How many customers use the 342? It's an good route operating between Wallsend and Westerhope via the likes of Benton, Killingworth, Hazlerigg and Kingston Park which have quite a lot to offer, in terms of shopping, buses and leisure. An hourly service is adequate for the full route end to end, but along the way a half-hourly service like the 42/42A was is better, I liked getting off the 42 in Killingworth and getting on the 42A to Kingston Park. A bus to FLE and Forest Hall was also good, and it would now be ideal to connect with the 335.

Yesterday I used the 342 for the first time, and passenger numbers were good for a section of the route but Hazlerigg, Kingston Park and Westerhope there was nobody else on. My Day Rover was questioned, apparently GCT don't accept them. Due to having 1 bus per hour I had to choose between Kingston Park and Westerhope to get a bit of shopping, ultimately staying on for the full route and getting a few bits from Aldi in Westerhope. Pleasant ride, very impressed with the 342, but limited GCT options to connect with.

(22 Jul 2022, 5:09 pm)streetdeckfan wrote That's a very local service for them!

Tbf given the amount of work they've lost across Tyne and Wear, County Durham might be a good option. A lot of the local tendered services in Nexus-land were scrapped with recent the changes. At the moment DCC have a large number of tendered services coming up in October and with the likes of Scarlet Band having scaled back significantly, it might be a worthwhile option for GCT.

(22 Jul 2022, 5:30 pm)peter wrote Tbf given the amount of work they've lost across Tyne and Wear, County Durham might be a good option. A lot of the local tendered services in Nexus-land were scrapped with recent the changes. At the moment DCC have a large number of tendered services coming up in October and with the likes of Scarlet Band having scaled back significantly, it might be a worthwhile option for GCT.

Seems to be becoming more and more of a struggle to get firms to run tendered runs within Durham County, Scarlet Band in particular seems to be struggling with staffing, many have left to instead drive for the councils own fleet which has the benefit of not having to work Saturdays, with this in mind it will be interesting to see how this affects tender outcomes come October.

(22 Jul 2022, 5:36 pm)Jimmi wrote Seems to be becoming more and more of a struggle to get firms to run tendered runs within Durham County, Scarlet Band in particular seems to be struggling with staffing, many have left to instead drive for the councils own fleet which has the benefit of not having to work Saturdays, with this in mind it will be interesting to see how this affects tender outcomes come October.

I wonder if we could see GNE take over more of contracted services around Bishop Auckland to strengthen their network to try and get more people onto the X21.

If they have a strong connections, X21 will do well

(22 Jul 2022, 6:02 pm)Unber43 wrote I wonder if we could see GNE take over more of contracted services around Bishop Auckland to strengthen their network to try and get more people onto the X21.

If they have a strong connections, X21 will do well

Run from where? The nearest depot would be in Consett… hardly local


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(22 Jul 2022, 8:07 pm)tyresmoke wrote Run from where? The nearest depot would be in Consett… hardly local


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THey have the ability to switch drivers with the 20, 16/16A, X21 from Bishop Auckland, 21 from Brandon

(22 Jul 2022, 6:02 pm)Unber43 wrote I wonder if we could see GNE take over more of contracted services around Bishop Auckland to strengthen their network to try and get more people onto the X21.

If they have a strong connections, X21 will do well

They tried that albeit with commercial attempts in the form of the 18 & OK1 and both ultimately failed although the 18 lasted longer before eventually being merged into the X21 around Woodhouse but quickly binned the unique parts off with DCC having to step in with a replacement (service 9).

(22 Jul 2022, 6:02 pm)Unber43 wrote I wonder if we could see GNE take over more of contracted services around Bishop Auckland to strengthen their network to try and get more people onto the X21.

If they have a strong connections, X21 will do well

Probably wouldn't be a bad shout, passenger numbers on the West Auckland extension have increased quite a bit over the last while. Not too long ago I wouldn't have been surprised if they scrapped it altogether since I was quite often the first to get on, and last to get off. Now it seems to have a decent loading of passengers just doing the West-Bishop section.

