Recent content by Christophe

Not sure these days. They used to but the mini bus routes are gone now. I think the main rotas are something like: 10/10A/10B & 12 (possibly also the 643) 21/X21, 53/54, 58 & Q3 27, 49/49A, 51/52, 53/54, 57, 93/94, 96 & X66 X10 The 51/52, 53/54 & 93/94 are all circular services...

Not counting works, scholars or oddities: 10/10A/10B; 12; 21/X21; 27; 49/49A; 51/52; 53/54; 57; 58; 93/94; 96; Q3; X10; X66; 643; S2 I think are pretty much most of them, spread across different rotas.

Last time round some independants were operating the Hexham locals for free, not sure if that’s happening this time round.

I was thinking more the Stagecoach 37 & 38 extension vs the GNE 353, 354 & 355. Though not exactly the same routes, they’re SC and GNE responses to Arriva pulling out. Both still relatively in their infancy, SC have the chance to establish themselves without GNE competition.

GNE have recently expanded in North Tyneside following Arriva withdrawals. So have Stagecoach, who now have a bit of a free hit with no competition. There’s some sizeable areas across Tyne & Wear, County Durham and Northumberland completely cut off. It’ll be interesting how long local...

Oh I will. In the intervening years marriage, kids, mortgage etc have all come along; and as much as I'd like to go driving now, working mon-fri flexi time is a lot easier family wise than shift work. However, kids are nearly at an age where I'll be able to change that. Everybody's wired up...

I'm not a bus driver, though your situation is strikingly similar to my own when I was your age. For as long as I could remember, all I'd wanted to do when I grew up was be a bus driver. "You don't want to do that...." was all I was ever told from parents, teachers & careers advisors. So I...

I'm not entirely sure if GNE wanted the Interdecks, or if they were told they wanted the Interdecks centrally by Go Ahead Group. At the time they were surplus form a Carousel (?) route. New Streetdecks were diverted away from GNE to Oxford Bus Company at the same time, could just be coincidence...

In the past I've made tentative enquiries about making the leap in to bus driving. What I've found echoes the above. In the good old North East, Go North East offer £9.04 starting for 39 hrs. Training is at minimum wage, then a £5 per week training bond deduction for however long, which you...

Possibly a bit naughty, but if you have a look on Arriva & Stagecoach websites there are multiple choice scenarios to work through. For the Stagecoach one you need to actually start an application form for the questions (just don't finish it). I can't imagine GNE being much different.

I'd have to pass on them ones, I had application packs for all of the big 3 but I think my wife threw them out in case I did anything daft! From memory, I think Arriva & Stagecoach were both 37 hours and GNE 39 hours a week. Unpaid breaks, don't know if remote sign on has made it this far up...

Aye, that's where my enquiries ended! I think Arriva (Northumbria) have a higher top rate, though I'm not sure on starting rate. Stagecoach quote £9.91 starting and £11.89 top rate.

£9.04 I believe is the current starting rate. I'm under the impression the top rate of £22,500 quoted on the website is after 5 years rather than after training. Most, if not all, depots have a low cost unit, not just Percy Main. Drivers were balloted yesterday on 2% rise, haven't seen the...

What's the old saying - "The only way to make a million pounds with a bus/coach company is to start with 2..."