Anyone know what they've used on the H1 today

(28 Jun 2021, 2:44 pm)Micheal Aaron wrote Is that when the "12 week" period ends for the contracts on temporary loan to others while GCT sort stuff out

That is when that contract is due to be  awarded again

(28 Jun 2021, 3:40 pm)GNE6312 wrote Anyone know what they've used on the H1 today

GNE 639 was on today.

Well it's nice to see Stanley Travel have it. The solo is on temporary loan. Driver said possible just for today but wasn't sure https://flic.kr/p/2m874M9

(28 Jun 2021, 2:18 pm)Michael wrote Stanley Travel taking over the H1 from 1st September 2021

Stanley Travel have taken over the service from today on an emergency basis to cover for Gateshead Central Taxis who have a driver shortage. Go North East has loaned Solo 639 to Stanley Travel to allow them to do this.

Gateshead Central Taxis lost the contract to operate this service from the end of July anyway, with Go North East providing the winning bid as the cheapest tenderer.

(28 Jun 2021, 6:02 pm)Dan wrote Stanley Travel have taken over the service from today on an emergency basis to cover for Gateshead Central Taxis who have a driver shortage. Go North East has loaned Solo 639 to Stanley Travel to allow them to do this.

Gateshead Central Taxis lost the contract to operate this service from the end of July anyway, with Go North East providing the winning bid as the cheapest tenderer.

Ah right, Vosa is wrong then, as it says from 1st September 2021 for Stanley Travel to take over.


What other contracts have been won and lost?

Stanley Travel YX21 RPO by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Stanley Travel have ADL Enviro 200MMC YX21 RPO on loan for use on the H1, previously with GNE as fleet number 9053 but now has vinyls.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

It looked like Stanley Travel were running the Connector Shuttle from Concord this weekend, with a red 6 seater taxi.

I wasn't really out for buses so wasn't paying much attention, but there wasn't much to say what it was, other than it being stood at stand C repeatedly.

Was this the case, or is it purely a coincidence?

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

To be fair they could allocate a Rickshaw and would still struggle to get a full load

(18 Jul 2021, 7:41 pm)Adrian wrote It looked like Stanley Travel were running the Connector Shuttle from Concord this weekend, with a red 6 seater taxi.

I wasn't really out for buses so wasn't paying much attention, but there wasn't much to say what it was, other than it being stood at stand C repeatedly.

Was this the case, or is it purely a coincidence?

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

Due to very low passenger numbers (you never get more than two on one trip, sometimes goes all day without picking up a single passenger), Stanley Travel are now running this service on behalf of Go North East, allowing Go North East’s driver resource to be better utilised.

Go North East recently took over operation of a number of Gateshead Central Taxis contracts for Nexus on evenings and Sundays, and similar to this situation for the ConnectorShuttle, agreement was reached with Nexus to revise the Gateshead Central Taxis SNS contract to run on a lower frequency and interwork with the MetroShuttle, with Go North East’s service being withdrawn. This allowed the driver resource to be re-allocated to the Washington evening local services, which Gateshead Central Taxis were unable to cover.

An 8-seat taxi was used this weekend, with signage in the window for ConnectorShuttle: https://flic.kr/p/2mbTQrj

I believe a 16-seat minibus will be used from Monday.

In an ideal world the MetroShuttle would be diverted via Concord (following the same route as service 4 from Heworth) allowing the ConnectorShuttle to be withdrawn completely…

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(18 Jul 2021, 7:52 pm)Dan wrote Due to very low passenger numbers (you never get more than two on one trip, sometimes goes all day without picking up a single passenger), Stanley Travel are now running this service on behalf of Go North East, allowing Go North East’s driver resource to be better utilised.

Go North East recently took over operation of a number of Gateshead Central Taxis contracts for Nexus on evenings and Sundays, and similar to this situation for the ConnectorShuttle, agreement was reached with Nexus to revise the Gateshead Central Taxis SNS contract to run on a lower frequency and interwork with the MetroShuttle, with Go North East’s service being withdrawn. This allowed the driver resource to be re-allocated to the Washington evening local services, which Gateshead Central Taxis were unable to cover.

An 8-seat taxi was used this weekend, with signage in the window for ConnectorShuttle: https://flic.kr/p/2mbTQrj

I believe a 16-seat minibus will be used from Monday.

In an ideal world the MetroShuttle would be diverted via Concord (following the same route as service 4 from Heworth) allowing the ConnectorShuttle to be withdrawn completely…

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No wonder I missed that! GCT special with that sheet of A4 in the window

I mean at least it was stopping at stand C for passengers, but far from ideal when they're expecting a big blue bus with a rainbow on the side.

