Haven't seen any Washington and Deptford cancellations posted for a couple of days now, but I notice that the Sunday timetables are still down as being applicable on a Saturday for services out of those depots. 

I wonder if we're expecting a sudden spike of sickness over the weekend, or whether we'll start to see normal service resume?

n.b. most cancellations today are for Consett and Riverside. Although Consett are running a Sunday timetable on some services, Riverside are sticking with a normal Saturday timetable as far as I can see.

Could imagine it will be harder to fill gaps with overtime on a weekend. Mon - Fri it's easier, Saturday people tend to be busier ie at the football in either Sunderland or Newcastle and they won't be working.

Be interesting to see if there's a flip with the depots who are generally Sunderland supporters being worse than the Newcastle depots this weekend since it's the first time Newcastle haven't been playing at home for a few weeks.

Edit: It's scheduled to go back to normal from the 30/01/2022 see https://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/timetables?tid=All - Under the 9, 20 etc.

Could imagine it will be harder to fill gaps with overtime on a weekend. Mon - Fri it's easier, Saturday people tend to be busier ie at the football in either Sunderland or Newcastle and they won't be working.

Be interesting to see if there's a flip with the depots who are generally Sunderland supporters being worse than the Newcastle depots this weekend since it's the first time Newcastle haven't been playing at home for a few weeks.

Edit: It's scheduled to go back to normal from the 30/01/2022 see https://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/timetables?tid=All - Under the 9, 20 etc.

Don't see the X1/61/60/82 etc.

Don't see the X1/61/60/82 etc.

X1 is definitely there - https://www.nexus.org.uk/sites/default/f...300122.pdf (The new timetable comes in from the same date).

The 60/61 is there aswell - https://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/timetables?tid=21&title=60%2F61

X1 is definitely there - https://www.nexus.org.uk/sites/default/f...300122.pdf (The new timetable comes in from the same date).

The 60/61 is there aswell - https://www.nexus.org.uk/bus/timetables?tid=21&title=60%2F61

82 is aswell, they just weren't under the mains section on the website they have to be searched individually which is probs annoying/people don't actually think of it (like me).

Solo's on 39s packed and standing. Given the number of Streetlite parked at Deptford, you would have thought some sense would prevail running Sunday services on a Saturday

Solo's on 39s packed and standing. Given the number of Streetlite parked at Deptford, you would have thought some sense would prevail running Sunday services on a Saturday

I would argue same with the 20, or atleast every other one.

I would argue same with the 20, or atleast every other one.

And there's a home match on. Listening to the elderly passengers they really are fuming, I'm guessing there's nobody (nexus) willing to talk to people at Park Lane, réaction today is very bad.

And there's a home match on. Listening to the elderly passengers they really are fuming, I'm guessing there's nobody (nexus) willing to talk to people at Park Lane, réaction today is very bad.

Really, there should have been a lot more thought into allocations. 

The one day there isn't a streetlite on the 39/A. The one day.

So the 78 which is everyhour, has been cancelled 13:00 from Sunderland to Consett. 


Also there was a "Hygiene Incident" on the 65, anyone know?

Solo's on 39s packed and standing. Given the number of Streetlite parked at Deptford, you would have thought some sense would prevail running Sunday services on a Saturday

Streetlites should be allocated, not Solos.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Streetlites should be allocated, not Solos.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The old folk are moaning about not having the phones the youngsters have.. Mind I noticed a distinct lack of help at Park Lane. Gave several timetable info which placated them, but where are the Nexus wallies that jump out whenever a camera is pointed.....

The old folk are moaning about not having the phones the youngsters have.. Mind I noticed a distinct lack of help at Park Lane. Gave several timetable info which placated them, but where are the Nexus wallies that jump out whenever a camera is pointed.....

I don’t see why it’s the responsibility of a public body to support a private companies decision to cut its routes 

Get GNE bods out the office to do it

Well played GNE for having Streetlites on the 20 every 30 mins on a match day. Then they wonder why people aren't using buses.