The main advantage of taking the Arriva 6 is there are more local connections, it only really makes sense to get a GNE ticket if you're travelling north of Durham. The trouble is, unless it's a supported route, I can't see GNE really expanding operations down here. Even on the main links between towns (Crook, Newton Aycliffe, Darlington etc.), I just don't see there being enough passengers to support another operator running services.

(22 Jul 2022, 8:07 pm)tyresmoke wrote Run from where? The nearest depot would be in Consett… hardly local


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But arguably more local than GCT!

(23 Jul 2022, 12:24 am)streetdeckfan wrote Probably wouldn't be a bad shout, passenger numbers on the West Auckland extension have increased quite a bit over the last while. Not too long ago I wouldn't have been surprised if they scrapped it altogether since I was quite often the first to get on, and last to get off. Now it seems to have a decent loading of passengers just doing the West-Bishop section.

The main advantage of taking the Arriva 6 is there are more local connections, it only really makes sense to get a GNE ticket if you're travelling north of Durham. The trouble is, unless it's a supported route, I can't see GNE really expanding operations down here. Even on the main links between towns (Crook, Newton Aycliffe, Darlington etc.), I just don't see there being enough passengers to support another operator running services.


But arguably more local than GCT!

If I remember correctly, one of Go-Ahead's strategies is to acquire new contracts. If they bid and won the Durham P&R and a multitude of the other DCC contracts there may even be scope for an outstation somewhere to house a fleet of Solo's. Whether they would be able to bid lower than the likes of Weardale, Jim Hughes and GCT is another thing, particularly the latter two who are seemingly moving towards County Durham after all their contract losses in Tyne and Wear

(23 Jul 2022, 10:56 am)peter wrote If I remember correctly, one of Go-Ahead's strategies is to acquire new contracts. If they bid and won the Durham P&R and a multitude of the other DCC contracts there may even be scope for an outstation somewhere to house a fleet of Solo's. Whether they would be able to bid lower than the likes of Weardale, Jim Hughes and GCT is another thing, particularly the latter two who are seemingly moving towards County Durham after all their contract losses in Tyne and Wear

in an ideal world, GNE would acquire a bunch of contracts, which lead onto there services from Bishop Auckland/Brandon/Durham and make them financially viable with the connections they give.

Are the TB22/TB23 running, has anyone seen it?

(25 Jul 2022, 11:18 am)ASX_Terranova wrote Are the TB22/TB23 running, has anyone seen it?

YE 22 LDV is currently on TB23

Any pics of 521/522 or TB services since changes

Gateshead Central Taxis will be operating the 67, 69 and 82A from next month.

K2 is making a comeback from September with GCT being the operator: https://bustimes.org/services/k2-four-la...mperdown-2

67/69/82A timetables are also now viewable on bustimes.org

Gateshead Central Taxis YX21 RPV by kieron mathews, on Flickr

GCT currently have this on loan

A second former HCT ADL E200 MMC entered service today on the 335 was YX19 ONR as seen here this afternoon at Balliol Business Park.

https://flic.kr/p/2nV9buC

(25 Oct 2022, 9:12 pm)Ray wrote A second former HCT ADL E200 MMC entered service today on the 335 was YX19 ONR as seen here this afternoon at Balliol Business Park.

https://flic.kr/p/2nV9buC

That one was, until recently, working in Bristol for the now-defunct CT Plus

So GCT need an extra 20 vehicles atleast for the contracts which they've won in Durham, so presumably more vans for changeovers, where are they getting these extra vehicles & 60 drivers (i say 60 as Dan said +1 PVR = 3 drivers not sure if that was just for GNE for in general)?

(26 Oct 2022, 1:14 pm)Unber43 wrote So GCT need an extra 20 vehicles atleast for the contracts which they've won in Durham, so presumably more vans for changeovers, where are they getting these extra vehicles & 60 drivers (i say 60 as Dan said +1 PVR = 3 drivers not sure if that was just for GNE for in general)?

