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Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022

Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022

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Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(25 Jul 2022, 7:54 pm)Andreos1 wrote You're making it up? I thought wing mirror issues were stuff of days gone by? Didn't realise they still happened!

I remember the first time you shared the tales of woe of missing wing mirrors.
Seemed to be an almost daily occurrence at one stage! Whether it be 71s or 20s. Whenever the was any reported issues, it seemed to be down to problematic wing mirrors.


I aim to please. I knew a story of a mirror incident would make your day.

Still as common now as they were back in the days of #missingpurplesolars.


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RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(25 Jul 2022, 8:37 pm)Dan wrote I aim to please. I knew a story of a mirror incident would make your day.

Still as common now as they were back in the days of #missingpurplesolars.


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Would GNE ever get the mirrorless buses, like the EYMS E400MMC's?
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
So if I've read the timetables correctly, the 84/85 is now only hourly on an evening after around 6.30pm/7pm? That's absolutely shocking if true! So in just over a year we've gone from 4 buses an hour during the day to 3 and now from 2 buses an evening to 1! That's just pathetic! Thank God I have a car as I really pity anyone relying on transport these days!
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(25 Jul 2022, 7:06 pm)S813 FVK wrote Not sure why, but it's not too uncommon for buses to apparently track as one service when they're actually NIS

Another backdated example, also the 78: https://bustimes.org/vehicles/40087?date=2022-07-20#
And another for a deadrun between Stanley and CLS showing 21: https://bustimes.org/vehicles/39821?date=2022-07-18

Bustimes takes its data from Ticketer. Drivers selecting trips in error on Ticketer will therefore show up on Bustimes. 

Instances can include a driver accepting their next trip after their break while logging off their last run before their break, or selecting an incorrect duty and not realising until after they've then also accepted the first trip of said incorrect duty.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
Deptford on an evening, the 24/5/9/26/X20/20/60 all interwork.


With the 20 turning into the X20 from Durham to Langley Park & Return back to Durham to continue the 20 to Sunderland.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(25 Jul 2022, 10:29 pm)Unber43 wrote Deptford on an evening, the 24/5/9/26/X20/20/60 all interwork.


With the 20 turning into the X20 from Durham to Langley Park & Return back to Durham to continue the 20 to Sunderland.

At least the drivers won't get bored!
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(25 Jul 2022, 10:29 pm)Unber43 wrote Deptford on an evening, the 24/5/9/26/X20/20/60 all interwork.


With the 20 turning into the X20 from Durham to Langley Park & Return back to Durham to continue the 20 to Sunderland.

Branding thrown out of the window then.... is it more or is it pointless now?
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
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Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(26 Jul 2022, 5:28 am)Michael wrote Branding thrown out of the window then.... is it more or is it pointless now?


Services on an evening run off the back of the 5/9/24/26 which will run with fleet livery Streetlites once the remaining surplus Prince Bishops are repainted.

Almost as if Go North East intentionally planned this to ensure branding is not incorrect on an evening.


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Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(26 Jul 2022, 5:45 am)Dan wrote Services on an evening run off the back of the 5/9/24/26 which will run with fleet livery Streetlites once the remaining surplus Prince Bishops are repainted.

Almost as if Go North East intentionally planned this to ensure branding is not incorrect on an evening.


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Dan, are the surplus Peterlee Purples and Blonde solo’s be painted into corporate colours so there can be used on different branded routes so there won’t be mixture of wrong brands on branded solo’s routes?


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RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(25 Jul 2022, 7:51 pm)Dan wrote The first 29 of the day had its wing mirror knocked off by a HGV that didn’t stop - so did operate, but only as far as Kibblesworth, as the driver couldn’t continue without his offside mirror.

Andreos will be delighted to hear tales of woe regarding missing mirrors.

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Yes so i headr. Not good for those who were out for the 29 early as the "old" 29 at 740 now is just a memory. But that cant be helped .  Bet it happened on the windy road between kibblesworth and Ouston.  I hate driving my SUV along there so i can imagine a bus not been the easiest thing to drive
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RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(26 Jul 2022, 6:09 am)cbma06 wrote Dan, are the surplus Peterlee Purples and Blonde solo’s be painted into corporate colours so there can be used on different branded routes so there won’t be mixture of wrong brands on branded solo’s routes?