Genuinely surprised to see the taxi though, regardless of passenger numbers. I thought the contract specification would have required a decent size bus.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

(18 Jul 2021, 9:14 pm)Adrian wrote No wonder I missed that! GCT special with that sheet of A4 in the window

I mean at least it was stopping at stand C for passengers, but far from ideal when they're expecting a big blue bus with a rainbow on the side.

Genuinely surprised to see the taxi though, regardless of passenger numbers. I thought the contract specification would have required a decent size bus.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

It’s a commercially operated service (as was the MetroShuttle until the changes mentioned in my last post) so there isn’t a contract specification. Don’t forget that this was originally effectively a roadworks shuttle bus while the 50 and 56 couldn’t serve Nissan. The SNS was the only one of the three which was contracted by Nexus.

In ordinary circumstances I’d have otherwise agreed that it wouldn’t be acceptable to run an 8-seat taxi or 16-seat minibus on frontline service (even if it was the norm pre-pandemic for our friends in grey and red!) but it’s tough times at the moment - not just for the bus industry but for everyone seemingly - and to minimise disruption, it’s best that resources are reviewed and adjustments made. It’d be mad to have a big diesel Scania OmniCity chugging away all day needing two drivers daily, when mileage is having to be stood due to short-notice failures as a result of track and trace.

Arriva will be reducing all their services from Blyth to be half-hourly, the X6 will be suspended, and it has been rumoured that the X12 between Durham and Newcastle will also be suspended (although yet to see confirmation of this on Arriva’s website) from this Sunday.

In Middlesbrough, Stagecoach have sub-contracted their vaccination shuttle bus out to JH Coaches. A far less political approach than cancelling services and reducing frequencies. Amazed to see them introducing new services (19 in Sunderland) when they’ve been successful in winning Nexus contracts (99 and 319) which will both require more driver resource, as they’re in the same boat as everyone else staffing-wise and won’t improve drastically over the summer as they don’t operate that many school buses.

Hopefully things improve next month once double-jabbed people no longer need to self-isolate!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For anyone who hasn't already seen on their Facebook page, Stanley will be making changes to the 713 at the end of August - it will be revised to become a circular service running out of Stanley to Flinthill via the current route before returning via Dipton, Harelaw, Catchgate, Annfield Plain (Tesco) and New Kyo. A new service 714 will also be introduced o the same day running the reverse route. They will both operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday (both leaving Stanley at the same times - xx15 and xx45) and hourly on Saturdays (713 at xx45 and 714 at xx15)

Timetable here

PB1107575/62 Registered
STANLEY TRAVEL (NORTH EAST) LTD
Route: Stanley Bus Station to Flinthill, Robson Terrace via Flinthill,Ewehurst Road, North Road
Service number: 713 (714)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 31 Aug 2021

Stanley Travel are running a Wednesday only service from Lanchester to the local Garden Centre, Operating hourly in the morning - Service 762

(27 Jul 2021, 6:38 pm)Arcticrossy92 wrote Stanley Travel are running a Wednesday only service from Lanchester to the local Garden Centre, Operating hourly in the morning - Service 762

It's the Lanchester Town Service that's ran for a while now, seems like it was changed to serve the garden centre on Wednesday's only from July 12th (going off current timetable on Durham Cartogold page)

(27 Jul 2021, 7:37 pm)Jimmi wrote It's the Lanchester Town Service that's ran for a while now, seems like it was changed to serve the garden centre on Wednesday's only from July 12th (going off current timetable on Durham Cartogold page)

What's it allocated as I wouldn't mind trying that out

(27 Jul 2021, 7:37 pm)Jimmi wrote It's the Lanchester Town Service that's ran for a while now, seems like it was changed to serve the garden centre on Wednesday's only from July 12th (going off current timetable on Durham Cartogold page)

Wasn't aware of that, That bus actually pulls in at the top of my estate, very rarely see anyone on it.

(27 Jul 2021, 9:04 pm)GNE6312 wrote What's it allocated as I wouldn't mind trying that out

Just a van/taxi

(26 Jul 2021, 9:33 am)Kuyoyo wrote For anyone who hasn't already seen on their Facebook page, Stanley will be making changes to the 713 at the end of August - it will be revised to become a circular service running out of Stanley to Flinthill via the current route before returning via Dipton, Harelaw, Catchgate, Annfield Plain (Tesco) and New Kyo. A new service 714 will also be introduced o the same day running the reverse route. They will both operate every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday (both leaving Stanley at the same times - xx15 and xx45) and hourly on Saturdays (713 at xx45 and 714 at xx15)

Timetable here

PB1107575/62 Registered
STANLEY TRAVEL (NORTH EAST) LTD
Route: Stanley Bus Station to Flinthill, Robson Terrace via Flinthill,Ewehurst Road, North Road
Service number: 713 (714)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 31 Aug 2021

It's almost as if they knew there was going to be changes made by GNE and a deal has been done. 
Shame they couldn't have re-introduced some of their Metrocentre services.

