(22 Aug 2013, 6:31 am)Daniel wrote It is a shame that the X2 was withdrawn for fare paying customers (single/return) and I do think that Go North East should have given customers the opportunity to buy a 'through single' or 'through return' to accommodate for the loss of their direct link.
I personally don't mind not having an X2 because I pay for Nexus CAT day tickets naturally (or Get Around, if going further afield). As I don't pay for singles, it really doesn't affect me. I've just woken up and am in no way prepared to go look for information myself (so do forgive me) but what were the differences in journey times between the old X2 and the new 2A/2C and X1?
FTAO those who have quoted that the loadings were good...
Were all of these people purchasing singles and returns? Or at least a majority at that..?
If not, and the service was being used by concessions that didn't buy those tickets (Here he goes again... It's like Dan's version of Fencehouses!), I can understand why GNE did withdraw it. That doesn't mean to say I agree with them doing it, but I can understand from their point of view why they did.
Without looking at the 'time machine', I don't know what tickets were like back then. Were they similar to how they are at present or were they a lot more limited (i.e. single/return with a few other options only)?
It was marketed as a commuter connection when first branded as red arrows and certainly some of the passengers especially at peak times were 'business travelers'. I don't think it was particularly renowned for being used by concessions and can't see why the X2 would be any more likely to be vulnerable to concessions, than the X1. GNE certainly didn't give any 'loss making' or 'low passenger number' excuses, just that they were improving the X1 and - coincidentally they were severing the express Sun-Ncl link at the same time, which happened to mean the required buses were freed up.
Aside from the ticketing issue (they did have zoned Buzz Fare tickets back then and this period I'd say roughly coincided with when they really started to push them as opposed to singles/returns) removing a direct link was a retrograde step. Its not such a big deal if just popping out for the day, but for people using it to commute to work, GNE completely missed the impact/inconvenience/annoyance of having to get off at Galleries and wait around for the connecting bus.