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The surplus Peterlee Purples Solos are now running from Washington temporarily as staff transport between the depot and Chester-le-Street/Birtley for reliefs on services 25 and 28.

The Blonde, for now, should be running on service 39 (due to the increased requirement for buses on this route).
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(26 Jul 2022, 10:34 am)Dan wrote The surplus Peterlee Purples Solos are now running from Washington temporarily as staff transport between the depot and Chester-le-Street/Birtley for reliefs on services 25 and 28.

The Blonde, for now, should be running on service 39 (due to the increased requirement for buses on this route).
Won't there be loads of vans free now that Peterlee services all interwork with the X6 How many pinks are free? 

Couldn't the 71 be extended to Washington to give it a PVR of 3 and that would fall under the pinks brand
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RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(26 Jul 2022, 10:39 am)Unber43 wrote Won't there be loads of vans free now that Peterlee services all interwork with the X6 How many pinks are free? 

Couldn't the 71 be extended to Washington to give it a PVR of 3 and that would fall under the pinks brand

The 71 is already allocated Little Pinks buses.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(26 Jul 2022, 7:05 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Looks like the driver of tbe 81 has gotten lost again.. 

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/40383?date.../289368390

Not sure how the tracking, tracks but that could've went anywhere it seems to have not tracked at all between Gateshead and Wrekenton. I know one of the Arriva buses at Ashington has a dodgy tracker and does stuff like that all the time.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/40383?date.../289077845 - It appears to been having problems all day.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(25 Jul 2022, 9:46 pm)Washingtonian wrote So if I've read the timetables correctly, the 84/85 is now only hourly on an evening after around 6.30pm/7pm?  That's absolutely shocking if true! So in just over a year we've gone from 4 buses an hour during the day to 3 and now from 2 buses an evening to 1! That's just pathetic! Thank God I have a car as I really pity anyone relying on transport these days!

Yes, the 84 and 85 have each gone down to one per hour on an evening. Although for the 84 one of the evening services used to run as the 84A and that service has gone altogether. It wouldn't surprise me if the next thing GNE do on an evening is to take off those two services completely whenever the bus services in Washington are next cut. The more GNE cut local evening services the more people will just not bother with buses at all.
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Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(27 Jul 2022, 12:57 am)Robbie64 wrote Yes, the 84 and 85 have each gone down to one per hour on an evening. Although for the 84 one of the evening services used to run as the 84A and that service has gone altogether. It wouldn't surprise me if the next thing GNE do on an evening is to take off those two services completely whenever the bus services in Washington are next cut. The more GNE cut local evening services the more people will just not bother with buses at all.


Nexus subsidise the evening service. Go North East are running to the frequency that Nexus have set in the timetable.


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RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(27 Jul 2022, 4:51 am)Dan wrote Nexus subsidise the evening service. Go North East are running to the frequency that Nexus have set in the timetable.


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Ah, thanks. I wasn't aware of that.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(25 Jul 2022, 9:16 am)Acky81 wrote For someone In grangetown looking at a 39b with a destination of Washington biddick woods displayed would probably think this bus no longer serves Doxford park!!! Confusing!!
Should be
39b Washington via ryhope and Doxford park
That’s my rant
I have a similar issue with destination displays, especially service 2/2A just showing via Sunderland in both directions baring in mind they pass through Shiny Row. Harraton and Lambton (2) and Barnwell. Fatfield and Biddick (2A) And also service 60 only show via Seaham in both directions.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(27 Jul 2022, 12:57 am)Robbie64 wrote Yes, the 84 and 85 have each gone down to one per hour on an evening. Although for the 84 one of the evening services used to run as the 84A and that service has gone altogether. It wouldn't surprise me if the next thing GNE do on an evening is to take off those two services completely whenever the bus services in Washington are next cut. The more GNE cut local evening services the more people will just not bother with buses at all.

