Absolutely pathetic. This being a week after we had the 2A taken off of us.

(03 Feb 2025, 9:19 am)Adrian wrote Absolutely pathetic. This being a week after we had the 2A taken off of us.

Just seen this photo too, off an hour ago, under the "Proposed North Tyneside" changes post .... as once again...... no posts about the cancelations.

(03 Feb 2025, 9:19 am)Adrian wrote Absolutely pathetic. This being a week after we had the 2A taken off of us.

Wonder if they've thought about the knock on effect of those cancellations. 

Drivers on the runs behind getting grief and 'not being paid enough to put up with the sh!t'.

Punters just giving up completely, the services become less viable and maybe cancelled all together.

Utter shambles.

Another piece on Look North:

https://x.com/jimscottjourno/status/1886...01246?s=48&t=NXz7Kjb4o-Fgc1t3GFJ74g

(04 Feb 2025, 12:36 am)Dan wrote Another piece on Look North:

https://x.com/jimscottjourno/status/1886...01246?s=48&t=NXz7Kjb4o-Fgc1t3GFJ74g

Gone are the days when an apparent breakdown or missing board was put down to a wing mirror issue eh?

(03 Feb 2025, 12:10 pm)Andreos1 wrote Wonder if they've thought about the knock on effect of those cancellations. 

Drivers on the runs behind getting grief and 'not being paid enough to put up with the sh!t'.

Punters just giving up completely, the services become less viable and maybe cancelled all together.

Utter shambles.

I don't think NF cares to be honest, and I don't think Ben and his other cronies are capable of their own thought process.

They'll go down the same path as they always go down. It'll hit them financially, and they'll go with the ultimate short-term approach and cut services, because anything else would require a bit of thought and ingenuity.

I don't work in a big office now, but even my workplace chat group, colleagues are regularly noting that they won't be in this week due to the buses being so bad, and before that, it was the Metro. I've tried it twice this year so far and it's been appalling, and so much so that I don't fancy going in for the foreseeable.

They seem to forget that they don't have non-drivers over a barrel as much as they did previous, where they could hike fares and provide a shoddy service, yet they'd keep coming back. Too many now have the option to do something different.

(04 Feb 2025, 12:36 am)Dan wrote Another piece on Look North:

https://x.com/jimscottjourno/status/1886...01246?s=48&t=NXz7Kjb4o-Fgc1t3GFJ74g

He might as well set up camp outside Hownsgill or Riverside these days, but at least someone is keeping some pressure on what GNE are trying to sweep under the carpet.

(03 Feb 2025, 9:19 am)Adrian wrote Absolutely pathetic. This being a week after we had the 2A taken off of us.

Multiple X15/X5 services were cancelled this morning, following a similar pattern to yesterday.
Commuters and students have been left scrambling for taxis due to these disruptions, as school contracts seem to take priority—likely benefiting the company's finances.

Two Versas remain on loan at Hownsgill, while any other loaned vehicles appear to have returned to their home depots. One of the YX08 Geminis is still in operation, though I imagine its heading to Riverside to join the other 3. 

The second-to-last Sunderland Berries Versa has been withdrawn, and the final one hasn’t been in service for a few days, suggesting it has likely been withdrawn as well.
Are the electric deckers still set to arrive soon? I’d assume many of the available StreetDecks—at least the ones in working condition—will replace some of the former Manchester, Edinburgh, and Yorkshire Geminis currently running on front line services. Or at least I hope so.

(04 Feb 2025, 12:01 pm)Adrian wrote I don't think NF cares to be honest, and I don't think Ben and his other cronies are capable of their own thought process.

I used to like puppet shows. 

For example, as a child, I used to like The Sooty Show, and even had a VHS tape of one bought for me on some occasion, either Christmas or a birthday presumably.

With Sooty, Sweep, and Sue, while it was obvious that Matthew Corbitt was performing some of the puppetry involved, a suspension of disbelief existed which allowed the viewer, me, to believe that all three puppets were acting independently.

However, with Ben Maxfield, that same suspension of disbelief is non-existent as you can blatantly see Nigel Featham in the background with his hand up his arse doing some sort of bad ventriloquism that wouldn't fool a new-born baby.

(04 Feb 2025, 5:30 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote Are the electric deckers still set to arrive soon? I’d assume many of the available StreetDecks—at least the ones in working condition—will replace some of the former Manchester, Edinburgh, and Yorkshire Geminis currently running on front line services. Or at least I hope so.

Most likely the paintshop for a spray of orange (56) or blue/silver (307/309). Both routes previously earmarked for (failed) GKN mods on B9TLs to save fuel.

My money is the latter as it would keep pretty much all of Percy Main's frontline service work either StreetLite or StreetDeck.

Got to remember as well (especially Percy Main's) that 6086-17 are way less leggy and have had easy lives compared to natives 6001-07, 6043-55 and 6071-85. They'd actually do some good for the likes of the X20, X21, 16/16A, X5/X15 depending how GNE divvied them out.