#buildingbackbetter #busesfullandpassengersstuckinsunderland

I don’t see why it’s the responsibility of a public body to support a private companies decision to cut its routes 

Get GNE bods out the office to do it

Nexus staff the Interchange, it is the staff on hand's responsibility to engage with customers and pass on any changes or information which would assist. Nexus soon spout about who is in charge of their wind tunnel of a tip of an interchange, but bugger off when joe public are not happy..

Solo's on 39s packed and standing. Given the number of Streetlite parked at Deptford, you would have thought some sense would prevail running Sunday services on a Saturday

And there's a home match on. Listening to the elderly passengers they really are fuming, I'm guessing there's nobody (nexus) willing to talk to people at Park Lane, réaction today is very bad.

Looks like a full PVR of Solos too. If its been planned Streetlites, as Dan suggests above, it makes you wonder how many people have ignored the fact the wrong bus is out and that there's a football match on... it's not exactly a big secret in a small City Centre like Sunderland. 

Someone posted this banner from the website onto Facebook... due to our decision to reduce service frequency today, you'll have to wait even longer than what's in a Sunday timetable. What happened to "congestion busting buses"? 

 

Also there was a "Hygiene Incident" on the 65, anyone know?

More to the point, why do you need to know?!

I don’t see why it’s the responsibility of a public body to support a private companies decision to cut its routes 

Get GNE bods out the office to do it

I agree. If the operator is happy to leave people high and dry, I don't know why a public body should step in.

I know they've made clear that they're running these timetables on a temporary basis "in light of ongoing staffing challenges", but it should have been seen as vital that a customer service presence is available across all channels. Nobody in bus stations, no one on the phone and no one covering Social Media. Customers are being left high and dry.

Looks like a full PVR of Solos too. If its been planned Streetlites, as Dan suggests above, it makes you wonder how many people have ignored the fact the wrong bus is out and that there's a football match on... it's not exactly a big secret in a small City Centre like Sunderland. 

Someone posted this banner from the website onto Facebook... due to our decision to reduce service frequency today, you'll have to wait even longer than what's in a Sunday timetable. What happened to "congestion busting buses"? 

 


More to the point, why do you need to know?!


I agree. If the operator is happy to leave people high and dry, I don't know why a public body should step in.

I know they've made clear that they're running these timetables on a temporary basis "in light of ongoing staffing challenges", but it should have been seen as vital that a customer service presence is available across all channels. Nobody in bus stations, no one on the phone and no one covering Social Media. Customers are being left high and dry.

That's the other issue with running Sunday timetables, the services are expected to keep to time on a timetable designed in mind with less traffic being on the road and likely is having to stop more frequently and for longer at stops falling behind the schedule and causing delays.

Try being a driver, it's a complete shambles and where's the gaffers on a weekend...........

Someone needs a bollocking for today and it might seem minor in the scale of things but…how many folk have been driven to taxis or lifts as a result of the issues in Sunderland?

We’re getting to the point where even people who have no other option are looking elsewhere. Not even a Roger French post can save it…

And as for the lack of social media today…just unacceptable. You divert resources and you cover a weekend surely? Poor management. Tho GNE social media is again drifting to its passive aggressive style from a few years ago.

Try being a driver, it's a complete shambles and where's the gaffers on a weekend...........

Beamish? Accrington? Having Indian meals? Playing golf?

---

Someone needs a bollocking for today and it might seem minor in the scale of things but…how many folk have been driven to taxis or lifts as a result of the issues in Sunderland?

We’re getting to the point where even people who have no other option are looking elsewhere. Not even a Roger French post can save it…

And as for the lack of social media today…just unacceptable. You divert resources and you cover a weekend surely? Poor management. Tho GNE social media is again drifting to its passive aggressive style from a few years ago.

Said since day one of implementing these changes that customer service needs stepping up. It's painfully obvious that when customers need answers, reassurance or info - that the people who can provide it, are available. 
Except for some reason, they're not.

I've noticed the change in tone with the social media pages.
Maybe there needs to be an old school onslaught from NEB members. NEB Dan, Clinton, Percy Main, Fyacbuk Polis and the others too.
Maybe we will see Andy Clifford make a return!

I agree. If the operator is happy to leave people high and dry, I don't know why a public body should step in.

