(24 Jan 2022, 6:36 am)Dan wrote You’re absolutely wrong if you believe Arriva and Stagecoach aren’t having problems.

In the same way that Go North East have stronger and weaker depots for their staffing situation, Arriva and Stagecoach do too.

Whilst Arriva Northumbria are back up to full strength in terms of staffing, Arriva Durham County most certainly are not and are still losing mileage hand over fist. The latter are still hugely reliant on overtime working including non-driving staff.

Stagecoach Transit, Stockton especially, are still hiring in extra drivers (as opposed to subbing out the work) and still experiencing large gaps in service.

I am still aware of huge gaps in service on Nexus contracts operated by Gateshead Central Taxis. I was quite vocal about GCT’s staff shortages and vehicle availability issues some time ago when this pre-dated the more recent national issues across multiple sectors, and have cut them some slack more recently, but it’s worth pointing out in this context that other operators (including on work they are being paid by the local authority to run, and most likely aren’t being penalised because they aren’t running it) are still suffering.


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Oh of course not, I'm totally aware of Darlington's problems. Durham hasn't been too bad in recent weeks I don't believe but it's still not great either. Let's be honest though neither were exactly a shining example of hour to run a bus company for years. The fleet standard at both of them is shocking. 

Don't believe there's many issues at Stockton or Redcar though?

Stagecoach Stockton (admit I don't follow it at all) seems to have big problems aswell tbf another depot on strike and I'm sure replacing new 69 plates with 55 plate MAN's is just the best way to boost driver moral when it's blatently rock bottom as it is. 

GCT well they deserve critisism.