Since I've criticised pricing I'll also report a positive.

GNE's Waggonway is cheaper than Nexus 23 between Birtley and Wrekenton.

Biddick - The Galleries
- £1.50 via the GNE 2A/82/83/85/86
- £1.55 via the GCT 37

Only 5p, but worth pointing out that a contract change by Nexus has also resulted in a silent fare increase for customers, on top of the 5p increase they had earlier in 2014, whilst still under GNE (as the 73).

Surprised to see two instances whereby Go North East's bus is cheaper than a Nexus-secured service... Would have put money on the Nexus-secured one always being cheaper, with it being provided for the public instead of being operated for profit and all...

I always understood that where a commercial service and a subsidised one ran along the same route then the subsidised one could not undercut the commercial service. Obviously a secured route could only run the same way as a commercial one along short parts of a route, otherwise the subsidised service would be unnecessary and a misuse of public money.

(30 Dec 2014, 9:19 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote I always understood that where a commercial service and a subsidised one ran along the same route then the subsidised one could not undercut the commercial service. Obviously a secured route could only run the same way as a commercial one along short parts of a route, otherwise the subsidised service would be unnecessary and a misuse of public money.

I had a similar understanding, but then again, I don't think they could price match either? As it could be viewed as either price fixing, or competing. You'd hope it would be viewed as what it is, which is a secured service filling a gap, at the 'market rate', but I'm sure it wouldn't go down that way...

(30 Dec 2014, 9:19 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote I always understood that where a commercial service and a subsidised one ran along the same route then the subsidised one could not undercut the commercial service. Obviously a secured route could only run the same way as a commercial one along short parts of a route, otherwise the subsidised service would be unnecessary and a misuse of public money.

(30 Dec 2014, 10:08 pm)aureolin wrote I had a similar understanding, but then again, I don't think they could price match either? As it could be viewed as either price fixing, or competing. You'd hope it would be viewed as what it is, which is a secured service filling a gap, at the 'market rate', but I'm sure it wouldn't go down that way...

Hadn't realised this.

Quite silly that it can't even be matched.

Just saw on the GNE Facebook page that a single from Birtley to Gateshead is £3.20!
Is this a mistake, as that's ridiculous.

(02 Mar 2015, 4:34 pm)Tom wrote Just saw on the GNE Facebook page that a single from Birtley to Gateshead is £3.20!
Is this a mistake, as that's ridiculous.

I can believe that. A single from Chester-le-Street to Pelton is £2.00 - and that's only a 7/8 minute journey!

Birtley-Gateshead is 15-20 minutes.

(02 Mar 2015, 4:41 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote I can believe that. A single from Chester-le-Street to Pelton is £2.00 - and that's only a 7/8 minute journey!

Birtley-Gateshead is 15-20 minutes.

Ah right that is really steep! Thought it would have only been about £2.00 from Birtley to Gateshead!


The fares in North Tyneside are a lot cheaper than that. For example it's only a £3.75 return from Newcastle to Blyth!

(02 Mar 2015, 4:43 pm)Tom wrote Ah right that is really steep! Thought it would have only been about £2.00 from Birtley to Gateshead!


The fares in North Tyneside are a lot cheaper than that. For example it's only a £3.75 return from Newcastle to Blyth!

When on a 56 recently, between Concord and Sunderland - a guy got on and paid something like £5.70 or £5.90 for a return between the two. 

(02 Mar 2015, 4:45 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote When on a 56 recently, between Concord and Sunderland - a guy got on and paid something like £5.70 or £5.90 for a return between the two. 

Bloody hell! That's a rip off!

Another thing I don't get is:
56, X1 etc. - Gateshead to Wrekenton - £2.00
Orbits - £1.50


27, X9, X10, X36 etc. Gateshead to Heworth - £2.00
Orbits - £1.50

(02 Mar 2015, 4:50 pm)Tom wrote Bloody hell! That's a rip off!

Another thing I don't get is:
56, X1 etc. - Gateshead to Wrekenton - £2.00
Orbits - £1.50


27, X9, X10, X36 etc. Gateshead to Heworth - £2.00
Orbits - £1.50

Do the Orbit services not have a set fare, though? Like the Sunderland Connect?

(02 Mar 2015, 5:09 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Do the Orbit services not have a set fare, though? Like the Sunderland Connect?

Yeah they do - but I don't see the logic in having to different prices on different routes for the same journey.

(02 Mar 2015, 5:10 pm)Tom wrote Yeah they do - but I don't see the logic in having to different prices on different routes for the same journey.

Even though the Orbit seems to go everywhere.

I think it's far from ideal, but you're always going to get these discrepancies. In a commercial environment, I'd think that certain services are marketed differently to others, in order to increase patronage. If this helps services with lower use survive, then it's obviously a good thing.

I've made my feelings clear more than once though. I'd love to see lower fares a lot round, but that's not going to be a possibility in the current market.

(02 Mar 2015, 4:34 pm)Tom wrote Just saw on the GNE Facebook page that a single from Birtley to Gateshead is £3.20!
Is this a mistake, as that's ridiculous.

£3.20 gets me from Chester le Street, Black Horse to Eldon Square on GNE services (£2.80 on Arriva) which makes the Birtley to Gateshead fare look poor VFM.

