(28 Jun 2021, 8:23 am)Micheal Aaron wrote Green ADL Enviro 200 on the MS. L&B covering for GCT still on the Nightingale

Edit: Two L&B ADL Enviro 200 running the MS & SNS

(27 Jun 2021, 11:16 am)Big O wrote Not sure why so many people are against the big boys running subsidised contracts? Not interested in the politics to be honest but I’d rather GNE then GCT or any of the big boys for that matter. The 335 is a decently used route and I think maybe extending it to Kilingworth via the K2 could be a good shout.

(28 Jun 2021, 10:44 am)Andreos1 wrote Because they're big enough to survive without them?
Because they're running subsidised services and in the not too distant past, suddenly realised it was viable after Nexus awarded it to someone else?
Or because they rely on Nexus to dig them out of a whole when a commercial decision negatively aftects passengers?

(28 Jun 2021, 11:38 am)Adrian wrote The one works both ways, as we've seen last week. I wonder what would have happened with all these contracts that GCT are no longer operating, if the big three operators all refused to take on the work (given that they may or may not have been rejected in the Tender exercise already)

I largely agree with your comments about services that have suddenly become commercially viable. I think you've mentioned the 97, but I remember Go North East were awarded the 22/24 in Durham, before Arriva decided it was commercially viable after all.

But the tendering process that Nexus uses is hugely problematic and does not provide good value imo. It's also overcomplicated from what it needs to be. A better system would be a pot of funding that operators can bid for, if they'd like to continue to run a commercial service into hours where they feel its commercially viable. That would have to be supported by a business case, financials and passenger data. The PTE/LTA can then decide if the service is socially necessary and support it, without any disruption to customers.

The tender process creates a race to the bottom for a start, forcing operators to drive down conditions to remain 'competitive', it provides no continuity of service (ticket acceptance for example) and we see completely different operating standards; missing NSAs on the Washington locals and the impact on those that need them was spoken about on this forum previously. I'm also not a fan of seeing operators more than happy to take secured work on, but take no commercial risk in improving the bus network we have. 

Hopefully Enhanced Partnerships will change this, but we'll see what the consultation period and proposals bring...

(28 Jun 2021, 7:47 pm)citaro5284 wrote At least at the minute, since GNE have took over some evening contracts from tonight, folk will get cheaper fares with the £1 fares after 7pm

(28 Jun 2021, 7:56 pm)Dan wrote I understand this has been a regular complaint on Washington services on an evening, that Gateshead Central Taxis wouldn’t issue £1 fares after 19:00, since Go North East launched this initiative. Refusal to allow passengers to board if they only have a contactless bank card, another.

Initiatives like this could of course result in growth, developing patronage for the service to become commercially viable.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(28 Jun 2021, 7:56 pm)Dan wrote I understand this has been a regular complaint on Washington services on an evening, that Gateshead Central Taxis wouldn’t issue £1 fares after 19:00, since Go North East launched this initiative. Refusal to allow passengers to board if they only have a contactless bank card, another.

Initiatives like this could of course result in growth, developing patronage for the service to become commercially viable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(28 Jun 2021, 9:42 pm)Adrian wrote I made use of the £1 singles tonight. Not bad at all when I can travel across Washington and back for £2.

Of course, other radical initiatives, such as the bus actually turning up helps... 

(28 Jun 2021, 9:53 pm)Micheal Aaron wrote Just for the fun of it. Might actually use it to Wallsend on the 1A on Sunday night

(28 Jun 2021, 10:43 pm)Andreos1 wrote If you hit on lucky, you might get it for 10p!
There seems to be an error somewhere and the system has been charging punters 10p.
It's like a time warp back to 1988!

(29 Jun 2021, 8:18 am)MurdnunoC wrote Only if you could get a Transfare for 15p too.

(29 Jun 2021, 8:18 am)MurdnunoC wrote Only if you could get a Transfare for 15p too.

(29 Jun 2021, 11:57 am)V514DFT wrote Im not quite that old,but i do remember being charged 25p or should i say my dad was charged 25p

(29 Jun 2021, 1:32 pm)Rob44 wrote I got from gosforth park to sunderland park lane for 10p transfer in the eights. And one member having to stamp there transfer tick in the separate machine and the clock starting to tick before the time was up? Great times

20210629_144808.jpg (Size 2.08 MB Downloads 52)

(29 Jun 2021, 2:15 pm)Micheal Aaron wrote ADL Enviro 200MMC YW68 PBY is on the 359

(29 Jun 2021, 9:26 pm)busmanT wrote At least there is a bus on the 359 - one of the two buses on service 23 in Birtley was "missing" this afternoon.

(30 Jun 2021, 7:26 pm)idiot wrote I wonder how many Google reviews are from an honest perspective and not bus spotters.

(02 Jul 2021, 6:19 pm)Micheal Aaron wrote Bus org shows that

18, 18A, 39, 81, 82, 83, 84(Washington) 85, 86, 135 & 136 go back to GCT as they all have 8th August next to them

Note the H1 hasn't appeared back on the website