(14 Feb 2021, 8:25 am)Dan wrote Service 46 is being operated by Stanley Travel, not Go North East.

Go North East will allocate 3x Scania Omnicity to services 51/51A. Though Arriva normally allocate Optare Solos, the allocation of full-size single-decks should ensure adequate social distancing.

(14 Feb 2021, 8:25 am)Dan wrote Service 46 is being operated by Stanley Travel, not Go North East.

Go North East will allocate 3x Scania Omnicity to services 51/51A. Though Arriva normally allocate Optare Solos, the allocation of full-size single-decks should ensure adequate social distancing.

(15 Feb 2021, 5:07 pm)JM03 wrote Arriva in the past couple of weeks have had larger allocations on the 51, many streetlites and e400s have been on. On an unrelated note, heard from one of the arriva drivers coming home from work is that one of the drivers sadly passed away from the virus in the past week

(16 Feb 2021, 10:16 am)RMF1254 wrote 5264 was on the 51 yesterday.

(16 Feb 2021, 10:20 am)NewcastleOne wrote I think it was 5249&5272 that was on it as well. (Maybe wrong)

(19 Feb 2021, 8:37 pm)R838PRG wrote What other routes are programmed?

(19 Feb 2021, 6:16 pm)CookieMonster wrote GNE are now operating some Arriva service 51 services.

Stanley taxi are now operating some 46 service to help with Arriva driver shortage.

Other routes are expected to follow as Arriva routes are now programmed into the GNE ticket machines.

The rumor of big shakeup among the North East bus operators with various options to merge company together is started up again. It is pretty much inevitable that something pretty drastic will happen when the funding finally does stop and it will eventually. Council looks to be the most likely option. In 2014 the council put together an idea to run the buses. The name NE buses has been dropped around a few times, indeed GNE have been operating dupes for stagecoach and Arriva for a while. All operators have come together to except each other tickets and now GNE is operating the majority of Arriva 51 service it quite obvious the direction things seem to be going in but and i must stress we will just have to wait and see what happens with covid restrictions ease.

Stay safe everyone.

(19 Feb 2021, 10:17 pm)RobinHood wrote What a load of nonsense.

Go North East and Stanley Travel are temporarily operating Services 46 and 51 on behalf of Arriva, not instead of.

This is due to Arriva suffering driver shortages as a result of drivers either testing positive for COVID-19 or self isolating because they may have been near someone who has.

It is silly rumors and conjecture like this, that actually worries drivers in the locations suggested that their jobs could be at risk.

Pathetic.

(19 Feb 2021, 11:47 pm)Drifter60 wrote Well to be fair, no matter who runs the route they’ll still need the driver to drive it, so whilst this is all speculation and conjecture, any changes permanently would be very unlikely to result in job losses.

(20 Feb 2021, 12:13 am)Storx wrote Not sure mind, you missed the locations bit. If everything merged then something would go with the 306/308/309/310. The Q3 and 46 would likely merge. Killingworth services with Stagecoach ie X63 will be merged with the 52 and 54 etc. Gosforth services with Stagecoach and Arriva would be streamlined. The 22 and 1 between Wallsend and Newcastle will be merged and so on. The 18 and Q3 would likely become merged.

I definitely agree with him tbh, I'd be worried if everything was merged around here. Percy Main would pretty much become redundant.

(20 Feb 2021, 12:20 am)Drifter60 wrote Well I see your point, obviously it’s very speculative so probably not getting worth too into it. I suppose I was just pointing out that for the vast majority even IF Arriva and Go North East merged, widespread job losses are somewhat unlikely. Although yes, depot locations etc could change and might certainly cause problems for individuals. This is clearly conjecture in any case, no suggestion of this been anything more than one operator filling a gap.

(20 Feb 2021, 12:20 am)Drifter60 wrote Well I see your point, obviously it’s very speculative so probably not getting worth too into it. I suppose I was just pointing out that for the vast majority even IF Arriva and Go North East merged, widespread job losses are somewhat unlikely. Although yes, depot locations etc could change and might certainly cause problems for individuals. This is clearly conjecture in any case, no suggestion of this been anything more than one operator filling a gap.

(20 Feb 2021, 4:49 pm)Dan wrote 5273 on service 51A:
Go North East 5273/NK56 KKJ by Leo Dembry, on Flickr


Noticed Arriva vehicles were operating some 51 and 51A services yesterday (Saturday) with the usual solos. Hopefully with Jesmond drivers !