One of the new Mercedes Benz Sprinter 516 CDI/Mellor Strata's (LO70 KXC) was seen on Sunday working the 18A at Four Lane Ends while I was out on my daily exercise.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpbsp/50976421392/

Have GCT only lost the M71, but have retained all the others?

(08 Mar 2021, 4:41 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Have GCT only lost the M71, but have retained all the others?

Only M71 confirm atm. Wating on nexus to post the time tables. Surprised that Arriva have withdrawn the 6 and 552 from the same date

(09 Mar 2021, 12:16 am)MichealAaron wrote Only M71 confirm atm. Wating on nexus to post the time tables. Surprised that Arriva have withdrawn the 6 and 552 from the same date

The 6/552 are contracted to Nexus. The fact that Arriva are 'withdrawing' their operation suggests that either Nexus has withdrawn the funding and Arriva don't want to operate it commercially, or the contract has been awarded to another operator. Arriva have run the 6 for at least 10 years now so quite surprising if someone else has indeed got it!

(09 Mar 2021, 12:46 am)peter wrote The 6/552 are contracted to Nexus. The fact that Arriva are 'withdrawing' their operation suggests that either Nexus has withdrawn the funding and Arriva don't want to operate it commercially, or the contract has been awarded to another operator. Arriva have run the 6 for at least 10 years now so quite surprising if someone else has indeed got it!

"Service withdrawn due to loss of Nexus contract" is what it says on the traffic commissioners local bus service registration data, so chances are Arriva have most likely lost the tender to another operator, just have to see what happens really...

A message I sent to nexus asking about timetable changes say we won't see/hear anything until a week before they come into place. So the week before 29th Marche expect to see the timetable changes for the 6/552

Public Inquiry (82995) to be held at Hillcrest House (Leeds), LS9 6NF, 386 Harehills Lane, LEEDS, on 23 March 2021 commencing at 10:00

PB1099280 SN CENTRAL TAXIS GATESHEAD LTD
Director(s): MARK NELLIST STONEYGATE HOUSE, STONEYGATE LANE, GATESHEAD, NE10 0HJ
S17 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 17 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981)
S28 - Consideration of disciplinary action under Section 28 (The Transport Act 1985)
Sch.3 - Consideration of Transport Managers Repute under Schedule 3 (The Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981)[/font][/size][/color]

A trip down to Leeds beckons for Gateshead Central Taxis a week on Tuesday.

(13 Mar 2021, 2:26 pm)MurdnunoC wrote A trip down to Leeds beckons for Gateshead Central Taxis a week on Tuesday.

Does anyone know why? Or are we assuming its for the reported stop skipping.

(13 Mar 2021, 8:35 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Does anyone know why? Or are we assuming its for the reported stop skipping.

There was discussions a while back that they had a vehicle on the road without an MOT if I remember rightly, so that might be part of it.

What could this mean for the company

(14 Mar 2021, 7:08 am)citaro5284 wrote There was discussions a while back that they had a vehicle on the road without an MOT if I remember rightly, so that might be part of it.

I'd hazard a guess and go with this, amongst other things

(14 Mar 2021, 7:08 am)citaro5284 wrote There was discussions a while back that they had a vehicle on the road without an MOT if I remember rightly, so that might be part of it.

It must be their 4th Public Enquiry in 5 or 6 years.

(14 Mar 2021, 4:47 pm)busmanT wrote It must be their 4th Public Enquiry in 5 or 6 years.

They had a string of public inquiries in 2016 - three if I recall correctly.

Most operators seem to go through them nowadays and don't get much of a punishment. Scarlet Band's recent PI seemed to only prevent them from growing further with the reduction they were given as punishment, rather than actually make them reduce in size.

A number of things could happen.

The O-License could be restricted in terms of reduction in vehicles allowed to operate.
The O-License could be revoked meaning they aren't allowed to run buses.

However some companies do have alternative licenses they can use to get around this.

(14 Mar 2021, 8:49 pm)Rapidsnap wrote A number of things could happen.

The O-License could be restricted in terms of reduction in vehicles allowed to operate.
The O-License could be revoked meaning they aren't allowed to run buses.

However some companies do have alternative licenses they can use to get around this.