I know they've made clear that they're running these timetables on a temporary basis "in light of ongoing staffing challenges", but it should have been seen as vital that a customer service presence is available across all channels. Nobody in bus stations, no one on the phone and no one covering Social Media. Customers are being left high and dry.

I was at Park Lane yesterday morning around 11am and there was a Go North East bus station supervisor present as well as a Nexus bus station supervisor - not sure if both were on their breaks at the time 54APhotography was at Park Lane or dealing with something else in the bus station, but both were definitely present. Additional supervisors employed by Go North East have been in place at all major bus stations now for a couple of months, in order to provide additional support and guidance, to both customers and the driving team.

A couple of weeks ago when the reduced service levels were first brought in, I noticed that Go North East had printed a poster and placed this on each stand at Park Lane, with guidance on which services were running Sunday timetables. Can't recall from being in Park Lane yesterday whether they were still there or not.

It goes without saying that there's more that could, and should, be done - but customers aren't being left completely hung out to dry as has been suggested in a couple of the recent posts on this thread.

Someone needs a bollocking for today and it might seem minor in the scale of things but…how many folk have been driven to taxis or lifts as a result of the issues in Sunderland?

I used Go North East buses in Sunderland yesterday, both before and after the match, and had absolutely no trouble. Buses were busier than usual, but it was no where near the carnage that is being alluded here... Or perhaps I got lucky.

Beamish? Accrington? Having Indian meals? Playing golf?

---

Said since day one of implementing these changes that customer service needs stepping up. It's painfully obvious that when customers need answers, reassurance or info - that the people who can provide it, are available. 
Except for some reason, they're not.

I've noticed the change in tone with the social media pages.
Maybe there needs to be an old school onslaught from NEB members. NEB Dan, Clinton, Percy Main, Fyacbuk Polis and the others too.
Maybe we will see Andy Clifford make a return!

Something I've notices on their TWITTER feed... they don't seem to get and replies. I remember when any post would get the 56 hasn't turned up, my £40 quid mobile pass wouldn't work and the bus went passed without stopping etc etc.  Just looked now and the 2 post from the morning and the last several from yesterday have 1 reply ( X1 been turned at gateshead leaving Newcastle passengers screwed)  is the only one.  Am i missing something or are cutomers just no engaging with GNE customers services??

I was at Park Lane yesterday morning around 11am and there was a Go North East bus station supervisor present as well as a Nexus bus station supervisor - not sure if both were on their breaks at the time 54APhotography was at Park Lane or dealing with something else in the bus station, but both were definitely present. Additional supervisors employed by Go North East have been in place at all major bus stations now for a couple of months, in order to provide additional support and guidance, to both customers and the driving team.

A couple of weeks ago when the reduced service levels were first brought in, I noticed that Go North East had printed a poster and placed this on each stand at Park Lane, with guidance on which services were running Sunday timetables. Can't recall from being in Park Lane yesterday whether they were still there or not.

It goes without saying that there's more that could, and should, be done - but customers aren't being left completely hung out to dry as has been suggested in a couple of the recent posts on this thread.


I used Go North East buses in Sunderland yesterday, both before and after the match, and had absolutely no trouble. Buses were busier than usual, but it was no where near the carnage that is being alluded here... Or perhaps I got lucky.

There was no carnage being alluded to Dan, I stated exactly what I saw taking two autistic relatives to the Galleries on a 2. The elderly people were waiting at the 2 stop, the furthest away from the entrance, they said nobody was around to ask, nobody told them about the service reduction and they didn't use phones ,like the youngsters. They were full of hell. And you should know the way old folk chatter, all of them were angry and were told why, told what time their bus would be . I didn't have to do that , but found it preferable to a journey with half a bus full of people slagging off the bus company.
Otherwise my only comment was the one to which you agreed - that Streetlites should have been allocated to the 39.

Something I've notices on their TWITTER feed... they don't seem to get and replies. I remember when any post would get the 56 hasn't turned up, my £40 quid mobile pass wouldn't work and the bus went passed without stopping etc etc.  Just looked now and the 2 post from the morning and the last several from yesterday have 1 reply ( X1 been turned at gateshead leaving Newcastle passengers screwed)  is the only one.  Am i missing something or are cutomers just no engaging with GNE customers services??

