30 Sep 2017, 2:56 pm
#759
(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.
The services you mention were the only ones which Go North East provided with the most recent changes in September - X5 and X21 as the improved Sunday journeys were something they were promoting, and X9/X10 due to the new vehicles, completely new timetable, serving Dalton Park on X10, etc.
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.
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.
