Next Stop... Washington B&Q, alight here to get the same paint we use for our buses.
Next Stop... Stadium of Light, alight here for instant regret.
Next Stop... St James' Park, alight here to get the same oil we use in our bus engines.
Next Stop... Beamish Museum, alight here to get a ride on a replica old bus that is new than the bus that brought you here.
Next Stop... is not Killingworth Bus Station as we no longer serve here.
Next Stop... Central Station, come ride on the former MDs Lumo Trains.

(27 Jul 2022, 11:57 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Next Stop... Washington B&Q, alight here to get the same paint we use for our buses.
Next Stop... Stadium of Light, alight here for instant regret.
Next Stop... St James' Park, alight here to get the same oil we use in our bus engines.
Next Stop... Beamish Museum, alight here to get a ride on a replica old bus that is new than the bus that brought you here.
Next Stop... is not Killingworth Bus Station as we no longer serve here.
Next Stop... Central Station, come ride on the former MDs Lumo Trains.

If only there was a like button on here. I would have pressed it for this post!! ?

Well I can now know I've gotta listen to the pub announcement on the 1 going into Gateshead horray. Thank god Martijn doesn't have a hand in running the metro. God forbid the Gateshead announcement

(28 Jul 2022, 6:21 pm)Aaron21 wrote Well I can now know I've gotta listen to the pub announcement on the 1 going into Gateshead horray. Thank god Martijn doesn't have a hand in running the metro. God forbid the Gateshead announcement

im pretty sure no one knows what Microbus is, the first time I heard it I thought it was a mistake.

What about the other facilities around Microbus why don't they get annoucements.

(28 Jul 2022, 6:23 pm)Unber43 wrote im pretty sure no one knows what Microbus is, the first time I heard it I thought it was a mistake.

What about the other facilities around Microbus why don't they get annoucements.

Cause they don't get visited by Gilbert that's why lol

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(28 Jul 2022, 6:23 pm)Unber43 wrote im pretty sure no one knows what Microbus is, the first time I heard it I thought it was a mistake.

What about the other facilities around Microbus why don't they get annoucements.

That could be said for a lot of announcements..but what really annoys me about it is that they done it for a pub. 

You don't hear announcements for High Street shopping at say somewhere like Cramlington or Wallsend. You don't hear it on the QA/QB going into Haymarket or any other service that passes near shopping places. Like u don't hear an announcement at Metrocentre for alight here for local shopping facilities. Why did it have to a pub the Gilbert goes to. Arriva won't have done something like that. No company would. 

On the topic of stuff like this what happened to the announcement that would read out change here for services to Metrocentre when u go Gateshead. Used to hear it on the X1 before it went to X Lines 

More stuff to rant about. Is the X21 announcements just copied from when it was branded Castle Express cause its the only service to do the Welcome on board your X Lines service to wherever. This bus will call at announcements. Never hear that on any other bus apart from the X21. I also find it funny she mentions all that for her to say your next stop will be Newgate Street Wilkinson

(28 Jul 2022, 6:25 pm)Aaron21 wrote More stuff to rant about. Is the X21 announcements just copied from when it was branded Castle Express cause its the only service to do the Welcome on board your X Lines service to wherever. This bus will call at announcements. Never hear that on any other bus apart from the X21. I also find it funny she mentions all that for her to say your next stop will be Newgate Street Wilkinson

No, that only came in when they rebranded to X-Lines, as far as I remember anyway. I remember moaning at the time about how it never shuts up.
The thing that always confused me with the X21 is where it does the 'Welcome to passengers joining us in X'. It says it for Coundon, where you may occasionally get the odd person getting on, but doesn't say it for Bishop or Spennymoor!


The first bus I remember it waffling on was the X9/X10, it would give you the spiel about the WiFi, USB etc. and how long until the destination.

(28 Jul 2022, 7:16 pm)streetdeckfan wrote No, that only came in when they rebranded to X-Lines, as far as I remember anyway. I remember moaning at the time about how it never shuts up.
The thing that always confused me with the X21 is where it does the 'Welcome to passengers joining us in X'. It says it for Coundon, where you may occasionally get the odd person getting on, but doesn't say it for Bishop or Spennymoor!


The first bus I remember it waffling on was the X9/X10, it would give you the spiel about the WiFi, USB etc. and how long until the destination.

