Disruptions and driver shortages
Disruptions and driver shortages
(07 Feb 2023, 10:04 pm)Dan It was moved to Washington because Go North East guaranteed drivers their choice of depot when Chester-le-Street closed, rather than them being forced to transfer to the depot that needed the most staff (Riverside).
Once driver numbers settled, it was always the plan for services to move back to the depots which they are most suited to operate from - i.e the 58 at Riverside.
Prior to 29 January, lost mileage was almost nil at most depots on most days (as had been observed on this forum), so it was the right time for the first move back to Riverside.
Running services from the wrong depot is not only very costly and inefficient, but also results in extra drivers being needed to run those services, making the recruitment gap even bigger. Presumably the surplus of drivers from the outgoing depot might facilitate frequencies being restored on routes with temporary reductions, ie 8 at Washington and 65 at Deptford.
The 6, 25 and 28/29 are the other non-scholars services which, at some point, will transfer to Riverside.
In the meantime with the transfer of the 58, Riverside are now short-staffed again (hence the rise in short-notice cancellations). Recruitment efforts are being focused on Gateshead, and some drivers from depots which are over-staffed (ie Percy Main, Consett and Washington) are temporarily (and voluntarily) moving to Riverside. In the short-term there will be some disruption at Riverside again, but the company’s financial performance should improve and overall lost mileage will reduce.
As I have said several times now, the company is under new leadership - and they are clearly making every effort to improve the financial performance of the business.
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(07 Feb 2023, 10:04 pm)Dan It was moved to Washington because Go North East guaranteed drivers their choice of depot when Chester-le-Street closed, rather than them being forced to transfer to the depot that needed the most staff (Riverside).
Once driver numbers settled, it was always the plan for services to move back to the depots which they are most suited to operate from - i.e the 58 at Riverside.
Prior to 29 January, lost mileage was almost nil at most depots on most days (as had been observed on this forum), so it was the right time for the first move back to Riverside.
Running services from the wrong depot is not only very costly and inefficient, but also results in extra drivers being needed to run those services, making the recruitment gap even bigger. Presumably the surplus of drivers from the outgoing depot might facilitate frequencies being restored on routes with temporary reductions, ie 8 at Washington and 65 at Deptford.
The 6, 25 and 28/29 are the other non-scholars services which, at some point, will transfer to Riverside.
In the meantime with the transfer of the 58, Riverside are now short-staffed again (hence the rise in short-notice cancellations). Recruitment efforts are being focused on Gateshead, and some drivers from depots which are over-staffed (ie Percy Main, Consett and Washington) are temporarily (and voluntarily) moving to Riverside. In the short-term there will be some disruption at Riverside again, but the company’s financial performance should improve and overall lost mileage will reduce.
As I have said several times now, the company is under new leadership - and they are clearly making every effort to improve the financial performance of the business.
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(08 Feb 2023, 12:27 pm)Chris 1 Out of interest, is there a reason why Riverside seems to struggle more than other depots for recruitment?
(08 Feb 2023, 12:27 pm)Chris 1 Out of interest, is there a reason why Riverside seems to struggle more than other depots for recruitment?
(08 Feb 2023, 3:38 pm)Rob44 Well its bad enough trying to get out of costco so imagine a long sh£t shift driving a bus only to jump in our car and have to wade through loads of traffic before you get home.
(08 Feb 2023, 3:38 pm)Rob44 Well its bad enough trying to get out of costco so imagine a long sh£t shift driving a bus only to jump in our car and have to wade through loads of traffic before you get home.
(08 Feb 2023, 3:54 pm)Storx Not to mention there's competition in the area who pay more and, based on the lack of moaning coming into the public, have a better staff morale aswell.
I do believe Stagecoach Walkergate and Slatyford poached a lot of drivers from both GNE and Arriva from things I've read.
(08 Feb 2023, 3:54 pm)Storx Not to mention there's competition in the area who pay more and, based on the lack of moaning coming into the public, have a better staff morale aswell.
I do believe Stagecoach Walkergate and Slatyford poached a lot of drivers from both GNE and Arriva from things I've read.
(08 Feb 2023, 3:54 pm)Storx Not to mention there's competition in the area who pay more and, based on the lack of moaning coming into the public, have a better staff morale aswell.
I do believe Stagecoach Walkergate and Slatyford poached a lot of drivers from both GNE and Arriva from things I've read.
(08 Feb 2023, 3:57 pm)Rob44 They certainly poached lots of drivers from arriva at Jesmond - thats why the 43, 44 and 45 had loads of cancelations last year
(08 Feb 2023, 3:54 pm)Storx Not to mention there's competition in the area who pay more and, based on the lack of moaning coming into the public, have a better staff morale aswell.
I do believe Stagecoach Walkergate and Slatyford poached a lot of drivers from both GNE and Arriva from things I've read.
(08 Feb 2023, 3:57 pm)Rob44 They certainly poached lots of drivers from arriva at Jesmond - thats why the 43, 44 and 45 had loads of cancelations last year
Walkergate have just had a large influx of new trainees/licence holders within the last week, despite the staffing levels being stable...
Currently on an X21 with a driver learning the route, and he's having real trouble understanding the accent down here!
It's quite funny how the mentor was on about it being a struggle getting around Woodhouse, they should have seen the old route around when they merged the 18 and X21, you could barely get a solo around!
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(26 Jan 2023, 5:30 am)Dan Contrary to what The Chronicle would have you believe, GNE is fully staffed (albeit over-staffed in some locations and under-staffed at Riverside). Cancellations have been minimal for weeks and most days have had no cancellations for the past week or so.While it is encouraging that GNE do now have sufficient staff, this might in part be due to service reductions to match available staff numbers.
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(26 Jan 2023, 5:30 am)Dan Contrary to what The Chronicle would have you believe, GNE is fully staffed (albeit over-staffed in some locations and under-staffed at Riverside). Cancellations have been minimal for weeks and most days have had no cancellations for the past week or so.While it is encouraging that GNE do now have sufficient staff, this might in part be due to service reductions to match available staff numbers.
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(19 Feb 2023, 12:49 pm)Metroline1511 While it is encouraging that GNE do now have sufficient staff, this might in part be due to service reductions to match available staff numbers.
(19 Feb 2023, 12:49 pm)Metroline1511 While it is encouraging that GNE do now have sufficient staff, this might in part be due to service reductions to match available staff numbers.
As annoying as it is as it's the bus I needed, you can't fault the clarity of it.
(09 Mar 2023, 7:09 pm)idiot As annoying as it is as it's the bus I needed, you can't fault the clarity of it.It's a shame GNE can't do it! They just pretend it's running still, or just clear it off!
(09 Mar 2023, 7:09 pm)idiot As annoying as it is as it's the bus I needed, you can't fault the clarity of it.It's a shame GNE can't do it! They just pretend it's running still, or just clear it off!
Stagecoach Newcastle only suffer with finding staff to cover lates, so there's a few cancellations if I don't go out and cover.
Whenever the Metro is off there should be 3 spare deckers parked at Park Lane, as they were over 40 mins late, however if there was say 3 parked up extra it would be much easier to leave on time. (provided the drivers didn't start their meal break late)