Thanks for confirming this Robbie. I can't believe Nexus are only funding one bus an hour on an evening. For several years they have funded services that carry fresh air (such as the 23, now TB22/23) but yet now they have cut funding to subsidise evening services in areas that use the bus more. The evening 84 loadings didn't carry many passengers but I bet they would still have more passengers than the TB22/23 will carry all day! Completely agree that if there are anymore cuts to services that people will give up on buses altogether, which would be terrible for the industry!
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(27 Jul 2022, 3:21 pm)Washingtonian wrote Thanks for confirming this Robbie. I can't believe Nexus are only funding one bus an hour on an evening. For several years they have funded services that carry fresh air (such as the 23, now TB22/23) but yet now they have cut funding to subsidise evening services in areas that use the bus more. The evening 84 loadings didn't carry many passengers but I bet they would still have more passengers than the TB22/23 will carry all day! Completely agree that if there are anymore cuts to services that people will give up on buses altogether, which would be terrible for the industry!

Surely the criticism should be redirected towards GNE who should be operating their own services rather than Nexus who is bailing them out...? They haven't got an unlimited pot of money.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(27 Jul 2022, 4:38 pm)Storx wrote Surely the criticism should be redirected towards GNE who should be operating their own services rather than Nexus who is bailing them out...? They haven't got an unlimited pot of money.

Not really in this instance as Nexus have funded a lot of evening services for several years as most would be making losses if ran commercially. I'lll re-iterate the point again about the 23. Hardly ever a soul on it - yet the route gets funded again and again in some form. How does this make sense when other areas use the bus more but have services taken away from them.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(27 Jul 2022, 6:27 pm)Washingtonian wrote Not really in this instance as Nexus have funded a lot of evening services for several years as most would be making losses if ran commercially. I'lll re-iterate the point again about the 23. Hardly ever a soul on it - yet the route gets funded again and again in some form. How does this make sense when other areas use the bus more but have services taken away from them.
Probably because Nexus seem to have a rule that everyone should have a bus stop (with a service) within 400m of their house (presumably just a radius and not by walking distance). If a bus stop loses its commercial service and it serves people who have no other alternative bus within 400m, that service gets subsidised (hence the 39B). As to why the evening services are only hourly - I'm going to guess that either they can't afford it, or none of the bidders proposed a more frequent service for a descent price.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(27 Jul 2022, 6:27 pm)Washingtonian wrote Not really in this instance as Nexus have funded a lot of evening services for several years as most would be making losses if ran commercially. I'lll re-iterate the point again about the 23. Hardly ever a soul on it - yet the route gets funded again and again in some form. How does this make sense when other areas use the bus more but have services taken away from them.

It still doesn't really make much difference though. GNE at the same time have paid millions to their shareholders while every single tax payer has been finding bus services that the majority will never use whether that's the 23, 84 or 85 etc. 

The 23 runs in local estates or TB14 which I believe it is now which otherwise wouldn't have a service at all. 

The reason it's been cut is because they're funding the 25, 28, 29, 39B, 81, 82, 83, 67 and 69 instead pretty much.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022
(27 Jul 2022, 4:38 pm)Storx wrote Surely the criticism should be redirected towards GNE who should be operating their own services rather than Nexus who is bailing them out...? They haven't got an unlimited pot of money.

Exactly the point that was made my some of the Independent Operators such as JH Coaches during a meeting with Nexus when it came to discussing tenders with them from what a driver on the 82 told me this afternoon.

I said to the driver the 82 has been ran like a joke by Go North East over the years, firstly they were operating it commercially throughout the day/evening then were getting funding on an evening because it wasn't viable to operate, then at several points over the past 10 years the evenings have been contracted to another operators such as Arriva and Gateshead Central Taxis for a period before Go North East have then won the contract back.

Personally for me I don't think they should be running the evening/sunday ops of the 81 when they lost the daytime contract in the first place probably because they did not make a low enough bid or they didn't bid at all, I certainly think the contracts should be tendered to cover daytime/evening service as singular contract and not two separate ones and it is great to see an independent like JH take a stand like they have and challenged Nexus on the operations of services by Go North East and I certainly hope to see more contract been given to these operators in the future rather than Go North East taking the very large majority like they do.

The good news side of things ticket acceptance is in place for Go North East tickets to be used on the 82 and the driver I spoke reported there been some good numbers on new section of the route between Birtley and Gateshead, the journey I got on at 15:45 from The Galleries was the quietest the driver had all day.