Arriva Buses (including Greenline)

[Simon75]

All the other depots listed have closed. I assume this is a continuation of that list.

Yes was, my apologies GusB

All the other depots listed have closed. I assume this is a continuation of that list.

Yes was, my apologies GusB

Since Deutsche Bahn, planned to dispose of Arriva, a few years ago , apart from some sell offs eg Yorkshire Tiger, nothing much as happened

 

[yorksrob]

Arriva Yorkshire really are a pile of pants now. The service around Wakefield has been decimated. Lousy rubbish.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Arriva Yorkshire really are a pile of pants now. The service around Wakefield has been decimated. Lousy rubbish.

I was there last week - see https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/trips-by-bus-and-coach-your-reports.224583/page-18 post 524 for a write up.

In terms of headways and services, I genuinely don't know how much it has slipped. However, I did notice how several longstanding links no longer exist so that services from Doncaster to Wakefield/Pontefract no longer exist. Same with the service in places like Batley and Dewsbury - things seem a lot thinner than in the past. Sadly, I fear the next step will be a depot closure or two.

Apart from a small batch of Streetdecks c2019, there's been no investment in five years. There's little in the way of promotion except for Nigel Featham's legacy on stuff like Big In Wakefield and the internal advertising on those vehicles. Vehicles were poorly presented, and not talking about dirt/road film - even ones in the "new" Arriva livery were incredibly scruffy, let alone those who had been debranded from various routes.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Arriva Yorkshire really are a pile of pants now. The service around Wakefield has been decimated. Lousy rubbish

Not just Wakefield, it's across the whole area. The links to Calderdale are awful, the last bus from Halifax to Cleckheaton is about 6pm, the last bus from Leeds to Scholes and Brighouse is before 5.

I know that part of West Yorkshire is tough bus territory with lots of small towns, but it's staggering how bad the links are now.

Cynical me wonders if they're trying to provoke Tracey Brabin into wholesale bus franchising, as Arriva are exactly the same in and around Newcastle, and the Yorkshire cuts closely followed the drivers strike action. But I suspect the truth is probably more that they have simply given up.

 

[yorksrob]

I was there last week - see https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/trips-by-bus-and-coach-your-reports.224583/page-18 post 524 for a write up.

In terms of headways and services, I genuinely don't know how much it has slipped. However, I did notice how several longstanding links no longer exist so that services from Doncaster to Wakefield/Pontefract no longer exist. Same with the service in places like Batley and Dewsbury - things seem a lot thinner than in the past. Sadly, I fear the next step will be a depot closure or two.

Apart from a small batch of Streetdecks c2019, there's been no investment in five years. There's little in the way of promotion except for Nigel Featham's legacy on stuff like Big In Wakefield and the internal advertising on those vehicles. Vehicles were poorly presented, and not talking about dirt/road film - even ones in the "new" Arriva livery were incredibly scruffy, let alone those who had been debranded from various routes.

Not just Wakefield, it's across the whole area. The links to Calderdale are awful, the last bus from Halifax to Cleckheaton is about 6pm, the last bus from Leeds to Scholes and Brighouse is before 5.

I know that part of West Yorkshire is tough bus territory with lots of small towns, but it's staggering how bad the links are now.

Cynical me wonders if they're trying to provoke Tracey Brabin into wholesale bus franchising, as Arriva are exactly the same in and around Newcastle, and the Yorkshire cuts closely followed the drivers strike action. But I suspect the truth is probably more that they have simply given up.

I don't know how they've got away with ditching the 188. It was pretty busy as well generally.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Not just Wakefield, it's across the whole area. The links to Calderdale are awful, the last bus from Halifax to Cleckheaton is about 6pm, the last bus from Leeds to Scholes and Brighouse is before 5.

I know that part of West Yorkshire is tough bus territory with lots of small towns, but it's staggering how bad the links are now.

Cynical me wonders if they're trying to provoke Tracey Brabin into wholesale bus franchising, as Arriva are exactly the same in and around Newcastle, and the Yorkshire cuts closely followed the drivers strike action. But I suspect the truth is probably more that they have simply given up.

TBH, they have more to lose than to gain in West Yorkshire. Arriva is simply a business that has lost its way - really ever since David Martin left in 2015. The current CEO has a history in the travel and logistics industries (a previous stint with Arriva, Yodel, Eurostar) and that befits a broad based transport business.

