Go North East: Upcoming Service Changes
Go North East: Upcoming Service Changes
(23 Nov 2014, 10:04 pm)Dan [url=https://www.facebook.com/michelle.drinkald?fref=ufi][/url]No the company hasn't made a decision! I've already explained on here why they're possibly only there for one day - and it certainly isn't to avoid getting the opinions of customers...
(23 Nov 2014, 10:04 pm)Dan [url=https://www.facebook.com/michelle.drinkald?fref=ufi][/url]No the company hasn't made a decision! I've already explained on here why they're possibly only there for one day - and it certainly isn't to avoid getting the opinions of customers...
(23 Nov 2014, 10:50 pm)Drifter60 Just picking up on some of your points, you don't know this isn't a way to avoid getting opinions. Just like, I don't know that is a way of avoiding getting a true picture. You can't something is certain when really you don't know that 100%.
I do think it's more of a lazy decision rather than one 'to avoid getting opinions' though. I still stand by and think there should be more of a effort and a couple of days in park lane. Three days this week would be a better solution in my opinion.
I'm intrigued as to what the changes they proposing are. I can't see much 'wrong' with the sunderland network at the moment. Something tells me that it must be to do with the city services, if it's to do with things that go out of sunderland (20, 56, X35/X36, 60, 2A/2C, 61, 35) then I believe they should do consultations is these areas to- Seaham for 60, Durham/Houghton for 20, Houghton/South Shields for the 35s etc.
So I'm wondering if it could be the 39, 38, 42? I do hope it's not North Sunderland though, it goes without saying that constant Changes are becoming boring in these areas and X36, 29 seem to running with the best passenger numbers in some time.
(23 Nov 2014, 10:50 pm)Drifter60 Just picking up on some of your points, you don't know this isn't a way to avoid getting opinions. Just like, I don't know that is a way of avoiding getting a true picture. You can't something is certain when really you don't know that 100%.
I do think it's more of a lazy decision rather than one 'to avoid getting opinions' though. I still stand by and think there should be more of a effort and a couple of days in park lane. Three days this week would be a better solution in my opinion.
I'm intrigued as to what the changes they proposing are. I can't see much 'wrong' with the sunderland network at the moment. Something tells me that it must be to do with the city services, if it's to do with things that go out of sunderland (20, 56, X35/X36, 60, 2A/2C, 61, 35) then I believe they should do consultations is these areas to- Seaham for 60, Durham/Houghton for 20, Houghton/South Shields for the 35s etc.
So I'm wondering if it could be the 39, 38, 42? I do hope it's not North Sunderland though, it goes without saying that constant Changes are becoming boring in these areas and X36, 29 seem to running with the best passenger numbers in some time.
Unfortunately, school prevents me from attending this, erm....'consultation'.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:04 pm)Simmy Hopefully the plain purple Versas at Deptford will receive some vinyls after the service changes have occurred...
(23 Nov 2014, 11:05 pm)MarcTheA4 Unfortunately, school prevents me from attending this, erm....'consultation'.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:04 pm)Simmy Hopefully the plain purple Versas at Deptford will receive some vinyls after the service changes have occurred...
(23 Nov 2014, 11:05 pm)MarcTheA4 Unfortunately, school prevents me from attending this, erm....'consultation'.
(23 Nov 2014, 10:59 pm)Dan I'm not saying it just to defend the company... They want customers' views, which is why the consultation is being held in the first place, and this is a fact. They've gone to the cost of printing posters and pinning them up on Deptford-based buses, they've advertised the consultation on the website and they've advertised the consultation on their Social Media pages. This is a company screaming to attract attention, to get their customers opinions. So yes, I say this very confidently, 100%.
If the company were to stand in Park Lane day-by-day, then the chances are they'd get the same results. The majority of people follow the same routine each weekday due to work or educational commitments. Granted, people with varying shifts do not follow the same routine, but I'd suggest that these people are in the minority... The majority of people who are unemployed (either because they can't find a job, are unable to work, or have retired) have the freedom to go out when they please can attend if they wish; they should be aware of the consultation taking place, due to it being heavily advertised.
