(28 Mar 2024, 8:14 pm)gc802002 wrote 520 is being cancelled too I think?

(28 Mar 2024, 8:53 pm)gc802002 wrote PB0003954/1384 Cancelled
GO NORTH EAST LIMITED
Route: Houghton Kepier Medical Practice to Fence Houses via Houghton le Spring, Dairy Lane Estate
Service number: 520
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 12 May 2024

(28 Mar 2024, 8:14 pm)gc802002 wrote 520 is being cancelled too I think?

(28 Mar 2024, 10:42 pm)Dan wrote Awarded to Gateshead Central Taxis.


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(28 Mar 2024, 10:42 pm)Dan wrote Awarded to Gateshead Central Taxis.


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(28 Mar 2024, 11:07 pm)Michael wrote *pretends to be shocked"

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What are the changes to the 81 etc?

(29 Mar 2024, 8:55 pm)busmanT wrote Minor changes implemented by Nexus when the new contract starts

(29 Mar 2024, 8:55 pm)busmanT wrote Minor changes implemented by Nexus when the new contract starts

(29 Mar 2024, 9:17 pm)Ambassador wrote Will carrying passengers be a requirement….

Utterly pointless service

(30 Mar 2024, 6:06 pm)busmanT wrote I suspect that under the franchised “Angel network” there will be more 81 type services.

(30 Mar 2024, 8:45 pm)Adrian wrote I think you'd have less 81 type services under franchising. They only exist due to trying to serve as many commercially abandoned areas, with as little money as possible. In franchising, I'm assuming the better option would be to rejig your network, so these areas instead have logical bus services?

That being said, hopefully, we never have an Angel network. It'll be like the chuckle brothers with her and the current JTC chair running the show. Wouldn't trust either of them to deliver the milk.

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(31 Mar 2024, 3:08 am)deanmachine wrote We'd have to hope that franchising would supersede Nexus is the main thing in my opinion. I don't want the people currently running the PTE anywhere near a new network, I also hope they'd be able to snatch the Metro from their control too. Although I fear it would just become big Nexus and it would run out of Nexus house just ruining Durham, and Northumberland too on top of Tyne & Wear.

(31 Mar 2024, 12:31 pm)Andreos1 wrote The challenge with that, is getting the people in to replace them? Who do you get?

The 'professionals' currently working within the main operators aren't exactly showing the skillset required. I'd certainly not have any confidence in them suddenly turning around years of incompetence and decision making that sees years on years of failing numbers, to then turn it on under a different employer/provision. 

There's the queries around the competence of those in Nexus and the various transport quangos. 

I think that just leaves the sane amongst us on this forum to step in.

(31 Mar 2024, 12:31 pm)Andreos1 wrote The challenge with that, is getting the people in to replace them? Who do you get?

The 'professionals' currently working within the main operators aren't exactly showing the skillset required. I'd certainly not have any confidence in them suddenly turning around years of incompetence and decision making that sees years on years of failing numbers, to then turn it on under a different employer/provision. 

There's the queries around the competence of those in Nexus and the various transport quangos. 

I think that just leaves the sane amongst us on this forum to step in.

(31 Mar 2024, 12:31 pm)Andreos1 wrote The challenge with that, is getting the people in to replace them? Who do you get?

The 'professionals' currently working within the main operators aren't exactly showing the skillset required. I'd certainly not have any confidence in them suddenly turning around years of incompetence and decision making that sees years on years of failing numbers, to then turn it on under a different employer/provision. 

There's the queries around the competence of those in Nexus and the various transport quangos. 

I think that just leaves the sane amongst us on this forum to step in.

(31 Mar 2024, 1:06 pm)Storx wrote Personally I think it's a right minefield and they shouldn't do it. They keep comparing to the likes of Manchester and TFL but neither are comparable as they're completely urban networks. 

It's all easy to do routes like the 39/40 and 62/63 in Newcastle. It's not so easy to do the likes of Middleton on Tees to Barnard Castle.

The area is way too big for franchising imo. Not to mention who wants a big block of routes based at places like that. Like just looking at Northumberland other than Arriva are Ashington there's no real major depot anywhere North of the place.

Those type of routes would only run well under a completely public network imo.

Added: Also to add where's this money going to come from considering GNE and Arriva are both making losses currently and they're not going to be taking on massive contracts to make 50p and a fag packet.

