(16 Mar 2021, 6:39 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Like I said, if you're spending £250k on a new decker, would it really be too difficult to ask for some mod cons?
As I've also said in the past, there really is nothing to a next stop announcement system, I'd be interested to know how much the likes of Hanover charge for their system.

(16 Mar 2021, 9:21 pm)Jamie M wrote New destination kit goes upwards of 1£k per lot direct from them, so I'd expect nothing less for all the stuff you need to make it suitable (door feed, speakers, the visual displays, the box behind it, software). You then have to have someone to program/maintain it/repair it. Then really, you need wi-fi kits to make it scalable, which is another faff on and associated running costs. It's definitely a cost on bus-by-bus basis, and I'd hate to see the costs over several hundred vehicles.

Enough money to pay some ground staff a bit extra an hour, I'd imagine, though that's just dreaming!

(16 Mar 2021, 10:04 pm)Big O wrote You think Stagecoach are really spending £250k on those polished turds that we call the E400MMC?    The Siemens used system in London is really good and integrates the likes of scheduling also.  I do think the North-East has potential to become a great city for Transport, its just whether or not the ministers will back the industry up here. I think NSAs, an oyster style ticketing system etc should have become standard years ago.

(14 Mar 2021, 5:10 pm)Dan wrote Nexus has invited operators to tender for a number of new contracts, which would commence operation from 16 May 2021.

In all instances, the 'quality' weighting (for better features such as contactless payment methods, USB charging points, Wi-Fi and next stop audio-visual announcements) has been removed, in favour of more weighting towards cost.

These are:

• Service 8 (South Hylton - The Docks): 1 PVR daily (evenings and all day Sunday), Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Gateshead Central Taxis.
  
• Service 12 (South Shields - The Lonnen): 1 PVR daily (evenings only), Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Stagecoach North East.
  
• Service 79 (Hall Lane - Barnwell): 1 PVR Mon-Sat, Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 36 - currently operated by JH Coaches.
  
• Service 79/79A (Barnwell - Easington Lane): 2 PVR (Mon-Sat evenings and all day Sunday), Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Go North East.
  
• Services 93/94 and 97 (Gateshead services): 4 PVR (Early morning and late evening journeys), Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 36 - currently operated by Go North East.
  
• Services 135/136 (Downhill/Hylton Circular): 3 PVR (Early morning journeys), Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Go North East.
  
• Service 592 (Roker - Doxford International): 1 PVR weekdays only, Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Gateshead Central Taxis.
  
• Service 593 (Pallion - Doxford International): 1 PVR weekdays only, Euro 5 vehicle with a minimum capacity of 23 - currently operated by Gateshead Central Taxis.
  

There has been lots of discussion on this forum recently regarding the development of bus networks, and what operators do to improve patronage and drive growth on their bus services. There has been a lot of suggestion that the use of better on-board features such as free Wi-Fi, USB charging points and contactless payments help drive growth, whilst next stop announcements improve accessibility. There has also been some suggestions that this isn't enough, and operators should be looking to improve their networks by providing better services which are more catered towards the current market.

It's quite disappointing to see that in this latest batch of tenders, neither of those are deemed important enough (with the same timetables from last year being used again, and the removal of incentive for operators to provide a better quality service).

(20 Apr 2021, 1:09 pm)Michael wrote With it being less than a month until these start, have these been rewarded to Gateshead Central Taxi's yet because we all know they'll win them.... they're NEXUS's favourite company atm.............

(05 May 2021, 4:50 pm)morritt89 wrote Is there any official word as to who won what contracts? Rumours (I will refer to it as this as no briefing has yet been issued) spreading round Deptford today that we have lost the 79A.

(06 May 2021, 4:13 pm)deanmachine wrote A near monopoly on Nexus contracts if that's the case, can't be many left not operated by them? I think GNE only have the 38C and the Newcastle 33 left?

(06 May 2021, 5:26 pm)Micheal Aaron wrote I'd love to see different companies working service GCT have. Henry Copper Coaches working the 42/42A or A Line working the 335

(06 May 2021, 4:13 pm)deanmachine wrote A near monopoly on Nexus contracts if that's the case, can't be many left not operated by them? I think GNE only have the 38C and the Newcastle 33 left?

(06 May 2021, 5:39 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote We don't even have a thread for Henry Cooper. 

A-line, Henry Cooper and Stanley Travel should operate more services. GCT and Weardale are the worst operators.

(06 May 2021, 8:00 pm)Malarkey wrote Are actually joking when you say this about an independent operator that has been around for 95 years and quite clearly established and highly respected among the local community to which they serve.

From personal experience they have friendly drivers and a very well presented fleet of Buses & Coaches.

Suggest you have a read of their online testimonials - https://www.weardale-travel.co.uk/testimonials.html

(06 May 2021, 7:50 pm)Micheal Aaron wrote See the fact is why do nexus keep giving contract to GCT when they can't run them. L&B are doing the SNS and they did ferry replacement when GCT were and meant to run then

(06 May 2021, 11:03 pm)V514DFT wrote GCT are bloody awful

(07 May 2021, 5:10 pm)Malarkey wrote As are Nexus so no coincidence the two have a close business relationship. 

I do wonder though if GCT/Nexus have an employee who has worked for both working higher up whose pulling strings for the contracts to always be awarded to the same operator as their does seem to be some bias towards other operators, you'd think they split service work more evenly amongst the independent operators so each get an equal share of whats available.

(07 May 2021, 5:10 pm)Malarkey wrote As are Nexus so no coincidence the two have a close business relationship. 

I do wonder though if GCT/Nexus have an employee who has worked for both working higher up whose pulling strings for the contracts to always be awarded to the same operator as their does seem to be some bias towards other operators, you'd think they split service work more evenly amongst the independent operators so each get an equal share of whats available.

(07 May 2021, 6:50 pm)Dan wrote You been watching too much Line of Duty, Malarkey?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(07 May 2021, 5:10 pm)Malarkey wrote As are Nexus so no coincidence the two have a close business relationship. 

I do wonder though if GCT/Nexus have an employee who has worked for both working higher up whose pulling strings for the contracts to always be awarded to the same operator as their does seem to be some bias towards other operators, you'd think they split service work more evenly amongst the independent operators so each get an equal share of whats available.

(07 May 2021, 5:10 pm)Malarkey wrote As are Nexus so no coincidence the two have a close business relationship. 

I do wonder though if GCT/Nexus have an employee who has worked for both working higher up whose pulling strings for the contracts to always be awarded to the same operator as their does seem to be some bias towards other operators, you'd think they split service work more evenly amongst the independent operators so each get an equal share of whats available.

(07 May 2021, 5:10 pm)Malarkey wrote As are Nexus so no coincidence the two have a close business relationship. 

I do wonder though if GCT/Nexus have an employee who has worked for both working higher up whose pulling strings for the contracts to always be awarded to the same operator as their does seem to be some bias towards other operators, you'd think they split service work more evenly amongst the independent operators so each get an equal share of whats available.

(07 May 2021, 10:49 pm)James101 wrote It’s dangerous for Nexus to load so many contracts with wafer thin margins onto one operator. Should GCT come into difficulties, financial or operational (public enquiries) they could very suddenly be without operators for a lot of routes. The GHA collapse was very damaging for tendered routes in Cheshire, North Wales & Shropshire.