Phoenix have won the M71 Contract of Gateshead Central Taxis from March 29th 2021

How come the 15 doesn't operate to and from Newcastle anymore? The 808 used to run onto the 15 and the 15 onto the return 808. Was it axed to accommodate operating the M71?

(22 Apr 2021, 5:23 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote How come the 15 doesn't operate to and from Newcastle anymore? The 808 used to run onto the 15 and the 15 onto the return 808. Was it axed to accommodate operating the M71?

Newcastle section was axed late last year IIRC as seemingly didn't carry many/if any passengers on this stretch, 15 & 808 have more or less been standalone since although sometimes a bus will occasionally do both.

(23 Apr 2021, 8:58 am)Jimmi wrote Newcastle section was axed late last year IIRC as seemingly didn't carry many/if any passengers on this stretch, 15 & 808 have more or less been standalone since although sometimes a bus will occasionally do both.

I've only just realised! There wasn't likely to be many passengers last year. Surprised the 808 still operates, not many passengers on it since the pandemic started. Phoenix got the 808 permanently?

A rare working on the 808 this afternoon in place of a Phoenix Fiat Ducato was a plain white Peugeot vehicle, some kind of ambulance / patient transport vehicle.

Peugeot vehicle on the 808 again today (same one as on 11th May, I think) but not on their fleet list.

Could Phoenix Coaches introduce a new service? Maybe a service from Newcastle to Blyth? Would be good to see the 808 run a few more times a day.

Ready for tomorrow’s start on emergency contracts !! (Posted onto Buses North East group on Facebook)

According to the comments, they were awarded the contracts due to another operator being unable to continue with them. I’m guessing this is GCT who are possibly unable to fulfill the services possibly due to lack of vehicles / drivers to run them.


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Yea they are on GCT route 18/18A temporarily until ethier new drivers or nexus work and hand contracts out

(11 May 2021, 5:31 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote A rare working on the 808 this afternoon in place of a Phoenix Fiat Ducato was a plain white Peugeot vehicle, some kind of ambulance / patient transport vehicle.

Spotted this yesterday on the 15 in Alnwick, registered SD63EUW: https://flic.kr/p/2maEoCe

Phoenix have recently aquired Mercedes-Benz touro BX06 UMK about a week or 2 ago. Although I've just Id'd it today after seeing it in the yard afew times. A quick Google of the reg and I've found this video or a sales tour of it when it was with one of its previous operators by odyssey coach sales: https://youtu.be/cFm8OwW6KOE

A recent acquisition here is Mercedes Sprinter RX71TCZ: https://flic.kr/p/2mAhDSk

Does anyone on here work or used to work for these lot? Currently advertising £350 for a 20 hour week, seems too good to be true and as they always seen to be after drivers I assume it is........

(11 Jul 2021, 7:47 pm)Jimmi wrote Spotted this yesterday on the 15 in Alnwick, registered SD63EUW: https://flic.kr/p/2maEoCe

Yes, that is the bus. Haven't seen it for a while, has it gone? Weird bus that one! Nice ride on the M71 yesterday on the Mercedes Sprinter. Phoenix are good and should operate more services and run the 808 more frequently.

(13 Oct 2021, 10:32 pm)Jimmi wrote A recent acquisition here is Mercedes Sprinter RX71TCZ: https://flic.kr/p/2mAhDSk

That was on the M71 service yesterday, fresh out of the box.

SD63EUW is still in service, noted it on Wednesday working the old Spirit Buses route from Alnwick to Rothbury.

Charles

Are Phoenix always going to operate the 808?

Do the fares ever increase?

(10 Dec 2021, 12:56 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote Are Phoenix always going to operate the 808?

Do the fares ever increase?

It’s a Local Authority contract, so will be retendered at some point

(10 Dec 2021, 6:24 am)busmanT wrote It’s a Local Authority contract, so will be retendered at some point

How often does it get retendered? Could the 808 run more often?

M71 is Nexus contracted and 808 in Northumberland County Council contracted?
Does the Kingston Park Tesco Free Bus not run anymore?

(11 Dec 2021, 1:38 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote How often does it get retendered? Could the 808 run more often?

M71 is Nexus contracted and 808 in Northumberland County Council contracted?
Does the Kingston Park Tesco Free Bus not run anymore?

I haven't seen the T1/2/3 run in a while so I'm guessing not

(11 Dec 2021, 2:53 am)Train8261 wrote I haven't seen the T1/2/3 run in a while so I'm guessing not

Tesco pulled the plug on all the routes before the summer I believe. Part of the huge and unneccessary cuts they've made following Covid.

(11 Dec 2021, 12:35 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Tesco pulled the plug on all the routes before the summer I believe. Part of the huge and unneccessary cuts they've made following Covid.

