(16 Jul 2013, 10:13 pm)Andreos1 wrote haha, yeah. Heard about those 'virtual' airlines! Virtual buses running around Coquetdale soon.

Just looking at the guys facebook and twitter page and it appears the questionaire will assist in getting the funding he needs to procede.
Basically, if he can show the bank manager that there is enough interest, he will get the loan to start buying the fleet to go with his uniforms.

When would be the best time to start the business up?
In the winter, so niggles are ironed out before the tourists start arriving? Then there is the potential for making a loss for a significant period.
In the spring, ready for tourists and hopefully build up enough of a kitty to see the winter out?

It also looks as though he is going for the low-floor single deckers. Ensign will be able to sort him out (they currently have both options in stock...)

Still hoping this comes off!
Wonder if he joins NEBOA?

The questionnaire will mean diddly-squat to a bank manager I'm afraid. It's a useful PR tool but it does nothing to prove the case for funding. All it really does is answer three basic questions: Do you think the service is a good idea?; Would you use the service if it was introduced?; And how (and when) would you use the service?

Now, I'm going to pretend that I live in Rothbury and answer each of the three questions.

1) Do you think the service is a good idea?

Yes, I think the service is a smashing idea. Rothbury has been deprived of a decent bus service for years and any improvement is welcome. I believe elderly people would use the service to get out and about more; and tourists would use the service to visit the Upper Coquetdale area during the summer months.

2) Would you use the service if it was introduced?

Maybe. I mean, I have my own car which I use to get to/from work everyday, but I might use the service at some point if circumstances permitted.

3) And how (and when) would you use the service?

Erm....

I think I've probably provided the average participant response (in my mind at least - feel free to argue otherwise). So, to summarise. Most participants will think the service is a good idea (for what its worth, it is!); most participants might use the service but probably won't; and no-one will be able to say for definite how they would use the service.

This doesn't bode well for financial consideration as a questionnaire is no substitute for a sound business plan. The bank manager will probably ask about the current level of service provided by Arriva, trying to ascertain the current level of demand for the area. A discussion will take place about costs, and, using eezypeazy's estimations as a guide, the bank manager will probably conclude that it's not in the bank's interest to finance this venture as it is too much of a risk.

I really hate to be negative about the whole thing as I hope something comes of this. But, to me, all the evidence points towards this being little more than fantasy bus booking that has gotten a little too serious somewhere along the way.