(17 Mar 2022, 8:34 am)Adrian wrote Was hit with an extended stay at Heworth the other night, after opting for Metro/Bus instead of the X1. Whilst waiting for one of the xx.53 short runs on the 4, I had noticed it wasn't tracking nor listed on the website as a cancellation. Someone else who was waiting had mentioned these short runs are cancelled 'almost every night' recently.

Looking at bustimes.org journey history, it certainly backs up what he said. Since the start of last week, the 19.53, 20.53, 21.53 and 22.53 runs (they're all done by the same bus) failed to run on 07/03, 08/03, 12/03, 14/03, 15/03, 16/03. They're also listed as cancelled this evening.

Just waiting for those shorts to be cancelled in the next round of cuts due to low use now...!

(17 Mar 2022, 5:33 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote Washington appear to be having problems with the 50 as well. The 13:20 from Durham this afternoon only ran as far as The Galleries then the 15:22 failed to appear in Durham. The cancellation of the 15:22 resulted in the 21 at 15:33 being rammed full to the point it had to drive past intending passengers in Pity Me with the bus arriving in Chester le Street 18 mins late.

(17 Mar 2022, 7:28 pm)Unber43 wrote Washington itself is getting worse  and worser over the past week, yet the X1 are returning to Normal Timetables.

Today there wasn't a 26 or a 50 for 90 mins.

(17 Mar 2022, 7:28 pm)Unber43 wrote Washington itself is getting worse  and worser over the past week, yet the X1 are returning to Normal Timetables.

Today there wasn't a 26 or a 50 for 90 mins.

(18 Mar 2022, 9:46 am)busmanT wrote I hadn't expected the X1 to return to "normal" - seems to work quite well now fitting with the 56 times between Springwell Village, Washington, Gateshead & Newcastle.
I'm surprised that the Dalton Park extension still runs, I saw a couple of journeys arrive and depart with only a couple of passengers last week.

(17 Mar 2022, 5:33 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote Washington appear to be having problems with the 50 as well. The 13:20 from Durham this afternoon only ran as far as The Galleries then the 15:22 failed to appear in Durham. The cancellation of the 15:22 resulted in the 21 at 15:33 being rammed full to the point it had to drive past intending passengers in Pity Me with the bus arriving in Chester le Street 18 mins late.

(18 Mar 2022, 6:46 pm)Adrian wrote One step forward, two steps back...

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(18 Mar 2022, 8:55 pm)F114TML wrote I thought they had a really successful recruitment drive to help eliminate the list of short notice cancellations that is still massive?

(18 Mar 2022, 9:00 pm)DeltaMan wrote I don't know the situation at GNE but I do know of operators with near full driver establishment where they have been completely decimated with cancelled trips this week due to one thing, COVID. Not only drivers, but shunters, engineers and control staff. 

So if thats a sitatuon at a well off location, it would be a lot worse where driver numbers are a problem

(18 Mar 2022, 6:46 pm)Adrian wrote One step forward, two steps back...

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(18 Mar 2022, 9:00 pm)DeltaMan wrote I don't know the situation at GNE but I do know of operators with near full driver establishment where they have been completely decimated with cancelled trips this week due to one thing, COVID. Not only drivers, but shunters, engineers and control staff. 

So if thats a sitatuon at a well off location, it would be a lot worse where driver numbers are a problem

(18 Mar 2022, 9:27 pm)Adrian wrote Makes you wonder why public transport is so adversely affected? Transpennine Express have posted a load of cancellations too.

It doesn't fit well with the message that public transport is safe to use.

(18 Mar 2022, 10:30 pm)DeltaMan wrote Probably more to do with the profile of the role. 

You don't notice if a shelf stacker in ASDA is sick or if the postman doesn't turn up for a few days. But you do notice if your bus or train has been cancelled due staff sickness

(18 Mar 2022, 10:30 pm)DeltaMan wrote Probably more to do with the profile of the role. 

