Although I'm not a bus driver (or indeed anything else to do with buses), I am employed as a van driver and sometimes pick up overtime away from my home depot.
The reason I do this is simple: petrol expenses. If I managed to get loaned out for a few days to, say, another depot in Teesside - I can almost double my daily wage through the petrol allowance I'm given which is paid in cash at the end of the shift. In addition to expenses, I also get paid for the time travelled to/from that location which, in the case of travelling to Teesside and back, is about an extra two hours on top of my normal shift. I also like exploring new places which is another reason why I jump at the chance to do overtime at another depot.
Perhaps bus drivers do overtime at other depots for similar reasons.
(17 May 2014, 10:21 pm)Marcus I was talking to a Chester driver this morning while waiting for my X2 to Durham, and we spoke about the route learning. We moved onto the new vehicles for the year, and when I mentioned the Citaro's for the Lime, he told me he had driven them before.
I asked him how come, and he told me he had driven them along at Gateshead (when Sunderland Road was still open). I asked him what he had done there, and he said he had done overtime there on The Loops at Gateshead and The Fab56 at Deptford.
So, this thread is to discuss why overtime is at different depots to where the drivers are from, obviously considering that overtime must be available at their Home Depots anyway.
(17 May 2014, 10:21 pm)Marcus I was talking to a Chester driver this morning while waiting for my X2 to Durham, and we spoke about the route learning. We moved onto the new vehicles for the year, and when I mentioned the Citaro's for the Lime, he told me he had driven them before.
I asked him how come, and he told me he had driven them along at Gateshead (when Sunderland Road was still open). I asked him what he had done there, and he said he had done overtime there on The Loops at Gateshead and The Fab56 at Deptford.
So, this thread is to discuss why overtime is at different depots to where the drivers are from, obviously considering that overtime must be available at their Home Depots anyway.
(17 May 2014, 4:03 pm)NEBCD Malarkey Should do the same with the Tyne Tees Xpress Services X9/X10, And have half the PVR move to Peterlee to help improve Reliability.
(17 May 2014, 4:03 pm)NEBCD Malarkey Should do the same with the Tyne Tees Xpress Services X9/X10, And have half the PVR move to Peterlee to help improve Reliability.
(17 May 2014, 2:23 pm)Andreos Constantopolous Was around the old folks earlier on and my Mam (bless her) was on about how the x1 flies along the Washington Highway.
She has mentioned it a few times recently, but it got me thinking about how the Gemini's whizz along and are still pushed for time, compared to the Metrobuses, Olympians or Spectra's - when they were on the x5 (that didn't really need to hammer along the highway).
Back when the x5 operated and the x1 ran with the Merc's, the service was limited stop for more or less the entire journey - since the x1 is only limited between Shiney Row and Gateshead now, is this a contributing factor in the services reliability (timing) issues and drivers needing to push the buses to the limit whenever possible.
The Fencehouses x3 was pretty much the same once it became a stopping service, compared to the limited stop x94.
I have had a quick look at the timetables (on phone so hard to compare/contrast) and there doesn't seem that much difference in scheduled journey times on the x1 - despite the extra stops.
Obviously in the past, the lack of scheduled stopping points will have also helped make up time.
Unless a local bus between Houghton and Washington via Newbottle is reintroduced, affording the x1 to have the luxury of being limited stop again, maybe it is time the x1 had a bit more slack in the timetable.
(17 May 2014, 2:23 pm)Andreos Constantopolous Was around the old folks earlier on and my Mam (bless her) was on about how the x1 flies along the Washington Highway.
She has mentioned it a few times recently, but it got me thinking about how the Gemini's whizz along and are still pushed for time, compared to the Metrobuses, Olympians or Spectra's - when they were on the x5 (that didn't really need to hammer along the highway).
Back when the x5 operated and the x1 ran with the Merc's, the service was limited stop for more or less the entire journey - since the x1 is only limited between Shiney Row and Gateshead now, is this a contributing factor in the services reliability (timing) issues and drivers needing to push the buses to the limit whenever possible.
The Fencehouses x3 was pretty much the same once it became a stopping service, compared to the limited stop x94.
I have had a quick look at the timetables (on phone so hard to compare/contrast) and there doesn't seem that much difference in scheduled journey times on the x1 - despite the extra stops.
Obviously in the past, the lack of scheduled stopping points will have also helped make up time.
Unless a local bus between Houghton and Washington via Newbottle is reintroduced, affording the x1 to have the luxury of being limited stop again, maybe it is time the x1 had a bit more slack in the timetable.
(18 May 2014, 9:03 am)AdamY In January 1994, service X5 was allocated 53 minutes to get from Newcastle to Easington Lane Clock Tower while 47 minutes were allocated for the return journey. By March 2003 another minute was added on to journey times between Newcastle and Easington Lane (54 in total) and an additional 10 minutes (57 in total) were added to the return journey. In comparison, service X1 is allocated 62 minutes between Newcastle and Easington Lane in both directions.
As you have pointed out, both services operate limited stop between Newcastle and Shiney Row stopping mostly at the timing points shown on each timetable. So, in total, an extra 7-8 minutes have been added between Newcastle and Easington Lane over the past twenty years while an average of 10 have been added in the opposite direction. Perhaps, we should also give some consideration to increased traffic congestion over the same period which also affects journey times.
Is this enough time in your opinion?
