Its the second time in three days they've done this!!

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-5368?date=2025-01-31#

(02 Feb 2025, 2:31 pm)Unber43 wrote Its the second time in three days they've done this!!

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-5368?date=2025-01-31#

Pardon my French, but that is fucking dreadful. How do they get away with stuff like that?

(02 Feb 2025, 2:02 pm)lewisparker1509 wrote I've got enough freetime to write a lengthy paragraph to the TC. If anyone can get me the contact address I'll report it. Already reporting it to Nexus but I'm not sure Nexus have any say over the 28s. Complaining to GNE will be like talking to a brick wall, or a football ref who is a die hard fan of one of the teams.

Traffic Commissioners won't take complaints directly, you need to contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency here - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-a-bus...turning-up

Enough reports may end up with the case being handed to the TC.

(02 Feb 2025, 2:30 pm)DeltaMan wrote Maybe they are concerned the air temperature is slightly colder North of the Tyne and that will knock the air pressure on a Citaro....but not a Versa or Streetlite

(02 Feb 2025, 2:59 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Traffic Commissioners won't take complaints directly, you need to contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency here - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-a-bus...turning-up

Enough reports may end up with the case being handed to the TC.

Reported to the DVSA, I agree that everyone else should too. I even said, all it takes is a Google search and a few bus spotters to catch wind of the situation to catch them out lying.

Hi, 
I am writing to you to complain about the state of Go North East (GNE) I will be using that abbreviation. GNE operates regular services into Newcastle which is a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and with that their buses have to meet the emissions standards or face a £50 PER DAY fine. However what GNE have been doing is advertising on their website (Screenshots wil be at the bottom) that the service 28/29/28B Chester-Le-Street - Newcastle operates Hourly Monday - Saturday,and SUnday.
So on Firday 31st January 2025 GNE operated a Mercedes Benz 63' Plate NON CAZ https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-5368?date=2025-01-31 here is the link to be able to track the bus and it was that bus, as you can see every service which headed towards Newcastle terminated at Gateshead, GNE put it on its website that due to a breakdown the XX:XX 28/B/29 Service would not operate from Newcastle to Gateshead, and that was every time it was due to enter Newcastle which was at least 4 times. Surely its not a coincidence that the bus happens to break down at the same place, just as its scheduled to get there and is magically fixed on the return trip. 

They've also did this today Sunderland 2nd February 2025 https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-5358?date=2025-02-02 , also please state photographic evidence of this bus Operating the service this was 5358 BX63BCK which is NOT CAZ. https://www.flickr.com/photos/blockybus/54302533334/ Again this bus magically knew it would break down at Gateshead for the 4 times it entered the city today, and would magically be fixed in time to run from Gateshead. This is nothing new from GNE deading services at Gateshead due to delays heading into Newcastle, causing not more then more of headache due to their incompetence in scheduling their services giving them enough run time and change over time. However this service is Subsided by either Nexus or Durham County Council, Wonder how they would feel that twice now a driver has sat for 30 mins so they didn't have to pay the £50 fine. 
Aswell what you might be interested in, is the current state of GNE Vehicles as noted in several articles recently https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz9eyzq925yo . An example of this is vehicle number 6214 LX59 CZC, on the 20/01/25 https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-6214?date=2025-01-30# Not only as you can see Started at Eighton Banks 10 mins late, 35 mins late from where the 22 Chester-Le-Street to Newcastle is meant to run (used to be numbered 25) ti did get into Newcastle on time. Later it broke down at Low Fell towards Newcastle, causing it to miss the run into Newcastle, and then run dead to Barley Mow, losing pretty much two trips. 
I would argue with staff arrangement the GNE fleet is quite unsafe unreliable and just will break down whenever and all over to the point where there are no replacement vehicles, this shouldn't be how a bus company runs, only fixing the vehicles when maintenance MOT/TAX is due and just letting them work till they break down.
Hope you can look into this and deal a serious punishment for an operator which clearly has no care for their customers or staff.

