(08 Aug 2025, 10:13 pm)BusLoverMum wrote GNE and Arriva are breaking the law all the time, then.

I'm sure they'd claim that a broken system still counts. Like the old Swindon ones still advertising local Swindon things on their screens.

(09 Aug 2025, 5:57 am)Storx wrote They're fine them two for now. 

It's staggered when they're required as:
Oct 24: 2019 or newer
Oct 25: 2014 or newer
Oct 26: All vehicles

https://wmbu.org.uk/2024/05/the-next-sto...ober-2024/ - There's more details about it there.

Ah. GNE need to get a wiggle on with some of their streetlites, then.

(07 Aug 2025, 10:28 pm)S830OFT wrote A rather unusual vehicle type for contract work, but another new bus for GCT, this one being on the 168 at Hetton.

https://flic.kr/p/2rm3ntR

Someone made a good point on twitter. If you were a woman or young girl, would you feel safe getting into an unmarked white van with a piece of paper in the window? 

It doesn't look like a bus at all.

(09 Aug 2025, 3:24 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Ah. GNE need to get a wiggle on with some of their streetlites, then.

Yeah, be interesting to see if they follow it right aswell as they need a display visible from the wheel chair bay for any new installations which, they're aware of at least,  because the Evora's and Yutong's have them. (There's excemptions for anything fitted pre October 2023).

Bit ott if you ask me, but rules are rules.

(09 Aug 2025, 4:13 pm)Adrian wrote Someone made a good point on twitter. If you were a woman or young girl, would you feel safe getting into an unmarked white van with a piece of paper in the window? 

It doesn't look like a bus at all.

Not necessarily the most ideal, although one would assume allocating this vehicle to the 168, reduces the lost mileage & the vehicle shortage impact on other services, until more suitable vehicles are repaired & returned to service...

The issue raised is a fair point. Perhaps GCT should invest in some GCT branded magnetic stickers, then it is likely it would look like some random bloke or lass turning up in a van.

(09 Aug 2025, 11:26 pm)S830OFT wrote Not necessarily the most ideal, although one would assume allocating this vehicle to the 168, reduces the lost mileage & the vehicle shortage impact on other services, until more suitable vehicles are repaired & returned to service...

It's not a bus. They've not run the service. It's a van with a piece of paper in the window.

(09 Aug 2025, 4:13 pm)Adrian wrote Someone made a good point on twitter. If you were a woman or young girl, would you feel safe getting into an unmarked white van with a piece of paper in the window? 

It doesn't look like a bus at all.

(09 Aug 2025, 11:26 pm)S830OFT wrote Not necessarily the most ideal, although one would assume allocating this vehicle to the 168, reduces the lost mileage & the vehicle shortage impact on other services, until more suitable vehicles are repaired & returned to service...

(09 Aug 2025, 11:34 pm)solsburian wrote The issue raised is a fair point. Perhaps GCT should invest in some GCT branded magnetic stickers, then it is likely it would look like some random bloke or lass turning up in a van.

(10 Aug 2025, 5:44 am)DodgepotMcDougal wrote It's not a bus. They've not run the service. It's a van with a piece of paper in the window.

After reading all of these points, it just goes to show that both GCT and Nexus do not care! 

I wouldn't be surprised if the next time the tenders are out the 168 gets scrapped as passenger numbers have fallen too low for Nexus funding. This is an awful way to run a service and I agree if the bus turning up doesn't look like a bus and passengers won't know to put their hand out - they have not run the service purposefully allocating and unsuitable vehicle. They should be stripped of the contract immediately. But knowing everything that GNE & GCT specifically have got away with under Nexus provision of service they may as well take the money and not even run a bus!

The 168 has always carried fresh air as it's just there for the Elderly between East Rainton and Easington Lane to go to the shops in Hetton-Le-Hole.

You could extend the service from East Rainton Estate via the A690 up to Houghton-Le-Spring via Rainton Bridge Industrial Estate and Dairy Lane which would open further options for extensions perhaps through to the new Houghton-Spring-Retail Park.

