(03 Dec 2022, 11:54 pm)Unber43 Reliability is a massive issue and its need to be fixed asap, however with all the different bus types/branding there isn't a lot which you can do. 

X45/X30/X31 - 30 mins layover in Stanley
X21 - 25 mins in Newcastle 

Looking at the 56 a lot of them were very late turning at Gateshead, and they've got 12 mins at Sunderland, 8 mins at Newcastle, its constant delays to the same services day after day.

Just looking on GNE Twitter, 10 21:24 from Hexham is cancelled which means you've got an hour wait, 2A to Biddick cancelled, these aren't getting people onboard.
I think the PVR X21 is 8 with the massive layover, they should use the 20/70 Plate StreetDecks with 6377/6376/6332, spare, 6377 can be used on the X10 to give some E400 a rest as they're getting hammered on the X10 and unless GNE puts in a order for new buses in about 2-3 years I can see them being dieing on the route, as they're out from 4am to midnight.

(04 Dec 2022, 10:59 am)L469 YVK 30 minute layover in Stanley would be commercial suicide given that the X30/X31 can be easily done with a PVR of 3x in most instances with peak extras thrown in. Yes by all means make the X45 standalone and with changeovers with outside of Hownsgill, that should help with driving hours.

X21 PVR is currently 8x and with a long layover at Eldon Square would be 9x. Surely as mentioned on the other thread moving 6341-51 to Riverside and having a fleet of 15x vehicles (with 2x spare) to choose from covering both the X10 & X21 would be more sensible. Minus the old X21/X22 'Sapphire' branding, Arriva Ashington are effectively doing that now with the 17 plate and 72 plate E400MMCs doing both the X14/X15/X18/X20 and X21/X22.

(04 Dec 2022, 11:06 am)Unber43 Yes, but for the X45/X30/X31 interwork a 30 min layover in Stanley would be great, they're constantly 20 mins late leaving Consett to head to Newcastle, even worse coming back to Consett a 30 min at Stanley would be ideal so they will leave on time. 

imo X45 should be a PVR 6 with a large layover, or just increase it to every 20 mins, it doesn't get delays due it being dead I can tell you that, or traffic I was on one yesterday, it arrived in Consett 2 mins late, left 15 mins late.

(04 Dec 2022, 11:58 am)DeltaMan As peverse as it sounds, would it not make sense then to take the Stanley/Lanchester part off the 6 and extend the X30/X31 once an hour? That would give the X30/X31/X45 cycle an extra bus and an extra 15/20 mins to play with assuming a round trip between Stanley and Lanchester can be done in 40 to 45 mins?

(04 Dec 2022, 11:58 am)DeltaMan As peverse as it sounds, would it not make sense then to take the Stanley/Lanchester part off the 6 and extend the X30/X31 once an hour? That would give the X30/X31/X45 cycle an extra bus and an extra 15/20 mins to play with assuming a round trip between Stanley and Lanchester can be done in 40 to 45 mins?

(04 Dec 2022, 5:30 pm)Storx Probably better at looking at reallocating some things tbh, the X30/X31/X45 is a bit long distance wise.

Maybe they could flip some stuff around and say have the X45 and 12 interworking together with a PVR 8 with 75 minutes for the X45 and 45 minutes for the 12 from Consett

Then the X30/X31 moved to Riverside in return working standalone with a PVR 3 or interworking with something else if they want to remove the short drive from the depot for changeovers.

Believe the PVR is the same as it is now anyway. The 12 is getting hammered lately by being on the extremely long 10/10A aswell.

(04 Dec 2022, 7:50 pm)L469 YVK To solve the issue with Ellison Road Bridge, would the following not work?

- X30/X31 via Ravensworth Road then non stop via Gas Works and Centrelink then Swing Bridge. Stanley bound via Redheugh Bridge, Askew Road West and Gas Works - would only add 5 mins at most and interworking wouldn't be an issue, any height decker could be used.

- 6 via Clockmill Road and Pitz Soccer as Tyne Valley Ten already covers the Teams.

- Peak time 10/10A/10B normal route to Askew Road West then back down via Tyne Road and Rose Street onto Centrelink.

(04 Dec 2022, 7:50 pm)L469 YVK To solve the issue with Ellison Road Bridge, would the following not work? 

- X30/X31 via Ravensworth Road then non stop via Gas Works and Centrelink then Swing Bridge. Stanley bound via Redheugh Bridge, Askew Road West and Gas Works - would only add 5 mins at most and interworking wouldn't be an issue, any height decker could be used.

- 6 via Clockmill Road and Pitz Soccer as Tyne Valley Ten already covers the Teams.

- Peak time 10/10A/10B normal route to Askew Road West then back down via Tyne Road and Rose Street onto Centrelink.

(04 Dec 2022, 9:05 pm)Unber43 What are the height of the streetdecks?

(06 Dec 2022, 11:18 am)Rob44 There was a mentor a while back on the 21  - don't want to describe him in case he's on here but definitely got little man syndrome. Saw him about 6 ish  - asked if he know where the 28b was - shrugged his shoulders... didn't offer to try to find out. I got the next 21 to the fell had a few pints and at around 10 ish was waiting again for the 28b and the 21 pulled in again.  Same mentor. Said i was still waiting. Shrugged shoulders again and it drove off. Setting an example for drivers to follow me thinks!

(06 Dec 2022, 12:25 pm)Ambassador Yes someone asked where the X21 was and if there were any delays and he replied 

'We just drive this bus - not the other buses so can't help there'

Whilst not a factually inaccurate response it's indicative of the awful levels of customer service prevalent especially on the 21 lately

I've voted with my feet - pity those who can't

(06 Dec 2022, 2:35 pm)Rob44 Can the driver not radio control and ask what the crack is or do GNE not know where there buses are at all times?

(06 Dec 2022, 2:47 pm)F114TML It's been years since I've heard a radio on a GNE bus (probably all done via the ticket machine now). We could radio up control and ask, but I'd only do it if the passenger is being particularly forceful - often being sympathetic (easy for me to do as I once spent an hour waiting for a 61; this was before the July reductions), explaining it's likely because there's no driver for it coupled with an apology does the trick.

(06 Dec 2022, 3:00 pm)Rob44 Fair enough.  I just remember back to when me and the crocodile were wafting for a 21 to low fell from Durham.  It was back when the 21 was run by the electric hybred buses.  We waited hours, no lie. at least 3 21 turned up and immediately put no is service on. I asked several drivers if the knew or could find out what the crack was and got excuse after excuse. radio not working, don't know how to use it, no one at control were all said to me more that once.  when on came in it left the bus station full and left punter behind. Still to this day don't know what caused it.

I just think of the grief i'd get from upstairs if a customer asked me about something and i just shrugged my shoulders.... i'd be for the chop!

(05 Dec 2022, 5:33 pm)Ambassador Customer service would be a good start. I’ve just witnessed a frankly awful set of behaviours from a driver ‘mentor’ on the 21 tonight

The bus was full, which being a single decker wasn’t a surprise, he sat in his seat paying no attention when the driver struggled with the machine and then barking out random orders at the poor driver,

Whilst paying customers stood he just sat there watching the football on his phone.

As we made it through low fell a passenger got on and explained he only had a £20 note and he couldn’t afford to get any change. The driver apologised and another passenger offered to pay the 2.30 fare, but the man declined and got off.

As the doors shut…the mentor shouted ‘wouldn’t have killed him to go and get some change’

Drivers and mentors at that…with that attitude shouldn’t be anywhere near a service role.

Back to Uber tomorrow