Bus company struggled to find engineers, say staff
BBCA bus company hit by reliability issues has struggled to fill engineering roles which is contributing to delays and cancellations, according to staff.
Go North East (GNE) passengers have reported large gaps in services, with some unable to get to work or make hospital appointments, particularly in County Durham.
Engineers told the BBC the firm was unable to attract workers because of pay rates, but had brought in staff from other companies to carry out repairs on better terms.
The bus operator did not comment on pay, but said it was taking on more employed staff to "ensure no buses are off the road due to a lack of engineering capability".
GNE has blamed sub-zero temperatures for buses breaking down, but workers previously claimed vehicles are not being maintained.
'Random fellas'
A member of the firm's engineering team said it had struggled to attract the workforce because they are "paid too little for what they do".
They claimed that, as a result, this was contributing to delays in defective buses being repaired and put back into passenger service.
They said as a short-term fix, contractors had been brought in across its depots - including in Consett where disruption has been particularly bad - to "alleviate the shortage of skilled personnel".
Another worker said it was not uncommon to see "random fellas walking around" the depot who later turn out to be contractors who help carry out repairs.
In recent days, MPs and councillors have raised concerns over GNE's reliability.
Declan Mulholland, who represents the Burnopfield and Dipton ward at Durham County Council, said service issues continued to affect "people's everyday life".
He asked: "Why is there a shortage of engineers up in Consett, when there are engineers in other places, and why is it people in the Derwent Valley paying the price for aged buses, lack of engineers and unreliable services?
"It's on Go North East".
Go North East denies buses are out of service because of a lack of engineers.
Nigel Featham, managing director, did not comment on claims contractors were being paid more than its own employees, but said the UK transport sector faced a "well-documented shortage of skilled engineers".
Despite this, he said, the firm was "fully resourced with a skilled engineering team" and it "balance[s] permanent and contract staff to flex as needed".
He said the firm was taking on an additional 10 "support engineers" to stay ahead of what it said were "weather-related challenges".
"This ensures no buses are off the road due to a lack of engineering capability," he added.
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].