RE: Go North East - Latest
(19 Jan 2014, 5:23 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote Don't take this personally but I disagree. Not every depot is perfect and does have its rare allocations but if you look at Stanley compared to other depots, you will find a lot less branded buses on the wrong routes and more northern buses out replacing branded buses which is good management. Most of the time Olympians are only ever used on services on Weekends and School Holidays. Probably because its a weekend and a lot of people are off work so it will help manage the capacity and more appropriately to get all of the Branded buses in and checked over since this is the only time they really have as the Deckers are used during School Terms.
Well I hope you don't think I'm having a dig either but it's just a quick look over the GNE Facebook page to find complaints down to reliability of X30/X31/X70/X71 and sometimes 43/44 too. It's the nature of the beast with those long distance service though and it's not down to Stanley deopt at all, it's primarily the terrible reliability of the vehicles at Stanley. I understand measures are in place to replace buses that run late at Consett and Stnaley bus stations, something that wouldn't be possible if Stanley depot was to shut. I do agree with odd allocations it's not often to see branded buses off route, excluding Venture Solo's mind you! However is there only four brands (including Venutre) based at Stanley so there less chance of it happening.
That's why you look at depots who are decent for odd allocations across GNE? Stanley, Washington, Winlaton whereas Deptford, Gateshead aren't so good. Why? Smaller depot size with a few brands attached to them, that's another reason as to why I'm dubious of super depots they are good ideas in principle however when it comes to a 'key part of Go North East's business model' (branding) super depots seem to rubbish this with an unmanageable about of brands asccociated with them, leading to more odd allocations.