GMB Union has announced the dates of the Sunderland bus strike after talks broke down, almost 200 Stagecoach Bus Drivers will walk out, from 00:01 on Tuesday 11th October till Saturday 15th October. 

"Stagecoach has plenty of money but are refusing to invest in the workers - or in Sunderland's bus fleet which is in a shocking state"

(30 Sep 2022, 7:57 pm)Unber43 wrote GMB Union has announced the dates of the Sunderland bus strike after talks broke down, almost 200 Stagecoach Bus Drivers will walk out, from 00:01 on Tuesday 11th October till Saturday 15th October. 

"Stagecoach has plenty of money but are refusing to invest in the workers - or in Sunderland's bus fleet which is in a shocking state"

Gonna be fun trying to get to and from work.

I'm hoping they'll be some sort of service though.. even if limited.


Wonder when they'll be putting information on the Stagecoach site soon...

(30 Sep 2022, 8:31 pm)Michael wrote Gonna be fun trying to get to and from work.

I'm hoping they'll be some sort of service though.. even if limited.


Wonder when they'll be putting information on the Stagecoach site soon...

How many drivers are based at Wheatsheaf?

(30 Sep 2022, 9:14 pm)Unber43 wrote How many drivers are based at Wheatsheaf?

I'm guessing, almost 200.

if the Sunderland fleet is in shocking state, don't let them check Newcastle or hartlepool depot for gods sake haha

(30 Sep 2022, 7:57 pm)Unber43 wrote GMB Union has announced the dates of the Sunderland bus strike after talks broke down, almost 200 Stagecoach Bus Drivers will walk out, from 00:01 on Tuesday 11th October till Saturday 15th October. 

"Stagecoach has plenty of money but are refusing to invest in the workers - or in Sunderland's bus fleet which is in a shocking state"

That’s not a shocking state they have gas buses and everything had investment over the last 10 years it actually Hartlepool which is shocking and has no investment.

(01 Oct 2022, 2:53 pm)col87 wrote That’s not a shocking state they have gas buses and everything had investment over the last 10 years it actually Hartlepool which is shocking and has no investment.

I live in Hartlepool but from Sunderland. Hartlepool only has 5 services excluding the 36. Of course they not going to get the investment. Not saying that’s correct, but we have to be realistic.

(01 Oct 2022, 9:20 pm)Economic505 wrote I live in Hartlepool but from Sunderland. Hartlepool only has 5 services excluding the 36. Of course they not going to get the investment. Not saying that’s correct, but we have to be realistic.

There’s only 5 services because Stagecoach cut everything down to the bone. Go back 20 years they was the 1 1A 2 2A 3 3A 4 5 6 7 7A 8 9 12 14 15 20 502 503 505 555 516 517 527 X9 980. Added to that was the summer 401 and 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 school services.  So yeah could say losing the supported services wasn’t their fault but they still cut a number of commercial services.    Back on the subject though and investment is desperately needed half the fleet has problems of some sort and getting cast offs from elsewhere don’t exactly help much.

(01 Oct 2022, 10:16 pm)col87 wrote There’s only 5 services because Stagecoach cut everything down to the bone. Go back 20 years they was the 1 1A 2 2A 3 3A 4 5 6 7 7A 8 9 12 14 15 20 502 503 505 555 516 517 527 X9 980. Added to that was the summer 401 and 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 school services.  So yeah could say losing the supported services wasn’t their fault but they still cut a number of commercial services.    Back on the subject though and investment is desperately needed half the fleet has problems of some sort and getting cast offs from elsewhere don’t exactly help much.

Fair point. Everywhere has been cut . Deregulation is to blame. I can’t speak about Cleveland pre 1986, but I do know about Sunderland. I look back at copies of TWPTE timetables, and see what a great service we had. I know times have changed, but things are shite today.

Ask most drivers at Sunderland what the worst vehicle in the fleet is and you'll likely get one of two answers - the training bus, or the open toppers.

Yes we have gas buses but we have a large fleet of MAN E200s which are absolute heaps, and we've had no new-build buses since the gas buses - thats what they mean by a lack of investment. Everything's still rolls royces compared to Arriva or GNE's fleet but it's not exactly a high bar.

