I think JH coaches have been running the X11 for the past 2 weeks

X11 being duped by 7152 from the Galleries this morning, running about 70 mins behind.
Good that they've managed to get a dupe out, but quite surprised it's required, given its not exactly a sunny day!

(11 Aug 2021, 9:54 am)Adrian wrote X11 being duped by 7152 from the Galleries this morning, running about 70 mins behind.
Good that they've managed to get a dupe out, but quite surprised it's required, given its not exactly a sunny day!

They should just have one based at Washington Depot or Galleries with a driver just incase. As ngl if the bus was 70 mins behind that would have ruined my day.

(11 Aug 2021, 9:54 am)Adrian wrote X11 being duped by 7152 from the Galleries this morning, running about 70 mins behind.
Good that they've managed to get a dupe out, but quite surprised it's required, given its not exactly a sunny day!

Also surprised it's that busy on a weekday as it seems like it's only normally a Saturday when they have to duplicate it.

Sent from my moto g(8) power lite using Tapatalk

Have GNE got the X11 back?

(11 Aug 2021, 9:54 am)Adrian wrote X11 being duped by 7152 from the Galleries this morning, running about 70 mins behind.
Good that they've managed to get a dupe out, but quite surprised it's required, given its not exactly a sunny day!

I'd have given up by that point and gone somewhere else.
Not a chance I'm going to hang around the Galleries for 70mins.

Lessons learned I hope.

(11 Aug 2021, 10:12 am)Andreos1 wrote I'd have given up by that point and gone somewhere else.
Not a chance I'm going to hang around the Galleries for 70mins.

Lessons learned I hope.

I tend to agree. It'll be close to 13.00 by the time it gets there, and it's time to come home at 17.45.

Good that the dupe has been deployed, but it really needs to be quicker.

A dupe really needs to start following the coach to Washington. Or have a driver & bus placed there.

(11 Aug 2021, 10:16 am)Keeiajs wrote A dupe really needs to start following the coach to Washington. Or have a driver & bus placed there.

A cheaper fix, could be looking at how many tickets have been pre-purchased and getting a bod down to the Galleries to check how many people are waiting for the X11. 
Communicate the numbers of heads back to control and take it from there.

(11 Aug 2021, 10:24 am)Andreos1 wrote A cheaper fix, could be looking at how many tickets have been pre-purchased and getting a bod down to the Galleries to check how many people are waiting for the X11. 
Communicate the numbers of heads back to control and take it from there.

Yeah, but how many people buy there tickets before hand. In proportion to how many buy tickets on the bus/

(11 Aug 2021, 10:36 am)Keeiajs wrote Yeah, but how many people buy there tickets before hand. In proportion to how many buy tickets on the bus/

I'd imagine quite a few people will buy them on the app just for ease of getting on the bus. 
I would personally buy the ticket on the bus because I don't trust the app to work or my phone to stay charged!

(11 Aug 2021, 10:44 am)streetdeckfan wrote I'd imagine quite a few people will buy them on the app just for ease of getting on the bus. 
I would personally buy the ticket on the bus because I don't trust the app to work or my phone to stay charged!

I would do the same, buy tickets on the bus. Via Contactless

(11 Aug 2021, 10:36 am)Keeiajs wrote Yeah, but how many people buy there tickets before hand. In proportion to how many buy tickets on the bus/

That's something GNE can manage and potentially offer incentives for doing so.

Managing the service better, by introducing a small administrative function (at minimum overhead) would allow GNE to have a broad idea how many people are going to rock up.
Heck, they could even offer some sort of discount for an advance booking and/or a small premium for those who turn up on the day and pay on the bus.

(11 Aug 2021, 12:06 pm)Andreos1 wrote That's something GNE can manage and potentially offer incentives for doing so.

Managing the service better, by introducing a small administrative function (at minimum overhead) would allow GNE to have a broad idea how many people are going to rock up.
Heck, they could even offer some sort of discount for an advance booking and/or a small premium for those who turn up on the day and pay on the bus.

Don't they do that with some tickets, the family ticket springs to mind?

(11 Aug 2021, 12:11 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Don't they do that with some tickets, the family ticket springs to mind?

If that is the case, then surely it makes it so much easier introducing and managing for the X11.

X11 reached full capacity today. Should have had a extra at Washington Galleries waiting tbh.

(24 Aug 2021, 9:28 am)Keeiajs wrote X11 reached full capacity today. Should have had a extra at Washington Galleries waiting tbh.

Replacement departed from the Galleries almost 2 hours later.

Although it doesn't seem to be showing on bustimes, 7128 is sending the following data to BODS showing 72 out of 55 seats in use(??)

...and the replacement (7150) is showing as having 24 out of 66 seats in use. I'm actually surprised people hung around for that long. 

(24 Aug 2021, 10:57 am)Adrian wrote Replacement departed from the Galleries almost 2 hours later.

Although it doesn't seem to be showing on bustimes, 7128 is sending the following data to BODS showing 72 out of 55 seats in use(??)

