The biggest thing that needs resolving today from a passengers point of view is the seemingly endless cancellations and breakdowns. The services GNE run are now so unreliable on some routes it is simply not possible to use any service with any confidence. Gladly I've moved out of the area now so my sanity has returned after using (well trying to) the 47 from Highfield which became so unreliable it left gaps of up to 90 minutes and will now likely leave gaps of 2 hours when the inevitable breakdowns on Sundays with the now hourly service. Thus having to get any bus to Rowlands Gill and walking a mile or so or having to get a bus an hour or so earlier than needed just to try to get there on time-ish. No thanks. There is no viable alternative from Highfield for the 47 other than to walk over a mile to (try to) get a 45, why not have the circular service from years ago (old services 611/612) to give a fighting chance of something turning up at least one way. Simply extend the 10A back to Newcastle via Rowlands Gill (10A / 10C one each way round the loop ?)
The sheer number of breakdowns is shocking, the whole stop/start things needs revisiting as there's no need to stop the engine only to have it try to start 5 seconds later and maintenance needs kicking up a notch if breakdowns are so bad.
If there are not enough drivers then timetables need recast to provide a more robust service but with the amount of delays incurred on some routes meaning services are turned short of their destination mean there will still be cancellations. Newcastle and Gateshead Councils both need a bullet with the road layouts in the centre of towns and the approaches, this causes severe delays and is part of the problem no doubt, that bit I concede is not entirely in GNE control. Do they complain to the council ?
I've worked on buses for over 40 years and never ever seen such an unreliable service, this company is dying. Too many cancellations and too many breakdowns leaves the public with no confidence in this shower at all. I've made my feelings perfectly clear to them on Twitter when faced with successive cancellations. People vote with their feet and wallets, I have.