Drivers of this forum, what is the worst route from your depot to drive?

Enthusiasts what do you think is the worst route to drive?

any route where the put a double decker or full sized single on that should be a solo mini bus due to the route!

Deptford:

The 237/79A I hated. Too quiet, lucky to get 1 passenger per trip plus the route was different in each direction and not forgetting the first and last trips via East Rainton. Park Estate far too small for a bus (many a 3 point turn in a Solo).

The old 38 in anything bigger than a Solo with the right turn at the top of Black Road then then the left onto Nelson Street. After you've contended with that, you then need to hope no one has parked on the bends round Tunstall Bank.

Each route has its challenges but some more than others. Crossing the A690 in a Streetlite for example can be a nightmare at times. Dawdon (Mount Stewart Street?) can also be 'exciting' if you meet another bus at the corner.

Been told of a Percy Main driver he hates the 434 route in Ashington

Arriva Blyth, 308 and X8. Also service 2 as many junctions are a very tight squeeze for Pulsars.

(23 Jan 2022, 6:01 pm)morritt89 wrote Deptford:

The 237/79A I hated. Too quiet, lucky to get 1 passenger per trip plus the route was different in each direction and not forgetting the first and last trips via East Rainton. Park Estate far too small for a bus (many a 3 point turn in a Solo).

The old 38 in anything bigger than a Solo with the right turn at the top of Black Road then then the left onto Nelson Street. After you've contended with that, you then need to hope no one has parked on the bends round Tunstall Bank.

Each route has its challenges but some more than others. Crossing the A690 in a Streetlite for example can be a nightmare at times. Dawdon (Mount Stewart Street?) can also be 'exciting' if you meet another bus at the corner.

I have been on the 202 and the 60 where they have met there. Also going up that street can be a pain if a bus is coming down. 

Also 96 is quite challenging after Team Valley, been on that alot, never crashed through. 

Never been on it but I hear 683(i think) has a few 3 point turns.

Any deptford or consett drivers, what is the 35 or 78 like to drive, with them being around 2hours long?

(23 Jan 2022, 6:44 pm)Driver9*** wrote Arriva Blyth, 308 and X8. Also service 2 as many junctions are a very tight squeeze for Pulsars.

X8 I agree, but 308 has got more running time now and hopefully some investment will make things easier. Although when I used to use both the 308/309 regularly at peak times, you'd get the numpties legging it at the last minute wanting to go go Benfield Road and end up paying with a £10/£20 note making the bus later and later.

I did always say (before COVID) that there should be a parallel express service at least during peak times, given that before COVID it was only second to GNE's full 21 journeys in terms of revenue in the North East (excluding any SNE 'Busways' routes).

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I wonder what the X72 is like to drive? Must be a nightmare having to make two right turns in and out of Lobley Hill towards Newcastle?

(23 Jan 2022, 6:56 pm)L469 YVK wrote X8 I agree, but 308 has got more running time now and hopefully some investment will make things easier. Although when I used to use both the 308/309 regularly at peak times, you'd get the numpties legging it at the last minute wanting to go go Benfield Road and end up paying with a £10/£20 note making the bus later and later.

I did always say (before COVID) that there should be a parallel express service at least during peak times, given that before COVID it was only second to GNE's full 21 journeys in terms of revenue in the North East (excluding any SNE 'Busways' routes).

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I wonder what the X72 is like to drive? Must be a nightmare having to make two right turns in and out of Lobley Hill towards Newcastle?

I have been on the X72, from what I can recall it wasn't that bad. 

Then I went through school time, and it was pain. We were stuck for around 5 mins.

(23 Jan 2022, 6:56 pm)L469 YVK wrote X8 I agree, but 308 has got more running time now and hopefully some investment will make things easier. Although when I used to use both the 308/309 regularly at peak times, you'd get the numpties legging it at the last minute wanting to go go Benfield Road and end up paying with a £10/£20 note making the bus later and later.

I did always say (before COVID) that there should be a parallel express service at least during peak times, given that before COVID it was only second to GNE's full 21 journeys in terms of revenue in the North East (excluding any SNE 'Busways' routes).

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I wonder what the X72 is like to drive? Must be a nightmare having to make two right turns in and out of Lobley Hill towards Newcastle?

Out of interest how do you know this or is it an educated guess?

