Gateshead Central Taxis

[Tom]

But I assume they will be registered taxi bus services, numbered TBxxx? The 939 is a normal service as far as I'm concerned, and should be operated by buses. If Go North East can stick a Merc out on the 0610 run from Concord and a Vyking out on the 0640 from Sunderland, with Stanley Travel providing the extra bus at 0710 (also a double decker)... Why can't GCT?
You wouldn't see Deptford sticking out their silver driver shuttle vans on the 939.

Do they even have any buses?

[Dan]

Do they even have any buses?

Eight of those Bluebird minibus contraptions, so no excuse for putting out taxis on public service work unless it is permitted within the contract.
Don't really see how Stanley Travel or GNE could have competed with the low running costs in reality when bidding though, if that's the case... The mpg difference on a double decker bus compared to a small Renault taxi... That's fair, isn't it?

[Andreos1]

But I assume they will be registered taxi bus services, numbered TBxxx? The 939 is a normal service as far as I'm concerned, and should be operated by buses. If Go North East can stick a Merc out on the 0610 run from Concord and a Vyking out on the 0640 from Sunderland, with Stanley Travel providing the extra bus at 0710 (also a double decker)... Why can't GCT?
You wouldn't see Deptford sticking out their silver driver shuttle vans on the 939.

Regardless of whether they were TB buses or workers services - the point stands that I didn't realise it was a bus.

[Dan]

Regardless of whether they were TB buses or workers services - the point stands that I didn't realise it was a bus.

My point was that anyone should expect to be looking out for a taxi when it's a registered taxi bus service (which, for the record, I do strongly disagree with 'taxi buses' to begin with).
I was looking for a bus today because it's a bus service, not a taxi bus service. The other boards are all operated by buses, so why the taxi on GCT's run? If the taxi didn't stop, I wouldn't have thought it was on the 939.

Christ, I hope taxi companies can't put in for service work if QCS comes along... Imagine it now - Station Taxis operating the 35!

[Adrian]

Would you get in it, at 06:40am in the morning?

That's ridiculous to be honest. Nobody is going to be expecting a taxi to work instead of a bus. I wonder if Nexus have agreed?

[Dan]

That's ridiculous to be honest. Nobody is going to be expecting a taxi to work instead of a bus. I wonder if Nexus have agreed?

It amazes me how they didn't care about Compass Community Transport's non-compliant vehicles when someone e-mailed them before.
If it had been one of the big three, Nexus would have come down on them like a tonne of bricks and no doubt would have fined them.

[Michael]

Iv'e never agreed with taxi buses either, why not just a normal bus?, from a company which can provide them...
The euro engine in the contract is stupid to, more mainly for small companies, as not every small company can afford new buses.

[gtom]

I'm sure that L30 reg is the one that works TB14

Michael, the reason a 'proper' bus isn't used is that they tend to operate poorly accessible residential roads.

Take the TB14 (when it was the 23) Go Ahead used to send Solo's and Darts up round to Birtley East Primary and Malone Gardens. It's just not feasible now as you barely fit a car up those roads.

[Adrian]

It amazes me how they didn't care about Compass Community Transport's non-compliant vehicles when someone e-mailed them before.
If it had been one of the big three, Nexus would have come down on them like a tonne of bricks and no doubt would have fined them.

I'd say Compass Community Transport's lacklustre approach to allocating vehicles has ultimately lost them Nexus contracts. I do agree that the big three seem to be more under the kosh from Nexus though.

[gtom]

I'd say Compass Community Transport's lacklustre approach to allocating vehicles has ultimately lost them Nexus contracts. I do agree that the big three seem to be more under the kosh from Nexus though.

Nexus eventually acted when official complaints came in from Civic Centres at both Gateshead and Sunderland over the 23.

I was on a 23 (the van) when a Nexus employee (who gave me his card and introduced himself as James) stopped the bus in Wrekenton and took photos of the A4 signage and the vehicle itself

[Adrian]

Nexus eventually acted when official complaints came in from Civic Centres at both Gateshead and Sunderland over the 23.

I was on a 23 (the van) when a Nexus employee (who gave me his card and introduced himself as James) stopped the bus in Wrekenton and took photos of the A4 signage and the vehicle itself

Interesting. I think an FOI may be in order.

[Tom]

Do you know what GCT usually use on the R3/R4/R5/R6 whatever it is...

[tyresmoke]

Do you know what GCT usually use on the R3/R4/R5/R6 whatever it is...

One of the Bluebirds - Classic use the Caetano Darts (for how much longer?)

[Dan]

Presumably new in at GCT (though I have no idea) is NK62DCV. Was a small blue minibus.

[Michael]

PB1099280/1 - CENTRAL TAXIS GATESHEAD LTD, 53 - 55 HIGH STREET, FELLING, GATESHEAD, NE10 9LU
Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Blaydon Bus Station and Blaydon Bus Station given service number R3/R4/R6 effective from 07-Feb-2014. To amend Timetable.