<VehicleUniqueId>7128</VehicleUniqueId>
<DriverRef>**removed** (unsure why this is even being sent)</DriverRef>
<SeatedOccupancy>72</SeatedOccupancy>
<SeatedCapacity>55</SeatedCapacity>
<WheelchairOccupancy>0</WheelchairOccupancy>
<WheelchairCapacity>1</WheelchairCapacity>

...and the replacement (7150) is showing as having 24 out of 66 seats in use. I'm actually surprised people hung around for that long. 

<VehicleUniqueId>7150</VehicleUniqueId>
<DriverRef>**removed** (unsure why this is even being sent)</DriverRef>
<SeatedOccupancy>24</SeatedOccupancy>
<SeatedCapacity>66</SeatedCapacity>
<WheelchairOccupancy>0</WheelchairOccupancy>
<WheelchairCapacity>1</WheelchairCapacity>

I believe 7128's ticket machine is currently fitted to JH67COM so a higher capacity vehicle can be used.

Photo on Facebook shows it being JH67 COM being tracked as 7128. Mad that it manged to be full at only the Galleries

(24 Aug 2021, 10:57 am)Adrian wrote Replacement departed from the Galleries almost 2 hours later.

2 hours is an awful long time to be waiting, especially when the dupe is only coming from a depot 20 minutes down the road. It was announced to be leaving the depot at 10:22, so I do wonder how it took around 40 minutes longer than Google's estimate to get there?

I understand that there are likely only a handful of drivers route learned on the service and they're likely covering other work given the shortage at the moment, but over the peak summer months you'd think at least one would be kept reasonably local - or a more supervisory member of staff would take it. 

From a passenger POV, I think I'd be willing to wait an hour. Anymore and I'd firstly be disappointed in the time lost in Scarborough/Whitby, but also less likely to use it again in the future.

(24 Aug 2021, 10:57 am)Adrian wrote Replacement departed from the Galleries almost 2 hours later.

Although it doesn't seem to be showing on bustimes, 7128 is sending the following data to BODS showing 72 out of 55 seats in use(??)

Does 55/72 reflect capacity restriction of some sort?  I thought all restrictions on seating capacity had been removed a while ago?

(24 Aug 2021, 11:45 am)mb134 wrote 2 hours is an awful long time to be waiting, especially when the dupe is only coming from a depot 20 minutes down the road. It was announced to be leaving the depot at 10:22, so I do wonder how it took around 40 minutes longer than Google's estimate to get there?

I understand that there are likely only a handful of drivers route learned on the service and they're likely covering other work given the shortage at the moment, but over the peak summer months you'd think at least one would be kept reasonably local - or a more supervisory member of staff would take it. 

From a passenger POV, I think I'd be willing to wait an hour. Anymore and I'd firstly be disappointed in the time lost in Scarborough/Whitby, but also less likely to use it again in the future.

I have to say (and in fear of being labelled with the 'usual attitude' again  ), if this runs next season, I hope there's a more robust operational plan to ensure the availability of a replacement vehicle in a timely manner. Maybe insisting on advance ticket purchases is one way to do that, but also (and I think Andreos1 suggested this before) look at the live sales data on the day and get out of the traps faster if need be. 

I think most people would accept there is some delay in getting a dupe in place, but it comes down to what is reasonable. 20-25 minutes maybe, but 2 hours not so much!

I really couldn't envisage many people willing to sit around for 2 hours for the next bus, so the number on board has genuinely surprised me. It looks from bustimes.org as if the dupe has skipped Billingham and Middlesbrough, and not picked up anyone at Peterlee either. I think if I had purchased a ticket to make the journey, but was looking at that kind of wait at the Galleries, I'd have found something to do with my day. Such as taking crap photos at the Metrocentre.

(24 Aug 2021, 11:56 am)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Does 55/72 reflect capacity restriction of some sort?  I thought all restrictions on seating capacity had been removed a while ago?

Kuyoyo posted here that 7128's ETM is fitted to JH67COM, so that probably explains it.

(24 Aug 2021, 12:05 pm)Adrian wrote I have to say (and in fear of being labelled with the 'usual attitude' again  ), if this runs next season, I hope there's a more robust operational plan to ensure the availability of a replacement vehicle in a timely manner. Maybe insisting on advance ticket purchases is one way to do that, but also (and I think Andreos1 suggested this before) look at the live sales data on the day and get out of the traps faster if need be. 

I think most people would accept there is some delay in getting a dupe in place, but it comes down to what is reasonable. 20-25 minutes maybe, but 2 hours not so much!

I'd agree. It's good to see initiatives like this, especially in the current climate, but if customers have experiences such as today where they have to wait 2 hours in Washington Galleries for the dupe (and you can't really go anywhere in the meantime, as there's no indication of when it'll turn up), you don't imagine they'll be quite as keen to come back. If they are operating a once a day special such as this, I'd suggest that they also need to put in place corresponding systems as you've outlined - you can't run this once a day special like the 21 and just tell folk another one will be there soon. 

At the very least, I'd think you would need to have the following in place:

• Vehicle checked and ready to go.
  
• Route learned driver at work, or some sort of supervisor willing to take it instead. 
  
