(21 Aug 2021, 3:05 pm)Adrian wrote I've still not found any today. Even popped over to the Metrocentre, as I knew they still have paper timetables out, but nah... only regular service timetables there.

Edit: I found 2 copies wedged down between the bin and the window on 8295. I'd travelled on five buses before that today, and had asked another couple of drivers on stands whilst I was at the Metrocentre, without any success.

(21 Aug 2021, 4:02 pm)Train8261 wrote The labour mp was saying places in Durham. Which half of them didn't seem to bad

4 weeks is better than putting it out a week before they happen which has happened in the past

Kevan Jones MP? I think he's been the only Durham MP who has spoken out against the changes. Richard Holden MP has been remarkably quiet, given the amount of changes in his area.

Sadly, yet again, the 'protest' comes at a point where the registration has already been submitted. This is why operators should always do a (even non-binding) public consultation prior to any changes being registered, so that they're getting a suitable level of feedback at a point where it is meaningful.

I guarantee if covid had never of happened. We wouldn't have seen any changes like this happened

(21 Aug 2021, 6:15 pm)Train8261 wrote I guarantee if covid had never of happened. We wouldn't have seen any changes like this happened

I personally don't think that Sunderland District would happen or most of them really. However I do believe that the 206 thing would have.

(21 Aug 2021, 3:05 pm)Adrian wrote I've still not found any today. Even popped over to the Metrocentre, as I knew they still have paper timetables out, but nah... only regular service timetables there.

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I was also at the Metrocentre and couldn't find one.

(21 Aug 2021, 6:15 pm)Train8261 wrote I guarantee if covid had never of happened. We wouldn't have seen any changes like this happened

That’s kinda the point. The pandemic has changed life forever but it’s also been used as a wonderful excuse to downsize and make ‘efficiencies’ across the board in many businesses. Whilst there’s no sound industries have suffered it’s a marvellously convenient excuse.

(21 Aug 2021, 8:25 pm)Ambassador wrote That’s kinda the point. The pandemic has changed life forever but it’s also been used as a wonderful excuse to downsize and make ‘efficiencies’ across the board in many businesses. Whilst there’s no sound industries have suffered it’s a marvellously convenient excuse.

I think some changes would've happened albeit in a lesser form. At the end of the day, GNE will have the data at hand we don't even know about.

For example in Sleepy Village and Tanfield Village, many punters might have used the M8 to the Metrocentre then conmected with buses towards Newcastle although some do perhaps just use the M8 for the Metrocentre.

Don't forget, it won't potentially just be GNE making these sort of changes. Arriva Northumbria's PVR for just 'some' of the services pre-covid that come to the top of my head was 91x. If they took a similar approach to GNE, that PVR with a proper set of changes (not just temporary tweaks as seen) could easily be cut by 14x vehicles to 77x. Obviously some "improvements" would be seen and likewise, some customers would be p****d off.

(21 Aug 2021, 8:25 pm)Ambassador wrote That’s kinda the point. The pandemic has changed life forever but it’s also been used as a wonderful excuse to downsize and make ‘efficiencies’ across the board in many businesses. Whilst there’s no sound industries have suffered it’s a marvellously convenient excuse.

That's if you believe Covid is the reason for the cuts though. The Crusader buses were painted last Summer pretty early on and there was enough for the 27 only and the North Tyneside changes got through before the pandemic and they weren't too dissimilar to what's happening elsewhere and from what I'm aware there wasn't any new orders cancelled so the changes for the LEZ would've happened regardless.

Bus operators weren't allowed to make changes during the pandemic so imo it's just delayed because of Covid.

Also to the Arriva comment as I didn't quote beforehand the 356 changes were the early 10's they went through a few variations though so not sure when the last one went through tbh with the 56, X6 then the final 54 as of now believe it came with the 52 after the infamous shambles of the X4, X5/X6 diversion around the world farce.