IIRC there's about 220-230 drivers at Sunderland. They're apparently traininv up managers from other depots to run the routes so I think they'll try to cobble together a Sunday service. Will see if they can do it for 5 days though...

(02 Oct 2022, 9:10 am)F114TML wrote Ask most drivers at Sunderland what the worst vehicle in the fleet is and you'll likely get one of two answers - the training bus, or the open toppers.

Yes we have gas buses but we have a large fleet of MAN E200s which are absolute heaps, and we've had no new-build buses since the gas buses - thats what they mean by a lack of investment. Everything's still rolls royces compared to Arriva or GNE's fleet but it's not exactly a high bar.

IIRC there's about 220-230 drivers at Sunderland. They're apparently traininv up managers from other depots to run the routes so I think they'll try to cobble together a Sunday service. Will see if they can do it for 5 days though...

Not sure what your basing that on mind, Stagecoach have by far the worst fleet out the 3 imo in the North East especially taking in account how much money they make.

Maybe I should specify I was on about Arriva Durham, however there are plenty of ex-GNE drivers I've spoken to who much prefer Stagecoach's fleet.

GNE seem to have horrific reliability problems, because they only maintain buses when they explode.

Again, I am speaking only for Sunderland though.

(02 Oct 2022, 10:40 am)F114TML wrote Maybe I should specify I was on about Arriva Durham, however there are plenty of ex-GNE drivers I've spoken to who much prefer Stagecoach's fleet.

GNE seem to have horrific reliability problems, because they only maintain buses when they explode.

Again, I am speaking only for Sunderland though.

Arriva Durham got new buses after stagecoach Sunderland got there new gas buses. I wonder how much government funding there got for the gas buses for the first batch, as the second batch was the leftovers of what was left in the pot.


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(02 Oct 2022, 9:21 am)Storx wrote Not sure what your basing that on mind, Stagecoach have by far the worst fleet out the 3 imo in the North East especially taking in account how much money they make.

I would take Arriva pulsars than stagecoach Sunderland crap any day of the week [emoji848]


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(02 Oct 2022, 10:40 am)F114TML wrote Maybe I should specify I was on about Arriva Durham, however there are plenty of ex-GNE drivers I've spoken to who much prefer Stagecoach's fleet.

GNE seem to have horrific reliability problems, because they only maintain buses when they explode.

Again, I am speaking only for Sunderland though.

Wonder what particular buses GNE Drivers don't like.

Just thinking of Deptford I know the X20/65 were particularly bad for breaking down especially the latter.

(02 Oct 2022, 11:11 am)Unber43 wrote Wonder what particular buses GNE Drivers don't like.

Just thinking of Deptford I know the X20/65 were particularly bad for breaking down especially the latter.

Pretty much all the ones at Deptford (note the amount of times I say 'apparently' here; I have no first hand experience of driving a GNE bus). Apparently StreetLites in general (not just GNE examples which actually appear to be in much better condition than Arriva's) are not pleasant to drive; noisy and heavy steering (and have a fancy for breaking down it seems), some of the Ciaros are falling apart (I was on one last week and the front panel that houses the clock and interior mirror was just about holding on - the clock was working though), and on some of the Versas, the turning circle is apparently horrific. One of them did say the Yutong's are nice to drive though. Probably because they're new.

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(02 Oct 2022, 10:49 am)cbma06 wrote Arriva Durham got new buses after stagecoach Sunderland got there new gas buses. I wonder how much government funding there got for the gas buses for the first batch, as the second batch was the leftovers of what was left in the pot.

Compare those StreetLites (which I think is what you refer to) to the gas buses though. From nearly new the SLs have felt like they were tied together with string. I'm not going to sit here and say the gas buses are perfect - they aren't and some definitely show their age, and let's be honest a lot of the rest of the fleet is a bit meh at best, however from my own experience and speaking to others, SC Sunderland has a better fleet than GNE Deptford and Arriva Durham, even if GNE and Arriva have higher spec buses.

