(19 Jun 2015, 6:24 pm)aureolin http://www.comeonengland.org/2015/06/19/shocking-video-of-bus-driver-choking-woman-who-fil/

(11 Aug 2015, 6:51 pm)S813 FVK Could somebody please provide the opening and closing times for the travel shops at both Chester-le-Street and Washington (or just the one set if they're both the same) please. Just need to sort something and since we don't have a proper travel shop at Stanley or Consett, one of those 2 would be best. You won't need to go to the trouble of the Saturday times (think they both close at 14:00 anyway) and i know they're closed on Sundays. Just a bit iffy on Wednesdays as some shops are open half day and with it being something i am not familiar with, i have my doubts. Thank you in advance.

(11 Aug 2015, 6:53 pm)citaro5284 http://www.simplygo.com/travelshops/

(11 Aug 2015, 6:54 pm)S813 FVK Never even noticed that page before. There is a specsavers in Chester-le-Street, right?

Thanks!

(11 Aug 2015, 7:00 pm)aureolin I've always found the Chester times to be a bit bizarre!

By the way, does anybody remember the old Washington travel shop? Where you'd go in through the coaches waiting room, with the changing room style wooden benches round it?

(11 Aug 2015, 7:14 pm)BusLoverMum Oh yep. They started making changes to the station about the time that I stopped going there regularly.

It's all lighter and brighter, now, but I miss the metal railings that forced people to queue in order. It's just a free for all when a bus turns up, now.

(07 Sep 2015, 6:10 pm)aureolin Had an interesting one today, whilst on the GNE 20.

I boarded at Durham Bus Station, and a lad in front of me wanted a single to Sunderland Interchange. He was quoted £4.10, and questioned it as too expensive. Driver confirmed that was the fare, so he took his ticket. He then turned back to question it, as the ticket stated 'South Shields Market Place' on it.

Rather than take the time to explain simplified fares and the fare table to the customer, the driver decided to be rude and obnoxious instead, insisting that the customer can "take it or leave it", "if he has an issue wait till you get to Sunderland and complain to a supervisor", and "it's not my problem. the machine issues fares not me.".

As this argument went on for a good 2-3 minutes, and we were getting no where, I stepped in to explain the simplified fares, and that the ticket will actually print the furthest destination you can travel to within that fare bracket. The customer seemed to accept this and sat down.

I can't see why the driver would take the approach he did, given that he only had to produce the fare table that the service is legally required to carry and produce on request.

Baffling, and hardly a great example to set to that customer, and the queue of customers behind.

(07 Sep 2015, 6:10 pm)aureolin Had an interesting one today, whilst on the GNE 20.

I boarded at Durham Bus Station, and a lad in front of me wanted a single to Sunderland Interchange. He was quoted £4.10, and questioned it as too expensive. Driver confirmed that was the fare, so he took his ticket. He then turned back to question it, as the ticket stated 'South Shields Market Place' on it.

Rather than take the time to explain simplified fares and the fare table to the customer, the driver decided to be rude and obnoxious instead, insisting that the customer can "take it or leave it", "if he has an issue wait till you get to Sunderland and complain to a supervisor", and "it's not my problem. the machine issues fares not me.".

As this argument went on for a good 2-3 minutes, and we were getting no where, I stepped in to explain the simplified fares, and that the ticket will actually print the furthest destination you can travel to within that fare bracket. The customer seemed to accept this and sat down.

I can't see why the driver would take the approach he did, given that he only had to produce the fare table that the service is legally required to carry and produce on request.

Baffling, and hardly a great example to set to that customer, and the queue of customers behind.

(07 Sep 2015, 8:01 pm)R852 PRG Thanks for providing all of these details, but my real question is, was it a branded vehicle on the 20 or not? 

(07 Sep 2015, 9:04 pm)northern156 In the absence of the 'Like' button...


'Like'

(26 Nov 2015, 3:32 pm)GX03 SVC I received a reply from Customer Services about a week back, it landed in my spam folder and forgot to put it in my folders.

Basically it was about being conned at Ashington bus station and the 0930 X22 not turning up.

I was told that there is no CCTV facing towards the shelter (Stand A, go and look for yourself to see if theres CCTV pointing towards the stand from a lamppost...!) so they couldn't have recorded it. It wasn't an Arriva matter, despit it being an Arriva bus station and how I should contact the police "if its serious enough".

So, nothing to prevent a similar incident, as it is not an Arriva matter.

The 0930 X22 experienced difficulties of some sort and regretfully missed the bus station. As I used the X20 (non Sapphire service), I don't qualify for a no-quibble money back voucher either.

Exactly the response I expected, rather unhelpful and no apology.

(26 Nov 2015, 3:56 pm)BusLoverMum How were you conned?

(26 Nov 2015, 4:01 pm)GX03 SVC I was waiting for the bus, then a rather scruffy looking middle-aged man approached me and asked for £1.20 so he could afford his fare. He then asked for 20p as he was short. He then went and approached a woman for a cigarette he then started asking personal questions (family, school, where I live etc) before walking off five minutes before the bus was due.