Exactly! - Go North East are good at marketing (branded routes etc...) but recently these have been messed about with (with exception of few flagships Angel, Ten....) High Fares when compared to other regions, Lack of integration with other operators, Metro & local trains. Confusing to visitors to have branded buses on incorrect route! Maybe we should hear what benefits Nexus Quality contracts would bring to passengers. Thoughts?!
Agree completely. I was stunned to find Arriva is cheaper to use from Chester - Newcastle and they have an awful reputation.
GNE are fantastic at marketing. All knickers and no fur coat as they say. Scratch behind the Angel, the Red Arrows, TTX and the Ten and it's not pretty. Wi-Fi, destination screens, leather headrests...it means sod all to passengers (especially when yellow deckers turn up)
Whilst I live on the Durham/Tyne Border and would be wary of changes that Nexus bring in that result in increased cost (bearing in mind Nexus would increase fares and annoyingly use it to support the Metro...great use to the people of Low Fell, Lobley Hill, Birtley, Whickham etc) to me.
It's unrealistic in the current climate to expect the high frequency routes everywhere with cost effective fares but its not unrealistic to expect something that is cheaper than car/taxi journey and reliable. As a taxpayer I don't want to be forking out for buses that no-one ever uses but I equally see the importance of the bus as a social service/need in areas with an elderly/less mobile/economically poor population
But some people will defend them to the hilt, that Ian Hignett fella on Facebook for example he doesn't even work for GNE but spends his entire time defending them no matter what the issue is on Facebook. It's a bit odd and kinda part of the problem.