(18 May 2014, 9:03 am)AdamY In January 1994, service X5 was allocated 53 minutes to get from Newcastle to Easington Lane Clock Tower while 47 minutes were allocated for the return journey. By March 2003 another minute was added on to journey times between Newcastle and Easington Lane (54 in total) and an additional 10 minutes (57 in total) were added to the return journey. In comparison, service X1 is allocated 62 minutes between Newcastle and Easington Lane in both directions.
As you have pointed out, both services operate limited stop between Newcastle and Shiney Row stopping mostly at the timing points shown on each timetable. So, in total, an extra 7-8 minutes have been added between Newcastle and Easington Lane over the past twenty years while an average of 10 have been added in the opposite direction. Perhaps, we should also give some consideration to increased traffic congestion over the same period which also affects journey times.
Is this enough time in your opinion?
(19 May 2014, 12:44 am)Andreos Constantopolous Between Shiney Row and Easington Lane, I guesstimate there are roughly 19/20 stops.
Round it to 20 for ease at an average of 30secs per stop.
Roughly half of those stops were used on the x5.
The 62mins from Easington Lane is optimistic at the best of times.
Many a time I have done Houghton - Newcastle (or vice versa) and it has taken an hour just for that stretch.
(19 May 2014, 12:44 am)Andreos Constantopolous Between Shiney Row and Easington Lane, I guesstimate there are roughly 19/20 stops.
Round it to 20 for ease at an average of 30secs per stop.
Roughly half of those stops were used on the x5.
The 62mins from Easington Lane is optimistic at the best of times.
Many a time I have done Houghton - Newcastle (or vice versa) and it has taken an hour just for that stretch.
(19 May 2014, 9:04 am)Acky81 Plain purple versa at saltmeadows hmm??? 39 getting branded I wonder
(19 May 2014, 9:04 am)Acky81 Plain purple versa at saltmeadows hmm??? 39 getting branded I wonder
(19 May 2014, 8:07 am)marxistafozzski 62 mins Newcastle-Easington Lane, I have done Newcastle-Hetton many times in 58 minutes, add another 7 or 8 to that and it is closer to between 65-70 up to the Lane, a question about the Red Arrows branding, it's external branding says Hetton-Houghton-Shiny-Washington and so on, it does not say Easington Lane, are GNE ashamed of the fact they goto E.Lane, heehee, I mean I would be ashamed of the place, it is like the toilet off trainspotting a manky shitehole
(19 May 2014, 8:07 am)marxistafozzski 62 mins Newcastle-Easington Lane, I have done Newcastle-Hetton many times in 58 minutes, add another 7 or 8 to that and it is closer to between 65-70 up to the Lane, a question about the Red Arrows branding, it's external branding says Hetton-Houghton-Shiny-Washington and so on, it does not say Easington Lane, are GNE ashamed of the fact they goto E.Lane, heehee, I mean I would be ashamed of the place, it is like the toilet off trainspotting a manky shitehole
Aside from at peak times, I've never really had a great issue with time-keeping on service X1. I usually do the Galleries to Newcastle stretch, and the bus is often sat waiting time at the Galleries and tends to get into Eldon Square on-time (providing there's not a massive queue of buses trying to get into the bus station).
For those that didn't see the news article of 4949 prior to it being updated with a photograph at the time of being on fire, do click here.
(19 May 2014, 3:08 pm)Dan Aside from at peak times, I've never really had a great issue with time-keeping on service X1. I usually do the Galleries to Newcastle stretch, and the bus is often sat waiting time at the Galleries and tends to get into Eldon Square on-time (providing there's not a massive queue of buses trying to get into the bus station).
For those that didn't see the news article of 4949 prior to it being updated with a photograph at the time of being on fire, do click here.
(19 May 2014, 3:08 pm)Dan Aside from at peak times, I've never really had a great issue with time-keeping on service X1. I usually do the Galleries to Newcastle stretch, and the bus is often sat waiting time at the Galleries and tends to get into Eldon Square on-time (providing there's not a massive queue of buses trying to get into the bus station).
For those that didn't see the news article of 4949 prior to it being updated with a photograph at the time of being on fire, do click here.
6099 is in Saltmeadows havent a clue why its there is it there for a new panel? possibly is it there to get branded possibly? could someone help me solve the mystery why it was there?
(19 May 2014, 3:38 pm)Racer_Experience 6099 is in Saltmeadows havent a clue why its there is it there for a new panel? possibly is it there to get branded possibly? could someone help me solve the mystery why it was there?
(19 May 2014, 3:38 pm)Racer_Experience 6099 is in Saltmeadows havent a clue why its there is it there for a new panel? possibly is it there to get branded possibly? could someone help me solve the mystery why it was there?
(19 May 2014, 3:40 pm)Marcus I think we would have discussed it by now if it was going for repaint. Maybe just there for a check-up?
(19 May 2014, 3:45 pm)Tom It could well be there for vinyls for the new cooperate livery as Dan suggested a couple of weeks a go the new cooperate livery would be released soon.
(19 May 2014, 3:50 pm)Tom Yeah I do
The spell check is dodgy
(19 May 2014, 3:48 pm)jaimz13 I know this has nothing to do with this site but I've just got omnibus simulator does anyone know how i can get some go north east livery's or more buses
(19 May 2014, 3:48 pm)jaimz13 I know this has nothing to do with this site but I've just got omnibus simulator does anyone know how i can get some go north east livery's or more buses
(19 May 2014, 3:48 pm)jaimz13 I know this has nothing to do with this site but I've just got omnibus simulator does anyone know how i can get some go north east livery's or more buses
(19 May 2014, 3:48 pm)jaimz13 I know this has nothing to do with this site but I've just got omnibus simulator does anyone know how i can get some go north east livery's or more buses
