Nexus Tenders - May 2021
Nexus Tenders - May 2021
(09 May 2021, 2:43 pm)Ambassador Let’s be honest here, nobody outside this group cares about the missed mileage, vehicle presentation or awful on board musical choices.
And why? Because these are barely used tendered routes used by low socio economic folk and of no economic value to anyone. They could complain but the routes are a nuisance, they don’t generate enough profit and in honesty the users are less likely to vocalise their complain.
It’s not right but it’s a sad truth.
(09 May 2021, 2:43 pm)Ambassador Let’s be honest here, nobody outside this group cares about the missed mileage, vehicle presentation or awful on board musical choices.
And why? Because these are barely used tendered routes used by low socio economic folk and of no economic value to anyone. They could complain but the routes are a nuisance, they don’t generate enough profit and in honesty the users are less likely to vocalise their complain.
It’s not right but it’s a sad truth.
(09 May 2021, 2:43 pm)Ambassador Let’s be honest here, nobody outside this group cares about the missed mileage, vehicle presentation or awful on board musical choices.
And why? Because these are barely used tendered routes used by low socio economic folk and of no economic value to anyone. They could complain but the routes are a nuisance, they don’t generate enough profit and in honesty the users are less likely to vocalise their complain.
It’s not right but it’s a sad truth.
(09 May 2021, 2:43 pm)Ambassador Let’s be honest here, nobody outside this group cares about the missed mileage, vehicle presentation or awful on board musical choices.
And why? Because these are barely used tendered routes used by low socio economic folk and of no economic value to anyone. They could complain but the routes are a nuisance, they don’t generate enough profit and in honesty the users are less likely to vocalise their complain.
It’s not right but it’s a sad truth.
(09 May 2021, 2:43 pm)Ambassador Let’s be honest here, nobody outside this group cares about the missed mileage, vehicle presentation or awful on board musical choices.
And why? Because these are barely used tendered routes used by low socio economic folk and of no economic value to anyone. They could complain but the routes are a nuisance, they don’t generate enough profit and in honesty the users are less likely to vocalise their complain.
It’s not right but it’s a sad truth.
(09 May 2021, 2:43 pm)Ambassador Let’s be honest here, nobody outside this group cares about the missed mileage, vehicle presentation or awful on board musical choices.
And why? Because these are barely used tendered routes used by low socio economic folk and of no economic value to anyone. They could complain but the routes are a nuisance, they don’t generate enough profit and in honesty the users are less likely to vocalise their complain.
It’s not right but it’s a sad truth.
Sorry folks, I wasn’t clear. I agree these services are critical to those communities they serve but politically for Nexus or local councils, there is no political benefit at all to fight for them and that’s the game in play here and that’s why we are in the place we are with them.
I can’t see Bus Back Better being anything than a few key marginals or Tory controlled areas getting a wee boost or Low Fell getting a shiny new bus lane to please the chattering classes.
Call me an Andreas level of cynicism but hey ho!
My mam has used GCT in the last few weeks (described as "are they the grey and red buses?"). She works at the Pharmacy at NT Hospital, and normally she gets the first bus (308/309/335) from there to either Cobalt or Willington Square then catch the 22 down. On the one occasion GCT arrived first with the 335 so she caught it to Cobalt, she complained to me that they are complete rip offs (although using more colourful language) charging £2.30 for the trip from NT Hospital to Cobalt where as it's only £1.70 on GNE. So she said she's sticking to waiting for the 309 to Cobalt instead. BTW my mam is an infrequent bus user and only uses the bus if she's unable to get a lift to / from work or if she's off to Toon, she isn't bothered about all the bells and whistles of wi-fi etc, she just wants to get there.
(09 May 2021, 7:41 pm)Ambassador Sorry folks, I wasn’t clear. I agree these services are critical to those communities they serve but politically for Nexus or local councils, there is no political benefit at all to fight for them and that’s the game in play here and that’s why we are in the place we are with them.
I can’t see Bus Back Better being anything than a few key marginals or Tory controlled areas getting a wee boost or Low Fell getting a shiny new bus lane to please the chattering classes.
Call me an Andreas level of cynicism but hey ho!
(09 May 2021, 7:41 pm)Ambassador Sorry folks, I wasn’t clear. I agree these services are critical to those communities they serve but politically for Nexus or local councils, there is no political benefit at all to fight for them and that’s the game in play here and that’s why we are in the place we are with them.
I can’t see Bus Back Better being anything than a few key marginals or Tory controlled areas getting a wee boost or Low Fell getting a shiny new bus lane to please the chattering classes.
Call me an Andreas level of cynicism but hey ho!
I have only used GCT once on the 319 from Jarrow to North Shields. Journey time was minimal and I used my staff pass so couldn't mention about fares. However, as a driver for one of the big groups and one who spent quite alot of time driving tendered services (before and during Covid) I would like to make the following points:
Fares are I believe set by Nexus - an example being the 33/33A (as they were) around the docks to the City Centre in Sunderland. Fares on the 33/33A were different from the evening and Sunday service 8 when GNE operated it.
