(09 May 2020, 6:40 pm)Dan wrote Just picking up on this comment - the Streetlites actually have more seats than the Citaros. Aside from the fuel economy and low carbon certification, this was another reason for them being allocated.

I think the perception is often that they have fewer seats but they actually don't. The Citaros in particular have quite an unusual seating layout (especially the older ones that aren't used on the 4) which results in the number of seats being fewer. 


Yes, I'd agree with this comment too. In the last fortnight or so I've taken up cycling in a bid to try and get a bit healthier and lose a bit of weight. In my experience of observing the buses I've seen whilst on my bike rides, I've often seen people sat together at the front of the bus leaving the back of the bus empty.

As far as I know there have been no reported 'overcrowding' issues on service 4 other than the one that Andreos1 reported. I do wonder whether it was a similar story where outside looking in, it appeared to be full, but when you actually see the bus stationary you can see that there are still plenty of seats closer to the back of the bus.

There are vinyls on the floors of the buses, there are posters around the cab area, in the poster holders, and the 'Next Stop' audio-visual TFT monitors (where buses are equipped with them) also show imagery around social distancing. You can lead a horse to water...

Think you misunderstood. I was referring to the combined Merc and Omni capacity vs the Streetlite. 

However, the point you make about the misconception between the capacities is interesting. 
The streetlites may have a larger capacity, but they're also shorter and not as wide as the Mercs. 
Social distancing on a Merc may be easier than on a Streetlite. Even with the fewer seats. Perhaps?

(09 May 2020, 8:02 pm)Andreos1 wrote Think you misunderstood. I was referring to the combined Merc and Omni capacity vs the Streetlite. 

However, the point you make about the misconception between the capacities is interesting. 
The streetlites may have a larger capacity, but they're also shorter and not as wide as the Mercs. 
Social distancing on a Merc may be easier than on a Streetlite. Even with the fewer seats. Perhaps?

One bus would need to be some size to be the same capacity of seven single-decks... hence my assumption your point was about capacity differences between the vehicle types, not overall.

Clearly you think otherwise based on your observation, but recorded passenger loadings would suggest there is no demand at present for more than what is currently being provided. If there was, it'd be running (timetables are very slack at the moment due to the reduced traffic on the roads, and if there is a large amount of layover that could be put to greater use, it'd be used). This of course may change dependent on the content of the UK Government announcement tomorrow, but as Go North East are providing dedicated "hot spares" at key bus stations over the morning and evening peak from Monday, with buses reinstated specifically for this purpose, there's nothing to stop duplicates being operated using these buses (where required) off-peak too. There have been instances of this for other services in the Gateshead area, utilising scholars buses.

I'd disagree that on the point of social distancing being easier in a Citaro. Appreciate the point about width, but there is only 0.2m difference in length between the two vehicles, and the unusual seating layout on the Mercedes Citaros means that there's not much choice for seats! I'm sure you're well acquainted but for the benefit of others who might not be so familiar, see photo below:

Interior shot of Go North East's 5368, Mercedes Citaro 0530N/Mercedes Citaro by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

The two 'quadrant' seats towards the back of the bus, which ordinarily provide eight seats, would reduce to just two under social distancing guidelines. Similarly the back row only has four seats on these Citaros, whereas most buses have five seats at the back (so you'd be more likely to get three people on the back row instead of just two).

The benefit of the Streetlites is that all of the seats are front-facing. In theory passengers are able to alternate between aisle-side and window-side on each row of seats to conform with the Department for Transport's guidance on social distancing on buses, so more passengers can travel. In reality, as streetdeckfan has already mentioned, most passengers aren't doing this (but bus operators can't be expected to police this).

(09 May 2020, 8:14 pm)Dan wrote One bus would need to be some size to be the same capacity of seven single-decks... hence my assumption your point was about capacity differences between the vehicle types, not overall.

Clearly you think otherwise based on your observation, but recorded passenger loadings would suggest there is no demand at present for more than what is currently being provided. If there was, it'd be running (timetables are very slack at the moment due to the reduced traffic on the roads, and if there is a large amount of layover that could be put to greater use, it'd be used). This of course may change dependent on the content of the UK Government announcement tomorrow, but as Go North East are providing dedicated "hot spares" at key bus stations over the morning and evening peak from Monday, with buses reinstated specifically for this purpose, there's nothing to stop duplicates being operated using these buses (where required) off-peak too. There have been instances of this for other services in the Gateshead area, utilising scholars buses.

