(23 Apr 2024, 12:17 am)Driver9*** wrote They're limping along till the company takeover and/or start of the SE Northumberland rail line. I doubt the X21/22 will ever revert back to the 20 mins frequency besides a few extra morning/late afternoon runs. The X10/11 at Blyth were the same and now every 30 mins.

It has happened at the worst time (an inept parent company who checked out years ago + COVID + historic mismanagement) and the Northumberland Line. The saving grace is that the NL is car centric (the modelling for demand by the AECOM and NCC is "interesting") and will not directly offer direct services to Newcastle CC.

The elephant in the room is the likelihood of franchising (a step in the right direction IMHO) - the long term outlook is how the NL can actually serve demand in communities with walk up stations with direct links into Haymarket and how the wider bus network can support that. I digress.

(24 Apr 2024, 2:39 am)solsburian wrote It has happened at the worst time (an inept parent company who checked out years ago + COVID + historic mismanagement) and the Northumberland Line. The saving grace is that the NL is car centric (the modelling for demand by the AECOM and NCC is "interesting") and will not directly offer direct services to Newcastle CC.

The elephant in the room is the likelihood of franchising (a step in the right direction IMHO) - the long term outlook is how the NL can actually serve demand in communities with walk up stations with direct links into Haymarket and how the wider bus network can support that. I digress.

Franchising is just side stepping the issues though really. The problems will just move with it. There's not enough drivers and they're just moving around lately. Under franchising it's all about minimum cost so if you give the drivers a higher wage you won't be winning contracts at all. 

It's really counter productive. The same strikes are rife in London aswell for example

At the end of the day it's the same operators running the buses just not under their rules which is took by other people who if Gannon and co are in charge are even more questionable. The Metro isn't exactly a beam of success because of lack of funds, the same problem which will affect buses unless they somehow find a magic money tree.

Put this somewhere if not the correct place but can't find anywhere

1421 is currently at Blyth on the X9 now to Blyth and not sure why it's here

https://flic.kr/p/2pMagt3

(24 Apr 2024, 1:27 pm)NopAaron21 wrote Put this somewhere if not the correct place but can't find anywhere

1421 is currently at Blyth on the X9 now to Blyth and not sure why it's here

https://flic.kr/p/2pMagt3

It's on loan from Redcar not transferred

3 X21s in a row cancelled to town prior to the match today, and the X22 in the middle is a Streetlite. I'd say they were brain dead but that implies they had functioning brains in the first place.

Seems like it's going to be a bit of a messy week in far SE Northumberland this week as the Seghill Level Crossing closure is impacting the 57/57A, X7-X11 quite badly, the traffic last night was horrific pretty much all over.

The X10/X11 being impacted going into/out Blyth between Laverock Hall and the roadworks for Newsham Station before anyone is wondering how the hell they're impacted since people who usually cut through Seaton Delaval can't anymore.

Least the services that rotate with the 44 should run better =- they are closing coach lane in both directions between 930am and 330pm and due to no safe place to turn a round no buses will be serving hazlerigg all week. At least when kibblesworth was shut off GNE put a mini bus on!!!

(30 Apr 2024, 12:48 pm)Rob44 wrote Least the services that rotate with the 44 should run better =- they are closing coach lane in both directions between 930am and 330pm and due to no safe place to turn a round no buses will be serving hazlerigg all week.  At least when kibblesworth was shut off GNE put a mini bus on!!!

Sounds like the council are pulling a runner there mind. Seghill and New Hartley are much of the same as down there and yet they can manage to run a minibus along there. Poor show imo, credit to the railway closures they've always had bus replacements even known I believe it's Network Rail paying for it.

(30 Apr 2024, 12:48 pm)Rob44 wrote Least the services that rotate with the 44 should run better =- they are closing coach lane in both directions between 930am and 330pm and due to no safe place to turn a round no buses will be serving hazlerigg all week.  At least when kibblesworth was shut off GNE put a mini bus on!!!

When is this?

(30 Apr 2024, 1:24 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote When is this?

this week or next i think - will effect the 342 i think too

(30 Apr 2024, 1:39 pm)Rob44 wrote this week or next i think - will effect the 342 i think too

Ah, yes I forgot it will affect the 342 as well. Tracking as normal so far on the 44 and 342. I wonder how the 342 will get round? Presumably the 44 is missing out Hazlerigg and operating as normal for the rest of the route?