(21 Aug 2021, 9:35 pm)Storx wrote That's if you believe Covid is the reason for the cuts though. The Crusader buses were painted last Summer pretty early on and there was enough for the 27 only and the North Tyneside changes got through before the pandemic and they weren't too dissimilar to what's happening elsewhere

The E400MMC allocation (11 out of 15 to Consett) was interesting considering that the new PVR for the X30's and X70's will be 11.

(21 Aug 2021, 6:20 pm)Keeiajs wrote I personally don't think that Sunderland District would happen or most of them really. However I do believe that the 206 thing would have.

Sunderland District is just a Micky mouse name. GNE have just produced the millionth iteration of their timetables . Maybe they should roll back to pre1986.  Looking at those timetables, all I see is a vast and integrated service.

(21 Aug 2021, 3:05 pm)Adrian wrote I've still not found any today. Even popped over to the Metrocentre, as I knew they still have paper timetables out, but nah... only regular service timetables there.

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A 5-figure amount of these were printed and put on every bus in the fleet last week.

Anecdotally I saw a bus enthusiast get on a Riverside bus last week and put a good handful in his bag. I also noticed them being sold on eBay by a bus enthusiast.

I’m not against enthusiasts taking a copy because it’s an important part of history - but I’d suggest the issue isn’t the lack of booklets being made available, it’s the fact a functional document for those unable to access this information online is being taken for some enthusiasts to profiteer upon.


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I mentioned a few months ago curtailing GNE buses at gateshead to ease congestion in Newcastle and the condemnation i got in replies ...... now a woman who uses the 1a to get from home to probably work complains about her service being cancelled and the same people on here are saying she can change at Newcastle... she can change gateshead!! If i know how to do it I would put a shaking head emoji

(22 Aug 2021, 6:49 am)Dan wrote A 5-figure amount of these were printed and put on every bus in the fleet last week.

Anecdotally I saw a bus enthusiast get on a Riverside bus last week and put a good handful in his bag. I also noticed them being sold on eBay by a bus enthusiast.

I’m not against enthusiasts taking a copy because it’s an important part of history - but I’d suggest the issue isn’t the lack of booklets being made available, it’s the fact a functional document for those unable to access this information online is being taken for some enthusiasts to profiteer upon.

Or don't want to  It's important that the choice remains there, which is why I was pleased when paper timetables were introduced, after seemingly being abandoned some 18 months previous. 

It's a shame if multiple copies are being picked up by enthusiasts, with no other purpose than to make a profit on eBay, but I guess the only way to stop that is if GNE themselves were to list them at the cost of postage only. It'd sharp put the timetable bandits out of business.

I did however notice that some buses I used on the first run of the day had none of these booklets either. I'd suggest that they're not being stocked en-mass on buses, because there's really no practical place to put them. They're too big for the standard timetable holders, and if they are put anywhere else, they'll most likely end up on the floor. Probably why the copy I found was chucked between the bin and the window on a Versa.

Will the 47/47A gets it own route box on the GNE site because atm, you have to go in to the changes to access the 47/47A timetable.

Maybe if some notices were put up on buses noting the service changes like they did years ago, maybe just maybe the word would spread, a brief explanation of the changes for people to see on the bus would be cheaper than the novels being printed and it would be their for all to see, with the changes around the local area for each depot specifically with a bit more detail than the services out of that depots operating area, not all pensioners have internet access and some think the web is something spiders make, putting the passenger information on board buses would be cheap, easy to change and be very beneficial to all passenger

(21 Aug 2021, 9:35 pm)Storx wrote That's if you believe Covid is the reason for the cuts though. The Crusader buses were painted last Summer pretty early on and there was enough for the 27 only and the North Tyneside changes got through before the pandemic and they weren't too dissimilar to what's happening elsewhere and from what I'm aware there wasn't any new orders cancelled so the changes for the LEZ would've happened regardless.

Bus operators weren't allowed to make changes during the pandemic so imo it's just delayed because of Covid.

Also to the Arriva comment as I didn't quote beforehand the 356 changes were the early 10's they went through a few variations though so not sure when the last one went through tbh with the 56, X6 then the final 54 as of now believe it came with the 52 after the infamous shambles of the X4, X5/X6 diversion around the world farce.

