(08 Nov 2022, 10:41 am)V514DFT wrote Arriva are a joke at the minute

(08 Nov 2022, 12:44 pm)Thomas12 wrote Yeah there wasn’t a 53 from North Shields from around 17:00 to 22:00 - pretty disgraceful really.

[quote="GNE6312" pid='287983' dateline='1667911052']
Apparently there's been gaps of up to four hours on the 52/3/4 yesterday

Every time I come onto this NEB forum it’s like a mirror image of Facebook comments from Arriva and GNE Facebook page, I understand the comments coming from the public/passengers on the Facebook pages , but not on a bus enthusiasts forum, shooting the bus companies down even further, nah wonder Dan doesn’t reply to many messages as it’s the same thing over and over. There’s a shortage of bus drivers, and other things etc…


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The effect of moving the x21 to Riverside is becoming quite apparent. 2 mornings in a row there have been breakdowns, resulting in no bus at all running the entire route from West Auckland. These are the busy morning services used by school kids and students, too, putting more pressure on the shorts and other services.

(08 Nov 2022, 9:09 am)Unber43 wrote Are 20-40 mins delays usual on the 309/310/311?

No they are usually reasonably on time.

However, there are roadworks on route. As well as this, Jesmond Dene Road is closed so a significant amount of traffic is diverting via the Coast Road causing disruption.

(08 Nov 2022, 1:20 pm)cbma06 wrote

(08 Nov 2022, 12:37 pm)GNE6312 wrote Apparently there's been gaps of up to four hours on the 52/3/4 yesterday

Every time I come onto this NEB forum it’s like a mirror image of Facebook comments from Arriva and GNE Facebook page, I understand the comments coming from the public/passengers on the Facebook pages , but not on a bus enthusiasts forum, shooting the bus companies down even further, nah wonder Dan doesn’t reply to many messages as it’s the same thing over and over. There’s a shortage of bus drivers, and other things etc…


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Doesn't seem unreasonable to highlight the fact Arriva are running services with 5 hour gaps at times.

(08 Nov 2022, 2:11 pm)Thomas12 wrote Doesn't seem unreasonable to highlight the fact Arriva are running services with 5 hour gaps at times.

Arriva running services with massive gaps all over the place, maybe there’s no drivers to operate the missing journeys. There be massive gaps in services uk wide, it’s not just a one off


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(08 Nov 2022, 1:41 pm)BusLoverMum wrote The effect of moving the x21 to Riverside is becoming quite apparent. 2 mornings in a row there have been breakdowns, resulting in no bus at all running the entire route from West Auckland. These are the busy morning services used by school kids and students, too, putting more pressure on the shorts and other services.

Even without breakdowns, the X21 has been an absolute nightmare of late, whilst the schedule now saves resources, it comes at the cost of reliability with since the timetable change there's been roadworks in Bishop Auckland and Coundon Gate on top of the works on the A1 which is proving troublesome across the board, with all this in mind the X21 doesn't stand a chance of being reliable with the West Auckland to Coundon Gate stretch frequently being omitted to get back onto schedule.

Feel for the people in those areas as the Arriva 6 is argubly worse, always find it running in twos separated by a large gap, fortnight back I was in Spennymoor and there was an 80 minute gap in departures on the 6 towards Durham, sods law I was looking the other way when an X21 came through (this was also the day tracking was down so I had no idea what was happening so just had to stand there and wait), I gave up waiting 5 mins before two appeared which I saw as I headed home sick of life on the 8.

(08 Nov 2022, 2:42 pm)cbma06 wrote Arriva running services with massive gaps all over the place, maybe there’s no drivers to operate the missing journeys. There be massive gaps in services uk wide, it’s not just a one off


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So you would be happy to turn up at Sunderland Park Lane at 5pm and wait until 10pm for a bus to Peterlee?

(08 Nov 2022, 3:19 pm)BusLoverMum wrote So you would be happy to turn up at Sunderland Park Lane at 5pm and wait until 10pm for a bus to Peterlee?

