pushed up for a reason, companies would be losing money for cutting fares. Once enough people use a service, thats when prices can be knocked down. That's how I see it anyway.

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(13 Nov 2018, 11:22 am)Jamie M wrote Fares are pushed up for a reason, companies would be losing money for cutting fares. Once enough people use a service, thats when prices can be knocked down. That's how I see it anyway.

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It's chicken and egg though.  There's no reason why I can't use the bus for work.  But I don't.  Paying handsomely for the privilege of sitting on the 69 for the best part of an hour doesn't do it for me.  I can drive it in less than half an hour most days.

Similarly, we can choose to get the bus to the Metrocentre at the weekend.  Again, we don't.  A family day ticket is probably our best option price wise, but is over a tenner these days and the bus takes just over 20 minutes.

We'll take the time saving, thank you very much and go mad and have a coffee with the bus fare.

(13 Nov 2018, 11:20 am)Rob44 wrote also in my car I can listen to music, be guaranteed a seat, be guaranteed my car will turn up, choose who I share my car with etc etc. Its all about making an alternative to car travel as cheap as possible and more convenient ( in my view) others may have different priorities . £3 just seemed an amount per day that would get me out of my car and on to public transport.... but I would still need my car as I sometimes start at 6am and finish at midnight so buying a weekly/monthly/yearly ticket wouldn't help me at all either.

I pretty much echo these views atm.

One thing I will say that isn't making buses an attractive option is increasing traffic levels in busy areas, for me living in Newton Aycliffe my main bus route is the 7 between Darlington and Durham and there seems to be more and more traffic with each passing week heading in and out of Darlo and Durham and as such the timekeeping is becoming poor and I'm now at the stage where I'm fed up with standing around for up to an hour in some cases for a service that's supposed to run every 15 minutes, so I am now at the stage where I wish to ditch the bus and get a driving licence to avoid potentially waiting for 60 minutes for a bus home in Ferryhill that's late purely for the fact its a Friday, the more people who take this view, the more cars there is on the road meaning more traffic and longer journey times for bus journeys which only puts more people off the bus as most people want to get to where they want to be quickly.

(13 Nov 2018, 11:22 am)Jamie M wrote  Fares are pushed up for a reason, companies would be losing money for cutting fares . Once enough people use a service, thats when prices can be knocked down. That's how I see it anyway.

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No, that's not the case at all.
Simple economics can tell you that. 
Many an example of companies making more money by lowering prices. Margins are key. 
20 people at £2.00 is more money than 10 people at £3.00.

(13 Nov 2018, 1:45 pm)Andreos1 wrote No, that's not the case at all.
Simple economics can tell you that. 
Many an example of companies making more money by lowering prices. Margins are key. 
20 people at £2.00 is more money than 10 people at £3.00.

What happens when you don't get the 20 people coming and there's only the 10 left though?

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(13 Nov 2018, 1:51 pm)Jamie M wrote What happens when you don't get the 20 people coming and there's only the 10 left though?

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Or fewer passengers at £3.00?

Look at the seat sales on the trains, and then similar deals in shops, if it's marketed well enough then the people will come.

(13 Nov 2018, 11:20 am)Rob44 wrote My journey to work is from near team valley up to qe hospital. 160 on bus to valley then 220 from valley to hospital.

you are correct Dan -but Go north east seem to me, from the artical to want to use the stick route of increase prices for motorist and not use the carrot of making public transport more cheap.

also in my car I can listen to music, be guaranteed a seat, be guaranteed my car will turn up, choose who I share my car with etc etc.  Its all about making an alternative to car travel as cheap as possible and more convenient ( in my view) others may  have different priorities . £3 just seemed an amount per day that would get me out of my car and on to public transport.... but I would still need my car as I sometimes start at 6am and finish at midnight so buying a weekly/monthly/yearly ticket wouldn't help me at all either.

But there lies the problem - and this is the biggest challenge bus operators face.

In my opinion, very few people choose to travel by bus. Most people travel by bus because they have no other option. If you're in a position where you can drive a car - with all of its luxuries including those you mention - what's the incentive to travel by public transport? This isn't specific to Go North East, nor is it specific to the other operators in the region.

I don't think many car users tot up the cost of tax, insurance or maintenance/general upkeep of the car, and I'd go as far to say that I think most who drive a car forget about how much they spend in petrol/diesel to keep the car running too. I think one of the biggest factors people who drive look at is the cost of parking. Anyone looking to go shopping in Newcastle has to pay a small fortune if they're wanting to drive. I personally park at the Metrocentre and catch a bus to and from Newcastle - even if I paid for my bus travel, it'd still be cheaper! 'Alive after five' and 'Free after three' campaigns in Newcastle and Sunderland, giving car users the option of free travel after a certain time, really does not help to get more passengers on buses... Stagecoach introduced an evening ticket in Sunderland at a discounted rate and I'd be very surprised if it was much of a success, and didn't just abstract from the revenue they were already taking, as buses can't ever compete with free parking.