Wifi/Next Stop and all the bells and whistles that many take for granted, don't get me wrong they are nice however Stagecoach don't have Wifi/have recently turned it off to save money and nor do they do next stop announcements. Whilst it would improve the passenger experience and benefit many groups, those that use tendered services (again from my experience) are mainly free pass holders (elderly and simply don't use the wifi etc) and many are short hops of a few stops.
As I have stated elsewhere, I have driven the 79A on many occasions with passenger numbers able to be counted on one hand and sometimes zero passengers. Maybe it would be worth looking at why passenger numbers aren't there (alternative services e.g. Easington Lane to Hetton or Houghton on the X1) or just simply no demand.
It would be nice to see some other independents or even the big boys operate more Nexus services but like everything it's all about cost and Nexus will want value for money for public money and if GCT are in best place to offer that then so be it.
Worth noting (I feel anyway) GCT seem to have fairly new buses regardless of size and type and for the main they seem to be suited to the routes they do. For quite a lot of passengers (particularly when your bus breaks down) seem to mention the age of a vehicle and how old it is. So whilst all the creature comforts we have come to expect may be missing, its still a new bus (as passengers seem to believe new buses don't breakdown).
(09 May 2021, 1:40 pm)Dan I suppose the difference between Gateshead Central Taxis and commercial operators, is that it's easier for customers to identify when commercial operators don't fulfil their contracts and/or commercial work, as they offer live tracking on mobile apps, and have social media pages where service updates are added during times of service disruption. For their commercial work, services are much more frequent than contracts, which run far less often and could cause more inconvenience to intending passengers if they do not operate (on-time or at all).
Of course, if Gateshead Central Taxis had fulfilled their BODS requirements on-time, this possibly wouldn't be the case...
(09 May 2021, 1:40 pm)Dan I suppose the difference between Gateshead Central Taxis and commercial operators, is that it's easier for customers to identify when commercial operators don't fulfil their contracts and/or commercial work, as they offer live tracking on mobile apps, and have social media pages where service updates are added during times of service disruption. For their commercial work, services are much more frequent than contracts, which run far less often and could cause more inconvenience to intending passengers if they do not operate (on-time or at all).
Of course, if Gateshead Central Taxis had fulfilled their BODS requirements on-time, this possibly wouldn't be the case...
Your comments have made me wonder why bus companies dont operate an SMS service,like what taxis do,where you recieve a text confirming if your taxi is on the way,imo it would be useful,especially if you dont use social media,or have a disabilty etc
(10 May 2021, 11:28 pm)V514DFT Your comments have made me wonder why bus companies dont operate an SMS service,like what taxis do,where you recieve a text confirming if your taxi is on the way,imo it would be useful,especially if you dont use social media,or have a disabilty etc
(10 May 2021, 11:28 pm)V514DFT Your comments have made me wonder why bus companies dont operate an SMS service,like what taxis do,where you recieve a text confirming if your taxi is on the way,imo it would be useful,especially if you dont use social media,or have a disabilty etc
(11 May 2021, 7:58 am)Storx It's quite expensive to send texts out like. Roughly works out like 2p per every text you send via an API. It's alright for a taxi as they have the margins for 2p but for buses where fares are much lower (or they have a pass) it would soon start to mount up.
(11 May 2021, 7:58 am)Storx It's quite expensive to send texts out like. Roughly works out like 2p per every text you send via an API. It's alright for a taxi as they have the margins for 2p but for buses where fares are much lower (or they have a pass) it would soon start to mount up.
(11 May 2021, 7:58 am)Storx It's quite expensive to send texts out like. Roughly works out like 2p per every text you send via an API. It's alright for a taxi as they have the margins for 2p but for buses where fares are much lower (or they have a pass) it would soon start to mount up.Yep, and it's difficult to control volumes.
(11 May 2021, 7:58 am)Storx It's quite expensive to send texts out like. Roughly works out like 2p per every text you send via an API. It's alright for a taxi as they have the margins for 2p but for buses where fares are much lower (or they have a pass) it would soon start to mount up.Yep, and it's difficult to control volumes.
If the 79/79A was a contract to be taken over by GCT(According to bus org) it has disappeared of the nexus website. It was put up about a week ago and its no longer on there. Does this mean Jh are keeping it
(09 May 2021, 10:43 pm)James101 Out of curiosity - are there mechanisms in place to stop a hypothetical operator bidding unsustainably low to win a contract and claiming the shortfall through Coronavirus Bus Service Support Grant?
(08 May 2021, 6:41 am)GNE6312 Would it not be smart of nexus to limit the amount of tenders (except scholars) with each operator so that in the event that GCT runs into issues such as those mentioned above nexus won't have to rush to tender so many and also there will be no bias (or what may look like bias) to one operator as the contracts will be evenly shared out between all operators.
(09 May 2021, 10:43 pm)James101 Out of curiosity - are there mechanisms in place to stop a hypothetical operator bidding unsustainably low to win a contract and claiming the shortfall through Coronavirus Bus Service Support Grant?
(08 May 2021, 6:41 am)GNE6312 Would it not be smart of nexus to limit the amount of tenders (except scholars) with each operator so that in the event that GCT runs into issues such as those mentioned above nexus won't have to rush to tender so many and also there will be no bias (or what may look like bias) to one operator as the contracts will be evenly shared out between all operators.