(28 Dec 2016, 6:52 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote While I have barely knowledge in Sunderland's history of bus routes, Overall as a company GNE have, In the past " cut " service's for profit, -
Same with other company's, So really, Whether or not in Sunderland, Greg is right.

(28 Dec 2016, 7:41 pm)S813 FVK wrote Do we not think that the complaining is down to people failing to understand how businesses work? It is very easy to shoot down a business for doing something that goes against the customer without understanding why the business has made the decision that it has made.

All businesses exist to provide a product/service to the people in their target market. If this product/service does not appeal to the people that it is aimed at, it will not make a profit and will, therefore, be very difficult to justify its continuation. If they continued to provide the service at a loss, the business would simply struggle to survive, affecting a much larger group of people. After all, it is very rare for Go North East to remove a service and not to give customers an alternative method of getting to their destination, such as the recent extension of the 202 from Peterlee to Station Town replacing service X7 on that section of the route.

(28 Dec 2016, 7:41 pm)S813 FVK wrote Do we not think that the complaining is down to people failing to understand how businesses work? It is very easy to shoot down a business for doing something that goes against the customer without understanding why the business has made the decision that it has made.

All businesses exist to provide a product/service to the people in their target market. If this product/service does not appeal to the people that it is aimed at, it will not make a profit and will, therefore, be very difficult to justify its continuation. If they continued to provide the service at a loss, the business would simply struggle to survive, affecting a much larger group of people. After all, it is very rare for Go North East to remove a service and not to give customers an alternative method of getting to their destination, such as the recent extension of the 202 from Peterlee to Station Town replacing service X7 on that section of the route.

(28 Dec 2016, 7:48 pm)Adrian wrote But it is irrelevant if the customer understands the business behind it or not. There seems to quite often be the misconception that the consumer cares about how a company achieves it's margins, how it justifies it mark up pricing or what not. It is not their concern, and quite frankly most of them will not care. It is up to a business to remain competitive but still provide a product or service to meet the customer's expectations at a price where they feel value. Otherwise, and quite simply, they'll go elsewhere. 

Unfortunately, the majority of bus operators' customers' do not have that choice, because competition is so scarce. They find that the only alternative is often to learn to drive/take the car.

(28 Dec 2016, 8:35 pm)Michael wrote I have to agree with you on that Greg.

Another example is also the changes to the 17/17A etc... The 40/41 got new buses and then changed juat after, meaning 4 older Solo Sr's had to be repainted to join the brand.

Cobalt Clipper too, they changed them after they got new buses so the PVR went up meaning they lost a spare....

I bet it happens with the new buses arriving too.

(28 Dec 2016, 8:08 pm)Crusader wrote Exactly - there is competition on all routes - the car! Just because only one operator runs a service doesn't mean there is no competition. It's in the operators interest to run a quality service where people want to go, otherwise they'll use a car instead, and operators won't have a business anymore. there's no point having two operators run a service and neither of them carry enough passengers to cover costs

(28 Dec 2016, 9:56 pm)Ambassador wrote You sort of miss the point with that analogy. The car is competition for one off users. Take a group of friends going from Low Fell to Birtley. Anymore than 2 and a taxi is cheaper, that really shouldn't be the case. Bus companies aren't ever going to beat or try to beat the car in provincial towns and cities.

The vast majority of bus users are not by choice. They don't or cannot drive and they are at the whim and mercy of monopolies, poor timetabling and inflation busting fares.

With all due respect, when the vast majority of forum members get older and begin to rely on public transport at full fares and perhaps live away from flagship routes they'll get out of the enthusiast bubble and realise all operators are no better than any big business, they just lack the customer service and foresight to grow.

(28 Dec 2016, 10:54 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote It also doesn't help any of the bus companies that local authorities in this area are rubbish regarding bus priority schemes. Can there be another bus station in the country that it is as difficult to get into as Eldon Square? Look at the ludicrous chicane and uncontrolled pedestrian crossing on Newgate Street. No Car lanes rather than Bus Only lanes. And so on.

(28 Dec 2016, 9:56 pm)Ambassador wrote With all due respect, when the vast majority of forum members get older and begin to rely on public transport at full fares and perhaps live away from flagship routes they'll get out of the enthusiast bubble and realise all operators are no better than any big business

(28 Dec 2016, 7:32 pm)JP6004 wrote Well you don't run a business to make a loss.

If you spend more on fuel tax wages maintenance than the service generates, you cannot sustain the service. If GNE continued to operate non profitable services, then they would no longer be in business.

(29 Dec 2016, 12:49 am)Andreos1 wrote So when manufacturers and supermarkets run loss-leaders that's for what reasons? 

When a model is built around the hub and spoke, there will be elements of the model stronger than others. The way the land lies, housing and employment mean that is a guaranteed certainty.
What you can't do is remove the spokes or reduce when the spokes are in place, cos ultimately it's gonna impact on the stronger spokes and their profits. 

The 21 can only work to its potential when you have the likes of the 13, 14, 15, 28, 34 and 36 (all serving places that had regular services to Newcastle) working to their potential too. Without them (even if they don't make a profit), the 21 doesn't achieve anything like it does.

(29 Dec 2016, 10:23 am)eezypeazy wrote Dan,

You should have learned by now never to respond to Andreos' posts... he's always right, and everyone else is always wrong!

Happy New Year to one and all!

(29 Dec 2016, 11:19 am)eezypeazy wrote Usual sweeping statements from Andreos without evidence...

Glad to see you're still following me, though!

(29 Dec 2016, 1:34 pm)V514DFT wrote Still no announcements on indigo north tyne

(29 Dec 2016, 1:34 pm)V514DFT wrote Still no announcements on indigo north tyne

(29 Dec 2016, 5:03 pm)S813 FVK wrote 6144 branded:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/31845167611/in/dateposted/

(29 Dec 2016, 4:34 pm)Dan wrote Ok, thanks.

Going forward, could you please Private Message me with any faults? That, or contact Go North East through the appropriate channels (ie via Customer Services)?

I'm off work until the middle of January so can't investigate until then but I don't think this constitutes as latest news.

(30 Dec 2016, 12:08 pm)NK53 TKT wrote Well the Q3 only works on 5389, 5390 and 8313