(05 Feb 2021, 1:33 pm)Dan wrote Other operators are taking a different approach - I don't think anyone can deny (not even Andreos1!) that Go North East is focusing on improving the customer experience on-board their buses through significant investment (into new and refurbished vehicles), and having a big focus on marketing, in order to try and drive some growth. It isn't just a case of the company titivating and seeking mutual back-slapping from industry professionals. They have also avoided a 'traditional' fares increase for some time now, instead reducing fares or introducing better-value tickets (flexible weekly tickets, 24-hour tickets, or group tickets). If this results in growth - and it is a big if - then the extra revenue could be pumped back into the network, in order to improve the basic fundamentals, which Andreos1 suggests would drive better growth.
On this point, has the GNE policy changed (or will it) regarding refurbishments to second hand vehicles entering the fleet?
Not too relevant with Stagecoach NE as they rarely take in second hand stuff from other regions, but virtually all ANE second hand stock is treat to at least a good internal refurbishment. Take the initial batch of B7TLs from London, refurbed in 2014 to a high quality (if not high spec) standard - https://flic.kr/p/m33np1 , https://flic.kr/p/m33n6W. Contrast how fresh that looks to some of the Omnidekkas and the dual door B7s that GNE acquired for example (https://flic.kr/p/QxubjX).
I know the argument will probably be that those deckers aren't intended for high profile work, however over the summer I had some of those B7s on what is now an X-Lines route, as well as Omnidekkas on the 309/310 (amongst others, just can't for the life of me remember what). If that's your first experience of a GNE bus, it really isn't a good one (especially if anyone was unlucky enough to get 6941). Obviously a punter getting on a brand new Streetdeck would be a better first experience than an Arriva Sapphire E400, for example, but the impression of something like 7484 pictured above would, in my view, be better than the equivalent replacements at GNE.