If the company was going to get the same results from holding the consultation on one day as they would holding it on three, why bother? It's a waste of time, money and resources.
Service changes aren't designed to spice things up when things are looking dull. They're not to entertain, so how could they be classed as 'boring'? They're there to meet the changing needs of customers, to work from service suggestions sent to the company, or to make the network more profitable as it has become (or is becoming) unsustainable.
(23 Nov 2014, 10:59 pm)Dan I'm not saying it just to defend the company... They want customers' views, which is why the consultation is being held in the first place, and this is a fact. They've gone to the cost of printing posters and pinning them up on Deptford-based buses, they've advertised the consultation on the website and they've advertised the consultation on their Social Media pages. This is a company screaming to attract attention, to get their customers opinions. So yes, I say this very confidently, 100%.
If the company were to stand in Park Lane day-by-day, then the chances are they'd get the same results. The majority of people follow the same routine each weekday due to work or educational commitments. Granted, people with varying shifts do not follow the same routine, but I'd suggest that these people are in the minority... The majority of people who are unemployed (either because they can't find a job, are unable to work, or have retired) have the freedom to go out when they please can attend if they wish; they should be aware of the consultation taking place, due to it being heavily advertised.
If the company was going to get the same results from holding the consultation on one day as they would holding it on three, why bother? It's a waste of time, money and resources.
Service changes aren't designed to spice things up when things are looking dull. They're not to entertain, so how could they be classed as 'boring'? They're there to meet the changing needs of customers, to work from service suggestions sent to the company, or to make the network more profitable as it has become (or is becoming) unsustainable.
(23 Nov 2014, 9:39 pm)Jimmi I can't see either the X35 or X36 running on Sundays.Or the X7 between Sunderland and Park Lane...that would do alright if it stopped by the car boot sale in seaham when it is on
Wonder if it would be worth running an express between Peterlee and Sunderland, perhaps it could run the same route as the Arriva X21 and would take 26 minutes in each direction and would use one bus, to keep running costs down it could use an East Durham MPD.
(23 Nov 2014, 9:39 pm)Jimmi I can't see either the X35 or X36 running on Sundays.Or the X7 between Sunderland and Park Lane...that would do alright if it stopped by the car boot sale in seaham when it is on
Wonder if it would be worth running an express between Peterlee and Sunderland, perhaps it could run the same route as the Arriva X21 and would take 26 minutes in each direction and would use one bus, to keep running costs down it could use an East Durham MPD.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:06 pm)Dan Living in Chester-le-Street, I'm doubtful you'd be affected much (if at all) by the service changes anyway.
This was the issue with the online questionnaires. Anyone, no matter where they lived or how often they travelled on the services affected, could contribute. It was difficult to gather an opinion because it varied so greatly, depending on how the question was worded. Whilst this is still possible with a face-to-face consultation, I think there will be far fewer instances of it happening...
(23 Nov 2014, 11:06 pm)Dan Living in Chester-le-Street, I'm doubtful you'd be affected much (if at all) by the service changes anyway.
This was the issue with the online questionnaires. Anyone, no matter where they lived or how often they travelled on the services affected, could contribute. It was difficult to gather an opinion because it varied so greatly, depending on how the question was worded. Whilst this is still possible with a face-to-face consultation, I think there will be far fewer instances of it happening...
(23 Nov 2014, 11:15 pm)Drifter60 Um on paper Dan yes. Maybe I'm too synical but it seems to be the consensus on this forum that it isn't the best of efforts this time from GNE. Michael, Andreos, Aureolin and myself have all said we couldn't attend tomorrow and/or believe more days in Park Lane were best.
