(04 Jan 2014, 3:39 pm)Dan wrote I've previously made posts about a select few people who have said it in the past.
People should have the common sense to not say things which could be deemed offensive. Contrasting views and debates shouldn't offend anyone - comments like that could.
(04 Jan 2014, 5:29 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Just a suggestion for the 20/20A, As some by the looks of don't think it's a Justifiable Investment for Geminis. Why not Split the PVR and have 6 Geminis and 6 Pulsar 2's Operating the Service, with a Further 2 Red Spares making the PVR 14 rather than 12.
Then you have from say Sunderland
02 - Gemini
12 - Pulsar 2
22 - Gemini
32 - Pulsar 2
42 - Gemini
52 - Pulsar 2
So in this Scenario the 20 at 12/32/52 Would use Pulsar 2's and the 20A at 02/22/42 would use Geminis, Then following Hours Departures would be switched so that the 20 uses Geminis and 20A uses Pulsars, Either way both Services would use 3 Geminis and 3 Pulsars, Which would provide great flexibility on the Service.
(04 Jan 2014, 4:49 pm)Rob wrote The Laser carries far more passengers than the Prince Bishops. The Prince Bishop services may appear to carry full loads, but like the West Durham Swift services, it isn't a particularly strong service.
(04 Jan 2014, 6:52 pm)CatsFast101 wrote I am surprised by that. also would like to know about how you can much such a statement, what figures have you used? Over what period etc. I can't believe the bishops aren't making enough money to warrant investment but there we go.
(04 Jan 2014, 6:52 pm)CatsFast101 wrote I am surprised by that. also would like to know about how you can much such a statement, what figures have you used? Over what period etc. I can't believe the bishops aren't making enough money to warrant investment but there we go.
(04 Jan 2014, 7:00 pm)citaro5284 wrote Passenger numbers are looked at very frequently. We receive ETM data the following day as when the vehicles go back to the depot they download all of the data. Any analysis that is required can be done over any given period of time required (day, weeks, months) but of course analysis for things like new investment would not be done based on 1 day's numbers.
(04 Jan 2014, 7:10 pm)andreos1 wrote So whilst the 20s are carrying decent numbers and get full, there aren't as many people getting on and off as there are the 35's.
There isn't the same turnover of passengers if that makes sense.
(04 Jan 2014, 7:14 pm)Dan wrote Precisely this, yes.
There is a lot of competition in the area as you've mentioned, but if Go North East's fares are far superior to the competition, then you can understand why customers do travel on the "Laser" as opposed to a different service operated by Stagecoach.
I still stand by what I said earlier...
If a service warrants investment - no matter how big or small the competition in the area is, no matter how big or small the PVR is - it will receive it. Now more than ever before, with investment of so many vehicles planned each year.
Some journeys will have very high passenger numbers on the "Prince Bishops", as accounted for by anecdotes of 'canned sardines', but others will run very lightly. You really need a service to be stable before investing in it, and this is achieved by 'minor service changes', as we've all grown to know so well. Certain runs can't just be axed though, as from what I've seen, there is no set passenger rate on each run and on each day.
(04 Jan 2014, 7:19 pm)Tom wrote Aren't the Sunderland GNE fares £1.35 or something, and Stagecoach are £1.55?
(04 Jan 2014, 7:11 pm)aureolin wrote I understand you couldn't give out actual data, and I wouldn't ask for it, but can I ask whether loadings can accurately be accounted for now?
The reason I ask is that previously, with the old ETMs, I understand that only the the boardings could be accounted for - by either a ticket purchase or swipe card validation. Any alightments weren't actually recorded, so anyone using a ticket other than a single, return or get around multi-trip wasn't accounted for in this respect?
(04 Jan 2014, 7:22 pm)Dan wrote I really have no idea... If it's a 20p saving rather than a poxy 5p or so, then it's obvious how much of the competition's passengers GNE are gonna snatch.
A 20p saving daily mounts up to be quite a bit!
If GNE also have a bus which has free Wi-Fi and power sockets to go alongside these great value fares, then it's quite possible more of the competition's passengers are going to try out your bus.
Like I said before, competition undoubtedly does play a minor part in the decision making of investment... Still don't think it's the ultimate decider though.
(05 Dec 2013, 5:01 pm)Rob wrote Erm...
- Lime
- X66
- Laser
- Crusader
- Washington Street Shuttle
... prehaps
(09 Jan 2014, 10:05 pm)Bazza Houston wrote Lime good choice really badly needs these the renowns are roughly the same age as the ones used to be on the crusader would need to be single deckers due to low bridge
X66 very good choice needs to be either a nice single decker or a double decker i have seen a tyne tees express on plus yellow bus even northern sometimes on there
Laser probs double deckers good choice South Shields for photos if true
Crusader very good choice will probs have double deckers good thing i Hebburn is ideal for these photos as Nexus are nightmare recently i call them the Bullies
Washington Street Shuttle deffo a good candidate for Optare Solo SR Concord is a nice decent location for photos
(09 Jan 2014, 10:05 pm)Bazza Houston wrote Lime good choice really badly needs these the renowns are roughly the same age as the ones used to be on the crusader would need to be single deckers due to low bridge
X66 very good choice needs to be either a nice single decker or a double decker i have seen a tyne tees express on plus yellow bus even northern sometimes on there
Laser probs double deckers good choice South Shields for photos if true
Crusader very good choice will probs have double deckers good thing i Hebburn is ideal for these photos as Nexus are nightmare recently i call them the Bullies
Washington Street Shuttle deffo a good candidate for Optare Solo SR Concord is a nice decent location for photos
(16 Jan 2014, 3:20 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote As we were on the topic of the M2/M3/W5/W6 formerly (Washington Street Shuttle) Services a few days back, I decided to make 2 Paperbuses, so we are.
Wright Streetlite
Optare Versa
Myself personally I like the look of Streetlite and how the Rear (Circles) over the Wheel Arches work Perfectly into the Panel under Windows towards the Rear with thanks to Wrightbuses styling of those Windows.
(30 Dec 2013, 3:52 pm)Dan wrote I can't see "Washington Street Shuttle" getting investment. Cascades in 2015, maybe...
- X66
- Lime
- Crusader
- Laser
- Toon Link
- Fab57
If I recall correctly, that adds up to 80 buses nicely - taking into consideration the additional spare vehicles which will come with investment with PVRs over 8.
The "Centurion" will only ever be worthy of cascades. OmniCitys seem ideal, if you ask me. Didn't I just mention depot standardisation?
(11 Feb 2014, 5:14 pm)Dan wrote - X66
Vehicles withdrawn
- Lime
4850-55 withdrawn, 4896-4902 cascaded to replace older B10BLEs
- Crusader
14x Citaros available for cascade - perhaps 9 to Stanley for "Red Kite", and the remaining 5 to Stanley for X30/X31, with a number of doors open for the cascades (one of which being the "Centurion")?
- Laser
12x Citaros available for cascade - perhaps all 12 to remain at Deptford for use on "Prince Bishops" service 20, in turn allowing the currently allocated Solars to replace B10BLEs in the fleet?
- Toon Link
4841 and 5144-50 withdrawn, 4978-82 perhaps to take a "spare role" in the fleet to replace older spare vehicles. "South Tyne" 5 comes to mind with this one too.
- Fab57
Vehicles withdrawn