• Better communication with passengers waiting at Washington - the first Tweet I saw today was at 10:22, an hour after the main coach had left and when the dupe was apparently leaving Riverside. I see now there was a follow up stating 11am arrival at Washington, but I'd query how it took it that long to get there.
  
• Incentivise advance purchases (as yourself and Andreos1 mentioned)
  
• More alert to live data on the day (as yourself and Andreos1 mentioned)
  

I also wonder if there would be a way for either supervisors based at Washington if they exist, or drivers passing through, to report back to GNE Towers how many folk they see waiting for the X11 in the 5-15 minutes before arrival? Just to help get the ball rolling that bit earlier if the ticket data from Newcastle/Gateshead is borderline.

Considering the weather is meant to be good for the next week or so, plus the bank holiday weekend, it prob be wise for GNE to have a hot spare ready. Hopefully there isn't issues where people stay the weekend and there is more people than seats waiting to return on the Monday evening.

(24 Aug 2021, 1:18 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Considering the weather is meant to be good for the next week or so, plus the bank holiday weekend, it prob be wise for GNE to have a hot spare ready. Hopefully there isn't issues where people stay the weekend and there is more people than seats waiting to return on the Monday evening.

Have one ready at washington.

(24 Aug 2021, 12:09 pm)Adrian wrote Kuyoyo posted here that 7128's ETM is fitted to JH67COM, so that probably explains it.

Yes I read it the wrong way round - thought it was 55/72 seats taken, rather than the opposite!

(24 Aug 2021, 10:57 am)Adrian wrote Replacement departed from the Galleries almost 2 hours later.

Although it doesn't seem to be showing on bustimes, 7128 is sending the following data to BODS showing 72 out of 55 seats in use(??)

<VehicleUniqueId>7128</VehicleUniqueId>
<DriverRef>**removed** (unsure why this is even being sent)</DriverRef>
<SeatedOccupancy>72</SeatedOccupancy>
<SeatedCapacity>55</SeatedCapacity>
<WheelchairOccupancy>0</WheelchairOccupancy>
<WheelchairCapacity>1</WheelchairCapacity>

...and the replacement (7150) is showing as having 24 out of 66 seats in use. I'm actually surprised people hung around for that long. 

<VehicleUniqueId>7150</VehicleUniqueId>
<DriverRef>**removed** (unsure why this is even being sent)</DriverRef>
<SeatedOccupancy>24</SeatedOccupancy>
<SeatedCapacity>66</SeatedCapacity>
<WheelchairOccupancy>0</WheelchairOccupancy>
<WheelchairCapacity>1</WheelchairCapacity>

So the lessons from 11th August, haven't been learned and rather than it run 70mins behind, it's almost 120mins.

Not good enough.

---

(24 Aug 2021, 12:59 pm)mb134 wrote I'd agree. It's good to see initiatives like this, especially in the current climate, but if customers have experiences such as today where they have to wait 2 hours in Washington Galleries for the dupe (and you can't really go anywhere in the meantime, as there's no indication of when it'll turn up), you don't imagine they'll be quite as keen to come back. If they are operating a once a day special such as this, I'd suggest that they also need to put in place corresponding systems as you've outlined - you can't run this once a day special like the 21 and just tell folk another one will be there soon. 

At the very least, I'd think you would need to have the following in place:

• Vehicle checked and ready to go.
  
• Route learned driver at work, or some sort of supervisor willing to take it instead. 
  
• Better communication with passengers waiting at Washington - the first Tweet I saw today was at 10:22, an hour after the main coach had left and when the dupe was apparently leaving Riverside. I see now there was a follow up stating 11am arrival at Washington, but I'd query how it took it that long to get there.
  
• Incentivise advance purchases (as yourself and Andreos1 mentioned)
  
• More alert to live data on the day (as yourself and Andreos1 mentioned)
  

I also wonder if there would be a way for either supervisors based at Washington if they exist, or drivers passing through, to report back to GNE Towers how many folk they see waiting for the X11 in the 5-15 minutes before arrival? Just to help get the ball rolling that bit earlier if the ticket data from Newcastle/Gateshead is borderline.

The last paragraph must be the most simplest, quickest and cost effective way of managing the situation.
It would take moments to sort and would have someone on the ground to answer questions, offer solutions and share updates.
Get someone skilled in customer service, hand out a couple of freebies or vouchers and they're on to a winner.
Ultimately, they're feeding back to control. To customers, it could be good PR.

Looks like 7150 has hung about in Scarborough for a later departure, presumably communicated to those who got into Scarborough later than expected. A positive move, and lets face it, not one that they were obliged to do. 

(24 Aug 2021, 5:51 pm)Adrian wrote Looks like 7150 has hung about in Scarborough for a later departure, presumably communicated to those who got into Scarborough later than expected. A positive move, and lets face it, not one that they were obliged to do. 

Definitely positive - and instances like this (the later northbound specifically) can go a long way to build customer relations for those passengers to maybe start using the rest of the network too. That said, I don't think it excuses the 2 hour delay in the dupe arriving at Washington, and don't think it's a viable solution long term either - folk will likely be planning their connections home and a one hour delay on the way back (I appreciate sometimes unavoidable) would probably scupper most of those.