The only two vehicles I've seen all day were both running on routes that aren't even shown in the emergency timetable:

Sapphire spare pulsar 1440 noted at Redcar clock on an X4, destination set for Easington. Not sure if it had come in from Middlesbrough or started from Redcar. Only 2 punters on that I could see.

Sapphire Streetlite 1568 (or 1569?) noted in Saltburn running a service 3 up to Lingdale (service 3 is the Sunday version of the X3 and normally interworks with service 81A). Saw it again on the coast road heading back into Redcar so assume it's full length journeys rather than shorts.

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Just seen an X4 to Easington running through Brotton today 1-20pm. A few passengers on it. 1440 so a Redcar bus.

I've seen 7418 and an e400 on the 64, so far, today. Another e400 went out on the X46 and there was an assortment of vehicles, mostly double deck, sitting around dbs.

Loadings aren't huge, but it's early in the week, people had a chance to do their food shops on Saturday and are less likely to be wanting to do other types of shopping than before Christmas - Newcastle was pretty quiet, yesterday, although unaffected by the strike. I expect they will be fuller, during the day, midweek, when all but the best preppers' hoards will be depleting, all the kids are back at school and people have a better idea of what might turn up, when.

Aside from the obvious PR issues charging fares during a strike would cause; Perhaps technically the case they have no option but to run for free as these strike timetables unregistered with the Traffic Commissioner, therefore not able to be fare-taking services? 

I don’t really know the rules around these situations.

(07 Jan 2019, 11:26 am)Jimmi wrote Observations from a quick drive round Darlington this morning:

A few additional services are running in and out of Darlington than previously advertised, spotted a service 3 coming from Skerne Park, saw a X21 heading out of Darlington and a X1 arriving into Darlington  (that's all I can say, I know absolutely nothing else about these running, no times or anything)

Allocation wise so far:

2/7: E400
3/13's: Solo
X1: MAX Lite
X21/X26: Pulsar

Redcar seem to be covering some of the Darlington output, spotted 1429 and another Frequenta 63 Pulsar out and about.

Twitter says services are running free of charge but then again they also suggested to someone that the 6 ain't running when timetables suggest that it is.

Are they saying Darlington services are more important than Redcar's?!

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(06 Jan 2019, 3:37 pm)2bagstew wrote According to the Arriva Facebook page Normal Fares will be charged on all routes.


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Surely they wouldn't be allowed to charge without putting registration changes in for all the services?

Was the X21 that was seen only operating to Peterlee?

(07 Jan 2019, 7:11 pm)S830OFT wrote Was the X21 that was seen only operating to Peterlee?

There was I saw the bus at about 13.30 in Wingate


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(07 Jan 2019, 7:13 pm)2bagstew wrote There was I saw the bus at about 13.30 in Wingate


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Don't get why they are operating it but advertising it isn't running.

(07 Jan 2019, 7:19 pm)S830OFT wrote Don't get why they are operating it but advertising it isn't running.

Apparently several services ran that were not on the emergency timetables.
On ITV local news I’m sure they did say that had getting some driver from elsewhere.



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A significant number of additional services ran today, which they hadn't included in the timetables advertised (hence minimum service levels title on the pdf).

Not sure why they didn't say they were operating (perhaps it was to haphazard?)

Shows that there are some drivers coming into work?

(07 Jan 2019, 7:50 pm)RobinHood wrote A significant number of additional services ran today, which they hadn't included in the timetables advertised (hence minimum service levels title on the pdf).

Not sure why they didn't say they were operating (perhaps it was to haphazard?)

Shows that there are some drivers coming into work?

I suppose its always difficult to gauge how many are going to scab on the day and go to work, but I do think the communication could have been better once service levels were known. It has been appalling from Customer Services for the past number of weeks now, but I guess they can only put out what the depots and/or Doxford are telling them.

(07 Jan 2019, 7:50 pm)RobinHood wrote A significant number of additional services ran today, which they hadn't included in the timetables advertised (hence minimum service levels title on the pdf).

Not sure why they didn't say they were operating (perhaps it was to haphazard?)

Shows that there are some drivers coming into work?

Currently on the Arriva website: *** Update for Tuesday - more buses added on service 49A and 57A in Durham area ***


Wonder how much Go North East benefited from the strike today, on the likes of the X6/X7?

(07 Jan 2019, 7:55 pm)Adrian wrote I suppose its always difficult to gauge how many are going to scab on the day and go to work, but I do think the communication could have been better once service levels were known. It has been appalling from Customer Services for the past number of weeks now, but I guess they can only put out what the depots and/or Doxford are telling them.

Even with the information, they still contradict themselves.

I saw one post that said normal fares, then half hour later another post saying free!

Quite a few non-union drivers have attended work so ive been told - along with some drivers who simply cannot afford to be off for so long.

Rumours are, a 10 day strike will follow.

(07 Jan 2019, 8:20 pm)RobinHood wrote Even with the information, they still contradict themselves.