I notice Arriva have pulled all their job adverts from Indeed and other jobsites. So either this new wage deal has enticed a load of applications or maybe they're waiting on the outcome of the local elections, as the Labour candidate has said she will re-nationlise all service bus companies if she gets elected......

(30 Apr 2024, 8:45 pm)Driver9*** wrote I notice Arriva have pulled all their job adverts from Indeed and other jobsites. So either this new wage deal has enticed a load of applications or maybe they're waiting on the outcome of the local elections, as the Labour candidate has said she will re-nationlise all service bus companies if she gets elected......

I often found temporarily removing job adverts from those websites and then re-listing them forced the algorithm to push the jobs more to users of the website, and resulted in a ‘boom’ of applications.

It is entirely possible Arriva has noticed this too and you’ve just seen it during the temporary removal period.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(01 May 2024, 6:36 am)Dan wrote I often found temporarily removing job adverts from those websites and then re-listing them forced the algorithm to push the jobs more to users of the website, and resulted in a ‘boom’ of applications.

It is entirely possible Arriva has noticed this too and you’ve just seen it during the temporary removal period.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Insurance companies have noticed the lack of preventative maintenance has the same effect on bus fleets too.

(30 Apr 2024, 8:45 pm)Driver9*** wrote I notice Arriva have pulled all their job adverts from Indeed and other jobsites. So either this new wage deal has enticed a load of applications or maybe they're waiting on the outcome of the local elections, as the Labour candidate has said she will re-nationlise all service bus companies if she gets elected......

A local councillor does not have the power to nationalise anything. That would be up to central government.

(30 Apr 2024, 8:45 pm)Driver9*** wrote I notice Arriva have pulled all their job adverts from Indeed and other jobsites. So either this new wage deal has enticed a load of applications or maybe they're waiting on the outcome of the local elections, as the Labour candidate has said she will re-nationlise all service bus companies if she gets elected......

I noticed that.  Nothing for drivers for the North East on their own website either, which now looks to workday (similar to stagecoach) and shows Arriva as a whole rather than just Arriva buses.

(01 May 2024, 6:36 am)Dan wrote I often found temporarily removing job adverts from those websites and then re-listing them forced the algorithm to push the jobs more to users of the website, and resulted in a ‘boom’ of applications.

It is entirely possible Arriva has noticed this too and you’ve just seen it during the temporary removal period.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Maybe it's the moving of the systems aswell, the iSquared takeover is happening at some point. I'd assume DB will want to detatch it from their own website which you used to apply through.

(30 Apr 2024, 7:04 am)Storx wrote Seems like it's going to be a bit of a messy week in far SE Northumberland this week as the Seghill Level Crossing closure is impacting the 57/57A, X7-X11 quite badly, the traffic last night was horrific pretty much all over.

The X10/X11 being impacted going into/out Blyth between Laverock Hall and the roadworks for Newsham Station before anyone is wondering how the hell they're impacted since people who usually cut through Seaton Delaval can't anymore.

Today a X7 Driver actually went into Seghill as far as the Blake Arms, looping back using Front Street/Pit Lane to return to the diversion route via Annitsford. I can't understand ewhy all of the buses won't do that, as it would mean the shuttle bus would only need to run between Seaton Delaval and Blaketown (Burnlea Gardens). 

(02 May 2024, 3:34 pm)solsburian wrote Today a X7 Driver actually went into Seghill as far as the Blake Arms, looping back using Front Street/Pit Lane to return to the diversion route via Annitsford. I can't understand ewhy all of the buses won't do that, as it would mean the shuttle bus would only need to run between Seaton Delaval and Blaketown (Burnlea Gardens). 

Would make sense if you ask me, no doubt the extra bus would be the problem though. 

Tbh I'm surprised the 19 isn't doing that route and omitting Seaton Delaval instead considering we've got the 57/57A instead which goes to similar places. Okay we'd lose the Cobalt links but for the sake of a week it would probably make more sense to give Seghill something reasonable.