The UK Bus business is run by someone who was with Rolls Royce Engines man and boy. I'm sure he's an intelligent guy, and doubtless, there's some decent people in Arriva. Nonetheless, it's a business that DB doesn't know if it wants to sell. Capex is strictly controlled and there are many competing voices crying out for the cash. It seems bereft of direction with owners who don't know what they want to do, or whether to invest in it or not.

It was something I was warning about on this forum whilst others were still complaining about First!

 

[Tetchytyke]

It was something I was warning about on this forum whilst others were still complaining about First!

Absolutely, it's been obvious in the North East for years, knackered 2005-plate ex-London ALX400s being shipped in in 2016/17 as "new luxury buses" for the prime MAX routes. And when I lived in Hemel the Arriva offering was horrendous, buses fit for the scrapyard. It's always hard to tell if it's a regional or a national malaise though.

It's even more than the Capex, old buses can scrub up well (look at Transdev- you wouldn't know the Shuttle 662 buses were as old as they are) and everyone knows things are tight. But there's just no motivation and no pride. I saw the same in Wigan last month too, "Sapphire" buses with nothing more that low-backed vinyl seats and an annoying rattle.

 

[Saint66]

Arriva will no longer run Service 357 (Harpenden to Borehamwood) from the end of the year due to a shortage of drivers - https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/latest-news/service-357-change-of-operator

 

[1D54]

How much longer have Arriva users got to put up with such a sub-standard service on the 158 Leicester - Nuneaton route? Today has been a disgrace. Stagecoach seem to have none of the problems on the 48 service so there really is no excuse.

 

[SSmith2009]

How much longer have Arriva users got to put up with such a sub-standard service on the 158 Leicester - Nuneaton route? Today has been a disgrace. Stagecoach seem to have none of the problems on the 48 service so there really is no excuse.

there's been heavy traffic in Leicester for most of today which has caused delays, such a pity they don't offer a joint ticket with Stagecoach on the 48L.

it's the same with the 50/51 services recently large gaps inbetween buses then a single decker turns up

 

[Geordie driver]

Arriva North East have been discussed in the house of commons, local MP questions why the service is so poor, government ministers replies the Bus Service Improvement Plan will change things.

I have had very many constituents contact me about the problems caused by the delayed and cancelled Arriva bus services. Today I asked the Transport... | By Mary Glindon | Facebook

I have had very many constituents contact me about the problems caused by the delayed and cancelled Arriva bus services. Today I asked the Transport...

fb.watch

Not sure if the BSIP will solve the recruitment problem.

There is another meeting this week which Arriva are aware of and have been invited, we shall see if they show up for this one.

 

[RELL6L]

From Arriva North East website, posted today:

Arriva Bus

www.arrivabus.co.uk

"In recent months, our services across the North East have unfortunately been impacted by the well documented national bus driver shortage.

This has escalated within the last few weeks particularly, resulting in serious challenges on the delivery of our timetabled services on a daily basis in some parts of the region.

We want to assure you, our customers, we’re exploring every avenue possible to rectify this situation.

We’re mindful of how negatively we are affecting some of our customers and our communities every day, and for this are we genuinely sorry.

As a priority action, work is underway to review our current timetables and service frequencies within parts of Tyne & Wear, with a view of potentially introducing small yet efficient changes in early 2023 which we believe will help to support positive service delivery in hot spots across the North East. These plans are currently being shared and discussed with local authority leads where appropriate, whom we are working in partnership with, to further show our commitment to righting the current challenges being experienced across our bus network.

Arriva has a highly targeted recruitment campaign underway, which has already welcomed over 280 new drivers into the North East region this year. To further boost our ‘on the road’ capacity as quickly as possible, we’re utilising agency driver resource in the coming weeks, helping to bridge the gap whilst some of our newly recruited Arriva drivers undergo their training programme.

We’ll continue to keep our customers and stakeholders updated on our plans and timelines of service delivery supporting changes being implemented. "

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

From Arriva North East website, posted today:

Arriva Bus

www.arrivabus.co.uk

"In recent months, our services across the North East have unfortunately been impacted by the well documented national bus driver shortage.

This has escalated within the last few weeks particularly, resulting in serious challenges on the delivery of our timetabled services on a daily basis in some parts of the region.

We want to assure you, our customers, we’re exploring every avenue possible to rectify this situation.

We’re mindful of how negatively we are affecting some of our customers and our communities every day, and for this are we genuinely sorry.