Don't forget the X8/X9 fiasco as well and the even worse service that replaced them

(22 Aug 2021, 10:34 am)Adrian wrote Or don't want to  It's important that the choice remains there, which is why I was pleased when paper timetables were introduced, after seemingly being abandoned some 18 months previous. 

It's a shame if multiple copies are being picked up by enthusiasts, with no other purpose than to make a profit on eBay, but I guess the only way to stop that is if GNE themselves were to list them at the cost of postage only. It'd sharp put the timetable bandits out of business.

I did however notice that some buses I used on the first run of the day had none of these booklets either. I'd suggest that they're not being stocked en-mass on buses, because there's really no practical place to put them. They're too big for the standard timetable holders, and if they are put anywhere else, they'll most likely end up on the floor. Probably why the copy I found was chucked between the bin and the window on a Versa.

Due to their size, they should be getting placed in the Metro newspaper box (as what GNE did with the A4 printed emergency timetable booklets provided throughout the pandemic). I wonder if in some of your experiences, newspapers have gone in on top of the booklets, rather than placed back on the top? On buses which don't have a Metro newspaper box (i.e. Optare Solo), they should be on the front bulkhead near the driver.

(22 Aug 2021, 1:06 pm)Dan wrote Due to their size, they should be getting placed in the Metro newspaper box (as what GNE did with the A4 printed emergency timetable booklets provided throughout the pandemic). I wonder if in some of your experiences, newspapers have gone in on top of the booklets, rather than placed back on the top? On buses which don't have a Metro newspaper box (i.e. Optare Solo), they should be on the front bulkhead near the driver.

Thought that might be the case Monday to Friday, when the Metro is distributed, but nothing but empty boxes on Saturday.

I checked three of the Washington Solos after seeing your post, as I was out already, but nothing at all on the bulkheads of those buses. I've got a few first trips of the day to do next week, so I'll make sure I have a good rummage around in the Metro newspaper box and put them on the top if I find any. 

Picked up one of the new X45/X46 timetable at Metrocentre

Anyone know what the 47 is being branded as & what buses they will use?

(15 Aug 2021, 12:43 am)omnicity4659 wrote Almost. Red with a sand-coloured rear is what I've seen. Also named "Red Kite Ranger".

(22 Aug 2021, 5:15 pm)Keeiajs wrote Anyone know what the 47 is being branded as & what buses they will use?

The mock-up of the livery I've seen is on a StreetDeck, however I've since heard rumours of other double deckers being used instead.

(22 Aug 2021, 6:49 pm)omnicity4659 wrote The mock-up of the livery I've seen is on a StreetDeck, however I've since heard rumours of other double deckers being used instead.

Idk what else they would use, unless they displace a set of G2's for Streetdecks.

(22 Aug 2021, 12:41 pm)N1cholas wrote Maybe if some notices were put up on buses noting the service changes like they did years ago, maybe just maybe the word would spread, a brief explanation of the changes for people to see on the bus would be cheaper than the novels being printed and it would be their for all to see, with the changes around the local area for each depot specifically with a bit more detail than the services out of that depots operating area, not all pensioners have internet access and some think the web is something spiders make, putting the passenger information on board buses would be cheap, easy to change and be very beneficial to all passenger

That service change book is one of the strangest ones I’ve ever seen, the front bit comes across like a corporate presentation dished out at the end of the year to staff and shareholders. I bet if customers noticed it on board they still might not take one.

I don’t know why they didn’t just do a service changes leaflet, that actually focuses on the service changes including the title on the front. All that positive spin at the front probably doesn’t mean much when you get into the back and find your service is either reduced in frequency or withdrawn

(22 Aug 2021, 9:54 pm)))Wybus wrote That service change book is one of the strangest ones I’ve ever seen, the front bit comes across like a corporate presentation dished out at the end of the year to staff and shareholders. I bet if customers noticed it on board they still might not take one.

