I think some services tail off earlier on a Saturday afternoon than a weekday.

I doubt if schools will be open next week, anyhow. Many are already struggling with staffing levels. Littlun's school is moving from supporting parents keeping vulnerable pupils off to asking them to.

Mind, I walked into town and back, with a heavy back pack, this morning, and the buses that passed me looked like business as usual. I reckon we'll have to be in full lock down before long.

(17 Mar 2020, 9:54 pm)Michael wrote Don't see the point in running a Saturday service - because its the same frequancy as Mon to Fri (apart from a morning and maybe early evening).

Makes quite a difference to the number of vehicles needed in the morning with services slower to wind up to the full PVR, meaning they will have more flexibility to respond to short notice driver shortages etc.  Saturday timetables will mean no X1 at all - presumably warranted as many will be working from home - that being the case I'm surprised we aren't seeing them retrenching to Sunday timetables with perhaps additional peaks for the schools.

Metro withdrawing most peak services
https://www.nexus.org.uk/news/item/metro...le-reduced

Not seen the announcement but arriva have just said some services may not run due to staffing

£1 billion in support sought for bus operators having to reduce services
https://www.busesmag.com/2020/03/17/cpt-...ship-fall/

Arriva operating a vastly reduced timetable from Monday. https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/coronavirus/...orth-east/

All of the timetables have been removed from the Nexus travel shop at Gateshead. Tried to get details of early morning services for next week.

Charles

Enhanced Sunday timetables on GNE services, from Monday

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/coronavirus/

If ever anyone has wondered what a month of Sundays feels like...

Wow, stagecoach going for Saturday which im pleased about!

(20 Mar 2020, 8:52 am)idiot wrote Wow, stagecoach going for Saturday which im pleased about!

For now...

Suspect this will be short lived. Likely further reduced after a week or two.


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(20 Mar 2020, 10:29 am)Dan wrote For now...

Suspect this will be short lived. Likely further reduced after a week or two.


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Some Stagecoach services don't run on sundays

(20 Mar 2020, 8:48 am)BusLoverMum wrote Enhanced Sunday timetables on GNE services, from Monday

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/coronavirus/

If ever anyone has wondered what a month of Sundays feels like...

Indigo services in the Peterlee area supported by DCC will be operating to there Saturday times until further notice.
201,202,206,208,209/210 & 239.


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(20 Mar 2020, 10:46 am)2bagstew wrote Indigo services in the Peterlee area supported by DCC will be operating to there Saturday times until further notice.
201,202,206,208,209/210 & 239.


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I thought most of indigo services in Peterlee are commercial ran now, as before GNE we’re going to lose the contract to Arriva, and GNE wanted to keep them [emoji2955]


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(20 Mar 2020, 1:42 pm)cbma06 wrote I thought most of indigo services in Peterlee are commercial ran now, as before GNE we’re going to lose the contract to Arriva, and GNE wanted to keep them [emoji2955]


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All the early morning and late afternoon Saturday Runs are secured.


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Quick question... Do these changes have to go through vosa? Or is it classed as exceptional circumstances?

(21 Mar 2020, 8:43 pm)idiot wrote Quick question... Do these changes have to go through vosa? Or is it classed as exceptional circumstances?

Exceptional circumstances - but a record needs to be kept (and will presumably be filed with VOSA at a later date).

Suspect there isn’t anyone there to accept registrations in this climate...


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Cheers Dan, as I thought

(17 Mar 2020, 8:56 pm)Ds1197 wrote Couldn't they peak time only

I can honestly see services going down to Boxing day plus peaks.

Tyne and Wear Metro
@My_Metro
Due to staff availability, from Monday 23 March, the Metro service will be running approximately every 24 minutes across the network. Please leave extra time for your journey. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Never mind public transport.....McDonalds are closing their restaurants!!

As the situation develops and services are inevitably reduced further I wonder if/how Tees Flex could be repurposed as key-worker transportation network?

Can see Stagecoach dropping to a Sunday service soon, buses are empty.

Edit: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:05:44:117 - its happening - with extra journeys.

(24 Mar 2020, 3:54 pm)Michael wrote Can see Stagecoach dropping to a Sunday service soon, buses are empty.

Edit: https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:05:44:117 - its happening - with extra journeys.

They were mad to even attempt a Saturday service. The demand was never going to be there for it.

Arguably, there's not enough demand for a Sunday service...

(24 Mar 2020, 4:15 pm)Dan wrote They were mad to even attempt a Saturday service. The demand was never going to be there for it.

Arguably, there's not enough demand for a Sunday service...

That's very true, the 16 (Stagecoach) this morning had about 5 people on, just seemed pointless to run a Saturday service.

Optimistic i like

Stagecoach will be running on mainly modified Sunday timetables from next Monday:

 https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:06:31:205

 https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:05:44:117

The E Buses are all running empty this afternoon, and had a maximum of 5 passengers on early this morning.

(24 Mar 2020, 6:11 pm)AIG20 wrote Stagecoach will be running on mainly modified Sunday timetables from next Monday:

 https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:06:31:205

 https://www.stagecoachbus.com/service-up...:05:44:117

The E Buses are all running empty this afternoon, and had a maximum of 5 passengers on early this morning.

The 16 was the same this morning, i wonder if services would be reduced even more, if a Sunday service isn't viable?

I cycled along the coast today (boris said i can!)... And the maximum number of people on an E bus was 3 people.

Update from Alexander Dennis:

We are suspending production at our UK manufacturing facilities, but our aftermarket and service teams will continue to support our customers in providing vital bus and coach services for essential workers across the country.

We will weather this uncharted territory together.


---------------

THIS must mean the CAZ zone needs to be delayed too - we're in middle of a crisis, no way are companies gonna be ready for it.

Looks like more changes to GNE services soon

Don't blame them at all, demand is dropping so fast.

(25 Mar 2020, 10:49 pm)Michael wrote Looks like more changes to GNE services soon

Don't blame them at all, demand is dropping so fast.

Yep. I live round the corner from a major hospital and the buses are still very quiet.