Disruptions and driver shortages
Disruptions and driver shortages
(13 Sep 2023, 8:05 pm)Storx They should just cancel the 352 and 354 outright imo.
They're just duplicates of the 37 (SNE) and 359 anyway for the unique sections anyway.
Anyone using the 352 must have an issue with Stagecoach as there's absolutely no other reason to use it and the 354 has been a basket case for years. Would free up 4 boards immediately.
(13 Sep 2023, 8:05 pm)Storx They should just cancel the 352 and 354 outright imo.
They're just duplicates of the 37 (SNE) and 359 anyway for the unique sections anyway.
Anyone using the 352 must have an issue with Stagecoach as there's absolutely no other reason to use it and the 354 has been a basket case for years. Would free up 4 boards immediately.
(13 Sep 2023, 7:24 pm)Ambassador It appears the X39 afternoon runs didn’t run again
Sure all this new contract and commercial work is worth pissing off your existing customer base?
Yet more proof the management aren’t up to the task and are making poor decisions
(13 Sep 2023, 7:24 pm)Ambassador It appears the X39 afternoon runs didn’t run again
Sure all this new contract and commercial work is worth pissing off your existing customer base?
Yet more proof the management aren’t up to the task and are making poor decisions
(13 Sep 2023, 8:27 pm)Thomas12 It would make more sense for GNE to just run the 353 half hourly - no need for the 352/354/355 if there aren't enough drivers.
(13 Sep 2023, 8:27 pm)Thomas12 It would make more sense for GNE to just run the 353 half hourly - no need for the 352/354/355 if there aren't enough drivers.
(13 Sep 2023, 8:45 pm)DeltaMan Surely it's just proof that somebody at Go Ahead Group values saving face with high profile franchises in Manchester rather than standard commercial work elsewhere.
(13 Sep 2023, 8:45 pm)DeltaMan Surely it's just proof that somebody at Go Ahead Group values saving face with high profile franchises in Manchester rather than standard commercial work elsewhere.
Given the posts, I thought I'd have a very unscientific look to see how Arriva Blyth and GNE Percy Main got on today service delivery wise since they seem to be the depots currently struggling the most. Pinch of salt, as it's taken from Bustimes, but I believe Arriva Blyth had the following cancelled today (as of 22:00ish when I checked):
X7:
To Newcastle - 10:42, 11:42, 13:42
None cancelled NB.
X8:
To Newcastle - 18:44
From Newcastle - 11:50, 12:50, 14:50
X9:
To Newcastle - 07:54, 13:29, 13:59, 16:34
From Newcastle - 09:13, 14:43 (started from Cramlington), 17:53
X10:
To Newcastle - 13:01, 15:31, 16:36
To Blyth - 13:15, 15:15
X11:
To Newcastle - 12:14, 14:14
To Blyth - 14:00, 17:40
306:
To Newcastle - 10:46, 16:01, 17:26
To Whitley Bay/Tynemouth - 09:30, 14:50, 16:15, 17:00
308:
To Newcastle - 08:06, 13:36, 14:56
To Blyth - 12:00, 15:20, 17:10, 18:35
43:
To Newcastle - 15:09, 16:42, 18:14, 19:28, 21:28
To Cramlington - 17:20, 18:45, 20:05, 22:05
44:
To Newcastle - 18:11
To Dinnington - 15:53, 17:28
45:
To Newcastle - 16:40
To Dinnington - 18:55
While Percy Main look to have missed the following (with the usual Bustimes caveats, as there's simply no way what PM have added to the website short notice cancellations list is accurate!):
307:
To Newcastle - 09:55, 11:55, 14:55, 17:05, 17:30, 18:38, 19:38
To North Shields - 10:55, 15:55, 16:20, 18:30, 21:00
309:
To Newcastle - 06:31, 07:11, 09:06, 09:26, 11:06, 11:46, 12:06, 14:06, 14:46, 16:51, 19:50, 20:50, 21:50
To Blyth - 07:55, 09:45, 10:25, 10:45, 13:05, 13:25, 15:25, 18:20, 19:30, 20:30
352:
To Newcastle - 15:30
To Cramlington - 07:55, 09:00, 12:00, 14:00, 18:10
353:
To North Shields - 09:00, 10:00, 15:00
To Cramlington - 14:17
354:
To Newcastle - 06:42, 09:47, 15:47
To North Shields - 17:40
355:
To Forest Hall - 06:50, 07:55, 11:02, 13:02, 16:35, 17:05
To Newcastle - 06:12, 07:12, 08:17, 11:24, 12:24, 13:24, 17:00, 17:30
41:
To Wallsend - 09:56, 11:26
To Hadrian Park - 10:19, 11:49
41A:
To Wallsend - 10:38, 17:54, 18:43, 19:38
To Hadrian Park - 09:34, 11:04, 18:24, 19:19
1:
To MetroCentre - 11:44, 13:24, 20:12
To Whitley Bay - 13:59, 16:45, 18:08
Obviously aware of the usual issues with Bustimes, however in lots of instances here buses which later appeared on these boards had been tracking on other things previously, or in the case of the 309 evidently got put on/taken off at New York (and there aren't that many dodgy ticket machines in the NE!). Some of these will undoubtedly be as a result of vehicle failure too, and some that are not on here will only have operated part trips (I couldn't be bothered checking where they all started, if I saw it listed then I excluded it).
