The formal merger of South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust and City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation has moved one step closer following positive feedback from regulators NHS Improvement and a recommendation from each individual Trust Board to proceed with the transaction.

As part of the merger plans and after listening to views from hundreds of staff, hospital bosses have also confirmed the trial of a new dedicated staff shuttle bus service between South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital to begin from 1 April.

The introduction of the new staff shuttle bus service aims to reduce the need for staff to use their own cars to travel between sites and it is hoped this will also relieve pressures on hospital car parking facilities, freeing up more parking spaces for patients and visitors.


https://sun-fm.com/green-light-for-south...6B3zzgzHlQ


Wonder who will run the dedicated shuttle service?

Nexus have issued the invitation to tender for Miscellaneous and Schools Contracts for the period starting 1st September 2019. Requirements are low foor, easy access, PSVAR, Euro 4 or above with a capacity of 44, 60, 84 & 90.

(15 Mar 2019, 8:20 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote Nexus have issued the invitation to tender for services 792, 794 & 939 with a contract start in September 2019.

Who is likely going to be awarded the contracts to operate these? I am hopefully going to ride the 792 soon. I hope GNE keeps that.

(31 Mar 2019, 6:21 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Who is likely going to be awarded the contracts to operate these? I am hopefully going to ride the 792 soon. I hope GNE keeps that.

The lowest bidder possibly?

(31 Mar 2019, 6:29 pm)ifm001 wrote The lowest bidder possibly?

Yes, that is true! But is there any indication who that could be? As GNE offers the best ticket options I always prefer they operate a service. GNE has operated the 792 for many years, I am less familiar with the other two, so just interested who could win them.

(31 Mar 2019, 6:39 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Yes, that is true! But is there any indication who that could be? As GNE offers the best ticket options I always prefer they operate a service. GNE has operated the 792 for many years, I am less familiar with the other two, so just interested who could win them.

I think Stagecoach do too, a tyne and wear day ticket for £4.20 is cheap.

(31 Mar 2019, 6:39 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Yes, that is true! But is there any indication who that could be? As GNE offers the best ticket options I always prefer they operate a service. GNE has operated the 792 for many years, I am less familiar with the other two, so just interested who could win them.

Other two? Are you saying there are only 3 bus companies to tender?

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(31 Mar 2019, 6:51 pm)Michael wrote I think Stagecoach do too, a tyne and wear day ticket for £4.20 is cheap.

I agree with Michael here. Stagecoach day and week fare structure is more reasonable than GNE.

(01 Apr 2019, 5:13 am)ifm001 wrote Other two? Are you saying there are only 3 bus companies to tender?

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I agree with Michael here. Stagecoach day and week fare structure is more reasonable than GNE.

Its more simple to read too, i think GNE should re-model the zones, making it easier to read and cheaper for some area's.

Nothing worse, when you're literally entering 2 stops in to another zone so you have to buy a 2 zone pass haha (example Hastings Hill to Shiney Row on the 78).

(01 Apr 2019, 6:18 am)Michael wrote Its more simple to read too, i think GNE should re-model the zones, making it easier to read and cheaper for some area's.

Nothing worse, when you're literally entering 2 stops in to another zone so you have to buy a 2 zone pass haha (example Hastings Hill to Shiney Row on the 78).

Even worse with green zone including Lintzford. Turns a £6.70 2 zone into a 3 zone.

(01 Apr 2019, 5:13 am)ifm001 wrote Other two? Are you saying there are only 3 bus companies to tender?

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I agree with Michael here. Stagecoach day and week fare structure is more reasonable than GNE.

Other two services, not operators tendering. I know the 792 has been a Go North East service for a while but I am less familiar with the 794 and 939 services in terms of past operators.

Yes Stagecoach's day and week fare structure is better than GNE, but GNE offers Return tickets which Stagecoach do not and GNE operate in some areas within the Buzzfare zones (for example North Shields in North Tyneside within the Blue Zone) which Stagecoach doesn't. I think GNE has more services and covers a wider area than Stagecoach, but for Tyne & Wear Stagecoach offers the cheapest day and week options. 

Talking of fares, how many zones is Newcastle to Langley Park on the X25? Newcastle and Gateshead Interchange are covered by Blue and Purple and Langley Park is within the Green Zone, so I would guess two zones.

(01 Apr 2019, 6:18 am)Michael wrote Its more simple to read too, i think GNE should re-model the zones, making it easier to read and cheaper for some area's.

Nothing worse, when you're literally entering 2 stops in to another zone so you have to buy a 2 zone pass haha (example Hastings Hill to Shiney Row on the 78).

Hastings Hill and Shiney Row are both in the Red Zone though?

(01 Apr 2019, 11:47 pm)deanmachine wrote Hastings Hill and Shiney Row are both in the Red Zone though?

At the time i thought of the Sunderland day ticket haha

On top of my head i can't think of an example

(01 Apr 2019, 10:45 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Other two services, not operators tendering. I know the 792 has been a Go North East service for a while but I am less familiar with the 794 and 939 services in terms of past operators.

Yes Stagecoach's day and week fare structure is better than GNE, but GNE offers Return tickets which Stagecoach do not and GNE operate in some areas within the Buzzfare zones (for example North Shields in North Tyneside within the Blue Zone) which Stagecoach doesn't. I think GNE has more services and covers a wider area than Stagecoach, but for Tyne & Wear Stagecoach offers the cheapest day and week options. 

Talking of fares, how many zones is Newcastle to Langley Park on the X25? Newcastle and Gateshead Interchange are covered by Blue and Purple and Langley Park is within the Green Zone, so I would guess two zones.