(31 Mar 2024, 2:08 pm)Adrian wrote I agree with you about the comparisons to Manchester. I don't think there's another network similar to what ours would cover, servicing three Cities, within five Metropolitan boroughs and two rural counties. It's not going to be easy, but doing nothing is a non-starter. The majority of the commercial networks are on life support right now, and if we do nothing, there will be nothing. 

A completely public network would be my preference, and hopefully that'll be something that can be aspired to, if Labour keep their promise of scrapping the ban on municipal operators, but I don't think it's impossible for a public-private partnership to work in the interim. It does need almost a blank canvas approach though.

The funding comes from the devolution deal, and depending which candidate you talk to, there's various ideas about drawing in additional funding.

(31 Mar 2024, 12:49 pm)Dan wrote Get your application in, Andreos!


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(31 Mar 2024, 2:08 pm)Adrian wrote  
Is it the people that are bad, or is it the direction that they're under? 

I've no doubt that Nexus, TNE and all the operators have some excellent people working for them, but look at the direction they're under. Nexus and Transport North East both dance to the tune played by the JTC, and there's just no direction from the membership of that. Looking at the membership, I don't believe any of them even use public transport. 

With the main operators, to me, it's more that they've all lost sight of the primary objective of what they exist for. I follow Go North East more than I do anyone else, and it's bloody evident that the Featham era of cost-cutting from Arriva has transitioned to them. I've used buses more in the past couple of days than I've used in the last 6 months, and if I was leading that business, I'd be embarrassed at the state of it. I'm sure there's people there that want to do good things and make things better, but they'd be better off talking to a brick wall.

Without trying to get into a completely different debate, I think the BSIP had a lot of potential. Sure, it's delivered a decent range of day tickets at a decent price, but there's been very little else on the face of it. Of course, most of the problem with that is the lack of public engagement (which was always typical of Nexus, and has translated into TNE). If you can't take people with you, then you're often onto a hiding to nothing.

If we do go down the franchising route, as almost certainly we will, then the best decision the new combined authority could take is to get a proper bus person on board to lead it.


I agree with you about the comparisons to Manchester. I don't think there's another network similar to what ours would cover, servicing three Cities, within five Metropolitan boroughs and two rural counties. It's not going to be easy, but doing nothing is a non-starter. The majority of the commercial networks are on life support right now, and if we do nothing, there will be nothing. 

A completely public network would be my preference, and hopefully that'll be something that can be aspired to, if Labour keep their promise of scrapping the ban on municipal operators, but I don't think it's impossible for a public-private partnership to work in the interim. It does need almost a blank canvas approach though.

The funding comes from the devolution deal, and depending which candidate you talk to, there's various ideas about drawing in additional funding.

(31 Mar 2024, 2:54 pm)Andreos1 wrote Cheers Daniel! 

Typing it out as we speak.

(31 Mar 2024, 3:26 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I'm a bit disappointed that you're submitting an application to be the lead in whatever form franchising takes in the region.

I was sure you'd be headhunted by 'Our Vety Own Dan' to design the fledgling network for Northstar, given the desire you've created for the position through your many observations and your penchant for ensuring correct survey sizes are sampled.

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(28 Mar 2024, 7:59 pm)Michael wrote 4th May 2024:

PB0003954/1433
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X75 (X75) Newcastle Wallington Hall



12th May 2024:

PB0003954/1383
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 82 (82) Queen Elizabeth Hospital Waterview Park

PB0003954/1219
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X1 (X1A) Newcastle Peterlee

PB0003954/1280
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 81 (81) Sunderland Gateshead

(24 Apr 2024, 4:56 am)Michael wrote The Belsay and Wallington Express X75 bus is back for 2024, providing free and sustainable travel for all visitors to Belsay Hall and Wallington, supported by English Heritage and National Trust.

Go North East's X75 connects Newcastle City Centre with Belsay Hall, Bolam Lake and Wallington. The service will run every Saturday from 4 May until 7 September 2024, starting at Haymarket bus station in Newcastle city centre.

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/X75-returns-summer

(24 Apr 2024, 6:21 am)Retro Nero wrote Hang on!!  X75 .....FREE TRAVEL

(24 Apr 2024, 6:29 am)Ianthegoon wrote Ah, but do you need an entry ticket for one of the attractions to qualify for your free bus travel?

(24 Apr 2024, 5:01 pm)Michael wrote From Sunday 12 May 2024, there will be some minor timetable changes to Little Pinks services 81/82 and Xlines X1. Unfortunately, from this date, we will no longer be the operator of service 520 between Houghton-le-Spring and Fence Houses.

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/minor-service-changes-12-may