(11 Jul 2022, 4:18 pm)Ambassador wrote Proper regulation or a sensible compensation scheme would soon sort out the problem.
It's time to put more scrutiny on these cancellations and start recompensing passengers impacted (some left without options, some with much longer journeys) in the same way the railway industry does.
No doubt it will drive up fares to cover the costs but it might incentivise them to work smarter
A sensible compensation scheme would probably restore some faith in buses for people. It's an incentive for operators to perform to the best of their ability, rather than the lax attitude that exists right across the industry. Even before 'short term cancellations' were even a thing, there's always been a lack of sincerity towards customers adversely affected by their performance.
n.b. the 18.11 50 did run this evening: https://bustimes.org/services/50-durham-.../284398037
Only no one bothered to update the cancellations page:
Does the Mystic Meg hotline still exist? Might be useful if GNE diverted their out of hours customer service number to it.
(11 Jul 2022, 6:14 pm)User2613 wrote I saw a handful of cancellations were put on for the 21 this evening. However once again the "due to operational issues service 21 is experiencing delays and there are long gaps between services. Apologies".
I was in Chester earlier waiting for the x21 at 11.35 heading to Newcastle and was amazed by just how many people there were waiting for the 21. I had a look on the app and saw that the most recent departure was tracking as being at the far end of low fell just as a bus which had started in Brandon was turning up meaning a 30 minute gap in service for a bus that is supposed to be every 10 under an already reduce "temporary" timetable.
With all due respect what is the point in putting that message on the app. Customers already know that there are long gaps between services as they are stood there waiting 3x as long as they had planned to be. By that point it is too late. A handful of cancellations on the list is better than the none that were previously being included on the 21 but it is not good enough. I've heard the excuse that they are being actively regulated before and so the list of cancellations for the 21 is not being included but again what use is that to the average passenger. They want to know if there bus is running or not before they go for it not after waiting half an hour for it.
I appreciate that some cancellations happen on the day and today there have been some notifications on the app of them but they did not even cover a fraction of the total journeys cancelled nor those terminated at gateshead/commenced in Birtley both of which I witnessed. It is just not good enough and it is all fine and well saying these issues will be resolved when the changes take place but what about the passengers who want to travel in the next 2 weeks.
I don't think I am being unreasonable in saying this but I am happy to be corrected if others on here think differently. Sorry for the rant but it needed to be said as this has been going on for too long now.
The 'active regulation' line on the 21 came from a Martijn Gilbert tweet. My own experience of the 21 in recent weeks is that there's no active regulation, or if there is, it just isn't working effectively for customers. From the outside looking in, it feels like there's no plan B.
I agree though, it's simply not good enough. It's been going on far too long, and I think the industry needs to have a serious debate about why they struggle to recruit and retain drivers.
(11 Jul 2022, 6:37 pm)Charles41 wrote Those of us who don't have the the option of working from home are just giving up on GNE altogether.
I just use the car everyday for work now. That's after 16 years of using public transport. GNE are just a disgrace. More interested in paint jobs and new tables than passengers.
We're supposed to be 2.5 days a week on average in the office, but I've been doing 1 or 2 at most at the moment. We've got others that bus from further afield that we're telling them not to bother at the moment and stick to working from home, if they haven't got other options.
It's a bit surreal that we're in a situation at present where MDs of operators keep telling us we need to grow passenger numbers back to where they are, but at the same time continue to kick those who are bothering where it hurts. It's almost like going into a showroom to buy a new car, then the dealership torching it for you after you've signed the paperwork.