22:45 306 ex Newcastle cancelled tonight! ABSOLUTE DISGRACE OUT OF ALL NIGHTS!

Arriva could surely subcontract out given the match being on!

If the last bus is cancelled, or it doesn't go right to the last dest e.g 16:10 X21 to West Aukland doesn't run, and 16:40 only goes to Bishop, can you claim any money back if you were going to get that bus or do you just have to fork out ££ for a taxi?

(20 Dec 2022, 5:32 pm)Unber43 wrote If the last bus is cancelled, or it doesn't go right to the last dest e.g 16:10 X21 to West Aukland doesn't run, and 16:40 only goes to Bishop, can you claim any money back if you were going to get that bus or do you just have to fork out ££ for a taxi?

You can just catch the Arriva 6 from Bishop for like £1.50

That's what I end up having to do half the time these days

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There is currently a 1 hour 15 mins gap for the 56.

(20 Dec 2022, 5:25 pm)L469 YVK wrote 22:45 306 ex Newcastle cancelled tonight! ABSOLUTE DISGRACE OUT OF ALL NIGHTS!

Arriva could surely subcontract out given the match being on!

There wasn't a single 306 operating from Newcastle after 17:00, apart from the 21:45 from Haymarket.

(20 Dec 2022, 5:25 pm)L469 YVK wrote 22:45 306 ex Newcastle cancelled tonight! ABSOLUTE DISGRACE OUT OF ALL NIGHTS!

Arriva could surely subcontract out given the match being on!

No idea on the specifics, but if you're short on drivers and have the option between running a 306 (which is pretty much covered by 3 other bus routes and the Metro) or something like the 52, you're not running the 306.

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(20 Dec 2022, 10:34 pm)Thomas12 wrote There wasn't a single 306 operating from Newcastle after 17:00, apart from the 21:45 from Haymarket.

Was this posted in Haymarket, or just going off Bustimes? 

Just interested as 7516 was had tracked on the 306 late afternoon but abruptly stopped and has been having issues with tracking, so it is possible this operated at least some of the post 5pm journeys.

(20 Dec 2022, 5:25 pm)L469 YVK wrote 22:45 306 ex Newcastle cancelled tonight! ABSOLUTE DISGRACE OUT OF ALL NIGHTS!

Arriva could surely subcontract out given the match being on!

Judging by the numbers trying to get in to the Metro vs the numbers of people in the bus station, it wasn't the only one affected.

well i for one will be using the car for night matches at nufc from now on. bus there war over 30 iminutes late and bus back was in terrible state. Smell of diesel from front, standing room only, inf act more than should be on. people smoking and vaping and the language was terrible. Even the crockdile said Balls to this its the car from now on!

(20 Dec 2022, 11:04 pm)mb134 wrote No idea on the specifics, but if you're short on drivers and have the option between running a 306 (which is pretty much covered by 3 other bus routes and the Metro) or something like the 52, you're not running the 306.

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Was this posted in Haymarket, or just going off Bustimes? 

Just interested as 7516 was had tracked on the 306 late afternoon but abruptly stopped and has been having issues with tracking, so it is possible this operated at least some of the post 5pm journeys.

No these were posted at Haymarket, the Arriva app also had most of them marked as cancelled.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-8345?.../356142544 What a diversion this 20 took
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-8345?.../356193040 and on the way back

(22 Dec 2022, 11:15 pm)Unber43 wrote https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-8345?.../356142544 What a diversion this 20 took
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-8345?.../356193040 and on the way back

It was due to an RTC on the A690 and both sides of carriageway was closed by the police


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(23 Dec 2022, 6:17 am)cbma06 wrote It was due to an RTC on the A690 and both sides of carriageway was closed by the police


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What about the round trip at the Sacriston end?

Why did it need to go round Easington? Couldn't it have gone to Moorsley and then done the same route as the 65 (missing out Buckinghamshire Road) to Belmont and pick up the route from there?

(23 Dec 2022, 4:37 pm)F114TML wrote Why did it need to go round Easington? Couldn't it have gone to Moorsley and then done the same route as the 65 (missing out Buckinghamshire Road) to Belmont and pick up the route from there?

More likely since the road got closed in both directions then the normal traffic with cars, vans, lorries etc… just clogged up the nearby roads , just the usual when a major road is closed , same as when the a19 is closed and the nearby roads just gets clogged up, better off going further a field


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(23 Dec 2022, 4:18 pm)BusLoverMum wrote What about the round trip at the Sacriston end?

You have to ask GNE for that, maybe the bus was running really late and been told to do round trip at Sacriston end?


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(23 Dec 2022, 4:18 pm)BusLoverMum wrote What about the round trip at the Sacriston end?

Looking at it seems like it's done:

Ran to Langley Park as the bus that's meant to leave at 18:34 (it was that bus anyway but 30 minutes late) last minute.
Ran dead from Langley Park back to Durham to try and make time back up.
Attempted to rejoin the A690 and failed and ended up going round a circle.
Ran to Sunderland very late.

The road closure was poorly advertised last night as we were travelling up the A1(M) at the same time and the VMS (message signs) before the A689 were blank which would've been an easier diversion route cutting across towards Hartlepool or continuing to the A195 depending where people were going. I only knew about it as I was checking to see the traffic near CLS to potentially divert across it.

Today...today it was a nightmare there was traffic all over was backed up (except A1!). There were 4 Angels arriving at Gateshead, 3 56's, 2 X66's, 2 27's, 2 X1s all came together pretty sure the 56 was like 40 mins late. Not to mention 47's & X45s being 45 mins late but there was nothing GNE could have done I feel like there should be a senario inplace for such severe delays. 