I'm still not confident 8-4 is good for workers eithers, a 8:30-5:30 or similar working day isn't too out of the ordinary. I do usually pass through Park Lane Tues, Thu, Fri at approx. 8:30 but I certianly haven't time to digest a load of changes I'm usually rushing to catch the metro or a bus. I'm sure a lot of people are the same.
I do understand why changes happen, it doesn't change the fact the frequent changes don't help customer confidence. I've got a friend who lives in town end farm I think it is, and told me she just gets the 56, and even told me the '36' goes past her I pointed out the 36 got axed a few months back.
This then suggests that passengers are becoming tired of change and just opt for the 56 which has been the same for quite some time.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:15 pm)Drifter60 Um on paper Dan yes. Maybe I'm too synical but it seems to be the consensus on this forum that it isn't the best of efforts this time from GNE. Michael, Andreos, Aureolin and myself have all said we couldn't attend tomorrow and/or believe more days in Park Lane were best.
I'm still not confident 8-4 is good for workers eithers, a 8:30-5:30 or similar working day isn't too out of the ordinary. I do usually pass through Park Lane Tues, Thu, Fri at approx. 8:30 but I certianly haven't time to digest a load of changes I'm usually rushing to catch the metro or a bus. I'm sure a lot of people are the same.
I do understand why changes happen, it doesn't change the fact the frequent changes don't help customer confidence. I've got a friend who lives in town end farm I think it is, and told me she just gets the 56, and even told me the '36' goes past her I pointed out the 36 got axed a few months back.
This then suggests that passengers are becoming tired of change and just opt for the 56 which has been the same for quite some time.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:21 pm)MarcTheA4 You have a point, like!
Still, I suppose if the Limes are changed at all over in the Sunderland-area (god forbid they get re-routed through Fencehouses - I know the B10BLEs haven't got long to go but talk about a coup de grace!!), it could change times over at my end.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:21 pm)MarcTheA4 You have a point, like!
Still, I suppose if the Limes are changed at all over in the Sunderland-area (god forbid they get re-routed through Fencehouses - I know the B10BLEs haven't got long to go but talk about a coup de grace!!), it could change times over at my end.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:06 pm)Dan Even if service 39 isn't affected by the proposed service changes, let's hope that they're branded up! It's been almost fourteen months since the first one was painted.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:06 pm)Dan Even if service 39 isn't affected by the proposed service changes, let's hope that they're branded up! It's been almost fourteen months since the first one was painted.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:27 pm)Michael 14 months... thats flew over!
Taking the water now though, seems pointless painting them!
(23 Nov 2014, 11:27 pm)Michael 14 months... thats flew over!
Taking the water now though, seems pointless painting them!
Quote:Or the X7 between Sunderland and Park Lane...that would do alright if it stopped by the car boot sale in seaham when it is onThat would be good to have a bus go past the car boot sale but it can get stuck in traffic as cars block the road trying to get parked. Also it would take roughly 30 minutes in each direction so it would need at least two buses depending on where it would terminate, Station Town perhaps but I'm not sure where it could turn round, I'm not sure if it should run to Middlesbrough or not on a Sunday.
Quote:Or the X7 between Sunderland and Park Lane...that would do alright if it stopped by the car boot sale in seaham when it is onThat would be good to have a bus go past the car boot sale but it can get stuck in traffic as cars block the road trying to get parked. Also it would take roughly 30 minutes in each direction so it would need at least two buses depending on where it would terminate, Station Town perhaps but I'm not sure where it could turn round, I'm not sure if it should run to Middlesbrough or not on a Sunday.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:34 pm)Jimmi That would be good to have a bus go past the car boot sale but it can get stuck in traffic as cars block the road trying to get parked. Also it would take roughly 30 minutes in each direction so it would need at least two buses depending on where it would terminate, Station Town perhaps but I'm not sure where it could turn round, I'm not sure if it should run to Middlesbrough or not on a Sunday.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:34 pm)Jimmi That would be good to have a bus go past the car boot sale but it can get stuck in traffic as cars block the road trying to get parked. Also it would take roughly 30 minutes in each direction so it would need at least two buses depending on where it would terminate, Station Town perhaps but I'm not sure where it could turn round, I'm not sure if it should run to Middlesbrough or not on a Sunday.
