(29 Jun 2013, 1:22 pm)BJ10VUS wrote

(29 Jun 2013, 1:13 pm)Andreos1 wrote Now it makes sense bus companies owning their own stations in the past or driving "around" town.

In Sunderland, I wonder how much difference those charges make in relation to the profitability of a Stagecoach service being stable and consistent over a GNE service, which is subject to changes on what seems like an all too regular basis.

I think it's ridiculous that bus companies are charged to use a bus station. Thinking Go North East and the amount of services that operate through Gateshead Interchange and Park Lane - that must amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds a year. I see why Stagecoach's X34 only serves Gateshead Interchange in one direction!

Unsure why it is ridiculous. Bus companies are private companies so they can't have it all ways. They should pay for the upkeep of these bus stations. It's a shame Stagecoach pulled out of using the bus station. The council/nexus provide new facilities which stagecoach chose to pull out of saving themselves money. It is supposed to be an interchange and coming off the metro to a stagecoach bus means an inconvenient walk. So much for thinking about the customer!