(05 Jun 2014, 4:20 pm)citaro5284 wrote Not the FAMOUS Pat Armstrong is it Marcus!!

- best driver in Chester if you ask me mate.

(05 Jun 2014, 4:09 pm)danpick wrote no as its trail finishes this month

From reading the paper (I hink they where extending it to March 2015 due to higher number's going to Newcastle, however not so busy coming back).

(05 Jun 2014, 4:13 pm)Dan wrote I always see my favourite Deptford driver out and about.

She's the one that was on X7s for the first day of service and made up a 15-20 min delay - driving speedily, yet still safely. Very skilled driver.
Talks to passengers and stuff occasionally too.

Saw her on the X36 today.

https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/danielgrah...D_w_IS_all

?

(05 Jun 2014, 5:13 pm)Marcus wrote https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/danielgrah...D_w_IS_all

?

That's the one!

She was on X3s from Stadium of Light the other night too.

(05 Jun 2014, 5:24 pm)Dan wrote That's the one!

She was on X3s from Stadium of Light the other night too.

So, she does everything?

(05 Jun 2014, 5:26 pm)Marcus wrote So, she does everything?

I've seen her on just about every service at Deptford/Peterlee minus the East Durham locals and the 29!

Don't know if the rotas are ignored for her or what, but she seemingly does just about everything based on my sightings.

(05 Jun 2014, 5:29 pm)Dan wrote I've seen her on just about every service at Deptford/Peterlee minus the East Durham locals and the 29!

Don't know if the rotas are ignored for her or what, but she seemingly does just about everything based on my sightings.

Do you know her personally, as in like a friend? With Pat I often have friendly conversations with her - and she does pretty much every job needed doing - driving, travel shop, offices etc

(05 Jun 2014, 5:29 pm)Dan wrote I've seen her on just about every service at Deptford/Peterlee minus the East Durham locals and the 29!

Don't know if the rotas are ignored for her or what, but she seemingly does just about everything based on my sightings.

Started last Saturday, most Deptford drivers will be doing the lot as the combined rota's started.

(05 Jun 2014, 5:31 pm)Marcus wrote Do you know her personally, as in like a friend? With Pat I often have friendly conversations with her - and she does pretty much every job needed doing - driving, travel shop, offices etc

If I remember rightly, I complemented her driving on that first day of the X7 service (not many drivers can make up such a heavy delay - especially in a B10BLE!)
Na, just tend to smile and sit down. I see her most on the 61 when I'm going to school, and I'm usually with folk who would wonder why I was talking to a bus driver.

She does seem to go for all the extra work she can get - she was on Great North Run services last year too.

(05 Jun 2014, 5:33 pm)Dan wrote If I remember rightly, I complemented her driving on that first day of the X7 service (not many drivers can make up such a heavy delay - especially in a B10BLE!)
Na, just tend to smile and sit down. I see her most on the 61 when I'm going to school, and I'm usually with folk who would wonder why I was talking to a bus driver.

She does seem to go for all the extra work she can get - she was on Great North Run services last year too.

Yeah I know what you mean - one time a Chester driver was really nice and greeted me as I boarded - and all the old folk on the 78 looked at me like I had two heads!

How do you nominate people?

(05 Jun 2014, 5:53 pm)Drifter60 wrote How do you nominate people?

http://www.topnationalbusdriver.co.uk/jo...nomination

(05 Jun 2014, 5:55 pm)Dan wrote http://www.topnationalbusdriver.co.uk/jo...nomination

How ya supposed to know names of drivers as a passenger?

(05 Jun 2014, 5:58 pm)Drifter60 wrote How ya supposed to know names of drivers as a passenger?

The website states:

Our competition to find Britain's top bus driver relies on several elements:
- your nomination of one or more drivers who have impressed you
- information and endorsement from the driver's employers
- the consent of the driver concerned
- a judging process in which our panel of independent experts scrutinises each nomination, and the information provided by the employer


The fact that you have to have consent of the driver concerned tells me you have to actually discuss the fact you will be nominating the driver for the award. In doing so, you would retrieve their name.

(05 Jun 2014, 5:58 pm)Drifter60 wrote How ya supposed to know names of drivers as a passenger?

Their driver numbers perhaps? The route they drive? Any of the above?

Most enthusiasts are acquainted with many drivers - so if you can vaguely describe them maybe one of us could identify them?

(05 Jun 2014, 6:00 pm)Dan wrote The website states:

Our competition to find Britain's top bus driver relies on several elements:
- your nomination of one or more drivers who have impressed you
- information and endorsement from the driver's employers
- the consent of the driver concerned
- a judging process in which our panel of independent experts scrutinises each nomination, and the information provided by the employer


The fact that you have to have consent of the driver concerned tells me you have to actually discuss the fact you will be nominating the driver for the award. In doing so, you would retrieve their name.

