(25 Mar 2014, 12:38 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk/news/prud...-1.1108708#
I was looking for something completely different, but stumbled across this.
Having never needed to use the services mentioned, I have no opinion or experience of them.
What was quite humorous, was that despite the bad experiences of passengers, quotes from councillors and a wish to return to previous services, the guy from GNE insists that what they are offering, is better than the previous operator.
Prior to Christmas, I came across a similar story, outlining passengers concern and quotes from them, explaining bad experiences on the three services mentioned
Apart from the GNE rep apparently being blind to some of the issues put to him, what else do passengers need to see or do, so that their opinions (even if it is just some) are listened too, acknowledged and/or accepted, so that changes are made?
No matter how much money is spent on buses, that can accommodate wheelchairs and pushchairs (I am sure the previous operator would have sorted out a full fleet of accessible buses by now), unless passenger needs, wants or desires are accepted (even in part), then I am not sure there is any point in a rep attending these meetings.
Are there any regular passengers from those services on the forum, who could share their views?
Yes, I'm a regular user of these services, and my experience is quite the reverse of this report - my buses are usually on time, every time, regardless of the time of day I travel - I can recall just one occasion since Christmas when a bus has been late, and even then it made no difference to my arrangements. My daughter also uses the same services to and from school and I'm not aware of her ever being late for school or late home.
In my limited experience, councillors don't ask bus companies to attend meetings to heap praise on them, but rather to relate some horrendous stories of people being let down, notwithstanding how rare such things are. And newspapers like to publish such stories.
And again, in my limited experience, GNE is pretty good at listening to its customers.
If you want to compare the TEN with the old 602 and 604 from Arriva, then it's quite clear that the service is better, not just in terms of vehicles.