Disruptions and driver shortages

[L469 YVK]

It sounds like an absolutely terrible plan having 6336 and 6337 as spares for the X10 and X21 when they can barely manage to run the Consett express services (the latter having spent most of its time at GNE off the road than on!)


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E400MMC:
- 6336-37 - Consett - Spare
- 6338-45 - Consett - X30/X31/X45
- 6346-55 - Riverside - X10/X21

Wasn't part of the syggestion. They'd remain at Consett as backup for the X30/X31/X45 plus other routes if not needed.

For the X10/X21, 6362-63 would fill in and in the case of the X10 if there was a VOR, 6362-63 would step in on the X21 with one of the E400MMC's or 6102/6377 then released stepping in place on the X21.

Would effectively be how Arriva Northumbria manage the 17 & 72 plate E400MMCs at Ashington with both batches doing the X14/X15/X18/X20 and X21/X22.

[Dan]

E400MMC:
- 6336-37 - Consett - Spare
- 6338-45 - Consett - X30/X31/X45
- 6346-55 - Riverside - X10/X21

Wasn't part of the syggestion. They'd remain at Consett as backup for the X30/X31/X45 plus other routes if not needed.

For the X10/X21, 6362-63 would fill in and in the case of the X10 if there was a VOR, 6362-63 would step in on the X21 with one of the E400MMC's or 6102/6377 then released stepping in place on the X21.

Would effectively be how Arriva Northumbria manage the 17 & 72 plate E400MMCs at Ashington with both batches doing the X14/X15/X18/X20 and X21/X22.

It honestly feels like a pointless swap. As I have said before, the solution to any alleged reliability issues of StreetDecks at Riverside is to fix them. Not to give up and move the problem elsewhere.

I know you are sold on the idea (you’ve mentioned it several times now) but GNE clearly wants to keep all the E400s (barring the ones that need to be on the X10) at Consett, and all the StreetDecks at Riverside.

The interworking pattern of the Consett express routes is more complex than you realise (mornings, evenings and Sundays), and Consett already struggle for low-height double-decks at times, without this suggestion which would further hinder them.


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[L469 YVK]

It honestly feels like a pointless swap. As I have said before, the solution to any alleged reliability issues of StreetDecks at Riverside is to fix them. Not to give up and move the problem elsewhere.

I know you are sold on the idea (you’ve mentioned it several times now) but GNE clearly wants to keep all the E400s (barring the ones that need to be on the X10) at Consett, and all the StreetDecks at Riverside.

The interworking pattern of the Consett express routes is more complex than you realise (mornings, evenings and Sundays), and Consett already struggle for low-height double-decks at times, without this suggestion which would further hinder them.


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So which journeys end up straying onto low height boards (X30/X31/X45) then? Aren't Sundays just X45 > X72 > X45 and 12 > 6 > X30 > X30 > 6 > 12?

I might be an advocate of a stronger batch of E400MMC covering the X10/X21, but after spending a few days in Northumberland, can appreciate why Arriva use them on their A1/A189 express routes.

[Dan]

So which journeys end up straying onto low height boards (X30/X31/X45) then? Aren't Sundays just X45 > X72 > X45 and 12 > 6 > X30 > X30 > 6 > 12?

I might be an advocate of a stronger batch of E400MMC covering the X10/X21, but after spending a few days in Northumberland, can appreciate why Arriva use them on their A1/A189 express routes.

I’m not sure, but the majority of the boards cover an X30 or X31 at some point.


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[L469 YVK]

I’m not sure, but the majority of the boards cover an X30 or X31 at some point.


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But the cost of re-jigging them accordingly wouldn't be a large job. Fair enough running the X30/X31 standalone with remote reliefs at Stanley would be a no-no from a cost perspective, but the X30/X31/X45 would largely remain the same with a small number of changes to such boards that might run onto the X30/X31 off a 6, 47, X71, X72 etc.

Not forgetting the reputational cost of an express service that effectively mirror's GNE's 'flagship' service being at stake.

[Ambassador]

It honestly feels like a pointless swap. As I have said before, the solution to any alleged reliability issues of StreetDecks at Riverside is to fix them. Not to give up and move the problem elsewhere.

'Alleged' reliability. Oh Dan, spoken like a true company man still!

[Dan]

'Alleged' reliability. Oh Dan, spoken like a true company man still!

Could be wing mirror issues.


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[Ambassador]

GNE have updated their website to mention the closure but haven't mentioned the 28 or X21

Buses on service 21 towards Newcastle will be unable to serve stops between Newcastle Bank and Harlow Green Footbridge 20.00 and 06:00 the following morning on the evenings of Monday 18th to Thursday 21st March. Please catch your bus from Windsor Road or Harlow Green/Allerdene

[Storx]

GNE have updated their website to mention the closure but haven't mentioned the 28 or X21

Buses on service 21 towards Newcastle will be unable to serve stops between Newcastle Bank and Harlow Green Footbridge 20.00 and 06:00 the following morning on the evenings of Monday 18th to Thursday 21st March.  Please catch your bus from Windsor Road or Harlow Green/Allerdene

Different closure that isn't it? There's no 28's during that time and assuming the X21 will still be serving all stops so doesn't really need a mention.

