Go North East

[Kate]

RE: Go North East

(28/07/2012 22:09)venturego Wrote:  What is the point of branded buses when they are continually being used on other services than the brand they represent. This just creates confusion, especially visitors to our region. Are GNE overstretching themselves now?

It is simply the case of not have enough spare buses at Washington depot specifically although it does occur across most depots occasionally. But looking at Winlaton it seems to be very very rare for incorrect branded workings. I think they are pushing to get rid of most the SPDs and "Yellow Buses" a bit too quickly, to the point where they seem to be leaving themselves with very few spare vehicles. I'm sure this will be resolved as newer buses enter service thus releasing older vehicles as spares.

(28/07/2012 22:09)venturego Wrote:  What started out to be a good idea for a FEW SELECTED routes, has gone crazy with too many brands, poorly executed, serving little in promoting "best practice/quality and damaging the quality corporate image. Example: R reg yellow Double Decker buses being used on 44 & 43 Diamond service (Which was to become a Gold Standard service!!)

I must admit the Diamond service being operated by these deckers does baffle me as their seems to be more than enough spares at Stanley at the minute with the West Durham being operated by deckers. Surely the omnis should be used as spares. But what worries me even more is how unreliable the Mercs seem to be compared to the renowns. When it was operated by renowns it was very rare to see deckers operating, it would usually be northern/white renowns used as spares.

(28/07/2012 22:09)venturego Wrote:  - Since Peter Huntley sadly departed the managemet has become a joke - Maybe Nexus Quality contracts are the way to go. If they are handing out over £60m in monies to the local bus companies then maybe a tighter control on operations and standards would benefit customers/ local tax payers. [/i]

I'm not entirely sure I agree with quality contracts as if you look at the majority of GNE routes they are operated without financial support. Therefore imagine if Nexus is going to pay the company to operate routes. It is ultimately going to cost the tax payer a lot more in the long run as routes are changed and altered to meet the needs of communities even though they are commercially not viable as most nexus services currently are. Also I don't really see any appeal of grey and red buses on every street corner yuck. One or two is bad enough!