(28 Feb 2025, 3:37 pm)omnicity4659 wrote ngl it's fairly easy to overtake everyone on the coast road in a bus as people seem to drive painfully slow along there, 50 limit or not.

I was doing 70 and although was a good distance ahead, it took me a while to catch up. I think the driving seemed very full on too!

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(28 Feb 2025, 6:31 am)Aaron21 wrote Waiting on your "wasted on coast road should be at Consett" paragraph ?

Not exactly. GNE could have anything in mind what happens when the EV's arrive for the 21. It's in their hands at the end of the day, and other posters have suggested other good cascading alternatives too for the StreetDecks.

If anything, was more of an appreciation post. The B9TL (unless we're lucky to see the new Cummins powered Wright Ultroliner widely used in the North East), is the last of the truly 'heavy duty' vehicles we see around these days. Almost (but not quite) as good as a Leyland / Volvo Olympian or Metrobus for the modern era.

complaints on a local Consett local page that no buses left the Bus station for nearly a hour on any route today due to mass shortages.

even if it isnt factual the comments on the post from various customers speak of issues on various routes daily.

(28 Feb 2025, 10:35 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote complaints on a local Consett local page that no buses left the Bus station for nearly a hour on any route today due to mass shortages.

even if it isnt factual the comments on the post from various customers speak of issues on various routes daily.

Would GNE not be better making some 'sensible' frequency reductions, to free up vehicles?

- 307/309 - Got Arriva's 306/308 and Nexus 350/351, could reduce frequency?
- X21 - Got Arriva's 6 & X21, reduce frequency?
- X31 - needed especially off peak? Got X30 & X32
- X66 - is 10 minute frequency needed during weekdays with 49/49A also running?
- 1 (Newcastle > W.Bay) is 20 minute service needed when got Stagecoach 22 and other alternatives?

Not saying go all out to make cuts like when there was driver shortages. But a bit of sensible trimming of routes could help out.

(01 Mar 2025, 8:26 am)L469 YVK wrote Would GNE not be better making some 'sensible' frequency reductions, to free up vehicles?

- 307/309 - Got Arriva's 306/308 and Nexus 350/351, could reduce frequency?
- X21 - Got Arriva's 6 & X21, reduce frequency?
- X31 - needed especially off peak? Got X30 & X32
- X66 - is 10 minute frequency needed during weekdays with 49/49A also running?
- 1 (Newcastle > W.Bay) is 20 minute service needed when got Stagecoach 22 and other alternatives?

Not saying go all out to make cuts like when there was driver shortages. But a bit of sensible trimming of routes could help out.

Surely the sensible routes would be the likes of the 4/20/21/33/41/41A/56/64/84/85 which are all very frequent and wouldn't be a real loss if slightly less frequent. I know some have BSIP funding but GNE shouldn't be getting the 21 funding anyway as they're missing boards all over the place.

(28 Feb 2025, 3:37 pm)omnicity4659 wrote ngl it's fairly easy to overtake everyone on the coast road in a bus as people seem to drive painfully slow along there, 50 limit or not.

The blanket ban on 50mph has now been lifted 

Although there is still 40 50 and nat speed limit in places

Nearly 2 months on and Washington is still a disaster zone.

What on earth is going on? They managed to sort Consett out relatively quickly

(01 Mar 2025, 1:01 pm)DeltaMan wrote Nearly 2 months on and Washington is still a disaster zone.

What on earth is going on? They managed to sort Consett out relatively quickly

It's an open question but have they actually sorted Consett? It's been half term the last week which means there's not as many vehicles needed which could easily hide the problems, similar story at Riverside aswell.

Think Washington only have 2 or 3 buses doing schools if I'm right

I wanted to catch the 16 on Wednesday so stalked it in the app for a couple of days to see how reliable it was and didn’t spot a single cancellation through the middle of the day.

Can’t say the same for the 50, which is why we went to Stanley instead of Washington for what we wanted.

Consett has only been decent this week as all the buses that would have been used on schools have been available for use on public service, which for the 16/A has made up the majority of the PVR most of the week. Expect it to go to pot again from Monday..

Im sure GNE have had a robust repair and engineering plan in place during the quieter school holiday period.

However, I did see a gritter out earlier so that will probably ruin everything…

4 branded Merc heading north on the A1 this evening. 
I passed it in the opposite direction, near Ferryhill. 

The last time I saw one in that neck of the woods, was when they were on delivery and I overtook a couple.

