(02 Sep 2021, 10:45 pm)Adrian wrote I don't mind the Versas on the 2/2A to be honest. They have the same seating capacity as a Streetlite, although its claimed the latter can have 30 standees... I'd be interested to see that attempted! 
I do agree it is a backward step though, and Sunderland/Washington are suffering to the benefit of Newcastle. Whilst I understand why GNE are doing it (i.e. making best use of their resources), it doesn't exactly fit into the 'Better than Ever' narrative that is constantly banded about these days... you had a brand spanking new Streetlite with all the mod-cons before the lockdowns, but now you've got a grubby aging Versa.


Why do they have to prefer an alternative if they don't like what they're given? I really dislike this "put up and shut up" attitude, and its part of the reason public transport in the UK is so backward thinking on the large part.

What they're doing is with valid reason, but what's happening over the water is irrelevant to customers in Sunderland, who only see an old bus pull up instead of the new one they might have been used to. When you're trying to attract new customers, first impressions are everything. They're not going to care what an operators overheads are, just what the end result is.


Just because "someone was on about" something, does not mean you need to take it as gospel. People come out with rubbish all of the time.

Consett to Newcastle has to main a strategic corridor for Newcastle, especially when they have an MP who believes in fantasy and the possibility of the Metro coming to Consett. The more GNE can do to prove that is not required and in fact they have a top class bus network, it can only benefit their business. I personally believe that a Consett to Newcastle direct rail link is complete pie in the sky, but if the end result would decimate the business in the area, I would not be taking any chances.