Didn't know where else to put it

Why does the X66 no longer go down past the Centrelink and up Rabbit Banks Road

Thought it'd be easier to have a general thread, rather than the posts being lost across various threads.

We've seen continuing the impact of a national driver shortage on the bus industry over recent weeks, we've seen energy firms starting to go bust because of the price of gas, and now we have hysteria and panic buying on petrol. 'Fuelled' by the media... 
https://news.sky.com/story/energy-crisis...s-12416286

We can only hope that people use their loaf before going out to panic buy bread...
https://www.itv.com/news/2021-09-24/warb...n-unfilled

Issues at Stagecoach too it would seem...

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-event...y-drivers/

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...e-21607381

Work to start on Northumberland Square and Howard Street soon and to expect completion in Summer 2022

Wonder how bus service are gonna work when Howard Street gets work started

National Express has confirmed it is in talks to buy rival transport firm Stagecoach.


Under the terms of the potential deal, National Express would own about 75% of the combined group and Stagecoach 25%.

National Express said it would be able to slash costs as a result of the merger, and expected the newly formed group to find savings of at least £35m.

Travel restrictions and fewer commuters travelling to work have dented passenger numbers during the pandemic.


National Express, which runs bus and coach services across the UK, Spain, and the United States, saw revenues fall to £990m in the six months ending 30 June 2021, down from £1.03bn the previous year.

Stagecoach, Britain's biggest bus operator, also saw sales fall in the year to 1 May, dropping to £928m from £1.4bn in 2020 due to the "adverse effect of the Covid-19 situation".

In a statement on Tuesday, both firms said the potential merger would bring "the best of both" businesses.


If talks are successful, Stagecoach chairman Ray O'Toole would become chairman of the board, while National Express chief executive Ignacio Garat would become chief executive of the newly-formed group.

The companies said the deal would also allow National Express to use Stagecoach's UK network of depots for its coaches, as well as expanding other areas of its business such as private coach hire, corporate shuttles and accessible forms of transport.

They highlighted a number of areas where they hoped to cut costs, such as teaming up on repairing and maintaining vehicles, combining some schedules and routes and the potential sale of office space.

"Consolidation in the hard hit travel sector has been expected and it appears the bus, coach and rail business is ripe for restructure.


"Keeping a tight rein on expenditure is likely to stay a priority so any savings which can be carved out of this merger are clearly attractive. National Express had already had its eye on continued overseas expansion, with its US school bus operation proving resilient, and new bus services being rolled out in Morocco."

The new potential group is likely to be hungry to find more similar opportunities in the rest of the world, she added.


National Express did acknowledge that the merger would see one-off costs of up to £40m in the first two years after the deal, if it was approved.

The firm, which also runs rail operations in Germany, said that the all-share tie-up would, however, allow the new group to save "at least" £35m annually, with about 25% by the end of the first year.

Both companies stressed that the talks were still ongoing and that "there can be no certainty that an offer will be made".

National Express has until 19 October to make a firm offer.


Credit to - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58636437

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/1...ty-durham/

arrivas response to complaints about buses not turning up. I do wonder with the letter writer wants arriva to be banned from running services who he thinks will do a better job in the current climate? I doubt any other company would have the resources to cover when they too can run all the services they run!

I realise it's still early and may have just dreamed it up. But I'm sure they've just mentioned a merger between Stagecoach and First on Radio 4.

Is it a possibility that due to the National Driver shortage this year that on boxing day we could see other companies helping GNE/Arriva and Stagecoach run boxing day services

Due to a national driver shortage, reflecting labour shortages now being seen in many sectors across the country, and a short-term increase in sickness absence, we are making some temporary changes to a small number of our high-frequency services from Saturday 25 September.


https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/temporary-...-september

Philadelphia Open Day

Saturday 23 October 21 Open 11:00 – 17:00 

£1 Entry) all funds raised will go towards the NNRG Charity) 

Halloween Themed activities 

Hot & cold beverages £1 

Wide Range of demonstrations from 12:00 – 13:00 

Special Guests County Durham Bus Preservation Group 

Depot Halloween Open DaySaturday 23 October - 11:00 – 17:00

The Northern National Restoration Group will open Philadelphia Depot to the local community with a Halloween twist. The depot will be open from 11 am until 5 pm, during your visit you will learn about what the NNRG does, how we do it, and our future plans. You will be able to see our vehicles up close and see what has been completed in the last few years. This will include getting up and close to 3813. Watch out though there will be some spooky going ons. 

The NNRG will be working with strict covid-19 restrictions, so please keep to the one-way system, wash your hands with sanitizer which will be available.

Please come along and see first hand what we do. We will be on hand to answer all your questions.

Book via website (nnrg.co.uk)