The 17 used to be a right pig,especially back in that snow we had in 2010,it had to skip estates when the weather was that bad,and it was long af,but even so,theres was still something aboit that route,probably its amount of connections it had,i say merge the 42/42A and 11 again

(23 Jan 2022, 6:01 pm)morritt89 wrote Deptford:

The 237/79A I hated. Too quiet, lucky to get 1 passenger per trip plus the route was different in each direction and not forgetting the first and last trips via East Rainton. Park Estate far too small for a bus (many a 3 point turn in a Solo).

The old 38 in anything bigger than a Solo with the right turn at the top of Black Road then then the left onto Nelson Street. After you've contended with that, you then need to hope no one has parked on the bends round Tunstall Bank.

Each route has its challenges but some more than others. Crossing the A690 in a Streetlite for example can be a nightmare at times. Dawdon (Mount Stewart Street?) can also be 'exciting' if you meet another bus at the corner.

I've always been interested in this from a driver perspective. As someone who has never driven a bus, I often wondered whether doing a few runs on something like that would be an 'easy day at the office' or whether it'd drag on, compared to say doing some evening journeys on the 21, where you're pretty much guaranteed a decent loading.

(23 Jan 2022, 6:46 pm)Omega54 wrote Any deptford or consett drivers, what is the 35 or 78 like to drive, with them being around 2hours long?

Can't comment on the 78, but the 35 is quite a boring route as you're weaving in and out of estates, the advantage is you know it's going to take a big chunk out of your shift if you do a full round trip. My least favourite are minibus routes that don't really go far though, I absolutely hate a full shift of 33s and 700s at Deptford for example, but I like busy interurban routes such as the 20 and 56.

The 8 or X8 South Hylton to Docks via the crematorium gates...

You got excited if there was a passenger for the whole route

(23 Jan 2022, 8:19 pm)deanmachine wrote Can't comment on the 78, but the 35 is quite a boring route as you're weaving in and out of estates, the advantage is you know it's going to take a big chunk out of your shift if you do a full round trip. My least favourite are minibus routes that don't really go far though, I absolutely hate a full shift of 33s and 700s at Deptford for example, but I like busy interurban routes such as the 20 and 56.

Ngl I hate the 20 & 56, Ill do anything not to get on them. Wether at is get the 55 or the X20. Or go to Easington lane of DP for the X1.

Seems as though you're a deptford driver I saw someone mention the 60 earlier what is ur thoughts on that turns on Mount Stewart Street.

(23 Jan 2022, 8:35 pm)Omega54 wrote Ngl I hate the 20 & 56, Ill do anything not to get on them. Wether at is get the 55 or the X20. Or go to Easington lane of DP for the X1.

Seems as though you're a deptford driver I saw someone mention the 60 earlier what is ur thoughts on that turns on Mount Stewart Street.

I really hate that corner, especially when you know that the next bus is due but hasn't turned onto Queen Alexandra Road when you're heading towards it. I'll often wait in the last bus stop before the corner for the next bus to avoid meeting them at the same time. It's not ideal let's say. The 60 itself isn't a bad route though, it's only when you get a shift with 3 or more of them on it starts to get a bit annoying.

It's the same story for another route mentioned earlier, when turning onto Ryhope Street from Black Road on a 2 or 38, if you meet a bus at just the wrong time it gets very tricky.

(23 Jan 2022, 7:42 pm)V514DFT wrote The 17 used to be a right pig,especially back in that snow we had in 2010,it had to skip estates when the weather was that bad,and it was long af,but even so,theres was still something aboit that route,probably its amount of connections it had,i say merge the 42/42A and 11 again

Wasn't the 17 a big bus route with minibus timing as well?

(23 Jan 2022, 8:43 pm)deanmachine wrote I really hate that corner, especially when you know that the next bus is due but hasn't turned onto Queen Alexandra Road when you're heading towards it. I'll often wait in the last bus stop before the corner for the next bus to avoid meeting them at the same time. It's not ideal let's say. The 60 itself isn't a bad route though, it's only when you get a shift with 3 or more of them on it starts to get a bit annoying.

Do you ever drive the X20/38. On the "small bus" rota?

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(23 Jan 2022, 8:45 pm)DeltaMan wrote Wasn't the 17 a big bus route with minibus timing as well?

It used the dual door cadet.

Anyone know the length of them?

(23 Jan 2022, 8:45 pm)Omega54 wrote Do you ever drive the X20/38. On the "small bus" rota?

Plenty of "big bus" drivers will drive the Blue Rota routes on their rest days, not all of them know all the routes though. You can give me an X20 any day though, it's a great route. Not a fan of the 38, mainly because of having to drive around them all day on a dual door decker, MPD or Scania back when I was on that rota 5 years ago.

