(27 Mar 2024, 11:29 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote The X78 seemed to run fine last night, just to a bit of a delay later on. 5491 looks to be the allocated vehicle for the X78.

The 2210 and return journey had some issues joining and exiting the A167(M) Newcastle Central Motorway for whatever reason.

(27 Mar 2024, 11:29 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote 5491 looks to be the allocated vehicle for the X78.

You mean apart from 5500 being on it on Monday?

It'll likely just be whichever single decker is available at the time, which meets the contracted spec.

(27 Mar 2024, 1:40 pm)mb134 wrote You mean apart from 5500 being on it on Monday?

It'll likely just be whichever single decker is available at the time, which meets the contracted spec.

I saw 5500 on Monday, proudly displaying 'Not in Service', which is helpful. But, apart from that, I'm guessing 5491 will be the allocated vehicle (at least it has the X78 programmed in!). 5491 was on yesterday and Sunday.

Does the 317 have no destination display, i missed a bus today because it just said "Go North East"

(27 Mar 2024, 4:52 pm)V514DFT wrote Does the 317 have no destination display, i missed a bus today because it just said "Go North East"

8322 doesn’t, everything else does. I assume it wasn’t updated in time when it transferred from Washington. Surely there’s something else they could have used in the meantime though?

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(27 Mar 2024, 4:52 pm)V514DFT wrote Does the 317 have no destination display, i missed a bus today because it just said "Go North East"

8322 doesn’t, everything else does. I assume it wasn’t updated in time when it transferred from Washington. Surely there’s something else they could have used in the meantime though?

(26 Mar 2024, 6:52 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Look at 317 Stagecoach was successful in pushing it out of Wallsend Interchange (to connect with other buses/metro ) and operate a loop round the shopping centre to improve reliability I think words was used 

Passengers prefer the service stopping outside of The Forum, as it is less of a walk for them.

On a night time, it's also safer to wait for a bus at The Forum than it is at the interchange.

(27 Mar 2024, 5:27 pm)Thomas12 wrote 8322 doesn’t, everything else does. I assume it wasn’t updated in time when it transferred from Washington. Surely there’s something else they could have used in the meantime though?

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8322 doesn’t, everything else does. I assume it wasn’t updated in time when it transferred from Washington. Surely there’s something else they could have used in the meantime though?

Yup that'd be the culprate, cheers Thomas

Looks like Nexus has enforced additional costs onto contracts that have just been awarded contracts

The price will now be 80p per departure from Haymarket

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(27 Mar 2024, 11:09 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Looks like Nexus has enforced additional costs onto contracts that have just been awarded contracts

The price will now be 80p per departure from Haymarket

Wonder how much ParkLane costs?

(27 Mar 2024, 11:09 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Looks like Nexus has enforced additional costs onto contracts that have just been awarded contracts

The price will now be 80p per departure from Haymarket

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By the looks of it, it's nothing to do with Nexus and is a Newcastle City Council (who own the bus station) policy instead which isn't a surprise as they seem to do everything to make people not want to visit Newcastle.

I’m genuinely struggling to understand how the 317 can be so bad - the buses are constantly 20+ minutes late for no apparent reason, the drivers obviously haven’t been trained properly on the route either.

Even the evening services are running considerably late - this never happened when Stagecoach operated it so not sure what the issue is, but needs sorted ASAP.

(28 Mar 2024, 7:19 am)Storx wrote By the looks of it, it's nothing to do with Nexus and is a Newcastle City Council (who own the bus station) policy instead which isn't a surprise as they seem to do everything to make people not want to visit Newcastle.

Exactly this. I'm not actually against it, if the money goes towards the upkeep of the bus station, but Haymarket is a bit of a wreck these days. Quite a bit of seating is damaged, has been taped out of use, or even removed.

(29 Mar 2024, 12:11 pm)Adrian wrote Exactly this. I'm not actually against it, if the money goes towards the upkeep of the bus station, but Haymarket is a bit of a wreck these days. Quite a bit of seating is damaged, has been taped out of use, or even removed.

Don't forget the clock with a piece of paper on it that states "incorrect time displayed" which I think has been incorrect for years at this point.