Personally, I think when Quality Contracts comes into it all - I'd like to see (presuming all other counties or areas join outside of Tyne and Wear, to make things easier and a lot better on the whole) a certain fare rate. Something like;

Travel within Tyne and Wear - £1.50
Travel from Tyne and Wear to Northumberland - £2.00
Travel from Tyne and Wear to County Durham - £2.00
And so on...

Also, I'd like to see the 'half' (as my grandad used to call it ) fare of 90 pence for a child changed. With the fairly recent fare rise of 5 pence by Go North East (something to do with drivers having issues with change?), it's only fair (given it's only 10 pence difference, and they are generally easier to come across in change) that the child's fare is rounded up to £1.00.

Just my suggestions, obviously I don't follow Quality Contracts, or the constant debate, but I do pick up they wanted to introduce some sort of fare boundary?

(02 Mar 2015, 8:42 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Personally, I think when Quality Contracts comes into it all - I'd like to see (presuming all other counties or areas join outside of Tyne and Wear, to make things easier and a lot better on the whole) a certain fare rate. Something like;

Travel within Tyne and Wear - £1.50
Travel from Tyne and Wear to Northumberland - £2.00
Travel from Tyne and Wear to County Durham - £2.00
And so on...

Also, I'd like to see the 'half' (as my grandad used to call it ) fare of 90 pence for a child changed. With the fairly recent fare rise of 5 pence by Go North East (something to do with drivers having issues with change?), it's only fair (given it's only 10 pence difference, and they are generally easier to come across in change) that the child's fare is rounded up to £1.00.

Just my suggestions, obviously I don't follow Quality Contracts, or the constant debate, but I do pick up they wanted to introduce some sort of fare boundary?

As attached.

(02 Mar 2015, 8:47 pm)Dan wrote As attached.

Thanks Dan. Shows how little I pay attention in that field.

(02 Mar 2015, 8:51 pm)MarcTheA4 wrote Thanks Dan. Shows how little I pay attention in that field.

Should note that the fares in Appendix J are based on the rates at 2012 - so they're subject to going up further beyond that. The zone map is structured similar to the Network One zone map, which is why there are winners and losers compared to the current operator ticketing options.

(02 Mar 2015, 4:34 pm)Tom wrote Just saw on the GNE Facebook page that a single from Birtley to Gateshead is £3.20!
Is this a mistake, as that's ridiculous.

Birtley-Gateshead is £2.70 single.  If you board before Barley Mow travelling to Gateshead, the fare should be £3.20.

Something I have been meaning to post for a bit is the difference in Transfare prices. Not sure what Go-North East or Arriva Transfare prices are but here is an example using a Stagecoach service then metro.

Stagecoach service from Sunderland estate to city then metro to Newcastle £3.80
Returning the other way its £4.30, a 50p difference.

But then a Nexus day ticket would be less than double even the cheaper fare.

(08 Mar 2015, 10:50 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Didn't have that much of a run around this weekend

Saturday -

X1 - Wrekenton to Newcastle
Trainspotting in Newcastle
10 - Newcastle to MetroCentre
Steam rail tour at MetroCentre
10A - MetroCentre to Newcastle
Trainspotting in Newcastle
X1 - Newcastle to Wrekenton

Sunday -

1 Wrekenton to Low Fell/Harlow Green
21 - Birtley to Barley Mow
82A - Barley Mow to Birtley
21 Birtley Station Lane to Coach and Horses

Wouldn't it have been easier just to use Northern's NCL - MCE service? Explorers are valid on them.

(09 Mar 2015, 7:07 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Wouldn't it have been easier just to use Northern's NCL - MCE service? Explorers are valid on them.

Quite a few interesting things I saw on the 10s on Saturday. 3966, 3941, etc. 

(09 Mar 2015, 7:07 pm)Tommy_1581 wrote Wouldn't it have been easier just to use Northern's NCL - MCE service? Explorers are valid on them.

I didn't have an explorer. Why buy a ticket which is £9 odd or what ever when you can have a day ticket for £1.10

(09 Mar 2015, 7:38 pm)leestransportphotos wrote I didn't have an explorer. Why buy a ticket which is £9 odd or what ever when you can have a day ticket for £1.10

Ah right, makes sense now! 

My trips to NCL cost less than £4.50, so it ain't worth paying for an explorer either.

(09 Mar 2015, 7:38 pm)leestransportphotos wrote I didn't have an explorer. Why buy a ticket which is £9 odd or what ever when you can have a day ticket for £1.10

Isn't the £1.10 CAT valid on the Northern Rail service? I'd thought the validity was the same as a Day Rover? 

(09 Mar 2015, 7:42 pm)aureolin wrote Isn't the £1.10 CAT valid on the Northern Rail service? I'd thought the validity was the same as a Day Rover? 

Sure is. Used it many a time myself.

(09 Mar 2015, 7:42 pm)aureolin wrote Isn't the £1.10 CAT valid on the Northern Rail service? I'd thought the validity was the same as a Day Rover? 

I thought it was £1.20?

Is that £1.10 CAT, valid on bus, metro and rail?

If so, I'm going to bloody murder Nexus.