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

[Someaddedsugar]

Just setting this up so it's here

Someone posted on Stanley chatterbox Facebook that, go northeast are not going to pay the drivers to get to first stop from depot and any return during day and last shift. If that’s true then I’m not surprised they are striking. They will be paying their own pay rise.
Someone piped up that home care worker’s are only paid for actual jobs. It’s not a race to the bottom. And that’s why they can’t get care workers, shit conditions.

That was rumoured to be one of the proposals but it's been strenuously denied. They would never get that past unions, even with the best pay deal as some of those early buses need moving from Gateshead to Bishop Auckland or Teesside.

There used to be some double decker boards on the X12, back when it was twice an hour to Newcastle. Some of those vehicles are still in the Durham fleet but they are old and looking it. They regularly broke down on the X12, even 6 years ago. Other double deckers in the Durham fleet are in even worse condition or even older. Stockton run most of the boards on the X12 and IIRC their depot is all single decker due to height restrictions in the engineering bay. The current Pulsars are good, reliable buses but definitely not big enough for the number of passengers that usually cram onto that route, all on double deckers.

It would be great if Durham council and Nexus could reallocate the secured services run by GNE from CLS to Newcastle (25, 28, 29) to other companies but Nexus are saying that the driver and vehicle resources aren't there.

Just to add that arriva County Durham have recently reduced the frequency of most of their own services due to driver and vehicle shortsges.

Afternoon all...this thread caught my eye as have just been ranting about the X21. Ds has been offered an advanced apprenticeship in Newcastle but this was the bus he was going to take. Buggera hell

Interesting, thanks @PickAChew.

Oh hello! Haven't seen this thread in a wee while. Recognise some usernames!

Nightmare Gatekeeper. 🙁 Ds1 has an upcoming internship placement in Birtley but thankfully the organisers have secured taxis for them through access to work because it's a bit of a lairy walk along a fast road from the nearest bus stops, anyhow.

Im fondly thinking about the days I went to Wellbar House in Newcastle for training sessions back in the 80's. OK buses used to have a special express service 8a.m I got from Spenny and it took about 35mins as it bypassed Low Fell, Gateshead etc. Can only dream of journeys like that now

Low Fell adds so much time to a journey though the A1 is so bad, at the moment, that last time we headed into Newcastle, Waze decided that it was faster to go via both Birtley (with it's current roadworks) AND Low Fell 🙄

This is why I love the X21. It's brilliant bombing along the A1(M) in a double decker especially if you can get the front seat on the top deck. Also, at my age, it costs me nothing! Anyone would think I was over 60, instead of about 14 and a half!

There is no bombing along the bit of the A1 past Birtley, at the moment. It was more hellish than ever, yesterday.

I love getting the front seat upstairs.

I get to travel for free, so long as I take one of the boys with me. They have their uses, though Ds2 is bloody useless at carrying shopping and Ds1 demands a hefty chocolate tax :D

Good morning everyone. We’ve had a pretty bad night here in Lanchester. Large parts of the village are flooded.

Take care when driving!

@Florelei I hope you're ok!! We saw photos of the village centre from a relative earlier and it looks awful. I hadn't realised it had rained quite so much overnight.

Apologies for a very selfish question - I'm travelling that way that on later today - do you know if it's possible to get through the village to head up to the A68? I need to stop in Durham first and thought that would be quickest but not sure if it's passable.

I’m so sorry @Florelei , hope you aren’t affected. Lanchester is in a little valley isn’t it. That massive hill going down to it. (For me)
I heard the rain but didn’t realise it had rained so much, the ground is sodden.

@Someaddedsugar Im not sure. We’ve just come up the A691 to consett and that was passable - so if you need the A68 it might be best to go up through castleside.

Durham Constabulary FB page said that the A691 was closed in both directions but traffic was coming through. I am going to walk the dog soon and will have a look to see if you can get past the kings head.

We live right at the top of the village so thankfully unaffected but several peoples homes and businesses are flooded.

That’s so sad, because a lot of the businesses are not far from the main road on the flat bit.
The weather is awful, I’m so sick of the rain.

@AlviarinAesSedai the water on Front Street has been pumped away but the damage will have been done. It’s awful.

It must be awful. I know it used to be bad but I thought the council or the EA had put in full flooding measures to prevent this happening anymore.

Thanks @Florelei - think I might take a different route so I'm not adding to any traffic.

Flooding is just devastating. Our house has been flooded several times since we bought it and it takes so long to feel as though you can trust it again. Our issues were drain related and so far so good with all the rain which is reassuring! The Deerness has flooded further down but at least that is just paths and fields that get wet. At the bottom of our garden it is close to going over the bank at the far side. I've seen it much worse though.

I hope all those affected are being supported with the clear up.

It is so disappointing that the last remaining retailers won't be returning to the centre. I heard somewhere that the retail units available after the Price Bishops redevelopment will be much smaller, so they are unlikely to be attractive to high street stores; fingers crossed for some independent shops at least.

Hope you are all keeping well in spite of the awful weather.

I don’t know, if shop’s won’t return. It’s just New look etc have large stores at Arnison centre. Plus if shops are going to be smaller, they won’t be big enough.
There are still empty shops in the Riverwalk. But as going to be student lets above.
I don’t think the developers will care, as they will still make a profit. No shops no reason to visit Durham ( I go to cathedral a couple of times a year)
I just feel sorry for Durham parish council as they just won’t have the money.

Discovering Durham and Elvet and Bailey will be able to find new stores. Also the optician.
I’m not optimistic, I’m going less and less. But on the plus side lots and lots of coffee shops and restaurants, 😆 and going to be more!!

@Someaddedsugar all roads seem to be open now.