Consultation now available to read and view. Nothing major to see but the odd one is the 356 will follow every other bus into Whitley Bay 

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/share-your...h-tyneside

How can passengers possibly comment on major changes to the 307/9 without them saying what the actual changes are

Beyond useless

"355/356
To provide move direct links into Whitley Bay, we are proposing to omit Marden in both directions on service 356, with the route changed to travel along Hillheads Road and Marden Road between Whitley Bay and the Foxhunters"

One assumes that GNE are proposing to omit Monkseaton (not Marden!) - Doesn't bode well when they don't even know where they currently serve.

Not one bit of that makes sense. How you make comparable trips on the 94...

They don't serve the same places, at all.

(insert link) is a new type of link for me (on the survey).

(5 hours ago)Storx wrote Not one bit of that makes sense. How you make comparable trips on the 94...

They don't serve the same places, at all.

(insert link) is a new type of link for me (on the survey).

My interpretation was that the short morning 94's Gateshead-Team Valley would start at Newcastle replacing the 91.

(5 hours ago)Malarkey wrote My interpretation was that the short morning 94's Gateshead-Team Valley would start at Newcastle replacing the 91.

Aye could be, who knows. Quite an extension in journey time that though.

(5 hours ago)tynesider wrote "355/356
To provide move direct links into Whitley Bay, we are proposing to omit Marden in both directions on service 356, with the route changed to travel along Hillheads Road and Marden Road between Whitley Bay and the Foxhunters"

One assumes that GNE are proposing to omit Monkseaton (not Marden!) - Doesn't bode well when they don't even know where they currently serve.

I find it odd that they are sending another bus that way via Whitley Bay Ice Rink. They give a road a bus service and go nah just walk to the closest stop

Beginning of the end for the 352 i reckon, also why does Hillheads need another bus, they already have the 54,57A,308,309,317

(4 hours ago)V514DFT wrote Beginning of the end for the 352 i reckon, also why does Hillheads need another bus, they already have the 54,57A,308,309,317

To be fair the services along there are shocking nowadays. 

Only really the 308/309/317 and two of them go the same. 

Probably one of the corridors in the North East with the biggest reduction in the last 10 year. 

It's to save time though tbh to try and deal with delays.

(5 hours ago)Ambassador wrote How can passengers possibly comment on major changes to the 307/9 without them saying what the actual changes are

Beyond useless

My money will be the 307 & 309 interworking on Saturdays with a PVR of 15 and layover in North Shields / Blyth.

Also, my thinking for possible changes to the late journeys

- 2130 & 2230 309 terminate in Whitley Bay

- 2345 309 changed to 307 termimating on Norham Road

You’d have thought a drop in at Cobalt might be an idea as well if youre making changes to the 307/9

I can accept the 6.09 X39 going, it would be better if it was retimed to 5.30 to catch more shift ends vs 6pm

I think the team at GNE do a fantastic job, and these changes look sensible and well thought out. Some fairly serious grass touching needed on here, let’s not be silly and remember that the slander you put on here gets back to real people. Give them a chance.

That said, the potential loss of the 352 would be a shame I think.

(2 hours ago)S4agg3rHP wrote I think the team at GNE do a fantastic job, and these changes look sensible and well thought out. Some fairly serious grass touching needed on here, let’s not be silly and remember that the slander you put on here gets back to real people. Give them a chance.

That said, the potential loss of the 352 would be a shame I think.

I agree, whenever anyone criticises the commercial department at GNE I often find myself screaming at my screen "Leave the Laird alone, he's trying his best". 

I also think Uncle Nigel and Brother Ben are exactly the kind of people you'd want at the helm in an environment where there is an insurgency of evil little upstart operators, chipping away at the customer base GNE have built up through years of inertia. By protecting their revenue, they're safeguarding the jobs of the future. And, drivers, the next time pay negations stall and strike action looks, don't blame Nice Nigel and Benevolent Ben, blame the barbarians at the gate with their new fangled bus services, depriving GNE of capital to pay you all fairly. 

And if in doubt: email maba.

(2 hours ago)S4agg3rHP wrote I think the team at GNE do a fantastic job, and these changes look sensible and well thought out. Some fairly serious grass touching needed on here, let’s not be silly and remember that the slander you put on here gets back to real people. Give them a chance.

That said, the potential loss of the 352 would be a shame I think.

How is anything that’s been said slander? Absolute nonsense.

In their own words they’re making significant changes to the timetable of a very popular service and asking people to comment online without providing any actual detail. If you think that’s a fantastic job then I dread to think what’s a bad one…

(1 hour ago)Ambassador wrote How is anything that’s been said slander? Absolute nonsense.

In their own words they’re making significant changes to the timetable of a very popular service and asking people to comment online without providing any actual detail. If you think that’s a fantastic job then I dread to think what’s a bad one…

Took the words right out of my mouth, he sounds like a GNE brown noser to me, its a forum, it encourages discussion at the end of the day, most of what is said on here isnt slander, the would be discussion if it were any of the other operators

(1 hour ago)MurdnunoC wrote I also think Uncle Nigel and Brother Ben are exactly the kind of people you'd want at the helm in an environment where there is an insurgency of evil little upstart operators, chipping away at the customer base GNE have built up through years of inertia. By protecting their revenue, they're safeguarding the jobs of the future. And, drivers, the next time pay negations stall and strike action looks, don't blame Nice Nigel and Benevolent Ben, blame the barbarians at the gate with their new fangled bus services, depriving GNE of capital to pay you all fairly. 

And if in doubt: email maba.

I think GNE have bigger problems than a few upstart companies.

If the Coast Road Agreement is coming to an end, Arriva have 31 vehicles on order and could easily divert resource to wipe GNE's Percy Main operation out.

All it would take is the 306/308 restored to pre-covid frequency and the 308 re-routed via Battle Hill Drive - meaning a 7/8 minute frequency vs GNE's 10 minute frequency and a quicker route missing High Farm. There's no commercial room for 'both' operators to be running separate 7-8 minute frequencies along the Coast Road in the current climate like before covid.