The Traffic Commissioners take a very dim view nowadays of operators who circumvent the outcome of a PI by using another licence.

Does anyone know how Gateshead Central Taxis did today in Leeds

(21 Mar 2021, 9:47 pm)MichealAaron wrote Does anyone know how Gateshead Central Taxis did today in Leeds

Quite good but that's because they aren't down till Tuesday.

(21 Mar 2021, 9:56 pm)Michael wrote Quite good but that's because they aren't down till Tuesday. 

Someone said today March 21st

(21 Mar 2021, 10:02 pm)MichealAaron wrote Someone said today March 21st

Tuesday at 1000, although the Traffic Commissioner might not announce any action on the day - often decisions are announced later.

(21 Mar 2021, 10:54 pm)busmanT wrote Tuesday at 1000, although the Traffic Commissioner might not announce any action on the day - often decisions are announced later.

What do you think will happen. Do you think they will get a warning or shut down

(21 Mar 2021, 11:45 pm)MichealAaron wrote What do you think will happen. Do you think they will get a warning or shut down

Hopefully they loose contracts not as if they do much of a good job with them.

(22 Mar 2021, 7:28 am)GNE6312 wrote Hopefully they loose contracts not as if they do much of a good job with them.

Yesterday I witnessed them missing out part of the route on the 32A! Hopefully they lose some contracts, they don't operate the services properly. I will send them a message!

(22 Mar 2021, 1:59 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Yesterday I witnessed them missing out part of the route on the 32A! Hopefully they lose some contracts, they don't operate the services properly. I will send them a message!

Let's be real, they've been doing it for years, if Nexus was that bothered they wouldn't keep awarding them contracts.
As long as they're the cheapest bidder, they're going to win the contracts, Nexus don't care about the customer experience, they just want the cheapest possible price

(22 Mar 2021, 7:28 am)GNE6312 wrote Hopefully they loose contracts not as if they do much of a good job with them.

I don't really think that throwaway remarks like this are helpful. Operators losing contracts have consequences, and usually for those that can't influence the way a company operates.

(22 Mar 2021, 4:11 pm)Adrian wrote I don't really think that throwaway remarks like this are helpful. Operators losing contracts have consequences, and usually for those that can't influence the way a company operates.

Someone would need to pick up the work though, so you'd still be filling that job somewhere along the line.

You can't dish out contracts out of sympathy. If what is reported is correct, then those who "can't influence" the operation are those who are missing out parts of routes for example. If you put yourself in the shoes of someone who may rely on that service for work, would you want to see that driver 'rewarded' with keeping their job while yours is under threat because they can't do theirs correctly?

Bloody useless company. What if passengers want to alight, rather than board at the stops these stupid drivers miss out? Unacceptable. GCT should never be awarded contracts. Yes, it'd gone in for years, and that annoys me enormously. This is the first time I've seen it for myself in person, such a blatant act, simply ridiculous.

(22 Mar 2021, 4:44 pm)mb134 wrote Someone would need to pick up the work though, so you'd still be filling that job somewhere along the line.

You can't dish out contracts out of sympathy. If what is reported is correct, then those who "can't influence" the operation are those who are missing out parts of routes for example. If you put yourself in the shoes of someone who may rely on that service for work, would you want to see that driver 'rewarded' with keeping their job while yours is under threat because they can't do theirs correctly?

There's no suggestion of dishing out contracts out of sympathy, but making throw-away remarks about wishing for businesses to lose contracts offers nothing to a discussion.

Maybe some of those who "can't influence" the operation are missing out parts of routes for example, but sadly the bad apples aren't always the ones who reap what they sow.

Look the matter of fact is GCT are up in Leeds tomorrow. Let's wait and see what happens. If they lose the contracts so be it. But to the matter of fact. If the contract are put back to original operating. It means sometime must be done

The 32’s missed part of the route due to vandalism having occurring over the previous few nights.

(22 Mar 2021, 8:05 pm)WHEATSHEAF1 wrote The 32’s missed part of the route due to vandalism having occurring over the previous few nights.

What vandalism? So just later in the day it misses part of the route? Not much use to passengers wishing to board or alight in that section! It was late on Sunday afternoon I saw it miss part of the route. Can understand it late on an evening, but still comes as part of parcel of running a bus service unfortunately.