No, I would use the car , maybe people show there frustration and anger towards the bus operators themselves instead of using a enthusiast forum for rubbing it in and moaning about it, the problem is uk wide and not on north Tyneside

And you get members on here doing there morning routines of going through bustimes.org and seeing what there can moan about and spot wrong brands on wrong routes, and see if there’s a gap in service etc..


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(08 Nov 2022, 3:19 pm)Jimmi wrote Feel for the people in those areas as the Arriva 6 is argubly worse, always find it running in twos separated by a large gap, fortnight back I was in Spennymoor and there was an 80 minute gap in departures on the 6 towards Durham, sods law I was looking the other way when an X21 came through (this was also the day tracking was down so I had no idea what was happening so just had to stand there and wait), I gave up waiting 5 mins before two appeared which I saw as I headed home sick of life on the 8.

You can't go round saying bad things about Arriva, GNE are the one we're supposed to be hating on this time!

I've barely been using the bus at all in the past few months, I'd say last month I used the bus on 3 maybe 4 days.
Last Wednesday I needed to get back down home by lunchtime and since I didn't trust the X21 I just got a lift back down instead.

(08 Nov 2022, 3:38 pm)cbma06 wrote No, I would use the car , maybe people show there frustration and anger towards the bus operators themselves instead of using a enthusiast forum for rubbing it in and moaning about it, the problem is uk wide and not on north Tyneside

And you get members on here doing there morning routines of going through bustimes.org and seeing what there can moan about and spot wrong brands on wrong routes, and see if there’s a gap in service etc..


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Unless I need to be somewhere I either don't bother checking the tracking, or I check the app when I'm waiting at the stop.
Mainly because I like getting annoyed when they don't turn up

They just keep turning around at Gateshead which is great if they give you 30 mins notice, and you're actually checking their social media, but if they turn around like X1's do, the 20:25 did from Eldon Square turned around a Gateshead and not tell anyone no one will be happy!

(08 Nov 2022, 3:38 pm)cbma06 wrote No, I would use the car , maybe people show there frustration and anger towards the bus operators themselves instead of using a enthusiast forum for rubbing it in and moaning about it, the problem is uk wide and not on north Tyneside

And you get members on here doing there morning routines of going through bustimes.org and seeing what there can moan about and spot wrong brands on wrong routes, and see if there’s a gap in service etc..


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They are, especially on the Arriva page, but they just get you to fill a form out in a Copy & Pasted message!

Also wrong brands on wrong routes, GNE are "wasting" thousands on paint to have the wrong bus end up on the wrong route, and then they raise fares.

(08 Nov 2022, 4:01 pm)Unber43 wrote They are, especially on the Arriva page, but they just get you to fill a form out in a Copy & Pasted message!

Also wrong brands on wrong routes, GNE are "wasting" thousands on paint to have the wrong bus end up on the wrong route, and then they raise fares.

Are Go North East ‘wasting thousands’ on paint, or is this speculation?

Last I checked, they hadn’t painted a bus in over three months.


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(08 Nov 2022, 4:01 pm)Unber43 wrote They are, especially on the Arriva page, but they just get you to fill a form out in a Copy & Pasted message!

Also wrong brands on wrong routes, GNE are "wasting" thousands on paint to have the wrong bus end up on the wrong route, and then they raise fares.

Oh will you stfu about wrong branded buses on routes at GNE,its ALL you go on about,its repetitive and frankly BORING

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(08 Nov 2022, 4:29 pm)Dan wrote Are Go North East ‘wasting thousands’ on paint, or is this speculation?

Last I checked, they hadn’t painted a bus in over three months.


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Its all he bangs on about,any excuse to have a snipe at GNE, its starting to piss me off, last time i checked this thread was about reliabilty and cancellations at Arriva, what the hell has bus branding at GNE got to do with the price of cheese

(08 Nov 2022, 12:44 pm)Thomas12 wrote Yeah there wasn’t a 53 from North Shields from around 17:00 to 22:00 - pretty disgraceful really.