(29 Mar 2024, 12:11 pm)Adrian wrote Exactly this. I'm not actually against it, if the money goes towards the upkeep of the bus station, but Haymarket is a bit of a wreck these days. Quite a bit of seating is damaged, has been taped out of use, or even removed.

Pretty much, they badly need to remove the public right of way through the thing imo and seal both ends off and give it a proper refurbishment so it's actually a pleasant place.

It's basically the same basic 90's greenhouse with a fancy roof on top, up there with one of the worst in the country, even known there's Park Lane which is even worse.

For all it's failings as a place, Middlesbrough doesn't have half have a fantastic bus station.

(26 Mar 2024, 7:12 pm)Storx wrote A bit off topic but I kinda disagree about bus stations.

Bus stations are a complete waste of time if you ask me, unless it's an interchange where you change between a bus and a tube / train like many places in London where you can't control timings so are forced to wait.

Personally, on paper (not saying do it), I'd much rather have a bus which looped around Newcastle so I could get on/off where I actually wanted to be, rather than being dumped off at Haymarket which is miles to the North of most places.

Not to mention personally, I feel more secure at a bus stop than an unstaffed bus station in the evening. Haymarket is an unpleasant place, as an understatement, especially with the undesirables hanging around outside the pub.

Most people who know the timetable, won't be there for longer than 5 minutes max. Now if the bus station was near Central Station then it would be a different kettle of fish.

Having spent 4 years without a bus station in Durham, it was a relief to get one back instead of having to wait goodness knows how long in all weathers in the open air for a bus, watching other buses I could have caught if they hadn't departed from the other end if north road sail past. The same issue also affected planning a journey with a connection because you couldn't guarantee getting from one stop to another in the 5 minutes you should have. 

Now we have the bus station back, people who have a wait have somewhere dry to wait and those who have a choice of services can see what's in, catch it, and get out of everyone else's way.

And, yes, when I go to Newcastle, I might get off at St Mary's Place or John Dobson street but I'm blown if I'm waiting for the bus home on Newgate street when there is a nice, dry bus station to wait in - with seating if my back is hurting from standing.

(29 Mar 2024, 12:17 pm)Jimmi wrote Don't forget the clock with a piece of paper on it that states "incorrect time displayed" which I think has been incorrect for years at this point.

tbf is correct 2 times  a day, everyday

(29 Mar 2024, 1:44 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Having spent 4 years without a bus station in Durham, it was a relief to get one back instead of having to wait goodness knows how long in all weathers in the open air for a bus, watching other buses I could have caught if they hadn't departed from the other end if north road sail past. The same issue also affected planning a journey with a connection because you couldn't guarantee getting from one stop to another in the 5 minutes you should have. 

Now we have the bus station back, people who have a wait have somewhere dry to wait and those who have a choice of services can see what's in, catch it, and get out of everyone else's way.

And, yes, when I go to Newcastle, I might get off at St Mary's Place or John Dobson street but I'm blown if I'm waiting for the bus home on Newgate street when there is a nice, dry bus station to wait in - with seating if my back is hurting from standing.

Aye some fair points, personally though what Durham had was the worst of both worlds as really it was still acting as a bus station bar the stands were on the street and you had the flaws of a bus stations, and the flaws on lack of links.

Obviously in an ideal world you'd have a tram which went through the centre of places like Durham and even Newcastle so where you stopped doesn't really matter, but this is Britain so that doesn't exist.

The new X39 run looks to be a single deck op which is great but it left a load standing who were ably assisted by the 22X

(02 Apr 2024, 9:49 pm)Ambassador wrote The new X39 run looks to be a single deck op which is great but it left a load standing who were ably assisted by the 22X

At the same time they had 3 double deckers on the 317, which don't pick anyone up as they can't follow the correct route, don't display the correct destination, or turn up half an hour late.

Honestly, GCT would do a better job than these lot, absolute clowns

317 done alright today, limited delays

(02 Apr 2024, 10:42 pm)Unber43 wrote 317 done alright today, limited delays

Still services running unnecessarily late - something that didnt happen under Stagecoach and they could follow the current route.

