(29 Nov 2019, 3:53 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I stand by my comment. In my eyes, a bus driver is no different from a cashier in a supermarket, except instead of scanning items, you drive a bus.
Both are relatively unskilled jobs (in that anyone could do the job with a bit of training, you don't need to be highly qualified), both earn around the same, both require good people skills, both 'sit around' all day, and people rely on both to 'survive'.



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You clearly have no idea what driving a bus involves and how much training goes into becoming a bus driver, so please do not bunch us as unskilled, it is rather insulting. Please do enlighten the group exactly what it is you do.

(29 Nov 2019, 3:53 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I stand by my comment. In my eyes, a bus driver is no different from a cashier in a supermarket, except instead of scanning items, you drive a bus.
Both are relatively unskilled jobs (in that anyone could do the job with a bit of training, you don't need to be highly qualified), both earn around the same, both require good people skills, both 'sit around' all day, and people rely on both to 'survive'.



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What about other jobs then?, are all of them the same?, because i work in education, its not a easy job, trust me!


You clearly have no idea what happens in the real world, do you work?

Maybe train drivers and metro drivers should have their salaries reduced to match that of unskilled bus drivers too, after all, they don't even have to steer and avoid idiots on roads like bus drivers do.

I have in the past been a company director of some major blue chip companies in my earlier career and I can assure you there is nothing simple or unskilled in driving a bus. I have driven buses for the last 10 years having decided one redundancy too many had occurred.

This forum just astounds me at times with some of the comments made. As said, instead of moaning, try it yourself before demeaning the role.

(29 Nov 2019, 4:44 pm)Michael wrote What about other jobs then?, are all of them the same?, because i work in education, its not a easy job, trust me!


You clearly have no idea what happens in the real world, do you work?

(29 Nov 2019, 4:44 pm)Michael wrote What about other jobs then?, are all of them the same?, because i work in education, its not a easy job, trust me!


You clearly have no idea what happens in the real world, do you work?

And to work in education you need to be highly qualified, you need to spend years in University getting a degree in your relevant field.

To work as a bus driver, you need to be able to drive a bus.
How long on average does it take from applying for the job to driving a bus with passengers, assuming no previous experience other than having a driving license? (Genuine question)



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(29 Nov 2019, 5:12 pm)streetdeckfan wrote And to work in education you need to be highly qualified, you need to spend years in University getting a degree in your relevant field.

To work as a bus driver, you need to be able to drive a bus.
How long on average does it take from applying for the job to driving a bus with passengers, assuming no previous experience other than having a driving license? (Genuine question)



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Some teachers have gone via the pgce route (if memory serves, Michael correct me if I’m wrong ) 1 years classroom work as opposed to the 4 years of university. Both routes lead to the same outcome, trainee bus drivers take 7 weeks training and 1 years continuous mentoring, so in theory it takes 7 weeks longer to be totally alone as a bus driver than a pgce trained teacher.

(29 Nov 2019, 5:21 pm)Stanleyone wrote Some teachers have gone via the pgce route (if memory serves, Michael correct me if I’m wrong ) 1 years classroom work as opposed to the 4 years of university. Both routes lead to the same outcome, trainee bus drivers take 7 weeks training and 1 years continuous mentoring, so in theory it takes 7 weeks longer to be totally alone as a bus driver than a pgce trained teacher.

I know a few people who have gone the PGCE way, but i'm not entirely sure what it entitles, sure it changed September this year! (like most things do!)

(29 Nov 2019, 5:21 pm)Stanleyone wrote Some teachers have gone via the pgce route (if memory serves, Michael correct me if I’m wrong ) 1 years classroom work as opposed to the 4 years of university. Both routes lead to the same outcome, trainee bus drivers take 7 weeks training and 1 years continuous mentoring, so in theory it takes 7 weeks longer to be totally alone as a bus driver than a pgce trained teacher.

(29 Nov 2019, 5:27 pm)Michael wrote I know a few people who have gone the PGCE way, but i'm not entirely sure what it entitles, sure it changed September this year! (like most things do!)

That's quite interesting, I have a few friends who went into teaching and they all went the university way.

Anywho, if we can get off this subject (which, granted, I started...)

Today was probably the worst day to go on an impromptu trip up north, I didn't realise people still went out for Black Friday!
Not a single bus I've been on today has been on time

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It's not just training, there is also the responsibility for controlling a large vehicle and keeping the passengers safe.

I'm sure you are just on here to troll sometimes Streetdeckfan. You haven't even answered the question of what someone posted to you about what do you do for a job.

(29 Nov 2019, 6:03 pm)Rapidsnap wrote It's not just training, there is also the responsibility for controlling a large vehicle and keeping the passengers safe.

I'm sure you are just on here to troll sometimes Streetdeckfan. You haven't even answered the question of what someone posted to you about what do you do for a job.

Well, there is that as well.

I mean, I am partial go a good troll...