Either a better situation to deal with delayed operations Whether that is picking up at certain stops then going NIS and doing drop off only.

(23 Dec 2022, 4:37 pm)F114TML wrote Why did it need to go round Easington? Couldn't it have gone to Moorsley and then done the same route as the 65 (missing out Buckinghamshire Road) to Belmont and pick up the route from there?

Most journeys did just that, just the one example given that didn't for whatever reason.

This is how most diverted...
Durham bound: https://bustimes.org/services/20a-sunder.../356162945

Sunderland bound: https://bustimes.org/services/20-durham-.../356166319

Carville was served Sunderland bound however was omitted when heading towards Durham on the journeys I could find at least (via Pittington Lane, Pittington Road, High Street then Pittington Lane again towards Moorsley).

Went out for a 21 today only to discover it's not running.

What a bunch of cowboys,

Absolute Shambles.

Fucking joke of a company.

Complete greed, only care about their shareholders

(25 Dec 2022, 7:40 am)MurdnunoC wrote Went out for a 21 today only to discover it's not running.

What a bunch of cowboys,

Absolute Shambles.

Fucking joke of a company.

Complete greed, only care about their shareholders

You must mean a different 21 as where I live its Christmas Day....

(25 Dec 2022, 7:40 am)MurdnunoC wrote Went out for a 21 today only to discover it's not running.

What a bunch of cowboys,

Absolute Shambles.

Fucking joke of a company.

Complete greed, only care about their shareholders

You sure it wasn't a short notice cancellation? Breakdown? Driver shortage? 
Could explain why the bus didn't turn up.

(26 Dec 2022, 12:07 am)Andreos1 wrote You sure it wasn't a short notice cancellation? Breakdown? Driver shortage? 
Could explain why the bus didn't turn up.

No. The Clifford Copter mentioned problems with the Metro due to industrial action, but not the buses.

(26 Dec 2022, 6:53 am)MurdnunoC wrote No. The Clifford Copter mentioned problems with the Metro due to industrial action, but not the buses.

He's alive!

What a duo those two were.

(26 Dec 2022, 10:30 am)Andreos1 wrote He's alive!

What a duo those two were.

Oh yes. Providing vital updates and travel information as always.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...s-25863923 

I saw this and I read it and one thing caught my eye, 

"We want customers to tell us about services that are not performing well enough, and we have a dedicated customer service support line to help with this. Regarding late cancellations, we post our cancellations list online via social media and our website daily. Our app can also be used for real time information on our services."

However the customer support line doesn't help when there are early or late cancellations Monday-Friday as they're only open 9-5, and all day Saturday and Sunday when there is no one to help

(05 Jan 2023, 10:31 am)Unber43 wrote https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...s-25863923 

I saw this and I read it and one thing caught my eye, 


However the customer support line doesn't help when there are early or late cancellations Monday-Friday as they're only open 9-5, and all day Saturday and Sunday when there is no one to help

They shouldn't need to get customers to contact them. Analysis Bus Open Data and one assumes their own systems should detect reliability problems for them!

Must admit Stagecoach Newcastle have been much improved recently - haven't seen a single cancellation since the new year.

North East bus chief admits to underestimating driver shortage

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...p_AppShare

(13 Jan 2023, 6:13 pm)BusLoverMum wrote North East bus chief admits to underestimating driver shortage

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...p_AppShare

The agency drivers at Arriva are absolutely horrendous, probably worse than the ones on the Metro Replacement. Couple of incidents I have noticed over the last week.

Was on the 306 last week and the driver was appalling (I'm assuming it was an agency driver as they had no Arriva uniform) - in 30 minutes he went passed the stop when someone had pressed the bell twice (and didn't stop when told), ignored someone with their hand out at a bus stop, and was constantly breaking harshly. Not exactly the service you want to provide. 

Witnessed one of them on Gosforth High Street at the Brandling Arms drive past someone with their hand out. 

And they obviously haven't been route trained properly either - one on the 55 last night made about 3 errors with the route. 

Sooner they are gone the better - especially as I don't usually find the Arriva Northumbria drivers bad at all.

(15 Jan 2023, 1:01 pm)Thomas12 wrote The agency drivers at Arriva are absolutely horrendous, probably worse than the ones on the Metro Replacement. Couple of incidents I have noticed over the last week.

Was on the 306 last week and the driver was appalling (I'm assuming it was an agency driver as they had no Arriva uniform) - in 30 minutes he went passed the stop when someone had pressed the bell twice (and didn't stop when told), ignored someone with their hand out at a bus stop, and was constantly breaking harshly. Not exactly the service you want to provide. 

Witnessed one of them on Gosforth High Street at the Brandling Arms drive past someone with their hand out. 

And they obviously haven't been route trained properly either - one on the 55 last night made about 3 errors with the route. 

Sooner they are gone the better - especially as I don't usually find the Arriva Northumbria drivers bad at all.

Agree, Arriva drivers on 51 have always been very good.

(15 Jan 2023, 1:01 pm)Thomas12 wrote The agency drivers at Arriva are absolutely horrendous, probably worse than the ones on the Metro Replacement. Couple of incidents I have noticed over the last week.

They are the same drivers.

I suspect Arriva don't want to use them longer than they need to either - they are likely more expensive overall.

However, the business is clearly trying to respond to the issues they are facing. An agency driver is better than no driver in the current climate, surely.