(02 Apr 2024, 10:42 pm)Unber43 wrote 317 done alright today, limited delays

Are u okay. Half of them are still going the wrong way and missing parts of the route. There is no way in hell they can't be this bad at it. Constantly late. Missing stops and just ignore the route. Mu cousin got on the 317 and they went the wrong way. Told him he went the wrong way and the driver just went eh and shrug his shoulders

(02 Apr 2024, 10:18 pm)Thomas12 wrote At the same time they had 3 double deckers on the 317, which don't pick anyone up as they can't follow the correct route, don't display the correct destination, or turn up half an hour late.

Honestly, GCT would do a better job than these lot, absolute clowns

Just shows that people will suck up to GNE on this forum. People insist that if GCT or Arriva do anything wrong they should have contracts taken from them, yet I'm yet to see someone call for this in regards to GNE. Especially regarding the 317.

(02 Apr 2024, 10:42 pm)Unber43 wrote 317 done alright today, limited delays

There should be no delays from one of the oldest and the biggest bus companies in the north east. 

(02 Apr 2024, 10:48 pm)Thomas12 wrote Still services running unnecessarily late - something that didnt happen under Stagecoach and they could follow the current route.

I remember SNE 'teething issues' as some have referred to being sorted out within decent amount of time. This was mainly due to the fact 24101 - 24107 were used for their Euro 6 engines as part of the contract, and the residents of Howdon etc.. were not used to buses this long using the route. Parked cars were the main issues for ages. Once this was sorted there was rarely an issue. Timetabling is Nexus' area of incompetence....

(02 Apr 2024, 11:41 pm)Aaron21 wrote Are u okay. Half of them are still going the wrong way and missing parts of the route. There is no way in hell they can't be this bad at it. Constantly late. Missing stops and just ignore the route. Mu cousin got on the 317 and they went the wrong way. Told him he went the wrong way and the driver just went eh and shrug his shoulders

Yep that sounds like GNE drivers....the company is a disgrace. I know that Arriva are as well but this is in particular reply.

(03 Apr 2024, 11:36 am)logidoodah wrote Just shows that people will suck up to GNE on this forum. People insist that if GCT or Arriva do anything wrong they should have contracts taken from them, yet I'm yet to see someone call for this in regards to GNE. Especially regarding the 317.


There should be no delays from one of the oldest and the biggest bus companies in the north east. 


I remember SNE 'teething issues' as some have referred to being sorted out within decent amount of time. This was mainly due to the fact 24101 - 24107 were used for their Euro 6 engines as part of the contract, and the residents of Howdon etc.. were not used to buses this long using the route. Parked cars were the main issues for ages. Once this was sorted there was rarely an issue. Timetabling is Nexus' area of incompetence....


Yep that sounds like GNE drivers....the company is a disgrace. I know that Arriva are as well but this is in particular reply.

GNE should never have been awarded the contract for the 317, given that they abandoned that same route (numbered 11 at the time), two years ago. I live on the route and found the service was very reliable when Stagecoach had it. Now it's a shambles, typical of the way in which GNE have carried on at the coastal area for a long time. Yesterday they were running a double-decker branded for the DFDS ferries, one branded for the North Tyne Rockets (why wasn't this on the 352, 353 or 354?), and one in corporate livery. What a mess. One other point on delays: the 317 was the amalgamation of two routes many years ago when GNE merged the Whitley Bay - North Shields section with the North Shields - Wallsend section (originally the 313). In order to make the 317 more reliable, particularly with connections to and from the ferry, I would suggest that the 2 parts of the route are re-established as separate services. As I understand it, it was the very indirect route through High Howdon which was causing delays.

(03 Apr 2024, 1:47 pm)Ex-conductor wrote GNE should never have been awarded the contract for the 317, given that they abandoned that same route (numbered 11 at the time), two years ago. I live on the route and found the service was very reliable when Stagecoach had it. Now it's a shambles, typical of the way in which GNE have carried on at the coastal area for a long time. Yesterday they were running a double-decker branded for the DFDS ferries, one branded for the North Tyne Rockets (why wasn't this on the 352, 353 or 354?), and one in corporate livery. What a mess. One other point on delays: the 317 was the amalgamation of two routes many years ago when GNE merged the Whitley Bay - North Shields section with the North Shields - Wallsend section (originally the 313). In order to make the 317 more reliable, particularly with connections to and from the ferry, I would suggest that the 2 parts of the route are re-established as separate services. As I understand it, it was the very indirect route through High Howdon which was causing delays.