I don’t know why they didn’t just do a service changes leaflet, that actually focuses on the service changes including the title on the front. All that positive spin at the front probably doesn’t mean much when you get into the back and find your service is either reduced in frequency or withdrawn

Assuming you actually find a bus that has any of them on board...I think there have been a grand total of two people finding one reported on here despite the hot air around these changes being fully supported by printed material.  I finally did manage to get hold of one today - when the driver of a Voltra gave me their dog-eared copy as they hadn't seen any on the buses and there were of course none on theirs.  This was after asking the driver of another service (which I won't identify) who was great and had a look for me and was really vocal (un-prompted other than me asking if they had a service change leaflet) about what they viewed as a disgraceful lack of customer info on board the vehicles.  I was surprised they were so critical of the company, but can fully understand why given the multiple examples on here of being being unable to source either the changes booklet or any of the timetables - and they know they will be the ones getting it in the neck off the customers in less than a fortnight.  Add to this that even the website still shows the old pdfs (if any at all) for some services (after changing the date) and from the outside looking in this does seem an amateurish attempt by GNE to communicate some fairly huge network changes.

I got one about a week ago on the 1A and there were about 4 of them there

(22 Aug 2021, 10:14 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Assuming you actually find a bus that has any of them on board...I think there have been a grand total of two people finding one reported on here despite the hot air around these changes being fully supported by printed material.  I finally did manage to get hold of one today - when the driver of a Voltra gave me their dog-eared copy as they hadn't seen any on the buses and there were of course none on theirs.  This was after asking the driver of another service (which I won't identify) who was great and had a look for me and was really vocal (un-prompted other than me asking if they had a service change leaflet) about what they viewed as a disgraceful lack of customer info on board the vehicles.  I was surprised they were so critical of the company, but can fully understand why given the multiple examples on here of being being unable to source either the changes booklet or any of the timetables - and they know they will be the ones getting it in the neck off the customers in less than a fortnight.  Add to this that even the website still shows the old pdfs (if any at all) for some services (after changing the date) and from the outside looking in this does seem an amateurish attempt by GNE to communicate some fairly huge network changes.

How ridiculous.

Whilst not denying that there are a small number of things yet to be done, Go North East are doing way more than other operators would for these service changes. Are Stagecoach and Arriva producing paper timetable leaflets at all?!

A five-figure sum of these booklets were printed and made available on every bus in the fleet. I have mentioned previously that I know of enthusiasts taking not just one but several of these, and I have also spotted them for sale on eBay. It may be that there has also been a genuine higher demand for these than expected and perhaps Go North East ought to have ordered more, but in one breath we’re hearing a general opinion that this booklet is useless and full of corporate drivel, and in the next we’re seeing several comments that they’re difficult to get a hold of, so there’s clearly been some demand for them.

Enough posters were printed for every bus in the fleet, and every bus with a next stop announcement TFT monitor is also showing a notice. There are regular social media posts about the upcoming changes, and they have been on the website for weeks. The journey planner on the website/app and “live timetables” were updated back then, and PDFs of the timetables (which are proven to get a very low number of views on the website) are slowly being drip fed through once converted from print format to web format.

Not every timetable has been printed yet (it is peak holiday season across all industries) - those that have are distributed on buses already and are being followed up with subsequent print batches on a weekly basis. Go North East is working with Nexus to try and resurrect racks in bus stations but those discussions are still ongoing.

Not withstanding all that, there have been some pretty major last minute changes following further consultation with local authorities. Bearing in mind these changes have been known about at local authority officer level for some six months, and, contrary to comments on social media, there has been a massive amount of consultation with local authorities, politicians and other stakeholders, these changes were only being requested AFTER the registrations were submitted, Go North East is doing a pretty damn good job during trying times. It’s peak holiday season with many colleagues needing to cancel their holidays just to get this information out to customers in good time, as well as work bloody long (12-16 hour) days (and won’t get paid for these extra hours nor likely get the time back).

