Wonder if we will receive a new branded poppy bus sometime

(19 Jun 2021, 8:49 pm)Micheal Aaron wrote Wonder if we will receive a new branded poppy bus sometime

I'd quite like to see that, maybe on one of their newer vehicles I was thinking a streetdeck or B5TL of some description.

https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...0537241976


Not much info tbh, just says about everyone working together because of COVID, and staffing issues due to it.

Delays at the DVLA causing problems too....

(04 Jul 2021, 10:19 am)Michael wrote https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...0537241976

Not much info tbh, just says about everyone working together because of COVID, and staffing issues due to it.

Delays at the DVLA causing problems too....

I'm more surprised he didn't get a shoulder tap off Nexus security for videoing.

Update tonight:

https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...1590201083

Haven't watched it so no idea what he talks about.

Was MG’s latest update vid that keeps getting mentioned a staff only one or was it viewable by anyone?

New update:

https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...9233270813

Talks about the passenger numbers for each depot (compared to pre-pandemic)

(06 Aug 2021, 5:01 pm)Michael wrote New update:

https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...9233270813

Talks about the passenger numbers for each depot (compared to pre-pandemic)

I think its refreshing to hear his attitude towards growth and passenger numbers, compared to others in the industry. A lot of talk about moving forward and encouraging growth, rather than standing still with the same tired old system.

I think he raises an important point about getting the message out there that transport is safe to use. Whilst GNE seem to be doing a lot around this, I noticed when out today how inconsistent the message is across the network. I'd say that Nexus for example, are actively discouraging use. There's still signage up about not travelling at peak times, toilets are still closed, seating has been removed from bus stations and so on.

(06 Aug 2021, 5:39 pm)Adrian wrote I think its refreshing to hear his attitude towards growth and passenger numbers, compared to others in the industry. A lot of talk about moving forward and encouraging growth, rather than standing still with the same tired old system.

I agree with Martijn. GNE could easily sit around and not invest in marketing, vehicles and branding. They could also not cut routes to "keep the small minority of punters" happy. But at what cost? Would that be sustainable in the long term? 

To put it in a context (and I do have some sympathy to an extent), the only decent deckers Arriva Northumbria have are the 17 plate Sapphires at Ashington and probably the 14 plate Sapphires if they haven't been shot regularly standing in on the Alnwick / Berwick 'X' routes. The youngest decker at Blyth depot (where some of their alleged 'goldmine' routes run from) is soon to be 10 year old! 

Arriva might be making a profit but at somepoint, the old vehicles that "do just fine" and "at least turn up" will need replacing. Where will Arriva / DB get the capital from and how can they sustainably replace them?

If anything, Arriva could take a leaf out of GNE's book and actually run a sustainable operation that's customer friendly too and even deliver some benefits. Prime example being a restructure of the X7/X8/X9/X10/X11. If Arriva somehow replaced the southern part of the X8 and introduced a new 'X' for the Northern part eventually combining with the X10/X11 between Cramlington and Newcastle, that would be an instant win with faster journeys.

(07 Aug 2021, 4:54 pm)L469 YVK wrote I agree with Martijn. GNE could easily sit around and not invest in marketing, vehicles and branding. They could also not cut routes to "keep the small minority of punters" happy. But at what cost? Would that be sustainable in the long term? 

To put it in a context (and I do have some sympathy to an extent), the only decent deckers Arriva Northumbria have are the 17 plate Sapphires at Ashington and probably the 14 plate Sapphires if they haven't been shot regularly standing in on the Alnwick / Berwick 'X' routes. The youngest decker at Blyth depot (where some of their alleged 'goldmine' routes run from) is soon to be 10 year old! 

Arriva might be making a profit but at somepoint, the old vehicles that "do just fine" and "at least turn up" will need replacing. Where will Arriva / DB get the capital from and how can they sustainably replace them?

If anything, Arriva could take a leaf out of GNE's book and actually run a sustainable operation that's customer friendly too and even deliver some benefits. Prime example being a restructure of the X7/X8/X9/X10/X11. If Arriva somehow replaced the southern part of the X8 and introduced a new 'X' for the Northern part eventually combining with the X10/X11 between Cramlington and Newcastle, that would be an instant win with faster journeys.

There's nothing wrong with the DB300's at Blyth and there's not much difference age wise between them and the 100 or so B5TL's/B9TL's which are between 11 - 63 plate at GoNorthEast which won't be going nowhere anytime soon.