I'd disagree that on the point of social distancing being easier in a Citaro. Appreciate the point about width, but there is only 0.2m difference in length between the two vehicles, and the unusual seating layout on the Mercedes Citaros means that there's not much choice for seats! I'm sure you're well acquainted but for the benefit of others who might not be so familiar, see photo below:

Interior shot of Go North East's 5368, Mercedes Citaro 0530N/Mercedes Citaro by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

The two 'quadrant' seats towards the back of the bus, which ordinarily provide eight seats, would reduce to just two under social distancing guidelines. Similarly the back row only has four seats on these Citaros, whereas most buses have five seats at the back (so you'd be more likely to get three people on the back row instead of just two).

The benefit of the Streetlites is that all of the seats are front-facing. In theory passengers are able to alternate between aisle-side and window-side on each row of seats to conform with the Department for Transport's guidance on social distancing on buses, so more passengers can travel. In reality, as streetdeckfan has already mentioned, most passengers aren't doing this (but bus operators can't be expected to police this).

Why would there need to be one combined bus to replace the equivalent capacity of Mercs and Omnis? Nobody suggested or mentioned that at all. 

Having been on the purple streetlite operated 4 a few times (not passing on a bike), I've seen how the loads can vary and have also seen the saloon looking a tad crowded at times.
Shopping bags taking up seat space, pensioners towards the front, people sitting near each other in the remaining seats.

As I said in the previous posts, the opportunity to use the resource more efficiently on the 4 (regardless of vehicle type) would surely only be a good thing? I'm struggling to see how a vehicle and driver sitting for 20/25 mins behind Lidl when there's a crowd building round the corner is the better option.

With the announcement from Boris today, I'm going to take a guess and say operators are going to see a surge in passenger numbers on Wednesday, in particular on more rural services and city centres with passengers travelling out in to the countryside for 'exercise'. Then, I'd say by the end of the week it'll go back down to the current rates once people realise there's sod all to do

(10 May 2020, 8:43 pm)streetdeckfan wrote With the announcement from Boris today, I'm going to take a guess and say operators are going to see a surge in passenger numbers on Wednesday, in particular on more rural services and city centres with passengers travelling out in to the countryside for 'exercise'. Then, I'd say by the end of the week it'll go back down to the current rates once people realise there's sod all to do

I would hope not. We've been told to not even use public transport for work unless we have no other option.

Which a comparatively high number of people in the North East don’t. Tyne and Wear has the fourth highest number of bus journeys per head in England. Car ownership is lower here than in much of the rest of the country.

(12 May 2020, 2:54 pm)markydh wrote Which a comparatively high number of people in the North East don’t. Tyne and Wear has the fourth highest number of bus journeys per head in England. Car ownership is lower here than in much of the rest of the country.

Which is exactly why taking the bus to a new exercise spot is ill advised.

Little suggestion (any GNE workers on forum fancy relaying this back in?).

If such announcement hasn't been recorded or implemented, could something down the lines of the following not be added after the announcement of every stop or even every few stops (or on approach if long distance route such as X9/X10).

"When alighting, please stand behind the 2 metre floor tile marking until the bus stops and the driver opens the doors"

(12 May 2020, 10:28 pm)L469 YVK wrote Little suggestion (any GNE workers on forum fancy relaying this back in?).

If such announcement hasn't been recorded or implemented, could something down the lines of the following not be added after the announcement of every stop or even every few stops (or on approach if long distance route such as X9/X10).

"When alighting, please stand behind the 2 metre floor tile marking until the bus stops and the driver opens the doors"

Sure Dan will confirm this, but I recall this was discussed on multiple occasions and it was advised that this would be far too complex to implement as it would involve digging into all of the files and adding the announcement in at every stage required.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

Seen a Streetlite on the 41 today, not sure if it's a deliberate change but there looked to be quite a few people on so would make sense.

(14 May 2020, 12:24 pm)Tom wrote Seen a Streetlite on the 41 today, not sure if it's a deliberate change but there looked to be quite a few people on so would make sense.

Yes - revised allocation comes into effect formally from tomorrow but due to several journeys getting close to 50% capacity, service 33A (Nexus) will now be allocated an indiGo Solo again, and service 41 will be allocated a Saltwell Park branded Streetlite.

