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+--- Thread: £1 fares (/showthread.php?tid=3485)
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£1 fares - L469 YVK - 25 Jul 2021
If the £1 fares continue to be a success, will GNE continue look to still offer some sort of a promotion during the evenings? Okay perhaps not as "cheap" but still cheaper than normal fares.
RE: £1 fares - DeltaMan - 25 Jul 2021
(25 Jul 2021, 10:09 am)L469 YVK If the £1 fares continue to be a success, will GNE continue look to still offer some sort of a promotion during the evenings? Okay perhaps not as "cheap" but still cheaper than normal fares.The £3.50 Night ticket still exists. It just isn't valid on the N21/X9/X10. Maybe that could change?
RE: £1 fares - Andreos1 - 25 Jul 2021
(25 Jul 2021, 10:09 am)L469 YVK If the £1 fares continue to be a success, will GNE continue look to still offer some sort of a promotion during the evenings? Okay perhaps not as "cheap" but still cheaper than normal fares.
I've been an advocate for better value/cheaper fares for a number of years - see comments in the existing pricing thread. (https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=324) and I think this £1 fare initiative could really be the start of something different, with operators realising that there are alternatives to the pricing models seen in the past.
I genuinely hope that fares don't go in the direction seen previously, once this is all over.
For all the £1 fare is attractive, it makes no difference to those unable to use the bus on an evening because there are very few or no services that suits their needs during that period.
The £1 fare needs to run alongside harder improvements and development of the wider network.
RE: £1 fares - big mac - 25 Jul 2021
(25 Jul 2021, 10:23 am)DeltaMan The £3.50 Night ticket still exists. It just isn't valid on the N21/X9/X10. Maybe that could change?I was under the impression that now that normal tickets are being allowed on the night services (N21/56/60) that the £3.50 evening ticket would now be accepted on it until 3am.
Sent from my moto g(8) power lite using Tapatalk
RE: £1 fares - deanmachine - 26 Jul 2021
(25 Jul 2021, 4:18 pm)big mac I was under the impression that now that normal tickets are being allowed on the night services (N21/56/60) that the £3.50 evening ticket would now be accepted on it until 3am.
Sent from my moto g(8) power lite using Tapatalk
They're definitely accepted on the 60 and 56, don't see why the N21 would be any different. You can use a day ticket all the way until 3am too.
RE: £1 fares - Thomas12 - 28 Aug 2021
Used the 1A tonight, taking advantage of the £1 single fares.
At one point there were about 30 passengers onboard - this is far more than I have seen on a daytime, never mind an evening journey.
Does anyone know if this fare offer is going to continue? Surely it would be advantageous to continue, as usually the evening Coaster services would rarely get into double figures?
RE: £1 fares - Andreos1 - 28 Aug 2021
(28 Aug 2021, 12:09 am)Thomas12 Used the 1A tonight, taking advantage of the £1 single fares.
At one point there were about 30 passengers onboard - this is far more than I have seen on a daytime, never mind an evening journey.
Does anyone know if this fare offer is going to continue? Surely it would be advantageous to continue, as usually the evening Coaster services would rarely get into double figures?
I'd hope it would continue.
Businesses have been built on the low fare model and it works for them.
I've argued many a time, that a lower fare could attract more punters. There are various theories and models which show it can work and from what you have said, what GNE are reporting and. From what I've seen - it wouldn't make much sense to drop the scheme. It would be incredibly short sighted imo.
30 people paying £1 is a lot better than 5 people paying a couple of pound.
RE: £1 fares - L469 YVK - 28 Aug 2021
(28 Aug 2021, 9:10 am)Andreos1 I'd hope it would continue.It is actually quite refreshing to see a change in price strategy from Go North East.
Businesses have been built on the low fare model and it works for them.
I've argued many a time, that a lower fare could attract more punters. There are various theories and models which show it can work and from what you have said, what GNE are reporting and. From what I've seen - it wouldn't make much sense to drop the scheme. It would be incredibly short sighted imo.