I saw one post that said normal fares, then half hour later another post saying free!

Quite a few non-union drivers have attended work so ive been told - along with some drivers who simply cannot afford to be off for so long.

Rumours are, a 10 day strike will follow.

The buses are free for the duration of the strike.



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(07 Jan 2019, 8:20 pm)RobinHood wrote Even with the information, they still contradict themselves.

I saw one post that said normal fares, then half hour later another post saying free!

Quite a few non-union drivers have attended work so ive been told - along with some drivers who simply cannot afford to be off for so long.

Rumours are, a 10 day strike will follow.

If that happens, i can see people moving to Go North East in the likes of Peterlee etc (if companies over lap on their routes)

(07 Jan 2019, 8:30 pm)Michael wrote If that happens, i can see people moving to Go North East in the likes of Peterlee etc (if companies over lap on their routes)

GoNorth East had larger buses on the X6 today the bus didn’t look very full I wonder if people have just stopped at home.


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(07 Jan 2019, 7:55 pm)Michael wrote Currently on the Arriva website: *** Update for Tuesday - more buses added on service 49A and 57A in Durham area ***


Wonder how much Go North East benefited from the strike today, on the likes of the X6/X7?

Well with the 57A it'll hopefully mean Hartlepool can have a hourly service...

(07 Jan 2019, 8:55 pm)S830OFT wrote Well with the 57A it'll hopefully mean Hartlepool can have a hourly service...

According to the emergency 57A timetables there will 3 Journeys between Durham - Hartlepool.


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(07 Jan 2019, 8:35 pm)2bagstew wrote GoNorth East had larger buses on the X6 today the bus didn’t look very full I wonder if people have just stopped at home.


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They won't when they need to get to school, college or work. Or out for a food shop, eventually. I certainly couldn't stock up locally in Thornley, where the 58vwas my only other option. Conversely, in fram, I have a coop and sainsburys local. They saw me through the beast from the east, until buses into Newcastle ran, again, even though the 64 was impacted.

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56 was running, mind.

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And it looked like drivers on were a mix of trainees and supervisors.

(07 Jan 2019, 8:23 pm)2bagstew wrote The buses are free for the duration of the strike.



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Noted that arriva using Garnetts garage at Tindale as a starting point as there are no pockets there

(08 Jan 2019, 10:32 am)upt50k wrote Noted that arriva using Garnetts garage at Tindale as a starting point as there are no pockets there

Supposedly staff were attempting to stop any buses leaving Darlington depot yesterday.

Timetables have been updated again for the southern part of the network including journeys now operating on services 1/X1, 3, 8, X3, X4, X21 plus X93 now going to Scarborough with additional journeys on some services: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/north-east/f...471df8d158

Allegedly, service 12 is running every 2 hours

(07 Jan 2019, 7:55 pm)Adrian wrote I suppose its always difficult to gauge how many are going to scab on the day and go to work, but I do think the communication could have been better once service levels were known. It has been appalling from Customer Services for the past number of weeks now, but I guess they can only put out what the depots and/or Doxford are telling them.

That's a very political word but then you have form for it.

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(07 Jan 2019, 3:59 pm)James101 wrote Aside from the obvious PR issues charging fares during a strike would cause; Perhaps technically the case they have no option but to run for free as these strike timetables unregistered with the Traffic Commissioner, therefore not able to be fare-taking services? 

I don’t really know the rules around these situations.

(08 Jan 2019, 11:03 am)Jimmi wrote Supposedly staff were attempting to stop any buses leaving Darlington depot yesterday.

Timetables have been updated again for the southern part of the network including journeys now operating on services 1/X1, 3, 8, X3, X4, X21 plus X93 now going to Scarborough with additional journeys on some services: https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/north-east/f...471df8d158

Allegedly, service 12 is running every 2 hours

Yes its seems that's why Redcar buses were running in Darlington as militants there were trying to deny peoples right to work.

The previous owner of 8168 is driving on EDC routes. I would have assumed a manager would have covered school routes as I was told before they only have 10 School drivers on hand but with them on strike you wouldn't have thought 'standard' drivers would be driving school routes.

A few of the drivers I've seen look to be very young. Guessing at newer drivers still on a probationary period?

(09 Jan 2019, 7:00 am)Cock Robin wrote That's a very political word but then you have form for it.

Touched a nerve, have I? 

New ten-day strike announced by Arriva bus drivers
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1...s-drivers/

The pay can't be that bad if they can afford to forego another 10 days.

(07 Jan 2019, 7:19 pm)S830OFT wrote Don't get why they are operating it but advertising it isn't running.

(12 Jan 2019, 9:18 am)Cock Robin wrote The pay can't be that bad if they can afford to forego another 10 days.

Exactly!

This feels like a raid led by the Union.

Service 7 and 15 in Stockton have been confirmed to be running today.

They are paid an amount each day by the union, I've heard somewhere between £30 and £50 a day. Someone even said £75 a day but that would be more than than most would get for a normal shift!