As a priority action, work is underway to review our current timetables and service frequencies within parts of Tyne & Wear, with a view of potentially introducing small yet efficient changes in early 2023 which we believe will help to support positive service delivery in hot spots across the North East. These plans are currently being shared and discussed with local authority leads where appropriate, whom we are working in partnership with, to further show our commitment to righting the current challenges being experienced across our bus network.

Arriva has a highly targeted recruitment campaign underway, which has already welcomed over 280 new drivers into the North East region this year. To further boost our ‘on the road’ capacity as quickly as possible, we’re utilising agency driver resource in the coming weeks, helping to bridge the gap whilst some of our newly recruited Arriva drivers undergo their training programme.

We’ll continue to keep our customers and stakeholders updated on our plans and timelines of service delivery supporting changes being implemented. "

You try to be balanced. However, what could have escalated things in the last few weeks? Having announced the closure of Jesmond in favour of a replacement, then saying that they won't then be replacing it and are having a partial stop-gap at Stagecoach's depot, isn't going to have a positive impact on driver numbers!

I would imagine that those small yet efficient changes will see a certain cross Pennine service relinquished and a few others too?

On the flipside, you also wonder if Go Ahead closing Chester le Street might actually help Arriva in Durham?

 

[Deerfold]

there's been heavy traffic in Leicester for most of today which has caused delays, such a pity they don't offer a joint ticket with Stagecoach on the 48L.

it's the same with the 50/51 services recently large gaps inbetween buses then a single decker turns up

Leicester seems to have a few like that - they and Stagecoach both offer hourly services to Market Harborough (both used to be hourly). For most of the day they're 5 minutes apart. Would seem to be much better to have a deal between each other and run a half-hourly service.

 

[1D54]

Leicester seems to have a few like that - they and Stagecoach both offer hourly services to Market Harborough (both used to be hourly). For most of the day they're 5 minutes apart. Would seem to be much better to have a deal between each other and run a half-hourly service.

At least the X7 Stagecoach service runs a slightly different route to the X3 Arriva one. What we have on the Nuneaton route is ridiculous, 48L Stagecoach departing a couple of minutes before the 158 Arriva and they run 6 in total an hour which are not needed at any time of the day. There are also local services between Hinckley and Nuneaton which they operate as well.

 

[Russel]

Arriva ticketing question, I'm looking at the Arriva North East - North Yorkshire Coast ticket but online all I can buy is a 3 day ticket, are these available as a 1 day ticket?

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/buy-tickets/region/midlands/zone/ane062

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Arriva ticketing question, I'm looking at the Arriva North East - North Yorkshire Coast ticket but online all I can buy is a 3 day ticket, are these available as a 1 day ticket?

https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/buy-tickets/region/midlands/zone/ane062

It's a one day NE ticket at £8.60 https://www.arrivabus.co.uk/buy-tickets/region/midlands/zone/ane033

 

[Geordie driver]

You try to be balanced. However, what could have escalated things in the last few weeks? Having announced the closure of Jesmond in favour of a replacement, then saying that they won't then be replacing it and are having a partial stop-gap at Stagecoach's depot, isn't going to have a positive impact on driver numbers!

I would imagine that those small yet efficient changes will see a certain cross Pennine service relinquished and a few others too?

On the flipside, you also wonder if Go Ahead closing Chester le Street might actually help Arriva in Durham?

280 new drivers, where are they? I thought they were blaming a national drivers shortage, yet they have produced 280 in 12 months.

280 extra drivers and they are still massively short?

I don't know the exact numbers but I would have thought 280 must a considerable amount of their driving work force in the North east,10% possibly? I am sure others will know.

How many have left in the same period? You could recruit a million drivers but if more than that leave you are still going to be short.

It doesn't seem to occur to the company that making a job attractive is a good way to retain staff. Management thinking is mired in the old ways of plentifull cheap labour prepared to put up with anything.

I am very concerned over their plans for small service changes to improve things, the last time they did this ( massive cuts really, they do love their double speak) the service became considerably more unreliable.

Failing to send buses to places with only one service for an entire evening and the last bus in particular is a disgrace. Being " genuinely sorry" doesn't cut it, they are putting people at risk.

Naturally, despite them caring so much, it is impossible to post on their Facebook announcement about this.

Arriva North East's problem is they think their only responsibility is to provide profit for their owners.

