(07 Dec 2022, 10:35 pm)Shrek wrote At a public meeting in Dudley tonight, Arriva management and Nexus answered some questions regarding the Arriva service issues. Arriva said they have agency drivers route training now and they are hopeful they will have more starting very soon. This should allow them to cover their current timetables reliably while recruitment continues.

The Arriva management also said their plans are to return all services to their previous frequency when they have sorted the staffing. They refused to give a date, but did say the aim was by the end of the first quarter of next year.

The Nexus rep also confirmed that Stagecoach Cumbria would be taking on the Arriva 685 services.

Very optimistic that Arriva will return to 'previous' frequencies that soon. GNE's driver numbers are only just getting back to somewhere near normal and that's after cutting services.

306/308 don't need a 15 minute frequency each nor Battle Hill Drive served. A reduction to every 20 mins each and withdrawing the 306 out of Battle Hill will save a PVR of 4x.

As for the X8, that could go and then the 43 re-routed via High Pit, Annitsford and Fern Drive with 1x per hour extended to Blyth via current X8 route from Cramlington and 1x per hour extended to Morpeth. Anyone wanting a faster journey can change in Cramlington.

Current (52):
- 306/308 - 18x
- 685 - 3x
- X7/X8/X9 -14x
- X10/X11 - 8x
- 43/44/45 - 9x

New (43) - PVR reduction of 9x:
- 306/308 - 14x
- X7/X9/X10/X11 - 18x (x10/x11 stay every 30 mins each)
- 43/44/45 - 11x

X7/X9/X10/X11 would work.....

X10/X11 outbound and X7/X9 inbound (9x)
- X11 NCL > X9 BLY > X10 NCL> X7 BLY

X7/X9 outbound and X10/X11 inbound (9x)
- X7 NCL > X10 BLY > X9 NCL > X11 BLY