(29 Jan 2017, 12:14 am)Jamie M wrote The frequency of 21/X21 is huge. If you miss one, you wait like 7 minutes max for another one. If you miss the train, it's an extra hour.
I have the 6, X30, X31, X70, X71, 97, X97 and 97A, even the V7/8 in reach -all going to the same place in a morning. They will all get me to the same place at the same time, roughly. Paying the premium to have so many options out of my door is well worth it. I even have a choice of where in Newcastle or Gateshead I can be dropped off at a high frequency. Yeah, the buses are all without fail terrible and provide no amazing features that make me enjoy my trip - it's far better than driving in terms of my blood pressure and fuel prices. Trains are generalistic almost, they take you to a place and you then have to get something else to wherever you really want to go.
Talking reliability, cost, efficiency and ease of use, buses win by a mile - trains win solely on comfort.
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I agree that a regular turn up and go service seems to be one of the best selling points for a bus route.
My observations in Chester le Street see people letting the Arriva X12 go past them to board a GNE 21, X21 or X25. This is despite a cheaper fare on Arriva at £2.90 verses £3.35 on GNE. Arriva have an almost 100% WiFi offering whereas GNE send out spare vehicles with no WiFi on an almost daily basis.
So while branding, WiFi and price have their benefits I would say that a frequent service is the winner in attracting customers.
I am aware that some people will take the GNE bus due to onward connctions but I have based my assumption purely on observations of customers purchasing a single or return to Gateshead or Newcastle.