(02 Sep 2019, 8:14 am)Rob44 wrote
I think all operators would rather squeeze more profit from the current " locked in passengers" than really go all out to get more.
Quite possibly, but there will be some give and there will be those who find it easier, cheaper and quicker to driver. The inelastic customers can quickly become elastic ones when circumstances change.
It costs more to get a new customer, than it does to keep an existing one.
(02 Sep 2019, 11:57 am)Storx wroteThe problems around here is the lack of any combined authority to take control of things. If you live in Teesside or inside Nexus' area then the pricing is usually fair but once you get out of it it's a joke unless there's competition Bishop -> Durham for example.
It also doesn't help that's there's absolutely no multi operator ticketing available so if you do journeys such as Seghill -> Chester-le-street you have to fork up £10.90 for a explorer ticket or pay £6.40 for an Arriva ticket plus whatever the GoNorthEast ticket is for that journey with no weekly / monthly tickets. No-one is their right mind is going to pay that and it's the same in many areas. Ponteland, Consett (2z 'co-incidently'), Chester-Le-Street, SE Northumberland, Durham, Seaham, Murton just to name a few which are on the borders and some with high car ownership. Ponteland in particular.
It doesn't help that certain bus companies take the piss with the prices of singles and returns neither when crossing boundaries. GoNorthEast and Arriva in particular. £4.50 for a single from Seghill to Newcastle yet £2.80 (I think) from Annitsford to Newcastle on the X7. £3.10 from Seaton Delaval to Northumberland Park, £1.60 from Earsdon on the 19. Sounds like it's a simular story on the 20/20A as someone has posted above.
NECA took over control from the TWITA, but the reach still doesn't seem to have got any further than the old offering and quite a bit of the transport policy seems to be devolved to some of the LA's.
QCS may have fixed that problem.
The prices you mention are interesting.
It doesn't seem two minutes ago, when I first brought the ridiculous fare system on the 20's to the forums attention. That was when a single fare between Durham and Houghton was a few pence shy of £4.
It is now just shy of £5.
A return ticket is £6.90.
A weekly ticket on the app is £25. Ideal for commuters, but no good to those who use the bus once or twice a week (in my case this was usually a return, but spread out over a few days).
There's a market out there, that is being ignored and/or exploited. I can't decide which.
In an industry that is seeing the bums on the seats fall, I find it extraordinary that nothing is apparently being done about the pricing structure or anamolies like we have both described.