Tbf I like when it says Expect arrival in Durham in approx X mins

I hate and find it funny how she mentions the whole stops it does only for her to say..your next stop will be Newgate Street Wilkinson

(28 Jul 2022, 9:08 pm)Aaron21 wrote I hate and find it funny how she mentions the whole stops it does only for her to say..your next stop will be Newgate Street Wilkinson

So you said 2 hours ago.

Next stop...more repetitive nonsense.

It's funny how she mentions all the stops only to say your next stop will be Newgate Street Wilkinsons isn't it?

Next stop...more repetitive nonsense.

(24 Jul 2022, 8:31 pm)ne14ne1 wrote I’m all for Next Stop Announcements including important information, like ‘Clayton Street West, for Central Station’.
I’ve previously asked why ‘High Level Bridge North’ doesn’t say ‘for Central Station’ too.

However the pub info just doesn’t quite sit in the same category does it. It’s not important information or a key destination that a justifiable number of customers may need to know about (or care about). 

Do next stop announcements tell you where to alight for shopping centres, cathedrals, museums, nearby Metro stations or hospitals. 
They do not. 
Are they going to start naming random local businesses elsewhere? Let’s hope not.
‘Next stop, Durham Road. Alight for Chelsea O’Connor Hair and Heavenly Feet Chiropody & Podiatry’.

Is this random pub announcement more likely because the owner is seemingly a GNE fanboy (see: https://twitter.com/microbusg/status/1543289393586311169?s=21&t=0KxCJ6L8PbzOLWNZ53TosA) and MG likes the place? Surely that can be the only answer?

Exhibit #256, your honour:

https://twitter.com/martijngne/status/1552767722601304066?s=21&t=S_RN5O7fLF_sf-AnATCFhw

 

(29 Jul 2022, 6:39 am)ne14ne1 wrote Exhibit #256, your honour:

https://twitter.com/martijngne/status/1552767722601304066?s=21&t=S_RN5O7fLF_sf-AnATCFhw

 

Shameless isn't he!

(29 Jul 2022, 6:39 am)ne14ne1 wrote Exhibit #256, your honour:

https://twitter.com/martijngne/status/1552767722601304066?s=21&t=S_RN5O7fLF_sf-AnATCFhw

 

Man pops into a pub for a pint. Throw him in the tower immediately!

(29 Jul 2022, 9:19 am)Adrian wrote Man pops into a pub for a pint. Throw him in the tower immediately!

You know fine well the context in which the jest was made

Since the service changes on 24 July, there are quite a few services have no stop announcements., Now a week into changes

https://twitter.com/MartijnGNE/status/15...Pf4wkT62Vw&s=19

Saw this and thought we should absolutely have some "alight here for your breakfast" announcements added to the NSAs.

Can't be having the MD go somewhere for food and drink and not have announcements for it.

Could even offer to cook the breakfast on the energy generated by the meltdown on this forum, which would save money against the tide of rising energy bills.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

(31 Jul 2022, 1:55 pm)Adrian wrote https://twitter.com/MartijnGNE/status/15...Pf4wkT62Vw&s=19

Saw this and thought we should absolutely have some "alight here for your breakfast" announcements added to the NSAs.

Can't be having the MD go somewhere for food and drink and not have announcements for it.

Could even offer to cook the breakfast on the energy generated by the meltdown on this forum, which would save money against the tide of rising energy bills.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

Im not sure The Bonney Comet have done enough ass-licking for that.

(31 Jul 2022, 3:57 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Im not sure The Bonney Comet have done enough ass-licking for that.

Have you tried either, out or interest?

Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk

Nice to know that the Askew Road stop now says. Askew Road, for Railway Quarter. Still don't see the point in an announcement for a pub that the md vists

(03 Aug 2022, 4:16 pm)Aaron21 wrote Nice to know that the Askew Road stop now says. Askew Road, for Railway Quarter. Still don't see the point in an announcement for a pub that the md vists

Why is it nice, out of interest?

(03 Aug 2022, 4:21 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Why is it nice, out of interest?

Sarcasm. It's just annoying the fact it now does it for Askew Road. Give it time till all X Lines buses stop at Wellington Street. God knows why they stop at Askew Road for

(03 Aug 2022, 3:45 pm)ne14ne1 wrote

Hearing the announcements that have a place name as both the route name and the destination sound unnecessarily wordy. At first I was like wait WTF, and had to play them back to work out what had been said.

Three examples:

- This is the East Gateshead Orbit Fifty One service to Gateshead.

- This is the Peterlee Purples Sixty Two service to Peterlee.

- This is the East Durham Explorer Sixty Five service to Durham. 