(02 Oct 2022, 11:32 am)F114TML wrote Pretty much all the ones at Deptford (note the amount of times I say 'apparently' here; I have no first hand experience of driving a GNE bus). Apparently StreetLites in general (not just GNE examples which actually appear to be in much better condition than Arriva's) are not pleasant to drive; noisy and heavy steering (and have a fancy for breaking down it seems), some of the Ciaros are falling apart (I was on one last week and the front panel that houses the clock and interior mirror was just about holding on - the clock was working though), and on some of the Versas, the turning circle is apparently horrific. One of them did say the Yutong's are nice to drive though. Probably because they're new.

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Compare those StreetLites (which I think is what you refer to) to the gas buses though. From nearly new the SLs have felt like they were tied together with string. I'm not going to sit here and say the gas buses are perfect - they aren't and some definitely show their age, and let's be honest a lot of the rest of the fleet is a bit meh at best, however from my own experience and speaking to others, SC Sunderland has a better fleet than GNE Deptford and Arriva Durham, even if GNE and Arriva have higher spec buses.

As a passenger perspective I think Solo's and Citaros are the best types of buses at Deptford. G2's could be if the USB's worked as advertised (tho some do work). 

However the Streetlites, especially the 15/16/17 plate ones just rattle like hell and its soo loud, I haven't been on the 66' ones, however 63' ones don't rattle as bad. 

The versa's in general have a awful interior outside of the seats (tho a lot of the seats on the versa's and older streetlites are rock solid). 

Deptford definitely need some investment, all the Versa's/Citaros must go.

What have drivers preferred buses, or the fleet at specific depots, got to do with a Stagecoach Sunderland strike?

(02 Oct 2022, 12:02 pm)Adrian wrote What have drivers preferred buses, or the fleet at specific depots, got to do with a Stagecoach Sunderland strike?

Because the union have said the bus fleet at Sunderland is in a "shocking state" and are complaining of a lack of investment; I've been saying how the fleet's not quite as bad as what they appear to be making it out to be, particularly when compared to other companies, although, yes, we do need some investment.

GCT have the youngest fleet in the North East and you don't see their drivers out on strike.

Perhaps there's sone correlation between the state/age of the fleet and the happiness of the drivers.....LOL.

(02 Oct 2022, 2:57 pm)MurdnunoC wrote GCT have the youngest fleet in the North East and you don't see their drivers out on strike.

Perhaps there's sone correlation between the state/age of the fleet and the happiness of the drivers.....LOL.

Pretty sure GCT were offering £16 an hour or something ridiculous like that for a job. 

Also younger fleet tend not to break down as much, and if you've got a older fleet or buses which don't seem to suit a route e.g OmniDekkas on X10 there will tend to be more breakdowns due to their lack of reliability. It was the same with the 65 when they got the old X66 buses, there was 1-2 breakdowns every couple of days for a few weeks/months. Even recently we've seen both of them break down at the same times.

(02 Oct 2022, 2:57 pm)MurdnunoC wrote GCT have the youngest fleet in the North East and you don't see their drivers out on strike.

Perhaps there's sone correlation between the state/age of the fleet and the happiness of the drivers.....LOL.

Surely if that were the case, Arriva Durham would be on indefinite strike given the heaps they have running. I don't know why the union is bringing the state of the fleet into this - the strike is because the pay offer wasn't worth the paper it was written on. Do GCT even have a union? Also, I'm not sure on when it was but didn't VOSA go to GCT and condemn like 60 buses or something?

(02 Oct 2022, 3:25 pm)F114TML wrote Surely if that were the case, Arriva Durham would be on indefinite strike given the heaps they have running. I don't know why the union is bringing the state of the fleet into this - the strike is because the pay offer wasn't worth the paper it was written on. Do GCT even have a union? Also, I'm not sure on when it was but didn't VOSA go to GCT and condemn like 60 buses or something

GCT has a few Renault traffic vans as well as other smaller buses, my friend formerly drove for GCT before she moved to Stagecoach Sunderland and she said GCT fleet was held together with ducktape.

