(30 Sep 2017, 2:56 pm)stagecoachbusdepot I don’t agree with moving away from paper timetables (would be interesting to know which demographic the market research focussed on), but if they aren’t going to be reprinted, they should really remove out of date editions.

(30 Sep 2017, 2:56 pm)stagecoachbusdepot Stagecoach have never been particularly good at having timetables available on board – they tend to put them on vehicles when making network changes but rarely at other times.  While not available on buses, the do tend to update their printed leaflets for all but the most minor of changes and these tend to be readily available in various locations.   They have always produced the Bus Guides, if they are what you mean?  Even these though tend to be sparse on board and can be tricky to get hold of – especially Sunderland.  Unless they have produced a new format area guide more recently?

Back to GNE, I realised why the three expresses would have been done but there are others which have seen notable cuts/changes not reflected in the printed timetables still readily available.  In addition these I’m really surprised the 10 hasn’t been reprinted – there’s been two round of changes, and the rebranding, but the printed timetables are still available from prior to the July changes in the old TEN brand.  A handful of services have also had two rounds of changes with no reprint. 

[b{I don’t agree with moving away from paper timetables (would be interesting to know which demographic the market research focussed on), but if they aren’t going to be reprinted, they should really remove out of date editions.  For example, someone picking up an X22 timetable could reasonably expect a direct run through to Durham on Sundays, but that’s not actually now available.  Where there’s been minor retiming of journeys the approach described makes sense however for more substantial changes to route/withdrawal of sections I think there is an issue with ‘advertising’ one offer in printed copies but actually providing something quite different.[/b]

(01 Oct 2017, 11:54 am)Greg_in_Weardale If GNE are moving away from printed timetables it must make sure the on line versions are designed for that and not just copies of the printed ones which don't suit this format. However it is ridiculous to assume that the majority of people have smartphones, or want to use them for that purpose. Printed timetables should be freely available on buses - not just on the buses for that route but those used on services in that area. If they didn't change their timetables so often they wouldn't have to print so many new versions. Just done a survey of the 16 people in my pub at the moment, all under 55 and two under 21, and 11 have smartphones but only 7 regularly use phones on internet and only 6 of the 16 would want to get timetables on phones (if they could) or via internet.

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(01 Oct 2017, 9:14 am)Andreos1 I am one who prefers the real-life, kinaesthetic thing, whether it be books over a kindle or a paper timetable over a digital one.
Whether I have that real physical thing is another matter, as I can't remember the past time I bought a newspaper.

However, to get back to the point you made about the survey (I won't touch on proportions or any of that survey jazz that got eezypeazy in all of a tizz on that hilarious night a few years back), I wonder if the model bus companies employ, render timetables obsolete.
On the main corridors, the buses are advertised as operating an 'x' minute frequency. Do punters really need to consult a timetable, if the bus is going to turn up in 10/12 minutes time?

Obviously this frequency operates at those frequencies during the day, when the older generation are possibly the ones travelling the most and are subject to questionnaires and surveys. 

In the latter parts of the evening, when frequencies drop and say younger types are commuting or coming home from a night out, then the digital versions of the timetables may be accessed.

All hypothetical, just trying to apply some reasoning and logic to the decision.

(01 Oct 2017, 8:54 am)Dan Timetables which are now out of date shouldn't be stocked on-bus any more.

(01 Oct 2017, 12:12 pm)stagecoachbusdepot Would be interested to know if your earlier reference to Stagecoach area guides were the fold-out Bus Guides, or something else?

(01 Oct 2017, 12:17 pm)Dan Yeah, just the small fold-out bus guides. I think they've grown in size over the past few years - you needed a magnifying glass to see all of the text before!

I don't travel on Stagecoach's buses as frequently as I used to now that I've got the car, but they always used to have them on bus.

(01 Oct 2017, 12:47 pm)stagecoachbusdepot While we are discussing timetables - is there any progress in getting the old leaflets back up that used to be in the bygone era?

(01 Oct 2017, 12:12 pm)stagecoachbusdepot What about the sizeable proportion of people who don't happen to live on a main corridor, or have to try to make connections due to the rationalisation of services?  Look at something like the 10 - there's only actually a 10 minute frequency along a small proportion of the route with various far less frequent spurs beyond that.  You could of course still say, there's a bus from Corbridge every half hour so just go to the stop and wait...

I think its more likely a move away from paper to digital, rather than a move away from checking a timetable - years ago many services operated more frequently than they do now.  There's always been a mix of 7-12 minute and 30 min plus frequencies.

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Someone needs to tell Nexus then (if they haven't already) as they are all still readily available in interchanges, as if they were the current versions.

Would be interested to know if your earlier reference to Stagecoach area guides were the fold-out Bus Guides, or something else?

(01 Oct 2017, 4:12 pm)Andreos1 I agree with you.
But as a proportion of the NE population, the Tyne Valley area is small.
An even smaller representation of that population will use buses.

It goes without saying, that if my suggestion is accurate - then even taking those passengers in to account, those on the main corridors would be in the majority and any research would be skewed in one direction. 

It shows the flaws that exist in proportional, representative sampling.
There was a huge discussion in the Passenger Focus thread about it.

(01 Oct 2017, 5:17 pm)cbma06 I'm surprised there hasn't been a poll to see what the percentage of members vote of having online timetables or continue with paper timetables

 

(01 Oct 2017, 6:38 pm)G-CPTN With respect, 'members' do not represent the typical passenger - or at least not representative of all passengers.

(03 Oct 2017, 4:53 am)V514DFT Another 40?