One of those passengers may have been me

Martjin Gilbert confirmed last night they'll be starting their bulk of their services from the 1st June, 100% peak timetables however thined out between evenings/weekends and maybe some during the day - 80%-85%


All 3 depots closed atm, will also reopen on the 1st June, i would imagine getting the buses back to their normal depots will take some time!


Video here: https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...9920923911&epa=SEARCH_BOX

Preparations could have already started - I saw a Crusader Citaro heading through Catchgate earlier in the week

Just received a survey from GNE with a survey about your bus usage post lockdown, you might want to fill it in if you use their services but aren't signed up to their emails

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DM53JY2

Are the 135/136 no longer operating during the day now?

They're still down on the GNE Coronavirus page but no timetable to view... if they aren't shouldn't they be removed.

Latest changes said

Services 135 & 136

All evening and Sunday journeys on these services will now be run by Gateshead Central. The early morning journeys on Mondays to Saturdays will continue to be run by Go North East.

Go North East still got a link to a timetable for both of them on the changes page but not one bit of info that the 135/136 were getting dropped throughout the day.

(22 May 2020, 10:32 pm)Michael wrote Are the 135/136 no longer operating during the day now?

They're still down on the GNE Coronavirus page but no timetable to view... if they aren't shouldn't they be removed.

Latest changes said

Services 135 & 136

All evening and Sunday journeys on these services will now be run by Gateshead Central. The early morning journeys on Mondays to Saturdays will continue to be run by Go North East.

Go North East still got a link to a timetable for both of them on the changes page but not one bit of info that the 135/136 were getting dropped throughout the day.

Still operating the emergency timetables, so I would say these services will still be operating.

(23 May 2020, 5:31 am)Stanleyone wrote Still operating the emergency timetables, so I would say these services will still be operating.

Nexus and GNE have removed the services from their timetables though?

(23 May 2020, 9:34 am)Michael wrote Nexus and GNE have removed the services from their timetables though?

They aren’t running - back to normal in that there are some early morning journeys operated by Go North East and then evening/Sunday by Gateshead Central Taxis.

This reflects the impending ramp up of service levels.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quite a few of the Nexus secured services appear to have gone back to their regular timetables so by that, the 135/136 should be back to 'part time' Mon-Sat and all day Sundays.

I suspect the early morning journeys being referred to here are the ones between Sunderland and Witherwack that aren't currently operating.

Lack of communication then on GNE's part? - not one bit of information on the site to say that.

Transport Secretary announces new measures to “keep passengers safe now and level up for the future”

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/trans...the-future

(23 May 2020, 10:48 am)Michael wrote Lack of communication then on GNE's part? - not one bit of information on the site to say that.

To be fair it wasn’t widely publicised that the 135/136 were running all day, every day.

Nexus determine the frequency of contracted services, not the operator.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

With GNE starting to ramp up services soon, will we see the ticket acceptance between operators disappear? I get the impression that MG would like it to stay in some form or other, in particular in CD where there's no reasonably priced ticket to use both Arriva and GNE.
Or, will GNE continue to not run services like the X21 to West Auckland for the time being when it's basically duplicating an Arriva service

Is it true the 38 will
No longer serve tunstall bank estate just hollycarrside then the docks? 39A to serve esdale

(23 May 2020, 7:46 pm)Acky81 wrote Is it true the 38 will
No longer serve tunstall bank estate just hollycarrside then the docks? 39A to serve esdale

Haven't heard anything for the 38 or a new 39A services.

(23 May 2020, 8:11 pm)Michael wrote Haven't heard anything for the 38 or a new 39A services.

Saw it on fb not sure how true

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(23 May 2020, 8:13 pm)Acky81 wrote Saw it on fb not sure how true

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(23 May 2020, 8:13 pm)Acky81 wrote Saw it on fb not sure how true

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Ah right, June 1st is the apparent date, will have to keep our eyes out on VOSA

(23 May 2020, 10:49 am)citaro5284 wrote Transport Secretary announces new measures to “keep passengers safe now and level up for the future”

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/trans...the-future

nothing new in there or remotely encouraging. 

back to the sheep clapping we go

(23 May 2020, 7:46 pm)Acky81 wrote Is it true the 38 will
No longer serve tunstall bank estate just hollycarrside then the docks? 39A to serve esdale

Yes that is correct, All upcoming Service changes will be published on the go north east website soon