Go North East have only had the current 792 contract since September 2018 prior to that it was Stanley Travel and before them it was JH Coaches. While Go North East have had the 792 in the past so has Weardale.

(17 Jan 2019, 8:32 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote Nexus have issued an invitation to tender for secured services in Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland. The minimum standard is Euro 5 low floor PSVAR compliant vehicles with a capacity of 16, 23 or 36. Closing date for tenders is 18th February with a contract start date of 19th May 2019.

With only 43 days until these start, i take it, all the contracts will remain the same?, as i'm sure they need to be put in to VOSA 56 days before they go ahead?

(06 Apr 2019, 9:09 am)Michael wrote With only 43 days until these start, i take it, all the contracts will remain the same?, as i'm sure they need to be put in to VOSA 56 days before they go ahead?

No - Go North East have lost the evening 8, 516 and 593.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

(06 Apr 2019, 9:09 am)Michael wrote With only 43 days until these start, i take it, all the contracts will remain the same?, as i'm sure they need to be put in to VOSA 56 days before they go ahead?

No - Go North East have lost the evening 8, 516 and 593.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

(06 Apr 2019, 9:58 am)Dan wrote No - Go North East have lost the evening 8, 516 and 593.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Who has gained these?

(06 Apr 2019, 9:58 am)Dan wrote No - Go North East have lost the evening 8, 516 and 593.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

Interesting, maybe Stagecoach for the 8 

Probables Gateshead Central Taxi's for the 516 and 593.

(06 Apr 2019, 10:16 am)Michael wrote Interesting, maybe Stagecoach for the 8 

Probables Gateshead Central Taxi's for the 516 and 593.

Has Gateshead Central Taxis got enough buses to run more services?

Does anyone remember a Veolia bus service to Callerton about 10 years ago operated with an Optare Solo, in the Nexus colours I think, from the West End of Newcastle?

(06 Apr 2019, 8:00 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Has Gateshead Central Taxis got enough buses to run more services?

Does anyone remember a Veolia bus service to Callerton about 10 years ago operated with an Optare Solo, in the Nexus colours I think, from the West End of Newcastle?

I'm sure it was Arriva, the 4 I believe from Metrocentre to Callerton.

(06 Apr 2019, 8:04 pm)Tom wrote I'm sure it was Arriva, the 4 I believe from Metrocentre to Callerton.

Hmm interesting. I have found the Arriva 4 Metrocentre - Callerton timetable and it looks right, but I am sure I remember a Veolia bus. I used to see the bus towards Callerton regularly, but never used it.

(06 Apr 2019, 8:23 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Hmm interesting. I have found the Arriva 4 Metrocentre - Callerton timetable and it looks right, but I am sure I remember a Veolia bus. I used to see the bus towards Callerton regularly, but never used it.

Yes I think Veolia did used to operate the 4 at one point too.

(07 Apr 2019, 10:13 am)tyresmoke wrote Yes I think Veolia did used to operate the 4 at one point too.

I can't ever remember them being in Nexus colours though. 
Can remember the red Solo's, but not grey ones.

(07 Apr 2019, 10:44 am)Andreos1 wrote I can't ever remember them being in Nexus colours though. 
Can remember the red Solo's, but not grey ones.

Worked at Violia for a little bit and I remember the red solos and they had a few battleship grey with the red roof solos as well, vaguely remember soon 53 plate east lancs bodied single decks too.

(06 Apr 2019, 8:23 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Hmm interesting. I have found the Arriva 4 Metrocentre - Callerton timetable and it looks right, but I am sure I remember a Veolia bus. I used to see the bus towards Callerton regularly, but never used it.

List of Veolia services under contract to Nexus at July 11.

Services where Veolia provides the full service: 59 (North Tyneside) 68 (Gateshead) 168 (Sunderland) 335 (North Tyneside), 515, 530 (South Tyneside), K1/K2 (North Tyneside), M71 (Newcastle) W1/W1A, W2, W3 (North Tyneside).
Services where Veolia provides part of the service(e.g.. every other bus or at certain times of day): 4 (Newcastle) 19 (North Tyneside), 23, 29,(Gateshead) 32/32A 33 (Newcastle) 37, 73 (Sunderland) 85/86 (North Tyneside) 135/136 (Sunderland) 319 (North Tyneside) 592 (Sunderland), R3/R4 (Gateshead).
Services where Veolia provides only one or two early morning journeys:  1, 17 (North Tyneside), 42 (Sunderland) 45, 70 (Gateshead)

There were others previous to that too. They had the Washington - Chester evening services amongst others. 

(07 Apr 2019, 11:42 am)Stanleyone wrote Worked at Violia for a little bit and I remember the red solos and they had a few battleship grey with the red roof solos as well, vaguely remember soon 53 plate east lancs bodied single decks too.

53 plate single decks? Can't remember them at all. 
Which routes did they ply?

The 3 got replaced by the 553
The 4 got replaced by the 84/84A.

(06 Apr 2019, 10:16 am)Michael wrote Interesting, maybe Stagecoach for the 8 

Probables Gateshead Central Taxi's for the 516 and 593.

Looks like GCT have won all of them

(09 Apr 2019, 4:47 pm)Tom wrote Looks like GCT have won all of them

GCT are taking on a lot of work now.

Invitation to tender has been issued for the H1 service with a contract start date of 21/7/2019 on a 12 month contract.

(01 May 2019, 6:28 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote Invitation to tender has been issued for the H1 service with a contract start date of 21/7/2019 on a 12 month contract.

I always thought the H1 was funded by GNE.