It takes roughly half a day to typeset a timetable, and probably another half a day to produce a map. It then takes an hour or two to proof-check the leaflet and its content (depending on how in depth you proof-check the times). Work technically can’t commence until after registrations have been submitted (although were in this instance given the sheer volume of changes), so I will let you do the maths of how many services are changing (and hence how much time this would take to do) vs the 56 days for the registration period.

In my opinion your comments are outlandish and in the main unfounded.


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(23 Aug 2021, 4:28 am)Dan wrote Not withstanding all that, there have been some pretty major last minute changes following further consultation with local authorities. Bearing in mind these changes have been known about at local authority officer level for some six months, and, contrary to comments on social media, there has been a massive amount of consultation with local authorities, politicians and other stakeholders, these changes were only being requested AFTER the registrations were submitted, Go North East is doing a pretty damn good job during trying times. It’s peak holiday season with many colleagues needing to cancel their holidays just to get this information out to customers in good time, as well as work bloody long (12-16 hour) days (and won’t get paid for these extra hours nor likely get the time back).

Why would they request changes be made before the public have been informed?
That would rid them of the opportunity to go to the newspapers and cry about how bad GNE are and how much they care about the people!

If they did that work behind the scenes then the public will never know and they won't get the recognition they 'deserve'

(22 Aug 2021, 10:14 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Assuming you actually find a bus that has any of them on board...I think there have been a grand total of two people finding one reported on here despite the hot air around these changes being fully supported by printed material.  I finally did manage to get hold of one today - when the driver of a Voltra gave me their dog-eared copy as they hadn't seen any on the buses and there were of course none on theirs.  This was after asking the driver of another service (which I won't identify) who was great and had a look for me and was really vocal (un-prompted other than me asking if they had a service change leaflet) about what they viewed as a disgraceful lack of customer info on board the vehicles.  I was surprised they were so critical of the company, but can fully understand why given the multiple examples on here of being being unable to source either the changes booklet or any of the timetables - and they know they will be the ones getting it in the neck off the customers in less than a fortnight.  Add to this that even the website still shows the old pdfs (if any at all) for some services (after changing the date) and from the outside looking in this does seem an amateurish attempt by GNE to communicate some fairly huge network changes.

Issues aside with the difficulties of finding one (although pleased you finally did!), I have to disagree about the lack of customer info. Every bus I've travelled on over the past week has had the poster up about it, which in my opinion is enough to prompt someone to find out further information. You wouldn't just stick your fingers in your ears and pretend it's not happening, if you couldn't find a booklet on board. You'd either go online (if you can) or you'd give them a call, and I'd hope customer services would be more than willing to post a booklet out for those who cannot get online.

The timetables on the website also work fine, if you change the date to one in the future. This is a much better (and accessible) way of presenting a timetable.

(23 Aug 2021, 4:28 am)Dan wrote Enough posters were printed for every bus in the fleet, and every bus with a next stop announcement TFT monitor is also showing a notice. There are regular social media posts about the upcoming changes, and they have been on the website for weeks. The journey planner on the website/app and “live timetables” were updated back then, and PDFs of the timetables (which are proven to get a very low number of views on the website) are slowly being drip fed through once converted from print format to web format.

Not every timetable has been printed yet (it is peak holiday season across all industries) - those that have are distributed on buses already and are being followed up with subsequent print batches on a weekly basis. Go North East is working with Nexus to try and resurrect racks in bus stations but those discussions are still ongoing.

Not withstanding all that, there have been some pretty major last minute changes following further consultation with local authorities. Bearing in mind these changes have been known about at local authority officer level for some six months, and, contrary to comments on social media, there has been a massive amount of consultation with local authorities, politicians and other stakeholders, these changes were only being requested AFTER the registrations were submitted, Go North East is doing a pretty damn good job during trying times. It’s peak holiday season with many colleagues needing to cancel their holidays just to get this information out to customers in good time, as well as work bloody long (12-16 hour) days (and won’t get paid for these extra hours nor likely get the time back).