I'd be interested to know what 42A (Percy Main) and 74 (Hexham) drivers think of their routes. Any of those drivers on here? Personally I'd like them.

27 isn't a very interesting route. X30/X31, X45/X46/47/47A and X70/X71 look quite good to drive.

Short routes and quiet routes are probably the worst.

(23 Jan 2022, 6:44 pm)Driver9*** wrote Arriva Blyth, 308 and X8. Also service 2 as many junctions are a very tight squeeze for Pulsars.

As a passenger, I can understand drivers' frustration with the X8 - it always seems to loose time when meandering through the Cowpen Estate, even when no one gets on or off!

I can imagine the groans when a few back to back X66s are on a drivers duty board given how short the route and how many you can probably do in four to five hours, compared to one round trip on the X10!

I can't imagine the afternoon 93/94s being favourite trips for a multitude of reasons

A friend of mine used to drive the 5 and he absolutely hated it. This was due to Boldon ASDA and the Metro crossing, loads of double runs and loops, South Tynesides finest residents and not enough running time. Sounds like a great combination

(23 Jan 2022, 7:38 pm)Bazza wrote Out of interest how do you know this or is it an educated guess?

Likely an educated guess. But in 2012/13, both the Angel 21 and Arriva 308 received Volvo B5LH hybrids through government funding.

The 308 always used to have decent loadings before pre covid.

(23 Jan 2022, 6:56 pm)L469 YVK wrote .

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I wonder what the X72 is like to drive? Must be a nightmare having to make two right turns in and out of Lobley Hill towards Newcastle?

X72 is just a nightmare, times are really tight and the Lobley Hill bit is a nightmare. Bus stop on the junction should not be served, additionally a stop inside the estate should be provided. Getting out on to the bank can also be a challenge. Imo the B5s are past their best and pulling out of Stanley bus station onto the roundabout can be fun if they are in electric mode, really can't wait for peak times at Sniperley roundabout once they appear on the X5/X15.

(24 Jan 2022, 10:06 am)Stanleyone wrote X72 is just a nightmare, times are really tight and the Lobley Hill bit is a nightmare. Bus stop on the junction should not be served, additionally a stop inside the estate should be provided. Getting out on to the bank can also be a challenge. Imo the B5s are past their best and pulling out of Stanley bus station onto the roundabout can be fun if they are in electric mode, really can't wait for peak times at Sniperley roundabout once they appear on the X5/X15.

I thought that was the case? Do you reckon the X30/X31 & X70/X71/X72 will be eventually split when driver numbers recover?

So would be:
X30/X31 interworking = PVR 5x
X70/X71/X72 interworking = PVR 7x

(24 Jan 2022, 11:16 am)L469 YVK wrote I thought that was the case? Do you reckon the X30/X31 & X70/X71/X72 will be eventually split when driver numbers recover?

So would be:
X30/X31 interworking = PVR 5x
X70/X71/X72 interworking = PVR 7x

If they reopened Stanley as canteen there could be better interworking plans, but that's a decision that comes from Bensham, there's a couple of shifts (presently) that you come off at Stanley, head to Consett for break and return to Stanley for next stint. Pointless really, but I'm simply a driver.

(24 Jan 2022, 12:14 pm)Stanleyone wrote If they reopened Stanley as canteen there could be better interworking plans, but that's a decision that comes from Bensham, there's a couple of shifts (presently) that you come off at Stanley, head to Consett for break and return to Stanley for next stint. Pointless really, but I'm simply a driver.

That's more of a decision by the local management team, not Bensham.

Do the drivers amongst us prefer a bit of variety like GNE/Arriva, or predominantly the same route everyday a la Stagecoach Newcastle?

I found the 5 a great run, didn't like the North Shields bit.

78 is a cracking run out as it's just one trip or one and a little bit.

X66s can get monotonous.

Anything with a Solo on for more than about an hour I hate.

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk

(23 Jan 2022, 8:45 pm)DeltaMan wrote Wasn't the 17 a big bus route with minibus timing as well?

Pretty much,it ran Cramlington-Whitley Bay,with the shorts running Whitley Bay-Benton ASDA which i believe interworked with the 307 to Newcastle

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I bet what was the 40/41 Wallsend circular used to get a bit tedious for some drivers

(24 Jan 2022, 6:14 am)L469 YVK wrote Likely an educated guess. But in 2012/13, both the Angel 21 and Arriva 308 received Volvo B5LH hybrids through government funding.

The 308 always used to have decent loadings before pre covid.

Ah right….    It just read that it was definite fact, rather than just a guess.