(13 Sep 2023, 9:09 pm)mb134 Given the posts, I thought I'd have a very unscientific look to see how Arriva Blyth and GNE Percy Main got on today service delivery wise since they seem to be the depots currently struggling the most. Pinch of salt, as it's taken from Bustimes, but I believe Arriva Blyth had the following cancelled today (as of 22:00ish when I checked):
X7:
To Newcastle - 10:42, 11:42, 13:42
None cancelled NB.
X8:
To Newcastle - 18:44
From Newcastle - 11:50, 12:50, 14:50
X9:
To Newcastle - 07:54, 13:29, 13:59, 16:34
From Newcastle - 09:13, 14:43 (started from Cramlington), 17:53
X10:
To Newcastle - 13:01, 15:31, 16:36
To Blyth - 13:15, 15:15
X11:
To Newcastle - 12:14, 14:14
To Blyth - 14:00, 17:40
306:
To Newcastle - 10:46, 16:01, 17:26
To Whitley Bay/Tynemouth - 09:30, 14:50, 16:15, 17:00
308:
To Newcastle - 08:06, 13:36, 14:56
To Blyth - 12:00, 15:20, 17:10, 18:35
43:
To Newcastle - 15:09, 16:42, 18:14, 19:28, 21:28
To Cramlington - 17:20, 18:45, 20:05, 22:05
44:
To Newcastle - 18:11
To Dinnington - 15:53, 17:28
45:
To Newcastle - 16:40
To Dinnington - 18:55
While Percy Main look to have missed the following (with the usual Bustimes caveats, as there's simply no way what PM have added to the website short notice cancellations list is accurate!):
307:
To Newcastle - 09:55, 11:55, 14:55, 17:05, 17:30, 18:38, 19:38
To North Shields - 10:55, 15:55, 16:20, 18:30, 21:00
309:
To Newcastle - 06:31, 07:11, 09:06, 09:26, 11:06, 11:46, 12:06, 14:06, 14:46, 16:51, 19:50, 20:50, 21:50
To Blyth - 07:55, 09:45, 10:25, 10:45, 13:05, 13:25, 15:25, 18:20, 19:30, 20:30
352:
To Newcastle - 15:30
To Cramlington - 07:55, 09:00, 12:00, 14:00, 18:10
353:
To North Shields - 09:00, 10:00, 15:00
To Cramlington - 14:17
354:
To Newcastle - 06:42, 09:47, 15:47
To North Shields - 17:40
355:
To Forest Hall - 06:50, 07:55, 11:02, 13:02, 16:35, 17:05
To Newcastle - 06:12, 07:12, 08:17, 11:24, 12:24, 13:24, 17:00, 17:30
41:
To Wallsend - 09:56, 11:26
To Hadrian Park - 10:19, 11:49
41A:
To Wallsend - 10:38, 17:54, 18:43, 19:38
To Hadrian Park - 09:34, 11:04, 18:24, 19:19
1:
To MetroCentre - 11:44, 13:24, 20:12
To Whitley Bay - 13:59, 16:45, 18:08
Obviously aware of the usual issues with Bustimes, however in lots of instances here buses which later appeared on these boards had been tracking on other things previously, or in the case of the 309 evidently got put on/taken off at New York (and there aren't that many dodgy ticket machines in the NE!). Some of these will undoubtedly be as a result of vehicle failure too, and some that are not on here will only have operated part trips (I couldn't be bothered checking where they all started, if I saw it listed then I excluded it).