(04 Feb 2025, 5:56 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I used to like puppet shows. 

For example, as a child, I used to like The Sooty Show, and even had a VHS tape of one bought for me on some occasion, either Christmas or a birthday presumably.

With Sooty, Sweep, and Sue, while it was obvious that Matthew Corbitt was performing some of the puppetry involved, a suspension of disbelief existed which allowed the viewer, me, to believe that all three puppets were acting independently.

However, with Ben Maxfield, that same suspension of disbelief is non-existent as you can blatantly see Nigel Featham in the background with his hand up his arse doing some sort of bad ventriloquism that wouldn't fool a new-born baby.

That's quite the image you're sharing with us.

Any sign of Normal Lamont?

Not just GNE buses breaking down ( saw 3 since Monday) SCNE had one of there 11 plates conked out and getting TLC next to the RVI last night. It didn't look well, the poor thing!

(05 Feb 2025, 2:58 pm)lewisparker1509 wrote update on GNE not sending buses to town cos of CAZ, GNE got back to me and said "after investigation-" blah blah blah "-buses were told to terminate at gateshead because they're not allowed in newcastle". i mean at least they're sort of telling the truth now. i've replied and said i'm aware that they're allowed in town under a £50 charge and the CAZ is not a full restriction

I'd suggest forwarding the response on to encts@durham.gov.uk, for the attention of the person responsible for secured bus service contracts in their Transport Services department.

Currently on 5475 on the 41A to Wallsend (with only 5 passengers on) and I can't help but notice that is smells (sorry to put it so crudely) stale sweaty arse, anyone else experienced a bus with "leather" seats like this with the same smell

(05 Feb 2025, 3:28 pm)V514DFT wrote Currently on 5475 on the 41A to Wallsend (with only 5 passengers on) and I can't help but notice that is smells (sorry to put it so crudely) stale sweaty arse, anyone else experienced a bus with "leather" seats like this with the same smell

All of the Angels

(05 Feb 2025, 2:58 pm)lewisparker1509 wrote update on GNE not sending buses to town cos of CAZ, GNE got back to me and said "after investigation-" blah blah blah "-buses were told to terminate at gateshead because they're not allowed in newcastle". i mean at least they're sort of telling the truth now. i've replied and said i'm aware that they're allowed in town under a £50 charge and the CAZ is not a full restriction

I genuinely can't believe they admitted it.

(05 Feb 2025, 2:58 pm)lewisparker1509 wrote update on GNE not sending buses to town cos of CAZ, GNE got back to me and said "after investigation-" blah blah blah "-buses were told to terminate at gateshead because they're not allowed in newcastle". i mean at least they're sort of telling the truth now. i've replied and said i'm aware that they're allowed in town under a £50 charge and the CAZ is not a full restriction

Do they think they're in Scotland? I could understsnd it up there cos non-complient vehicles are completely barred and I believe the Traffic Comissioner gets involved for any violations.

(05 Feb 2025, 3:28 pm)V514DFT wrote Currently on 5475 on the 41A to Wallsend (with only 5 passengers on) and I can't help but notice that is smells (sorry to put it so crudely) stale sweaty arse, anyone else experienced a bus with "leather" seats like this with the same smell

Sounds like something that someone with a leather fetish might enjoy

(05 Feb 2025, 3:28 pm)V514DFT wrote Currently on 5475 on the 41A to Wallsend (with only 5 passengers on) and I can't help but notice that is smells (sorry to put it so crudely) stale sweaty arse, anyone else experienced a bus with "leather" seats like this with the same smell

Not sure it'll be the leather, probably be mould growing somewhere from a window leaking. Ashington's Solo's are absolutely rank for it but the old Cityzens who are long gone were really really bad for it.

Mind carpets on the sides and leaking windows are not a good combination. Thank god the days of whoever thought carpeted walls was a good idea is long gone. Carpets don't belong on buses imo.

(05 Feb 2025, 8:24 pm)Storx wrote Not sure it'll be the leather, probably be mould growing somewhere from a window leaking. Ashington's Solo's are absolutely rank for it but the old Cityzens who are long gone were really really bad for it.

Mind carpets on the sides and leaking windows are not a good combination. Thank god the days of whoever thought carpeted walls was a good idea is long gone. Carpets don't belong on buses imo.

The Renowns were rank aswell, both at GNE and Arriva, the one that stuck out like a sore thumb at Arriva was 4511, it was liftin, likewise with GNEs 5155 dreaded either of them turning up, although carpeted the Metroriders weren't that bad

(06 Feb 2025, 12:02 am)V514DFT wrote The Renowns were rank aswell, both at GNE and Arriva, the one that stuck out like a sore thumb at Arriva was 4511, it was liftin, likewise with GNEs 5155 dreaded either of them turning up, although carpeted the Metroriders weren't that bad

Aye you're right there with the Renown's, probably didn't help that they used to be freezing all the time either. The early floor buses Ultraliners or whatever they were with GNE used to be bad aswell.