30 people paying £1 is a lot better than 5 people paying a couple of pound.
Will be interesting to see how the summer saving fares have also got on?
RE: £1 fares - Thomas12 - 28 Aug 2021
(28 Aug 2021, 9:10 am)Andreos1 I'd hope it would continue.
Businesses have been built on the low fare model and it works for them.
I've argued many a time, that a lower fare could attract more punters. There are various theories and models which show it can work and from what you have said, what GNE are reporting and. From what I've seen - it wouldn't make much sense to drop the scheme. It would be incredibly short sighted imo.
30 people paying £1 is a lot better than 5 people paying a couple of pound.
I agree, I didn't realise how elastic the demand for bus travel was in all honesty!
I read that the East Yorkshire evening £1 fare is ending so hoping Go North East don't follow.
RE: £1 fares - RobinHood - 28 Aug 2021
I guess it is also down to the region and area in which it is used within.
For example GNE linking into Newcastle, Durham, Sunderland etc, all cities with things to actually do on an evening.
Other areas, rural Northumberland or out in County Durham, perhaps not as successful.
RE: £1 fares - Rob44 - 29 Aug 2021
I was on the 730 28b returning form the match yesterday. Normally im the only one on but nearly every seat was taken. 2 groups of lads got on the the empress and got off on low fell. I assume the £1 fare attracts this type of punter and it would be cheaper then a taxi?
RE: £1 fares - Keeiajs - 29 Aug 2021
I must say when I have been looking at Bus Times on a night the 61,67,69, 55 are doing amazing numbers.
RE: £1 fares - L469 YVK - 29 Aug 2021
(28 Aug 2021, 10:25 am)RobinHood I guess it is also down to the region and area in which it is used within.Would work fine on most of Arriva's Newcastle services. And then you have............
For example GNE linking into Newcastle, Durham, Sunderland etc, all cities with things to actually do on an evening.
Other areas, rural Northumberland or out in County Durham, perhaps not as successful.
Cramlington, Blyth, Bedlington, Ashington, Morpeth, Alnwick
Cramlington & Morpeth routes would no doubt see the most popular take up for the night time economy.
RE: £1 fares - omnicity4659 - 29 Aug 2021
(29 Aug 2021, 9:35 am)L469 YVK Would work fine on most of Arriva's Newcastle services. And then you have............
Cramlington, Blyth, Bedlington, Ashington, Morpeth, Alnwick
Cramlington & Morpeth routes would no doubt see the most popular take up for the night time economy.
The Ashington/Bedlington flows were very well loaded on a night before Covid, no idea if it's still the case now. I'd say that the X10/X11/X21/X22 all did equally as well.
RE: £1 fares - L469 YVK - 29 Aug 2021
(29 Aug 2021, 9:55 am)omnicity4659 The Ashington/Bedlington flows were very well loaded on a night before Covid, no idea if it's still the case now. I'd say that the X10/X11/X21/X22 all did equally as well.Again, that's an area where Arriva could thrive if they were willing to actually try things rather than throwing the towel in.
X10/X11 - Experimental 1140pm journey on Fri / Sat ex Newcastle withdrawn. Now, they could've easily ran it as a 43E serving all stops to Cramlington then X10 route to Blyth. Okay, they changed the 44 to a later journey at 1135 but no good for any punters between Wideopen - Cramlington and Cramlington - Blyth. Last 43 journey at 2305 is a bit tight for punters IMO considering it's one of Jesmond's key routes.
308 - 1140pm journey ex Newcastle withdrawn. Now, they didn't consider re-timing the 306 to depart daily at 1130pm (to maintain a service at 1130pm or later) and just re-time the 308 to depart at 1145pm on Fri / Sat only. Nor did they consider swapping the allocated B5LH or DB300 out at Blyth with a Pulsar before doing the round trip. The late journey actually carried good loads on Fridays & Saturdays.
