(28 Jul 2025, 4:00 pm)L469 YVK wrote If I was in GNE's shoes - I'd be more frightened by Arriva's new MD having commercial info / experience eventually filtered down to NE & Yorks management, which could be used to attack the 21 & X21, especially with a depot in Belmont and existing services 6 & X12 which could be 'enhanced' or changed  to provide competition on the Durham - Newcastle stretch.

He's there to oversee the entire operation. The 6/X12 competing with the 21/X21 is a tiny drop in the ocean, in the grand scheme of things.

Nor is this anything to do with Northstar! 

(28 Jul 2025, 4:25 pm)Adrian wrote He's there to oversee the entire operation. The 6/X12 competing with the 21/X21 is a tiny drop in the ocean, in the grand scheme of things.

Nor is this anything to do with Northstar! 

TLDR - The whole point is that GNE have far bigger fish to fry than attacking a new startup SME Operator running a Saturday & School Holiday special express service to the MetroCentre.

GNE are not immune from competition and they need to up their game on their existing services and get their ducks in order rather than attacking SME operators.

I hope that if GNE launch a petty attack on Northstar's X22 & X43 - that Northstar swiftly strike back re-timing both services and maybe increasing frequency!

(28 Jul 2025, 4:00 pm)L469 YVK wrote If I was in GNE's shoes - I'd be more frightened by Arriva's new MD having commercial info / experience eventually filtered down to NE & Yorks management, which could be used to attack the 21 & X21, especially with a depot in Belmont and existing services 6 & X12 which could be 'enhanced' or changed  to provide competition on the Durham - Newcastle stretch.

Probs for another thread but idk where you've got in your head that Arriva are about to launch some attack on GNE. The 6 has only decreased in frequency over time, now at 20 mins compared to 12, and they've had years to re-increase the X12 between Durham and Newcastle but never done it. 

The only imaginative thing Arriva have done off their own back in god knows how many years is enhancing links to Teeside Park, coincidentally one of the places where franchising doesn't look likely. Meanwhile in NECA land, with franchising and local authority control on the horizon, where's the incentive for imagination or competition for that matter? The industry now is moving towards partnership and working together. It's commendable that Northstar have bitten the bullet for the summer months and restored some services of time gone by, but we're still not quite in the realm of regular new/competing service or all out bus war - feel like the last time we properly had that was the Darlington to Crook corridor with the OK1 and the Newcastle to Hexham corridor with the X84/5 and sadly GNE is a very different company these days.

I find it quite hillarious that GNE are attempting to keep tabs on the X43 and X22 when they can't go a day without the 6 being cancelled or running stupidly late.
I think they need their priorities set.

(28 Jul 2025, 6:25 pm)L469 YVK wrote TLDR - The whole point is that GNE have far bigger fish to fry than attacking a new startup SME Operator running a Saturday & School Holiday special express service to the MetroCentre.

GNE are not immune from competition and they need to up their game on their existing services and get their ducks in order rather than attacking SME operators.

I hope that if GNE launch a petty attack on Northstar's X22 & X43 - that Northstar swiftly strike back re-timing both services and maybe increasing frequency!

To be fair, I don't think GNE are attacking. They appear to be monitoring. Which is a reasonable thing to do. 

They can't have any complaints though. They themselves are sending the 301 via Central Station in the morning peaks. I'm sure out of the goodness of their hearts and nothing to do with trying to take college students off the Stagecoach 22.

All GNE have to do is get the basics right and they shouldn't need to worry.....

There seems to be outrage that GNE are monitoring Northstar. I m no fan of GNE but they are doing nothing wrong. If there’s something to blame , look up the 1985 Transport Act. Many small operators have tried and failed. Perhaps franchising will help, although this isn’t the re-nationalisation that I myself would like.

(06 Aug 2025, 2:47 pm)Economic505 wrote There seems to be outrage that GNE are monitoring Northstar. I m no fan of GNE but they are doing nothing wrong. If there’s something to blame , look up the 1985 Transport Act. Many small operators have tried and failed. Perhaps franchising will help, although this isn’t the re-nationalisation that I myself would like.

The whole point is that GNE can't get their own operations right, yet want to spoil the part of an SME who are running a few special services to the MetroCentre.

(06 Aug 2025, 2:47 pm)Economic505 wrote There seems to be outrage that GNE are monitoring Northstar. I m no fan of GNE but they are doing nothing wrong. If there’s something to blame , look up the 1985 Transport Act. Many small operators have tried and failed. Perhaps franchising will help, although this isn’t the re-nationalisation that I myself would like.

I don't think there is outrage as such, more bewilderment that the GNE commercial team seem to be spending a significant amount of time and effort in tracking the performance of 2 routes operated by a fledgling operator. 

There are only so many hours in the day and, rather than using their time productively to improve the GNE network (which covers far more than Stanley/CLS to the MetroCentre!), they see it fit to narrow in on two very specific corridors which just happen to have new routes operated by their former boss. It all seems very petty, and really doesn't give an impression that the GNE commercial team are a professional operation. Lunatics are running the asylum.

(06 Aug 2025, 8:04 pm)L469 YVK wrote  
The whole point is that GNE can't get their own operations right, yet want to spoil the part of an SME who are running a few special services to the MetroCentre.

But this is what they've always been like. 

Look how many smaller operators have gone the journey since 86.
Not because they did anything wrong, but because GNE dog marked their territory. 

It's not something I necessarily agree with (see previous posts), but in the dog eat dog world of competitive tendering and commercial routes, GNE can unfortunately do what they like.
Regardless of how well they do (or in their case, don't) across their day to day operations.

Just as a point of clarity. I've often been accused of being anti-GNE on the forum. Ironically, by our very own Daniel.
I've never been anti-GNE. I've just been anti-shite bus company, who like taking passengers and taxpayers for the proverbial ride.
They've done it for years and will continue to do it for as long as possible.

How come Northstar are running a 48 from Ushaw Moor-Durham?

(07 Aug 2025, 3:35 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote How come Northstar are running a 48 from Ushaw Moor-Durham?

There is a road closure at Ushaw Moor from 7th August for up to eight days meaning Arriva's services 43 and 48 are being diverted. The replacement service 48 between Durham and Bearpark/Ushaw Moor, paid for by Durham County Council, is being operated by Northstar.

I sampled the X22 and X43 services today and was pleasantly surprised at how well they were used, with the driver, 'Dan', stopping at almost every bus stop along the way, encouraging and convincing folk to use this services instead of the incumbent operator of the territory.

Despite stopping at almost every bus stop, these services still felt like expresses, using the most direct route from a-to-b, which, of course, makes the optics look good when marketing these services as such

There seemed to be a lot of positive customer feedback too, with passengers complementing 'Dan' on his cheerful disposition and the quality of the service provided. Cakes and other sweet treats were presented by, what I presume to be, regular passengers as thanks whilst alighting, which the driver then shared amongst the other patrons onboard.

Overall, a good experience.