Same as the VxxxDNL MPD's with Arriva but they were never cleaned, the dust on the back shelf used to be disgusting. Just reminded me once where we wrote 'Clean Me' on one of them, got it again a few days later and they rubbed the writing off and left the rest of it. Laziness at the highest order.

Let's hope and pray that when services are franchised here in the North East that Go North East lose everything they operate within our region for the years of horrendous service they've given us.

Then wor Nigel and his toyboy Ben can Go-Ahead elsewhere never to heard from again, certainly don't want no "Devils" in our Kim's proposed "Angel Network" do we.

(06 Feb 2025, 4:20 pm)Malarkey wrote Let's hope and pray that when services are franchised here in the North East that Go North East lose everything they operate within our region for the years of horrendous service they've given us.

Then wor Nigel and his toyboy Ben can Go-Ahead elsewhere never to heard from again, certainly don't want no "Devils" in our Kim's  proposed "Angel Network" do we.

Worst case, they’ll win lots of routes on the basis of flannel bids and then run them like they’re running the 29, 25 and 34 at the moment. The rules around operating a service would have to be watertight and allow NECA to re-tender if operators don’t actually operate the services they’re being paid for.

(06 Feb 2025, 5:07 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Worst case, they’ll win lots of routes on the basis of flannel bids and then run them like they’re running the 29, 25 and 34 at the moment. The rules around operating a service would have to be watertight and allow NECA to re-tender if operators don’t actually operate the services they’re being paid for.

This is why I'm almost against the idea of franchising now, despite being very much in favour of it when Quality Contracts were being discussed as an option over ten years ago.

The rules around running a service probably won't be as robust as many in here would like to see. Indeed, when I've questioned aspiring mayors about the subject of fines and the withdrawal of contracts in the past, they've all given incredibly vague answers which skirt around the question rather than addressing it. 

Without such watertight safeguarding, then I suspect your worst-case scenario would probably be the norm, and the charitarians currently in charge of running bus services in the region will be laughing at the taxpayer whilst receiving hefty pats on the back by their paymasters and shareholders.

Not just Go North East within the Go Ahead Group having problems it seems! 
'Ghost buses' partly due to mechanics shortage - operator https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2025/0206...es-dublin/

I'd literally give any operator a month, at the end of that month i'd review, if it doesn't meet my expectations then they're for the chop, and the contract would be re-tendered, no time for bullshit in my book, and unlike most operators, i'd actually listen to what's being said, passengers are the bread and butter, without them, your company is nothing, easier said than done i know, or so they make out

(06 Feb 2025, 6:12 pm)MurdnunoC wrote This is why I'm almost against the idea of franchising now, despite being very much in favour of it when Quality Contracts were being discussed as an option over ten years ago.

The rules around running a service probably won't be as robust as many in here would like to see. Indeed, when I've questioned aspiring mayors about the subject of fines and the withdrawal of contracts in the past, they've all given incredibly vague answers which skirt around the question rather than addressing it. 

Without such watertight safeguarding, then I suspect your worst-case scenario would probably be the norm, and the charitarians currently in charge of running bus services in the region will be laughing at the taxpayer whilst receiving hefty pats on the back by their paymasters and shareholders.

They need to be watertight, but like you, I've very little confidence in that being the case. There needs to be a proper penalty/service credits system in place, otherwise this risks becoming a cash-cow for organisations led by people like NF, who don't give a stuff about getting passengers from A to B.

(07 Feb 2025, 10:21 am)Adrian wrote They need to be watertight, but like you, I've very little confidence in that being the case. There needs to be a proper penalty/service credits system in place, otherwise this risks becoming a cash-cow for organisations led by people like NF, who don't give a stuff about getting passengers from A to B.

Absolutely.

Quickly going back to Quality Contacts again, I can't believe how shortsighted and naive both sides were on the issue. 

Instead of clutching their pearls and making gesticulations like they've just been made eat shit, the likes of Kevin Carr, the twins, Tom and Tim Dodds, and the Stagecoach fella (Phil Something or other, I think), should have really grabbed the opportunity of making guaranteed, eezypeazy, cash for running services at little to no risk.

And, as for those, in favour of the scheme, they should have anticipated how it might be abused by unscrupulous operators, looking to make a fast buck for their shareholders.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, I guess.

It's kicking off in Hexham now

https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/24...-services/

(31 Jan 2025, 10:22 pm)Ambassador wrote There was a non CAZ Citaro on the 29

Rather than do the right thing and pay the relatively small fee…Go Nowhere ran it short to Gateshead

Absolutely shameless

We must be getting the right form of salt/grit on the roads today as 5367 was on the 28/29 and made it to Newcastle on all trips without preemptively breaking down at Gateshead Interchange:  https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-5367

Little Pinks 687 was on 28/28B/29 all day Thursday.

Ik this will probs be the wrong thread to ask this(I couldn’t find the correct thread lol) but why does GNE not trial out with ppl getting of the back door on dual door buses like what London does or is it for safety,bc i always walk past the dual door e400s and just wonder why not use both doors for ease lol?