I assumed 'consent from the driver' would be done by the company itself after receiving nominations. Are many passengers really going to hold up a public bus when alighting or distract the driver while driving to ask their name and discuss nominating then for an award. Seems a bit of silly competition really. I don't wish to nominate anyone or anything like just wondering.

(05 Jun 2014, 4:13 pm)Dan wrote I always see my favourite Deptford driver out and about.

She's the one that was on X7s for the first day of service and made up a 15-20 min delay - driving speedily, yet still safely. Very skilled driver.
Talks to passengers and stuff occasionally too.

Saw her on the X36 today.

See them or use the bus they're driving? I quite often see familiar drivers out and about when I'm out for photos or a ride about, but when I use the same services day in day out, it's rare I'll see the same driver more than once every couple of weeks. This was the case when I used exactly the same 21 there and back every day, and 'tis also the same now that I use the X1 and 56 every day.

Thinking about the numbers that citaro5284 provided a while back by depot, and the way my mate's shifts seem to fluctuate, I'd say it's rare as a commuter that you'd *often* see the same driver. I find that commuters travel patterns rarely change, and I can almost predict who's getting on the X1 at each stop on a morning.

The only exception I can think would be drivers on EU rules? Don't X9/X10 drivers work compressed hours with almost static shifts and rest days for example? It probably explains why I recall the last time someone winning being an X10 driver. Trish someone?

(05 Jun 2014, 6:57 pm)aureolin wrote See them or use the bus they're driving? I quite often see familiar drivers out and about when I'm out for photos or a ride about, but when I use the same services day in day out, it's rare I'll see the same driver more than once every couple of weeks. This was the case when I used exactly the same 21 there and back every day, and 'tis also the same now that I use the X1 and 56 every day.

Thinking about the numbers that citaro5284 provided a while back by depot, and the way my mate's shifts seem to fluctuate, I'd say it's rare as a commuter that you'd *often* see the same driver. I find that commuters travel patterns rarely change, and I can almost predict who's getting on the X1 at each stop on a morning.

The only exception I can think would be drivers on EU rules? Don't X9/X10 drivers work compressed hours with almost static shifts and rest days for example? It probably explains why I recall the last time someone winning being an X10 driver. Trish someone?

Just see them, as you said in the post I quoted. I regularly have her on my morning 61 too, but other than that...

I know Stagecoach in Sunderland drivers who are always on the same services (at the same times) day in, day out, though.

(05 Jun 2014, 6:57 pm)aureolin wrote See them or use the bus they're driving? I quite often see familiar drivers out and about when I'm out for photos or a ride about, but when I use the same services day in day out, it's rare I'll see the same driver more than once every couple of weeks. This was the case when I used exactly the same 21 there and back every day, and 'tis also the same now that I use the X1 and 56 every day.

Thinking about the numbers that citaro5284 provided a while back by depot, and the way my mate's shifts seem to fluctuate, I'd say it's rare as a commuter that you'd *often* see the same driver. I find that commuters travel patterns rarely change, and I can almost predict who's getting on the X1 at each stop on a morning.

The only exception I can think would be drivers on EU rules? Don't X9/X10 drivers work compressed hours with almost static shifts and rest days for example? It probably explains why I recall the last time someone winning being an X10 driver. Trish someone?

Not long after the 2006 changes; timetables and literature mentioned that the branded routes would work like a local bus company.
The idea was, that drivers would be allocated to a brand and passengers would get to know them.

It didn't last long and the wording was quietly dropped from the timetables and advertising literature.

I can't see the merging of units, helping grow the relationship between both drivers and passengers.

(05 Jun 2014, 6:57 pm)aureolin wrote The only exception I can think would be drivers on EU rules? Don't X9/X10 drivers work compressed hours with almost static shifts and rest days for example? It probably explains why I recall the last time someone winning being an X10 driver. Trish someone?

It is a small rota (ie 16 lines) which is similar to the X66, so more chance of seeing the same drivers, but it is not static, they do a week of earlies then go to a week of middles/lates with Rest Days changing each week. It was Trish Edgar.

(05 Jun 2014, 6:57 pm)aureolin wrote See them or use the bus they're driving? I quite often see familiar drivers out and about when I'm out for photos or a ride about, but when I use the same services day in day out, it's rare I'll see the same driver more than once every couple of weeks. This was the case when I used exactly the same 21 there and back every day, and 'tis also the same now that I use the X1 and 56 every day.

Thinking about the numbers that citaro5284 provided a while back by depot, and the way my mate's shifts seem to fluctuate, I'd say it's rare as a commuter that you'd *often* see the same driver. I find that commuters travel patterns rarely change, and I can almost predict who's getting on the X1 at each stop on a morning.

