24th March 2024 Changes
24th March 2024 Changes
I’m genuinely struggling to understand how the 317 can be so bad - the buses are constantly 20+ minutes late for no apparent reason, the drivers obviously haven’t been trained properly on the route either.
Even the evening services are running considerably late - this never happened when Stagecoach operated it so not sure what the issue is, but needs sorted ASAP.
(28 Mar 2024, 7:19 am)Storx By the looks of it, it's nothing to do with Nexus and is a Newcastle City Council (who own the bus station) policy instead which isn't a surprise as they seem to do everything to make people not want to visit Newcastle.
(28 Mar 2024, 7:19 am)Storx By the looks of it, it's nothing to do with Nexus and is a Newcastle City Council (who own the bus station) policy instead which isn't a surprise as they seem to do everything to make people not want to visit Newcastle.
(29 Mar 2024, 12:11 pm)Adrian Exactly this. I'm not actually against it, if the money goes towards the upkeep of the bus station, but Haymarket is a bit of a wreck these days. Quite a bit of seating is damaged, has been taped out of use, or even removed.
(29 Mar 2024, 12:11 pm)Adrian Exactly this. I'm not actually against it, if the money goes towards the upkeep of the bus station, but Haymarket is a bit of a wreck these days. Quite a bit of seating is damaged, has been taped out of use, or even removed.
(29 Mar 2024, 12:11 pm)Adrian Exactly this. I'm not actually against it, if the money goes towards the upkeep of the bus station, but Haymarket is a bit of a wreck these days. Quite a bit of seating is damaged, has been taped out of use, or even removed.
(29 Mar 2024, 12:11 pm)Adrian Exactly this. I'm not actually against it, if the money goes towards the upkeep of the bus station, but Haymarket is a bit of a wreck these days. Quite a bit of seating is damaged, has been taped out of use, or even removed.
(26 Mar 2024, 7:12 pm)Storx A bit off topic but I kinda disagree about bus stations.
Bus stations are a complete waste of time if you ask me, unless it's an interchange where you change between a bus and a tube / train like many places in London where you can't control timings so are forced to wait.
Personally, on paper (not saying do it), I'd much rather have a bus which looped around Newcastle so I could get on/off where I actually wanted to be, rather than being dumped off at Haymarket which is miles to the North of most places.
Not to mention personally, I feel more secure at a bus stop than an unstaffed bus station in the evening. Haymarket is an unpleasant place, as an understatement, especially with the undesirables hanging around outside the pub.
Most people who know the timetable, won't be there for longer than 5 minutes max. Now if the bus station was near Central Station then it would be a different kettle of fish.
(26 Mar 2024, 7:12 pm)Storx A bit off topic but I kinda disagree about bus stations.
Bus stations are a complete waste of time if you ask me, unless it's an interchange where you change between a bus and a tube / train like many places in London where you can't control timings so are forced to wait.
Personally, on paper (not saying do it), I'd much rather have a bus which looped around Newcastle so I could get on/off where I actually wanted to be, rather than being dumped off at Haymarket which is miles to the North of most places.
Not to mention personally, I feel more secure at a bus stop than an unstaffed bus station in the evening. Haymarket is an unpleasant place, as an understatement, especially with the undesirables hanging around outside the pub.
Most people who know the timetable, won't be there for longer than 5 minutes max. Now if the bus station was near Central Station then it would be a different kettle of fish.
(29 Mar 2024, 1:44 pm)BusLoverMum Having spent 4 years without a bus station in Durham, it was a relief to get one back instead of having to wait goodness knows how long in all weathers in the open air for a bus, watching other buses I could have caught if they hadn't departed from the other end if north road sail past. The same issue also affected planning a journey with a connection because you couldn't guarantee getting from one stop to another in the 5 minutes you should have.
Now we have the bus station back, people who have a wait have somewhere dry to wait and those who have a choice of services can see what's in, catch it, and get out of everyone else's way.
And, yes, when I go to Newcastle, I might get off at St Mary's Place or John Dobson street but I'm blown if I'm waiting for the bus home on Newgate street when there is a nice, dry bus station to wait in - with seating if my back is hurting from standing.
