06 Jan 2020, 11:55 am
#48
(06 Jan 2020, 11:09 am)Storx Personally for me the biggest problem as Omnicity has mentioned is the lack of multi-operator tickets especially across boundaries. For me I don't and probably most people they don't care whether it's GNE, Arriva or Stagecoach unless they have to use more than one and then fork up multiple tickets or if buy an explorer at £10.90 that used to be £9.20 until recently.
I know this is a bus forum but I always think rail is one of the areas that's majorly underutilised up here for example we have approx 10 buses an hour between Cramlington and Newcastle yet no-one uses the railway since it's in the middle of nowhere (I know they want to change this) and it's way to expensive if you have to use another service. It's similar with most the ECML stations or ever worse at Pegswood and Widdrington they have a token service. Why not have buses running north from these to Amble etc then get them into Newcastle in half the time and much quicker than actually driving but we're more bothered about having 4 express trains an hour running to Edinburgh carrying fresh air most the day.
It's the same along the Hexham line and the Metro Centre which are both massively underused. I bet most people don't even realise there's a train from Newcastle to the Metro Centre why not let metro tickets use it where it's an easy'ish change at Central rather than having at least 8 buses an hour from Gateshead and Blackett Street doing express journeys. That's how you realistically get buses off the road.
The rail services in the North East is pretty Crap that's why most people use the bus and large areas of the North East are no where near a train station. Take Hexham for example I'd rather get the bus so I don't need to walk up a steep hill. If cites are really serious about clean air they should think about banning cars all together Newcastle and Durham already have a park and ride sites and some metro station offer parking
