North East thread 7: the bus chat continues...

[Someaddedsugar]

Just setting this up so it's here

Thank goodness! I'm so relieved.

According to the BBC article, that was the numbers for the drivers alone but the office staff and engineers who were also striking were more overwhelmingly for a return to work.

I can imagine a lot of drivers moving on, though, either to other bus companies (some with slightly better and others with much worse terms) or to different roles altogether,

They suddenly have pretty deep pockets
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/welcome-back

They have dropped the multi operator tickets from the offer, only GNE singles and returns now.

We are heading to the light display at Auckland castle / bishop Auckland this evening. It’s going to be cold! We went to the Light trail at Gibside last year and loved it so I am hoping that this will be as good!

Apparently including multi-operator tickets caused "unforseen" problems for other operators. It's been chaos for some of their own drivers, as well.

I hope you enjoy it, @Florelei - DS2 is going just before Christmas. Hopefully it will be warmer for him! We've had to cancel his respite, this weekend due to it being so blooming cold and, after a quick run to the Arnison centre with DH, this morning, he is unsurprisingly unbothered!

" Unforseen" means the bosses at GNE dint think about the nature of the renumeration for multi operator tickets. They can't be expected to carry around another companies customers for free.

Small wonder the company is a mess.

Now drivers will be getting grief as people have seen the original advert and think they are entitled to a day rover.

Thanks @PickAChew - it was really good! Hope your DS enjoys it when he goes.

Something kicked off at Stanley bus station again tonight. They(police) need to sort it out.
I’ve heard good things about Bishop light event. I’m staying in, it’s far too cold for me. 🥶

I’ve been to Newcastle today, great free bus ride. Thanked the driver.
Fenwick window was nice, but just nice.
Thrilled the snow is going. Was out really early.
Was their a crash at the roundabout near where you live @PickAChew ?
Something was happening because the x21 I was on struggled to get past. So I’ve been to Newcastle and Durham.

I don't know about a crash but I've just seen this about Stanley - must have been what the to do was, the other night https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23965947.boy-17-charged-stanley-bus-station-stabbing/

It’s shocking, he could easily have died.
Something is going badly wrong, I know there is nothing for them to do, but god. The police need to make their presence felt. Obviously not all from Stanley as they needed buses back to travel.
Maybe the police commissioner can visit, maybe photo op. She gets enough bloody money.

Florelei · 02/12/2023 17:02

We went to the Light trail at Gibside last year and loved it so I am hoping that this will be as good!

We went last year and enjoyed it, I hadn't thought about it for this year.

Been to Arnison this morning, my god it was busy for a Monday morning. But I got my free florentines from M&S.
Thank goodness the snow and the rain are gone today. Feels nice out.
I enjoyed my week off work. And enjoyed my free bus travel. Went to Newcastle twice.
Hope everyone is sorted for Christmas, definitely not feeling it this year.

I wonder if GNE are doing Santa bus. 😀.Bet they aren’t . Everyone loved it. 🎅🏻 🚍

The GNE Santa bus is back! 🎅🏻 🚌.
Arriva are doing a 🎅🏻🚍too.

We took advantage of the free buses on Friday and caught the X10 from Newcastle to Dalton park, as we can't normally catch that together using Eldest's bus pass as it has different fares.

I still haven't seen the Santa bus
Andthough I tracked some Christmas Angel buses, they all came from Newcastle but stopped at Ch-le-St

Does anyone know how to find the timetable for the Santa bus please? The kids loved it last year!

It's not been released, yet, @PacificCoastHighway

Thanks @PickAChew, I will keep an eye out for the timetable.

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/santa-bus-returns?utm_campaign=Santa%20Bus%20is%20back%21&utm_content=website&utm_term=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Adestra

Was just going to share that link. 😀

Thanks so much for sharing the link! We will have happy children

I can remember when the threads started, people trying to see the Santa bus.
Everyone seems to love it. 🎅🏻