(01 Aug 2013, 8:51 pm)Daniel wrote(01 Aug 2013, 7:59 pm)ifm001 wrote(01 Aug 2013, 7:56 pm)gtomlinson wrote(01 Aug 2013, 9:47 am)chris5292 wrote Instead of having 3 different bus services running the kibblesworth route have 1 main bus every half an hour dont care what number it is...kibblesworth - newcastle or a little xpress bus kibblesworth to low fell to co inside with the 29 (x29)
Kibblesworth probably only justifies hourly and certainly no express bus.
"probably",,,,do you live in Kibby, thought not?
You try living in the sticks and needing to get to work in Newcastle or the Metrocentre at unearthly hours with a bus operating hourly.
I'd have to agree with gtomlinson. Go North East (or any other operator for that matter) cannot operate a service that doesn't make enough revenue. They could, but they wouldn't last very long - would they?
Nexus-secured service 29 is around for a reason... Nexus provides the 29 service (and other services like the 29) to ensure that communities (such as Kibblesworth) retain a bus service - particularly during early mornings, at nights and at weekends, where operators are unwilling to operate commercial services.
Go North East work out whether a commercial service is justifiable or not by how many fare paying passengers are on each individual run - not by how much revenue the service makes from all passengers over the course of the full day. This is why Go North East cut so many services, and although it isn't very good for the customer, it clearly works for them as a company.
I've visited Lamesley and Kibblesworth quite frequently recently because I've been wanting some more "scenic" photographs of the "Waggonway" 28/28A services before the DAFs depart the fleet later this month. I must say that before 09:30am, I didn't see very many passengers board buses at all - including the 29. I find it hard to believe that Nexus manages to cover the costs of the 29 (and all of the other services they secure) because they just don't make very much money at all. That said, I appreciate the 29 service being there, and I imagine those who use it will do too.
I must admit, however, that I haven't been greatly inconvenienced by the frequency of the bus services at all. I've discovered that - when I didn't fancy a walk down to Newcastle Bank in Birtley for the 21 (a 1.7 mile walk isn't everyone's cup of tea) - the area essentially has a half hourly frequency, excluding the 29. You can either get a direct bus to Gateshead/Newcastle on the 28A to Newcastle, or you can get on the 28A to Birtley and get the 21 to Gateshead/Newcastle. I imagine one option would be cheaper than the other, but expense isn't an issue for me being Under 18 (POP card and Get Around key card holder).
In GNE's favour, a commercial service being operated at 7am onwards is pretty good, albeit hourly... A lot of areas don't have that, and an area as remote as Kibblesworth should appreciate such early bus services being operated in my opinion. Perhaps I'd have different opinions if I was inconvenienced by what could be debated as a late first service as I have a bus service from 5am onwards, operated by either Stagecoach or GNE, but I honestly do agree with gtomlinson and that I don't think GNE could do anything more for the Kibblesworth area that would be profitable for them.
All I am saying is people shouldn't presume that hourly bus services are sufficient. the 29 doesn't operate on evenings or sundays so your comment about nexus doesn't completely justify your statement. in fact the 29 is probably the most used Nexus Bus out of all and if it wasn't for the mass proposed Quality Contract Scheme I wouldn't have been surprised for GNE to take it on direct instead of contract.
You say yourself you have services from 5am, we would all love services to commence that early but I guess we will have to stick to taxis and not have the luxury of living in your area