(15 Jul 2013, 6:19 am)tyresmoke wrote

(14 Jul 2013, 4:16 pm)AdamY wrote

(14 Jul 2013, 10:35 am)tyresmoke wrote Not sure what the GNE fares are but here's some fares from Arriva...

Middlesbrough-Newcastle £5.70 (rtn £6.70)
Middlesbrough-Durham £5.20 (rtn £6.70)
Durham-Newcastle £3.50 (rtn £5.80)
Durham-Chester £2.70 (rtn £4.80)
Chester-Newcastle £2.70 (rtn £4.80)

At last, some direct comparisons. The GNE fares are:

Middlesbrough - Newcastle £6.80 (rtn £7.30)
Durham - Newcastle £3.95 (rtn £5.50)
Durham - Chester £3.15 (rtn £4.40)
Chester - Newcastle £3.15 (rtn £4.40)

[A comparative fare between Durham and Middlesbrough won't exist as GNE do not operate a direct service between those destinations. (As if I really needed to point that out to you all ) ]

From this we can see that single fares are cheaper on Arriva, but return fares are cheaper on GNE with one exception: the Newcastle to Middlesbrough fare.

Further to this, new from July 20th are
X2 day ticket £5
X2 week ticket £15
X2/X24 family ticket £10

This therefore reduces the return fare between Durham and Newcastle to £5, below GNEs offering!

I will be taking up the £15 week ticket which offers a saving on the £16.60 that I have been paying GNE for the Angel Saver. Arriva might also get me to my destination on one bus. GNE have been know to ask passengers to leave their bus part way along the route to regulate the service meaning two buses to get from Durham to Newcastle. I hope that Arriva take the opportunity to advertise this offer using a medium that will reach other GNE customers.