Personally not sure messaging the DVSA over this is the right thing to do. I'd be pressuring the local MP / councillors and getting Kim McGuinness under pressure since she's living under her rock about the state of transport which she 'cares so much about'.

There's an election soon aswell so they'll want to be seen that they're doing something and this is the sort of thing that'll proove their worth, especially with the state of the 8 and 34 which are both in the same area with daily cancellations and inappropiate allocations (Solo's).

It's not really for me though as it's not my area so would be just a witch hunt tbh.

(02 Feb 2025, 8:28 pm)Storx wrote Personally not sure messaging the DVSA over this is the right thing to do. I'd be pressuring the local MP / councillors and getting Kim McGuinness under pressure since she's living under her rock about the state of transport which she 'cares so much about'.

Thankfully some of the councillors at the Southern end of the route aren't Labour and no doubt will want to kick up a fuss, especially with the state of the 8 and 34 which are both in the same area with daily cancellations and inappropiate allocations (Solo's).

It's not really for me though as it's not my area so would be just a witch hunt tbh.

So they can keep getting away from it, local MPs cannot do anything really, they cannot strip the contract as they didnt give it and i assume DCC cannot just strip companies off their contract atleast without a vote

(02 Feb 2025, 8:32 pm)Unber43 wrote So they can keep getting away from it, local MPs cannot do anything really, they cannot strip the contract as they didnt give it and i assume DCC cannot just strip companies off their contract atleast without a vote

It's not my area but if it was something around here, the local Facebook groups would be playing the local councillors against each other. There's nothing really happening transport related but I've known they've forced Arriva to do stuff in the past.

You just have to look at what happened with Arriva in NE Newcastle where stuff was forced through due to pressure (not my area) - see: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...s-25678887

Your autocarrot seems to have substituted Sunday for Sunderland.

This is becoming a drip feed from disgruntled staff. GNE clearly has a serious issue with staff relations that no amount of Haribo from a prize wheel will solve ...

BBC News - Bus company struggled to find engineers, say staff
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgy9x09zd5o

Absolutely pathetic. This being a week after we had the 2A taken off of us.

(03 Feb 2025, 9:19 am)Adrian wrote Absolutely pathetic. This being a week after we had the 2A taken off of us.

Just seen this photo too, off an hour ago, under the "Proposed North Tyneside" changes post .... as once again...... no posts about the cancelations.

(03 Feb 2025, 9:19 am)Adrian wrote Absolutely pathetic. This being a week after we had the 2A taken off of us.

Wonder if they've thought about the knock on effect of those cancellations. 

Drivers on the runs behind getting grief and 'not being paid enough to put up with the sh!t'.

Punters just giving up completely, the services become less viable and maybe cancelled all together.

Utter shambles.

Another piece on Look North:

https://x.com/jimscottjourno/status/1886...01246?s=48&t=NXz7Kjb4o-Fgc1t3GFJ74g

(04 Feb 2025, 12:36 am)Dan wrote Another piece on Look North:

https://x.com/jimscottjourno/status/1886...01246?s=48&t=NXz7Kjb4o-Fgc1t3GFJ74g

Gone are the days when an apparent breakdown or missing board was put down to a wing mirror issue eh?

(03 Feb 2025, 12:10 pm)Andreos1 wrote Wonder if they've thought about the knock on effect of those cancellations. 

Drivers on the runs behind getting grief and 'not being paid enough to put up with the sh!t'.

Punters just giving up completely, the services become less viable and maybe cancelled all together.

Utter shambles.

I don't think NF cares to be honest, and I don't think Ben and his other cronies are capable of their own thought process.

They'll go down the same path as they always go down. It'll hit them financially, and they'll go with the ultimate short-term approach and cut services, because anything else would require a bit of thought and ingenuity.

I don't work in a big office now, but even my workplace chat group, colleagues are regularly noting that they won't be in this week due to the buses being so bad, and before that, it was the Metro. I've tried it twice this year so far and it's been appalling, and so much so that I don't fancy going in for the foreseeable.

