(16 Sep 2021, 7:18 pm)Adrian wrote It highlights the need, more than ever, for NEBus to come up with some consistent 'journey guarantee' scheme across at least the three principal operators. It's completely unacceptable for the last journey of the day to be axed. I am aware of and appreciate the current predicaments re: driver shortages, but these actions are potentially leaving children and vulnerable adults stood waiting without any other options.
If there's absolutely no way to provide the last journey of the evening, customers need to know what applies and what their options are. That could be whereby a route is covered by diverting a similar service (like what sometimes happens with X9/X10), that tickets will be valid with another operator (if on a shared corridor) or a complimentary taxi being called.
I agree - I would be a bit less bothered if it was due to driver shortages, and was listed on the website. But it mostly just seems to be the service running late and then starting from Walker instead of Wallsend. You'd think the control room would be aware of it being the last service and having it operate anyway, regardless of a 15 or so minute delay. It is rarely even mentioned on the Go North East twitter page like a lot of disruptions.
I'm lucky as I can make the journey by catching the service 1 (which is very reliable, despite having a longer route!), although it is a much longer walk and not very convenient. Other passengers who cannot get an alternative bus should be offered an alternative as you mentioned, like a taxi.
(16 Sep 2021, 7:47 pm)streetdeckfan wrote That would require customers to actually be able to contact someone at GNE after 5pm or at the weekends though!
I definitely think there needs to be a 'Delay Repay' system for buses, the same way it's available for trains. If anything it'll give them an incentive to actually run services rather than cancelling, or dropping sections of routes when things are running late.
That would be a very good idea!