I have a feeling this might have been part because of the closure from South Gosforth to Blue House Roundabout, it's been wrecking havoc with the timetables.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/anum-ane-7.../334754872 - Just a summary of how bad it has been on the X7 today which would have a knock on affect on the 53 because of the 52 and 54, plus driver's running over time especially late in the evening etc.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/anum-ane-7.../334211969 - That should've went onto the 53 but it was an hour late by the time it go to Cramlington and Arriva Blyth have rightly or wrongly been prioritising their own routes first and trying to sort the mess out on the X7/X8/X9 which has been a shambles since the timetable change.

(08 Nov 2022, 3:38 pm)cbma06 wrote No, I would use the car , maybe people show there frustration and anger towards the bus operators themselves instead of using a enthusiast forum for rubbing it in and moaning about it, the problem is uk wide and not on north Tyneside

And you get members on here doing there morning routines of going through bustimes.org and seeing what there can moan about and spot wrong brands on wrong routes, and see if there’s a gap in service etc..


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Oh well lucky you, you have an alternative!
Not everyone has a car, or even has access to one. Some people can't drive for medical reasons, some can't afford to take lessons let alone petrol. This is a Cost of Living Crisis, from what I gather they were talking about why should people have to wait that long! Especially in Dirty dodgy bus stations or in the middle of nowhere. There should be contingency plans in place not just a half arsed apology on social media, which arguably affects vulnerable people the most - which may exclude them even more.

Also if you tell people to 'take it out on the operators' what are they supposed to do?
- Boycott the services? (which leads to routes being permanently withdrawn)
- Block Roads? (which disrupts everyone and leads to services being cut short or cancelled)
- Damage Buses? (services get taken away from areas and people become criminals?)
The reality is that they drivers "represent" the companies they work for (even if they are repulsed by working standards/pay/hours etc....), therefore they get the brunt of it, everyday, every shift.
Those at the top (making those decisions) drive cars and don't have anything to do with public transport other than make decisions that affect Thousands of people everyday! Yet they blame COVID and Putin for their legacy of decisions which had led us to here and now. In my opinion it was always going to go this way just COVID made people see (with Skeleton services and over working employees), and Putin only furthers those 'good' decisions because of the price of fuel.

(08 Nov 2022, 3:38 pm)cbma06 wrote No, I would use the car , maybe people show there frustration and anger towards the bus operators themselves instead of using a enthusiast forum for rubbing it in and moaning about it, the problem is uk wide and not on north Tyneside

And you get members on here doing there morning routines of going through bustimes.org and seeing what there can moan about and spot wrong brands on wrong routes, and see if there’s a gap in service etc..


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I have replied to your post in another thread to which I found more appropriate as I may have finished on a littke bit of a rant    (as its an infuriating subject)
https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showt...p?tid=3532&pid=288021#pid288021

The 52/53/54 are bad now

54 Whitley Bay to Newcastle, 52 Newcastle to Cramlington, 53 to Palmersvill. 53 Palmersvill to Cramlington. 52 Cramlington to Newcastle. If that 54 journey does not run. Then non of the others will

53 on Sunday was absolutely pathetic. 12.25 to Cramlington was the last 53 to track then the next one tracked at 15.20 to North Shields

51 seems to be hit and miss. Meant to be a bus at Whitley Bay & Newcastle but usual one is in Whitley Bay or Newcastle and non at the other end

(08 Nov 2022, 10:43 pm)logidoodah wrote Oh well lucky you, you have an alternative!
Not everyone has a car, or even has access to one. Some people can't drive for medical reasons, some can't afford to take lessons let alone petrol. This is a Cost of Living Crisis, from what I gather they were talking about why should people have to wait that long! Especially in Dirty dodgy bus stations or in the middle of nowhere. There should be contingency plans in place not just a half arsed apology on social media, which arguably affects vulnerable people the most - which may exclude them even more.