Stagecoach is the one you should be targeting about old battered fleets. There's battered MAN's running around on flagship services every day which are much much much worse than the Arriva Northumbria fleet.

If your making a profit, it's probably not in your best interest to copy a bus company which isn't making a profit. Change the X8 and X9 by all means as they probably are going to struggle at some point but I'd leave the X7, X10 and X11 alone there's nothing wrong with them.

(07 Aug 2021, 4:54 pm)L469 YVK wrote I agree with Martijn. GNE could easily sit around and not invest in marketing, vehicles and branding. They could also not cut routes to "keep the small minority of punters" happy. But at what cost? Would that be sustainable in the long term? 

To put it in a context (and I do have some sympathy to an extent), the only decent deckers Arriva Northumbria have are the 17 plate Sapphires at Ashington and probably the 14 plate Sapphires if they haven't been shot regularly standing in on the Alnwick / Berwick 'X' routes. The youngest decker at Blyth depot (where some of their alleged 'goldmine' routes run from) is soon to be 10 year old! 

Arriva might be making a profit but at somepoint, the old vehicles that "do just fine" and "at least turn up" will need replacing. Where will Arriva / DB get the capital from and how can they sustainably replace them?

If anything, Arriva could take a leaf out of GNE's book and actually run a sustainable operation that's customer friendly too and even deliver some benefits. Prime example being a restructure of the X7/X8/X9/X10/X11. If Arriva somehow replaced the southern part of the X8 and introduced a new 'X' for the Northern part eventually combining with the X10/X11 between Cramlington and Newcastle, that would be an instant win with faster journeys.

Arriva's business model is seemingly to buy a vast number of buses over a couple years, run them for their life span and then replace them, whereas the GNE model is one of a continually modernising fleet with x buses in the door replacing x buses out the door each year. If you think back ANE had Prestiges, Darts, Olympian's etc running around at the end of their service life and then from 2008 through 2012 they underwent a massive fleet replacement with Solo', Pulsars, Temsa's and Gemini's (supplemented by a couple Streetlite and E400 orders in 2014/15).

Undoubtedly GNE's method is the best for passengers meaning fewer people are having to use old buses, while ANE's might work out best from a business point of view, with a number of years on the trot making a profit by not having to invest in any new vehicles. It will be very interesting to see what happens later this decade when Arriva's fleet comes up for renewal once again!

As for the service changes, you do have to hand it to GNE for trying out different things, but at the same time a lot can be said for stability. While a brand new route with a sparkly new bus is all well and good, it's maybe less appetising if 12 months down the line it's going to change route and end up being shafted with older vehicles.

(07 Aug 2021, 6:33 pm)Storx wrote There's nothing wrong with the DB300's at Blyth and there's not much difference age wise between them and the 100 or so B5TL's/B9TL's which are between 11 - 63 plate at GoNorthEast which won't be going nowhere anytime soon.

Stagecoach is the one you should be targeting about old battered fleets. There's battered MAN's running around on flagship services every day which are much much much worse than the Arriva Northumbria fleet.

If your making a profit, it's probably not in your best interest to copy a bus company which isn't making a profit. Change the X8 and X9 by all means as they probably are going to struggle at some point but I'd leave the X7, X10 and X11 alone there's nothing wrong with them.

Big difference between the DB300s and B9TLs. B9TLs are a heavier vehicle thus will last as long as Leyland & Volvo Olympians did. Arriva were running 1997 P4** CCU Palatines until 2012/2013.

Stagecoach......completely different type of work to Arriva. To be fair to your comment, they could do with some "cleaner" buses on key routes. But in terms of vehicle quality and performance, the majority of their work is the likes of rata****g up and down Shields Rd & Blackett Street. Arriva's work is interurban / suburban and needs a higher quality vehicle. GNE have recently ordered StreetDecks but will no doubt have sensible plans after 5-7 years to cascade them to "easier" routes.

Fair enough, Arriva are making a profit but how long can they "sustainably" keep making a profit? Blyth's DB300s, Ashington's 64 & 15 plate E400s and the B7TLs dotted around will need replacing on a large scale and at significant cost. Arriva Northumbria (based on pre March 2020 service levels) need to cut their PVR by around 10-15 vehicles.

Live update from MG yesterday:

https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...3754764936

Head to the ZEBRA thread in the Bus Ops area of the forum to see the conversation so far on the EV bid.

