(08 Aug 2021, 1:26 pm)James101 wrote Given their decent local networks in Durham & Peterlee and the fact GNE have Peterlee to Sunderland sewn up - it would be interesting if GNE went in for the kill on the direct Durham - Peterlee 22/24 services. It could sway users on both ends onto GNE season tickets over Arriva.
Perhaps it would be too much of a direct swipe at a bus war when the government are still subsidising operations. That’s if Arriva could put up much of a fight, they seem fairly paralysed at the moment.
I'm not trying to be funny but GNE really don't have the Peterlee area sewn up. They've been backing out of the area for years now if anything and are losing against Arriva big time. X35 to Hartlepool being the big one, now they've totally backed out from going towards Durham aswell. It doesn't help that it's all local services connecting at the bus station. No-one can be chewed to sit on a 206 to then change to 62 to go to Sunderland (via the world) or you can just get on a 23/24 and go direct to Sunderland / Durham / Hartlepool.
Imo they're lucky that Arriva are 'paralysed' atm as they could wipe them out pretty easily, similar in other areas aswell (North Tyneside in particular).
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Also to the minibuses comments, fair enough was just an open answer guess there will be enough then wasn't sure.