(27 Mar 2016, 2:27 pm)Ambassador Completely agree. Retail and other service sectors (GNE drivers are part of this service sector) wouldn't think twice about working bank holidays.

Most companies either pay well for working it or offer a day off in lieu plus your bank holiday allowance.

I'm not saying a full service on all routes but key flagship stuff like the 21, X1 etc should have better than Sunday when the Sunday timetable doesn't even work for those routes on a normal Sunday! I've ended up driving on Sunday's because the 21 is simply totally unreliable .

(28 Mar 2016, 9:32 am)JakeSavage Pop quiz: with today's weather forecast being decidedly "changeable", how many of the services which apparently struggled on Good Friday will need 'bolstering' today?

(Bearing in mind you'd also need to declare your intentions at least 21 days in advance...?)

(28 Mar 2016, 11:52 am)JakeSavage Looking at stagecoach's twitter, only Sunderland were reporting heavy passenger demand. And we should bear in mind that on bank holidays all their main core routes are now running at 20 minutes, combining to run at 10 minute intervals on common sections, and also that the ecos are running to full weekday timetables (post 1030).

The majority of reported concerns were due to bank holiday traffic congestion. Same on the GNE Twitter feed, although their passengers did appear a bit more confused as to the services which were running. 

I do think the point of folk having different destinations dependent upon the weather is a valid one though. But equally so is the legal requirement to confirm the services 21 days in advance - it's hard enough to to predict the glorious British summer at 21 hours notice, yet alone 21 days...!

(28 Mar 2016, 9:48 am)Adrian There was no 'apparent' struggle about it. Stagecoach and Go North East both admitted on social media that they were having capacity issues. Arriva not so, but you could tell from the live map that they were struggling.

People will still go out somewhere, regardless of the weather. The variable is where they go to. There'll still be plenty of travel to and from town and city centres, the likes of the Metrocentre, and so on.

The poor bus service provision is what puts people off. Not the weather.

(28 Mar 2016, 11:52 am)JakeSavage Looking at stagecoach's twitter, only Sunderland were reporting heavy passenger demand. And we should bear in mind that on bank holidays all their main core routes are now running at 20 minutes, combining to run at 10 minute intervals on common sections, and also that the ecos are running to full weekday timetables (post 1030).

The majority of reported concerns were due to bank holiday traffic congestion. Same on the GNE Twitter feed, although their passengers did appear a bit more confused as to the services which were running. 

I do think the point of folk having different destinations dependent upon the weather is a valid one though. But equally so is the legal requirement to confirm the services 21 days in advance - it's hard enough to to predict the glorious British summer at 21 hours notice, yet alone 21 days...!

(28 Mar 2016, 12:30 pm)Adrian But why would there be an increase in traffic on the roads, if there wasn't a demand for people to get to places? Perhaps some people have taken the car instead, because they don't want to be waiting an hour between buses?

Most of us will be fully aware of the notice required to confirm services, but you wouldn't have a lesser service on a Saturday or Sunday if it's raining, so why a bank holiday?

GNE reported that one of their 21s was running 43 minutes late at one point. That's a bit more than traffic congestion right there. Another from just now: 

"Go North East
1 hr ·
Due to severe congestion on market lane, 45/46, 49/49a V8 and 6 services are operating via the A1 into the Metro Centre"

(28 Mar 2016, 8:18 pm)tyresmoke I worked Goiday on the Metro buses and the contrast to today couldn't be more stark. I'm not sure whether you could throw too many resources to 'variable' destinations such as Whitley Bay which saw excessive demand on Friday. I did the same shift today as I did on Friday... 1049 and 1204 from Shiremoor ... Friday loaded 50 & 73 people, today those numbers were 16 & 14.
On Friday the Coaster buses were also struggling to cope with the loadings, they could have done with deckers allocating given the forecasted weather. Traffic problems were killing everything in and around Tynemouth & Whitley Bay on Friday  while there were no such problems today.
Of course there is an argument for improved services although I would add only between 10-11 and 3-4 the main shopping times, outside of those times the cost would outweigh the revenue.

(01 May 2016, 4:29 pm)DaveyBowyer Right then, lets have a guessing game for Tomorrow predicting how late a service (or more if you so wish) is going to be.

Here's mine to get started:

- GNE Angel 21, 45 minute delays.

- GNE Red Arrows X1, 30 minute delays.

(02 May 2016, 10:32 am)BusLoverMum Well this will scupper timetables. There's been an incident on Percy Street. Loads of police and a security van under the bridge. Nexus putting signs up in Eldon Square bus station so I can't see it clearing any time soon.

(02 May 2016, 10:54 am)South Tyne Lad Is Arriva operating a Sunday service today? I can't find any info on times for them.