Appears to be the North side of the roundabout that.

[Ambassador]

Different closure that isn't it? There's no 28's during that time and assuming the X21 will still be serving all stops so doesn't really need a mention.

Appears to be the North side of the roundabout that.

Oh of course, well spotted Storx! More coffee required

[BusLoverMum]

Yeah, that's evenings, starting last night. It's not going to matter how the X21 gets from Chester to the Cannon, anyhow, as long as it does it in reasonable time.

[Ambassador]

National Highways have clarified the closure this weekend.

It's the Southbound side of the roundabout that is closed. So there is no access to the A1 or Birtley from the direction of Low Fell.

In which case the 21 will serve its evening diversion, the X21 could follow the same diversion and go through Birtley from Lamesley and the 28 will likely go down Easedale and Lamesley as well

GNE have updated the site but no reference to the 28

[Ambassador]

X12 and 28 are taking an arguably more sensible diversion than the 21

Joining A1 at Eighton Lodge then traversing back from mill house roundabout to serve Birtley, no stops misses

[Ambassador]

Sunday service on a Good Friday, at least on core routes is horrendous.

Headed to Durham today. The 10.40ish am 21 was full and standing towards Durham (previous 21 and x21 didn’t turn up)

It looked like the Durham 21s were running up to 25 minutes late, the X21s worse.

I ended up getting a train back to Newcastle and doubling back to low fell. Still got home quicker. Driver of my 21 said CLS 21 runs were pretty light all day but Durham runs were really struggling, he knew if 2 X21s that had been regulated.

Riverside are utterly useless

[Rob44]

not just bank holidays on 21. I dropped the fun police (ex) on low fell so she could get the 21 to work as the 28/29 have been rubbish for turning up and she waited a while then 3 turned up at once..... two were even the correct allocation!!!!

[DeltaMan]

Was on an operators service this morning with a new driver at the wheel.

Behind me at the back was what I thought was a passenger. But it was a mentor driver playing music on loud speaker while the driver was struggling with a ticket request.

Bus delayed by 10 minutes as a result. No wonder they decide to leave if this is the level of support they receive when on the road.

Appallingly unprofessional from the mentor driver and a disgrace to the uniform.

[DaveFromUpNorth]

Was on an operators service this morning with a new driver at the wheel.

Behind me at the back was what I thought was a passenger. But it was a mentor driver playing music on loud speaker while the driver was struggling with a ticket request.

Bus delayed by 10 minutes as a result. No wonder they decide to leave if this is the level of support they receive when on the road.

Appallingly unprofessional from the mentor driver and a disgrace to the uniform.

See. I would of turned round and said ere think he needs some help  it's much more embarrassing for a customer to tell them to do their job then a member of staff asking for help

[54APhotography]

Was on an operators service this morning with a new driver at the wheel.

Behind me at the back was what I thought was a passenger. But it was a mentor driver playing music on loud speaker while the driver was struggling with a ticket request.

Bus delayed by 10 minutes as a result. No wonder they decide to leave if this is the level of support they receive when on the road.

Appallingly unprofessional from the mentor driver and a disgrace to the uniform.

Typical of how Go are deteriorating. Sick and tired of cancelled services and ignorant mentors. Nexus made aware of the 317 fiasco daily but doing sod all about it.

[Thomas12]

Typical of how Go are deteriorating. Sick and tired of cancelled services and ignorant mentors. Nexus made aware of the 317 fiasco daily but doing sod all about it.

Hardly a fiasco, most buses operate fine.

There are delays yes, but a lot of this is due to congestion. It took half an hour to get from Howdon Lane to Ridley Avenue twice last week due to increased traffic going via the Tyne Tunnel I’m assuming. Not much Nexus, or Go North East can do about that.

Sunday services are often delayed but they were with Stagecoach too- probably because the timetable is far too tight, which is Nexus’ fault.

[Rob44]

Was on an operators service this morning with a new driver at the wheel.

Behind me at the back was what I thought was a passenger. But it was a mentor driver playing music on loud speaker while the driver was struggling with a ticket request.

Bus delayed by 10 minutes as a result. No wonder they decide to leave if this is the level of support they receive when on the road.

Appallingly unprofessional from the mentor driver and a disgrace to the uniform.

I must say the 28b seems to be a training bus these days and the " mentors" always been fine with the driver when i've seen it. Maybe Washington depot run differently to the service you were on?