(25 Jul 2022, 5:14 pm)54APhotography wrote So much for being over staffed from the 24th.I expected that if any Depot got hit with cancellations it would be Washington and Depford with all the new routes/changes to the depots I expect them to have cancellations. One of the old Satwell Parks drove passed while doing Route Learning at Ryhope and although it was just a quick look a lot of the seats were filled with drivers learning the route.
(25 Jul 2022, 6:17 pm)nova347 wrote I expected that if any Depot got hit with cancellations it would be Washington and Depford with all the new routes/changes to the depots I expect them to have cancellations. One of the old Satwell Parks drove passed while doing Route Learning at Ryhope and although it was just a quick look a lot of the seats were filled with drivers learning the route.
(25 Jul 2022, 6:27 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Wow! A bus for route learning with drivers learning the route? Who'da thunk it? You learn something new everyday!What I meant was those drivers learning routes instead of driving services, so if a lot of drivers are busy learning routes then they won't be able to cover cancelled routes.
(25 Jul 2022, 7:00 pm)F114TML wrote Surely that should've been done before the changes, and presumably couldn't because of the chronic staff shortage.
(25 Jul 2022, 7:41 pm)F114TML wrote Yeah, maybe it wasn't a good idea to make massive route changes when they're understaffed. Unfortunately, unlike Stagecoach and Arriva, GNE couldnt really cut frequencies, as many services are hourly, or are in some strange interworking pattern that would cause a massive headache if it were to have a frequency cut.
(25 Jul 2022, 9:52 pm)F114TML wrote What? Having central government throw money at them endlessly?
Probably not unless the reason they can't recruit enough drivers and have trouble retaining them is because they don't pay enough.
(26 Jul 2022, 7:24 am)Storx wrote This the same TFL which is one of the lowest funded public transport networks in the world and one the best aswell?Agreed. Services are a shambles and barely anything connects. The excuse of Covid is wearing thin now, the decline has been set for decades, cherry picking for shareholders is not the way forward at all.
We already franchise a large chunk of the network up here (whether that's 24/7 or all day) anyway, the catch 22 the profitable routes which could be coming back towards Nexus and funding some of these routes are getting paid out to shareholders. Just to put it into perspective I believe the 5, 9, 24, 35A, 39/39A/39B, 61A and 62 are all tax payer funded at Deptford alone one way or another with nothing in return.
We have by far the worst scenario right now.
(25 Jul 2022, 7:00 pm)F114TML wrote Surely that should've been done before the changes, and presumably couldn't because of the chronic staff shortage.
(27 Jul 2022, 2:54 pm)Jack Gill wrote The "considerable gaps in service combined with extra passenger loads" has started again, although no idea what service/s.https://twitter.com/NELiveTraffic?t=AujC...k2eRSjLzDA&s=09 can't be in any of these places where the cameras are.
(27 Jul 2022, 3:37 pm)Andreos1 wrote https://twitter.com/NELiveTraffic?t=AujC...k2eRSjLzDA&s=09 can't be in any of these places where the cameras are.The 8 runs along the A1231, and the 73 used to, and god knows how many buses go along the A167/Durham Road.
There's no buses along those roads! Just queues of cars going places buses do not.
(27 Jul 2022, 4:11 pm)F114TML wrote Ive already mentioned mam in the branding thread, but I'm going to mention her again:I think this is for most people, its the flexability, the ability to leave your house whenever you want, especially buses being reduced frequency people just don't want to wait 30 mins for a bus, they want to be able to go out whenever they want
She will only ever get the bus to work if she can't drive (ie it's snowing). Getting there's fine because the bus gets there at a reasonable time, coming back she'll try to get a lift - it's quite a walk from where she works (well, about 10 minutes) to where the bus stop to come home is (the bus there stops directly outside). How many people are like her - choose to drive despite the bus being an option?
(27 Jul 2022, 4:11 pm)F114TML wrote Ive already mentioned mam in the branding thread, but I'm going to mention her again:
She will only ever get the bus to work if she can't drive (ie it's snowing). Getting there's fine because the bus gets there at a reasonable time, coming back she'll try to get a lift - it's quite a walk from where she works (well, about 10 minutes) to where the bus stop to come home is (the bus there stops directly outside). How many people are like her - choose to drive despite the bus being an option?
EDIT: Just checked and since the timetable changed, the bus gets to work 30-45 mins before she starts (depending on her start time) and leaves 30-35 mins after she finishes - not ideal really.
(27 Jul 2022, 3:50 pm)F114TML wrote The 8 runs along the A1231, and the 73 used to, and god knows how many buses go along the A167/Durham Road.They hadn't been uploaded at the time of posting
(27 Jul 2022, 5:29 pm)Unber43 wrote Tomorrow there isn't an X20 for two hours.
4 X1's during rush hour
mutliple 4's in a row several times
Multiple 20's cancelled in a row several times
2 8's cancelled in a row
Several 39A's from Houghton cancelled in a row (i think its 4) which means about a 5 hour wait
(27 Jul 2022, 5:29 pm)Unber43 wrote Tomorrow there isn't an X20 for two hours.So was withdrawn the 55 a good idea now
4 X1's during rush hour
mutliple 4's in a row several times
Multiple 20's cancelled in a row several times
2 8's cancelled in a row
Several 39A's from Houghton cancelled in a row (i think its 4) which means about a 5 hour wait
(27 Jul 2022, 6:18 pm)Aaron21 wrote So was withdrawn the 55 a good idea nowThese are the X1's which aren't running from Peterlee (tho some might start from the Galleries, but for people in Peterlee and the majority of people using the X1 is basically useless)
(27 Jul 2022, 5:21 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I have a friend that lives in Jarrow and works in Newcastle (a few minutes walk from Haymarket), and she chooses to drive in and out of Newcastle during rush hour, sitting in traffic for longer than it takes her to drive, because she says the Metro is vile and it's packed. And to be fair, I don't blame her. I'd rather sit in the comfort of my own car, stuck in traffic, over a packed bus/metro having to sit next to someone.Yeah, I mainly use the Metro for leisure but I did use it at peak times for a work experience placement in college and it wasn't the most comfortable, but I survived and it wasn't really rammed (those single seats near the wheelchair bay were nice). Although having said that, I don't generally mind standing on a Metro for 30-40 minutes but I think that's just me, as I generally don't like standing on buses.