(09 Aug 2013, 7:03 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(09 Aug 2013, 6:13 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote

(09 Aug 2013, 5:33 pm)AdamY wrote

(09 Aug 2013, 4:59 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote

(09 Aug 2013, 3:50 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Just been into my local Travel Office this afternoon in Washington and I asked what is the cheapest option on a Weekly Pass to Sunderland using either Network One or The Key.

I was told Network One would cost £25.50 and The Key £23.50.

I then asked if the there was any weekly savers available on the Silver Arrows 2A/2C as that would be the services I would be using over the course of the week.

In the person replied yes, Washington Weekly Saver £11(I Think) and Sunderland Weekly Saver £11.40. Now here is where I am confused.

Why can I not purchase a Sunderland Weekly Saver on the 2A/2C when Washington is actually part of the City of Sunderland, surely Washington in that case shouldn't be classed as a Separate Area.

So therefore I have to than pay an Extra £12.10 per week, as the cheapest option which I purchased is a Red/Purple on The Key which think is a little overpriced.

I would of thought there would at least of been a ticket for the whole route although saying that, it is the same with other services come to think of it. e.g. M1 being s prime example, as I remember reading something a few weeks back about someone asking if there was Day/Week Savers available on the M1, Answer is yes and it's the same exact scenario as above.

I think GNE should look into this area as I do think it is rather Stupid not having a Day/Weekly Saver Ticket across the whole route, instead of part of the route due to the Zone System currently in place.

Cheapest option seems to be £11.40 (Sunderland weekly) plus £10.30 (Washington weekly) = £21.70 versus £23.50 2 zone buzz-far bought 'off the bus'. Fair comment that they should maybe look at a Route Saver for Silver Arrows (and probably several other routes). Have to say, I think its a bit of a stretch to expect GNE to include Washington in the Sunderland ticket, people would moan if they charged the same to Washington as for local hops in Sunderland. Plus Washington and Sunderland are in separate buzz fare zones, so would make no sense to include Washington in the Sunderland fare zone.

Conversely one might argue that GNE should move Washington into the red zone. As Adam points out, Washington is located within the City of Sunderland. As Washington is municipally linked with Sunderland Council who provide services for the town it would, therefore, make more sense to allow residents of Washington to participate in civic life, as defined by the boundaries of their local authority, without being prohibited by the cost of public transport.

According to Google Maps, Washington is located at a point equidistant of Sunderland and Gateshead so the argument about 'local hops' should also apply to residents of Gateshead: why should someone travelling daily between Whickham and Gateshead be charged the same weekly fare as people travelling across the local authority boundary to Washington? Either way, it isn't fair for someone.

You could argue if you wanted to, but GNE aren't under any obligation and don't claim to cover a municipality per ticket. The 'Sunderland' ticket is clearly designed for use on Sunderland local services. The 'Washington' ticket is clearly designed for use on Washington services. Using your argument, there would only be one ticket for the whole of County Durham as that is a single local authority area too?

When I referred to local hops, I was talking about the Sunderland daysaver ticket and the Washington daysaver ticket, which are local tickets, and which Adam felt should be extended. Neither is valid in Whickham.

Yes I agree the tickets are designed clearly but they are clearly misleading as they clearly linked to the shoddy Zone System rather than giving the passengers a cost effective option across the whole route rather than part of the route as these Day/Weekly Savers would suggest hence why passengers are enticed to buy them.

And yes that would be correct using my Argument that County Durham would have it's own Ticket.

So for example for there specific Area:

Durham Saver
Sunderland Saver
Gateshead/Newcastle Saver

Then you could have linking zone savers i.e. Durham/Sunderland to cover Prince Bishops 20 or Sunderland/Gateshead&Newcastle for X3/X36 and 56.

So instead of having the System Zoned by Colour i.e. Red & Purple, it would be zoned by Area and there Actual Boundaries to then give passengers more value for Money.