Copying link here for other thread.

https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...2637956404

Just seen MG's video update. Some changes to Percy Main services in March. Will GNE revert the evening 309 journeys back to xx:45 or xx:50 in line with potential BSIP?

(25 Jan 2022, 8:36 pm)L469 YVK wrote Just seen MG's video update. Some changes to Percy Main services in March. Will GNE revert the evening 309 journeys back to xx:45 or xx:50 in line with potential BSIP?

Wonder if it's more to do with Nexus contract changes? 

Believe the 41/41A are being cut from Howdon and Holy Cross with the 11 replacing them, although that's just talk from a driver.

(25 Jan 2022, 9:11 pm)Thomas12 wrote Wonder if it's more to do with Nexus contract changes? 

Believe the 41/41A are being cut from Howdon and Holy Cross with the 11 replacing them, although that's just talk from a driver.

Sounds bleak from the way Martijn talks on that video, particularly if the public funding bail out from LAs that he seems to be relying on doesn't materialise.

Realise we don't know what the future holds for other operators but notable this will be the second round of major cuts (sounds like anyway) from GNE with Stagecoach and Arriva (as far as I'm aware) having made no substantial cuts since pre-pandemic.  I'm sure they will come for those as well in some form, but why is it GNE seem so badly affected on this compared to the other NE operators?

(25 Jan 2022, 9:29 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Sounds bleak from the way Martijn talks on that video, particularly if the public funding bail out from LAs that he seems to be relying on doesn't materialise.

Realise we don't know what the future holds for other operators but notable this will be the second round of major cuts (sounds like anyway) from GNE with Stagecoach and Arriva (as far as I'm aware) having made no substantial cuts since pre-pandemic.  I'm sure they will come for those as well in some form, but why is it GNE seem so badly affected on this compared to the other NE operators?

Go North East were in the worst position financially pre-pandemic. Post-pandemic, without CBSSG, only Stagecoach are making a profit in the North East (and a small one at that). It’s not surprising that Go North East is therefore making the biggest cuts. I think Arriva have made some fairly big cuts across the network too, but seem to ‘get away with it’ for want of a better phrase.

The cuts from other operators will come, you are correct. I have just posted earlier this evening that Nexus tenders in North Tyneside and Newcastle include services which are currently operated by Stagecoach commercially, that they intend to withdraw.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Please could someone with Facebook post a link to MG’s earlier update?
Thanks.

https://www.facebook.com/100009920923911...978772612/

(25 Jan 2022, 9:11 pm)Thomas12 wrote Wonder if it's more to do with Nexus contract changes? 

Believe the 41/41A are being cut from Howdon and Holy Cross with the 11 replacing them, although that's just talk from a driver.

They want to cut the 11, 42/42a and 19 completely/. The 41 will go from Hadrian Park to Wallsend only via Wiltshire Drive.

The Q3 will also only go as far as St. Peters all day and go via osborne road

Its likely they are cutting those services so that Nexus have to put a tender out for them that GNE can then bid on, as i believe Martijn said in the update. because although the reasoning for them being cut is that they lose money operating them there is still alot of demand for them in the day.

(25 Jan 2022, 9:35 pm)Dan wrote Go North East were in the worst position financially pre-pandemic. Post-pandemic, without CBSSG, only Stagecoach are making a profit in the North East (and a small one at that). It’s not surprising that Go North East is therefore making the biggest cuts. I think Arriva have made some fairly big cuts across the network too, but seem to ‘get away with it’ for want of a better phrase.

The cuts from other operators will come, you are correct. I have just posted earlier this evening that Nexus tenders in North Tyneside and Newcastle include services which are currently operated by Stagecoach commercially, that they intend to withdraw.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Arriva are mostly being quiet about it. I can't think of any services that have been axed but many in Co Durham have been gradually halved. The 6, 7 and 64 are all a fraction of their former selves.

(25 Jan 2022, 10:55 pm)AnonPM1 wrote They want to cut the 11, 42/42a and 19 completely/. The 41 will go from Hadrian Park to Wallsend only via Wiltshire Drive.

The Q3 will also only go as far as St. Peters all day

Its likely they are cutting those services so that Nexus have to put a tender out for them that GNE can then bid on, as i believe Martijn said in the update. because although the reasoning for them being cut is that they lose money operating them there is still alot of demand for them in the day.

