RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(20 Jun 2018, 9:37 pm)RobinHood wrote I have to admit, when the EYMS announcement was made, I thought competition on the X93 would be first choice, however on reflection I think GNE bosses may have a good think about it before committing (if it was on the agenda to begin with). My thoughts behind this are presumably the kind of points that would be discussed;
- The X93, over recent years has improved significantly. Journeys tend to be reliable compared to 4 or 5 years ago (as well as they can be for a long distance service) and the kit that tends to run is up to the job. Its not a simple case of providing the basics to gain abstraction due to poor customer confidence.
- Barring the main summer, in which Arriva have just implemented a 20 minute frequency on the X93, there isnt much to pinch from off peak (perhaps summer only competition?).
- GNE Management will remember the OK1 and the retaliation that Arriva swept into almost immediately when that came on stream - eventually suffocating it by means of timetable changes and introduction of the X1. I would not expect Arriva to sit tight and do nothing if EYMS/GNE simply compete like for like on the X93. Whilst obvious passenger benefit would be great, lets not forget these are businesses and their high earners are the ones they will push hard to protect. X93 almost certainly is one of them for Arriva I suspect.
- Arriva are generally not known for pulling the first punch in situations where competition exists or is created - most of the time it intiailly instigates from another bus operator and Arriva tend to be the ones to react, but I think competition with the X93/X4 services would provoke more than a like for like response (perhaps retaliation by means of a direct Teesside to Newcastle non-stop to cream off the X9/X10 or even more X12 up Durham Road for example).
It will be interesting to see what does happen of course, but im not sure GNE bosses will be unlikely to be up for a competitive fight straight away - if at all.
Tend to agree with what you have said in this post.
Of course we know what the nature of both the X4 and X93 routes and I can't see much scope at all for it to grow any further.
I can't see demand for public transport increasing beyond what is seen now on those routes.
They must have plateaued out by now - even with that increase between Whitby and Scarborough.
There's been many a time I have used the X4 to/from Whitby. Once you get beyond Staithes on a southbound run, it can get through to the outskirts of Whitby stopping only a handful of times.
Ditto the return from Whitby, where once locals are dropped off at the top of the hill, it tends to be the same few stops served.
The moors-road the X93 uses isn't exactly the highway through a bustling metropolis either.
The corridoor up to Guisbrough is boxed off and would leave little scope for any additional stopping service or limited stop.
Go back those few years you mention and I think the opportunity was there to nip in and offer up some competition.
Pretty sure that time has been and gone. For now anyway.
Too much to invest with no guarantee of a return.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'
