(01 Jan 2022, 10:10 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Are Go North East likely to run the 33/33A commercially if they lose the contract in March? If competition is being reduced on corridors are we likely to see big changes in Gosforth and North Tyneside, common ticketing for Arriva/GNE and changes to Coaster 1/Stagecoach 22 in Newcastle and Byker? Wallsend/Walker changes perhaps work together on timetabling (likely with 306/308/309/310/311 at Coast Road).33/33A - I seriously doubt it!! It only ever has about 3 or 4 passengers on when I see it.
Maybe other bus operators could introduce new services in a new post-competition region?
New services - with passenger numbers only at around 65-70% of pre COVID numbers I doubt any operator will introduce new services (unless they replace existing ones). Bus operator costs have risen significantly - wage increases, extra cleaning cost, higher fuel prices - so I think we'll be seeing more cutbacks over the next 12 months.