Bit like asda did with the A1/2/3

Could we see Go North East operate the 808 in the future?

(19 Dec 2021, 2:27 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote Could we see Go North East operate the 808 in the future?

As I recall it is a Northumberland CC tender - so potentially yes

(19 Dec 2021, 5:21 pm)busmanT wrote As I recall it is a Northumberland CC tender - so potentially yes

I'm not sure how frequently Northumberland contracts are reviewed. The £1 fare on the 808 is amazing. GNE or Phoenix should operate the 808 and the Hexham services for connections. As the 808 bus usually just goes Not in Service between the AM and PM runs, perhaps it could be extended to Wallsend, via Byker Metro and Walker Shops.

(19 Dec 2021, 5:53 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote I'm not sure how frequently Northumberland contracts are reviewed. The £1 fare on the 808 is amazing. GNE or Phoenix should operate the 808 and the Hexham services for connections. As the 808 bus usually just goes Not in Service between the AM and PM runs, perhaps it could be extended to Wallsend, via Byker Metro and Walker Shops.

Personally I'd rather my council tax wasn't going towards services that has no benefit to anyone in Northumberland. No-one from Bellingham - Ponteland wants to go to Wallsend.

Well, it's easy to get to Wallsend from Newcastle I suppose. People in Northumberland might want to go to Wallsend, but can just change buses in Newcastle. Really tickets are the problem with multiple operators. 1 ticket is preferable. Service 808 has been my saviour a few times.

Completely agree it shouldn't be taxpayers funding bus services that are of little or no benefit. A shake up of services would be great. For me I'd say the 32/32A and 33/33A/35 should all be the same operator, maybe GCT for the 32/32A and maybe Arriva for the 33/33A/35. Good transport options are important for all communities (even though most people in Northumberland drive, a bus even once a day is good to prevent isolation).

(19 Dec 2021, 6:26 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Well, it's easy to get to Wallsend from Newcastle I suppose. People in Northumberland might want to go to Wallsend, but can just change buses in Newcastle. Really tickets are the problem with multiple operators. 1 ticket is preferable. Service 808 has been my saviour a few times.

Completely agree it shouldn't be taxpayers funding bus services that are of little or no benefit. A shake up of services would be great. For me I'd say the 32/32A and 33/33A/35 should all be the same operator, maybe GCT for the 32/32A and maybe Arriva for the 33/33A/35. Good transport options are important for all communities (even though most people in Northumberland drive, a bus even once a day is good to prevent isolation).

What's with the constant posts about other operators running services? 

For contracted services, they don't just pick and choose who operates them, it depends who bids for them, and who offers the best value money bid.

(19 Dec 2021, 7:08 pm)Thomas12 wrote What's with the constant posts about other operators running services? 

For contracted services, they don't just pick and choose who operates them, it depends who bids for them, and who offers the best value money bid.

Just think a shake up would be good, that's all. 

The contract system is unfortunate, and the commercial network doesn't help. When GNE had the 32A it was easier for me to get a GNE ticket, and on Sundays after GCT got the contract I had to walk to and from Gosforth for the 33A or Q3. GNE also had NSAs on the 32A, helping with accessibility. Of course it was also more reliable. If GNE had a commercial service, like they now do with the X85 it wouldn't matter about the operator when contracts are won and lost.

For someone like me who travels in GNE areas what am I supposed to do living in Stagecoach territory? Get ripped off and not complain about how shit the situation is and the services are? Surely paying customers deserve the best service possible, or a least a bus that actually turns up and offers the best ticket for all journeys on that day?

Does Stagecoach run the 38A early morning service commercially?

Had trouble getting a Newcastle and North Tyneside day ticket recently on the 74, and had to get it on the next bus (the Q3). Even GNE aren't perfect, but their range of tickets gives me the most freedom and they provide the best network of services.

(19 Dec 2021, 7:23 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Just think a shake up would be good, that's all. 

The contract system is unfortunate, and the commercial network doesn't help. When GNE had the 32A it was easier for me to get a GNE ticket, and on Sundays after GCT got the contract I had to walk to and from Gosforth for the 33A or Q3. GNE also had NSAs on the 32A, helping with accessibility. Of course it was also more reliable. If GNE had a commercial service, like they now do with the X85 it wouldn't matter about the operator when contracts are won and lost.

For someone like me who travels in GNE areas what am I supposed to do living in Stagecoach territory? Get ripped off and not complain about how shit the situation is and the services are? Surely paying customers deserve the best service possible, or a least a bus that actually turns up and offers the best ticket for all journeys on that day?

Does Stagecoach run the 38A early morning service commercially?

Had trouble getting a Newcastle and North Tyneside day ticket recently on the 74, and had to get it on the next bus (the Q3). Even GNE aren't perfect, but their range of tickets gives me the most freedom and they provide the best network of services.