(21 Mar 2024, 6:45 pm)Storx wrote Wonder if there's more due as SK24CTE definitely exists and is owned by Mistral who are the ones where Gateshead Central Taxi are loaning these from. There's a few others aswell SK24CTF, SK24CTW, SK24CWO which they've just got listed aswell but aren't listed on the chassis list yet.
https://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/index...stName=401&Type=Chassis&Page=9&WW=0
https://www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk/searchresults.asp?searchown=Mistral (Stock)&Pageno=0
(21 Mar 2024, 7:31 pm)Dan wrote They were due five or six in total (due to +5 PVR on 335/351/359 and +1 PVR on 653).
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(21 Mar 2024, 8:13 pm)RMF1254 wrote I’m hoping they’re bigger than Enviro 200MMCs that they already use in North Tyneside. Some journeys on the 351 are almost fully seated on the GNE Streetlites as they reach the Coast Road and on afternoon journeys from Newcastle. As we’re supposed to be increasing use of buses surely the last thing we want is to stand on a crowded midi bus.
(21 Mar 2024, 8:13 pm)RMF1254 wrote I’m hoping they’re bigger than Enviro 200MMCs that they already use in North Tyneside. Some journeys on the 351 are almost fully seated on the GNE Streetlites as they reach the Coast Road and on afternoon journeys from Newcastle. As we’re supposed to be increasing use of buses surely the last thing we want is to stand on a crowded midi bus.
(21 Mar 2024, 9:39 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Ask Nexus what the spec of the contract should be and if the bus is less than the permitted minimum service standards complain to nexus
(22 Mar 2024, 4:48 am)Dan wrote The short wheelbase E200MMCs at Gateshead Central allow for a total capacity (including standees) of at least 60 passengers, which meets the maximum “single deck” contract capacity issued by Nexus (though most of these tenders are actually 36 or 55).
Despite the relatively low number of seats, there is an absurd number of standees on those buses.
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(22 Mar 2024, 8:03 am)Shrek wrote The way some of the GCT drivers drive from my experience with them, standing journeys could be quite an adventure! Hold on tight.
(23 Mar 2024, 11:23 am)tynesider wrote I completely agree, however in my experience given the tendency for GCT to run early, I'd expect a sizeable number of passengers to miss the bus anyway. One way to reduce the number of standees if nothing else!
(24 Mar 2024, 7:02 pm)Thomas12 wrote Lots of the 351 services seem to have run very early today, this in particular is totally unacceptable - https://bustimes.org/vehicles/ghct-sk24-.../557426200Nexus won't care if
(24 Mar 2024, 7:02 pm)Thomas12 wrote Lots of the 351 services seem to have run very early today, this in particular is totally unacceptable - https://bustimes.org/vehicles/ghct-sk24-.../557426200
(24 Mar 2024, 9:37 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote I am not surprised it runs early the speed it was driving (not 20mph past the civic) course it made time up if not extraI don't think the buses today would have run so early if they had bothered to stop and pick up anyone !! SK24 CTU sailed past me and another intending passenger at the Corner House a good 6 mins early and no passengers on board, despite both of us sticking arms out. Caught a 306 a few minutes later and passed CTU parked up waiting time outside the TA. The return journey from Haymarket at 18.10 has already been mentioned above.
However what this does show is that the service can be tweaked and extra bit added to the route...
Those minutes could actually make the bus go to Northumberland Park "interchange" and still be on time back to the Haymarket ???
(24 Mar 2024, 9:29 pm)nova347 wrote Probably because DCC is harsher than Nexus would be my guess.
(25 Mar 2024, 6:42 am)Dan wrote I would actually say it’s the other way around. Nexus is usually a lot stricter on adhering to contract compliance (indeed have recently recruited for, and appointed, a Bus Contract Manager position).
In my view, it is probably more a case of different rotas - drivers on Durham work being more disciplined than those in North Tyneside. To mobilise the contracts for today, GCT would need to recruit c.15 extra drivers, which, in a pool of recruiting existing PCV drivers only, is actually quite difficult to achieve (so they probably are a bit slap dash on quality standards).
(25 Mar 2024, 10:43 pm)Ambassador wrote Nexus have probably played a blinder here.
Shuffle off the contract to the most cost effective bidder who doesn’t do a fabulous job for the mainly twirlys, enthusiasts and kids who use the service and they go elsewhere.
Launch a consultation citing low numbers and end up cutting the service before the problems hand over to Angel Bus network. Genius
(26 Mar 2024, 12:36 am)Ambassador wrote Their latest accounts would argue that point
Though in reality, true public service shouldn’t ever make a profit
(26 Mar 2024, 8:14 am)Dan wrote I think Unber43’s point was probably that the subsidised services ran by Gateshead Central will never see passenger growth to allow them to no longer be subsidised.
As GCT have no commercial bus services, it is clear they have no intention of growing patronage on them. Arguably on a Minimum Cost contract, they have no reason to attempt to do so.
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