They seem to forget that they don't have non-drivers over a barrel as much as they did previous, where they could hike fares and provide a shoddy service, yet they'd keep coming back. Too many now have the option to do something different.

(04 Feb 2025, 12:36 am)Dan wrote Another piece on Look North:

https://x.com/jimscottjourno/status/1886...01246?s=48&t=NXz7Kjb4o-Fgc1t3GFJ74g

He might as well set up camp outside Hownsgill or Riverside these days, but at least someone is keeping some pressure on what GNE are trying to sweep under the carpet.

(03 Feb 2025, 9:19 am)Adrian wrote Absolutely pathetic. This being a week after we had the 2A taken off of us.

Multiple X15/X5 services were cancelled this morning, following a similar pattern to yesterday.
Commuters and students have been left scrambling for taxis due to these disruptions, as school contracts seem to take priority—likely benefiting the company's finances.

Two Versas remain on loan at Hownsgill, while any other loaned vehicles appear to have returned to their home depots. One of the YX08 Geminis is still in operation, though I imagine its heading to Riverside to join the other 3. 

The second-to-last Sunderland Berries Versa has been withdrawn, and the final one hasn’t been in service for a few days, suggesting it has likely been withdrawn as well.
Are the electric deckers still set to arrive soon? I’d assume many of the available StreetDecks—at least the ones in working condition—will replace some of the former Manchester, Edinburgh, and Yorkshire Geminis currently running on front line services. Or at least I hope so.

(04 Feb 2025, 12:01 pm)Adrian wrote I don't think NF cares to be honest, and I don't think Ben and his other cronies are capable of their own thought process.

I used to like puppet shows. 

For example, as a child, I used to like The Sooty Show, and even had a VHS tape of one bought for me on some occasion, either Christmas or a birthday presumably.

With Sooty, Sweep, and Sue, while it was obvious that Matthew Corbitt was performing some of the puppetry involved, a suspension of disbelief existed which allowed the viewer, me, to believe that all three puppets were acting independently.

However, with Ben Maxfield, that same suspension of disbelief is non-existent as you can blatantly see Nigel Featham in the background with his hand up his arse doing some sort of bad ventriloquism that wouldn't fool a new-born baby.

(04 Feb 2025, 5:30 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote Are the electric deckers still set to arrive soon? I’d assume many of the available StreetDecks—at least the ones in working condition—will replace some of the former Manchester, Edinburgh, and Yorkshire Geminis currently running on front line services. Or at least I hope so.

Most likely the paintshop for a spray of orange (56) or blue/silver (307/309). Both routes previously earmarked for (failed) GKN mods on B9TLs to save fuel.

My money is the latter as it would keep pretty much all of Percy Main's frontline service work either StreetLite or StreetDeck.

Got to remember as well (especially Percy Main's) that 6086-17 are way less leggy and have had easy lives compared to natives 6001-07, 6043-55 and 6071-85. They'd actually do some good for the likes of the X20, X21, 16/16A, X5/X15 depending how GNE divvied them out.

(04 Feb 2025, 5:56 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I used to like puppet shows. 

For example, as a child, I used to like The Sooty Show, and even had a VHS tape of one bought for me on some occasion, either Christmas or a birthday presumably.

With Sooty, Sweep, and Sue, while it was obvious that Matthew Corbitt was performing some of the puppetry involved, a suspension of disbelief existed which allowed the viewer, me, to believe that all three puppets were acting independently.

However, with Ben Maxfield, that same suspension of disbelief is non-existent as you can blatantly see Nigel Featham in the background with his hand up his arse doing some sort of bad ventriloquism that wouldn't fool a new-born baby.

That's quite the image you're sharing with us.

Any sign of Normal Lamont?

