(13 Oct 2015, 6:01 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote No spouting gobbledygook like GNE do in their surveys can change the fact that a through service is better for the passengers than having to change and they are less likely to use the bus if they have to. Not having the bus running through to Lanchester does not make the overall journey quicker or more reliable, just less convenient for the customer. The reason for splitting it was only for the convenience of the operator, no doubt to save money; for example, a Solo uses less fuel than an Omnicity. But if a bus is regularly working through then it is daft not to show this in the timetable.
I know it has been suggested that consultations can be worded in such a way, that can be misleading (Adrian often used the M1/Herrington Burn changes as an example).
But to go to your other point about the through services, I totally agree.
I can't see any logic or reasoning, in not promoting it as a through service.
It certainly isn't going to cost anything, the effort in promoting the through service will be minimal and will clear up any potential confusion passengers may have.
Imagine someone on a return journey in the depths of Christmas shopping, having to bundle the kids together, get the bags - climb off and get their bearings in the station to then realise they are getting onto the very bus they have struggled to get off.
Heck, it may even encourage people to use the service, particularly if they have been put off by the changes and the removal of the direct route.