The reason I avoided that question is because maybe I didn't want to answer it. But to answer it as vaguely as possible I work in 'market research' and 'events management'

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(29 Nov 2019, 5:21 pm)Stanleyone wrote Some teachers have gone via the pgce route (if memory serves, Michael correct me if I’m wrong ) 1 years classroom work as opposed to the 4 years of university. Both routes lead to the same outcome, trainee bus drivers take 7 weeks training and 1 years continuous mentoring, so in theory it takes 7 weeks longer to be totally alone as a bus driver than a pgce trained teacher.

Drivers tend to spend around 4 weeks with their mentor, not a year??

I think education workers and bus drivers can have the same problem miss behaving kids and both require a lot of Patience

(29 Nov 2019, 6:20 pm)pbjd wrote Drivers tend to spend around 4 weeks with their mentor, not a year??

Our new starters have a mentor for 2 weeks route learning, then they have continued support from the same mentor (if required) for the next 50 weeks.

(29 Nov 2019, 6:24 pm)Ds1197 wrote I think education workers and bus drivers can have the same problem miss behaving kids and both require a lot of Patience

That's the reason I could never be a bus driver. I have no patience. I guarantee I would get sacked in the first week for shouting at passengers.

I had to get off the X21 early because of a bunch of youths shouting and being generally disruptive

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(29 Nov 2019, 6:30 pm)streetdeckfan wrote That's the reason I could never be a bus driver. I have no patience. I guarantee I would get sacked in the first week for shouting at passengers.

I had to get off the X21 early because of a bunch of youths shouting and being generally disruptive

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Same here, l wouldn’t mind driving the bus as long as there’s no passengers


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(29 Nov 2019, 6:06 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I work in 'market research' and 'events management'

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So an absolutely pointless, useless and non skilled job you could ever find, right?
Nowhere near as a skilled job that actually has some benefit to the wider community right say like a bus driver, right.

I think your posts on GNE and now bus drivers is bordering on obsessive. I see no reason why bus drivers should not have time off over Christmas

You should give your self a new name instead of streetdeckfan, try scrooge!

(29 Nov 2019, 8:59 pm)gordondack wrote So an absolutely pointless, useless and non skilled job you could ever find, right?
Nowhere near as a skilled job that actually has some benefit to the wider community right say like a bus driver, right.

I think your posts on GNE and now bus drivers is bordering on obsessive. I see no reason why bus drivers should not have time off over Christmas

You should give your self a new name instead of streetdeckfan, try scrooge!

If I could change my name to Scrooge I would!

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(29 Nov 2019, 5:27 pm)Michael wrote I know a few people who have gone the PGCE way, but i'm not entirely sure what it entitles, sure it changed September this year! (like most things do!)

Post Grad Cert Ed. 
Essentially completed a degree in a subject and then followed it up with a teaching specialism. Rather than continue in the chosen subject and finish off their masters.

I think the hardest part of a bus drivers job, compared to others, is the high level of concentration that is needed for the whole time behind the wheel. Daydreamers need not apply!

Don't know if anyone has noticed but the 309 is seriously starting to give the 308 some serious competition. Although a match day, loads have been very good and the service seems to be carrying more between Blyth & Cobalt towards Newcastle.

So, keeping the conversation on a more positive note, what will we see getting repainted next? Is it the B9s(?) for the Loop services? Do we know if they're going full corporate or having their own colours?

0735 this morning outside Saltmeadows was a well rubbed down impossible to identify ex Brighton DD.

(30 Nov 2019, 4:29 pm)ne14ne1 wrote So, keeping the conversation on a more positive note, what will we see getting repainted next? Is it the B9s(?) for the Loop services? Do we know if they're going full corporate or having their own colours?

WTX citarios need repainting into corporate livery


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(30 Nov 2019, 4:29 pm)ne14ne1 wrote So, keeping the conversation on a more positive note, what will we see getting repainted next? Is it the B9s(?) for the Loop services? Do we know if they're going full corporate or having their own colours?

WTX citarios need repainting into corporate livery


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Will 9069 be out tomorrow

(30 Nov 2019, 3:18 pm)L469 YVK wrote Don't know if anyone has noticed but the 309 is seriously starting to give the 308 some serious competition. Although a match day, loads have been very good and the service seems to be carrying more between Blyth & Cobalt towards Newcastle.

Doesn't help when Arriva puts a MPD on the 308.

(29 Nov 2019, 5:21 pm)Stanleyone wrote Some teachers have gone via the pgce route (if memory serves, Michael correct me if I’m wrong ) 1 years classroom work as opposed to the 4 years of university. Both routes lead to the same outcome, trainee bus drivers take 7 weeks training and 1 years continuous mentoring, so in theory it takes 7 weeks longer to be totally alone as a bus driver than a pgce trained teacher.

I have a PGCE. A year of university an classroom work on top of the degree I already had.