(30 Mar 2022, 5:38 pm)Thomas12 wrote I've noticed Nexus or Stagecoach (whoever sets the fares) have hiked the price of an equivalent journey that was £1.80 on the 11 to £2.90 on the 317.  Bit of a steep increase, and probably some unimpressed passengers.

(31 Mar 2022, 9:44 am)busmanT wrote £2.90 is probably the correct fare for the journey = Go North East introduced, in my view unsustainable, cheap fares across North Tyneside / Northumberland last year with a maximum £1.70 (now £1.80) single fare.
Looking at how the GNE network has reduced I do wonder if they would have been better keeping higher fares and running more routes - the new network map on the GNE website https://images-gonortheast.passenger-website.com/2022-03/North%20Tyneside%20network%20map.pdf shows clearly that they have hardly anything left. 

Only commercial routes appear to be the Coaster 1 (9 PVR); Little Coaster 41/41A (3 PVR) & Cobalt and Coast 309/310/311 (16 PVR) - the other route (19) is fully secured by Nexus --- commercial PVR 28.

Arriva and Stagecoach the clear winners on North Tyneside, especially Stagecoach with the 10/11, 22 & now 317 running.

(31 Mar 2022, 6:54 am)Thomas12 wrote 5480 broke down on the way

(30 Mar 2022, 1:36 pm)Adrian wrote It's daft that Ferry/Metro tickets aren't accepted on the 317. Have Nexus offered any explanation for this? I can't see what difference it makes to them, when I presume they're fully funding the 317 anyway?

(30 Mar 2022, 8:35 pm)Thomas12 wrote I agree but you'd think Nexus would have some control over fares - they set a £2.10 max fare on GCT's secured services, not sure why they can't for others. 

On another note, seems like the reduction in PVR has helped GCT out massively, never noticed any cancelled journeys this week (to be fair there weren't that many before). All of their routes seem to be tracking now - for some reason before the changes the 41A never tracked.

(30 Mar 2022, 9:59 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Cramlington-Seaton Delaval Avenue Head in 11 minutes is often impossible in the car, never mind a bus stopping to pick people up...

(31 Mar 2022, 9:44 am)busmanT wrote Arriva and Stagecoach the clear winners on North Tyneside, especially Stagecoach with the 10/11, 22 & now 317 running.

(31 Mar 2022, 1:20 pm)omnicity4659 wrote I'm told that GNE has a woefully low maintenance budget, so they can't afford to carry out preventative maintenance and instead have to spend it all reacting to the huge numbers of faults and breakdowns with an engineering team that is getting more stretched and overworked by the day...

Alpha trucks are going from one GNE bus to the next whilst those on Planet Bensham figure out where next to spaff money.

(31 Mar 2022, 2:13 pm)Dan wrote I think this is a hugely unsubstantiated claim. Nobody with knowledge of the maintenance budget figures at Go North East would be someone who would tell you what these are.

(31 Mar 2022, 5:18 pm)omnicity4659 wrote It would be unsubstantiated if Go North East claimed they adequately funded the maintenance of their fleet.

(31 Mar 2022, 8:05 pm)peter wrote GNE's 41/41A and SNE's 71/72/87 have short notice VOSA registrations for the 2/3rd April respectively - anyone know if these are changes to sort out some issues since the service changes or just roadwork related etc.

(31 Mar 2022, 9:23 pm)Train8261 wrote Checked bustimes.org for the 71/72/87. Don't see any changes

(31 Mar 2022, 8:05 pm)peter wrote GNE's 41/41A and SNE's 71/72/87 have short notice VOSA registrations for the 2/3rd April respectively - anyone know if these are changes to sort out some issues since the service changes or just roadwork related etc.

(31 Mar 2022, 10:40 pm)minibus1474 wrote Service 71, revised route, From Stamfordham Road Golf Course, it continue passed the Jingling Gate, through Chapel Park(Greenway) to Hillheads estate.

(02 Apr 2022, 6:26 am)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Could be the Nexus Cockup where they stated there was no Saturday buses until after 09:30 (41/41A) however GNE site showed they operate bus routes before 09:30 and was a mistake on Nexus part

(02 Apr 2022, 9:34 pm)Storx wrote If there's no buses registered before 9.30am then it's a cockup by GNE not Nexus, if it's an issue with the registration. Nexus don't register routes.

(03 Apr 2022, 11:27 am)Rapidsnap wrote What doesn't help Go North East in the Howdon / Wallsend area is that both Wallsend and Howdon Metro Station are barrierless, meaning you don't need a ticket to get through the barriers onto the platform / train. And since Metro Inspectors only travel the line once in a blue moon, a large number of people will probably have the metro as their first option and dodge paying the fare. Even if they do get caught, the fine would be well less than what they have saved by not paying the fare between Wallsend and Howdon or vice versa. This also applies to Percy Main and Meadowell stations too, as they too can travel to Wallsend, where as if they have to go to North Shields, they have to have a ticket to get through the barrier. Comes to me as no suprise that Wallsend is one of the worst towns in the area for beggers too, especially since the station doesn't have ticket barriers. No matter how low value the bus fares are, it won't beat free (albeit illegal) travel on the Metro.

(03 Apr 2022, 3:10 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote The issue is its cheaper to travel by Taxi than bus something local authorities would need to address if they want to increase public transport useage

(03 Apr 2022, 3:10 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote The issue is its cheaper to travel by Taxi than bus something local authorities would need to address if they want to increase public transport useage

(03 Apr 2022, 8:43 pm)Train8261 wrote Only realised today but don't know if it happens on an evening

Gateshead Central Taxis 342 interwork with the 41A

342 leave Kingston Park to Wallsend. Changes into a 41A to Hadrian Park & Back then back as a 342 to Kingston

Seems a good idea. But do the drivers get any waiting time

(03 Apr 2022, 9:44 pm)peter wrote Happens on an evening and Sunday. When it runs to Westerhope it's standalone but when it only runs to Kingston Park the extra time is used to do a 41A

(03 Apr 2022, 6:49 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote What does the existence of ticket barriers have to do with the number of beggars in the town?

(03 Apr 2022, 10:33 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Because they fare dodge on the Metro. Compared to North Shields, the amount of Beggers that are around Wallsend is ridiculous yet the council or the police refuse to do sod all about it.

(05 Apr 2022, 7:32 pm)V514DFT wrote Yes Martijn,the GNE NT network that barely exists anymore