PB1099280/5 - CENTRAL TAXIS GATESHEAD LTD, 53 - 55 HIGH STREET, FELLING, GATESHEAD, NE10 9LU
Cancellation Accepted by SN: Operating between FOUR LANE ENDS and FOUR LANE ENDS given service number K1/K2 effective from 23-Mar-2014.

[gtom]

I'd heard they were chucking in the TB14 with 422 Taxis taking over

[gtom]

TB14 has been operated the past few days with a silver 'Transit' as opposed to the usual vehicle

[Kuyoyo]

PB1099280/8 - CENTRAL TAXIS GATESHEAD LTD, 53 - 55 HIGH STREET, FELLING, GATESHEAD, NE10 9LU
Cancellation Accepted: Operating between HIGH STREET , GATESHEAD and TESCO, CHESTER LE STREET, NORTH BURNS given service number T1 effective from 30-Apr-2014.

PB1099280/13 - CENTRAL TAXIS GATESHEAD LTD, 53 - 55 HIGH STREET, FELLING, GATESHEAD, NE10 9LU
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: HIGH STREET, GATESHEAD
Finish Point: WARDLEY, GATESHEAD
Via: Low Fell, Beacon Lough, Whitehills, Leam Lane East
Service Number: T1
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 30-APR-2014
Other Details: Hourly Monday to Saturday. T1 Service will travel via Felling Square, Tesco Gateshead T2 Service will travel via Beacon Lough East, Tesco Gateshead

[BJ10VUS]

Starting from Sunday, Gateshead Central Taxis will be operating new service 71A from Kingston Park, Kenton Bank Foot and Westerhope to Walbottle, Newburn and Throckley. The service operates during the evening (Monday to Saturday) and all day on Sunday.

I'm assuming the Westerhope to Kingston Park part of the route covers the M71, as it does not run after around 6pm (Monday to Saturday) or on Sunday, as well as covering the 71 route between Westerhope and Throckley (except Chapel House) during the evenings and on Sunday when the 71 operates between Newcastle and North Walbottle only.

71/71A timetable from Nexus website: http://www.nexus.org.uk/sites/default/fi...240314.pdf

[Michael]

PB1099280/15 - CENTRAL TAXIS GATESHEAD LTD, 53 - 55 HIGH STREET, FELLING, GATESHEAD, NE10 9LU
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: NEWGATE STREET, NEWCASTLE
Finish Point: TEAM VALLEY TRADING ESTATE, GATESHEAD
Via:
Service Number: 941
Service Type: Limited Stop
Effective Date: 27-JUL-2014
Other Details: MONDAY TO FRIDAY ONE JOURNEY PER DAY

PB1099280/16 - CENTRAL TAXIS GATESHEAD LTD, 53 - 55 HIGH STREET, FELLING, GATESHEAD, NE10 9LU
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: HEWORTH INTERCHANGE, GATESHEAD
Finish Point: ARGYLE ST, HEBBURN SOUTH TYNESIDE
Via:
Service Number: 515
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 27-JUL-2014
Other Details: MONDAY TO SATURDAY HOURLY

PB1099280/17 - CENTRAL TAXIS GATESHEAD LTD, 53 - 55 HIGH STREET, FELLING, GATESHEAD, NE10 9LU
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: HEWORTH INTERCHANGE, GATESHEAD
Finish Point: DOVEDALE ROAD, SEABURN
Via:
Service Number: 558
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 27-JUL-2014
Other Details: MONDAY TO SATURDAY HOURLY
PB1099280/18 - CENTRAL TAXIS GATESHEAD LTD, 53 - 55 HIGH STREET, FELLING, GATESHEAD, NE10 9LU

Registration Accepted
Starting Point: METROCENTRE INTERCHANGE
Finish Point: GATESHEAD
Via:
Service Number: 96
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 27-JUL-2014
Other Details: MONDAY, TUESDAY,WEDNESDAY, THURS, SATURDAY, SUNDAY HOURLY

PB1099280/19 - CENTRAL TAXIS GATESHEAD LTD, 53 - 55 HIGH STREET, FELLING, GATESHEAD, NE10 9LU
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: CLARA VALE. CRAWCROOK
Finish Point: MAIN ROAD, ROWLANDS GILL
Via:
Service Number: R3
Service Type: Normal Stopping/Hail & Ride
Effective Date: 27-JUL-2014
Other Details: MONDAY TO SUNDAY HOURLY

PB1099280/20 - CENTRAL TAXIS GATESHEAD LTD, 53 - 55 HIGH STREET, FELLING, GATESHEAD, NE10 9LU
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: GATESHEAD METROCENTRE
Finish Point: THE CRESCENT, WHICKHAM
Via:
Service Number: 643
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 27-JUL-2014
Other Details: MONDAY TO SATURDAY

In bold are the main winners to me