RE: £1 fares - Storx - 29 Aug 2021
(29 Aug 2021, 9:35 am)L469 YVK Would work fine on most of Arriva's Newcastle services. And then you have............
Cramlington, Blyth, Bedlington, Ashington, Morpeth, Alnwick
Cramlington & Morpeth routes would no doubt see the most popular take up for the night time economy.
When he talks about rural Northumberland I think he's talking about Rothbury, Pegswood, Amble, Widdrington, Hexham, Alnmouth etc rather than SE Northumberland just saying.
I also don't see what this has to do with GNE when they have their routes with similar poor timings if we want to go there, last 20 out of Sunderland towards Durham 23.07. Last 10 towards Hexham 23:15, last 309 towards Blyth 22:20. Personally I think any bus after 11pm is excellent out of Newcastle but that's me especially when there's communities who'd like a bus after 7pm in other areas.
RE: £1 fares - L469 YVK - 29 Aug 2021
(29 Aug 2021, 1:03 pm)Storx When he talks about rural Northumberland I think he's talking about Rothbury, Pegswood, Amble, Widdrington, Hexham, Alnmouth etc rather than SE Northumberland just saying.Amble, Pegswood and Widdrington would pick up traffic from Morpeth and Alnwick during the evenings with a special fare.
I also don't see what this has to do with GNE when they have their routes with similar poor timings if we want to go there, last 20 out of Sunderland towards Durham 23.07. Last 10 towards Hexham 23:15, last 309 towards Blyth 22:20. Personally I think any bus after 11pm is excellent out of Newcastle but that's me especially when there's communities who'd like a bus after 7pm in other areas.
Now Sunderland - Durham, obviously the opposite way will likely have a higher traffic flow regarding the night time economy and the last one from Durham to Sunderland is at 2334.
Likewise from Sept, GNE have the following late services from Newcastle (excl night buses).
10 @ 2320 (Was 2300 so an improvement)
X85 @ 2325
X45 @ 2335
47 @ 2305 (X47 was 2255 so an improvement)
X30 @ 2325
X72 @ 2310 (X70 was 2300 so an improvement)
21 @ 2326 - Durham
Q3 @ 2317 - Great Park
21 @ 2346 - CLS
310 @ 2320
57 @ 2330
58 @ 2319
12 @ 2320
6 @ 2310
28B @ 2305 (Was 2300 so an improvement)
97 @ 2312
Arriva IMO, should time the late evening X10/X11, X21/X22 and 308 so that the last bus departs Haymarket no earlier than 2320.
RE: £1 fares - mb134 - 29 Aug 2021
(29 Aug 2021, 2:46 pm)L469 YVK Arriva IMO, should time the late evening X10/X11, X21/X22 and 308 so that the last bus departs Haymarket no earlier than 2320.
Pushing stuff back 5 minutes to 2320 really isn't going to make a blind bit of difference in whether folk use the last bus or not. Not to mention shifting that departure back 5 minutes may put those duties over drivers hours or have other knock on consequences.
A later bus (2345 Vs 2315 for example) may be a solution, but given that it's been trialled and failed then there's likely not enough appetite on those corridors.
RE: £1 fares - Storx - 29 Aug 2021
(29 Aug 2021, 2:46 pm)L469 YVK Amble, Pegswood and Widdrington would pick up traffic from Morpeth and Alnwick during the evenings with a special fare.
Now Sunderland - Durham, obviously the opposite way will likely have a higher traffic flow regarding the night time economy and the last one from Durham to Sunderland is at 2334.
Likewise from Sept, GNE have the following late services from Newcastle (excl night buses).