(10 Aug 2025, 4:50 pm)Malarkey wrote The 168 has always carried fresh air as it's just there for the Elderly between East Rainton and Easington Lane to go to the shops in Hetton-Le-Hole.

You could extend the service from East Rainton Estate via the A690 up to Houghton-Le-Spring via Rainton Bridge Industrial Estate and Dairy Lane which would open further options for extensions perhaps through to the new Houghton-Spring-Retail Park.

SERVICE 168 Contract cost £126,940
MAY24
PASSENGER 1041
Revenue. 290

JUN 24
P 1571
R 447.20

July 24
P  1668
R.  458.60

AUG 24
P 1493
R 332.10

SEPT 24
P1434
R 415.90


5 MONTHS WORTH OF FIGURES

I wonder what numbers journeys on the 168 are typically carrying? I imagine it must be somewhere near considerations of converting it to run as a taxibus route. Wonder what the next stop in cutting it could be, they've already cut the first and last round trips of the day and more recently created a gap in the service at lunchtime, likely to allow one driver to work the service without a changeover.

In a similar vain, I still question why what is now the 520 was converted from taxibus to a conventional bus working.

In regards to the van, it's no different to what many rural ops use on service work, the worst aspect is the anonymity of the thing, with the only indication of it operating service work is the paper destination. Given its a van, I think it's exempt from having to comply with PSVAR regs and the like so wouldn't require NSA equipment (still unsure if the rest of their fleet has the kit or not, the 23 plate Sigma certainly has nothing programmed at the very least).

(10 Aug 2025, 9:38 pm)Jimmi wrote I wonder what numbers journeys on the 168 are typically carrying? I imagine it must be somewhere near considerations of converting it to run as a taxibus route. Wonder what the next stop in cutting it could be, they've already cut the first and last round trips of the day and more recently created a gap in the service at lunchtime, likely to allow one driver to work the service without a changeover.

In a similar vain, I still question why what is now the 520 was converted from taxibus to a conventional bus working.

In regards to the van, it's no different to what many rural ops use on service work, the worst aspect is the anonymity of the thing, with the only indication of it operating service work is the paper destination. Given its a van, I think it's exempt from having to comply with PSVAR regs and the like so wouldn't require NSA equipment (still unsure if the rest of their fleet has the kit or not, the 23 plate Sigma certainly has nothing programmed at the very least).

It's upto 16 seats for the NSA stuff etc, unsure what the seats are on the Sigmas etc.

Btw using the numbers above it's 4/5 people per trip, very quick maths. Not exactly great numbers really but I'm sure there's worse around.

(10 Aug 2025, 9:38 pm)Jimmi wrote I wonder what numbers journeys on the 168 are typically carrying? I imagine it must be somewhere near considerations of converting it to run as a taxibus route. Wonder what the next stop in cutting it could be, they've already cut the first and last round trips of the day and more recently created a gap in the service at lunchtime, likely to allow one driver to work the service without a changeover.

In a similar vain, I still question why what is now the 520 was converted from taxibus to a conventional bus working.

In regards to the van, it's no different to what many rural ops use on service work, the worst aspect is the anonymity of the thing, with the only indication of it operating service work is the paper destination. Given its a van, I think it's exempt from having to comply with PSVAR regs and the like so wouldn't require NSA equipment (still unsure if the rest of their fleet has the kit or not, the 23 plate Sigma certainly has nothing programmed at the very least).

sadly the data I have after this I cannot correlate accurately which is why I have not included it.  However nexus spec is that 36 people must be able to board as a min for a service with a monthly outcome 1500 ish requires questions 

