(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.

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.

(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!

I was expecting somewhere around the £5k mark per bus, the equipment itself isn't actually that expensive, it's the software/people that's the real money pit.

Hardware wise, the system can probably run on something as low power as a Raspberry Pi, the speakers are probably £5-10 a pop, LCD/LED displays are cheap as chips these days, I'd expect them to be around £20-30 a screen (cost price, not to the operator, there has to be at least a 5-10x mark up from Hanover), all the sensors are probably pennies. So, in terms of raw cost, you're probably only looking at £100-200 for the hardware

If I'd actually paid attention in school, I would definitely think about developing a low cost alternative.

(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.

The thing is, Oyster style ticketing could have become standard years ago, but everyone went their own way with the smartcards. If they'd have worked together with Nexus on the Pop cards instead of each having an incompatible card, we could have been there a decade ago!

39 not mentioned is it going
Back to GNE on evenings

(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).

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.............

(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.............

No, no tenders have yet been awarded.


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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.

(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.

Bustimes.org is showing 79A as GCT from 16 May.

And the 79 from JH

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, 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?

Yes, a near monopoly indeed. GNE automatically get awarded the 42/42A and still have the 33/33A in Newcastle until March next year I guess. A-line, Henry Cooper and Weardale have some works services and scholars contracts are operated by JH, Arriva, GNE, Henry Cooper and Weardale. 

A shame how it's all gone to GCT to be ruined when there are far better operators without much work.

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, 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

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, 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?

I'm not shocked at all.....

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, 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.

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

Also to mention. The 8 and 79/79A new timetable have disappeared of the nexus website. Wonder if something is gonna change

(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

Spot on, Malarkey. 

It's not by chance that they've been around for so long!

(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

Nexus are obviously happy with GCT's performance. 
If they weren't, they wouldn't award them any further contracts.

GCT are bloody awful

The fact they can barely handle the work as due to shortage of drivers. How the hell they managed to run day and night services

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

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.

The fact is why award GCT contracts if they can't run them

They got handed the Ferry Replacement contract. Who ran it. L&B

They have the SNS contract. Who's running it L&B

Gct as of late seem to win so much work that they don't have the drivers

(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.

You been watching too much Line of Duty, Malarkey?


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


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I've actually never watched line of duty, on my to watchlist but watched similar programmes in the past.

I bet I'm not far off with what I've said though!

(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.

Yep,can't argue with that

(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.

An interesting theory and possibly one worthy of further investigation.

As someone who is not familiar with the workings of GCT and whose reputation I can only gauge by comments on this forum, are GCT really that corrupt?

Is there someone in the upper echelons of the Nexus hierarchy (possibly going by the codename of 'H') who could orchestrate bids and award contracts without going through the proper channels?

I don't know the answers, Mr Malarkey, but I do know that you used to be some sort of Chief Detective (NEBCD) during my last visits to the forum circa 2013. Perhaps it's time to dust off the deerstalker hat and magnifying glass to discover more?

(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.

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.

(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.

Indeed. Gateshead Central Taxis almost have the monopoly on tendered bus routes (excluding scholars) in Tyne & Wear now. It’s quite scary.

I noticed two separate contracts running to Team Valley did not operate yesterday, and I bet the K1/K2 had lost mileage for a considerable period of time too (or another service would’ve, if they did provide a replacement bus on that contract after the thermal incident took place).


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Would it not be smart of nexus to limit the amount of tenders (except scholars) with each operator so that in the event that GCT runs into issues such as those mentioned above nexus won't have to rush to tender so many and also there will be no bias (or what may look like bias) to one operator as the contracts will be evenly shared out between all operators.

Playing devil's advocate ( and no i don't work for Nexus or GCT) haven't other bus companies in the regions won contacts then got another company to do them? Im thinking metro replacement?

Also, as a tax payer I like to See value for money. No one is excusing not running the route correctly bus as has been mentioned on here, and from first hand experience they are not the only company to do it! Maybe the reason they get so many is the fact that nexus haven't got the cash to pay Arriva. Gne ect 2,3 or4 times what GCT do it for. Maybe the big 3 could run these services commercially if they think GCT are doing a bad job rather then just running when the make megabucks for shareholder/the german transport network