Edit, I have quoted TGW twice, or rather the forum has and I don't know how to delete it.

You try to be balanced. However, what could have escalated things in the last few weeks? Having announced the closure of Jesmond in favour of a replacement, then saying that they won't then be replacing it and are having a partial stop-gap at Stagecoach's depot, isn't going to have a positive impact on driver numbers!

I would imagine that those small yet efficient changes will see a certain cross Pennine service relinquished and a few others too?

On the flipside, you also wonder if Go Ahead closing Chester le Street might actually help Arriva in Durham.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I would imagine that those small yet efficient changes will see a certain cross Pennine service relinquished and a few others too?

"Small yet efficient changes" certainly sounds like service cuts to me!

It also sounds like increased inter-working and reduced layover periods. Whenever they've tried this before it has been a disaster, I fondly remember 45-minute delays on the 2bph X7 back to Seaton Delaval. I don't see this time being any different

On the flipside, you also wonder if Go Ahead closing Chester le Street might actually help Arriva in Durham?

In terms of competition or in terms of driver recruitment?

In terms of driver recruitment I doubt it would make much difference. If you're having to drive from home in Chester-le-Street then, to be honest, there's not much in it between Gateshead Riverside, Sunderland Deptford, Consett and Durham. And GNE are keeping Washington, which is easier to get to, I presume?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

"Small yet efficient changes" certainly sounds like service cuts to me!

It also sounds like increased inter-working and reduced layover periods. Whenever they've tried this before it has been a disaster, I fondly remember 45-minute delays on the 2bph X7 back to Seaton Delaval. I don't see this time being any different



In terms of competition or in terms of driver recruitment?

In terms of driver recruitment I doubt it would make much difference. If you're having to drive from home in Chester-le-Street then, to be honest, there's not much in it between Gateshead Riverside, Sunderland Deptford, Consett and Durham. And GNE are keeping Washington, which is easier to get to, I presume?

In terms of driver recruitment - Washington is closer but Belmont is much easier to get to than Gateshead (where many ops are heading to) or Consett or Deptford. More pertinently, there's less chance of Arriva drivers or potential staff in Durham itself heading to Go North East!!

I'm expecting stuff like the 555 and the 685 to be axed, various early morning runs to go (as they're based on a Newcastle depot anyway) and yes, greater interworking. As I've bored people before, this didn't play well when Bishop depot closed and you only have to see the "network" there to see how much that declined in 10 years.

 

[RELL6L]

Looking at BusTimes the service in North Tyneside seems to have improved, albeit from a low base. The 43/44/45 seem to have far fewer cancellations, the 51-54 slightly fewer. One round trip on 51 and 54 missed so far today, rather more 52s and 53, including a 3 hour gap in the 53 to North Shields this morning. Other 'Jesmond' services (inc 685) no gaps noted. I can't say how good the 306/308 and Blyth X routes are but they haven't been so badly affected. Without taking notes from browsing this week I reckon that's fairly typical. Not good, but not as bad. Maybe the 43/44/45 have been prioritised due to the outcry with the 51-54 seen as less crucial.

The inter-working does seem pretty complex, there are standard patterns with the 43-45 and 51-54 but then they sometimes split off to do other things, even interwork with the 306/308 or X routes, presumably to get drivers back to Blyth for shift changes as efficiently as possible. Yes, let's see what 'small but efficient changes' means!

 

[1D54]

Looking like there are no Arriva Midlands services operating on 26/12. If correct that is the first time in many a good year.

Edit: No shops open so it makes sense. I need to be in Loughborough for NPL football so thank you to Skylink buses.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Looking like there are no Arriva Midlands services operating on 26/12. If correct that is the first time in many a good year.

Edit: No shops open so it makes sense. I need to be in Loughborough for NPL football so thank you to Skylink buses.

That is correct. And they didn't run any last year either.

Arriva Bus

www.arrivabus.co.uk

 

[darloscott]

In terms of driver recruitment - Washington is closer but Belmont is much easier to get to than Gateshead (where many ops are heading to) or Consett or Deptford. More pertinently, there's less chance of Arriva drivers or potential staff in Durham itself heading to Go North East!!

I'm expecting stuff like the 555 and the 685 to be axed, various early morning runs to go (as they're based on a Newcastle depot anyway) and yes, greater interworking. As I've bored people before, this didn't play well when Bishop depot closed and you only have to see the "network" there to see how much that declined in 10 years.