(02 Oct 2022, 11:32 am)F114TML wrote Compare those StreetLites (which I think is what you refer to) to the gas buses though. From nearly new the SLs have felt like they were tied together with string. I'm not going to sit here and say the gas buses are perfect - they aren't and some definitely show their age, and let's be honest a lot of the rest of the fleet is a bit meh at best, however from my own experience and speaking to others, SC Sunderland has a better fleet than GNE Deptford and Arriva Durham, even if GNE and Arriva have higher spec buses.

There's only 9 Streetlite's though at Durham... The rest of the singles are proper Enviro 200's not the MAN junk or Pulsars which are far superior than anything ADL and Arriva Durham is the worst fleet out the lot aswell. The only really old buses at Durham are the Solo's and 8 or so B7's which are decent buses anyway, the send me down Enviro 400's are only a couple year newer at Sunderland and are worse vehicles.

Stagecoach's fleet is poor across the North East they just seem to avoid criticism on here for some reason, they're only company which still has Darts in service even Arriva has got shot of them after having nearly, if not, a 100 of the things. They have numerous 58 plate and older Enviro's on flagship routes like the 1, there's still ALX 400's in frontline service which are being shifted around to avoid the LEZ, credit to Arriva for buying new buses instead of doing that.

I actually don't think it's unfair they bring it up personally. The MAN Enviro 200's really are junk and there's 17 of the things there and they're doing everything not to replace them or getting more junk from other areas instead.

(02 Oct 2022, 7:23 pm)Storx wrote There's only 9 Streetlite's though at Durham... The rest of the singles are proper Enviro 200's not the MAN junk or Pulsars which are far superior than anything ADL and Arriva Durham is the worst fleet out the lot aswell. The only really old buses at Durham are the Solo's and 8 or so B7's which are decent buses anyway, the send me down Enviro 400's are only a couple year newer at Sunderland and are worse vehicles.

Stagecoach's fleet is poor across the North East they just seem to avoid criticism on here for some reason, they're only company which still has Darts in service even Arriva has got shot of them after having nearly, if not, a 100 of the things. They have numerous 58 plate and older Enviro's on flagship routes like the 1, there's still ALX 400's in frontline service which are being shifted around to avoid the LEZ, credit to Arriva for buying new buses instead of doing that.

I actually don't think it's unfair they bring it up personally. The MAN Enviro 200's really are junk and there's 17 of the things there and they're doing everything not to replace them or getting more junk from other areas instead.

to be fair i don't think SNE avoid criticism I know myself and others bring it up quite a lot.

however, let's not forget that the darts were nearly all cascaded I think there was only 2 left at one point and the only reason the numbers are expanding is because corporate head office don't seem to want to invest in new vehicle's for here.

look at the massive expansion in London that the new owners have instigated, they seem to be using a mike Ashley business model of using a successful business (NUFC as SNE) as a cash card for investing elsewhere. and only paying a small token fee which in this case is offloading other divisions cast offs. i think if that the 3 main profit-making divisions of London, Manchester and northeast were allocated 25 percent of yearly investment on new vehicles with the other 25 percent going on an ad hoc basis to other divisions we wouldn't be in the current situation. also not forgetting COVID probably decimated most divisions profit for around 14 months

The new owners can't do anything for the first year, as part of the sale.

(02 Oct 2022, 7:59 pm)F114TML wrote The new owners can't do anything for the first year, as part of the sale.

i didn't know that, what are they limited to doing out of interest? just after the takeovers they have done in london etc

(02 Oct 2022, 7:59 pm)F114TML wrote The new owners can't do anything for the first year, as part of the sale.

https://m.stagecoachgroup.com/media/news...08-23.aspx ...?

hang on, am I missing something I thought they couldn't do anything? buying 38 E-buses and 2 companies in London is not doing nothing

(02 Oct 2022, 9:22 pm)toward6931 wrote hang on, am I missing something I thought they couldn't do anything? buying 38 E-buses and 2 companies in London is not doing nothing

Were those not things which were happening before the acquisition.

Idk just a thought

(02 Oct 2022, 10:02 pm)Unber43 wrote Were those not things which were happening before the acquisition.

Idk just a thought

i haven't seen anything that said it was, but you never know