(26 Oct 2013, 7:44 pm)tyresmoke wrote To be fair I was in Gateshead on Monday and a 56 was turned short then too (a Northern Cadet as it were... Passengers shot on the one behind etc). It happens every day and I'd have to argue its better than missing a whole service due to driver losing break etc.

How late are these buses when they are stopped short and regulated?

Three services I have been on this week (two of which were gold standard) were at least 10mins late - which is obviously a small percentage.

At least 95 % of our journeys will run ‘on time’ – that’s no more than 5 minutes late or 1 minute early

I have also seen Red Kites, Angels, Prince Bishops and Laser services running in pairs.
Going by the frequency of these services alone, one of them is more than 5 minutes late or 1 minute early.

I have seen various services run short or depart NIS when running late.

Others have problems with their local services.

Staff have complained openly on the fb page of running times.

Granted not all are Gold Standard, but if these services are used as a representative proportion, I struggle to see how this 95% is maintained.

When these buses are regulated, then a service is missed - whether it is a proportion or the entire route
Passengers are left standing - whether the driver gets their break or not.

Making an unrealistic promise about the '95%' and appeasing VOSA by whichever means, doesn't assist the passenger...