(29 Mar 2024, 1:44 pm)BusLoverMum Having spent 4 years without a bus station in Durham, it was a relief to get one back instead of having to wait goodness knows how long in all weathers in the open air for a bus, watching other buses I could have caught if they hadn't departed from the other end if north road sail past. The same issue also affected planning a journey with a connection because you couldn't guarantee getting from one stop to another in the 5 minutes you should have.
Now we have the bus station back, people who have a wait have somewhere dry to wait and those who have a choice of services can see what's in, catch it, and get out of everyone else's way.
And, yes, when I go to Newcastle, I might get off at St Mary's Place or John Dobson street but I'm blown if I'm waiting for the bus home on Newgate street when there is a nice, dry bus station to wait in - with seating if my back is hurting from standing.
The new X39 run looks to be a single deck op which is great but it left a load standing who were ably assisted by the 22X
(02 Apr 2024, 9:49 pm)Ambassador The new X39 run looks to be a single deck op which is great but it left a load standing who were ably assisted by the 22XAt the same time they had 3 double deckers on the 317, which don't pick anyone up as they can't follow the correct route, don't display the correct destination, or turn up half an hour late.
(02 Apr 2024, 9:49 pm)Ambassador The new X39 run looks to be a single deck op which is great but it left a load standing who were ably assisted by the 22XAt the same time they had 3 double deckers on the 317, which don't pick anyone up as they can't follow the correct route, don't display the correct destination, or turn up half an hour late.
(02 Apr 2024, 10:42 pm)Unber43 317 done alright today, limited delays
(02 Apr 2024, 10:42 pm)Unber43 317 done alright today, limited delays
(02 Apr 2024, 10:18 pm)Thomas12 At the same time they had 3 double deckers on the 317, which don't pick anyone up as they can't follow the correct route, don't display the correct destination, or turn up half an hour late.
Honestly, GCT would do a better job than these lot, absolute clowns
(02 Apr 2024, 10:42 pm)Unber43 317 done alright today, limited delays
(02 Apr 2024, 10:48 pm)Thomas12 Still services running unnecessarily late - something that didnt happen under Stagecoach and they could follow the current route.
(02 Apr 2024, 11:41 pm)Aaron21 Are u okay. Half of them are still going the wrong way and missing parts of the route. There is no way in hell they can't be this bad at it. Constantly late. Missing stops and just ignore the route. Mu cousin got on the 317 and they went the wrong way. Told him he went the wrong way and the driver just went eh and shrug his shoulders
(02 Apr 2024, 10:18 pm)Thomas12 At the same time they had 3 double deckers on the 317, which don't pick anyone up as they can't follow the correct route, don't display the correct destination, or turn up half an hour late.
Honestly, GCT would do a better job than these lot, absolute clowns
(02 Apr 2024, 10:42 pm)Unber43 317 done alright today, limited delays
(02 Apr 2024, 10:48 pm)Thomas12 Still services running unnecessarily late - something that didnt happen under Stagecoach and they could follow the current route.
(02 Apr 2024, 11:41 pm)Aaron21 Are u okay. Half of them are still going the wrong way and missing parts of the route. There is no way in hell they can't be this bad at it. Constantly late. Missing stops and just ignore the route. Mu cousin got on the 317 and they went the wrong way. Told him he went the wrong way and the driver just went eh and shrug his shoulders
(03 Apr 2024, 11:36 am)logidoodah Just shows that people will suck up to GNE on this forum. People insist that if GCT or Arriva do anything wrong they should have contracts taken from them, yet I'm yet to see someone call for this in regards to GNE. Especially regarding the 317.
There should be no delays from one of the oldest and the biggest bus companies in the north east.
I remember SNE 'teething issues' as some have referred to being sorted out within decent amount of time. This was mainly due to the fact 24101 - 24107 were used for their Euro 6 engines as part of the contract, and the residents of Howdon etc.. were not used to buses this long using the route. Parked cars were the main issues for ages. Once this was sorted there was rarely an issue. Timetabling is Nexus' area of incompetence....
Yep that sounds like GNE drivers....the company is a disgrace. I know that Arriva are as well but this is in particular reply.
