(08 Nov 2014, 2:28 pm)citaro5284 wrote Put a complaint in.

(08 Nov 2014, 2:32 pm)Marcus wrote The ticket he did produce was all messed up and all the text wasn't readable. Hence I don't have his driver number, the time above was only a rough estimate - all I've got is 3971 & X66!

(08 Nov 2014, 2:45 pm)citaro5284 wrote They do not need a driver number, just tell them you were on 3971 on service X66 at approx 1240 from Metrocentre and let the Depot trace the driver.  If required the Depot can ask for the CCTV to be downloaded, which will show you standing longer than normal while he faffed on with the ETM.

Clearly faffed is a technical term!!

(08 Nov 2014, 6:31 pm)Tom wrote 3971 wasnt on the X66 - it was on the 53.

(08 Nov 2014, 8:06 pm)aureolin wrote Aye, if the machine wasn't printing proper tickets, then a handwritten ticket should have been written out. Don't know if that's still policy? I haven't had one for a number of years, but I know that I did have to ask, rather than it being offered to me. 

(08 Nov 2014, 8:06 pm)aureolin wrote Aye, if the machine wasn't printing proper tickets, then a handwritten ticket should have been written out. Don't know if that's still policy? I haven't had one for a number of years, but I know that I did have to ask, rather than it being offered to me. 

(09 Nov 2014, 10:37 am)tyresmoke wrote It'll just be the machine not cutting tickets properly as someone (last passenger probably) pulled the ticket before it was cut properly, the ERGs don't like that and chew the next so many tickets up. No excuse for the drivers attitude though, should have just annulled it and then printed another

(09 Nov 2014, 11:01 am)Dan wrote In no way defending the driver but given the allocation of a double decker, I'd put money on the driver being late.

Especially with the traffic near Riverside Depot lately, it's so hard to keep to time on the X66. It's not often you see X66s regulated (unless it's the driver's very last run), so they just have to grin and bear it. Clearly some drivers have more difficulty than others with the former point - especially if it's down to a ticket machine issue! You can make up a bit of time by going on the Centrelink towards Gateshead but obviously if a Vyking decided to go down that route, it'd be converted to an open top.

Still think bus drivers aren't paid enough for the stress they have to go through...

(14 Nov 2014, 5:07 pm)Dan wrote Well, I've managed to acquire some train tickets for York tomorrow! It's going to be cold, dark and foggy all day - isn't going to be great but I couldn't turn down free tickets which would have otherwise gone to waste.

I'm there for about 6 hours, which is quite a fair bit of time given that I don't want to make my photos too repetitive (or to have so many to upload I get bored and end up avoiding uploading them!)

Anyone got any good spots to walk to in York? Or know of anything in general which would be good to get photos of?

(14 Nov 2014, 11:21 pm)aureolin wrote Tyne and Wear forecast for tomorrow is a rain free day. Anyone planning a look out at some point? I think it'll be one of my final days out before boxing day.

Tyne and Wear forecast for tomorrow is a rain free day. Anyone planning a look out at some point? I think it'll be one of my final days out before boxing day.

I'm living in hope that an Olympian is out on the X34 again, so that's the main thing on my list.

(14 Nov 2014, 11:49 pm)Jimmi wrote Same, do you know where the X34 stops in Newcastle?

Pilgrim Street. Uses the same stop as the Stagecoach 100

(15 Nov 2014, 12:08 am)Jimmi wrote Okay thanks. Just hope the Olympian is out on the X34 at some point tomorrow.

(15 Nov 2014, 12:08 am)Jimmi wrote Okay thanks. Just hope the Olympian is out on the X34 at some point tomorrow.

(15 Nov 2014, 7:28 am)danpick wrote Same never been on a Alexander bodied one.