I had to unfollow GNE on Twitter as the amount of posts relating to cancellations and disruptions plus promo just absolutely destroyed the timeline making it difficult to find any other posts cos I had to go through multiple posts about cancellations for services I wasn't using daily just became annoying, instead I just inevitably just go there when things go wrong and it confirms my suspicions.

There was no carnage being alluded to Dan, I stated exactly what I saw taking two autistic relatives to the Galleries on a 2. The elderly people were waiting at the 2 stop, the furthest away from the entrance, they said nobody was around to ask, nobody told them about the service reduction and they didn't use phones ,like the youngsters. They were full of hell. And you should know the way old folk chatter, all of them were angry and were told why, told what time their bus would be . I didn't have to do that , but found it preferable to a journey with half a bus full of people slagging off the bus company.
Otherwise my only comment was the one to which you agreed - that Streetlites should have been allocated to the 39.

The truth of the matter however was that there probably was someone around to ask - as I mentioned in my previous post both Nexus and Go North East had supervisors in the interchange, but they tend to be closer to Greggs in between 'walkarounds'. In my experience there tends to be at least one driver on the 'ABC' side of the interchange waiting to relieve an incoming 60/61/62/X6 (especially as the latter two are on Saturday timetables), who would have also been nearby to ask.

If the posters are still up (there's no reason why they would have been taken down), then in print at each stand there's something that tells customers to use the Sunday timetable, which is of course at every stand on the liner.

The point I'm making is that there are options - for people in Park Lane at least - to gain access to the information. There is room for improvement:

• the digital displays could be updated to show Sunday times on a Saturday - but this is an infrastructure issue outside of the operators' control
  
• Customer Services could be open to take phone calls for those customers who do not feel confident enough to use a digital method (website/app), a print method (the bus stop liner), or to ask someone on-site.
  

As we've discussed on many occasions in the past, it comes down to a cost vs benefit situation. Presumably staffing levels in GNE's customer services team decreased when opening hours reduced at the start of the pandemic, making it more difficult to cover weekends without reliance on overtime. Presumably digital displays could be updated, but it would cost a lot of time for local authorities, when, as we know, the situation is changing very regularly for all three operators, with dates often not aligned to each other.

With regards to the negative chitter-chatter - it's commendable you helped those customers - but you'll never completely get away from this. Last weekend I went to Toby Carvery at Barnes Park for breakfast. On arrival, I discovered that they were closed due to staff shortages. There had been posts the previous weekend on social media to advise customers, and there have been posts since. For me, there was no forewarning, and no explanation. I'm not oblivious to the staff shortages being faced in all sectors currently, but I was quite annoyed because it was time and money wasted. I even told a few friends about it (negative chitter-chatter!) I think I have said it previously but the bus industry seems to be facing more criticsm than other sectors who are going through the exact same thing, although this is probably down to there being a reliance on the bus as a public service.

The truth of the matter however was that there probably was someone around to ask - as I mentioned in my previous post both Nexus and Go North East had supervisors in the interchange, but they tend to be closer to Greggs in between 'walkarounds'. In my experience there tends to be at least one driver on the 'ABC' side of the interchange waiting to relieve an incoming 60/61/62/X6 (especially as the latter two are on Saturday timetables), who would have also been nearby to ask.

If the posters are still up (there's no reason why they would have been taken down), then in print at each stand there's something that tells customers to use the Sunday timetable, which is of course at every stand on the liner.

The point I'm making is that there are options - for people in Park Lane at least - to gain access to the information. There is room for improvement:

• the digital displays could be updated to show Sunday times on a Saturday - but this is an infrastructure issue outside of the operators' control
  
• Customer Services could be open to take phone calls for those customers who do not feel confident enough to use a digital method (website/app), a print method (the bus stop liner), or to ask someone on-site.
  

As we've discussed on many occasions in the past, it comes down to a cost vs benefit situation. Presumably staffing levels in GNE's customer services team decreased when opening hours reduced at the start of the pandemic, making it more difficult to cover weekends without reliance on overtime. Presumably digital displays could be updated, but it would cost a lot of time for local authorities, when, as we know, the situation is changing very regularly for all three operators, with dates often not aligned to each other.