This one is almost a bloody tongue-twister:

- This is the CityRider Fifty Six service to Sunderland.



Whoever thought a three word brand name plus two or three digit route number would be referred to by passengers or good to constantly repeat should give their head a shake.
Just a few examples:
- East Gateshead Rider Fifty Eight.
- Cobalt and Coast Three One One.
- Peterlee Purples Two One-O
- Red Kite Ranger Forty Seven-A.



Make bus travel simple for people, please!

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(03 Aug 2022, 4:22 pm)Aaron21 wrote Sarcasm. It's just annoying the fact it now does it for Askew Road. Give it time till all X Lines buses stop at Wellington Street. God knows why they stop at Askew Road for

Ah, fair enough. 

Wouldn’t be surprised, although I get why they set down at Askew Rd, handy for people wanting Gateshead Quays, …but then again those passengers then have to climb back up to the Interchange for the return leg.

(03 Aug 2022, 4:25 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Hearing the announcements that have a place name as both the route name and the destination sound unnecessarily wordy. At first I was like wait WTF, and had to play them back to work out what had been said.

Three examples:

- This is the East Gateshead Orbit Fifty One service to Gateshead.

- This is the Peterlee Purples Sixty Two service to Peterlee.

- This is the East Durham Explorer Sixty Five service to Durham. 


This one is almost a bloody tongue-twister:

- This is the CityRider Fifty Six service to Sunderland.



Whoever thought a three word brand name plus two or three digit route number would be referred to by passengers or good to constantly repeat should give their head a shake.
Just a few examples:
- East Gateshead Rider Fifty Eight.
- Cobalt and Coast Three One One.
- Peterlee Purples Two One-O
- Red Kite Ranger Forty Seven-A.



Make bus travel simple for people, please!

---

Ah, fair enough. 

Wouldn’t be surprised, although I get why they set down at Askew Rd, handy for people wanting Gateshead Quays, …but then again those passengers then have to climb back up to the Interchange for the return leg.

That bloody three one one is so annoying. Just say three eleven. Same is done on the 210..it's two one o yet its three ten

(03 Aug 2022, 4:43 pm)Aaron21 wrote That bloody three one one is so annoying. Just say three eleven. Same is done on the 210..it's two one o yet its three ten

I noticed that too

Well it's going into the third week of route changes, let's hope it's not too long before the next stop announcements are sorted, after all it does state on various social media and advertising...."Never miss your stop, we have next stop announcements" and also some vehicles have "Talking Bus" on the vinyl's

(07 Aug 2022, 9:02 am)Retro Nero wrote Well it's going into the third week of route changes, let's hope it's not too long before the next stop announcements are sorted, after all it does state on various social media and advertising...."Never miss your stop, we have next stop announcements" and also some vehicles have "Talking Bus" on the vinyl's

Thats terrible. They should’ve updated them the night before/morning of the changes.

(07 Aug 2022, 2:04 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Thats terrible. They should’ve updated them the night before/morning of the changes.

When they rebranded the X21 to X-Lines, I think we were without NSAs for many months. I certainly remember complaining about it on here for quite a while!

(07 Aug 2022, 2:04 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Thats terrible. They should’ve updated them the night before/morning of the changes.

Terrible it may be, but there is very clearly a resource issue at Go North East.

This happens every time there are service changes - notable this time that there are several vacant positions in the commercial team at Go North East at the moment being advertised on social media.

It's by no means every route, and just a small handful which are still disabled. Further routes are enabled again on a daily basis.

(07 Aug 2022, 2:29 pm)Dan wrote Terrible it may be, but there is very clearly a resource issue at Go North East.

This happens every time there are service changes - notable this time that there are several vacant positions in the commercial team at Go North East at the moment being advertised on social media.

It's by no means every route, and just a small handful which are still disabled. Further routes are enabled again on a daily basis.

Are those passengers who are relying on the system interested or bothered about the staffing issues? Or do they want a system which works for them?


We are told time and time again about how useful and important this NSA system is. Isn't it a priority? Isn't it something that can be done prior to the changes, so it is ready to roll out in a proactive manner?

(07 Aug 2022, 2:29 pm)Dan wrote Terrible it may be, but there is very clearly a resource issue at Go North East.

This happens every time there are service changes - notable this time that there are several vacant positions in the commercial team at Go North East at the moment being advertised on social media.

It's by no means every route, and just a small handful which are still disabled. Further routes are enabled again on a daily basis.

For some reason the 74 never has NSAs even when an NSA-enabled vehicle is allocated.