I do honestly think that NECTA needs to look at random routes and actively ask how can we improve certain routes especially secured services (full ones)  

imo part services I don't mind the funding of (to an extent) but when you see the 168 annual cost and monthly  passengers numbers we need to know why  how can we improve or get more on board or simply tell the public during the contract  we have had 1500 passengers a month use this service if we do not have 1750  passengers use this service in the next 3 months this route will be at risk of being withdrawn... let the residents know there is risk of it being lost and place in the contract that although the service is being run at 1500 min passengers a month you must actively promote and encourage more passengers onto the service or else the last 3 month of income will not be paid if we do not see a increase of passenger numbers in the previous 9 month of patronage 

we now have a culture where nexus secured services are being won but its a licence to print money  with no effort to promote the service and make it viable 

the 787 ran by stagecoach is a fantastic example which I think is running through the night at £50-60 an hour with a pvr of two buses and a min of 84 passengers to board  (inc suitcases I think) ??? but it has BSIP funding where has the marketing been to promote that bus service... 

least the 777 BSIP funded bus has 1 branded bus !

(10 Aug 2025, 10:29 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote the 787 ran by stagecoach is a fantastic example which I think is running through the night at £50-60 an hour with a pvr of two buses and a min of 84 passengers to board  (inc suitcases I think) ??? but it has BSIP funding where has the marketing been to promote that bus service... 

See personally I'm not a fan of the 787. I'd rather see some of the Stagecoach services like the 1, 30 (via Jesmond), 40, 62 and X88 with possibly the X88 and 30 extended to the airport all running as Nxx buses.

These are busy routes during the day and are the sort of routes which could easily get a reasonable load overnight with proper advertising - especially with students if they were actually advertised this time. You have remember Stagecoach even tried them on a commercial basis so there's clearly a chance there. 

Least you've now got local journeys being done, rather than a 787 which means nothing to no-one without going out of your way to find out what it is. I've used the 1 in particular at around 23:00 in the past before and it's quite busy - I don't believe for a second that in an hours time, everyone just decides - nope not using a bus now.

of course we need night buses... nearly a third of jobs in Tyne and Wear and the North East are Nightshift...

we have companies like Nissan who finish at 2am but no buses to go anywhere

We have Team Valley with jobs starting at 4am 5am 6am

or work places that finish at midnight like pubs etc... the north East is backwards in forward thinking!

Then there is the Tyne Tunnel! dont get me started on that

(11 Aug 2025, 1:21 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote we have companies like Nissan who finish at 2am but no buses to go anywhere 

Except the 56 and 50 that both run.

(10 Aug 2025, 4:50 pm)Malarkey wrote The 168 has always carried fresh air as it's just there for the Elderly between East Rainton and Easington Lane to go to the shops in Hetton-Le-Hole.

You could extend the service from East Rainton Estate via the A690 up to Houghton-Le-Spring via Rainton Bridge Industrial Estate and Dairy Lane which would open further options for extensions perhaps through to the new Houghton-Spring-Retail Park.

Pretty sure it only came about when the 535/536 were re-cast in the mid 2000s. Pretty sure Classic won it initially and ran Nexus branded Optare Alero's. They had a Nimbus allocated regularly too off memory. 

It's hung around for a good while now and whilst not perfect, it does what it needs to for those people who don't have an alternative. 

Tbf, the entire Nexus network around Houghton should be looked at. 
Not just the 168.
Whether that be short, cross-town links like you mention, or combining things like the 79 with the 168.

Ultimately, those routes only exist because the likes of GNE diddled off.

I would say with regards to the Houghton-le-Spring services, they could easily reintroduce the 79A on a daytime frequency with some adjustments, which could allow the withdrawal of the 79/168/520, and allow the PVR to be reduced to 2 buses from 3 on a 60 minute frequency.

Proposed Route:
(Sheriffs Moor Estate | Easington Lane High Street | Peat Carr Estate | Hetton Interchange | Park Estate | Hazard Lane | Quarry House Lane | Gillas Lane | Hall Lane Estate | Elizabeth Street | Hillside Way | Houghton-le-Spring | Dairy Lane Estate | Fence Houses | Avenue Vivian | Burnside Estate | Blind Lane | Shiney Row | Barnwell)

The service would continue to operate it's circular route around Barnwell.