Not just GNE buses breaking down ( saw 3 since Monday) SCNE had one of there 11 plates conked out and getting TLC next to the RVI last night. It didn't look well, the poor thing!

update on GNE not sending buses to town cos of CAZ, GNE got back to me and said "after investigation-" blah blah blah "-buses were told to terminate at gateshead because they're not allowed in newcastle". i mean at least they're sort of telling the truth now. i've replied and said i'm aware that they're allowed in town under a £50 charge and the CAZ is not a full restriction

(05 Feb 2025, 2:58 pm)lewisparker1509 wrote update on GNE not sending buses to town cos of CAZ, GNE got back to me and said "after investigation-" blah blah blah "-buses were told to terminate at gateshead because they're not allowed in newcastle". i mean at least they're sort of telling the truth now. i've replied and said i'm aware that they're allowed in town under a £50 charge and the CAZ is not a full restriction

I'd suggest forwarding the response on to encts@durham.gov.uk, for the attention of the person responsible for secured bus service contracts in their Transport Services department.

Currently on 5475 on the 41A to Wallsend (with only 5 passengers on) and I can't help but notice that is smells (sorry to put it so crudely) stale sweaty arse, anyone else experienced a bus with "leather" seats like this with the same smell

(05 Feb 2025, 3:28 pm)V514DFT wrote Currently on 5475 on the 41A to Wallsend (with only 5 passengers on) and I can't help but notice that is smells (sorry to put it so crudely) stale sweaty arse, anyone else experienced a bus with "leather" seats like this with the same smell

All of the Angels

(05 Feb 2025, 2:58 pm)lewisparker1509 wrote update on GNE not sending buses to town cos of CAZ, GNE got back to me and said "after investigation-" blah blah blah "-buses were told to terminate at gateshead because they're not allowed in newcastle". i mean at least they're sort of telling the truth now. i've replied and said i'm aware that they're allowed in town under a £50 charge and the CAZ is not a full restriction

I genuinely can't believe they admitted it.

(05 Feb 2025, 2:58 pm)lewisparker1509 wrote update on GNE not sending buses to town cos of CAZ, GNE got back to me and said "after investigation-" blah blah blah "-buses were told to terminate at gateshead because they're not allowed in newcastle". i mean at least they're sort of telling the truth now. i've replied and said i'm aware that they're allowed in town under a £50 charge and the CAZ is not a full restriction

Do they think they're in Scotland? I could understsnd it up there cos non-complient vehicles are completely barred and I believe the Traffic Comissioner gets involved for any violations.

(05 Feb 2025, 3:28 pm)V514DFT wrote Currently on 5475 on the 41A to Wallsend (with only 5 passengers on) and I can't help but notice that is smells (sorry to put it so crudely) stale sweaty arse, anyone else experienced a bus with "leather" seats like this with the same smell

Sounds like something that someone with a leather fetish might enjoy

(05 Feb 2025, 3:28 pm)V514DFT wrote Currently on 5475 on the 41A to Wallsend (with only 5 passengers on) and I can't help but notice that is smells (sorry to put it so crudely) stale sweaty arse, anyone else experienced a bus with "leather" seats like this with the same smell

Not sure it'll be the leather, probably be mould growing somewhere from a window leaking. Ashington's Solo's are absolutely rank for it but the old Cityzens who are long gone were really really bad for it.

Mind carpets on the sides and leaking windows are not a good combination. Thank god the days of whoever thought carpeted walls was a good idea is long gone. Carpets don't belong on buses imo.

(05 Feb 2025, 3:55 pm)DeltaMan wrote I genuinely can't believe they admitted it.

Aye, I bet it was only 'cause I blaintly pointed out their lies in my initial email to them and said something along the lines of 'it only takes one person who has an interest in buses to notice when shady business is happening in the industry'. that wasn't what i said word for word, but i heavily implied it.

---

(05 Feb 2025, 7:39 pm)F114TML wrote Do they think they're in Scotland? I could understsnd it up there cos non-complient vehicles are completely barred and I believe the Traffic Comissioner gets involved for any violations.

That's mad, didn't realise that was the case in Scotland. 

I reckon GNE is just money greedy in my honest opinion at the rate they've been going lately. Make the most, spend the least seems to be their motto.