(14 Oct 2015, 9:42 am)DaveyBowyer wrote Hope they increase the evening 309 / 310s. They could easily make money if they timed it right and not 5 minutes after an Arriva.
It would work well like this:
- 310 Monday to Saturday evenings: arriving at Haymarket for 03 / 33 and leaving at 06 / 36 until 2306.
- 310 Sunday evenings: arriving at Haymarket for 03 / 33 and leaving at 06 / 36 until 22:06 with a later journey arriving at 2303 and departing at 2306 which would be the last Cobalt Clipper all together.
- 309 Monday to Saturday evenings: Arriving at Haymarket for 18 / 48 and departing at 21 / 51 until 22:51 with a later journey arriving at 23:33
and departing at 23:36 which would be the last Cobalt Clipper journey all together. Last full journey to Blyth at 21:51 or 22:21.
- 309 Sunday evenings: Arriving at Haymarket for 18 / 48 and departing at 21 / 51 until 21:51 with a later journey arriving at 22:33 and departing at 22:36. Last full journey to Blyth either at 20:21 or 20:51.
That is the only reason why they couldn't make money now is because of the 308 departing 5 minutes before the 309 / 310 and therefore, GNE are losing out on the Station Road / Newcastle corridoor. These times would make sure that the 309 / 310 arrive 2 minutes ahead of the 306 / 308 and depart 4 minutes before both services. I know alot of people use passes and stuff and some are loyal to Arriva over the slightly cheaper single fares but as a whole, GNE could make a good go of it if they tried whilst still being compliant with most Cobalt shift patterns.
Some might see it as a suggestion but it's simple business sense, keep in front of the competition. And unless Arriva would be willing to send another 308, Quroum or X10 / X11 towards Newcastle during the early evening (gap between 1817 and 1822 departures on Monday to Fridays and the latter on Saturdays) to conquer these times by moving their departures nearer quarterly and hourly / half hourly intervals, then theres nout much that they could do.