Had 6196 last night back to the Fell on the 21

Seemed to struggle to get above 25-30mph and driver was not thrilled. Seemed to run about 20 mins behind all day on its 5 runs

Another broken down vehicle. 
Southbound on the A1 between Lobley Hill and Coalhouse Roundabout. 
Didn't get to see it, as I was heading north. 

Bustimes has it as 3942.

6228 rather toasty at the back.

(05 Mar 2025, 10:52 am)BusLoverMum wrote 6228 rather toasty at the back.

This bus was very full when we caught it in Fram. Turns out that the previous service on 6362 looks to have conked out in Spenny.

Anyhow, after bombing up the A1(M) at about 40mph, all the passengers from the back ran forward as here was smoke coming out of the back seat. It subsided and the driver moved us all forward while he drove slowly to the angel so he could pull over safely and check. No sign. He finished the journey, set down only. I can only suspect that, after picking up passengers from another broken down bus, he would have faced a bollocking for kicking them off again.

I had just spotted this in my inbox at the moment all hell broke loose.

6362 expired and causing chaos in Eldon square. It’s expired under the walkway bridge leaving a tight squeeze and several stands out of action

(05 Mar 2025, 5:02 pm)Ambassador wrote 6362 expired and causing chaos in Eldon square. It’s expired under the walkway bridge leaving a tight squeeze and several stands out of action

Second time today, then.

6228 has been back out, this afternoon, too, but looks to have done 2 school runs without a repeat of this morning's smoke.

(05 Mar 2025, 5:02 pm)Ambassador wrote 6362 expired and causing chaos in Eldon square. It’s expired under the walkway bridge leaving a tight squeeze and several stands out of action

Shouldn't be anywhere near the X21 or dare I say it given GNE's track record, X10!

How much dead mileage GNE must shell out down in Teesside & the Wear Valley due to unsuitable workings / poor fleet rotation.

If GAG spend any money in the North East, those 2 decker routes need prioritised!

Short term depending on the Angel StreetDeck cascade chain, the 56 / Cobalt B9s would probably do a better job on the X21 than 6356-63!

(05 Mar 2025, 7:56 pm)L469 YVK wrote Shouldn't be anywhere near the X21 or dare I say it given GNE's track record, X10!

How much dead mileage GNE must shell out down in Teesside & the Wear Valley due to unsuitable workings / poor fleet rotation.

If GAG spend any money in the North East, those 2 decker routes need prioritised!

Short term depending on the Angel StreetDeck cascade chain, the 56 / Cobalt B9s would probably do a better job on the X21 than 6356-63!

They need them on the X20. 
Constantly being allocated to there. No idea what is going on the 56 mind.

6321 went into limp mode and took 48 minutes to get between Gateshead and Birtley

(05 Mar 2025, 10:39 pm)Ambassador wrote 6321 went into limp mode and took 48 minutes to get between Gateshead and Birtley

Then it resumed the return journey from the same spot! 

Poor bus has had a long day. Probably needed a cuppa!

(05 Mar 2025, 10:39 pm)Ambassador wrote 6321 went into limp mode and took 48 minutes to get between Gateshead and Birtley

Worse than what it was before it had a new engine fitted.

If it went into limp mode leaving Gateshead then it should of been stood at the next safe location, no way in hell would i of took it to Birtley at 11mph.

(05 Mar 2025, 8:26 pm)Andreos1 wrote They need them on the X20. 
Constantly being allocated to there. No idea what is going on the 56 mind.

Agreed, but lets see what happens!

Couldn't tell exactly which one it was but there was an X20 gemini 3 smoking quite bad by Plawsworth Gate

(Yesterday, 4:26 pm)alexanderdennis0312933 wrote Couldn't tell exactly which one it was but there was an X20 gemini 3 smoking quite bad by Plawsworth Gate

Complete basketcase purchase by GNE, especially for the X9/X10 at the time! Should've been ZF Enviro 400 MMC's or Scania N250UD Enviro 400 MMC's purchased at the time. GNE were "too stubborn" to deviate from Volvo / WrightBus at the time! Who the hell thought it would be a good idea buying a 4-pot heap of s***e for tearing up and down the A19 at 60MPH!

Quite ironic that the vehicles they replaced.....some of them are still hanging on being ragged up and down around Derwentside! Even some of Arriva Northumbria's 12-15 year old VDL Gemini 2's are in better shape than GNE's B5TL's and majority of StreetWrecks!