(24 Jan 2022, 12:14 pm)Stanleyone wrote If they reopened Stanley as canteen there could be better interworking plans, but that's a decision that comes from Bensham, there's a couple of shifts (presently) that you come off at Stanley, head to Consett for break and return to Stanley for next stint. Pointless really, but I'm simply a driver.

They could interwork with the X45/X46 with the X30/X31 (meaning E400MMCs on those and StreetDecks on X70/X71/X72) that would still reduce the need for any remote changeovers at Stanley.

But........the reliability if anything kicked off around the Metrocentre would be horrific.

Keeping the X30/X31, X70/X71/X72 and X45/X46 standalone from each groups of services would make sense and even afford GNE more flexibility in many ways.

Can’t comment for go north east but I can think of a few routes in Hartlepool that must have been boring to do.
The old service 5 which was about less than 10 minutes for the entire journey from one end to the other and 20 for round trip not so bad in the Stagecoach days when it would work on to the 7 or 12 at the headland but when Arriva took it over for the final few years it must have great fun to do hours of going between Hart Station and the Headland with not many passengers must have been great fun and made the X66 Metrocentre to Gateshead look great in comparison
One recent one during the temporary changes for covid Stagecoach did short service 1 between Marina and Seaton Carew which again was less than 15 minutes to do which can’t have been that good to do.
Am guessing the the TR1 service in Middlesbrough is quite boring as well just constantly going between the Bus Station ( or broadcasting house as it seems to be now ) to Middlesbrough College taking a whole 5 minutes if that must be a joy to do.

(24 Jan 2022, 6:48 pm)L469 YVK wrote They could interwork with the X45/X46 with the X30/X31 (meaning E400MMCs on those and StreetDecks on X70/X71/X72) that would still reduce the need for any remote changeovers at Stanley.

But........the reliability if anything kicked off around the Metrocentre would be horrific.

Keeping the X30/X31, X70/X71/X72 and X45/X46 standalone from each groups of services would make sense and even afford GNE more flexibility in many ways.

I don't think a single consett/Stanley service from Newcastle and Consett to Newcaslte between 11:00-16:00 ran on time. 

I was a Consett, it was a bloody nightmare, 5 buses parked on stands out of service, all the parking up space was covered the same two geminis were just going around, around for a soild 10 mins.

(28 Jan 2022, 6:52 pm)Omega54 wrote I don't think a single consett/Stanley service from Newcastle and Consett to Newcaslte between 11:00-16:00 ran on time. 

I was a Consett, it was a bloody nightmare, 5 buses parked on stands out of service, all the parking up space was covered the same two geminis were just going around, around for a soild 10 mins.

Which bus were you on that went around and around the bus station for a solid 10 minutes?

Aside from around 3pm-4pm, the majority of services went out on time from what I can see on bustimes. Apart from the advertised missing ones of course.

(28 Jan 2022, 7:36 pm)Adrian wrote Which bus were you on that went around and around the bus station for a solid 10 minutes?

Aside from around 3pm-4pm, the majority of services went out on time from what I can see on bustimes. Apart from the advertised missing ones of course.

It was one of the school buses, there was no where to park, due to the way some of the School buses aswell as a branded streetlite.

Not a GNE route but the 555 must be soul destroyingly boring

Probaly the 5 that route ive never like  goes  in and  out  of places when your in a hurry need to be somewere  goes in 1 area then back down such a  pain

CLS Here

X21, just drags on to West Auckland especially with the lights at Croxdale.

I must be one of the few that enjoy the 21s, prefer to be kept on my toes rather than sitting about every few stops.

34s are decent if all you've taken in your shift is notes and you've not got much change.

8s a decent run out too

(29 Jan 2022, 11:13 am)NL62WVW wrote CLS Here

X21, just drags on to West Auckland especially with the lights at Croxdale.

I must be one of the few that enjoy the 21s, prefer to be kept on my toes rather than sitting about every few stops.

34s are decent if all you've taken in your shift is notes and you've not got much change.

8s a decent run out too

Are you a fan of any of the 700's or the 71?

Don't do the 700s, used to do the 71s all the time and it's a cracking run out.

Both routes are now on a mini bus rota that new starters go on

any riverside drivers? 

What are the worst routes to drive?

(23 Jan 2022, 8:45 pm)Omega54 wrote Do you ever drive the X20/38. On the "small bus" rota?

---

It used the dual door cadet.

Anyone know the length of them?

They were dual door Volvo B10BLE with Wright Renown bodies. Their length was just under 12 metres I believe.

(30 Jan 2022, 2:23 pm)Omega54 wrote any riverside drivers? 

What are the worst routes to drive?

In my experience most of the Green Rota, which is basically just circling around Eastern Gateshead all day every day, with the occasional trip out to Shields on the 27 or Winlaton on the 49, so very dull. Can't speak about the stuff based out of the Metrocentre, apart from the 12 but have a feeling they'd be much more interesting.

(30 Jan 2022, 7:53 pm)deanmachine wrote In my experience most of the Green Rota, which is basically just circling around Eastern Gateshead all day every day, with the occasional trip out to Shields on the 27 or Winlaton on the 49, so very dull. Can't speak about the stuff based out of the Metrocentre, apart from the 12 but have a feeling they'd be much more interesting.

I can imagine 93/94/57/67/69 being quite dull.  Tbh I can't really think of a nice riverside route - they just all seem quite dull. 

I know the 96 is quite a tight route.

(30 Jan 2022, 8:04 pm)Omega54 wrote I can imagine 93/94/57/67/69 being quite dull.  Tbh I can't really think of a nice riverside route - they just all seem quite dull. 

