(16 Jul 2019, 9:38 pm)Malarkey wrote Having seen the revised zoning I have to say with fares becoming cheaper is a very positive move from GNE, However I do have one gripe to pick from this and that is the zoning of Consett which I feel should be in the "Green Zone" along with the rest of the places within County Durham.

I can't help but feel this a stunt on GNE's part to recoup a massive amount of money spent on the new depot in Consett along with the new buses due later in the year. The vast majority of passengers in other areas are going to be purchasing either one or two zones passes depending on where they are travelling for work etc, however those in Consett have to purchase an All Zones pass at either £25 on the app or £30 on the bus whereas elsewhere a one zone is £20 on the app and £23 on the bus, in effect those in Consett are paying between £5 and £7 more to travel to the likes of Newcastle.

If I was living within Consett I would complaining to the local authorities etc in order for GNE to reverse this decision so that are treated equally to any other passenger within the local region.

Consett has always been in a separate zone since the removal of the buzz fares. All journeys from Consett to Newcastle required a 3 zone ticket. So in reality on a standard return, getting a new day ticket will be 50p cheaper or £1.20 cheaper on a day ticket. The losers are those travelling to Stanley or Durham whose fares will rise by 30p