The MP for CIty of Durham has posted the above 16/16a screenshot and tagged Kim in.

Uncle Nigel is going to be getting an angry email.

On the notifications - there was some reason they didn't do daily cancellations list (perhaps it was too big and too embarassing) but a standard service alert would help - just to help people plan

Disruption to bus services


https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/disruption-bus-services


I honestly don't know what to do say............ is it just a excuse to cover up the mess within GNE itself??????

They just posted the same thing on X and then quickly deleted it.

(14 Jan 2025, 11:02 am)d9817362 wrote They just posted the same thing on X and then quickly deleted it.

No doubt, the one on Facebook will have the replies deleted and comments turned off soon.


What's annoying is:

"For the latest updates, please check our website, app and social media channels"


What updates on social media etc?, there's been NOTHING, same as the site.

(14 Jan 2025, 10:56 am)Michael wrote Disruption to bus services


https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/disruption-bus-services


I honestly don't know what to do say............ is it just an excuse to cover up the mess within GNE itself??????

Problems with air systems in cold temperatures are often because the air dryers have not been maintained, system leaks, or in general lack of preventative maintenance.

Problems with batteries have been going on for as long as I can remember, I lost count of the amount of times a bus would get jump started in the morning to not start later in the day - what a surprise!

Problems with engines - stop buying the cheapest crap you can get which are not suitable for purpose, and then being surprised when they fail because:

You don’t do preventative maintenance other than on annual PSV, other than an oil and filter change if you can get it in the depot.

When you do maintenance it’s often a bodge to get it going because the bus cannot possibly be off the road.

When you replace something it’s often the cheapest possible option not taking into account the quality of the part.

None of this is particularly new, it’s just proving the point that you can only make do and mend as a short term solution and not as the core of your engineering service outside of annual PSV work.

Operators usually do "winter preparedness"

Maybe it just consisted of Ben wearing a thicker coat!

Looking at some of the screenshots of dialogue in private messaging with Customer Services, it would appear somebody is putting prompts into ChatGPT to generate responses to fob people off. Seemingly void of human intelligence, and now trying to master artificial intelligence.

Its funny because I must be missing all the cancellations with Arriva, Stagecoach, Gateshead Taxis and pretty much everyone else in the North East.

Unless 'other transport operators' is the Metro now but they're not comparable at all.

(13 Jan 2025, 6:49 pm)Liam Hall wrote It's so sad to read stuff like this. How do we expect people to use public transport when it's this poor? Things need to change, and fast!

Absolutely. I'm not suggesting that there is a quick fix or a magic button to press once you reach this situation, but in my opinion, as a business there's absolutely no excuse not to be open and honest with your customers about it.

As I mentioned in my initial post, knowing the issues of the previous week, I think Go North East could have ensured there were staff present at key locations to help customers. Being told something is almost always better than being told nothing, and you're also taking some of that flack that the drivers are getting away.

Until half an hour ago, there hadn't been so much as a service update on the website. I believe the one that has gone out now will be in response to Mary Foy's complaint about the 16/16A, but it shouldn't take an MP to get in contact, before customers are told anything.

As I said, and I genuinely mean it, I'd see myself going into the office on a much more regular basis, if it didn't feel like such a disaster every time I did. Until things dramatically change, I'll be working from home.

(14 Jan 2025, 10:56 am)Michael wrote Disruption to bus services

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/disruption-bus-services

I honestly don't know what to do say............ is it just a excuse to cover up the mess within GNE itself??????

This is a really poor statement.

Describing the situation as "ongoing disruption to bus services" doesn't quite cut the level of disruption that customers are facing. 

Their attempt to spread responsibility by saying "These conditions are affecting many transport operators" is unacceptable. It doesn't appear impacting all Go North East depots, never mind other operators.

Finally, there's no expectation being set of when normal service is likely to resume. Ideally, they should be outlining the true extent of the issue and providing customers with some milestones of when they're likely to see an improvement.

This stinks of something hastily cobbled together and put out, and like I suggest above, probably in response to Mary Foy getting in touch with them.

(14 Jan 2025, 11:07 am)Michael wrote No doubt, the one on Facebook will have the replies deleted and comments turned off soon.

What's annoying is:
"For the latest updates, please check our website, app and social media channels"

What updates on social media etc?, there's been NOTHING, same as the site.

This is a complete cop out of a response. They told me to use the app when I contacted them last week, but the point I made to them is that people don't tend to check the app, unless they're wondering where their bus is/why it hasn't turned up. 

As for Social Media channels, looking at their twitter, they've posted the following thus far this year:

• Vera fans preparing to say goodbye (Get Your Bum on Board plug) - Jan 2
  
• Heavy snowfall - Jan 4
  
• Get Round for £1 - Jan 7
  
• #CannyGNEDriver - Jan 8
  
• Elite Bus Driver Academy - Jan 9
  
• Disruption statement - Jan 14
  

So the social media channels they suggest for updates, they've failed to acknowledge once (before this morning), the extent of their service disruptions.