685 going wholly to Stagecoach at some point in January I believe. Will be operated from both ends as now.

 

[NorthOxonian]

685 going wholly to Stagecoach at some point in January I believe. Will be operated from both ends as now.

Excellent news - hopefully that will bring an end to the various ticketing anomalies which cause no end of hassle (such as Stagecoach tickets being available on Arriva buses but then being rejected by drivers in the NW for being on Arriva stock or the fact Stagecoach mobile tickets are quite reasonably not valid on Arriva journeys).

 

[Ligeraceaster]

22 new Streetdeck electric buses for Arriva in Leicester due in October 2023 according to local news:

New £11m electric double-decker buses coming to Leicester

Arriva buses has said that the vehicles will be 'zero emission' and will be much quieter than diesel-run buses

www.leicestermercury.co.uk

An £11 million fleet of 'zero emission' electric double-decker buses is to introduced in Leicester for the first time. The 22 zero emission vehicles will go into service in October next year after Leicester City Council and bus firm Arriva secured Government money to pay for them.

The new ‘Streetdeck Electroliners’ will be the first double decker buses in Leicester that are not fuelled by diesel and are the first Arriva electric buses of this kind to be used outside London. As well being greener than vehicles which run on fossil fuels, Arriva said they were much quieter too.


Councillor Adam Clarke, Deputy Mayor said: “This investment is another great step forward with the Leicester Buses Partnership. By the end of next year half of Leicester's bus travel will be on quiet, electric, high-quality vehicles.

 

[SSmith2009]

22 new Streetdeck electric buses for Arriva in Leicester due in October 2023 according to local news:

New £11m electric double-decker buses coming to Leicester

Arriva buses has said that the vehicles will be 'zero emission' and will be much quieter than diesel-run buses

www.leicestermercury.co.uk

Alongside 36 diesel buses (28 E400mmc and 8 E200mmc) due very shortly which are due to oust most of the older deckers in Leicestershire

The 22 Streedeck Electroliner's are planned for use services 47/48 and 50/51.

 

[Andy Pacer]

Alongside 36 diesel buses (28 E400mmc and 8 E200mmc) due very shortly which are due to oust most of the older deckers in Leicestershire

The 22 Streedeck Electroliner's are planned for use services 47/48 and 50/51.

Where has it been stated that the older deckers are leaving?

 

[450.emu]

Also Watford (Garston), Newcastle (Jesmond), Stamford Hill, London.

Stamford Hill is "mothballed" for future use, they plan to electrify Wood Green garage at some point, and there was talk about putting charging points in at Stamford Hill. London's oldest buses on the 318 turn around at Stamford Hill, as their terminus (2007 reg E200 Darts in use, and they look a state)

Most of the drivers don't use the blinds as most of the blindsets are seized, so instead there's a slipboard on the dashboard (impossible to read at night)... TfL should tell them to retrofit with approved LEDs which are on the majority of new buses in London now, such as at rivals Go Ahead and Stagecoach, just down the road at Northumberland Park and Walthamstow who could comfortably manage the route with better condition stock (without diesel and AdBlue stains decorating the paintwork)

Not just Wakefield, it's across the whole area. The links to Calderdale are awful, the last bus from Halifax to Cleckheaton is about 6pm, the last bus from Leeds to Scholes and Brighouse is before 5.

I know that part of West Yorkshire is tough bus territory with lots of small towns, but it's staggering how bad the links are now.

Cynical me wonders if they're trying to provoke Tracey Brabin into wholesale bus franchising, as Arriva are exactly the same in and around Newcastle, and the Yorkshire cuts closely followed the drivers strike action. But I suspect the truth is probably more that they have simply given up.

I was surprised Arriva Yorkshire ordered the underpowered Streetdecks with that pathetic 4 pot engine, considering there was a 7.1 litre 6 cylinder version available at the time... but it seems DB don't know whether to invest in Arriva or not... it's like the conundrum of fixing some faults on a car before you sell it. I think cost of living and bus services everywhere are suffering as more work from home and can get where they need to in the comfort of a car or taxi ...

 

[Ligeraceaster]

Alongside 36 diesel buses (28 E400mmc and 8 E200mmc) due very shortly which are due to oust most of the older deckers in Leicestershire

The 22 Streedeck Electroliner's are planned for use services 47/48 and 50/51.

I figured they would be on “city based” routes depending on the range. Does anybody know what the range is?