My response from Arriva on Boxing Day services:

From: Customer Services North East [mailto:csnortheast@arriva.co.uk]

Sent: xxxxxxx
To: xxxxxxx
Subject: Arriva
 
Good afternoon
 
Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to you. Your comments were sent to the commercial manager for his response.
 
He has now advised us that he understands your frustration because we will not be running any buses on Boxing Day, especially as Go North East and Stagecoach will operate some of their services.
 
However, over the last few months we have looked very closely at the potential to run Boxing Day services around the cities of Newcastle and Durham. Unfortunately, we do not think there would be enough passengers and revenue to cover our operating costs, especially as there are no major sporting events taking place in Tyne & Wear.  We have therefore, as a company taken the decision to not operated our services on this day.
 
I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience our upset that this will cause you.
 
Kind regards
 
xxxxxxxx
Customer Service Advisor

I know us Geordies would say Sunderland playing football isn't a major sporting event, but no need for Arriva to rub it in  In all seriousness though, there's a massive fan base in East Durham that could have done with a bus service towards the match, not to mention others wanting to take advantage of the sales. Same goes for those wanting to be in and out of Durham.

I personally think it's nothing but short sighted.