(07 Jul 2014, 10:42 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote I did check, that's why I knew I had to make specific arrangements for Friday, rather than hang around North Road on a Friday night :p
It was only after being made aware of 'minor changes' on here, that I did decide to check. As I hadn't seen any literature on vehicles and don't bother with the fb page much (just like the majority of passengers don't - using the number of followers versus advertised passenger numbers).
From memory, those 'minor changes' on the 20's - involve the approx 18.40 hanging on in North Road for an extra few minutes, leaving approx 18.45.
The 18.50, is cut.
The next one is just after 19.00.
If I get off the train at approx 18.30 (not taking into account delays), the 18.40 was more or less impossible.
The 18.45 departure is very tight by the time I walk down from the station. The 18.50 was perfect and the 19.00 misses connections and extends the journey/travel times by quite a margin.
Don't get me started on the mission I need to go on using buses, if arriving at 19.53 on the Cross Stinky from Scotland or after 8 on a northbound train!
As I say, others are affected - this isn't just about me. But a lone female, unaware of the changes and making a similar trip - is leaving herself quite vulnerable.
That could have been solved instantly, by the operator advertising changes in detail.
Touching on your ANE stuff, they are improving and I have been impressed with their follow up consultation and detailed response
Speaking for Go North East alone here: the posters advertising service changes are usually displayed a week after the changes are first advertised on the website and Social Media pages. The delay is due to the time it takes to make and print the posters, in addition to actually having all vehicles in the depot (i.e. night times only) to pin the posters up on the notice boards.
Unless that procedure has not happened for whatever reason, you'd still have three weeks to check against both timetables and make alternative arrangements.
But hey, even a week's delay is better than what Nexus last did when there was changes to the Metro... They only posted on their website and a few days before the changes they also added a message to the boards which stated there was going to be timetable changes and to check the website for more information. Nothing was found on-board Metros!
Regardless of whether passengers 'like' or 'follow' Go North East's Social Media pages, any with an Internet connection (which will be the majority) will check the website to download timetables. If a lone female, who is likely to have a mobile device or is likely to have had access to another device which connects to the Internet, does not have the sense to pick up a new timetable from the bus or download it online after posters, Social Media posts and website posts all suggest there is going to be service changes from whatever date, she's a fool.