(19 May 2014, 6:28 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Would it be worth investing in some Tri-Axle Coaches i.e. Caetano Levantes for the X93 and Perhaps increase the Frequency of the Service.
(19 May 2014, 6:38 pm)robisdave15 wrote To Andreos. I know I've gone on about the service but looking at it as an entity I'm guessing that overall it is quite a success by virtue of the fact that management are now trying to give Whitby depot a full 8 double deck PVR to meet the requirements of the peak season timetable.I can understand what you say about the crowds and reliability though ? It's the former that tend to throw me!
To Scott. Thanks for the heads up on that. Just thinking that if they perhaps threw some additional resources - maintainance and cleaning at the Whitby compound then that could be a step in the right direction. Just a thought?
(19 May 2014, 7:02 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote There is no doubt it is a success, but not sure the service is reaching its full potential.
Hopefully the allocation will help improve the service and lead it onto greater success.
I imagine the majority of passengers are from the Teesside area and possibly the southern fringes of Co Durham and maybe Darlington too.
If the likes of Marcus, AdamY or myself were to use it, there is the need for at least two more connections from Middlesbrough to get home (using different operators in a fragmented system).
That faff and the issues I mentioned previously are the things putting me off - particularly with a family in tow.
The Day Ranger I mentioned earlier coupled with a Family and Friends Railcard make the train (particularly the direct ones from Tyneside/Wearside) even more attractive.
The bus isn't ruled out, it just isn't as attractive as it could be
(19 May 2014, 8:09 pm)robisdave15 wrote To those who commented on the use of coaches this is one bright idea. Running a direct service, perhaps just peak season, direct from Middlesbrough to Scarborough non-stop would alleviate the pressure on the service vehicles ; maybe even extended with a start in Newcastle?
And to Andreos. Yes I fully appreciate what your saying there. I assume it would be local
service and TTX before even getting near the
X93? A veritable nightmare.
WHOOPS! Nearly missed Adams post! In everything positive we can say about the service, that sort of experience is sadly an all to frequent part of life on the X93 and unfortunately not much we can do about it. A shame.
(19 May 2014, 8:37 pm)robisdave15 wrote I didn't want to go there with that particularly line but it's quite right and needs saying. I have said previously that the X93 does not meet its true potential revenue wise and this in turn reflects what can and can't 'be done in terms of investment and improvement. I'm not sure of the reimbursement that the operator gets in respect of the concessionary passes but believe it is a fraction of the full fare. Don't think I need do the maths and your probably quite correct in saying that it killed the X60/61.
(19 May 2014, 8:09 pm)robisdave15 wrote To those who commented on the use of coaches this is one bright idea. Running a direct service, perhaps just peak season, direct from Middlesbrough to Scarborough non-stop would alleviate the pressure on the service vehicles ; maybe even extended with a start in Newcastle?
And to Andreos. Yes I fully appreciate what your saying there. I assume it would be local
service and TTX before even getting near the
X93? A veritable nightmare.
WHOOPS! Nearly missed Adams post! In everything positive we can say about the service, that sort of experience is sadly an all to frequent part of life on the X93 and unfortunately not much we can do about it. A shame.
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(19 May 2014, 9:22 pm)robisdave15 wrote Never thought my thread would take off like this! I didn't want to break into the issue of concessionary passes because it seems like such s hot potato and is clearly what a) blights the earning potential of the service and b) contributes to the loading situation, kinda devil and the deep blue sea ! Just what dya do? I knew there were / are issues on the Whitby - Scarborough and am now thinking what I spoke about in a separate post - running direct coaches from Boro non - stop to S'Boro is maybe something to look at in the future?
While I'm here? They've given them 8 B7's to meet the PVR, what about spare vehicles down there to help out?
(19 May 2014, 9:22 pm)robisdave15 wrote Never thought my thread would take off like this! I didn't want to break into the issue of concessionary passes because it seems like such s hot potato and is clearly what a) blights the earning potential of the service and b) contributes to the loading situation, kinda devil and the deep blue sea ! Just what dya do? I knew there were / are issues on the Whitby - Scarborough and am now thinking what I spoke about in a separate post - running direct coaches from Boro non - stop to S'Boro is maybe something to look at in the future?
While I'm here? They've given them 8 B7's to meet the PVR, what about spare vehicles down there to help out?
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(19 May 2014, 9:28 pm)AdamY wrote Getting to Middlesbrough would involve a 35-40 minute bus journey into Newcastle, then a 80 minute journey on one of the Tyne-Tees Express services. So there's approximately 2 hours (not including waiting time) gone already. Getting to Scarborough is another 2 hour bus ride on the X93. Times that by 2 and that's around 8 hours travelling time there and back not including time spent waiting for connections.
Before this thread was started I was well-up for travelling to Scarborough by bus. I don't think I'll bother now!
Regarding services X60/X61 - were concessionary fares accepted on these services? IIRC, Explorers and some other regional passes were exempt so I was wondering whether there was some sort of rule regarding concessionary passes.