(13 Sep 2023, 9:09 pm)mb134 Given the posts, I thought I'd have a very unscientific look to see how Arriva Blyth and GNE Percy Main got on today service delivery wise since they seem to be the depots currently struggling the most. Pinch of salt, as it's taken from Bustimes, but I believe Arriva Blyth had the following cancelled today (as of 22:00ish when I checked):
X7:
To Newcastle - 10:42, 11:42, 13:42
None cancelled NB.
X8:
To Newcastle - 18:44
From Newcastle - 11:50, 12:50, 14:50
X9:
To Newcastle - 07:54, 13:29, 13:59, 16:34
From Newcastle - 09:13, 14:43 (started from Cramlington), 17:53
X10:
To Newcastle - 13:01, 15:31, 16:36
To Blyth - 13:15, 15:15
X11:
To Newcastle - 12:14, 14:14
To Blyth - 14:00, 17:40
306:
To Newcastle - 10:46, 16:01, 17:26
To Whitley Bay/Tynemouth - 09:30, 14:50, 16:15, 17:00
308:
To Newcastle - 08:06, 13:36, 14:56
To Blyth - 12:00, 15:20, 17:10, 18:35
43:
To Newcastle - 15:09, 16:42, 18:14, 19:28, 21:28
To Cramlington - 17:20, 18:45, 20:05, 22:05
44:
To Newcastle - 18:11
To Dinnington - 15:53, 17:28
45:
To Newcastle - 16:40
To Dinnington - 18:55
While Percy Main look to have missed the following (with the usual Bustimes caveats, as there's simply no way what PM have added to the website short notice cancellations list is accurate!):
307:
To Newcastle - 09:55, 11:55, 14:55, 17:05, 17:30, 18:38, 19:38
To North Shields - 10:55, 15:55, 16:20, 18:30, 21:00
309:
To Newcastle - 06:31, 07:11, 09:06, 09:26, 11:06, 11:46, 12:06, 14:06, 14:46, 16:51, 19:50, 20:50, 21:50
To Blyth - 07:55, 09:45, 10:25, 10:45, 13:05, 13:25, 15:25, 18:20, 19:30, 20:30
352:
To Newcastle - 15:30
To Cramlington - 07:55, 09:00, 12:00, 14:00, 18:10
353:
To North Shields - 09:00, 10:00, 15:00
To Cramlington - 14:17
354:
To Newcastle - 06:42, 09:47, 15:47
To North Shields - 17:40
355:
To Forest Hall - 06:50, 07:55, 11:02, 13:02, 16:35, 17:05
To Newcastle - 06:12, 07:12, 08:17, 11:24, 12:24, 13:24, 17:00, 17:30
41:
To Wallsend - 09:56, 11:26
To Hadrian Park - 10:19, 11:49
41A:
To Wallsend - 10:38, 17:54, 18:43, 19:38
To Hadrian Park - 09:34, 11:04, 18:24, 19:19
1:
To MetroCentre - 11:44, 13:24, 20:12
To Whitley Bay - 13:59, 16:45, 18:08
Obviously aware of the usual issues with Bustimes, however in lots of instances here buses which later appeared on these boards had been tracking on other things previously, or in the case of the 309 evidently got put on/taken off at New York (and there aren't that many dodgy ticket machines in the NE!). Some of these will undoubtedly be as a result of vehicle failure too, and some that are not on here will only have operated part trips (I couldn't be bothered checking where they all started, if I saw it listed then I excluded it).
The unannounced cancellations are the worst and arguably most impactful. You can’t plan for those and the app can be so buggy at times that you can’t track.
It’s an irk I have with Stagecoach but they have such high frequency compact areas it’s not as impactful
(13 Sep 2023, 9:22 pm)j986986 Jesus. Looks like Percy Main is now much worse than Blyth, which is definitely something that only changed recently. You would think the 307/309 would be priority being higher profile and far busier routes. There definitely needs to be a rethink into whether they can actually cope with all the new services, because at the moment they clearly can’t.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
(13 Sep 2023, 9:22 pm)j986986 Jesus. Looks like Percy Main is now much worse than Blyth, which is definitely something that only changed recently. You would think the 307/309 would be priority being higher profile and far busier routes. There definitely needs to be a rethink into whether they can actually cope with all the new services, because at the moment they clearly can’t.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
(13 Sep 2023, 10:12 pm)mb134 I guess with the 307/309 much of both routes are covered by the 306/308, so maybe their logic is that they'd prioritise routes which have no alternative?