Pretty drastic and disgraceful cuts. Hopefully they don’t win them back.

(25 Jan 2022, 10:59 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Arriva are mostly being quiet about it. I can't think of any services that have been axed but many in Co Durham have been gradually halved. The 6, 7 and 64 are all a fraction of their former selves.

I suppose Arriva's service changes have primarily been frequency reductions as opposed to more drastic network changes. In Northumbria it's been the 46, 55, X10/X11, and the withdrawal of the X16 (the 1 & 2 were also reduced but capacity increased). In Stockton the 7, 8 and 9 were all reduced slightly, in Darlington the town services 2/3/4/9/10 and the X26 and in Durham the 43 and 49. In fairness, the 6, 7 and 64 have always been maintained as temporary - whether that's the case or not remains to be seen. The 56 was recently re-increased so that's a good sign.

(25 Jan 2022, 11:04 pm)Thomas12 wrote Pretty drastic and disgraceful cuts. Hopefully they don’t win them back.

Given the current National driver shortage, it’s very likely that the only operators who will be able to operate the contracts will be the ones who run them now, so they are likely to be the only ones who tender.
I can’t see Nexus having sufficient money to replace everything exactly the same.

(25 Jan 2022, 10:55 pm)AnonPM1 wrote They want to cut the 11, 42/42a and 19 completely/. The 41 will go from Hadrian Park to Wallsend only via Wiltshire Drive.

The Q3 will also only go as far as St. Peters all day and go via osborne road

Its likely they are cutting those services so that Nexus have to put a tender out for them that GNE can then bid on, as i believe Martijn said in the update. because although the reasoning for them being cut is that they lose money operating them there is still alot of demand for them in the day.

The 19 and 42/42A are getting withdrawn? Absolute disgrace if that happens. Could just reduce the frequency of these services.

(25 Jan 2022, 11:09 pm)busmanT wrote Given the current National driver shortage, it’s very likely that the only operators who will be able to operate the contracts will be the ones who run them now, so they are likely to be the only ones who tender.
I can’t see Nexus having sufficient money to replace everything exactly the same.

I agree.

However - to cut that many services without even trying any different, as Andreos has mentioned before, is a disgrace. 

They could’ve just reduced the 11 in frequency, or incorporated services together. And to reduce the Q3 completely between Wallsend and St Peters is another disgraceful decision, could’ve just operated half hourly.

Looks like from one of MGs comments the £1 fare is being replaced with a £2 fare, is this the case?

(25 Jan 2022, 11:20 pm)Thomas12 wrote I agree.

However - to cut that many services without even trying any different, as Andreos has mentioned before, is a disgrace. 

They could’ve just reduced the 11 in frequency, or incorporated services together. And to reduce the Q3 completely between Wallsend and St Peters is another disgraceful decision, could’ve just operated half hourly.

I didn't expect the Q3 to get curtailed at St Peters, and thought more likely the 1 would be curtailed to Wallsend - Whitley Bay with plenty of cross river services and the 22 to Wallsend from Market Street (plus 12, 40 and Q3).

1, 11 and Q3 reduced frequency. 

19, I'm unsure what could be done with that, any ideas? 

42/42A could operate two-hourly (combined hourly on common sections) perhaps curtailed at Killingworth or Benton (still operating to/from  Cramlington/Kingston Park).

(25 Jan 2022, 11:20 pm)Thomas12 wrote I agree.

However - to cut that many services without even trying any different, as Andreos has mentioned before, is a disgrace. 

They could’ve just reduced the 11 in frequency, or incorporated services together. And to reduce the Q3 completely between Wallsend and St Peters is another disgraceful decision, could’ve just operated half hourly.

In fairness to the Q3 it could be for competition reasons aswell. Apart from St Peter's Basin, the rest of the route is pretty much covered by the 12, 22, 39 and 40.

If the rumours are true about the 11, 19, 41 and 42/42A then GNE should leave North Tyneside altogether. Their routes just create unnecessary competition with Arriva along the Coast Road with the Arriva services changed to serve the areas missed and then unnecessary competition with Stagecoach through Wallsend with the 1 which could easily be a variant of the 22. Other than that they offer nothing literally. At the end of the day isn't this what the point of BSIP is? or is it just when it's not profitable.

I'm sure someone will come along to tell me they have a good footing through Battle Hill because they live there soon though.