Nexus has today invited operators to tender for Miscellaneous Workings (school and works) services.

An anticipated decision to award will be made by 12 May 2022, with contracts awarded on 25 May, with contracts commencing for a two-year period from 29 August 2022 until 30 August 2024.

As always, there are different capacity requirements:

• Mincap 44
  
• Mincap 60
  
• Mincap 84
  
• Mincap 90
  

For the first time, these contracts will not be awarded on 100% cost, and Nexus will incentivise operators to provide Euro 5 or greater vehicles, with a 10% quality mark/90% cost weighting. There will also be a contractual requirement to provide contactless-enabled ticket machines on all services.

A huge step in the right direction for these services - clearly contract awards are a long time away yet (three months) but it will be interesting to see how it unfolds this year. Without question this will result in improved quality, not only on these services, but also Metro Replacement services too, where some bus operators currently cannot offer contactless payment methods to customers which is a standard feature on Metro itself.

Nexus has today invited operators to tender for services across Sunderland, Washington and Gateshead.

An anticipated decision to award will be made by 30 March 2022, with contracts awarded on 12 April, with contracts commencing from 15 May.

These tenders do include some services which are currently operated by larger operators on a commercial basis, as well as amendments to existing secured services to accommodate some of these changes.

As with the March 2022 tenders, the tender documents which are now available on the e-portal must be treated as private and confidential and a specific line has been included again to instruct that details of the tender document must not be released other than on an ‘In Confidence’ basis to those who have legitimate need to know or whom they need to consult for the purpose of preparing this tender. This is to give operators time to undertake internal communications, so I'd like to ask that we respect that at this stage.

Anyone know whether GNE are planning any demonstrators soon,with the new ADL one https://twitter.com/ADLbus/status/149612...MvGvXd275A it would be nice to see this trial on maybe the 39/33/Q3

So we’ll out this one down to vague annoyance (and Adrian or other mods feel free to move) but I’m wondering why GNEs Haymarket services (and I suppose Arrivas) don’t just terminate at St Mary’s Place as they very rarely if ever continue onto Haymarket. 
I’ve been giving the bus a go this past few weeks using the 309/X39 (the latter with really positive loadings) and on return to town, without fail driver pulls up, engine off. So unless you fancy 5-10 minutes on sitting awkwardly - you just get off. 
Doesn’t seem to be as prevalent with arriva but once you add the stopping 21s and Stagecoach services, it becomes a bit crowded. 
So are GNE timings all to pot, my X39 was ten minutes early into town (this happened pre covid too) or is this just a reality of serving a capacity limited city centre bus station, in which case, stop telling passengers you’re going to Haymarket?

I'm currently compiling a list of north east bus services that have been reduced or lost following Covid-19. It's still a work in progress with a lot missing, especially Stagecoach, Durham, Teesside etc, so I would appreciate your help in getting a full and accurate list! 

Can we have it back please?

So with the new COVID rules where people don't have to self isolate from next week, does this mean GNE/SCE/ANE will not have any drivers self isloating if they test positive - surely this makes for. a more dangerous work enviroment

Just a heads up as information is a bit sparse there's no service at all from the Blyth depot atm as there's a power cut and according to Facebook the electric power shutters are jammed down.

Probably not the best idea to have shutters which can't be overrode at all when there's no electric...

Does anyone know if there's any specific levante allocated megabus boards and if so what they are, thank you.

The Caetano H2 Hydrogen powered demonstrator has moved from Stockton to the Wheatsheaf, arrived 10:10 this morning.