The Mayor has put her points in

https://x.com/KiMcGuinness/status/1879193902441533927

In the last few days I’ve been contacted about poor Go North East services. We’ve contacted their bosses to share your concerns and push them to sort it!
I’m glad Go North East have explained and apologised but people need to be able to rely on the buses.
I have assurances they will resolve these issues but I will be keeping the pressure on GNE to deliver the service passengers expect.

(14 Jan 2025, 4:09 pm)Ambassador wrote The Mayor has put her points in

https://x.com/KiMcGuinness/status/1879193902441533927

It’s interesting that, despite the claims from GNE that the winter is impacting multiple operators, the Mayor hasn’t been forced to publicly put pressure on Arriva, Stagecoach, GCT, JH, Northstar, or any other operator in the region. 

It’s almost as if the winter isn’t the issue.

(14 Jan 2025, 4:09 pm)Ambassador wrote The Mayor has put her points in

https://x.com/KiMcGuinness/status/1879193902441533927

Is an assurance from Go North East management worth anything in 2025?

(14 Jan 2025, 4:19 pm)PH - BQA wrote It’s interesting that, despite the claims from GNE that the winter is impacting multiple operators, the Mayor hasn’t been forced to publicly put pressure on Arriva, Stagecoach, GCT, JH, Northstar, or any other operator in the region. 

It’s almost as if the winter isn’t the issue.

To be fair, it's not like we have winter every year now, is it? 

Despite agencies like the Met Office (as well as the 'alleged' 23° tilt of the Earth) claiming otherwise, reliable sources on Facebook such as The Global Society of Flat Earthers, have confirmed that we only experience three seasons: Spring, Summer, and Autumn; and that Winter is artificial woke construct designed to eliminate free speech. So it comes as no surprise that GNE were caught out by the occurrence of a severe microclimatic event in Consett, and that service levels have suffered as a result. 

It's a very reasonable excuse to present.

(14 Jan 2025, 11:07 am)Michael wrote No doubt, the one on Facebook will have the replies deleted and comments turned off soon.


What's annoying is:

"For the latest updates, please check our website, app and social media channels"


What updates on social media etc?, there's been NOTHING, same as the site.

Must say I'd disable it not because of the replies but more the usual GoNorthEast bootlickers abusing people moaning about not getting to work.

Not sure what they're trying to gain unless they're trying to get some excitment from an exhaust because it's probably the best they'll get. There's some weird people around.

(14 Jan 2025, 4:19 pm)PH - BQA wrote It’s interesting that, despite the claims from GNE that the winter is impacting multiple operators, the Mayor hasn’t been forced to publicly put pressure on Arriva, Stagecoach, GCT, JH, Northstar, or any other operator in the region. 

It’s almost as if the winter isn’t the issue.

I see Northstar hasn’t been facing any battery, engine, air or other vehicle system issues with an appropriately timed social media post today:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ER7yN5...tid=wwXIfr

(14 Jan 2025, 6:28 pm)Storx wrote Must say I'd disable it not because of the replies but more the usual GoNorthEast bootlickers abusing people moaning about not getting to work.

Not sure what they're trying to gain unless they're trying to get some excitment from an exhaust because it's probably the best they'll get. There's some weird people around.

Nearly 11 years since the heyday of Ian Hignett and Andy Clifford, it seems GNE have at least learned something about how to manage their social media output.

---

(14 Jan 2025, 6:58 pm)Dan wrote I see Northstar hasn’t been facing any battery, engine, air or other vehicle system issues with an appropriately timed social media post today:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ER7yN5...tid=wwXIfr

Obviously no post-Christmas microclimatic events in Annfield Plain recently.

Maybe the SDC could stick a load of excuses on the colleague wheel of fortune and pick a different one each day

(13 Jan 2025, 10:09 am)omnicity4659 wrote I guess that they're able to rotate electrics more easily, especially with having a larger fleet and dedicated charging spaces. Chargers at Riverside are out of use through the day to allow for staff parking so can't be used to "top up" buses for the late runs.

Hard to tell whether this is parody or real.  If real, I am lost for words.

---

(13 Jan 2025, 6:18 pm)Adrian wrote In conclusion
I've spent the best part of 4 hours today doing what should be a simple journey in and out of Newcastle City Centre, to my office. People who don't use buses are often quick to suggest it's because of the flyover and Tyne Bridge work, but that couldn't be further from the truth.

The fact is that the corridor down Old Durham Road into Gateshead, through Gateshead Town Centre, on to and over the Tyne Bridge in to Newcastle, is arguably some of the best bus priority in the region. Once you're actually on a bus, it can almost glide through queues of cars because of the investment in putting this priority in place. Yes, there's still sets of lights to contend with, but this is massively better than before we had all this in place.

These delays are caused by sheer incompetence of the bus operator, with an attitude that comes across as if they don't give a toss. The Go North East network, over two decades now, but over the past few years has been cut to the absolute brink. The frequencies don't match the demands, and at peak times, they simply struggle to cope. This is exactly what the Arriva County Durham operation became under the same MD - and this is before you throw in their inability to get wheels turning on the road. 

