(04 Mar 2021, 9:25 am)tvd wrote I'd like to see any of the operators try the odd new route and challenge another company's area maybe.
Once things reopen, people will looking to make the most of the summer and have trips out to the coast. Arriva could consider extending from Scarborough to the holiday camps, Filey and Bridlington as a limited summer service. Scarborough & District now part of Go North East could try competing, have the odd run through to Whitby/Middlesbrough, connect with their X9/X10 and promote some day returns.
I suspect not much will happen, but if I was in charge I'd at least be considering any numbers of ideas that get people back to using buses, or attract new customers. The decline in the industry may be inevitable, but I think without trying new things - which could be ticket offers, not just new routes - the decline is pretty much certain to continue.
I disagree with this personally it never ends well and just leads to cheaper fares, horrid price wars and one of the companies losing out which never helps the operators - good for passengers though while it lasts.
Imo buses need to go the opposite way where the operator is irrelevant like with trains with the option to purchase tickets which go across multiple companies. For example if you get on a bus at Blyth for example and want to go to Scarborough one way, you can purchase a single all the way through and can use any bus to get there with a journey planner online which will tell you how to get there and what buses you need to use - even possibly only allow the tickets to be bought online before you even board the bus. Make the fact whether its GNE / Stagecoach / Arriva / Gateshead Taxis etc irrelevant otherwise it creates invisible barriers to travelling between areas.