With regards to the negative chitter-chatter - it's commendable you helped those customers - but you'll never completely get away from this. Last weekend I went to Toby Carvery at Barnes Park for breakfast. On arrival, I discovered that they were closed due to staff shortages. There had been posts the previous weekend on social media to advise customers, and there have been posts since. For me, there was no forewarning, and no explanation. I'm not oblivious to the staff shortages being faced in all sectors currently, but I was quite annoyed because it was time and money wasted. I even told a few friends about it (negative chitter-chatter!) I think I have said it previously but the bus industry seems to be facing more criticsm than other sectors who are going through the exact same thing, although this is probably down to there being a reliance on the bus as a public service.

I've asked GNE drivers about other services before Dan and 99% of the time your just get a shrug of the shoulders or i haven't a clue.

---

I had to unfollow GNE on Twitter as the amount of posts relating to cancellations and disruptions plus promo just absolutely destroyed the timeline making it difficult to find any other posts cos I had to go through multiple posts about cancellations for services I wasn't using daily just became annoying, instead I just inevitably just go there when things go wrong and it confirms my suspicions.

I acutally thought GNE had turned replies off on their twitter posts as like i say there a zero Reponses on my timeline anyway.

I've asked GNE drivers about other services before Dan and 99% of the time your just get a shrug of the shoulders or i haven't a clue.

I suppose it depends what the question is.

There won't be a single Deptford driver who doesn't know that the majority of the services running from that depot are running to a Sunday service, as ultimately (at short notice, just like the customer information was) it impacted on their rotas - when they were at work, when their days off were, etc.

More difficult to overcome an attitude-based problem, but knowledge shouldn't be an issue in this case.

I've noticed the change in tone with the social media pages.
Maybe there needs to be an old school onslaught from NEB members. NEB Dan, Clinton, Percy Main, Fyacbuk Polis and the others too.
Maybe we will see Andy Clifford make a return!

Sadly, I won't be returning to the GNE social media pages anytime soon. Partially because I'm retired and now a freelance journalist in Pyongyang (an Oxymoron if ever there was one), but mostly because I'm not one of the trusted enthusiasts.......LOL.

I was at Park Lane yesterday morning around 11am and there was a Go North East bus station supervisor present as well as a Nexus bus station supervisor - not sure if both were on their breaks at the time 54APhotography was at Park Lane or dealing with something else in the bus station, but both were definitely present. Additional supervisors employed by Go North East have been in place at all major bus stations now for a couple of months, in order to provide additional support and guidance, to both customers and the driving team.

A couple of weeks ago when the reduced service levels were first brought in, I noticed that Go North East had printed a poster and placed this on each stand at Park Lane, with guidance on which services were running Sunday timetables. Can't recall from being in Park Lane yesterday whether they were still there or not.

It goes without saying that there's more that could, and should, be done - but customers aren't being left completely hung out to dry as has been suggested in a couple of the recent posts on this thread.


I used Go North East buses in Sunderland yesterday, both before and after the match, and had absolutely no trouble. Buses were busier than usual, but it was no where near the carnage that is being alluded here... Or perhaps I got lucky.

There was no one at Eldon Square when I was there mid-day yesterday. No GNE supervisor or Nexus supervisor. Nor was there anyone at the Galleries when I was there in the morning or afternoon. I haven't seen any posters indicating Sunday timetables either, and I was in the Galleries bus station for about 20 minutes in one spell. 

There wasn't anyone at a very busy Houghton-le-Spring, which given every that service that passed through yesterday (apart from the 71) would have been on a Sunday timetable, I'd have hoped would have been recognised as a key place and important to have someone on hand. 

We can talk about cost vs benefit, and whilst I'd agree it regularly comes down to this in business, we shouldn't dismiss obligations that a business has. We know that younger people prefer to use the Internet, Social Media or Apps to communicate, but face-to-face and telephone contact is especially important to the over-70s and to people with impairments. Age UK reported recently that there's still 70% of the over-70s that don't have or use a smartphone. Does a business not have an obligation to remain accessible to these people, especially when operating in an emergency or business continuity situation? 

I'd stand by the comment that customers are being left hung out to dry at present, but that's not to say the situation couldn't be vastly improved. There's one hell of a challenge ahead for operators to rebuild confidence in public transport.