Quote:I do think a Sunday X7 would be good, if the demand was there for it.I'm not sure if the X7 would have much demand on a Sunday as there is no East Durham services to connect to. Also I don't think that the Arriva 21 gets many passengers on a Sunday, I think if it wasn't for a decent amount of passengers travelling between Darlington and Newton Aycliffe I think it would probably not even be financially viable.
Quote:I do think a Sunday X7 would be good, if the demand was there for it.I'm not sure if the X7 would have much demand on a Sunday as there is no East Durham services to connect to. Also I don't think that the Arriva 21 gets many passengers on a Sunday, I think if it wasn't for a decent amount of passengers travelling between Darlington and Newton Aycliffe I think it would probably not even be financially viable.
(23 Nov 2014, 11:49 pm)Jimmi I'm not sure if the X7 would have much demand on a Sunday as there is no East Durham services to connect to. Also I don't think that the Arriva 21 gets many passengers on a Sunday, I think if it wasn't for a decent amount of passengers travelling between Darlington and Newton Aycliffe I think it would probably not even be financially viable.You're right, and this is probably the reason why service X7 is so much of a commercial success (especially when compared to service Arriva's competing X21).
(23 Nov 2014, 11:49 pm)Jimmi I'm not sure if the X7 would have much demand on a Sunday as there is no East Durham services to connect to. Also I don't think that the Arriva 21 gets many passengers on a Sunday, I think if it wasn't for a decent amount of passengers travelling between Darlington and Newton Aycliffe I think it would probably not even be financially viable.You're right, and this is probably the reason why service X7 is so much of a commercial success (especially when compared to service Arriva's competing X21).
Quote:You're right, and this is probably the reason why service X7 is so much of a commercial success (especially when compared to service Arriva's competing X21).The connections from the East Durham services in Peterlee is probably one of the reasons why the X7 is popular and of course there is none on Sundays apart from the 59 which doesn't get close to the X7 route.
Without the local services feeding into the X7 at Peterlee, I fear the only major demand would be between Sunderland and Seaham, and this is already achieved (albeit in a longer period of time) by "Drifter" service 60.
I've used service 21 from Darlington to Peterlee on three or four occasions on Sundays now at different times of the day. I've always been the only passenger to do the full journey, and passenger numbers have been more or less near the mark of ten on the entire journey. It seems to pick up a few in Darlington and these get off at Newton Aycliffe, then there's nothing until you get closer to Peterlee where it also picks up a few.
Quote:You're right, and this is probably the reason why service X7 is so much of a commercial success (especially when compared to service Arriva's competing X21).The connections from the East Durham services in Peterlee is probably one of the reasons why the X7 is popular and of course there is none on Sundays apart from the 59 which doesn't get close to the X7 route.
Without the local services feeding into the X7 at Peterlee, I fear the only major demand would be between Sunderland and Seaham, and this is already achieved (albeit in a longer period of time) by "Drifter" service 60.
I've used service 21 from Darlington to Peterlee on three or four occasions on Sundays now at different times of the day. I've always been the only passenger to do the full journey, and passenger numbers have been more or less near the mark of ten on the entire journey. It seems to pick up a few in Darlington and these get off at Newton Aycliffe, then there's nothing until you get closer to Peterlee where it also picks up a few.
I do wonder at times if parts of this forum are too entrenched in blinkered defence of GNE. Mutual back slapping at risk?
Yes it's a difficult job to please everyone and customers can be unreasonable but that's life. GNE blanket fill in this form and you'll end up with a Buzz fare on your key card is frankly lazy
Just a view and not an attack. I enjoy this forum but people would do well to see things a lot more from the commuter paying a fortune as opposed to the enthusiast when considering GNE activities