(07 Jan 2014, 5:01 pm)Dan wrote I agree.
I must say that I highly doubt a service would be withdrawn or see continuous changes if it was massively profitable. The fact that there have been so many changes to the X3 shows to me that there is little demand service for the service, or that it is not making profits as it should be.
In my opinion, the only reason why the X3 has remained (in the form which will take place later this month) will be down to local councillors in the affected areas. They have seemingly found reason to complain each and every time the services have been consulted in the past.
Yes, I think that sounds quite logical.
Difference obviously being that one is a commercial service, and the other is operated via a partnership...
Go North East have complete control with the X3, and if it ain't making money, there's no reason to keep it - whether it's Dot, Pat or Margaret's local bus or not.
All in all, I agree.
X3 - Overall, I think Go North East are trying to prove to local councillors that the service is not commercially viable. We're at what I would say was a peak time now, and the X3 I've just seen not so long ago was allocated a Vyking - with what looked like two passengers on board (both of which did appear to be fare payers). They've tried to operate it as cheaply as possible (omitting Eldon Square and Park Lane), with as low a PVR as possible too.
X36 - I doubt the X36 will ever be a local service. It can hardly compete against Stagecoach's streamlined ten minute frequency services, and will only ever pick up the people who are meeting further Go North East connections. Also, New Bridge Street? I can't think of one existing on the X36's route... There's a North Bridge Street in Sunderland, but the X36 does stop here (as shown here.
9 - I'm a little disappointed that the service is not branded, but this makes sense if the service is in line to be allocated B10BLE vehicles (it has been an aim to phase branding from these vehicles, not add more).
29 - I'm always in two minds whether I actually like cross-city services (Stagecoach standard) or not. There is the huge issue of disruption at one end of the route and passengers at the other end suffering as a result, but a lot of new links are created this way. With a Solar allocation rather than Vyking or SPD, I do hope reliability will improve though.
39 - While I would have liked to see a ten minute frequency to compete with the competition across the entire route, I do think it was perhaps a bit steep for so much of an upgrade at once (vehicle type and frequency). Glad to see that Go North East know there is a demand between those two points for that ten minute frequency and it has been retained as such. I've always disliked the short runs, as I do with all services. I feel it can often be quite confusing to the passenger, and many end up asking if it's the right bus or not - "Do you go up Pennywell or are you just going to the town?" I imagine will be a common question asked, despite there being a destination on the front of the bus.
That should tell you immediately that the service is not performing as it should be.
Serious question to anyone that knows the answer (I don't know the answer myself, so I'm not asking to be dickish), does it appear that the PVR of Deptford and Percy Main have remained the same, increased or decreased?
It appears Percy's will increase by three, and not sure about Deptford. Probably about the same, as the X36 will be four, 29 about 7 (?).