It takes roughly half a day to typeset a timetable, and probably another half a day to produce a map. It then takes an hour or two to proof-check the leaflet and its content (depending on how in depth you proof-check the times). Work technically can’t commence until after registrations have been submitted (although were in this instance given the sheer volume of changes), so I will let you do the maths of how many services are changing (and hence how much time this would take to do) vs the 56 days for the registration period.

In my opinion your comments are outlandish and in the main unfounded.

The posters are certainly visible. It's what prompted me to ask about the booklet in the first place, so clearly doing their job. 

I do agree that a lot of the comments are unfair and some of it is certainly down to resistance to change, but it does surprise me that the biggest stakeholder for any bus operator (the customer) is still missing from the consultation process. Asking customers who use the service is always going to get you a more reflective response than an officer at a Council or local Councillors, both of whom are unlikely to actually use the bus services impacted.

This isn't one operator though; it's something the industry need to improve on as a whole, and hopefully something that will be outlined in customer charters drawn up under the impending enhanced partnership schemes.

(23 Aug 2021, 7:59 am)streetdeckfan wrote Why would they request changes be made before the public have been informed?
That would rid them of the opportunity to go to the newspapers and cry about how bad GNE are and how much they care about the people!

If they did that work behind the scenes then the public will never know and they won't get the recognition they 'deserve'

To be fair, casework for Councillors and MPs is largely reactive, so a lot of them 'crying about how bad GNE are', will be in reaction to receiving a lot of correspondence from angry constituents. If, as above, consultation included the biggest stakeholder (the customer), this could be picked up at the consultation stage. 

LNER and Transpennine Express, for example, are consulting with the public now on May 2022 changes. A proposal is presented, and feedback is requested. It's no more complicated than that.

(23 Aug 2021, 4:28 am)Dan wrote How ridiculous.

Whilst not denying that there are a small number of things yet to be done, Go North East are doing way more than other operators would for these service changes. Are Stagecoach and Arriva producing paper timetable leaflets at all?!

A five-figure sum of these booklets were printed and made available on every bus in the fleet. I have mentioned previously that I know of enthusiasts taking not just one but several of these, and I have also spotted them for sale on eBay. It may be that there has also been a genuine higher demand for these than expected and perhaps Go North East ought to have ordered more, but in one breath we’re hearing a general opinion that this booklet is useless and full of corporate drivel, and in the next we’re seeing several comments that they’re difficult to get a hold of, so there’s clearly been some demand for them.

Enough posters were printed for every bus in the fleet, and every bus with a next stop announcement TFT monitor is also showing a notice. There are regular social media posts about the upcoming changes, and they have been on the website for weeks. The journey planner on the website/app and “live timetables” were updated back then, and PDFs of the timetables (which are proven to get a very low number of views on the website) are slowly being drip fed through once converted from print format to web format.

Not every timetable has been printed yet (it is peak holiday season across all industries) - those that have are distributed on buses already and are being followed up with subsequent print batches on a weekly basis. Go North East is working with Nexus to try and resurrect racks in bus stations but those discussions are still ongoing.

Not withstanding all that, there have been some pretty major last minute changes following further consultation with local authorities. Bearing in mind these changes have been known about at local authority officer level for some six months, and, contrary to comments on social media, there has been a massive amount of consultation with local authorities, politicians and other stakeholders, these changes were only being requested AFTER the registrations were submitted, Go North East is doing a pretty damn good job during trying times. It’s peak holiday season with many colleagues needing to cancel their holidays just to get this information out to customers in good time, as well as work bloody long (12-16 hour) days (and won’t get paid for these extra hours nor likely get the time back).

It takes roughly half a day to typeset a timetable, and probably another half a day to produce a map. It then takes an hour or two to proof-check the leaflet and its content (depending on how in depth you proof-check the times). Work technically can’t commence until after registrations have been submitted (although were in this instance given the sheer volume of changes), so I will let you do the maths of how many services are changing (and hence how much time this would take to do) vs the 56 days for the registration period.

