(26 Nov 2025, 8:27 pm)PH - BQA wrote 25 in doesn't seem enough if 12 of the newest ones are going to Yorkshire. That leaves the 14/64 plates which can't handle anything more than a 35, and the 72-plates which have constant electrical issues. Nothing to replace the crippled Pulsars either (1390-3, 1462, 1497, 1537-43) which are breaking on a daily basis. So that's a net negative overall.
In terms of the Coast Road, you'd have to assume GNE have served notice because of how bad the Arriva operation is. Constantly dropping services, leaving hour gaps in 308s, using Pulsars on peak runs from town, and not regulating anything.
Still yet to see any positivity from this new management that was meant to be fixing everything.
I hear the councillor for Pegswood is finally meeting with Arriva (after being ignored for months) to discuss the state of the 35. That'll be a fun conversation. "We've massively increased how many services we're running, but have got no suitable buses to run them, so we drop about 6 X21/22 boards a day to allow us to run the X30 which carries fresh air".
Somewhere in the plan I think doubles go in and singles come out, which probably means the Geminis are being kept over Pulsars. Im not 100% on that though. I will try and find out. The Yorkshire fleet is absolutely shocking, so its not really a surprise that they are looking at cascading within the region.
On the Coast Road, GNE are blaming NECA for not progressing bus priority and the desire to make savings on peak time resources.
(26 Nov 2025, 8:06 pm)L469 YVK wrote Why would GNE do that!? Unless they're making enough money though High Farm (it's always quite popular) - that they can commercially afford to ditch the agreement.
Saying that - I hope Arriva heavily retaliate if GNE abandon, considering Arriva had the traditional stronghold on the Coast Road.
If GNE do pull out, something is telling me they might bring back the 311 and if Arriva can't react, will overpower Arriva with the 6-7 minute combined service vs 10 minute service!
Unlikely. I suspect GNE actually want to make savings.