10 @ 2320 (Was 2300 so an improvement)
X85 @ 2325
X45 @ 2335
47 @ 2305 (X47 was 2255 so an improvement)
X30 @ 2325
X72 @ 2310 (X70 was 2300 so an improvement)
21 @ 2326 - Durham
Q3 @ 2317 - Great Park
21 @ 2346 - CLS
310 @ 2320
57 @ 2330
58 @ 2319
12 @ 2320
6 @ 2310
28B @ 2305 (Was 2300 so an improvement)
97 @ 2312
Arriva IMO, should time the late evening X10/X11, X21/X22 and 308 so that the last bus departs Haymarket no earlier than 2320.
I don't think Amble etc will from Alnwick or Morpeth it's too far. Most people in rural areas tend to just stay in their own towns so people in Morpeth are from Morpeth and so on. The nightlife in Morpeth is absolutely dire anyway same as Cramlington.
It's only 20 minutes it's not worth it, the reason the 308 later run was cancelled because it was keeping Blyth depot open for an extra hour and you'll need a hell of a lot of passengers to be able to cover that not mention the run into town is dead so whatever numbers you get you can pretty much half it.
GNE are the exception here as Stagecoach always have similar times and these are on services which are every 7.5 minutes during the day. The last 62/63 towards Killingworth is 23:09 for example and they attempted night services which failed big time aswell. The last 30/31 towards the West End is 23:10 aswell and most services are the same and I wouldn't be surprised to see the new late runs unless they're being paid by Nissan or Amazon lasting long either.
Arriva:
43 - 23:04
44/45 - 23:34
51 - 23:05
54 - 22:45
55 - 23:20
X7 - 23:07
X8 - 22:37
X10/X11 - 23:10
X15/X18 - 23:18
X21/X22 - 23:15
306 - 23:42
308 - 23:12
There's not exactly much difference really, it's just aimless attacking Arriva as usual. It's the other operator who deserves the criticism who has city centre routes imo.
RE: £1 fares - L469 YVK - 30 Aug 2021
(29 Aug 2021, 4:51 pm)Storx I don't think Amble etc will from Alnwick or Morpeth it's too far. Most people in rural areas tend to just stay in their own towns so people in Morpeth are from Morpeth and so on. The nightlife in Morpeth is absolutely dire anyway same as Cramlington.But they could've just scaled back the last 308 to Fridays & Saturdays only.
It's only 20 minutes it's not worth it, the reason the 308 later run was cancelled because it was keeping Blyth depot open for an extra hour and you'll need a hell of a lot of passengers to be able to cover that not mention the run into town is dead so whatever numbers you get you can pretty much half it.
GNE are the exception here as Stagecoach always have similar times and these are on services which are every 7.5 minutes during the day. The last 62/63 towards Killingworth is 23:09 for example and they attempted night services which failed big time aswell. The last 30/31 towards the West End is 23:10 aswell and most services are the same and I wouldn't be surprised to see the new late runs unless they're being paid by Nissan or Amazon lasting long either.
Arriva:
43 - 23:04
44/45 - 23:34
51 - 23:05
54 - 22:45
55 - 23:20
X7 - 23:07
X8 - 22:37
X10/X11 - 23:10
X15/X18 - 23:18
X21/X22 - 23:15
306 - 23:42
308 - 23:12
There's not exactly much difference really, it's just aimless attacking Arriva as usual. It's the other operator who deserves the criticism who has city centre routes imo.
Any service departing after 1120pm can make a difference between a cheap night out or an expensive taxi home. GNE have got that right with the X30, X45, X85, 21 & 310.
If Arriva were to re-time the late evening services better (based on the 306/308 re-increasing the Mon-Sat evening frequency):
Arriva:
43 - 23:14
44/45 - 22:54, 23:34
51 - 23:05 - leave as is
54 - 22:45 - leave as is
55 - 23:20 - leave as is
X7 - 23:17
X8 - 22:42
X10/X11 - 22:45, 23:20
X15/X18 - 23:20
X21/X22 - 22:50, 23:25
306 - 23:02, 23:42
308 - 23:22
To be fair to your last point, Stagecoach should run their services later for the exact reason you stated given they're City Centre routes.