In order for the service to be able to operate hourly, the following would have to take place:
- Service would no longer serve Hetton Downs, with this section covered by GNE service 32.
- Service would no longer serve East Rainton, with the service stopping in walking distance on Quarry House Lane (Hail and Ride section)
- Service would no longer serve Houghton Health Centre, although anyone for Fence Houses can walk to the main road & catch service 71, or alternatively walk to Burnside Estate or Houghton Town Centre where the service will stop.
- Service would no longer serve Newbottle Front Street, with services 32 & X1 providing alternatives for journeys.

Or indeed if that's not able to be done, possibly a 178 & 179 service, with both operating every two hours, combining to offer an hourly service, with one serving so many estates & the other doing the remaining along the route to ensure an even headway & that each area still has access to a bus service?

(11 Aug 2025, 9:27 pm)Andreos1 wrote Pretty sure it only came about when the 535/536 were re-cast in the mid 2000s. Pretty sure Classic won it initially and ran Nexus branded Optare Alero's. They had a Nimbus allocated regularly too off memory. 

It's hung around for a good while now and whilst not perfect, it does what it needs to for those people who don't have an alternative. 

Tbf, the entire Nexus network around Houghton should be looked at. 
Not just the 168.
Whether that be short, cross-town links like you mention, or combining things like the 79 with the 168.

Ultimately, those routes only exist because the likes of GNE diddled off.

Maybe you could call it the 237.

(12 Aug 2025, 8:59 am)S830OFT wrote I would say with regards to the Houghton-le-Spring services, they could easily reintroduce the 79A on a daytime frequency with some adjustments, which could allow the withdrawal of the 79/168/520, and allow the PVR to be reduced to 2 buses from 3 on a 60 minute frequency.

Proposed Route:
(Sheriffs Moor Estate | Easington Lane High Street | Peat Carr Estate | Hetton Interchange | Park Estate | Hazard Lane | Quarry House Lane | Gillas Lane | Hall Lane Estate | Elizabeth Street | Hillside Way | Houghton-le-Spring | Dairy Lane Estate | Fence Houses | Avenue Vivian | Burnside Estate | Blind Lane | Shiney Row | Barnwell)

The service would continue to operate it's circular route around Barnwell.

In order for the service to be able to operate hourly, the following would have to take place:
- Service would no longer serve Hetton Downs, with this section covered by GNE service 32.
- Service would no longer serve East Rainton, with the service stopping in walking distance on Quarry House Lane (Hail and Ride section)
- Service would no longer serve Houghton Health Centre, although anyone for Fence Houses can walk to the main road & catch service 71, or alternatively walk to Burnside Estate or Houghton Town Centre where the service will stop.
- Service would no longer serve Newbottle Front Street, with services 32 & X1 providing alternatives for journeys.

Or indeed if that's not able to be done, possibly a 178 & 179 service, with both operating every two hours, combining to offer an hourly service, with one serving so many estates & the other doing the remaining along the route to ensure an even headway & that each area still has access to a bus service?

I respect it's awhile away yet but imo they need to scrap the hub and spoke model that they've attempted down there which really doesn't work at all. 

All the local, or at least most of them. Should be extended onto longer services so people actually have long journeys going to places where people want to be. 

It's all great creating all these links to places like Houghton but who wants to go there in the first place? The place died 20 years ago. 

The Washington, Chester Le Street, Peterlee and Houghton locals just do not work hence most of it is subsidised, one way or another.

Get them bolted or merged into stuff like the X1, 2, 4, 56, 21 etc imo.

Another brand new bus in service, this time a white Merc Mellor, WP25ZCZ, which has gone into service on 558s this morning.

(14 Aug 2025, 8:09 am)S830OFT wrote Another brand new bus in service, this time a white Merc Mellor, WP25ZCZ, which has gone into service on 558s this morning.

Thanks, good spot