(07 Oct 2024, 8:52 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Tbh, I think Arriva started improving even before their takeover.
Do GNE even have Tap on Tap off fleet wide yet?
Given they use the same (or even newer at this point) ticketing machines as Arriva, and they piloted it years ago on certain routes, there's no reason Arriva should have beat them to it.
In fact, prior to giving up on public transport a few months ago, I rarely used GNE at all, favouring Arriva as I didn't even have to talk to the driver, I could just tap my card on the reader and be done with it. The other day I genuinely forgot how to ask for a single ticket!
The only 'improvements' made to GNE I can think of, even going back to the demise of MG, have been the £2 fare cap, and the TNE tickets, neither of which were down to them!
Routes have been cut, frequencies slashed, vehicles downgraded, it's almost as if they're death spiraling on purpose!
I remember the days I was accused on here of being a GNE fanboy, and perhaps I was because I believed in MG's mission, he seemed like a guy that was genuinely trying to turn things around, and to improve the general perception of public transport.
But now, they're just an embarrassment!
Aye your probably right concerning Arriva ignoring the nearly strike in Northumbria but at least they sorted it before it actually happened unlike GNE who acted like very bad politicians.
It's a mess public transport in the North East though. The impending franchising whenever it comes won't help things either mind as why would you spend millions to get everything took away anyway. Just doesn't make sense from a business point of view tbh.