Also if you tell people to 'take it out on the operators' what are they supposed to do?
- Boycott the services? (which leads to routes being permanently withdrawn)
- Block Roads? (which disrupts everyone and leads to services being cut short or cancelled)
- Damage Buses? (services get taken away from areas and people become criminals?)
The reality is that they drivers "represent" the companies they work for (even if they are repulsed by working standards/pay/hours etc....), therefore they  get the brunt of it, everyday, every shift.
Those at the top (making those decisions) drive cars and don't have anything to do with public transport other than make decisions that affect Thousands of people everyday! Yet they blame COVID and Putin for their legacy of decisions which had led us to here and now. In my opinion it was always going to go this way just COVID made people see (with Skeleton services and over working employees), and Putin only furthers those 'good' decisions because of the price of fuel.

One thing I liked about MG was that he did, and still does, actually use public transport.
IIRC, when he joined GNE he got rid of his car.

Maybe that's why he seemed to care so much about the passenger experience on board, rather than having the 'bus is a bus' mentality that a lot of other operators, and people on here seem to have.

(09 Nov 2022, 1:19 am)streetdeckfan wrote One thing I liked about MG was that he did, and still does, actually use public transport.
IIRC, when he joined GNE he got rid of his car.

Maybe that's why he seemed to care so much about the passenger experience on board, rather than having the 'bus is a bus' mentality that a lot of other operators, and people on here seem to have.

He still uses the bus as well.

The traffic in and around north Newcastle is horrific, never seen anything as bad as it has been. Current journey time from Four Lane Ends to Gosforth Park is around 45 minutes (https://bustimes.org/vehicles/alcg-256-s.../335260688), and that's heading away from the issues.

It's disgraceful that the Matthew Bank works haven't been suspended to allow traffic to flow better, but that's what happens when you let councils, water boards and gas boards do whatever they want with the roads.

I've been monitoring traffic levels in Benton, Heaton and Gosforth tonight and to describe it as paralysed is an understatement...

Traffic coming out of Newcastle is atrocious, however there is nothing ANE/GNE can do as they are both suffering driver shortages, especially crippling shortages on Arriva services, and they don't have an unlimited amount of buses and they cant have 1 hour lay over to make time up, they are really stuck between a rock and a hard place.

(09 Nov 2022, 5:57 pm)Unber43 wrote Traffic coming out of Newcastle is atrocious, however there is nothing ANE/GNE can do as they are both suffering driver shortages, especially crippling shortages on Arriva services, and they don't have an unlimited amount of buses and they cant have 1 hour lay over to make time up, they are really stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Thanks, Andy.

(09 Nov 2022, 5:57 pm)Unber43 wrote Traffic coming out of Newcastle is atrocious, however there is nothing ANE/GNE can do as they are both suffering driver shortages, especially crippling shortages on Arriva services, and they don't have an unlimited amount of buses and they cant have 1 hour lay over to make time up, they are really stuck between a rock and a hard place.

If anyone can be bothered, I'd love to know the ratio of dark lines on a specific road vs buses per hour along that same road.

I'm looking at the Coast Road and Durham Road as possible exceptions to the rules here.
Maybe throw in the Longbenton/Quorum area too.

The majority of the other dark colours? Limited or abject bus offerings.

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(09 Nov 2022, 6:02 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Thanks, Andy.

I miss Clifford.

(08 Nov 2022, 11:47 pm)Aaron21 wrote The 52/53/54 are bad now

54 Whitley Bay to Newcastle, 52 Newcastle to Cramlington, 53 to Palmersvill. 53 Palmersvill to Cramlington. 52 Cramlington to Newcastle. If that 54 journey does not run. Then non of the others will

53 on Sunday was absolutely pathetic. 12.25 to Cramlington was the last 53 to track then the next one tracked at 15.20 to North Shields

51 seems to be hit and miss. Meant to be a bus at Whitley Bay & Newcastle but usual one is in Whitley Bay or Newcastle and non at the other end

The 52/53/54 interworking pattern has not really changed. The 51 has replaced one of the 54 journeys and there's one less bus cause one of the 53 journeys runs to Palmersville rather than North Shields, other than that it's still the same. 

Only real change is some of the running boards are running out of Blyth.

(09 Nov 2022, 5:48 pm)omnicity4659 wrote The traffic in and around north Newcastle is horrific, never seen anything as bad as it has been. Current journey time from Four Lane Ends to Gosforth Park is around 45 minutes (https://bustimes.org/vehicles/alcg-256-s.../335260688), and that's heading away from the issues.