I think this is literally the only time I have encountered anyone with a positive take on the shitshow that is the road network around Gateshead and the Tyne Bridge.  Given the entrenched and worsening failures of the operator to run anything resembling a reliable service all we have is the worst of both worlds.  A crap road system with reduced capacity creating queues to get into queues to queue to get back to almost where you started for the 75% sat in their car to create lovely priority measures for the 5% lucky enough to be on a service thats turned up while the other 20% wallow at some godforsaken bus stop watching an app lie to them.  As ever, the only real attempts to make the bus more attractive rely on making it worse to use the car, not actually making it better or easier to use the bus.

(14 Jan 2025, 4:09 pm)Ambassador wrote The Mayor has put her points in

https://x.com/KiMcGuinness/status/1879193902441533927

Bit of a shame they appear to be taking the GNE waffle as an acceptable "explanation" for the impact of winter on many* operators across the region

*including GNE and.

(15 Jan 2025, 12:18 am)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Bit of a shame they appear to be taking the GNE waffle as an acceptable "explanation" for the impact of winter on many* operators across the region

*including GNE and.

To be fair she doesn't have a leg to stand on, the state of the Shields Ferry, Metro and the farce in Gateshead which is part of their remit. 

All 3 have been embarrassingly bad lately and communication is lacking. 

The ferry advice is basically tough luck we're doing nothing.

Reading this thread makes me sad as i've worked in public transport in NE England and overseas for over 40 years on the engineering side, and also for manufacturers, and seeing problems to the level of what is being portrayed here shocks me.
I was going to look at engineering opportunities in several NE operators including GNE but it scares me what I would be walking into. Yikes !!

Compare and contrast....Stagecoach going out of thier way to tell customers a bus IS running due to vehicle issues

https://x.com/StagecoachNE/status/187942...SLMbIGx8eg&s=19

(15 Jan 2025, 9:04 am)DeltaMan wrote Compare and contrast....Stagecoach going out of thier way to tell customers a bus IS running due to vehicle issues

https://x.com/StagecoachNE/status/187942...SLMbIGx8eg&s=19

Given the amount of Washington Solos on big bus routes recently, GNE would need to be sending out half hourly updates if they were to follow Stagecoach’s example there. However, as was disclosed in the Great Strike of 2023, GNE staff are nowhere near as productive as their Stagecoach counterparts, so that frequency of update would be impossible.

(15 Jan 2025, 12:18 am)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Bit of a shame they appear to be taking the GNE waffle as an acceptable "explanation" for the impact of winter on many* operators across the region

*including GNE and.

It's almost as if winter is a new thing, whilst there is likely to be more issues in colder temperatures, I have no memory of it ever being as bad as things have gotten in the last week or so at GNE.

I had a look at Arriva's tracking in some parts of the North East and there was nowhere near the level of cancellations which GNE seem to be blighted by and even half of those I suspect are actually from a lack of driving staff rather than bus availability.

(15 Jan 2025, 12:02 am)stagecoachbusdepot wrote I think this is literally the only time I have encountered anyone with a positive take on the shitshow that is the road network around Gateshead and the Tyne Bridge.  Given the entrenched and worsening failures of the operator to run anything resembling a reliable service all we have is the worst of both worlds.  A crap road system with reduced capacity creating queues to get into queues to queue to get back to almost where you started for the 75% sat in their car to create lovely priority measures for the 5% lucky enough to be on a service thats turned up while the other 20% wallow at some godforsaken bus stop watching an app lie to them.  As ever, the only real attempts to make the bus more attractive rely on making it worse to use the car, not actually making it better or easier to use the bus.

It's awful for those travelling by private vehicle, absolutely. The tailbacks with the Tyne Bridge works have been bad enough, but the Gateshead Flyover has compounded the issue further. However, my praise was specifically in relation to the bus priority, which (most of the time) absolutely works.

We just need a reliable bus service to go with it, and then we're doing what we should have been doing all along - promoting public transport as the best option.

(15 Jan 2025, 9:22 am)PH - BQA wrote Given the amount of Washington Solos on big bus routes recently, GNE would need to be sending out half hourly updates if they were to follow Stagecoach’s example there. However, as was disclosed in the Great Strike of 2023, GNE staff are nowhere near as productive as their Stagecoach counterparts, so that frequency of update would be impossible.

You raise a good point. I wonder where those posters that were arguing that GNE drivers were unproductive are now hiding? It doesn't seem very productive that the company can't provide them with a bus to drive.

Spotted this elsewhere. Posting without comment.

(15 Jan 2025, 5:31 pm)Adrian wrote Spotted this elsewhere. Posting without comment.

The fact they've brought in 10 additional temporary bodies at the drop of a hat speaks volumes.

(15 Jan 2025, 5:31 pm)Adrian wrote Spotted this elsewhere. Posting without comment.

I wonder what the engineering team are incredibly dedicated to, because it certainly can’t be fixing vehicles properly.

(15 Jan 2025, 6:29 pm)PH - BQA wrote I wonder what the engineering team are incredibly dedicated to, because it certainly can’t be fixing vehicles properly.

Other companies, from the sounds of things.