You don't notice if a shelf stacker in ASDA is sick or if the postman doesn't turn up for a few days. But you do notice if your bus or train has been cancelled due staff sickness

(18 Mar 2022, 10:30 pm)DeltaMan wrote Probably more to do with the profile of the role. 

You don't notice if a shelf stacker in ASDA is sick or if the postman doesn't turn up for a few days. But you do notice if your bus or train has been cancelled due staff sickness

(19 Mar 2022, 1:06 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Probably also the fact that supermarkets have a largely part time work force to call on and, even for full timers, there is no equivalent of the driving time directive - no one is likely to die of a stray pile of courgettes in the cucumber slot, unlike if a tired driver misses a turn and drives a double Decker under a low bridge.

(19 Mar 2022, 1:59 pm)Adrian wrote Maybe that is to do with resourcing too? Bus operators schedule for the exact scenario, so outside of leading drivers covering some mileage, there isn't really a fall-back plan. Supermarkets dynamically resource, so not only do they ensure that their staffing matches the peak checkout times, they have the flexibility of borrowing from other duties (such as shelf stacking) to cover what will most adversely affect customers - queuing at checkouts. 

Putting resourcing aside though, I do think that both examples you gave (and in fact most other industries) have working conditions on their side. If, and we're assuming, the absence is COVID related, then I think operators need to look to do more to improve those conditions. 

It's been law for a long time that employers must make sure there's an adequate supply of fresh air (ventilation) in enclosed areas of the workplace, yet until the pandemic hit, it was very rarely followed up on. Most supermarkets for example are a huge open space and have mechanical ventilation systems, whereas most bus drivers are squashed into something the size of a postage stamp with 50+ other people and rarely a window open. It creates a high risk environment for the spread of COVID and whatever else, which was evidenced ages ago: https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3223

I'm actually surprised that operators and safety representatives haven't done more about this, such as ensuring all windows on all buses are wedged open to prevent them being shut. That in itself is a really small step, but would massively increase ventilation on packed buses and would do more to reduce transmission to those working in these conditions. 


There is - Working Time Directive. Rest time/breaks can't be opted out of, unlike the maximum working week, and is actually greater for those outside of transport than it is within... no idea why that is, but it always struck me as a bit odd! https://www.gov.uk/rest-breaks-work

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(19 Mar 2022, 6:14 pm)Adrian wrote Just spotted this on twitter



Your next options are a four-hour wait until 21.20 as far as Maften or a six-hour wait 23.20 beyond there. No alternative options provided, so that is some wait for those who aren't travelling direct to Hexham.

(19 Mar 2022, 6:14 pm)Adrian wrote Just spotted this on twitter



Your next options are a four-hour wait until 21.20 as far as Maften or a six-hour wait 23.20 beyond there. No alternative options provided, so that is some wait for those who aren't travelling direct to Hexham.

(19 Mar 2022, 7:01 pm)Ambassador wrote They really ought to remove that thanks to our recruitment efforts there’ll be much less disruption line that leads into a list of what must be 3 figures of cancellations.

Unavoidable but it’s not ideal for a  business that is desperately trying to attract leisure passengers and those priced out of using their car at the moment. Just further knocks confidence as when your bus does turn up it’s likely to be rammed.

(19 Mar 2022, 6:14 pm)Adrian wrote Just spotted this on twitter



Your next options are a four-hour wait until 21.20 as far as Maften or a six-hour wait 23.20 beyond there. No alternative options provided, so that is some wait for those who aren't travelling direct to Hexham.

(19 Mar 2022, 7:41 pm)Charles41 wrote So let's say you work in Newcastle and live in Matfen. How are you supposed to get home? Absolutely disgusting. Is it any suprise that private hire companies are taking so much business.

Charles

(20 Mar 2022, 12:25 am)omnicity4659 wrote "operational reasons" is not an excuse, either. it adds nothing more to the update than "it's cancelled because it's cancelled"

it's a phrase that needs to be banished from public transport...Metro use it frequently too.