It's disgraceful that the Matthew Bank works haven't been suspended to allow traffic to flow better, but that's what happens when you let councils, water boards and gas boards do whatever they want with the roads.

I've been monitoring traffic levels in Benton, Heaton and Gosforth tonight and to describe it as paralysed is an understatement...

That's just normal that to be fair, Sandy Lane has been an issue for awhile, the new traffic lights have made it worse - surprise surprise and it backs onto the roundabout and blocks the Newcastle junction.

The X7/X8 have been 40 minutes every night since the timetable change, I know there's the 2 bus stops along there now but the peak buses (or at least the X7) really needs to go via West Moor to avoid it like the old 363/364.

(09 Nov 2022, 10:04 pm)Storx wrote That's just normal that to be fair, Sandy Lane has been an issue for awhile, the new traffic lights have made it worse - surprise surprise and it backs onto the roundabout and blocks the Newcastle junction.

The X7/X8 have been 40 minutes every night since the timetable change, I know there's the 2 bus stops along there now but the peak buses (or at least the X7) really needs to go via West Moor to avoid it like the old 363/364.

The unnecessary installation of traffic lights at every single roundabout on the A189 is North Tyneside Council being as intuitive as always (like wtf is the point of them on Moorfields/Racecourse roundabout?). I think the roundabout at Sandy Lane/Tyneside Autoparc is also getting signals judging by the footpaths being added over the roundabout.

Would be alright if they all had sensors, but they're timed instead which causes the most issues. My favourite part of it all is if I catch all the lights wrong at 2am then it's easily another 5 minutes added to my journey giving way to nobody. 


And yeah I agree with sending them via West Moor. Ideally there should have been a through route from White House Drive in Moorfields to Killingworth Way, so the buses could serve the new estates there but sod anyone who drives or uses public transport.

(09 Nov 2022, 1:19 am)streetdeckfan wrote One thing I liked about MG was that he did, and still does, actually use public transport.
IIRC, when he joined GNE he got rid of his car.

Maybe that's why he seemed to care so much about the passenger experience on board, rather than having the 'bus is a bus' mentality that a lot of other operators, and people on here seem to have.

That is true I will give him that, but all those bells & whistles have costed GNE too much. It makes you think, Passenger Comforts vs cost he had no idea! (I know it was no soley him but he was Managing Director).

I say this because those *cough* Failed Xlines buses and initiative. You could also think about what is best for passengers to wait 60+ mins for a bus 6pm onwards to then be cancelled without notice (for whatever excuse they want) to then have to get picked up, pay for another operator (if you're lucky) or a taxi - baring in mind this was in the dark in ALL areas and compromised the safety of passengers. 

I doubt he cared about passenger comfort in Hartlepool as their are no GNE customers left. And as for those customers on the X9/X10 no one is EVER comfortable as they are packed onto the bus as much as possible. Yes, the coaches are more comfortable but are no way suited to the route due to the accessibility issues and loading times.

(11 Nov 2022, 2:34 pm)logidoodah wrote That is true I will give him that, but all those bells & whistles have costed GNE too much. It makes you think, Passenger Comforts vs cost he had no idea! (I know it was no soley him but he was Managing Director).

I say this because those *cough* Failed Xlines buses and initiative. You could also think about what is best for passengers to wait 60+ mins for a bus 6pm onwards to then be cancelled without notice (for whatever excuse they want) to then have to get picked up, pay for another operator (if you're lucky) or a taxi - baring in mind this was in the dark in ALL areas and compromised the safety of passengers. 

I doubt he cared about passenger comfort in Hartlepool as their are no GNE customers left. And as for those customers on the X9/X10 no one is EVER comfortable as they are packed onto the bus as much as possible. Yes, the coaches are more comfortable but are no way suited to the route due to the accessibility issues and loading times.

Xlines wasn't failing until the flu came about though, passenger numbers actually increased for the first time in years (if MG is to be believed anyway)

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Disappointed to see no match day 21 feedback from gtom this morning!


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