(13 Sep 2023, 10:12 pm)mb134 I guess with the 307/309 much of both routes are covered by the 306/308, so maybe their logic is that they'd prioritise routes which have no alternative?
(13 Sep 2023, 10:12 pm)mb134 I guess with the 307/309 much of both routes are covered by the 306/308, so maybe their logic is that they'd prioritise routes which have no alternative?
(13 Sep 2023, 10:12 pm)mb134 I guess with the 307/309 much of both routes are covered by the 306/308, so maybe their logic is that they'd prioritise routes which have no alternative?
You're also relying on another operator, who are struggling themselves lately, to get your customers home.
It feels a bit of a hit and hope approach. Sometimes it'll work, sometimes it won't.
Sent from my SM-S916B using Tapatalk
(14 Sep 2023, 4:14 pm)Dan Yes, exactly this - and don’t forget that there is inter-operator ticket acceptance on the Coast Road.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
(14 Sep 2023, 4:14 pm)Dan Yes, exactly this - and don’t forget that there is inter-operator ticket acceptance on the Coast Road.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
(13 Sep 2023, 8:27 pm)Thomas12 It would make more sense for GNE to just run the 353 half hourly - no need for the 352/354/355 if there aren't enough drivers.
(13 Sep 2023, 8:27 pm)Thomas12 It would make more sense for GNE to just run the 353 half hourly - no need for the 352/354/355 if there aren't enough drivers.
(14 Sep 2023, 8:19 pm)L469 YVK The 353 would hemorrhage cash if ran on a half hourly frequency standalone because with remote reliefs, there's no way drivers could do 5 hours behind the wheel (would be 2.5hr round trip)
Best outcome in March would be
Stagecoach
- X63 - Does Killingworth loop then as per 354/54 to Newcastle but via West Farm Avenue....maybe serving Stoneleigh Avenue to maintain close by BT links. Hourly evening & Sunday service introduced.
Go North East
- 352, 354, 355 withdrawn - covered by 37, 38, 353, 359, X63
- 353 half hourly
- Awarded 19 tender and interworks with 353 in North Shields to maintain driving hours
(14 Sep 2023, 8:19 pm)L469 YVK The 353 would hemorrhage cash if ran on a half hourly frequency standalone because with remote reliefs, there's no way drivers could do 5 hours behind the wheel (would be 2.5hr round trip)
Best outcome in March would be
Stagecoach
- X63 - Does Killingworth loop then as per 354/54 to Newcastle but via West Farm Avenue....maybe serving Stoneleigh Avenue to maintain close by BT links. Hourly evening & Sunday service introduced.
Go North East
- 352, 354, 355 withdrawn - covered by 37, 38, 353, 359, X63
- 353 half hourly
- Awarded 19 tender and interworks with 353 in North Shields to maintain driving hours
(14 Sep 2023, 4:14 pm)Dan Yes, exactly this - and don’t forget that there is inter-operator ticket acceptance on the Coast Road.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
(14 Sep 2023, 4:14 pm)Dan Yes, exactly this - and don’t forget that there is inter-operator ticket acceptance on the Coast Road.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
(14 Sep 2023, 9:01 pm)Ambassador Are the office staff in any sort of reality? On the cancellations tomorrow for the X39 it says, don’t forget you can use your ticket on Arriva services
None of which serve Cobalt.
I know of two employers at Cobalt that have opened back up fully remote working to mitigate the feedback from colleagues around Go Ahead issues. we actually used the X39 as a promo piece to get colleagues back, now we’re using it to let them stay at home
(14 Sep 2023, 9:01 pm)Ambassador Are the office staff in any sort of reality? On the cancellations tomorrow for the X39 it says, don’t forget you can use your ticket on Arriva services
None of which serve Cobalt.
I know of two employers at Cobalt that have opened back up fully remote working to mitigate the feedback from colleagues around Go Ahead issues. we actually used the X39 as a promo piece to get colleagues back, now we’re using it to let them stay at home