Anyone else got the new Bus Times update, its awful!

Hi everyone, first post on this forum.

I've been working on creating a full list of buses in the Northern General / Go Northern / Go North East (and associated sub-companies) since the current numbering system came into place in the mid-1970's.  I think I have the majority of the fleet in my list already, but there are still rather a lot of gaps - especially amongst older vehicles and minibuses, which I have found hard to research, so I thought it might be possible to post it on here, as I am sure a lot of you will be much more knowledgeable than me on the fleet.  Any comments or help with filling in the blanks would be much appreciated.  The list can be found here : https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...sp=sharing
Thanks a lot!

Not sure where to post this so I'll make a new thread but something that's had me curious. If you're set on a board which is meant to be a minibus but instead it's ran by a full size bus, do you get the minibus wage as it's what it's rota'd for or do you get the full wage for that shift?

If so it's not exactly in the driver's best interest for the Solo's, which they don't like to drive anyway, to actually be on the road. I'm not suggesting they do it, but to break a bus and get a reward seems rather counter productive.

Great work by the Arriva team today running Park & Ride services for the ever popular food festival in Saltburn.

FF1 from Guisborough
Stockton - 1449, 1458, 1459, 1486, 1488 (PVR 4 but an extra bus 1449 brought in to help maintain the schedule)

FF2 from Brotton
Whitby - 1567

FF3 from Redcar
Redcar - 1430, 1570 (1566? did the first trip and replaced by 1430)


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Does the 520 driver change throughout the day or is it the same one all day?

https://www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk/...T3MwDAkcjI

New service introduced to link key locations in Alnwick. 
Started yesterday. Runs until the end of the summer holidays. 
Funded by local businesses, it will be free for passengers.

Now that fares are being substantially subsidised, should Nexus now take steps to protect bus revenue by utilising Metro Inspectors to check ticket compliance on buses too?

Does the current uncertainty over the effect the election of a new North East Mayor will have on the provision of bus services in the area make the sale of Arriva Northumbria in the short term unlikely, or could a possible bidder see it as an opportunity worth a punt?

So this September the long awaited refurbishment of the Tyne Bridge begins and it's going to be really interesting to see how its managed. 

September through December shouldn't see a huge amount of disruption (at least during peak) but from January 2024 lane closures and serious disruption kicks in 

And with the potential for the High Level works to require intermittent closures...who'd be a planner?

In the world of ideal transport integration, folk would get off their bus at Heworth or Gateshead and enjoy free travel across to Newcastle but I doubt Metro has the capacity, will or reliability to be that option in its current guise. 

We've seen from the closure of the Central Motorway through to the current 1 lane operation impact operations.

Disruption looks entirely unavoidable but it'll be interesting to see what comes out of it in terms of planning. From my own personal stand point, on Colleagues 'office day' - we're either planning to abandon these, switch to monthly or allow colleagues to change their hours to avoid the worst of the disruption

I notice there is a tender out for services 351 and 359, due to start on 3rd September. I'm assuming the 351 is a direct replacement for the 51, and the 359 will be a Whitley Bay to Backworth service.

There is also a tender out for service 335 - not sure if this is because of a change to route, or GCT have been stripped of the contract (wouldn't be surprised as the reliability is awful)