30 Sep 2017, 7:57 am
#758
(30 Sep 2017, 5:38 am)Dan The traditional methods of providing printed timetables are being moved away from - not only by Go North East, but by Arriva and Stagecoach too. I have found that printed timetables are no longer produced on-bus for either operator any more (excluding Arriva's branded services). Whilst Arriva's timetable holder often remains empty, Stagecoach have replaced it with small 'area guides' with a lot of detail about where services go and what their frequencies are.
Until earlier this year; Go North East was the only operator to continue supplying printed timetables on-bus, and I believe the company wished to move away from this method of providing travel information to customers. Following passenger research undertaken on-bus which suggested that the majority of customers would use another method of finding out the timetable of the bus (either by going on the company's website, Googling it, using the app, or using the Journey Planner tool on Google Maps), I believe a number of timetables weren't produced in line with minor changes on services in July. Customer complaints were in single figures, I understand, suggesting that not many people really do care about having a printed timetable nowadays.
The company recently received some feedback on Social Media about this from a member of this forum recently - which you can see this confirmed by Go North East.
It's not intended as a cost-saving exercise, as the money saved will be used in alternative marketing to try and attract new customers as well as benefit existing customers (with offers such as free day tickets, etc). Door-drops relevant to the service they'd be travelling on, more promotional events, etc.
I personally don't think we're ready to be completely digital yet, but the passenger research and lack of complaints about printed timetables suggests otherwise.
Not everyone has a smartphone.
