(29 Jan 2017, 8:34 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote I agree that a regular turn up and go service seems to be one of the best selling points for a bus route.
My observations in Chester le Street see people letting the Arriva X12 go past them to board a GNE 21, X21 or X25. This is despite a cheaper fare on Arriva at £2.90 verses £3.35 on GNE. Arriva have an almost 100% WiFi offering whereas GNE send out spare vehicles with no WiFi on an almost daily basis.
So while branding, WiFi and price have their benefits I would say that a frequent service is the winner in attracting customers.
I am aware that some people will take the GNE bus due to onward connctions but I have based my assumption purely on observations of customers purchasing a single or return to Gateshead or Newcastle.
Quite. If I'm going to Newcastle from home, Arriva day tickets could do it - £12.80 for me and one kid. it pays to get me an explorer and one of the boys a £3.40 return to Durham from home, though, because it;s only a pound each way on a GNE service, between Durham and Newcastle. £9.70 + £3.40 + £2 = £15.10 plus, also, the lack of need to hang around ESBS a minute longer than needed, even if I miss the Castles Express, which snuggles up pretty well with the Arriva 22, in both directions, when the 22 runs on time.