In my opinion your comments are outlandish and in the main unfounded.


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Part of my message was actually relaying the comments of GNEs own drivers, but yes let's ignore that.  Enthusiasts must have been taking an awful lot to have gobbled up somewhere between 10-99k.  Wonder how many have been binned along with the surplus Metro newspapers that may have been burying the (why produce a booklet with no means of distributing effectively either on board or elsewhere - surely something that fit in existing leaflet holders would've been sensible).

Surprising the pdfs are unpopular - personally find the website format ones harder to navigate, especially on smaller devices.

Perfectly understandable not to have every single leaflet produced - however am yet to see any new timetables on any vehicle.  Most of them are driving around with empty leaflet racks and those which have leaflets are the ice cream adverts rather than anything useful.

Re other operators, yes Stagecoach are producing printed leaflets for service changes and these have been readily available on vehicles for a while (but they also arent upending their network just now).  No idea on Arriva.

(23 Aug 2021, 9:29 am)Adrian wrote Issues aside with the difficulties of finding one (although pleased you finally did!), I have to disagree about the lack of customer info. Every bus I've travelled on over the past week has had the poster up about it, which in my opinion is enough to prompt someone to find out further information. You wouldn't just stick your fingers in your ears and pretend it's not happening, if you couldn't find a booklet on board. You'd either go online (if you can) or you'd give them a call, and I'd hope customer services would be more than willing to post a booklet out for those who cannot get online.

The timetables on the website also work fine, if you change the date to one in the future. This is a much better (and accessible) way of presenting a timetable.

Not for all services - which was the point of my post. Unless you check the filename you could well be planning your journey post 5 Sept based on old timetables that are still served up even after changing the date online. Ones that spring to mind as showing incorrect pdf / no pdf are 12, 38, 62..various others last time I looked

Surely the aim of the game is to inform non-passenger of these changes too?
Putting leaflets and brochures in places where passengers go, is all well and good - but if they're wanting to increase numbers and use the changes for a positive (rather than cut costs), then those who would be positively affected by these changes - need to know about them.

The people of Catchgate need to know there's a quicker bus to Newcastle. Then, if that's where they are wanting to go, they know there's now a quicker, potentially more attractive alternative. 
Ditto for those in Murton and needing to get to Durham and the more frequent offer available.

(23 Aug 2021, 4:28 am)Dan wrote Not withstanding all that, there have been some pretty major last minute changes following further consultation with local authorities. Bearing in mind these changes have been known about at local authority officer level for some six months, and, contrary to comments on social media, there has been a massive amount of consultation with local authorities, politicians and other stakeholders, these changes were only being requested AFTER the registrations were submitted, Go North East is doing a pretty damn good job during trying times. It’s peak holiday season with many colleagues needing to cancel their holidays just to get this information out to customers in good time, as well as work bloody long (12-16 hour) days (and won’t get paid for these extra hours nor likely get the time back).

It takes roughly half a day to typeset a timetable, and probably another half a day to produce a map. It then takes an hour or two to proof-check the leaflet and its content (depending on how in depth you proof-check the times). Work technically can’t commence until after registrations have been submitted (although were in this instance given the sheer volume of changes), so I will let you do the maths of how many services are changing (and hence how much time this would take to do) vs the 56 days for the registration period.

I appreaciate this is personal and close to you but...

Surely this was foreseen? You had to know once the changes were publicised that there'd be immediate feedback (good and bad) and potential changes would be required?

It's peak holiday season, simple solution is don't plan changes at this holiday period or plan better.

Colleagues working through holidays and long days is well...welcome to business in a pandemic I guess. However the decision not to pay them is a choice of appalling management and summarises the whole process and general business attitude of many companies these days, as folk do it out of unreturned loyalty.

For me, I sympathise with the Colleagues at the sharp end but its an obvious failure at the top. 

Company sets out mass changes - doesn't plan for mass changes requiring more changes after publicising - lacks resource to implement changes.....root cause? Abject project management - obvious lack of skills within the Team to manage change at any sort of pace.