Where have you got 20 from?

Gains
40/41 = PVR 2
42 = PVR 1
47 = PVR 1
52/53 - PVR 1
61/62 - PVR 1
204/204A = PVR 1
PR1 - PVR 3
PR2 - PVR 1

Lost

104 - PVR 1

Suggests the PVR will increase by 10, not 20.

(26 Oct 2022, 1:21 pm)Thomas12 wrote Where have you got 20 from?

Gains
40/41 = PVR 2
42 = PVR 1
47 = PVR 1
52/53 - PVR 1
61/62 - PVR 1
204/204A = PVR 1
PR1 - PVR 3
PR2 - PVR 1

Lost

104 - PVR 1

Suggests the PVR will increase by 10, not 20.

Lets say 12 with spares, so theyll still need 20-30 new drivers. 

I thought the PVR PR1 was 6 & PR2 was 3.

(26 Oct 2022, 1:29 pm)Unber43 wrote Lets say 12 with spares, so theyll still need 20-30 new drivers. 

I thought the PVR PR1 was 6 & PR2 was 3.

PR2 is PVR 3 and 6 for PR1

(26 Oct 2022, 2:37 pm)Jimbo wrote PR2 is PVR 3 and 6 for PR1

how is it 6 out of interest, apologies if I’m wrong. 

From what I understand it’s a 15 minute service so:

00 Belmont to Sniperley 16
25 Belmont to Sniperley 41

Woild be 3 at a 15 minute frequency, right?

(26 Oct 2022, 5:31 pm)Thomas12 wrote how is it 6 out of interest, apologies if I’m wrong. 

From what I understand it’s a 15 minute service so:

00 Belmont to Sniperley 16
25 Belmont to Sniperley 41

Woild be 3 at a 15 minute frequency, right?

They tend to have a 19 min layover either end, well atleast in my expierence there has always been two in the station at a time.

(26 Oct 2022, 5:46 pm)Unber43 wrote They tend to have a 19 min layover either end, well atleast in my expierence there has always been two in the station at a time.

Wasn’t aware of that - seems very inefficient.

apologies for getting it wrong!

(26 Oct 2022, 5:52 pm)Thomas12 wrote Wasn’t aware of that - seems very inefficient.

apologies for getting it wrong!

It's very sensible, allowing for Durham traffic.

(26 Oct 2022, 5:52 pm)Thomas12 wrote Wasn’t aware of that - seems very inefficient.

apologies for getting it wrong!

No worries, however GCT is going to really struggle they are not going to be able to get say 15-20 buses & 45 drivers by Monday.

(26 Oct 2022, 6:12 pm)Unber43 wrote No worries, however GCT is going to really struggle they are not going to be able to get say 15-20 buses & 45 drivers by Monday.

yes - personally I’m expecting the nexus contracts to suffer.

GCT seem to have got 4 new E200 MMC for their Durham services, apparently some will be for the 52/204/A/etc & Cathedral Bus, i mean good luck trying to get them around if they ever get allocated. The Train Station may aswell turn into a shunting yard. 

I do feel sorry for the other services as GCT are going to massively struggle not that they care

(27 Oct 2022, 11:26 am)Unber43 wrote GCT seem to have got 4 new E200 MMC for their Durham services, apparently some will be for the 52/204/A/etc & Cathedral Bus, i mean good luck trying to get them around if they ever get allocated. The Train Station may aswell turn into a shunting yard. 

I do feel sorry for the other services as GCT are going to massively struggle not that they care

Been confirmed by GCT staff members posting on a Facebook group that those 4 examples are for the Park & Ride service in Durham. It would appear they plan to use Sprinters on the Cathedral services.
As for staff, the Park and Ride will be already staffed up - the drivers who are currently with Scarlet Band will move to GCT under TUPE, as they did when Arriva won the contract in 2009 from Scarlet Band and back to Scarlet Band when they regained it in 2014.