(21 Jul 2019, 9:58 pm)Jimmi wrote It's a bit of both really I feel, some will have a certain preference to one service or another be it journey time, cost, comfort and whatever else but some will accept others at points, I often see concession pass holders in places simply jump on whichever bus turns up first, I use the 7 which stops in the same part of Durham Bus Station as the 6 & X21 and I regularly see some just get the first bus leaving towards Bishop Auckland, some but not all and same with the Network One passes in Tyne & Wear, I see some get on the X12 in Birtley towards Newcastle at times when it gets to the bus stop before the 21, everyone's way of doing things is different, for example your point in shopping if I just want something like a chocolate bar I will often go to wherever is the nearest to where I am although sometimes does come down to cost as well.
</p><p><br></p><p>One thing that I've noticed is that I see a lot more fare paying passengers get the X21 than the 6. Same with the X12, most of the passengers were ENCTS pass holders. I don't know if it means anything, but from the small amount of data (if I can even call it that), you could conclude that passengers who are using their own money are choosing to travel with GNE over Arriva for the same journey, with the price being equal (assuming they purchase the Sapphire 6 RouteSaver and the Auckland Castle Saver)</p><p><br></p><p>With your analogy about the chocolate bar, I think that's a different situation. I'm thinking more along the lines of the supermarket preference for the weekly shop. If I run out of milk, I don't mind just popping down to Aldi. Same as if I miss the X21, and I'm in a rush, I'll just get the 6 and pay the £1.40</p>