Can't really stop them as it's all done by tenders so it's just the lowest bid. Be illegal otherwise.

Kind of agree with the split service though, but I'd extend them somewhere else to make them actual useful, especially the Wallsend side of it which duplicates the Metro bar connecting local estates to two places most people don't want to be as, politely, they're crap.

I used to drive the 317 and it was very well used during the day across the entire route.

(02 Apr 2024, 11:41 pm)Aaron21 wrote Are u okay. Half of them are still going the wrong way and missing parts of the route. There is no way in hell they can't be this bad at it. Constantly late. Missing stops and just ignore the route. Mu cousin got on the 317 and they went the wrong way. Told him he went the wrong way and the driver just went eh and shrug his shoulders

Which ones didnt go the right way

I dont understand how GNE are getting it so wrong with the 317 when they've ran it before

(03 Apr 2024, 4:37 pm)nova347 wrote Which ones didnt go the right way

There's a list. A quick look at bustimes.org would show you this 

Today, 7.43 5458 missed out Howdon Edward Road. 

Yesterday, 

9.43 3995 went down royal Quays and turned around at Roundabout and went straight along Howdon Road then went down to the ferry. 

12.13 6210 missed out Howdon Edward Road. 

13.27 6210 missed the turn for Dock road. 

17.57 5452 missed out Coniston Road & Edward Road. 

1st April. 
19.00 5450 missed out Holy Cross and decided to go up towards the coast road and spin around next to the cemetery. 

19.55 5450 missed out Royal Quays entirely. 

21.00 5450 (again) did the route normally but didn't turn right up dock road and somehow ended up in Ballast Hill Road. 

21.25 5447 missed out George Stephenson Way & Dock Road. 

21.55 5450 (again) this one is juicy. Goes round Holy Cross twice and this time misses out Dock Road and the ferry. 

22.30 5447 this one is complicated. Leaves the ferry. Misses Dock road but serve George Stephenson way and goes onto Howdon road before turning around at the roundabout and heading back down George Stephenson Way and back onto Dock Road to then go the normal route. 

31st March. 
12.30 680 went up to Coast Road and turned around. 

13.30 681 went down Edward Road (it was a Sunday service which doesn't serve it). 

30th March. Nothing to note

29th March. 
17.00 5479 missed out Dock Road. 

17.55 5479. Missed out Coniston Road & Holy Cross. 

28th March. 
8.57 8323 missed out Edward Road. 

17.27 680. Didn't turn up Howdon Metro and went all the way to Hadrian Road and back then went to Howdon metro (missed out Edward Road) 

20.30 5479 missed out Holy Cross entirely. 

27th March. 
7.57 8322 missed out Edward Road. 

10.27 8322 missed our Dock Road. 

18.25 5478 missed out the turning for Howdon Metro and lopped round Windsor Drive. 

26th March 
7.57 5480 missed out Edward Road. 

10.43 6142 went down to the Port Of Tyne cruise ship area & missed out Dock Road. 

11.57 5446 missed out one stop on Coniston Road and missed the turning for Ridley Avenue. 

14.43 5449 missed out Edward Road stop. 

16.13 8322 went down towards Port Of Tyne cruise ship area. 18.30 5449 missed out Holy Cross. 

25th March. 
13.57 8323 missed out Edward Road & St Oswalds Road in Holy Cross.
 
16.27 8323 missed out Edward Road.
 
17.13 5454 missed the turning for Edward Road so lopped round Archer Street.
 
17.57 8324 missed out Edward Road. 

24th March. 10.30 5479 missed out Archer Street stop. 
14.30 5479 20 mins late out of Whitley Bay so dead ran to North Shields Hub then missed out Ferry/Dock Road,Royal Quays to start again at Percy Main. 

Every part of the route they missed. Go on bustimes.org yourself to see each point listed.

(03 Apr 2024, 3:24 pm)Storx wrote Can't really stop them as it's all done by tenders so it's just the lowest bid. Be illegal otherwise.

Kind of agree with the split service though, but I'd extend them somewhere else to make them actual useful, especially the Wallsend side of it which duplicates the Metro bar connecting local estates to two places most people don't want to be as, politely, they're crap.

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Do people in those ‘crap’ places not need buses to travel elsewhere?