(26 Dec 2024, 6:51 pm)Ambassador wrote Added commentary

I’d love one of Northumbria or Durham’s finest to pull over a 21 on a matchday. The 6.18 from town today. 8 young lasses seated on the front upper deck window

Stairs blocked by standees and the door at the front equally

This is every match day, today was worse

GNE aren’t a safe operator.

Gonna sound mental....but Arriva given the cascades they have and a depot in Durham (Belmont) should setup a competing service to the 21!

Added commentary

I’d love one of Northumbria or Durham’s finest to pull over a 21 on a matchday. The 6.18 from town today. 8 young lasses seated on the front upper deck window

Stairs blocked by standees and the door at the front equally

This is every match day, today was worse

GNE aren’t a safe operator.

(26 Dec 2024, 7:28 pm)L469 YVK wrote Gonna sound mental....but Arriva given the cascades they have and a depot in Durham (Belmont) should setup a competing service to the 21!

Theres so many potential competition opportunities (not just with ANE and the 21) across the GNE region.

I've often had a pop at GNE over the years (justifiable imo), but things are going from bad to worse imo.
I've had some horrendous experiences with them. So much so, they put a gricer off using them even for social reasons.

(26 Dec 2024, 8:18 pm)Ambassador wrote Added commentary

I’d love one of Northumbria or Durham’s finest to pull over a 21 on a matchday. The 6.18 from town today. 8 young lasses seated on the front upper deck window

Stairs blocked by standees and the door at the front equally

This is every match day, today was worse

GNE aren’t a safe operator.

I'll never understand why drivers wilfully overcrowd to this point. If there was ever an accident, the company would wash their hands of any responsibility, and claim the driver wasn't acting within their operating procedures.

(Yesterday, 1:21 pm)Adrian wrote I'll never understand why drivers wilfully overcrowd to this point. If there was ever an accident, the company would wash their hands of any responsibility, and claim the driver wasn't acting within their operating procedures.

I was heading to the in-laws at Chester and you’ll notice a row of cones on Newcastle bank into Birtley demolished. That was our driver.

After we looped eighton lodge roundabout twice

(6 hours ago)Ambassador wrote I was heading to the in-laws at Chester and you’ll notice a row of cones on Newcastle bank into Birtley demolished. That was our driver.

After we looped eighton lodge roundabout twice

Reading between the lines, the driver knew and did their utmost to help you out. 
They must have known what it can be like with in-laws over the festive period...

(Yesterday, 11:23 am)Andreos1 wrote Theres so many potential competition opportunities (not just with ANE and the 21) across the GNE region.

Well put it this way, if Blyth get a batch of new StreetDeck / E400MMC, their DB300's aren't in bad shape and could handle Durham > NCL fine mirroring the 21 route (they handle the 306/308 fine even if some are a bit lame on the slip roads).

Not forgetting the recent influx of E400MMC Arriva Durham County have received which could be put to good use. Unlike GNE who have E400MMC running inefficient interworking patterns on Derwentside whilst two of their longest 'XLines' routes are run by a bunch of "hairdryers" or ex-London sheds or not enough suitable spares available!