(02 Jul 2014, 4:10 pm)Dan I have a feeling it'll be related to the scholars given the nature of the other VOSA registrations - the 71 will just be registered alongside those scholar services, similar to the 20 and RM1/RM2 in Sunderland which we see each Christmas.
Though if GNE had any sense, they would change the 71... I travelled on service 71 the other day, at about 15:00, and across the entire route in one direction there was only the equivalent to 3 1/3 passengers - on the approximation that a Concessionary Bus Pass holder equates to 1/3 of a passenger and a Get Around Day Ticket holder equates to 1/2 of a passenger. The driver took no cash on that journey. I'd be amazed if GNE actually made a profit from the service in general, as it's always carried similar loadings each time I've used it.
In did the full route the other week and it was quite busy.
Standing room only at one point between the Black Horse and Riverside - a stack of pass holders going to cricket.
The rest all dispersed around Lumley, with a few more getting on around Fencehouses towards Houghton.
It is one of those routes that has ups and downs during the day - if it gets in before a 4, then loads are boosted.
The same happens in Chester, with a late running 78.
I won't go into detail about what I have said before - but fares, terminating points, frequent services and the zones don't help it at all.
(02 Jul 2014, 4:20 pm)Marcus I use the 71 regularly - it gets pretty decent loadings.
It seems like people get on in Houghton and get off in Fencehouses, then it runs empty to Lumley then a bunch of people get on and get off in Chester.
Have to agree with that point - a few do get on from the railway crossing onwards heading towards Chester.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