(03 Apr 2024, 11:36 am)logidoodah Just shows that people will suck up to GNE on this forum. People insist that if GCT or Arriva do anything wrong they should have contracts taken from them, yet I'm yet to see someone call for this in regards to GNE. Especially regarding the 317.
There should be no delays from one of the oldest and the biggest bus companies in the north east.
I remember SNE 'teething issues' as some have referred to being sorted out within decent amount of time. This was mainly due to the fact 24101 - 24107 were used for their Euro 6 engines as part of the contract, and the residents of Howdon etc.. were not used to buses this long using the route. Parked cars were the main issues for ages. Once this was sorted there was rarely an issue. Timetabling is Nexus' area of incompetence....
Yep that sounds like GNE drivers....the company is a disgrace. I know that Arriva are as well but this is in particular reply.
(03 Apr 2024, 1:47 pm)Ex-conductor GNE should never have been awarded the contract for the 317, given that they abandoned that same route (numbered 11 at the time), two years ago. I live on the route and found the service was very reliable when Stagecoach had it. Now it's a shambles, typical of the way in which GNE have carried on at the coastal area for a long time. Yesterday they were running a double-decker branded for the DFDS ferries, one branded for the North Tyne Rockets (why wasn't this on the 352, 353 or 354?), and one in corporate livery. What a mess. One other point on delays: the 317 was the amalgamation of two routes many years ago when GNE merged the Whitley Bay - North Shields section with the North Shields - Wallsend section (originally the 313). In order to make the 317 more reliable, particularly with connections to and from the ferry, I would suggest that the 2 parts of the route are re-established as separate services. As I understand it, it was the very indirect route through High Howdon which was causing delays.
(03 Apr 2024, 1:47 pm)Ex-conductor GNE should never have been awarded the contract for the 317, given that they abandoned that same route (numbered 11 at the time), two years ago. I live on the route and found the service was very reliable when Stagecoach had it. Now it's a shambles, typical of the way in which GNE have carried on at the coastal area for a long time. Yesterday they were running a double-decker branded for the DFDS ferries, one branded for the North Tyne Rockets (why wasn't this on the 352, 353 or 354?), and one in corporate livery. What a mess. One other point on delays: the 317 was the amalgamation of two routes many years ago when GNE merged the Whitley Bay - North Shields section with the North Shields - Wallsend section (originally the 313). In order to make the 317 more reliable, particularly with connections to and from the ferry, I would suggest that the 2 parts of the route are re-established as separate services. As I understand it, it was the very indirect route through High Howdon which was causing delays.
I used to drive the 317 and it was very well used during the day across the entire route.
(02 Apr 2024, 11:41 pm)Aaron21 Are u okay. Half of them are still going the wrong way and missing parts of the route. There is no way in hell they can't be this bad at it. Constantly late. Missing stops and just ignore the route. Mu cousin got on the 317 and they went the wrong way. Told him he went the wrong way and the driver just went eh and shrug his shoulders
(02 Apr 2024, 11:41 pm)Aaron21 Are u okay. Half of them are still going the wrong way and missing parts of the route. There is no way in hell they can't be this bad at it. Constantly late. Missing stops and just ignore the route. Mu cousin got on the 317 and they went the wrong way. Told him he went the wrong way and the driver just went eh and shrug his shoulders
(03 Apr 2024, 4:37 pm)nova347 Which ones didnt go the right way
(03 Apr 2024, 4:37 pm)nova347 Which ones didnt go the right way
(03 Apr 2024, 3:24 pm)Storx Can't really stop them as it's all done by tenders so it's just the lowest bid. Be illegal otherwise.
Kind of agree with the split service though, but I'd extend them somewhere else to make them actual useful, especially the Wallsend side of it which duplicates the Metro bar connecting local estates to two places most people don't want to be as, politely, they're crap.
(03 Apr 2024, 3:24 pm)Storx Can't really stop them as it's all done by tenders so it's just the lowest bid. Be illegal otherwise.
Kind of agree with the split service though, but I'd extend them somewhere else to make them actual useful, especially the Wallsend side of it which duplicates the Metro bar connecting local estates to two places most people don't want to be as, politely, they're crap.