(29 Jul 2021, 11:12 am)Andreos1 wrote It's almost as if they knew there was going to be changes made by GNE and a deal has been done. 
Shame they couldn't have re-introduced some of their Metrocentre services.

Suspect Stanley might get the Stanley - Lanchester service.

(29 Jul 2021, 11:12 am)Andreos1 wrote It's almost as if they knew there was going to be changes made by GNE and a deal has been done. 
Shame they couldn't have re-introduced some of their Metrocentre services.

such cynicism Andreos.
it’s not like Martijn Gilbert was being wined and dined at the Stanley Travel birthday party the other day…oh wait….

(10 Aug 2021, 10:22 pm)Ambassador wrote such cynicism Andreos.
it’s not like Martijn Gilbert was being wined and dined at the Stanley Travel birthday party the other day…oh wait….

I know these bus operators are often Thatcher fan boys (after all they wouldn't be where they are without a bit of 1986 de-regulation), but the giving jobs and contracts to mates or rocking up at celebratory doo's thing, seems to be more of a Boris fan boy culture...

What next? Mate at the pub gets a contract to brew and sell beer under some sort of contract? Erm... Oh wait...

(11 Aug 2021, 10:17 am)Andreos1 wrote I know these bus operators are often Thatcher fan boys (after all they wouldn't be where they are without a bit of 1986 de-regulation), but the giving jobs and contracts to mates or rocking up at celebratory doo's thing, seems to be more of a Boris fan boy culture...

What next? Mate at the pub gets a contract to brew and sell beer under some sort of contract? Erm... Oh wait...

Just waiting for Roger French to write a glowing article on Stanley next…

(14 Aug 2021, 10:06 pm)Ambassador wrote Just waiting for Roger French to write a glowing article on Stanley next…

Not sure Stanley are 'desirable' enough for French. Their pretty unique livery and localised efforts are probably too much of a contradiction for him too.

(26 Nov 2021, 4:23 pm)DH9 wrote From January, three 713 and three 714 Stanley Buses per day will be going into Fines Park.

A driver on the 714 has just told me.

Full info on changes to 713/714, info from their Facebook:

*** Service 713/714 ***

Following a review of the 713/714 service, after our initial launch the following changes will come into effect from 4th January 2022.

Our 714 service will now service Fines Park estate 3 times a day, with journey times to Stanley of 20 minutes via Flinthill, and return journey times of 10 minutes via New Kyo. We hope this will provide a much needed link for the residents needing to attend appointments and recreation in Stanley. Buses will depart Fines Park to Stanley at 10:01, 12:01 and 14:01. Buses will depart Stanley to Fines Park at 9:52, 11:52 and 13:52

The 713/714 will reduce to 1 bus per hour in either direction before 09:22 and after 14:36 following an assessment of passenger numbers. 2 buses per hour will continue to operate in peak times between 09:22 and 14:36.
Services have all been retimed to depart Stanley Bus Station at 22 and 52 minutes past each hour.

We hope that these changes help to keep this service viable in the longer term.

To view the full new timetable, please visit https://stanley-travel.com/wp-content/up...etable.pdf

Stanley Travel is a great operator and I hope to see them back in Tyne & Wear soon. Perhaps they will get the 84/84A back or they could operate the 33/33A? Not many services they could get. GCT need to lose the 84/84A and 42/42A as they don't operate them properly.

They've been on BBC Newcastle today about cancellations.

(16 Dec 2021, 6:03 pm)idiot wrote They've been on BBC Newcastle today about cancellations.

Stanley Travel? Or Gateshead Central Taxis?

I'd like to see A-line, Henry Cooper, Phoenix Coaches and Stanley Travel operate more services and GCT operate fewer services.

(16 Dec 2021, 9:13 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Stanley Travel? Or Gateshead Central Taxis?

I'd like to see A-line, Henry Cooper, Phoenix Coaches and Stanley Travel operate more services and GCT operate fewer services.

Unless Nexus have a big change of heart in how they procure services, I don't think we'll see much change. 

Hopefully the fiasco earlier this year will be enough to sway them, but I'll not hold my breath.

(16 Dec 2021, 9:13 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Stanley Travel? Or Gateshead Central Taxis?

I'd like to see A-line, Henry Cooper, Phoenix Coaches and Stanley Travel operate more services and GCT operate fewer services.

Gct put the lowest bid. Tbh I'd like to see them run more services but A Line, Henry Cooper, Phoenix & Stanley Travel don't have a massive fleet or drivers unlike GCT. Plus they are mainly for Scholars or worker contracts