Aside from that, a few observations from when I was out yesterday. Generally speaking, I won't use buses on a Sunday, unless I'm doing something specifically. The timings don't work for me, I'm not a fan of standing round waiting for ages and I begrudge paying the same fee for 1/3 of the service.

• Sunday timetables just aren't suitable for a normal day's service. There's too many peaks, whether it be commuters (if a Sunday timetable even gets you into work on time!), people heading out for football matches, people heading out on the drink or whatever else. 
  
• Every bus I used yesterday was busy, with most seats visible to my eye having been in use. 
  
• I'm still noticing that there is wide-spread hesitation from customers about sitting directly next to a stranger and especially rear-facing to someone. Less so with OAPs, most of whom would consider murder to get in that front row seat at the best of times.
  
• I was surprised at the amount of passengers on an X10 to Newcastle, with the queue at Newgate Street for the return trip down to the zebra crossing, then taking a good 10 minutes to board everyone. Not bad for a service on the ropes.
  
• The X1 is too busy for a half-hourly service on a Saturday and there isn't sufficient room at the Galleries to manage the queue.
  

• I was surprised at the amount of passengers on an X10 to Newcastle, with the queue at Newgate Street for the return trip down to the zebra crossing, then taking a good 10 minutes to board everyone. Not bad for a service on the ropes.
  

All long distance routes are like that. I've seen Arriva's X15/X18 have queues before on a regular basis.

If the X9/X10 are only averaging 30-35 passengers at most, it makes sense to drop the X9 and just have the X10 covering both. That's not to say GNE couldn't get creative in the future and perhaps add half hourly peak short trips to Peterlee etc

There was no one at Eldon Square when I was there mid-day yesterday. No GNE supervisor or Nexus supervisor. Nor was there anyone at the Galleries when I was there in the morning or afternoon. I haven't seen any posters indicating Sunday timetables either, and I was in the Galleries bus station for about 20 minutes in one spell. 

There wasn't anyone at a very busy Houghton-le-Spring, which given every that service that passed through yesterday (apart from the 71) would have been on a Sunday timetable, I'd have hoped would have been recognised as a key place and important to have someone on hand. 

We can talk about cost vs benefit, and whilst I'd agree it regularly comes down to this in business, we shouldn't dismiss obligations that a business has. We know that younger people prefer to use the Internet, Social Media or Apps to communicate, but face-to-face and telephone contact is especially important to the over-70s and to people with impairments. Age UK reported recently that there's still 70% of the over-70s that don't have or use a smartphone. Does a business not have an obligation to remain accessible to these people, especially when operating in an emergency or business continuity situation? 

I'd stand by the comment that customers are being left hung out to dry at present, but that's not to say the situation couldn't be vastly improved. There's one hell of a challenge ahead for operators to rebuild confidence in public transport.

Aside from that, a few observations from when I was out yesterday. Generally speaking, I won't use buses on a Sunday, unless I'm doing something specifically. The timings don't work for me, I'm not a fan of standing round waiting for ages and I begrudge paying the same fee for 1/3 of the service.

• Sunday timetables just aren't suitable for a normal day's service. There's too many peaks, whether it be commuters (if a Sunday timetable even gets you into work on time!), people heading out for football matches, people heading out on the drink or whatever else. 
  
• Every bus I used yesterday was busy, with most seats visible to my eye having been in use. 
  
• I'm still noticing that there is wide-spread hesitation from customers about sitting directly next to a stranger and especially rear-facing to someone. Less so with OAPs, most of whom would consider murder to get in that front row seat at the best of times.
  
• I was surprised at the amount of passengers on an X10 to Newcastle, with the queue at Newgate Street for the return trip down to the zebra crossing, then taking a good 10 minutes to board everyone. Not bad for a service on the ropes.
  
• The X1 is too busy for a half-hourly service on a Saturday and there isn't sufficient room at the Galleries to manage the queue.
  

If you had been at the Galleries for 20 mins you would have noticed not only the posters on the timetable boards but nexus changed all the liners on the boards to show the correct timetables (sunday times on a saturday) so if you didnt notice this then you did not look very well