The only exception I can think would be drivers on EU rules? Don't X9/X10 drivers work compressed hours with almost static shifts and rest days for example? It probably explains why I recall the last time someone winning being an X10 driver. Trish someone?

I'm a bit like that with my 21 to school. It's a board that I think only has a handful of drivers - I believe it's a 4 day rota. I'm very familiar with every driver - if I get one a Monday I'm guaranteed to get them on the Wednedsay. I know most by name as well.

I too can predict who gets on the bus - normally it's just people at the stop who I see everyday; but a fair few get on and get off on the way continuously. My mate and me always bag the front seats as we're normally the first people on the bus. For the past fortnight or so though, this woman has been getting on and just looking at us walk up the stairs then just walk up and cut in front of us then take the front seats.

This morning I thought I was going to die from laughter; she got dropped off in a black car and the bus was pulling into the stop early - we were walking towards the bus - and she yelled at her driver the following - 'come on, get a f***ing move on I've gotta get there before those two kids'. She ran onboard like it's all her life was worth. I mean - how sad.....

(05 Jun 2014, 7:11 pm)Marcus wrote I'm a bit like that with my 21 to school. It's a board that I think only has a handful of drivers - I believe it's a 4 day rota. I'm very familiar with every driver - if I get one a Monday I'm guaranteed to get them on the Wednedsay. I know most by name as well.

I too can predict who gets on the bus - normally it's just people at the stop who I see everyday; but a fair few get on and get off on the way continuously. My mate and me always bag the front seats as we're normally the first people on the bus. For the past fortnight or so though, this woman has been getting on and just looking at us walk up the stairs then just walk up and cut in front of us then take the front seats.

This morning I thought I was going to die from laughter; she got dropped off in a black car and the bus was pulling into the stop early - we were walking towards the bus - and she yelled at her driver the following - 'come on, get a f***ing move on I've gotta get there before those two kids'. She ran onboard like it's all her life was worth. I mean - how sad.....

Must admit we all have our positions on the bus on the school/commuter runs.

Same people use the services every day, and they always sit in the same seats. Mass disruption is caused when a newbie gets on and ruins the seating plan. Should see some of the faces people have when they see someone is in their seat.

I've become acquainted with most of the schoolies who get on my bus now, so we did have to re-jig the seating plan somewhat..!

(05 Jun 2014, 7:28 pm)Dan wrote Must admit we all have our positions on the bus on the school/commuter runs.

Same people use the services every day, and they always sit in the same seats. Mass disruption is caused when a newbie gets on and ruins the seating plan. Should see some of the faces people have when they see someone is in their seat.

I've become acquainted with most of the schoolies who get on my bus now, so we did have to re-jig the seating plan somewhat..!

I'm devastated if someone's in MY seat. It's mainly just people who use it as a one-off - but me and my mate just sit at the back and openly talk about it. I take the right above the stairs and he gets the left. It is very annoying, after nearly 2 years, that somebody takes your pride and joy.....

(05 Jun 2014, 7:49 pm)Marcus wrote I'm devastated if someone's in MY seat. It's mainly just people who use it as a one-off - but me and my mate just sit at the back and openly talk about it. I take the right above the stairs and he gets the left. It is very annoying, after nearly 2 years, that somebody takes your pride and joy.....

Are you having a laugh?! - That seat is your pride and joy?

(05 Jun 2014, 7:51 pm)Tom wrote Are you having a laugh?! - That seat is your pride and joy?

No!

We just don't talk if we don't get the front. It's the whole point of getting the bus to school for both of us

Just a thought how's about some nominations for the driver involved in the stanley crash?

(05 Jun 2014, 9:47 pm)3785 wrote Just a thought how's about some nominations for the driver involved in the stanley crash?

Unfortunatley I've already voted - and I don't think you can vote twice. No doubt a lot of people will though - especially those directly involved.

(05 Jun 2014, 6:19 am)Dan wrote Saltmeadows dragging out 4896's repaint - but I'd inagine that will go back today too.

Seen earlier today in Shields on the 50 looking very good in the sun....until somebody sticks an advert on the side.

(05 Jun 2014, 10:15 pm)Marcus wrote Unfortunatley I've already voted - and I don't think you can vote twice. No doubt a lot of people will though - especially those directly involved.

In theory, we should. Him shouting at everybody at the front to get back before the impact shows how much he cared about the children involved. I wasnt at the front of the bus but still appreciate everything he did including stopping the bus before the impact for our safety. If he hadnt it would have been a whole lot worse.

(06 Jun 2014, 3:20 pm)Robert wrote In theory, we should. Him shouting at everybody at the front to get back before the impact shows how much he cared about the children involved. I wasnt at the front of the bus but still appreciate everything he did including stopping the bus before the impact for our safety. If he hadnt it would have been a whole lot worse.

I think he does deserve a winning price or if not, runner up, at the National Awards - I've got no doubt GNE will award him with something.