(04 Feb 2021, 6:47 pm)Dan wrote One of your positives for Arriva is that they run their own evening and Sunday services, but a lot of these are either tendered or receive a de-minimis payment, just like Go North East's services. The difference between them is that Arriva retained their contracts, and they weren't awarded to another operator, as we've seen with Go North East. Come on, Storx, be fair.

There's absolutely no denying the improvements Stagecoach have made, but this has arguably come at the detriment of Go North East's services in this area (exactly what you're complaining about). If there aren't enough customers between the two operators, and passengers have given their custom to Stagecoach (despite all the whizzy gadgets and better marketing from Go North East), then ultimately this will result in service reductions due to the abstraction it has caused. North Tyneside is heavily over-bussed as it's incredibly competitive, and there are no where near enough passengers for all three operators to make a profit.

It does in part support Andreos1's argument that operators need to get the basics (predominantly pricing!) right first, before thinking about any whizzy gadgets, but where I disagree with him, is that he seems to have the belief that the two are mutually exclusive. As I mentioned in my previous post, the current limitations of government support for bus services does mean that 'the basics' can't be changed, but in ordinary circumstances, there's no reason why operators can't do both. It just seems that they rarely do (and that goes for all three, not just Go North East).

And whilst Stagecoach have undeniably done great work in North Tyneside, please don't forget about poor old Sunderland, where they have significantly reduced the network...

I'll give you that with the contracts to be fair.

I don't know I always think the operators around here miss quite a lot of links, like for example Silverlink where you can't get parked half the time doesn't have a bus service from Whitley Bay or Blyth (unless you want to go across busy roundabouts which isn't ideal with kids) yet the 309/310/311 are all sitting 5 minutes away along Middle Engine Lane, I know the 309 used to go via Silverlink years ago but got diverted because of the traffic (but that's sorted now). The Arnison in Durham is a highlight of how it can be done and the buses are always busy going there. It's similar in the Monkseaton area where there's 11 buses an hour going along by Foxhunters yet Monkseaton doesn't really have a bus service at all since you pulled the 75/76/85/86 (can't remember which) and Marden (since Arriva pulled the 44 and X9).

I'm surprised no-one has looked at the potential of the coast in the Summer aswell, the 306 get's a massive chunk of passengers off to Longsands yet GNE doesn't really serve bar the extremely slow 1. Like I don't know the passengers from Tynemouth to Wallsend end but surely swapping the 310 and 1A/1B between North Shields and Whitley and having a massive campaign about get the 309/310 to the seaside with our XX coaster tickets with Wifi, Comfy Seats etc direct to Longsands and the Aquarium with the 310 or St Mary's Lighthouse, Seaton Sluice or Whitley Bay Amusements with the 309 even potentially with a openbus service like your Beachcomber / Coaster services down in Scarborough / Bridlington service along the Coast. It's just pretty much bringing back the old 75/76/85/86 (still can't remember which done that side).

Mind I'll give you credit for still serving Battle Hill to Newcastle as the 311 is a right basketcase and it's noticeable and has been for awhile with the 58, 57 and everything you's have tried there.

I know I'm quite critical but it always feels like N. Tyneside is the place that's forgotton about and you've even said that people are walking with their feet to Stagecoach and all the mod cons in the world wont fix it. Mind they're definitely not mutually exclusive in general.