I know the 96 is quite a tight route.

The 10/10A/10B (okay perhaps not the latter) must be a nice enough drive surely though?

(30 Jan 2022, 10:24 pm)L469 YVK wrote The 10/10A/10B (okay perhaps not the latter) must be a nice enough drive surely though?

Maybe the Q3, except on a Weekend night.

(30 Jan 2022, 10:24 pm)L469 YVK wrote The 10/10A/10B (okay perhaps not the latter) must be a nice enough drive surely though?

As a rule they’re not too bad, the problem comes In peak time where they end up running together and people don’t have the sense to get the first bus to where they’re going and you end up playing leapfrog all the way from town through Crawcrook, and getting later and later.

personally I never liked town service minibus routes, but that’s just me, some people love em - I’d rather poke my eyes out with cocktail sticks.

(28 Jan 2022, 2:02 pm)col87 wrote Can’t comment for go north east but I can think of a few routes in Hartlepool that must have been boring to do. 
The old service 5 which was about less than 10 minutes for the entire journey from one end to the other and 20 for round trip not so bad in the Stagecoach days when it would work on to the 7 or 12 at the headland but when Arriva took it over for the final few years it must have great fun to do hours of going between Hart Station and the Headland with not many passengers must have been great fun and made the X66 Metrocentre to Gateshead look great in comparison
One recent one during the temporary changes for covid Stagecoach did short service 1 between Marina and Seaton Carew which again was less than 15 minutes to do which can’t have been that good to do. 
Am guessing the the TR1 service in Middlesbrough is quite boring as well just constantly going between the Bus Station ( or broadcasting house as it seems to be now ) to Middlesbrough College taking a whole 5 minutes if that must be a joy to do.

They still are. Constantly going in and out of Owton Manor on every route except the 1. And almost all duties involve driving the 6 and 7.

(05 Feb 2022, 9:15 am)tcts24 wrote They still are. Constantly going in and out of Owton Manor on every route except the 1. And almost all duties involve driving the 6 and 7.

That’s a good point that. Even the 980 does the Owton Manor loop.  Although not as bad as years ago when the 3 3A 4 6 7 7A 980 all went round Owton Manor. Then you had the Annual Countryside bus 401( or 402) joining in over the summer as well.  

I suppose all routes can be quite boring though depending on how long they are

It is. From the customer perspective, they've amalgamated routes and cut frequencies. But I still drove a bus past St. Patrick's 10 times yesterday alone!

Might just be me, but I can't imagine the estates around Murton on the 61 are much fun (particularly along Webb Avenue, Truro Avenue and coming out of Williams Road). Anyone able to give thoughts?

(23 Jan 2022, 6:27 pm)Train8261 wrote Been told of a Percy Main driver he hates the 434 route in Ashington

Might be because they start with a school route, miles away from the depot, then goes onto 448, then 434 then a break, then more 434 then 448, After a few times you must get sick of that route.

Are they any arriva ashington drivers on here if so what are they routes like to drive x14,x15,x18,x21,x22,35,57a.

(18 Feb 2022, 9:27 pm)lloyd647 wrote Are they any arriva ashington drivers on here if so what are they routes like to drive x14,x15,x18,x21,x22,35,57a.

I ain't a driver but I'd say the 57/57A rota is horrible. Cramlington to Whitley Bay then Whitley Bay to Ashington then back to Whitley Bay then to Cramlington

(18 Feb 2022, 9:46 pm)Train8261 wrote I ain't a driver but I'd say the 57/57A rota is horrible. Cramlington to Whitley Bay then Whitley Bay to Ashington then back to Whitley Bay then to Cramlington

It's quite common knowledge that's there's a group of drivers at Ashington who refuse to move off the mini's as they want to avoid Newcastle City Centre and I don't blame them either. It's definitely not disliked.

From a passenger view, I'd image the X15 being a horrid route to drive. Up and down the A1 in a slow vehicle on a single carriageway with absolute arseholes making dangerous overtakes and it's a tedious road especially the 22 mile or so of single carriageway from Brownieside to Berwick.

X71, I was on it today and I must say it is awful drive for drivers on most of the roads can't fit a bus on, there is a tiny one lane bridge with two small lanes either side on a blind bend tight turns, how on earth can GNE put a bus through there we almost crashes about 6 times.

(08 Aug 2022, 7:49 pm)Unber43 wrote X71, I was on it today and I must say it is awful to drive on most of the roads can't fit a bus on, there is a tiny one lane bridge with two small lanes either side on a blind bend tight turns, how on earth can GNE put a bus through there we almost crashes about 6 times.

I hadn't realised the company was in such a state of affairs that passengers are now expected to drive their own buses.

(08 Aug 2022, 8:31 pm)R852 PRG wrote I hadn't realised the company was in such a state of affairs that passengers are now expected to drive their own buses.

All jokes aside the X71 is a dangerous route to drive.

(08 Aug 2022, 8:34 pm)Unber43 wrote All jokes aside the X71 is a dangerous route to drive.

If you think the X71 is a dangerous route then I'd suggest you never venture anywhere in Northumberland. 

Professional drivers manage the X71 on a daily basis, I highly suspect that if it was "dangerous" alterations would have been made by now.

(08 Aug 2022, 8:47 pm)mb134 wrote If you think the X71 is a dangerous route then I'd suggest you never venture anywhere in Northumberland. 

Professional drivers manage the X71 on a daily basis, I highly suspect that if it was "dangerous" alterations would have been made by now.

They can manage, but that doesn't mean they should be going down there, especially that single lane bridge where both directions are blind bends.